Book Extract: The Next Step by B R Maycock

I’m so pleased to be welcoming B R Maycock to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for The Next Step, book three in the Abbeyglen series.

Christmas has been all but forgotten as a negative pregnancy test makes Rachel reconsider her future with Todd. The realisation sends her to the small town of Abbeyglen where the opening of Caulfield’s Café is all anyone’s talking about. But it also has her beginning to see returning colleague at Blackwater Financial Services, the loud, hilarious Owen Larrson in a new light.

Natalie has decided she needs a change. In the midst of Christmas craziness, with the grand opening of the café and the excitement of her two children’s Christmas concert, Natalie can only hope the people of Blackwater Financial Services can help her find the job that will change her life. But as ex-boyfriend Darren returns, she realises luck might not be on her side for a bright Christmas after all 

Join two women who are trying to figure out what the rest of their lives hold, in the midst of the mayhem of the most wonderful time of the year in the most wonderful place to be!

B R Maycock has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

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

Hi! So this is a little excerpt/ extract from The Next Step and it’s the lovely Natalie Martin, who works in The Abbeyglen Arms, who has just had a day job hunting. Hope you enjoy!!

*****

‘You’re late, Mammy,’ Katie said, as she walked out of the babysitter’s, gripping her mother’s hand. ‘Today was supposed to be the day you didn’t work.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ve made some plans,’ Natalie said, grinning at her daughter. ‘We’re going to make paper chains and Christmas decorations for the tree.’

‘We should really start by getting a tree,’ her daughter said, giving her a look. ‘You keep telling us to make decorations but there’s nowhere to put them.’

‘Hey, keep talking to me like that and you’ll be our Christmas tree! I’ll stand you in the corner and put lights and tinsel and paper chains on you.’

Her daughter giggled. ‘You’re so silly sometimes, Mammy. So what was your day in Dublin like?’

‘As you know I was job hunting,’ Natalie said, wondering why she was telling her five-year-old this. ‘I had a great day. A lot of people were very positive and I met an old friend.’

Who could have known she would have such a day? She now had a list of office jobs she was in the running for. Outside of Blackwater Financial Services one or two companies had told her people didn’t necessarily need tons of experience for entry-level roles. Natalie nearly swooned at that. Entry level jobs were paying more than she earned at any given time from the multiple jobs she had. She heard a ping and looked at her phone.

Unknown Number: We regret to inform you that you have not been successful at Acorn Enterprises. We wish you every success in your future endeavours.

She gulped. Had she really just gotten a text message rejection on the day she’d applied? She couldn’t even remember Acorn Enterprises but she suddenly craved working there.

‘I work at Acorn Enterprises.’

‘Mammy works at Acorn Enterprises’ (the kids).

‘Their mum works at Acorn Enterprises’ (the teachers).

‘She’s not working here anymore, she just helps out at the weekend, she doesn’t really need the money, she works at Acorn Enterprises’ (Kenneth at the Abbeyglen Arms).

But then she almost laughed at herself. She wasn’t going to let one rejection knock her down. She clasped her daughter’s hand and set off for an Evening Of Fun.

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

About B R Maycock –

B R Maycock is the author of laugh out loud romantic comedies. She lives in the midlands in Ireland with her four little men, kooky husband, dog Eddie and cat Shadow!

Say hello via her blog, Facebook, Amazon, X, TikTok and Instagram.

The Next Step is book three in the Abbeyglen series and was released in 2024. Click here to buy on Amazon UK, Waterstones and Amazon US. 

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.