One in the 55 Portobello Road Series - Through the seasons of a year the residents of one block of London flats come to terms with the obstacles that have kept each of them from finding what makes life most precious— true love.
Sara Wright needs this holiday job at Nottinghill's historic cinema to pay her tuition, but her handsome boss Robert is a thorn in the side of every usher who breathes. She knows there must be more to a man who breaks his own rules to rescue a child. Can she figure out the puzzle before he self-destructs along with so much more than her job?
Excerpt
Waking in a cold sweat, Robert pounded the alarm clock before he realized it was still the middle of the night. Was he hearing things, as well as seeing them?
Ah, the dream.
Heart pounding, he pressed a palm against his chest and shivered.
"Damn, incompetent cogs—," he muttered as he dropped back to his pillow, giving it another punch.
Once his heart stopped doing the mamba, he slept again returning to the exact place his dream left him. Standing over three of his ushers behind the cinema concessions stand, wide and straight stance with hands clasped behind his back, he volleyed. "There's good reason to have each of you tend to your own section and row of the theatre. We must be organized, a well oiled machine." Imploring them to reason, the veins at his forehead now throbbed with escalating impatience.
Instead of turning on their overly-coddled adolescent heels to comply, his three ushers dropped to the ground.
"You must see to their comfort—" Robert ordered, a wad of slimy paper striking him just below the eye, followed by one at his cheek, another hitting his mouth.
"Phetheee..." he spat the offending spit-soaked paper from his lips, running the back of his Brooks Brother's shirtsleeve across his chin.
"Mister McKenna!" he bellowed. The shooter of the most offensive wad, had rolled over and volleyed in chorus with his two female conspirators.
"I'll not have another moment of this puerile behaviour! Collect your things and get out!"
His pronouncement did not faze the ushers. They rolled on the plush theatre carpeting like cackling hyenas.
"Out!" Robert pointed a finger to the door, his phantasmal-self melting from properly suited theatre manager to black cloaked procurer of death. Like A Christmas Carol's third specter his face was now hooded in shadow. Robert bellowed a string of profanity at his ushers as they scurried away on hands and knees like the rats they were...are.
He jolted awake, this time victorious in his subjugation of the juvenile university students that make up his employee.
Professional Reviews
Charming Christmas Read
When student Sara Wright takes a holiday job as an usher in the beautiful Coronet Cinema, she doesn't count on falling for the boss, especially when he's a big pain in the behind. Or is he? Sara catches a glimpse of his more human side but why is he so intent on hiding it?
As an author, I know how difficult it is to write a compelling and satisfying story in a condensed package, but Ms London has done it. All the British setting and charm she is known for still colours the backdrop. All the complexities of character hinted at, then divulged. Her secondary characters also delight, making this read both fun and satisfying. Molly the goofy flat mate, Rudy the rascal, the adolescent bike riding neighbour and one withered, church going old woman -- all contribute to making Nottinghill Scrooge an entertaining, heartwarming read.I look forward to more in this series.
Great Read
Christine writes creative stories that are relatable to everyone. Nottinghill Scrooge is a wonderfully entertaining novella that packs a captivating story into a small package. Readers will be enthralled with this straightforward story of love and friendship.
