An Excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE - My First Husband
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Merry Christmas! I have an excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE today. Celeste tells her friend Maggie that nothing can happen between her and Drew, for a lot of reasons.
CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE is on sale for .99 cents at Smashwords until January 1, 2026: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1881612
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Excerpt:
“The list of reasons we shouldn’t be together is a mile long.”
“Celeste, none of your reasons matter if you really care about each other. Those things can be overcome.”
Celeste shook her head. “You don’t know what it’s like. I’m the product of a mixed-race marriage, and I saw firsthand that it didn’t work in my family. I won’t repeat that mistake, not when Hope’s happiness and security is at stake.”
Maggie cracked a couple of eggs onto her griddle. “I understand what you’re saying. But you have to remember that I’m the product of two people who loved each other but never had the chance to be together. They were kept apart first by my grandparents and then by fear. Their story was tragic, and I don’t want that for you. I don’t want either one of you to be hurt.”
The true story about Maggie’s parents had unfolded around the same time Celeste had moved to the lodge. Learning the truth had been difficult, and painful, for all three Lindquist sisters, but especially for Maggie. The truth had changed her life.
“Nobody is going to get hurt because a couple of kisses is as far as I can let things go.”
Standing there talking to Maggie, Celeste meant every word. But would she have the strength to resist Drew when they were alone together again? She honestly didn’t know.
“You’re not your parents, you know. You don’t have to repeat their mistakes. You get to make your own way.”
“You mean I get to make my own mistakes?” Celeste said with a smile.
Maggie returned her smile. “Definitely. But at least they’ll be yours.”
As the restaurant filled, servers put up a flurry of orders that kept them too busy to talk for the next hour. When the breakfast rush finally died down, Celeste prepped vegetables for a lunch salad while Maggie cleaned and scraped her griddle.
“You know, other than telling me that Easton was your first love, the love of your life, you’ve never talked to me about him.”
Celeste’s stomach knotted at the mention of his name. “There’s not much to tell. We were young, we fell in love, we got married and had Hope. He was a good man and a wonderful father.”
“It couldn’t have been easy for you, losing him,” Maggie said quietly.
“No, it wasn’t.”
For a long time, she’d wanted to die, too. If she hadn’t had Hope to care for, she might have succeeded in that aim.
Maggie put an arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry you lost him, Celeste.”
Celeste caught her hand. “Yeah, me too.”
CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE is participating in the Christmas and Holiday Book Festival and Giveaway. Read about my Christmas traditions, and enter the giveaway for your chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!
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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, 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, his feelings for her grow, and 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 can’t risk loving and losing again.
Christmas approaches and 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?
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/Christmas-at-Solace-Lake
CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE is #onsale at Smashwords for #99cents until January 1, 2026: https://www.smashwords.com/books/1881612
I'm taking part in a contemporary romance promotion with Crave Books until the end of December. Three lucky winners will receive eight ebooks as their prize, including my book, HER BEST MAN. The first place winner will also receive a hardcover collection of five bestselling contemporary romance novels. Enter today for your chance to win!
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