Tamsen's Hollow
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About this ebook
About Tamsen's Hollow
Tamsen Hayes vowed never to return to her hometown of Franklin, North Carolina. But then again, she never thought she would lose her job and end her relationship on the same day, either. Weary of the hustle and bustle of corporate work and city life and in need of a new place to live, Tamsen impulsively purchases a fixer-upper farm that she had always admired as a child. With a few coats of colorful paint, and the addition of a few adorable goats, her little farm in the holler starts to feel like home.
What she didn’t bet on was that a handsome neighbor with a mysterious past would come with the territory. Despite their friendship and mutual attraction, Tamsen just can’t seem to shake the memories of her ex, and finds herself building a wall and running away before she gets hurt by anyone… especially the enigmatic Jake Turner. Tamsen soon learns that if she can’t move on, she might end up closing the door on something good and missing out on an unexpected love that, just maybe, was always meant to be.
About Bryant Street Shorts
Bryant Street Shorts is a new publisher specializing in exciting short-form fiction from talented and emerging writers. We’re passionate about creating immersive works that represent our readers and celebrate what matters to them, which is why our catalog of stories reflects a wide range of experiences and voices.
Many Bryant Street Shorts are collections of stories that follow ensembles of characters across multiple storylines. We suggest reading these stories in order to get the most out of your experience. Simply scroll down to “Titles In This Series,” located just below the description of every Bryant Street Short, to find the stories in their correct order.
To find more short stories and novellas on Scribd, simply search for “Bryant Street Shorts."
Wendy Dalrymple
Wendy Dalrymple writes cozy, low-heat romances inspired by everyday people. When she’s not writing happily-ever-afters, you can find her camping with her family or walking her dog. Keep up with Wendy at www.wendydalrymple.com!
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Reviews for Tamsen's Hollow
26 ratings5 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a sweet, funny, and charming read. It offers escapism with goats, farms, YouTube channels, and a swoon-worthy love interest. The book has relatable characters set in a dreamy town, making it enjoyable and perfect for fans of Hallmark movies.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a sweet and enjoyable romance with very real and relatable characters set in a town everyone dreams of living in! I could imagine this as a perfect Hallmark movie!
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5This book has never been even temporarily removed in at least 2 yr. Why?
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It kept me completely enthralled all the way thru. If you have more great stories you would like to share, You can join the NovelStar writing contest with a theme "WEREWOLVES" Prices are amazing! just email any of the following editors;
[email protected]
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[email protected] - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Well, that was pretty...uneventful. Exactly like a Hallmark movie. E
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5THIS IS SO CUTE! Escapism in the best way, with goats, farms, YouTube channels, and a swoon-worthy love interest. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a sweet, funny, and charming read.
3 people found this helpful
Book preview
Tamsen's Hollow - Wendy Dalrymple
Chapter One
Tamsen Hayes leaned back against the wall of her condo elevator and let out a deep sigh. She closed her eyes as the weight of the heavy cardboard box dug into her hips, her prized purple orchid looking cheerfully up at her as if to say, Why so sad?
After four years at Morrow and Morrow, Tamsen had been unceremoniously pink-slipped, the words from her supervisor dull and muffled in her ears. She was officially unemployed. Downsized. Let go.
The day had started out ordinarily enough: seven-a.m. yoga followed by a quick shower at the gym and a smoothie from her favorite café. She should have sensed something was off when the daily morning meeting with her team was canceled, but she had no reason to think anything was amiss. Her days were a clockwork machine that ran endlessly, from her first cup of coffee to her religious nighttime skincare regimen: perfect, precise, and utterly devoid of surprise.
As the light on the elevator keypad climbed toward the eighth floor of her building, Tamsen could only think of one thing. She wanted to rip off the stupid professional
pencil skirt and button-down constricting her and slip into her faded cat-print pajamas. She wanted to make a cup of tea and sink deep into her bed and binge-watch… something, anything to numb her out, until it was a respectable time to crack open a bottle of wine. Then tomorrow she would pull herself up by her bootstraps, polish off her resume, and get to the business of applying at every marketing firm that was hiring in Tampa Bay. But first, a proper pity party.
The moment Tamsen entered the condo, she could immediately tell that something was off. This time of day, her fiancé, Austin, was usually at his restaurant preparing for the lunch rush. His keys and wallet on the kitchen island told her he was still home for whatever reason. Tamsen sighed again and placed her box of personal items on the entryway table. She wasn’t prepared to break the news to him so soon. Their wedding was only six months away, and she didn’t know how he would react to her being out of work so close to their big day.
Austin?
she called out, kicking her shoes off by the door. I’m home.
As Tamsen walked toward their bedroom, a sickening feeling began to spread deep within her gut. A black shirt and a pair of jeans that she didn’t recognize were draped over their couch. Austin’s sandals, cargo shorts, and Tampa Bay Lightning tee were in a ball on the floor, and her pulse began to hammer in her ears as she added up the equation of the evidence laid out before her. The door to the bedroom was closed, and she was terrified to see what was on the other side.
Operating on pure adrenaline, Tamsen silently turned the knob and opened the door. She didn’t bother to knock, and was instantly met with a sight that would become permanently burned into her memory. Straddling her fiancé, on her bed, was a very tan, and very naked, woman. Long black tendrils of hair cascaded down her back, covering and uncovering a collection of intricate floral tattoos as she moved her body back and forth. Austin’s hands were firmly clamped around her hips, his head thrown back onto their pillows, a film of sweat on his forehead.
Tamsen stood there for a moment, silently taking in the sight. They didn’t even notice her and continued to grind away as she remained frozen in shock. Tamsen didn’t say a word. Her mouth was a desert. Her mind was a complete blank. She turned and walked back out the way she’d come and slipped back into her work heels, taking only her purse and keys. At the last minute she slammed the condo door, using her body to physically punctuate the moment when words failed her. They would be sure to know she had seen them now.
As the elevator doors closed, Tamsen could hear Austin calling out to her down the hallway of their building. Hot tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she slumped against the elevator once more. Her twenty-eighth birthday was next week. Everything that she had worked so hard for had run through her fingers all in one morning, and for the first time in her adult life, Tamsen Hayes felt completely out of control.
Section BreakDid she look familiar?
Tamsen’s self-appointed work wife and best friend, Keri, refilled her tumbler with a generous serving of cabernet. She gulped down the wine and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
No,
Tamsen said, sniffing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before. She looked like a porn star or something.
Ew,
Keri said.
I’m so stupid.
Tamsen took another gulp. I mean, how long was this going on?
You’re not stupid.
Keri refilled her glass again. He’s an asshole.
What am I gonna do about the wedding?
Tamsen whined, and buried her face deep into a throw pillow.
Canceled.
Keri stroked her friend’s hair. I’ll help you make some calls tomorrow. We’ll get as much refunded as we can.
Tamsen nodded. She had invested so much of her time, money, and energy into planning her wedding. The most significant event of her life, one that just the day before had consumed her every thought, had been