#MFRWhooks Blog Hop - An Excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE - A Fight With My Sister
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
It's Book Hooks Wednesday and I've got an excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE that I call A Fight With My Sister. I've
been celebrating Christmas in July all month with this book. Drew is concerned that his sister Carrie is getting in too deep with her boyfriend Ryan. Ryan is in a wheelchair after being hurt while serving in the military. Drew is concerned that Carrie is too young at eighteen to understand the realities of Ryan's situation:
Excerpt:
“I think Ryan is going to ask me to marry him at the Mistletoe Ball.”
Drew’s heart fell into his stomach, but he kept his expression neutral. At least he hoped he did. “How do you know?”
“He’s been dropping hints the past week.” She squirmed in her chair, too excited to sit still. “It will be perfect. Mom and Dad will be there to meet Ryan. And I’m going to say yes!”
“You said you told Mom and Dad about Ryan’s disability and the age gap between you, right? What was their reaction?”
“Yes, Ryan and I told them everything, and they seemed perfectly fine.” She lifted her chin. “Have you told them about you and Celeste?”
He stuck a forkful of pasta in his mouth and answered around it. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Please. It’s obvious you’re crazy about her, so don’t insult my intelligence by trying to deny it.” She pointed her finger at him. “Why are you so determined to dislike Ryan?”
“I don’t dislike him. Not at all. I admire Ryan very much. But I don’t know if he can make you happy.”
Carrie put down her fork. “Ryan makes me very happy.”
“Sure, when you’re playing video games. But what happens when real life kicks in?” Drew couldn’t believe he was going to have a conversation about his sister’s sex life with her. “You have no idea what goes on in a real marriage.”
She made a scoffing sound. “And you do? Ryan and I have talked about what every aspect of our lives together will be like, including our sex lives—if that’s what you’re getting at. He’s explained what making love with him will be like, and the accommodations we’ll need to make. But he’s going to make sure it’s a pleasurable experience for me, for both of us. I trust him. I’m prepared to do whatever Ryan needs because I love him.”
“What happens when you discover that love isn’t enough? What if you figure out you want a normal sex life?”
Carrie pushed away from the table and stood. “If you can’t be happy for me, then I don’t want to speak to you.”
She stormed out of the dining room. Drew leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He was afraid she was about to make a big mistake, one that would change her life forever.
And he was afraid their relationship would change forever, too.
Blurb:
Widow Celeste Bishop has made a comfortable life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she's worked, and lived, at Solace Lake Lodge. But this Christmas, Celeste is unsettled by a series of thefts that has staff suspecting one another. Then Drew Barnes arrives and totally upends her comfort, making her feel things she never thought she’d feel again.
An emergency brings Drew to Solace Lake Lodge. He’s sure that’s the only reason his uncle asked him to fill in as bookkeeper. No one in his family has believed in him since his mistake got him fired from his previous job.
As Drew gets to know Celeste, the pieces of his life tumble into place. He doesn’t care that she’s nine years older. But while he's falling in love, she's pulling away. She’s afraid to risk loving and losing again.
As Christmas approaches, the thefts increase. Drew is determined to stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—and his own. But can he convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily-ever-after this Christmas?
For more excerpts and books, check out the Blog Hop:
Good one. I want to know more about Ryan. :)
Wow, he really went there. Awkward!
I really feel that he's pushing too hard. Of course, people do...