The Sharpest Edge. Stephanie Rowe

      

      Running away led her right where she belonged.

      A new mom for Christmas?

      She’s everything they’ve wished for.

      Runaway bride AnnaBeth Cummings needs shelter for the holidays when a blizzard leaves her stranded, and rancher Jonas Stone’s happy to help. But his son’s been wishing for a mommy for Christmas, and town matchmakers are convinced Annabeth and Jonas are perfect for each other. As the storm clears, city girl AnnaBeth will have to decide: does her heart now belong in the country?

      LISA CARTER and her family make their home in North Carolina. In addition to her Love Inspired novels, she writes romantic suspense for Abingdon Press. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys traveling to romantic locales, teaching writing workshops and researching her next exotic adventure. She has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball. She loves to hear from readers. Connect with Lisa at lisacarterauthor.com.

       Also By Lisa Carter

      Coast Guard Courtship

      Coast Guard Sweetheart

      Falling for the Single Dad

      The Deputy’s Perfect Match

      The Bachelor’s Unexpected Family

      The Christmas Baby

      Hometown Reunion

      His Secret Daughter

      The Twin Bargain

      Stranded for the Holidays

      Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

      Stranded for the Holidays

      Lisa Carter

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ISBN: 978-0-008-90069-4

      STRANDED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

      © 2019 Lisa Carter

      Published in Great Britain 2019

       by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

      All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

      By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      Version: 2020-03-02

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      “Trust me—you’re better off without him.”

      A curious mixture of simmering fury—not directed at her, but on her behalf—and compassion filled Jonas’s dark eyes. AnnaBeth gaped at him. She reminded herself to breathe.

      No one had ever defended her supposedly injured honor so vigorously before.

      She didn’t know what to say. And for once, surprising herself, she said nothing.

      “Storm’s likely to last all night. We could be snowed in a few days.” A muscle jumped in his jaw.

      He said he knew—as in understood firsthand?—that she was better off without her erstwhile groom. In the past, had something as equally humiliating and hurtful happened to him, too?

      Jonas squared his broad shoulders. “Stay here as long as you like, AnnaBeth. You’ve found a refuge from the storm here with us.”

      Her heart gave a funny quiver. Her eyes locked with his. She became lost in his melted-chocolate eyes.

      Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

      —Psalm 112:6–7

      Dear Reader,

      Welcome to Truelove, North Carolina, set in the breathtakingly lovely Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

      Though the course of true love doesn’t always run smooth, never fear. The Truelove Matchmakers are there to make sure everyone finds their happily-ever-after.

      The heart of this story is about a man searching for a love that will never leave or desert him. It’s also about a woman searching for a place to belong. This story is about trusting God. With the good. With the bad. With everything.

      As