by Kris Bryant
Breaking up is hard to do, but three weeks before Christmas it’s even more painful. Jessica Raymond isn't in love with her ex-girlfriend anymore; she just hates to emotionally limp through the holidays. When a cute gray kitten shows up on her doorstep, Jessica panics. She doesn’t have time for a pet. Finding sexy Veterinarian Dr. Taylor Mitchell intriguing isn’t part of the plan either, but both manage to turn her world upside down.
Taylor Mitchell isn’t going to let a beautiful woman with a bad attitude bring her down. It’s the holidays and she’s determined to show some much-needed Christmas spirit and help a lonely cat find a good home.
A few kitten-induced mishaps bring them closer and sharing the same space suddenly isn’t so bad. Chatting is actually pretty nice. Did this sweet kitten show up to help them find each other? Or is the holiday spirit to blame for their special connection?
What Reviewers Say About Kris Bryant’s Work
Falling
“This is a story you don’t want to pass on. A fabulous read that you will have a hard time putting down. Maybe don’t read it as you board your plane though. This is an easy 5 stars!”—The Romantic Reader Blog
“Bryant delivers a story that is equal parts touching, compassionate, and uplifting.”—The Lesbian Review
Listen
“[A] sweet romance with a touch of angst and lots of music.”—C-Spot Reviews
“If you suffer from anxiety, know someone who suffers from anxiety, or want an insight to how it may impact on someone’s daily life, I urge you to pick this book up. In fact, I urge all readers who enjoy a good lesbian romance to grab a copy.”—Love Bytes Reviews
“If you’re looking for a little bit of fluffy(ish), light romance in your life, give this one a listen. The characters’ passion for music (and each other) is heartwarming, and I was rooting for them the entire book.”—Kissing Backwards
“Ms. Bryant describes this soundscape with some exquisite metaphors, it’s true what they say that music is everywhere. The whole book is beautifully written and makes the reader’s heart to go out with people suffering from anxiety or any sort of mental health issue.”—Lez Review Books
“This book floored me. I’ve read it three times since the book appeared on my kindle… I just love it so much. I’m actually sitting here wondering how I’m going to convey my sheer awe factor but I will try my best. Kris Bryant won Les Rêveur book of the year 2018 and seriously this is a contender for 2019.”—Les Rêveur
“This is a contemporary romance that starts out as a slow-burn, but once the two main characters finally connect, it quickly becomes a very steamy novel.”—Rainbow Reflections
“I was absolutely captivated by this book from start to finish. The two leads were adorable and I really connected with them and rooted for them....This is one of the best books I’ve read recently—I cannot praise it enough!”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)
“The main character’s anxiety issues were well written and the romance is sweet and leaves you with a warm feeling at the end. Highly recommended reading.”—Kat Adams, Bookseller (QBD Books, Australia)
Forget Me Not
“Told in the first person, from Grace’s point of view, we are privy to Grace’s inner musings and her vulnerabilities....Bryant crafts clever wording to infuse Grace with a sharp-witted personality, which clearly covers her insecurities....This story is filled with loving familial interactions, caring friends, romantic interludes and tantalizing sex scenes. The dialogue, both among the characters and within Grace’s head, is refreshing, original, and sometimes comical. Forget Me Not is a fresh perspective on a romantic theme, and an entertaining read.”—Lambda Literary Review
“[I]t just hits the right note all the way....[A] very good read if you are looking for a sweet romance.”—Lez Review Books
Shameless
“[Kris Bryant] has a way of giving insight into the other main protagonist by using a few clever techniques and involving the secondary characters to add back-stories and extra pieces of important information. The pace of the book was excellent, it was never rushed but I was never bored or waiting for a chapter to finish…this epilogue made my heart swell to the point I almost lunged off the sofa to do a happy dance.”— Les Rêveur
Whirlwind Romance
“Ms. Bryant’s descriptions were written with such passion and colorful detail that you could feel the tension and the excitement along with the characters…”—Inked Rainbow Reviews
Taste
“Taste is a student/teacher romance set in a culinary school. If the premise makes you wonder whether this book will make you want to eat something tasty, the answer is: yes.”—The Lesbian Review
Jolt—Lambda Literary Award Finalist
“[Jolt] is a magnificent love story. Two women hurt by their previous lovers and each in their own way trying to make sense out of life and times. When they meet at a gay and lesbian friendly summer camp, they both feel as if lightening has struck. This is so beautifully involving, I have already reread it twice. Amazing!”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Touch
“The sexual chemistry in this book is off the hook. Kris Bryant writes my favorite sex scenes in lesbian romantic fiction.”—Les Rêveur
Breakthrough—Golden Crown Literary Award Winner
“Looking for a fun and funny light read with hella cute animal antics, and a smoking hot butch ranger? Look no further.... In this well written, first-person narrative, Kris Bryant’s characters are well developed, and their push/pull romance hits all the right beats, making it a delightful read just in time for beach reading.”—Writing While Distracted
“[A]n exceptional book that has a few twists and turns that catch you out and make you wish the book would never end. I was captivated from the beginning and can’t wait to see how Bryant will top this.”—Les Rêveur
“It’s hilariously funny, romantic and oh so sexy....But it is the romance between Kennedy and Brynn that stole my heart. The passion and emotion in the love scenes surpassed anything Kris Bryant has written before. I loved it.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
“Kris Bryant has written several enjoyable contemporary romances, and Breakthrough is no exception. It’s interesting and clearly well-researched, giving us information about Alaska and issues like poaching and conservation in a way that’s engaging and never comes across as an info dump. She also delivers her best character work to date, going deeper with Kennedy and Brynn than we’ve seen in previous stories. If you’re a fan of Kris Bryant, you won’t want to miss this book, and if you’re a fan of romance in general, you’ll want to pick it up, too.”—Lambda Literary
Against All Odds
“This story tugged at my heartstrings and it hit all the right notes for me because these wonderful authors allowed me to peep into the hearts and minds of the characters. The vivid descriptions of Peyton, Tory and the perpetrator’s personalities allowed me to have a deeper understanding of what makes them tick and I was able to form a clear picture of them in my mind.”—The Lesbian Review
“Against All Odds is equal parts thriller and romance, the balance between action and love, fast and slow pace makes this novel a very entertaining read.”— Lez Review Books
Tinsel
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Tinsel
© 2019 By Kris Bryant. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-641-4
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books,
Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: December 2019
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editors: Ashley Tillman and Shelley Thrasher
Production Design: Bold Strokes Graphics
Cover Design by Deb B.
By the Author
Jolt
Whirlwind Romance
Just Say Yes
Forget Me Not
Taste
Touch
Shameless (written as Brit Ryder)
Breakthrough
Against All Odds
Listen
Falling
Tinsel
Acknowledgments
At the last minute, I decided I wanted to write a Christmas novella. I pitched the idea to Sandy and she said, “Great, you have ten days to get it to me.” This was an easy story to write because it’s based on a true story. Bold Strokes Books is so supportive of my writing endeavors. I love working with Sandy, Rad, Ashley, and the team that puts everything together to make our books happen and get into the hands of our readers.
Fur babies are family members, plain and simple. They love us unconditionally and need us as much as we need them. I love Molly with all of my heart, but I also miss all of my kitties. Raven was my first and taught me so much about cats and their complete weirdness. Sissy Cat was the sweetest cat who wasn’t afraid of anything, and I loved them so much. Both were street strays (so is Molly). Buzz came into my life during the end of his, but he was sweet and demanded attention when he wanted it. Even though I’m probably more of a dog person, I love kitties as well. I understand them. We have more in common.
Thank you, readers, for giving your animals a wonderful home and everything they need to survive in this world. It’s not easy, but it’s enriching. There are so many animals who never find their forever homes, and even if you can’t provide one for them, please consider donating time, money, supplies to your local animal shelter. You can still show your love for them even if you can’t make a full-time commitment.
I hope you enjoy this story about a little kitty who finds her forever home.
Dedication
To KB Draper
For encouraging me to write Raven’s story
Chapter One
“Well, hello there, sweet kitty. What are you doing out there?”
I tapped on the window from inside Cool Beans coffee shop to get the fuzzy gray cat’s attention. It hunched its back and rubbed up against the glass from the outside, as if it could actually feel my touch.
“Sweet baby. It’s too cold for you out there. Where’s your mama?”
Fingers snapped in my face. My attention went from the cute, interactive kitty outside to the bitch sitting across from me.
“Earth to Jess. Have you heard a word I said?” Stephanie asked.
I brushed the cookie crumbs into a small pile in front of me with my pinky before I answered her. Breaking up was horrible, and even though I knew it was coming, we had to make it official. I needed closure, and Stephanie needed to feel better and explain why she was sleeping with my co-worker. “Yes.” I stared at her keeping all my emotions tamped down and out of sight. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing I was still angry, and even though my heart wasn’t broken, it was cracked. Steph wasn’t the one, but she was the one right now, and Christmas was only three weeks away. I didn’t want to be alone during the holidays. The breakup hurt.
“Yes? That’s all you have to say to me? Look, I know I was a jerk and should have broken things off before…” She paused as if it pained her to continue. “Before I started up with Melissa, but you were always working and never around.”
Melissa and I worked the same hours. I smiled at Stephanie, the fake kind. “You aren’t telling me anything I don’t already know.” I handed her a canvas bag that contained all her personal items from my house. A toothbrush, a hairbrush, hair pomade, a pair of sweatpants, two T-shirts, deodorant, and a few trinkets she’d given me that I didn’t want anymore. “Here’s your stuff.”
“So, you don’t want to talk about it?”
I was trying hard to keep the peace and not throw a tantrum in public. Even though the blood in my veins threatened to burn me from the inside, I wanted to keep my cool. I was twenty-nine years old with another failed relationship under my belt. Finding someone whom I deemed normal and was loyal seemed impossible. Steph wasn’t the first one to cheat on me.
“What exactly do you want me to say? It’s my fault? I forgive you? Let’s be friends? Because none of those are true. It’s not my fault, I don’t forgive you, and I never want to see you again.” I hated that she got under my skin so quickly.
“That’s going to be hard since I’m dating your team lead.”
I wanted to throw my tea in her face and storm out, but I still wanted to drink it. It would’ve been a complete waste of the perfect blend of apples, cinnamon, and cloves. She wasn’t worth it.
“We’ll see for how long.” I winked because I knew that Melissa was a bigger douchebag than Stephanie. I gave them six weeks tops.
That delivery did the trick because she stood up, grabbed the bag of the last remnants of her life in mine, and stomped off. Through the window, I watched her disappear in the crowd of Christmas shoppers. A gray paw showed up in my line of vision as I wondered what to do with Stephanie’s presents and who I could regift them to. The cat was still there. I continued running my finger along the window and smiled as it followed my finger. What was such a beautiful cat doing out in this cold? I didn’t see a collar on it and was immediately concerned for its safety.
“Get out of here.” A dude walking by shooed the cat away with a bag. I banged on the glass when the cat ran off.
“Asshole.” I followed up with a festive middle finger when he looked back. He returned the greeting and continued on his way. I slowly sat down when I saw I had the attention of the entire coffee shop due to my outburst. I pretended to be engrossed in my phone to avoid eye contact and sipped my tea until I was too uncomfortable to stay. I slipped on my coat, grabbed my purse, and walked out with my head held high. It would be a while before I came back to Cool Beans. The last two breakups happened here. It was starting to become a trend for me.
“Kitty. Where are you, kitty?”
I looked around but couldn’t find it anywhere. It was time to go home. Even though it was below freezing and the wind ribboned inside my coat sleeves, chilling me to the bone, I welcomed the cold. I was processing a lot of anger. Finding your girlfriend in bed with someone you work with was so clichéd, and I hated that it happened to me. And then some jerk of a guy hit a cat with his bag. I already knew my night was going to be shit, but his abusiveness was the icing on the cake. It was a good thing I didn’t recognize him. Asshat. My phone buzzed in my back pocket.
“Well, how did it go?” my best friend asked.
Mo knew I hated to have another breakup on my record, but she’d warned me that Stephanie wasn’t the woman for me. As a matter of fact, she called it a month into the relationship.
“About how one would expect. Awful, but no tears.”
“I know you hate breaking up, but it was for the best. I never liked her.”
“I didn’t really like her much either, but she was good in bed,” I said. Stephanie was the kind of girl who had all the confidence and lived life to the fullest. She was attractive, somewhat cocky, and always knew the right words to say.
“Yeah, and you stayed with her for all the wrong reasons. How did she end up with Melissa again?”
“The company end-of-the-summer party. I wonder if they hooked up then?” I didn’t want to
think about it, but Mo had pegged her as a cheat from day one. They were wary of one another, but I figured it was because best friends and lovers always clashed.
“I wonder how long it had been going on. I mean, it makes no sense to be your girlfriend and then repeatedly fuck someone else. Did she give you an explanation?”
Right then, a blast of cold air swept through the alley between my neighbor’s house and mine. I hissed my discomfort. “Shit, it’s cold out here.”
“Why didn’t you drive? It’s winter and you just walked three blocks in horrible weather. It’s going to be freezing this close to Christmas. Get home, get warm, and call me back. I have to tuck the munchkin in. Give me twenty minutes.”
When I met Mo seven years ago, I thought for sure she hated me. Her shitty attitude was because of a bad haircut earlier that day, not because I existed. I was at a college graduation party, and she spilled her entire pint of beer on me. A six-foot dyke with a bad buzz cut and a permanent snarl wasn’t somebody I wanted to mess with. I tried to scurry away, but she made sure I was okay, handed me a fresh drink and a fistful of paper towels, and put a smile on my face before she moved on.
