The Secret to Falling in Love

The Secret to Falling in Love
Victoria Cooke

Status Update: I’m going offline for a while… Wish me luck! xxLifestyle journalist and thirty-something singleton Melissa hashtags, insta's and snapchats her supposedly fabulous life on every social media platform there is.That is until she wakes up on her birthday, another year older and still alone, wondering if for all her internet dates, love really can be found online? The challenge: go technology free for a whole month!Forced to confront the reality of her life without its perfect filters, Melissa knows she needs to make some changes. But when she bumps into not one, but two gorgeous men, without the use of an app, she believes there could be hope for love offline.If only there was a way to choose the right guy for her…

Status Update: I’m going offline for a while… Wish me luck! xx

Lifestyle journalist and thirty-something singleton Melissa hashtags, insta's and snapchats her supposedly fabulous life on every social media platform there is.

That is until she wakes up on her birthday, another year older and still alone, wondering if for all her internet dates, love really can be found online? The challenge: go technology free for a whole month!

Forced to confront the reality of her life without its perfect filters, Melissa knows she needs to make some changes. But when she bumps into not one, but two gorgeous men, without the use of an app, she believes there could be hope for love offline!

If only there was a way to choose the right guy for her…

The Secret to Falling in Love

Victoria Cooke

VICTORIA COOKE

grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of her career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher in year three who saw potential in a six page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first novel in 2016.

I would like to give huge thanks to HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to publish my debut novel, in particular my editor Victoria Oundjian and editorial assistant Hannah Smith for being incredibly approachable, supportive and tactful.

I would also like to say a special ‘thank you’ to Katherine Trail at KT Editing for her honesty and support, and for teaching me so much.

Contents

Cover (#uff07711c-e294-5e0d-a415-2d62690d095f)

Blurb (#ub356a651-debc-5f75-ae6e-00feb2ddea71)

Title Page (#u05214187-7741-53d9-8c44-b4c6a1e6d05d)

Author Bio (#u383954cc-1c97-5f96-8331-558ad0adc4e0)

Acknowledgements (#u35624205-97b5-564e-befc-b5061f58d18a)

Dedication (#u3d9c0dde-04b0-5670-9716-09afe0f8da9f)

Chapter One (#ulink_14c18482-09df-5356-935c-598df5d7453f)

Chapter Two (#ulink_84878830-0a27-572f-a88b-d5895a3240f6)

Chapter Three (#ulink_515975c2-4e98-5c98-8043-f4e49619da17)

Chapter Four (#ulink_5007238f-6505-57f0-8866-e9ef489a91f7)

Chapter Five (#ulink_6ce90ff0-3b0d-50c6-bd8a-2555eb9cb7a9)

Chapter Six (#ulink_f5d0d8f1-df8c-5d46-b9ce-1738de3da107)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

To Chris, for being my real-life hero and supporting my writing journey.

Chapter One (#ulink_aac59455-0993-532a-8ff7-fcfa9739d1ab)

I opened my eyes with a start. A thin, bluish line of light crept in underneath the blind. It was morning. As my eyes adjusted, I scanned the room in confusion. I didn’t recognise it at all. I had no recollection of how I’d come to be there. It took a moment for me to recall the events of the previous evening. When I did, dread descended upon me. The true horror set in. I was suddenly wide awake. I had to escape. If I was going to get out without being rumbled, I had to do it quickly.

First, I needed to figure out where I was. I tensed my body, trying to keep it as still as possible, and slid a leg out of the bed into the cold, stark air. I felt around the floor with my toes until they found my handbag. Bingo. Slowly, I hooked my toe underneath the handle and bent my knee, bringing the bag up towards my chest. I unzipped it quietly.