It was perfect, chaotic and noisy, but brimming with love. Each person at the table received a small gift deliberately left under the tree away from the huge piles of gifts the kids had opened. Nothing expensive, the gifts ranged from books to DVDs to a pair of Sponge Bob socks for Jim. Hayley had a joint present for her two dads, and she handed it to them with a smile of unlimited joy.
"I made it," she said, "though Aunty Eden helped."
Jack inclined his head to indicate Riley should open the box, so he did. Inside was the most intricate tree ornament dripping with silver and red sparkles. He held it up, and it spun on the short string, the light from overhead twinkling in the mirrored, sprinkled glitter. He stopped the spin and focused in on the tiny photos he recognized from the interview, little thumbnails of him and Jack and Hayley. She had glued them in a group along with a hand-written label. Daddy, Pappa and me My family, 2011
THE END
A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR
RJ Scott lives just outside London. She has been writing since age six, when she was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and was told to write a story. Two sides of A4 about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born. She loves reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror; however, her first real love will always be the world of romance. Her goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and more than a hint of happily ever after.
Emaiclass="underline"
rj@rjscott.co.uk
Webpage:
www.rjscott.co.uk
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/rjscotts
Twitter: @rjscotts
A
LSO BY
R J S
COTT
Available at
Silver Publishing
:
Oracle
Moments
The Christmas Throwaway The Heart of Texas
"Valentine 2525" in Never Say Never All the King's Men
Back Home
Deefur Dog
The Heart of Texas 2: Texas Winter Jesse's Christmas (December 25) The Gallows Tree (coming soon)
THE FIRE TRILOGY Kian
Darach
Eoin
THE FITZWARREN INHERITANCE The Psychic's Tale, by Chris Quinton The Soldier's Tale, by RJ Scott The Lord's Tale, by Sue Brown
SANCTUARY
Guarding Morgan
SHADOW OF THE WOLF with Diane Adams Shattered Secrets
Broken Memories (coming soon)
R
EVIEWS
:
Lisa from
Michele n Jeff Reviews
gives 5/5 to
The Christmas Throwaway
RJ Scott has created a beautiful and inspirational story that grabs hold of the heart and doesn't let go, even after its final words are read. It is a sweetly sentimental book that cultivates an emotional response and inspires belief that love can prevail under the most improbable of circumstances. The characters are well developed and engaging, and the attraction between Zach and Ben was entirely credible. To use a trite but true cliché, The Christmas Throwaway is simply a feel-good story, a touching and romantic read that embodies the meaning of new beginnings and happy endings.
* * * *
Reviews by Jessewave
gives 4.5/5 to
The Christmas Throwaway
The Christmas Throwaway touched me, not because Zach was homeless at 17 and had been thrown out of his home by his father one week before Christmas, but his character was so vulnerable and innocent that it would take a much harder heart than mine to resist him. However, this book is a dichotomy. It's so sweet in some parts but quite harsh and realistic in others. Two years after they met the ending was everything I could have hoped for. There is sex but it's not at the level that some readers are accustomed to, however I would urge you to read Zach's and Ben's beautiful story.
Definitely recommended.
* * * *
Book Wenches
give 4.5 to
Moments
Although I began reading it looking for a Hollywood train wreck, this novel is much more than that. It is a well-told
story of love, personal growth and redemption that I found to be touching and quite involving. It features welldeveloped and arresting characters, heartfelt emotion, and a romance that is both intriguing and affecting… I will definitely be seeking out more of Ms. Scott's work in the future.
* * * *
Readers Roundtable
gives 5/5 to
Oracle
Oracle by RJ Scott is in one word beautiful. You have to take the journey with Alex to find that beauty but it's there and it will bring a smile, and a few tears, to your face.
* * * *
Lisa from
Michele n Jeff Reviews
gives
Oracle
a 4/5 and writes a brilliant review…
Oracle is a story whose roots are planted firmly in Greek Mythology. The characters are drawn from both mythology
and the contemporary, and each had an important role to play in the exposition of the plot. Alex and Luke were
strong protagonists, and the bond they were fated to share was deeply compelling and authentic. From the
introduction to the conclusion, the plot held my attention with a blend of romance, suspense, conflict, and action.