The Lass Who Kissed a Frog by Lee, Caroline (bookreader txt) 📕

The Lass Who Kissed a Frog

Caroline Lee

Copyright

Copyright © 2021, Caroline Lee

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

First edition: 2021

Printing/manufacturing information for this book may be found on the last page

Cover: EDHGraphics

Contents

Other Books by Caroline Lee

About This Book

ONCE UPON A TIME

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

AUTHOR’S NOTE

SNEAK PEEK

About the Author

Other Books by Caroline Lee

Other Books by Caroline Lee

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Highlander Ever After (3 books)

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Sunset Valley (3 books)

Everland Ever After (10 books)

The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet (6 books)

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The Cowboys of Cauldron Valley (7 books)

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About This Book

She needs his help to fetch the golden ball…too bad he’s just a frog!

Vanessa Oliphant has been accused of vanity, but who could blame her? Everyone keeps saying she’s the most beautiful lass born to the Oliphants in a generation! Since the day she was born, Vanessa’s mother has made it frightfully clear her beauty has destined her for greatness.

And the “greatness” Vanessa had her heart set on was Roland Prince, local viscount, and son of the laird. He’s charming and sweet, and handsome enough to make her knees weak.

But ever since Roland overheard Vanessa whispering petty gossip about his brother, he understandably wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she isn’t and doesn’t want to be that type of person, Vanessa sets out on an adventure to find a particularly valuable ancient Roman artifact; an artifact which will help her sister. If she can retrieve the Golden Ball, she’ll show everyone—including herself—she’s not as self-centered as people may think. But she can’t go adventuring all alone, so she enlists the help of a surprisingly intriguing stranger: “Monsieur Grenouille.”

This mysterious “Mister Frog” is none other than Roland in disguise of course—because that’s how fairy tales work, don’t you know? He’s determined to show Vanessa the value of inner beauty, even if he has to humiliate her to do so. But as they embark on their journey to retrieve the golden ball, Roland begins to suspect he may have seriously misjudged her.

What will happen when he bargains for a kiss?

Beware: The Guild of Godmothers are up to their shenanigans again in this enemies-to-lovers romance, with just a pinch of spice! You might think you know this fairy tale but be prepared for a fun twist!

ONCE UPON A TIME

This tea-making ceremony was blessedly without singing, chanting or incantations of any kind.

“Thank you, Grisel,” murmured Evangeline, as she accepted the delicate cup from her second-in-command. “And may I commend you on your restraint?”

The plump godmother scoffed good-naturedly. “Ye may, but if ye dinnae care for the flavor, it’s nae my fault. A good muttering always makes the tea taste better.”

Broca was scowling of course, as she swiped a cup from the tray. “Eyes of newts? Toes of frog? That sort of thing?”

“I’ve always felt rather sorry for the poor newts and frogs.” Willa was the youngest in their chapter of the Guild and was much too bashful. Evangeline smiled encouragingly at her, and she shrugged delicately. “After the witches are done with them, are there whole herds of blind newts and disabled frogs hopping around pitifully on toeless feet?”

“Frogs hop whether they have toes or not,” grunted Broca.

“F’r nae whinst habbadan, eh?”

All four of them swung their gazes to the fifth godmother sitting at their little table, and there was silence for a moment as they tried to work out what the old woman had said. Finally, Evangeline cleared her throat.

“Yes, well…well said, Seonag. Thank you for that.”

Seonag, wrinkled beyond belief, nodded in satisfaction as she began packing her pipe with some noxious-smelling plant Evangeline refused to allow her to smoke indoors, but that didn’t stop the old woman from chewing on the stem with great relish of course.

Satisfied in her control, Evangeline swept her gaze over the gathered godmothers. “Willa, dear, may I remind you not to use the W-word during these meetings? The Book is quite clear that we’ll have enough trouble, were word to get out about us, without the W-word being involved.”

The young woman blinked. “What W-word? ‘What?’”

“Which word,” corrected Broca.

“Who! When!” chortled Grisel cheerfully. “Why!”

Evangeline frowned at all of them. “Witch.”

Grisel raised a brow. “Which? Which is a naughty word?”

“When you say it, almost everything is a naughty word,” sighed Evangeline. “You know good and well I was speaking about w-i-t-c-h.”

“Ooh. Spelled like bi—”

“Thank you, yes!” Evangeline hurried to gain control of the conversation again. “We are not witches, sisters. The Book of Godmothering is quite clear on that, and we should do everything in our power—significant as it is—to do nothing to arouse suspicion.”

“Wheezit almortin g’ro?”

“I agree, Grandmother.” Willa nodded solemnly, her gaze on her tea. “Grisel will make a joke about ‘arousing’ any moment now.”

As Grisel began to sputter, the younger woman’s eyes twinkled with fake innocence, and Broca leaned forward, banging her knuckles against the table for attention.

“Speaking of arousing and naughty words, how’re Max and Ember doing, eh?”

Immediately, Grisel’s expression turned dreamy. “Och, they’re two halves of a whole, are they