‘Well,’ Jake said, a moment later. ‘I think that as we’ve been given permission, we’d better start again. Officially.’
‘I think,’ she said, as he bent to kiss her, ‘you’re right.’
Acknowledgements
Writing a book has been an unusual experience this time around. However, there are two people in particular who made it happen – huge thanks to Amanda Preston, my agent, who is there for me day and night, always knows the right thing to say, makes me laugh, and is a general wonder. And more huge thanks to Caroline Hogg, my editor, who met me (in one of the brief times when we were allowed to see other people), took me for brunch, and walked with me round a Buckinghamshire park while we worked out the story I had tangled in my head. Thanks also to the brilliant team at Pan Macmillan who work so hard behind the scenes to make all the bookish magic happen.
To the amazing, inspiring and brilliant Book Camp gang and the Word Racers – I love you lot. Particular love and thanks to Cathy Bramley, Alice Broadway, Miranda Dickinson, Josie George, Caroline Smailes, Keris Stainton and Hayley Webster, all of whom have kept me (relatively) sane this weird year.
Huge love (and potatoes) to Melanie Clegg and to Violet Fenn (for highly inappropriate gossip). To Jax and Elise, enormous love and thanks for always being there.
To Verity, Rosie, Archie, Jude and Rory – thanks for being the loveliest, funniest people with whom to spend a pandemic. (There’s a sentence I thought I’d never write.)
And to James, who thanks to lockdown was by my side for lots of the writing of this book – thank you for the love, and the inspiration. You are the best thing.
The Telephone Box Library
The Cotswolds: the perfect retreat for a stressed-out teacher. And Lucy has found just the right cottage for a bargain rent. All she has to do is keep an eye on Bunty, her extremely feisty ninety-something neighbour . . .
With her West Highland terrier Hamish at her side, Lucy plans to relax and read up on the women of nearby Bletchley Park. But the villagers of Little Maudley have other ideas, and she finds herself caught up in the campaign to turn a dilapidated telephone box into a volunteer-run library.
Along the way, she makes friends with treehouse designer Sam, and finds herself falling for the charms of village life. And it seems Bunty has a special connection to Bletchley and the telephone box, one that she’s kept secret for decades . . .
THE VILLAGE GREEN BOOKSHOP
Rachael Lucas writes novels for adults and teenagers, including the Carnegie-nominated The State of Grace, which was selected as an Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities by IBBY. She lives by the seaside in the north west of England with her family. She is the author of The Telephone Box Library, Finding Hope at Hillside Farm, Wildflower Bay, Coming Up Roses, Sealed with a Kiss, The State of Grace and My Box-Shaped Heart.
You can follow Rachael on Twitter @karamina and on Instagram @rachaellucas.
Also by Rachael Lucas
The Telephone Box Library
Finding Hope at Hillside Farm
Wildflower Bay
Coming Up Roses
Sealed with a Kiss
The State of Grace
My Box-Shaped Heart
e-novella
Sealed with a Christmas Kiss
First published 2021 by Macmillan
This electronic edition first published in 2021 by Pan Macmillan
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
The Smithson, 6 Briset Street, London EC1M 5NR
EU representative: Macmillan Publishers Ireland Ltd, Mallard Lodge,
Lansdowne Village, Dublin 4
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-5290-5874-1
Copyright © Rachael Lucas 2021
Cover illustration by Sarah McMenemy
Author photograph © Rachael Lucas
The right of Rachael Lucas to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damage.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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The Village Green Bookshop: A Feel-Good Escape for All Book Lovers from the Bestselling Author of The Telephone Box Library Page 26
