Brings
the warmth of the holiday season to life.
Making Christmas
A Novella
Laura Chapman
Releasing Nov 8th, 2016
While
settling into a new career in a new community, Ivy is determined not to let the
holiday season pass her by. Enter the grownup advent calendar: twenty-four days
of festivities to celebrate Christmas. What begins as a bit of fun turns into a
mission to spread cheer when she meets Everett. After learning about his bad
Christmas attitude, she invites him to join her quest. Despite his initial
reservations, Everett quickly gets caught up in the spirit of the calendar. But
when new feelings surface and are impossible to ignore, Everett’s inner
curmudgeon threatens to put a damper on the whole experience.
This holiday novella from Laura Chapman brings the warmth of the holiday season to life.
This holiday novella from Laura Chapman brings the warmth of the holiday season to life.
What Happens at Midnight
A Novella
Laura Chapman
Releasing Nov 8th, 2016
Romantic
comedy junkie Natalie lives out those fantasies in real life three New Year's
Eves in a row when fate throws her together with the same handsome stranger. A
heartbreaking turn of events leaves her swearing off of love, forevers, and the
holidays (bah humbug). That is until the mystery man from her past reappears
years later. Over a holiday season, Natalie struggles to reconcile the
whimsical notions of her past with the practical sensibilities she has worked
so hard to develop. With the countdown to a new year looming, she must decide
whether or not she is willing to give happily ever after another shot.
In this holiday novella by Laura Chapman, celebrate the holiday season with a love story about second, and fifth, chances and learning to trust your heart.
In this holiday novella by Laura Chapman, celebrate the holiday season with a love story about second, and fifth, chances and learning to trust your heart.
From What Happens at Midnight
Gross. Just, gross. I push
away from the random guy trying to shove his random tongue down my throat and
swipe the saliva from my face.
This does not make the list of ways I want to ring
in the new year. I’m not opposed to locking lips at midnight on New Year’s Eve
given the chance to do it right. But I don’t support an unexpected smooch from
a drunk creeper who doesn’t understand the meaning of personal space. And he
missed his mark. There’s nothing sexy about having a tongue thrust up your
nose. Trust me on this one.
Out of all the bars on
Sixth Street, I had to stumble into this one. Full of scuzzy guys I don’t find
appealing. I’m more into the quiet, gentleman type, who doesn’t seem to exist
outside of a Jane Austen novel or Nora Ephron movie.
If only my roommate,
Mallory, had more refined taste, too. She met some fuzzy-chinned man wearing
flannel and torn khakis an hour ago, and I haven’t seen her since. I don’t
expect to see her again until tomorrow morning. She sent me the “don’t wait up”
look she’s been giving since we were freshmen in college. Maybe someday I’ll be
the one sending her the “I’m going to get lucky” signal.
Until then, I should
probably do something about this guy. I slip away from the wall so he can’t
corner me again. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Oh, come on,” Nose Licker
says. His eyes go a little droopy, probably in an attempt to be sultry. It
doesn’t work. “No one wants to be alone when the clock strikes midnight.”
“Maybe some of us do.”
He steps toward me,
swaying a little. Too many Jäger bombs and whiskey sours will do that to a
person. “I’ll show you a good time.”
“Again, thanks, but no
thanks.”
“I can—” He breaks off and
turns his attention to my right. I shift my gaze in time to catch another
stranger, this one even more imposing, slipping an arm around my shoulder.
“There you are,” the man
says. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Sorry I disappeared for so long.”
I stare up at him dumbly.
Who is this guy with the dark hair that curls ever so slightly around his ears
and a strong, tanned jaw? Did I meet him somewhere and forget? Or is he another
loser desperately trying to take advantage of a single woman’s sentimental side
on a holiday? At least he’s in better control of himself.
Nose Licker’s droopy eyes
narrow even more. “Who are you?”
“I’m her boyfriend,” the
stranger says loudly. I’m about to protest, but he turns and whispers, “Go with
me on this.”
“Is this true?” Nose
Licker asks, having the nerve to appear taken aback. “After everything we’ve
been through, you’ve had a boyfriend this whole time?”
“That’s right,” I lie. “I
can’t figure out what came over me.”
“She must have been
charmed by your good looks,” my fake boyfriend says. “We’re terribly sorry for
any confusion.”
Nose Licker glances back
and forth between us. I’m immobilized in the stranger’s arms. I want this to
work, but I can’t believe it will.
“Okay.” Nose Licker steps
back with his hands up. “My bad.”
He turns on his heel in
search of another conquest. Seriously? I realize I wanted him to leave me
alone, but he gave me up that easily? I can’t decide whether to be relieved or
offended.
The new guy lets out a
whistle and releases his loose hold on me. “That was crazy.”
“Yeah.” He’s telling me. He
wasn’t here for the whole exchange. I’m sure he caught the disaster of a kiss,
but he missed the buildup, which included Nose Licker’s recitation of his
favorite lines from Dumb and Dumber
and The Big Lebowski. They’re both
hilarious movies, but they didn’t work as proper foreplay in this situation.
Especially because he butchered all the best quotes. “Thanks for your help.”
“You were managing it okay
on your own.” His lip curves up. “But I figured you wouldn’t mind if I
expedited the process.”
“Not at all.” I give a
little laugh to mask my awkwardness. “This is not how I imagined myself
celebrating my first grown-up New Year’s Eve.”
A dark eyebrow flies up.
“Oh yeah?”
“In college, I was always
back home for the holidays. And while my family is nice enough, I was always
excited about what it might be like once I was living on my own. I’d have my
life a little more together, and I’d be at some swanky party getting ready to
kiss my date, Ryan Gosling.”
His face scrunches.
“Gosling. I should have figured as much.”
My eyes narrow. “What’s
that supposed to mean?”
“He’s an obvious choice.”
“And who would you have as
your imaginary New Year’s date that’s so much more original?”
“There’s only one woman
for me.” His dark eyes turn glassy as he probably paints a mental picture of
some perfectly coiffed model wearing a skin-tight sequined dress to accentuate
her perfect figure. “She’s adventurous and can handle herself in any situation.
She’s a little bit older, but that means more experience. She defines beauty,
mystery, and class. She’s led a fascinating life and would have a lot to offer
in the ways of conversation.”
“Who?”
“Milla Jovovich.”
“From Resident Evil?”
“Yep.”
“I get it.” I nod slowly,
letting that information sink in. “You’re a nerd.”
I wish I could crawl into
a hole and hide the second I’ve said it. I can’t believe I insulted a
stranger—a nice and handsome one by all appearances—only a few minutes after he
helped me out.
Instead of being offended,
he actually laughs. “How’d you guess?”
Laura
Chapman is the
author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, and The Marrying
Type. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats,
Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.
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