#MFRWhooks Blog Hop - An Excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE - #onsale This Week!
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
In this excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE, Drew is hosting a dinner party to get to know his sister Carrie's boyfriend Ryan. Celeste is helping him with the cooking, and he really wants her to stay. Could it be because he's falling in love?
Excerpt:
“I’m going to head home as soon as I plate your dinners.”
“Why do you have to leave?” Drew panicked at the thought of her going. “There’s plenty of food, and Hope’s at a sleepover so you don’t have to hurry home. Besides, it’s dark and cold out there. You shouldn’t be walking at night by yourself.”
“I’ll use the flashlight on my phone. I’ll be fine.” She took the boiling water off the stove, added a cup of bulger and set it to one side. “This is a family dinner, Drew.”
“Ryan’s not family.”
“Carrie doesn’t feel that way. I’ll only be in the way. I should go.”
“You can’t go,” he blurted. “I need you.”
Celeste stared at him, her eyes wide in surprise. Drew stared back. His words hung between them as if carved into the air. He hadn’t consciously intended to say them. Hell, he hadn’t even known he’d meant them.
But now that they were out there, he realized he did.
She looked away, turning the handle of the bulger pot one way and then the other. “If you’re feeling that uncomfortable, I guess I could stay. For moral support.”
“Yeah.” Relief flooded over Drew. “For moral support.”
“All right.” Celeste gave him a half-smile. “You can bring out four place settings. Leave the plates here by the stove.”
Drew grabbed four water glasses from the cupboard before she could change her mind.
Celeste prepared the dressing for the salad and stuffed mushroom caps with the bread crumb and cheese mixture she’d made. Then she helped him with the table. She found a tablecloth and some placemats in the dining room buffet that made the table look festive and pretty. She even moved the candleholders with their long tapers from the fireplace mantle onto the table.
“Don’t forget to remove that chair for Ryan,” Celeste said.
Drew set one of the chairs to the side of the room. He didn’t want to draw attention to Ryan’s disability by having to move a chair in his, and Carrie’s, presence. The reality of having a disability such as Ryan’s was hard to ignore. But for tonight, he was going to try to get to know Ryan as a person, not as someone with a disability.
“This looks beautiful,” Drew said as he lit the candles with a wooden match from the fireplace. “Thank you.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome.”
He loved her smile. When Celeste smiled, her face lit up. He stared into her eyes, their dark brown depths pulling him in. Neither of them moved, or even breathed. Did she realize how beautiful she was? Perfect oval face, gorgeous almond-shaped eyes, lovely coffee colored skin. He couldn’t look away.
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?
CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE is on sale for .99 cents until July 17. Get your ecopy now!
Check out the other excerpts in the blog hop!
As a former years-older spouse---I have to wish Drew luck!
Jana. a nicely done excerpt. I feel their awkwardness. :)
He's trying to tell her how he feels without telling her how he feels. It's sweet - and a little desperate. Love it.
Somehow I feel as though Celeste is not getting the message...