Excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE - Please Don't Go
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Happy New Year's Eve! I hope you have a wonderful 2026!
In this excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE, Celeste arrives at Drew's house to check on him. He had a blowup with his sister Carrie over her new boyfriend, and didn't show up at work today. Celeste was worried about him. But she finds that when it's time to go, she doesn't want to leave him.
CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE is #onsale at Smashwords for #99cents until tomorrow, January 1, 2026: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1881612
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Excerpt:
After wiping the counters and the stove, there didn’t seem to be a reason for her to stay any longer.
She dried her hands on a dish towel. “I guess I should go.”
“You’re not in a rush, are you?” Drew asked. “I mean, if Hope’s away at a sleepover, you could stay for a while, couldn’t you?”
Celeste searched his face. Though he appeared outwardly calm, something in his voice told her he didn’t want to be alone.
Neither do I.
“I guess I could stay for a bit.”
She was certain the smile he gave her was full of relief. “Great. You said you wanted to watch a movie, right?”
“So, you did read my text.”
“Of course I did.” He looked away and straightened the dish towel hanging over the handle of the stove. “Like I said, you don’t need to get involved in my mess.”
Oh, Drew. She wanted to hug him, or maybe shake him until his teeth rattled. Instead, she smiled. “We’re friends, Drew. And friends take care of each other, even if it’s messy. So get used to it.”
He laughed, the first sound of genuine amusement she’d heard from him since she arrived. He lifted his hands in surrender. “Okay.”
“Let’s go find a movie to watch.”
Drew touched her shoulder, all traces of laughter gone from his face. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For coming here tonight, for being my friend, for not saying how wrong I am about Ryan. I’m sure everyone at the lodge thinks I am.” He let his hand drop from her shoulder.
“Is that why you didn’t go to work today?”
“That’s part of the reason. But mainly to give Carrie space. I’m sure she didn’t want to see me.”
Celeste couldn’t argue with him there. It would have been awkward for them both if he’d shown up at the lodge today, but they couldn’t avoid each other forever.
“You and Carrie are family. She’s hurting right now, but she’s a smart girl. Eventually she’ll figure out that what you did, you did out of love.”
“Did I?” Drew shook his head and stared at the floor. “I don’t know anymore. Maybe I was more concerned about having a brother-in-law in a wheelchair.”
“That’s not true. You’re not like that. You would never intentionally hurt anyone. You’re a good, loving person.”
Drew stared at her. Then he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. “Thank you,” he murmured against her ear. “That’s high praise, coming from the best person I know.”
Celeste wrapped her arms around his waist. She tried to recall why it was so important to resist Drew. Nothing came to mind. All she could remember right now was the way she felt when she was in his arms.
Beautiful. Desired. Loved.
She leaned back to look at him at the same time he did. Celeste reached up to stroke his cheek, his stubble rough beneath her hand. When he lowered his head, his face close to hers, her heart rate spiked in anticipation. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted him.
Pushing away the frightened voice in her head that screamed at her to run away, she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. When his soft lips met hers, everything faded away, until there was only the two of them. All she could do was feel.
Yes, this is what I want. This man. He’s everything I need.
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 Buy 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/view/1881612
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! Today is the last day of the contest, so enter now!
OR
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. Hurry! Contest ends today!
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