Book Extract: Keeping up with the Kershaws by Helen Buckley

A lovely big welcome back to Helen Buckley. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Keeping up with the Kershaws.

What do you do when your life becomes more dramatic than reality TV?

As the devoted carer for famous antique expert Harold Kershaw, Karrie Morgan was always happy to keep a professional distance from his four spoilt grown-up children, who rarely made time for their father.

But then a surprise involving Harold’s Will means Karrie is flung headlong into a press scandal, and into the chaotic world of the surviving Kershaws.

With the support of her trusted childhood friend Andrew, mild-mannered Karrie must face down ruthless ice queen Portia, master manipulator Gabriel, Botox fanatic Arabella, and ladies’ man Rafe, star of reality TV show Raised in Richmond … although perhaps not as fake and flashy as he initially seems?

As vicious rumours circulate and Karrie’s past comes back to haunt her, she struggles to know who to trust. Can she keep up with the Kershaws’ schemes?

Helen has shared an extract from Keeping up with the Kershaws with Novel Kicks today. We hope you enjoy. 

*****beginning of extract*****

In this extract, Karrie is about to face the fury of the four Kershaw siblings, who have found out that she has inherited their father’s millions.

Karrie shuddered with nerves as she paused outside the library, wondering if this was all just some awful nightmare that perhaps she would wake up from. She blinked hard and pinched her hand just to make sure, but she didn’t wake up. It was real and this was really happening, as much as she wished it weren’t. She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and pushed open the door.

The library was once her favourite room in the Kershaw house. The ornate wallpaper was largely obscured by the towering bookcases, made of specially ordered English Cherry, and filled with collectibles and rare books. The room had always smelled of old paper, particles of dust gently floated in the sunlight; a room of knowledge and peace.

But now the Kershaw siblings were there with their solicitor and the atmosphere was tense and ominous, as though a storm were about to break. Portia was red-eyed and raw with anger, and Gabriel glared at Karrie with a dark expression, his eyebrows drawn low in a scowl. Arabella stared at Karrie with a cold blank look on her surgically-improved features. Rafe stood close to the window, his arms folded. Karrie could practically feel the rage emanating off them and the room no longer felt like a sanctuary, more like a potential battleground, and she was totally unarmed.

Karrie faced them alone, dressed in her usual black jeans and a T-shirt, feeling smaller than five foot six, and hopelessly unprepared for the confrontation.

*****end of extract*****

About Helen Buckley: 

Ever since I was little I wanted to be a writer, to turn daydreams into books.

I’m fascinated by fame, in love with Happy Ever Afters, and enthralled by slow-burn romances.

I squeeze in time to write around looking after my two sons.

Find out more about me on my website www.buckleybooks.org or say hello via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Keeping up with the Kershaws is book 4 in the Spotlight series and was released in March 2022. Click to buy on Amazon UK

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.