I am thrilled to be able to showcase the newest release by my talented writer friend, Lizzie Chantree. The Windsor Love Pact is the first in a new three-book series, and it promises to be fab!
The Blurb
The perfect fake-date romance read from the international bestselling author.
Fill your day with small-town love, grumpy movie stars who aren’t looking for romance and happily-ever-afters.
When Maya, a talented designer with a penchant for order has a chance encounter with Noah Benedict, a handsome movie star with a flair for spontaneity, destiny takes an unexpected turn. Two strangers with wildly different lives find themselves thrust together and Maya’s quiet existence suddenly becomes a thing of the past.
With Noah pressured by his family to settle down and Maya recovering from a challenging breakup, they strike an unconventional deal –a fake relationship. For Noah, it is a chance to prevent his toxic ex from selling further untrue stories about him. For Maya, a chance to heal her broken heart.
Little do Maya and Noah know that their pretend romance will lead to a whirlwind of emotions and unwanted press interest, testing the boundaries of their agreement. As the charade unfolds, sizzling stolen glances and staged kisses ignite real sparks of passion as the lines between fake and real begin to blur. But, just as they start to believe in the possibility of something genuine, a secret emerges about one of them that threatens to unravel the delicate threads of their budding relationship.
With familial expectations, media interest and troublesome ex partners, Maya and Noah must confront the truth of their feelings. Will their love survive the storm of fame and deception, or will the truth tear them apart?
Sometimes, the most unexpected connections are the ones that catch our heart. Set against the backdrop of a charming riverside town, this heart-warming story proves that the most beautiful love stories are often the ones we didn’t expect.
My Review
The Windsor Love Pact: Can fake-dating turn into love? by Lizzie Chantree
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I enjoy a fake dating trope in my romance reads, and Lizzie Chantree has given me a wonderful one here.
The Windsor Love Pact is the first in a new series, set in Windsor. Maya, a wonderfully talented jewellery designer and artist, recently moved back ‘home’ after an unpleasant break-up. A chance encounter with Noah Benedict, a handsome and famous actor who has moved in close by, changes her life’s path.
Both characters have a lot on their plates, and the idea of fake dating seems like the perfect solution to the constant cries of ‘when will you find a partner?’ for both of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the build-up of chemistry between Maya and Noah and the meddling from specific individuals. There are secrets and little twists that are a fantastic surprise for readers as the end of the story comes into view.
I loved all the different aspects of this book, from the colourful characters, whom I look forward to learning more about as the series progresses, to Bertha, the old ferry that Maya sometimes works on. The descriptions of the riverside views and the plants and flowers surrounding the area made me want to visit!
I’m now getting impatient to read the next one! Roll on, August!
Buy here: https://mybook.to/TheWindsorLovePact
Now, if my review is not enough to tempt you into ordering straight away, here is an excerpt from Chapter One to whet your appetite!
Maya gasped in shock as a man barrelled into her, knocking the lukewarm coffee
she’d been sipping straight over her white vintage lace t- shirt. Time froze for a
second before she realised that he was holding her arms to steady her and
apologising profusely. ‘I’m so sorry!’ he said, his tone breathless as he pushed the
black baseball cap he was wearing further back to reveal more of his face and then
glanced behind him. Maya felt another punch of surprise as she recognised the
piercing blue of his eyes first and then the fact that they were filled with panic. She
looked over his shoulder and noted a crowd forming on the other side of the pretty
little flower-adorned bridge they were standing on and frowned, before
understanding dawned.
Recalling the feeling of having no privacy, she quickly wondered how she could limit
the damage to this escalating situation. ‘Please let me pay for your dry cleaning and
coffee,’ he said hurriedly, as he tried to draw her away from the crowd, who looked
as if they were deciding how much they could push their luck by approaching their
idol. Maya’s own eyes sparkled as she had literally just been thinking that her days
were pretty quiet, after her own touches with fame. Now she was standing on the
bridge next to her rental house with devilishly handsome bad boy, Noah Benedict! It
was like a scene from one of his movies.
‘It’s fine,’ she said lightly. ‘It looks like you’re in a bit of a predicament,’ she nodded
towards the crowd who were just now beginning to walk towards them as Maya and
Noah rapidly turned back towards her house and the docks along that side of the
river.
‘I was feeling a bit stir crazy and thought no one would notice me if I had a quick
early morning stroll,’ he shrugged and then grinned self-depreciatingly, which made
a few butterflies take flight in her stomach.
‘We all start pretty early here if we’re working on the boats and the cafés on that side
of the water bring in droves of early morning dog walkers. I live here…’ she pointed
towards the first town house, then flushed as that might seem a tad stalkerish and
forward. ‘I meant to hide in!’ she hurried on and he chuckled, but then looked over
her shoulder again and grimaced. ‘But they already know you’re here and if that’s
your boat,’ she nodded towards the shiny black powerboat that she’d seen docked
outside his mansion situated further up the river when she helped on the river
cruises, ‘then that’s your best bet. Jump in and I’ll walk back across the bridge and
hold them off. I probably know most of them.’
He heaved a huge sigh of relief and quickly took her hand to thank her. ‘Your clothes
and coffee. What can I do to compensate you?’ he asked again as they reached his
boat and he threw the cap in, leaving his dark blonde hair all mussed-up and sexy.
‘It’s nothing. It will take me two seconds to change clothes and I work across the
water, so I won’t even be late for work.’ She smiled warmly at him, to show him she
was sincere and he breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Thank you,’ he said as he jumped into his boat and set o!. ‘I don’t even know your
name,’ he called back, but she’d already turned and was walking rapidly towards the
bridge and he had to quickly start the engine and move the boat back into the centre
of the river.
After persuading the group on the bridge that there was nothing to see now, Maya
caught her breath and stepped aboard Bertha, the timeworn steamboat that was
docked on the river Thames, and waved to Joe, her grandad’s best friend and one of
her favourite people on Earth. What a morning! Joe ran the only steamboat on this
stretch of the river, with its black and gold railings and cream and black lifebuoy rings
that were tied at intervals with bright orange rope. The forest-green awning that
covered the seating area had seen better days and the paddle wheel needed a lick
of paint, but the boat was still majestic despite being weathered from the water and
passing of time. Bertha’s faded grandeur caught the interest of tourists walking
around the dock area, and she often featured in people’s holiday snaps. Joe’s
business was largely based on ferrying tourists up and down the estuary and
regaling them with local history, even if Maya was pretty sure he embellished his
stories here and there for his own entertainment when she wasn’t around to chide
him. She wouldn’t be surprised if he added in a visiting humpback whale or a dragon
living in the nearby castle at some point.
She ran her hands along the wooden handrail and enjoyed the feeling of her feet
being back on board the solid timbers of Bertha’s deck. She’d missed this… both
being on the water and part of a bustling community. The river path was still a
feathery assault course of swans and geese, hopeful that a passing child might drop
a morsel of food and she breathed in the honey-sweet scent of the golden Marsh
marigolds and tall grasses that were swaying in the slight breeze across the water,
reminding her of home. Sometimes she couldn’t believe how much her life had
changed, but it felt good to be surrounded by so many memories of her childhood.
Maya grinned and waved to Roman, the guy who helped Joe with the river cruises.
Roman had his long dread‐ locks held back with a headband as usual and he sent
her a winning smile as he helped a customer step over the threshold of the deck,
holding her walking stick, handbag and half-empty bottle of vodka! Maya’s mouth
dropped open and then she giggled as Roman handed the items back to the woman
once she was safely on board.
‘Roman,’ she called out, ‘do you need some help?’ The woman was certainly
unsteady on her feet, but Maya suspected it was more likely from the drink than the
need for her walking stick, as she was currently waving it at a huge seagull, who was
regarding her with keen interest.
Roman shook his head, which made the ends of his hair fly around his shoulders. ‘I
think I can manage.’ He winked, already reaching out to assist the next passenger
on board. Maya made a note to sit near to the wobbly customer, just in case she fell
overboard. There was a wooden-panelled bar in the centre of the boat with art deco
effect mirroring along the back wall, that would have been opulent and glamorous in
its heyday, but they only really served lukewarm rosé wine now so it was unusual for
them to have to worry about customers overindulging, as they spent most of their
time gazing at the lush river views, or into the verdant gardens of the exclusive
houses that lined the waterfront. Maya eyed the woman who was laughing
uproariously at something her friend said, then saw that they were celebrating
something by the way the second woman brought out a slightly squashed cake and
some candles that she quickly discarded after a glance at Bertha’s wooden bench
seating. She pulled a couple of plastic forks from her turquoise bag and they both
tucked in with relish and more giggles. One of the ladies caught Maya’s hand as she
passed and she turned to them with a polite smile.
‘Are we likely to see Noah Benedict on this cruise?’ asked one, as she took both
their plates and slipped them back into her bag, crumbs and all, which made Maya
wince. The other lady sat forward eagerly and Maya bit her lip in mirth. Most of their
customers mainly wanted a glimpse of Noah, the charismatic movie star who lived
along the river in a beautiful glass and metal house that must have incredible views
of the river. Before he’d crashed into her that morning, Maya had actually glimpsed
Noah herself on the grounds of his estate a few times and she could understand
everyone’s excitement. Being so close to him for a few moments had been a whole
different experience. Magnetism shone from him, even in his harassed state. He had
the usual Hollywood film star classic good looks; blonde tousled hair and piercing
blue eyes with a requisite drool- worthy body that must take hours of punishment in
the gym. The hunted look on his face had surprised her though. She’d assumed he
courted publicity, as he was always featured in the press.
‘I can’t promise anything,’ she said, much to the ladies’ obvious disappointment, ‘but
there have been more sightings of him from Bertha than any other cruise on the
river,’ she added quickly, not mentioning that some of the villagers had seen him up
close and in person that very morning. These feisty ladies might lynch her!
Despite her broken-heart, Maya had started to feel that she was – slowly – starting to
heal. It was good to be back again, back among people who’d known her as a child.
Living beside the ebb and “ow of the river after the glitz and glamour of the life and
relationship that she’d had to leave behind, had brought her a quiet joy. Her old
routine involved a fast-paced work life, creating intricate jewellery for influencers,
celebs and attending non-stop parties. Now she spent her time by or on the water,
on Joe’s boat or on the bank sketching wildlife, while she tried to come to terms with
the loss of her jewellery design business and fiancé. Walking in on him in bed with
Portia, one of their models, had brought her glittering career and what she’d thought
was a good life with her fiancé crashing down around her.
Maya thought back to her first sight of Blake. He was tall, dark and handsome, and
surrounded by a group of eager women. He had been sitting astride a chair in their
art class, where they were studying jewellery design, and his eyes met hers as she’d
walked in. She’d felt a frisson of heat go down her spine and her cheeks flush. He’d
sat next to her when their lecturer arrived and her heart was already metaphorically
in his hands. They’d been so young. Together, their ideas were magic, though.
Maya’s designs were unusual and customers adored her work. Blake quickly
realised his genius lay in marketing, so he left the design work to Maya. An up-and-
coming reality star had been photographed wearing one of their Luna Moth neck‐
laces with delicately arched wings and sweeping tail in a nightclub in Soho, and
suddenly everyone wanted to know their brand. Influencers were talking about them
and their phones buzzed from morning to night with requests from stylists asking to
borrow jewellery for events. They had been a dream team for a while with high-
profile parties, celebrity endorsements and a swanky new “at. Their list of clients had
grown and although she’d been shy and hadn’t relished the spotlight, Blake had
courted it.
‘Our success is down to my marketing skills,’ he’d repeated like a mantra.
‘Of course,’ she’d always appeased, as she’d sketched some new jewellery ideas,
keeping her eyes down and firmly on her work.
‘Pieces landing in the right person’s hands takes weeks of networking,’ he’d crowed,
making excuses for why he was always out late at night, but people came back time
and time again for her beautiful designs. Most of their customers thought Blake was
the designer because he was the public face of the company – and he didn’t
disabuse them of that notion. To them she was the boho partner in her glamorous
one-off pieces that her grandmother had designed and her love of vintage. Maya
glanced down at her current attire of an A-line skirt that sat a few inches above her
knees and looked like it had been scattered with flowers as the print was of regal
purple dahlias, the contrasting pink and white petals of cosmos and flowering sage
on a white woven background. Above that she had a cute little white short-sleeved
shirt she’d tied at her waist and a pretty little nasturtium flower brooch, with its wide
petals and splashes of colour at its centre. She’d taken a second look at her coffee
stained outfit of a lace top and jeans earlier, and decided to make a bit more of an
effort, as you never knew who you might bump into in this town it seemed, she
smiled to herself. Not that she was ever likely to stumble across Noah Benedict
again and she was definitely not attracted to sexy rogues any more. She’d learned
that lesson the hard way and her heart carried the scars.
Blake clearly preferred sleek blondes like Portia. Portia had been wearing an
incredibly expensive 18-carat diamond necklace Maya had designed and nothing
else. Maya had looked at them both and felt like the air had been sucked out of her
lungs. Portia had gasped and grabbed the bloody diamond necklace – as if Maya
was about to rip it from her throat – and then darted to the bathroom to lock herself
in. Maya hadn’t smashed anything, nor screamed accusations at Blake. She’d just let
the bottom fall out of her world while Blake scrabbled around to find his jeans and
trademark white tee. Then she’d turned on her heel and run, tears streaming down
her face, heart smashed into a million tiny pieces.
She’d swept up the few personal items from her desk, leaving everything else
behind. Unfortunately that included a folder of her designs for their forthcoming,
much anticipated collection. For a long time after the breakup Maya had hidden
herself away at her grandparents’ house where she’d grown up with her siblings and
dissolved into all-too-frequent tears at the world and the injustice of loving a man
who didn’t value her.
Maya had barely left the house, her family tip-toeing around her and whispering in
corners in hushed tones. She’d hardly been able to eat because she felt that the
affair must have been her fault; she wasn’t attentive enough, talented enough, sexy
enough, clever enough. Maya had never been short on admiring looks from men, but
Blake had chipped away at the way she dressed and behaved until she’d been
reduced to being grateful that he loved her. She wouldn’t put herself through the pain
of a broken heart again.
Slowly, with the help of her family and her best friend Leah, she’d begun to heal.
Being close to the water, riverside plants and the wildlife they attracted, like the ever-
darting dragonflies and busy bees, had helped and she’d started designing again.
Smaller jewellery at first and then bolder and more intricate pieces that were inspired
by the shapes and forms of the flowers she discovered growing by the river.
Maya rested her elbows on the rail as she watched the world pass by and a couple
of fish darted along in the frothy white ripples that Bertha created in the water. As the
boat steamed along, Maya wished her troubles would wash away with the breeze
and she could truly start again.
Leah had popped round the night before and tentatively suggested that she consider
dating again. The friends had met a couple of years previously, but to Maya, it felt
like they’d known each other their whole lives and she didn’t know how she’d
survived without a confidante and cheer‐ leader like Leah before that.
‘No thanks,’ Maya had replied as she reached into the fridge for a second chilled
bottle of sauvignon blanc.
‘But…’ Leah had begun, but Maya had given her one of those stares that told her to
shut up and drink her wine.
This conversation seemed a recurrent theme with her friends and family these days.
Her grandparents constantly tried to match-make her with the grandsons of friends
or neighbours. Dodging the topic was becoming an art form. No way, she wasn’t
ready.
It had taken everything she had to pick herself up again and she’d spent the last two
years building up a new jewellery brand that was hers and hers alone – No.1
Ethereal Lane. She’d worked from her workroom in her house by the river, sketching
new ideas while helping Joe and on Bertha, and now her brand was being noticed. A
particular piece, an exquisite cluster of white-gold bell-shaped comfrey flowers with
shimmering emerald-winged stalks and curved silver leaves, had just gone viral, the
collection selling out immediately. Post after post appeared on social media about
the collection and the press were now on the trail of the mysterious designer behind
the brand, because no one seemed to know who that was. Had it been Blake’s
marketing wizardry that had propelled them to the level of success their business
had reached last time, or was it her designs that customers fell in love with and were
clamouring to buy?
Joe beckoned her over with a wave and Maya slid her sketching pencils and sketch
pad back into her canvas tote bag, leaving it tucked under the bench by her feet so
no one could trip over it. ‘How are the birthday girls getting along?’ he asked,
inclining his head to the women who were currently leaning over the guard rails to
look at the fluffy- downed cygnets that were paddling at the side of the river.
Maya bit her lip in mirth. ‘They’ve been nattering about how to get the attention of our
gorgeous captain to persuade him to go of course,’ she teased. Joe laughed.
Customers often flirted with Joe as he was so handsome. He looked like a dashing
pirate and certain female clientele seemed to think he came with the boat and was
there for the picking! Joe would shake his head and roll his eyes with good humour.
Maya moved over to nudge hips with Roman as he stood at the guard rail by the port
side of the boat and he grinned and nudged her back. They enjoyed flirty banter with
each other, but although Roman was gorgeous, he still occasionally dated his
extremely fiery and vocal ex-girl‐ friend from the next town and getting thrown into
the middle of an argument was the last thing Maya needed. Roman’s angular
cheekbones and cheeky smile often got schoolgirl giggles from their female
customers and he enjoyed every moment, she knew. ‘It’s quiet again today,’ Maya
noted, glancing around at the almost clear decks.
Roman winced and shrugged. ‘I know. The worry lines on Joe’s face can’t get any
deeper!’ he tried to joke as they both glanced at Joe, who was standing by the huge
black paddle wheel. Maya put her arm around Roman’s shoulders and gave him a
squeeze of comfort. ‘Olive needs her hip op and Joe can’t afford to stay at home and
help her. We don’t have enough passengers as it is.’
‘I agree. Olive’s been hobbling around their bungalow for months.’ Maya sighed and
tears sprung to her eyes. ‘He’s so stubborn.’ Joe’s wife, Olive, needed him at home,
but the business required him to be on board. Maya helped as much as she could,
serving drinks from Joe’s collection of mismatched glassware and checking tickets. It
wasn’t enough. ‘We must come up with a plan to help,’ she added and Roman
hugged her back before moving away. ‘Let me know if you think of anything.’
She watched Roman walk towards Joe and noticed that his shoulders were sagging
in defeat. If Bertha was dry docked, she might not make it back into the water – and
both Joe and Roman would lose their livelihood.
The boat drew up near Noah’s waterfront pad and Maya leaned over the guard rail
and breathed in the fresh river air, closing her eyes for a quiet moment of
contemplation as the breeze touched her face. Noah’s sleek black power boat was
moored by the wide raised wooden jetty to the front of his property, so he’d made it
back alive! She thought of those piercing blue eyes and the way they’d briefly settled
on her dark brown ones and then shook the image away.
Working on the deck of a boat might be unusual for some, but it suited her. After all,
she could work pretty much anywhere that inspired her. Maya sat cross-legged on
the bow and considered Joe’s options, which were limited. As she watched the
riverbank glide past, she sighed when she saw a young couple strolling along with a
frolicking dog, smiling as they held each other’s hands. That had been her once. She
took her phone out of her bag, glancing despondently at the screen. She was sure
that her ex, Blake, would have loads of inspired ideas about how to help Joe. He’d
texted her constantly when they split up, but there had been over a year of silence
now. She swiped open an old text and !inched, waiting for the pain they usually
brought. She needed to permanently delete them and move on, but she’d kept one
or two and she didn’t really know why. It was as if she couldn’t quite let go of the last
strands of their relationship, which was ridiculous because she’d definitely moved on.
Maya almost snarled at the phone and the woman sitting next to her frowned and
turned her way.
‘Are you okay, dear?’ she asked, patting Maya’s hand.
‘Sorry!’ Maya shivered, wishing she’d brought a jumper as the wind was picking up
as they neared the halfway point of the cruise and her hair kept flying in her face.
‘Old message from my ex,’ she explained, grimacing and not wanting to explain
further. The face of the woman next to her hardened and she urged her to take a fork
and a mouthful of the remaining squashed cake, which Maya gratefully accepted.
‘Delete it,’ she advised sagely. ‘This will help,’ the woman insisted, patting her hand
in solidarity. The cake was deliciously chocolaty, which immediately restored Maya’s
good spirits and filled the air with the indulgent scent of earthy cocoa and sweet
vanilla. She shook her head at the offer of a tipple of vodka, but was sorely tempted.
She shoved the phone firmly back into her bag and knew she wouldn’t receive
another text. Other than that one time… Blake had always been predictable. She had
nothing to offer him now and he always had his eye on the prize.
Maya sat back to let the sun that peeked through the clouds for a minute or two
warm her face, then pulled her sketchpad back out of her bag. She began sketching
the common reeds that were swaying in the wind and the oval leaves and beautifully
scented, spiky-looking flowers of the water mint on the river bank as they sailed
slowly by.
She was building something new after feeling like she’d been without an anchor for
the past two years. Her heart was finally healing and being back home with the
inspiration of the river and all its surrounding natural beauty was inspiring her
creativity. Her new-found success would annoy the hell out of Blake. Suddenly –
unexpectedly – she was taking over the world of high-end jewellery design again,
this time with no one knowing her name. People were beginning to know her brand,
No.1 Ethereal Lane, but the designer behind the intricately cut designs was unknown
and she intended to keep it that way.
About the Author
International bestselling author, award-winning inventor and product designer, Lizzie Chantree, has
been featured on television and radio. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children
were little and now writes books (many based in Essex) full of friendship and laughter, that are about
women who are far stronger than they realise. Lizzie has recently combined her love of writing and
design by launching a range of sustainable book and writing-themed fashion and homewares, that are
being worn and displayed by influencers, worldwide. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex.
She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at lizziechantree.com or follow her
on Twitter, @Lizzie_Chantree
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But I Smile Anyway... 