Mar 17, 2018 | Blog, Blog Tour, March 2018, Samantha Chase
We are thrilled to be bringing you the release of Samantha Chase’s GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN today! This brand new story set in the Enchanted Bridal world is sure to please any and all lovers of contemporary romance. Be sure to grab your copy today!
The Whole Latte About GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN
Friday nights are more fun with Samantha Chase in her world of glam, glitz, and anything bridal. Glam Squad &Groomsmen burns slow and leaves an imprint in your heart forever.
Penny Blake dreams of one day doing more to help brides have the best wedding ever. Until then, she continues to work at Enchanted where there is never a dull moment and the customers are always full of surprises.
Ahh, surprises. What would you do if you ran into an ex wearing the one thing that was meant for your special day. What if that ex was the one man you thought you’d spend forever with and now he’s ruined you for anyone else? Let the fun begin.
Spencer Buchanan returned to town because his sister needed him, for wedding duties. One chance encounter with Penny opens up unresolved emotions. Can he fix what went wrong and give them what they both want?
Family, friendships, and trust weave seamlessly in a tale of two souls who must come to terms with who they are and what they really want. Expectations are a beast when dreams overpower them. Samantha tackles the childhood sweethearts reunion delicately, will they get a second chance? Sometimes love needs a little nudge and a few years to sort itself out.
Every time I read a book from Samantha I am rewarded with a love story that is not cliched and leaves me satisfied. I’m filled with all those emotions that leave you humming for hours and wishing I’d had my own Enchanted Bridal experiene when I was engaged.
If you need help for your wedding, head to Enchanted Bridal for tips, tricks, and advice from women who know the trends. Samantha, I will never look at a tape measure the same way again ;). What do you do with your Friday nights? Spend it with the gals at Enchanted Bridal.
I received this ARC from Inkslinger PR and Samantha Chase for a fair and honest review.
Sinfully Sweet – Hotter than sweet with bedroom romance that tingles in all the right places, and a dash of spice to satisfy that slightly spicy craving.
Read an excerpt from GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN
For a minute, he thought she was going to scream and the expression on her face said that she certainly hadn’t been expecting him. Actually, he hadn’t been expecting her either. His plan had been to come in for a tuxedo fitting – something he was seriously jumping the gun for Eva’s wedding – and figured it would be a legit excuse to see Penny. He’d casually stop in at the bridal shop and say hello and then…
“Spencer? What are you doing here?”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Doing a test run on tuxedoes to help Eva and Brett out.”
At first he didn’t think she believed him, but then she visibly relaxed. “Oh. Okay.”
“So what are you doing in the tuxedo shop? I didn’t think you worked in here too.”
She quickly explained about the owner needing to get home to a sick child – again – and then she stepped away and began to explain to him about the tuxedo options that had been pulled for him.
If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear she was nervous and that pleased him a little. If she was nervous around him, that meant that she wasn’t unaffected by him – or by their kiss.
Good to know.
Because kissing Penny had been all he could think about all week. He should be back in Atlanta right now.
But he wasn’t.
He should be working on reports for the building he was designing.
But he wasn’t.
What he was doing was trying on tuxedoes when he didn’t need to just on the off-chance he could see her again. How twisted was that?
By now Penny was standing next to a dressing room and holding a tuxedo hanger in her hand. “Martin already placed a shirt and shoes in the fitting room for you,” she said, “and this is the first tux he pulled for you to consider based on your measurements.”
“I never gave him my measurements,” Spencer said.
“Um…what?”
He nodded. “All I did was call and ask if I could come in and try some on,” he explained. “No one asked for any sizes or measurements. I guess I can try this on and we can go from there, right?”
Then he watched as her shoulders sagged and she sighed. But she immediately went back into sales mode and gave him a nice but professional smile. “Okay, we’ll need to get your measurements first. No need for you to try to fit into a suit that isn’t your size. That’s just crazy.” She stepped away and hung up the suit she had in her hands. “Why don’t you step up on the platform over there by the mirror and I’ll go get the measuring tape.”
Wait…measuring tape? Couldn’t he just tell her what size he normally wore? That would certainly make things easier – especially since Brett hadn’t made any decisions on tuxedos and he wasn’t planning on ordering anything tonight. Then again, if he did happen to go in that direction, there’d be no need for him to stand up on the platform for measurements. And that would mean…
“Just step up on there and face the mirror,” she said. “I’ll need to make a note of your shirt and sleeve size, waist, outseam…”
Then he felt bad for giving her extra work. “Wouldn’t it be easier to give you at least some of my sizes so you don’t have to go through all of this?” he asked and hated that he was quite possibly depriving himself of some extra time with her.
“Under normal circumstances, yes,” she explained. “But for this sort of thing, we require specific measurements. Every designer is cut just a litter differently so it makes everyone’s job easier to just go by what the measuring tape says.”
“Ah…gotcha.” Doing his best to hide a grin, he simply stood and did as he was told as Penny’s hands roamed all over him – in a completely professional way – as she took the needed measurements.
Best. Friday. Night. Ever.
At first, he felt all kinds of wrong that even though there was nothing sexy about what she was doing, it was still mildly arousing – her hand skimming down his leg…her arms wrapped around him to get his waist measurements…
He cursed the fact that they were in the middle of a tuxedo shop and that he had on so many damn clothes!
Once she was done, she moved around the shop and pulled tuxes in his size and then sent him back to the dressing room to start trying them on.
They didn’t talk about much – she kept all of the conversation focused on Eva and Brett and their wedding and tuxedo style questions. Not that he cared. Basically, this was all going to be Brett’s decision and right now, Brett had no idea that Spencer was even looking at tuxes.
No one did.
If his sister caught wind of what he was doing, he knew he’d get her approval and possibly her help. And as much as he knew he was going to need some of that where Penny was concerned, he wanted to do it in his own time and in his own way.
He just never thought trying on tuxedos was a length he’d ever have to go through in order to spend time with a woman.
“Let me know how that first one fits,” Penny called out to him.
And as he closed the dressing room door, he figured he had at least an hour to try to break down some of her defenses and convince her to go out with him again.
About SAMANTHA CHASE
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website /
Mar 16, 2018 | Blog, March 2018, Samantha Chase
We are thrilled to be bringing you the release of Samantha Chase’s GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN today! This brand new story set in the Enchanted Bridal world is sure to please any and all lovers of contemporary romance. Be sure to grab your copy today!
Read an excerpt from GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN
It was one thing to fantasize about touching Spencer.
It was quite another to actually be doing it.
I love my job.
“How does the jacket feel?” she forced herself to ask as she continued to smooth imaginary wrinkles. “Is it too tight? Too loose? Can you move comfortably?”
Spencer’s expression was serious as he took in his reflection. Stepping back, she let him move his arms and shoulders to get the feel of the suit jacket. It looked good on him. Really good on him. But then again, Penny had a feeling that anything would look good on him. He was tall and lean, she noticed, with just the right amount of muscle – he’d filled out in all the best ways in the last ten years. And as much as she hated to admit it, he was just…
Perfect, she inwardly sighed.
“It feels all right,” he said, his voice deep and just a little gruff. “Can we try the next size up? I think it’s just a little snug in the shoulders.”
“No problem,” she replied softly as she went to pull another jacket from the rack. After taking all of his measurements – neck, sleeve, waist, outseam, and shoulders – she had been fairly confident that she picked the right size for him. But if he wasn’t one-hundred percent comfortable, who was she to argue?
Stepping over to him, she helped him remove the jacket he had on before handing him the new one. He was mesmerizing to watch. Some guys could come in and try on jackets and it would register zero on her radar, but watching Spencer Buchanan try on a jacket was borderline porn for her right now.
Quickly, she turned away, hung up the jacket and placed it to the side in case he wanted it back for comparison. She seriously needed to compose herself before going any further. If she could, she would have stepped outside to fan herself or grab something cold to drink because it suddenly felt very warm in the shop.
Pull yourself together!
Stepping back up on the platform with him, she began her tasks of smoothing and gently tugging and adjusting and helping him get the true feel of the garment. She wanted to smack herself because she knew she was being a little excessive in the touching department but…she couldn’t seem to help herself.
“How about this one?” she asked, smiling at him in the mirror and hoping he didn’t hear the slight tremor in her voice. “Is this one more comfortable?”
“This one definitely feels more comfortable,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “I’m not crazy about these trousers, though.”
Her heart kicked a little and she felt a slight flutter in her belly at those words. It was one thing to be able to touch his back, his arms, his shoulders…but to be kneeling down and running her hands over his legs and waist? Well…it had been a little awkward when she was measuring him a few minutes ago and she wasn’t sure she’d survive it a second time.
Clearing her throat, she forced herself to focus. “All of your measurements will go to our warehouse and everything will be custom-tailored for you. The inventory we have here is just the basics, so they won’t necessarily fit you like this.”
He nodded but didn’t really look at her; he was still studying his reflection. “I think the measurements on the outseam weren’t quite right. I’d like to try a pair of different shoes and then measure again if that’s all right with you.”
Um…yes please, she thought and immediately wanted to smack herself. Honestly, she had no idea if any of this was the norm for getting a tuxedo fitting – she’d never had to do quite so much before, but right now she couldn’t find the will to stop any of it.
“No problem,” Penny replied. “Would you like to go pick out another pair?”
For a few minutes, Spencer walked around and tried on shoes while Penny made notes in his file. When he stepped back onto the platform, she was ready with her measuring tape. Standing to his left, she carefully kneeled – not an easy feat in her navy pencil skirt and heels. Doing her best to stay balanced, she carefully measured the outseam with minimal amounts of running her hand along his muscled calf. Standing slowly, she went and did the same on the right.
This time when she went to stand, Spencer stopped her.
“Isn’t it customary to measure the inseam as well?”
Oh. Right. The inseam.
“Um…yes. Yes. You’re right. Sorry about that,” she nervously stammered. “I’m not fully familiar with all the procedures.” With a steadying breath, she moved until she was in front of him. “Can you…um…just widen your stance a little?”
His gaze was a little intense as he looked down at her. Doing as she requested, he asked, “Like this?”
Was it wrong that she could barely remember how to speak because she was eye level with…well…what was a rather impressive part of him?
“That’s fine,” she murmured and did her best to hold the tape measure at the top of his inseam as she ran her other hand down his leg. By the time she got that measurement and did his other leg, she was practically sweating.
Mentally, she was about to congratulate herself on doing the job without embarrassing herself, but as she went to straighten, she lost her balance and cried out as she felt herself about to fall. “Oh!”
Spencer quickly swooped down and banded an arm around her waist to catch her and pulled her to her feet. Chest to chest, her heart racing, Penny looked up at him and knew she was blushing.
“You okay?” he asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.
She couldn’t speak. Up close, he was even more handsome than she wanted to admit. His jaw was rough with a day’s worth of stubble. His lips looked incredibly soft, and when she looked into his eyes, she noticed just a hint of gold in those clear blue depths. Swallowing hard, she nodded.
But he didn’t release her right away. And Penny certainly didn’t feel any rush to move.
It was kind of the perfect moment, she thought. She had no idea what was going on outside, but inside, it was just the two of them and she felt like her heart was beating just a little too hard. Hopefully Spencer would think she was just nervous from almost falling and not from having her hands all over his inseam!
One minute passed, then two – at least that’s what it felt like – when she finally took a step back. His grip didn’t release easily and it was a thrill to think that he was as reluctant to let her go as she was to move away. “Um…thanks,” she said softly, before walking over to the desk to mark down his measurements. “So…I think that’s everything. I have all of your measurements noted and on file. Martin will have them here for you whenever Brett comes in with the rest of the groomsmen.”
Her voice was slightly high-pitched and shaky but…dammit, he made her nervous. Normally, Penny was extremely confident – especially at her job. And yet the last thirty minutes with Spencer had reduced her to a quivering mass of hormones!
Again.
There. She said it. She was nervous being around him and beyond turned on.
Author Info:
About Samantha Chase
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website: https://www.chasing-romance.com/
Feb 6, 2018 | Blog, Blog Tour, February 2018, Samantha Chase
We are so excited to be sharing the release of Samantha Chase’s ONE MORE PROMISE, the latest standalone in her Band on the Run series. Contemporary romance lovers won’t want to miss this rockstar romance–be sure to grab your copy today!
Read an excerpt of ONE MORE PROMISE now
“Dylan…wait.”
Looking over his shoulder at her, he waited.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
He smiled. For some reason, she was starting to enjoy seeing him smile. As much as she hated to admit it, Dylan Anders was becoming a friend with whom she enjoyed spending time. Paige no longer looked at their time together as a chore, but rather a perk. Their conversations were always fun and he was quite pleasant to look at.
Not that she went for the scruffy, rock-star type.
At least, she never had until now.
But Paige was far too intelligent to think that someone like Dylan would give her a second look. He was being nice to her because he had to. Or felt like he had to. They had formed a friendship and that was that. During her Google searches, she’d found a plethora of pictures of Dylan with various models and other beautiful and glamorous women. Tall, thin, sexy women. If there was one thing Paige knew about herself, it was how she certainly didn’t fit into that category.
So what if he remembered her favorite sandwich and made sure she had something to eat? He was being nice. Still…no one else around her seemed to care if she hadn’t eaten. And so what if he was concerned about her stressing herself out and tried to find a helpful solution? He was probably bored and looking for something to do to pass the time and figured, as his official assistant/babysitter, she’d be open to entertaining him.
Only…it felt like more. Like he was a genuinely nice guy who put the needs of others before his own. Or was she seeing something that she only wanted to see? True, it had been far too long since she’d been in a relationship or even went out on a date. Maybe she was a little…needy, in the male-companion territory.
And it didn’t help that he was so attractive.
“Dammit,” she muttered.
“You okay?” Dylan asked.
Crap! She hadn’t meant to say anything out loud. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “I just hate that everyone isn’t here yet. I should probably make some calls and see what’s going on.”
“You mean call your sister and let her know that she needs to call the talent?” he asked sweetly.
And if she hadn’t found his smile so darn attractive, she’d want to slap it right off his face.
“No,” she said with a hint of irritation. “We’re on the clock and people need to get here now. I’m not starting a phone tree. Excuse me.”
As she pulled out her phone to start making calls, Dylan gave a small shrug and walked over to where a couple of other musicians who were now part of the campaign were sitting.
Great. He had to have a sexy ass that looked amazing in a pair of faded jeans.
A-ma-zing.
Fairly grab-able.
“Ugh…I really need to stop thinking like this,” she said with a weary sigh and startled when a voice answered on the other end of the phone.
About SAMANTHA CHASE
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website
Jan 5, 2018 | Authors Dish, Blog, Cathy Maxwell, January 2018, Jeanne Adams, Samantha Chase
Welcome to Authors Dish where your favorite authors will share what they are reading. In addition, if you enjoy reading their books they have suggestions for similar book adventures by other authors. It doesn’t get better than that!
This post will run regularly on Fridays so sit back and take notes…these authors have a lot to share.
Today in the cafe are Cathy Maxwell, Samantha Chase and Jeanne Adams.
Rae: Who are you reading?
Cathy Maxwell: BEARD SCIENCE (Winston Bros. #3) by Penny Reid. Oh, and Lorraine Heath’s latest BEYOND SCANDAL AND DESIRE. Yes, I read two books at a time if they are different subgenres.
Samantha Chase: I have been on a Sawyer Bennett kick – her Cold Fury series is awesome!!
Jeanne Adams: I’m reading Donna Andrews’ How the Finch Stole Christmas, Kate Carlisle’s Eaves of Destruction, and Christmas Novellas from Anna Campbell! In my stash are some non-fiction: The Ghost Map (about plagues), and Chip Gaines’s book Capital Gaines; as well as some great new fiction: Ellery Adams’ Killer Characters, and Charlaine Harris’s latest Aurora Teagarden Sleep Like a Baby
Rae: If readers are a fan of your books, who should they consider reading?
Cathy Maxwell: That is a tough one because there are many writer who are so wonderful, I am embarrassed to compare myself to them. However, authors who inspire me are Lorraine Heath, Sherry Thomas, Cheryl Etchison, Anne Elizabeth, Sabrina Jeffries, Elizabeth Hoyt, Karen Robards, Nora, Georgette hayer, Kristan Higgins. Of course, Lavryle Spencer and Sherry Thomas and, and, and. There are brilliant books out there. Isn’t it a joy to be a reader? Especially one who loves a happy ending?
Samantha Chase: Melanie Shawn, RaeAnne Thayne, Susan Mallery, Marquita Valentine, Noelle Adams
Jeanne Adams: Suzanne Ferrell, JD Tyler, Nancy Northcott, Sue Coletta, Jordan Dane, Loreth White, KJ Howe (if you want it with action but not so much romance…)
Rae: Thank you so much authors! Let me know dear readers if you try any of these books. I’ll see you next week – sae time for new authors and more fun!
Dec 12, 2017 | Blog, Blog Tour, December 2017, Samantha Chase
Samantha Chase’s installment of the 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers series, FORD, is available now! I’ve got your review, a sneak peek below and the links so be sure to grab your copy today!
If you have not read 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers series, one-click them now before they are gone! Each book was packed with details that carried over into the other books. The characters voices held strong for each book they appeared in, and with seven authors, that’s a lot of work to make that work perfectly! Each author remained true to the original characters and the collaboration shines. It’s almost impossible for a series this large to work, but it does and the reward is again, one-click worthy.
It’s time to dive into a contemporary romance with military heroes and a setting that makes you want to visit immediately. Each character’s plot is believable and has an overall vibe that’s captivating and heartwarming. Each book had the perfect balance of heat and spice and received a two pepper spicy latte.
The Whole Latte
Ford by Samantha Chase is the final chapter in the 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers series set in a town built by friends, a place where everyone knows your family and personal business, and the generations living there today, are as connected as their founders as they were.
Once again, Samantha delivered characters that have become a part of my heart and etched into my soul. The story stands on it’s own with flawless writing that’s woven with grace, humility, romance with true charm, and even a little holiday magic. I adore her holiday books and her love of the season shines, this too could be a TV movie as it has all the elements for a Hallmark event! ;).
Ford Garrison is a Navy SEAL and has avoided returning home until one event changes his world. Ford is tough, able to build just about anything, defend his country, and protect those he cares about, all admirable qualities. But his life is a million miles away and making a home and planting roots are not a priority, especially in Eagle’s Ridge. It will take his grandmother to put him on a plane headed towards Eagle’s Ridge, he will return and face the ghosts from his past. What will he do when he uncovers secrets that will change his future forever. This soldier will need to admit what he wants and open up his heart, or he might push away the one thing he secretly desires.
Callie James is trying to make it on her own and has found a path towards happiness despite her struggles. An unexpected visitor will ignite old feelings, and in a small town, that’s one secret she doesn’t want revealed. Will she be able to handle her reunion with Ford? When she uncovers his true intentions for returning home, will she open up her heart or shut him out? Sometimes the least expected love is the most treasured and Callie is about to find out that her heart has it’s limits. Is she strong enough to weather this storm?
There is nothing more satisfying that a story is about brotherhood, friendship, unconditional love, and the idea that everyone deserves to achieve their dreams. Sometimes a little push is necessary, and in Ford’s case, it will come from one moment that forever chanced his life. Ford will question everything, his reasons to leave may wind up being the very ones that keep him home for good. It doesn’t get any better than this readers!
Samantha is an master writer and every book she writes is one-click worthy. For those readers who have been devoted and devoured each book, there are a few nuggets that are a holiday gift for sure! I can’t wait for you to read! If you’re looking for a story with great characters, a plot that moves fast, the return of familiar characters from previous books in this series, and a story that has heart, one-click this book. If you haven’t read any of the other books in this series fear not, there are no spoilers as they can all be read as a standalone. However, I think reading them in order makes the journey more fun!
This two peppers spicy latte has just enough to make you tingle and is it’s for mature readers 18+. 
I received this ARC from InkSlingerPR for a fair and honest review.
Get your copy of FORD today!
Get a sneak peek of FORD
“What are you working on out here? More wreaths?”
With a soft laugh, she pulled back and stepped out of his arms. “I am. Doing something like this is normally very soothing for me. When I got home, I came right out here rather than going into the cottage.”
“And did it help?”
Callie shook her head. “Unfortunately, it was so quiet out here, and I’ve already made four of these wreaths so I didn’t even have to think about what I was doing.”
“So your mind immediately went to your mom.”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
Stepping around her, Ford examined the wreath. It looked exactly like the one she had given him for his grandmother’s front door, but now he took the time to look at the details. It seemed so simple at first glance, but when he realized how much time went into weaving the lights and how tedious that could be, he was more than a little impressed. The vine was fragile, and he knew he’d more than likely crush some of it if he tried to do it himself.
Unable to help himself, he reached for one of Callie’s hands and studied it. It was small and delicate. Her fingers were slim and smooth. No wonder she could do work like this. He looked at her face and saw her studying him, her expression serious.
And Callie rarely looked serious or intense. Her features were always relaxed or smiling. This was…different.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “I was just noticing how intricate this work is,” he said gruffly. “I’m a little in awe of what you do.”
“Me? But…what you do is so much more—”
Ford placed a finger over her lips and shook his head. “I’m in awe of you,” he repeated, and slowly pulled her in close again.
Callie’s lips parted on a soft gasp as her eyes met his. And those beautiful eyes seemed to have a million questions in them, and Ford only had one answer.
He kissed her.
Slowly. Sweetly. He savored her as she melted against him. She hummed as her arms wrapped around him and in that instant, Ford knew what he had to do.
He lifted his head and looked down at her. Her lips were wet and her cheeks were flushed and she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. So many nights over the last week they’d been like this, and right now, Ford knew he wanted more.
“Come home with me, Callie,” he murmured against her lips before resting his forehead against hers.
“Yes.”
Never had a single word sounded sweeter.
About Samantha Chase
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website
If you missed the other books in this series you can check them out here:
Book 1 – RYDER by Barbara Freethy
Book 2 – ADAM by Roxanne St. Claire
Book 3 – ZANE by Christie Ridgway
Book 4 – WYATT by Lynn Raye Harris
Book 5 – JACK by Julia London
Book 6 – NOAH by Cristin Harber
Dec 7, 2017 | Blog, December 2017, Samantha Chase
The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase captures the true essence of the holiday season. The plot centers around a story of a fairy tale, family traditions, what it means to experience the holiday, and the ability to find love in the most unexpected place.
If you love a friends-to-lovers story that is set in a small town, takes place during the Christmas season, has the perfect amount of amazing family history sprinkled throughout, and includes a cottage with a creative and unique ability, then one-click it now!
Lacey Quinn has one job, to assist her best friend Ava with one task before she is to be married. A job that includes ensuring all of Ava’s wishes are fulfilled. There’s just one problem, Lacey isn’t sure she can comply with some of the requests. It’s time for Lacey to set her differences aside and but when her past surprises her in the most unlikely place, will it ruin everything? Memories of the past resurface and it will prove why Samantha writes feel good romance.
Ean Callahan is the bride-to-be’s older brother, who also happens to be Lacey’s best friend. It’s been ages since Ean has visited his family. Will his reunion be stir up old feelings? One night was all it took to drive Ean away from home, but if he has the courage to confess his one regret, he might discover that the fairy tale is true. Will Santa bring him love for the holidays?.
In anticipation of the Hallmark Movie premiere this weekend, I re-read this beloved fan favorite to truly enjoy the screen adaptation of this holiday treasure. My original review was for The Christmas Cottage/ Ever After collection that I received from the publisher for a fair and honest review. I felt The Christmas Cottage deserved it’s own post. I am eagerly waiting the premiere this Saturday night. I am excited to see how they bring to life the details in each scene, the witty dialogue, and the magic of the Christmas story. It’s a captivating and charming story perfect for your holiday stash.
Add a log to the fire, make a batch of hot cocoa, and bake some cookies. The holidays are about to be sweet and full of warmth!
Excerpt:
Ean took the hint and did what she asked. True to her word, by the time he had the fire settled, she was placing two bowls on the table. He walked over, and noticed the mammoth binder on the counter. Curiosity got the better of him and he picked it up on his way to the table. “What’s this?”
Lacey let out a small laugh. “That,” she began, “is your sister’s dream of what this cottage should look like for her wedding night.”
Ean opened it and looked at the labeled tabs. “Food…flowers…lighting…” He looked at Lacey. “How many categories are there?”
“Seventeen.”
His eyes bugged out a little on that one. “Are you supposed to completely remodel this place? Does this say furniture placement?” he asked incredulously. “How does she expect you to do all of this alone?”
“Oh, you mean you didn’t get the memo?” Lacey asked, ready to witness on Ean the same exact expression she’d had when Ava told her the news.
“What memo?” he asked slowly, not liking the look of mischief on her face.
“As best man and maid of honor, it is our job to get this place ready for the newlyweds.”
“What?”
“You heard me; you and I get the great honor of setting the scene for your sister’s wedding night sex.”
Ean dropped the binder to the floor as if it had burned him and glared at Lacey as she laughed. Her face was full of merriment and innocence and she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Lacey had been a pretty girl, and even in the awkward teen years it was possible to see the woman she would become, yet none of that prepared him for the woman sitting across from him. She simply took his breath away, and right now, when she finally let her guard down, he felt like he was looking at the sun.
“I am not facilitating my sister’s sex life,” he began.
“Oh, lighten up. She’ll be married and she wants the cottage and her wedding night to be perfect. There are diagrams…”
“Please tell me they’re of the floor plan and not anything…else.” His appetite was slowly fading at that disturbing thought, but then Lacey laughed again.
“The floor plan, color schemes, foods…she’s clipped things out of magazines, she’s very organized. Part of me loves her for it and another part of me wants to beat her with the binder. She’s fixated on this place.” Lacey nodded towards his bowl. “Eat, please, before it gets cold.”
Ean took a spoonful and felt the flavors burst to life on his tongue. This simple, quickly thrown together chili was a culinary delight. “This is amazing,” he said finally. “I can’t believe you just whipped this up.”
Blushing at his compliment, she took her own first spoonful, realizing that she’d waited for him to taste it first, anxious for his opinion. He didn’t disappoint. “Cooking is second nature, but back to Ava. She’s turned into a bit of a bridezilla.”
“Mom’s told me,” he said around another mouthful of chili. “She was the last person I’d thought would be that way.”
“I guess you don’t know until it’s your turn.”
“What about you, Lace? Any trip down the aisle in your future?”
Her blush this time was out of embarrassment. “No,” she said. “So now that you know you need to be a part of this, I guess we can go through the book and divide and conquer.” The change of subject was swift and luckily well received.
Ean merely nodded, wondering why someone as beautiful as Lacey wasn’t attached. Was she just getting over a break up? Was she jealous of Ava? That thought was dismissed before it even took hold. Lacey wasn’t the jealous type; she had no reason to be. Ean loved his sister dearly, but she lacked the confidence that Lacey always had. Truth be known, he had been a little dismayed that Ava and Mason were marrying so quickly, but he knew his sister had always been a little obsessed with the idea of following the family tradition and marrying on Christmas. “True, she could wait until next Christmas…”
He didn’t realize he’d spoken that last part out loud until Lacey dropped her spoon and said, “Exactly! Why does it have to be this Christmas? What harm could waiting another year cause?”
“So you think this was a little rushed too,” he urged.
“I do! I asked her about it and it seems that Mason is just anxious to get himself settled with his law firm and having a wife and baby would make him extremely happy. Add that to the fact that Ava wants nothing more than to be part of the Callahan Christmas wedding tradition and it’s like a feeding frenzy.”
Ean stood so quickly that his chair fell over. “Wait a minute, wait a minute,” he snapped. “Are you telling me that Ava’s pregnant? Do my parents know?”
Oh, boy. Awkward. “Ean, sit down. Your sister is not pregnant.” Lacey explained to him the conversation she’d had with Ava a week ago. There was a little feeling that maybe she was betraying Ava’s confidence, but hey, this was Ean. He was Ava’s brother and maybe he was the key to helping Lacey figure out how to convince her friend to do some serious soul searching before the wedding.
“So he wants Ava to give up everything and do exactly what he wants?” Ean was pacing the kitchen, his dinner momentarily forgotten. “I’ll kill him! There’s no way my sister is going to…”
Lacey stood and placed a hand gently on his arm to stop him. “You’re not going to kill Mason. That would be ridiculous.”
“He can’t force Ava to get pregnant and drop out of school, Lacey. I won’t allow it!”
She sighed. He was obviously thinking along the same lines she was. She was really worried about Ava’s decision. “It just seems like they need to have an honest heart to heart conversation. I think Ava is scared to rock the boat because she wants this wedding so badly. She believes in the fairy tale of this house and feels that if they spend their wedding night here, their marriage will be perfect and all of their issues will be resolved.”
Ean looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “Well, that explains it; we need to get her checked in to a psych ward because clearly she’s crazy!”
Author Info:
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website – https://www.chasing-romance.com/
