This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Christmas at Queens Crescent as well as a prepublication copy of Pole Position.
My Real-Life Best Christmas Present by Kristian Parker
Hi everyone. I’m Kristian Parker, a writer from the north of England. Okay, I confess, I love Christmas too. So much that I’ve just released my first ever holiday story, Christmas at Queens Crescent.
The story features Jeremy Brookes, who has arrived in London to rebuild his life after losing his mother. He immediately meets handsome florist, Stuart Monroe who is also having a crisis of where his life is heading. Jeremy is instantly attracted so does the sensible thing of assuming a secret identity to get to know this man better.
Christmas at Queens Crescent is the opening book of my brand-new series, Queens Crescent. Set in one of London’s most exclusive postcodes, each house has a handsome billionaire with his own story to tell. As it happens, I’ve jammed more of them than you can shake a stick at in this book to give you a preview.
During the story, Stuart and Jeremy are talking about their favourite Christmas presents. For Stuart’s answer, I chose my real-life best Christmas present.
When I was a small child, we didn’t have loads of money, but Dad worked with electronics. So, he built me my own record deck with cassette and lights that changed in time to the music. I had headphones and a mic and would spend ages doing my own radio shows.
Sadly, these masterpieces have been lost to the passage of time. I bet I would absolutely cringe if I heard them back!
Of course, being of a certain age, presents like that gave way to Millennium Falcon’s and AT-AT Walkers but nothing gave me as much joy as my DJ set up.
To win a copy of Christmas at Queens Crescent and a pre-publication copy of the next book, Pole Position (Out in February 2023), just let me know in the comments what has been the best present you ever received and why.
Jeremy Brookes is having a mid-twenties crisis. After losing his mother, he’ taken up his father’s offer to move from Canada to London to start a new life. The problem is, he has no idea how to do it. His billionaire father as some ideas…
Once Jeremy is installed in the exclusive neighbourhood of Queens Crescent, he will have to sort his life out pretty damned quick if he’s to avoid a lifetime at the pharma company where his father is CEO and his stepmother rules HR.
Jeremy isn’t cut out for that life or that of a spoiled rich kid, worrying where his next designer label is coming from. Then he happens upon Stuart Monroe, the handsome Scottish florist with a shop around the corner. As the only socialist in Kensington, Stuart’s lowly background makes it a challenge to be surrounded by such wealth. Instantly drawn to this rebel in their midst, Jeremy decides to do the sensible thing: go undercover as Stuart’s new shop assistant to get to know the enigmatic stranger better.
What could possibly go wrong?
I have written for as long as I could write. In fact, before, when I would dictate to my auntie. I love to read, and I love to create worlds and characters.
I live in the English countryside. When I’m not writing, I like to get out there and think through the next scenario I’m going to throw my characters into.
Inspiration can be found anywhere, on a train, in a restaurant or in an office. I am always in search of the next character to find love in one of my stories. In a world of apps and online dating, it is important to remember love can be found when you least expect it.
Buy the book at Amazon.
lovely present
My brothers built me a dollhouse with working lights, wallpaper and furniture when I was a young child. That was one of the best gifts I ever received.