Making Christmas
&
What Happens at
Midnight
by Laura Chapman
Releasing November 8th 2016
Self-Published
Self-Published
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.
Goodreads
Link:
Buy Links:
Buy Links:
Blurb for What Happens at Midnight
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.
Goodreads
Link:
Buy Links:
Buy Links:
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?”
Goodreads
Link:
Buy Links:
Buy Links:
Author Info
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.
Author Links:
Hosted by
Presented by
No comments:
Post a Comment