Almost Heaven

Almost Heaven
Charlotte Douglas

Home Is Where The Heart(Ache) Is…Six years ago she left Pleasant Valley to follow a dream…and now she's back, knee-deep in a nightmare. With her parents' marriage on the rocks, her grandmother at her wit's end and the man she once loved–and left–looking better than she remembers, Merrilee Stratton feels nothing but heartache.Although veterinarian Grant Nathan hasn't forgotten the way Merrilee agreed to his proposal and then left town, she needs his help. Pretty soon, thanks to Grant's sexy Southern drawl–and all the nights she's spent dreaming about what could have been–Merrilee begins to reconsider her choices. Like leaving the bright lights of New York behind and returning to the arms of the only man she's ever truly loved.Because everyone needs…A Place To Call Home

“Merrilee, are you afraid to be alone with me?” Grant asked innocently

“No!” Well…

“Good. I’ll feed you, then take you home. Besides, I want to show off the house. It’s changed a lot since the last time you saw it.”

If she continued to object, he might sense the reasons behind her reluctance, and her pride couldn’t allow that, so she abandoned her protests. But she’d shut the door on a life with Grant long ago. Tonight she’d make certain it remained locked and barred.

As they neared Grant’s place, her curiosity stirred. The one glimpse she’d had of the house that fateful summer years back had revealed a log cabin, ready to collapse in a strong wind. She’d hated the house the moment she saw it, but not liking the place had been the least of her problems that day.

The following morning she’d broken their engagement, certain she’d done the right thing. Even though she’d missed Grant terribly, she’d never doubted she’d made the best decision.

The last thing on earth she wanted was for Grant to prove her wrong.

Dear Reader,

To paraphrase an ancient Chinese saying, we live in interesting times. Due to tumultuous world events, we appreciate more than ever security, solace, acceptance and love as bulwarks against the troubles of the day. In my new series, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, I’ve created a small town in upstate South Carolina where love and acceptance, along with only the occasional mayhem, abound. For the residents of Pleasant Valley, friends are family, and family is everything.

In Almost Heaven, book one of the series, Merrilee Stratton has fled Pleasant Valley for New York City to follow her dream of becoming a famous photographer. When a family crisis calls her home, she can’t avoid her ex-fiancé, Grant Nathan, a handsome country vet. Will Merrilee come to realize that everything she’s searched for has been in Pleasant Valley all along—and that there’s no place like home?

I hope you enjoy Merrilee and Grant’s story, and, as we say in the South, y’all come back and visit Pleasant Valley again in book two, One Good Man, will be out in January 2005.

Happy reading!

Almost Heaven

Charlotte Douglas

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The major passions of Charlotte Douglas’s life are her husband—her high school sweetheart to whom she’s been married for over three decades—and writing compelling stories. A national bestselling author, she enjoys filling her books with love of home and family, special places and happy endings. With their two cairn terriers, she and her husband live most of the year on Florida’s central west coast, but spend the warmer months at their North Carolina mountaintop retreat.

No matter what time of year, you can reach her at charlottedouglas1@juno.com (mailto:charlottedouglas1@juno.com). She’s always delighted to hear from readers.

Books by Charlotte Douglas

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

591—IT’S ABOUT TIME

623—BRINGING UP BABY

868—MONTANA MAIL-ORDER WIFE* (#litres_trial_promo)

961—SURPRISE INHERITANCE

999—DR. WONDERFUL

1027—VERDICT: DADDY

1038—ALMOST HEAVEN† (#litres_trial_promo)

HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

380—DREAM MAKER

434—BEN’S WIFE

482—FIRST-CLASS FATHER

515—A WOMAN OF MYSTERY

536—UNDERCOVER DAD

611—STRANGER IN HIS ARMS* (#litres_trial_promo)

638—LICENSED TO MARRY

668—MONTANA SECRETS

691—THE BRIDE’S RESCUER

740—THE CHRISTMAS TARGET

Contents

Chapter One (#u7e681490-3602-57f8-883f-aa2fbb367b19)

Chapter Two (#uebcc0952-55f7-5534-9155-e3156539f9f0)

Chapter Three (#u67ce797b-19ed-5c82-8013-07f63d5209be)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)