by: Jody Holford
Series: Angel’s Lake
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Release Date: November 8, 2022
The holidays are for being with the people you love…
In Maybe Forever, Nate Jamison gets more than he bargained for when he buys a Minnesota lodge. Lindsey Archer worries that she and her new boss won't mesh. When they get along a little too well, she wonders how it can possibly be more.
In Sometimes, Always, Grayson Jamison knows all about regret and letting go. When Cassie Summers comes back into his life, he promises that this time, he won't let her go. But Cassie has a secret and as much as they both want to rewrite the past, what she has to do could jeopardize their future.
In Second Chance Christmas, high school sweethearts reunite. Nick left to travel the world but now he realizes everything he wants was right there in front of him. Eve tells herself she’s moved on but when Nick comes home, she realizes she still loves him. But they’re older now and she doesn’t want to let go of her dreams to chase the past.
Nate from Maybe Forever
Age: 30
Date of birth: February 2
Physical Description: Tall, wide shoulders, lean but muscular, brown hair, brown eyes
Occupation: Small-town ski lodge owner
3 likes in no particular order: Making Lindsey and Zach laugh, pizza, skiing
3 dislikes in no particular order: Large gatherings, wearing a suit, and dark chocolate
Drink of choice: Summer: ice cold beer, Winter: hot chocolate
Favorite food: pizza
Favorite song: Whatever Lindsey is humming under her breath
Choice of transportation: Truck
Favorite way to spend an evening: Watching a movie or playing a game with Zach and Lindsey
Favorite holiday tradition: Getting up early on Christmas morning
Best memory to date: Lindsey telling me she loved me
If you could have a do-over, what would you do differently? I’m thirty years old, it’d be weird if I didn’t have more than one answer to this question. But maybe, the way I hid my plans from my brother.
What’s something you’ve said you would never do, but in fact have done? Fallen in love
Most romantic gesture (done or received): I invited the people Lindsey considers family for the holidays and am hopeful it’s a happy surprise
Words to live by: Work hard but don’t forget to have fun.
“Lindsey,” he said her name quietly; it felt like a soothing caress, which was the last thing she wanted. He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her. “Are you really okay?”
She nodded, eyes down, but he tilted her chin up and kept his fingers there. God. His touch made.
“Yes. I just…I’m not sure what to do with Zach if I’m working on Christmas. I’ve never—”
“Whoa. For God’s sake Lindsey. You think I want you to work?”
“Um, boss—employee. It seems logical.”
“Wow. You’ve had some crappy bosses.”
“Actually, I’ve only ever had two. And they were wonderful.”
One tear slipped. He caught it with his thumb. Another. He caught that one too which made her want to cry harder.
“I don’t want you to work. I’m wondering if you would be okay if my family joined us for Christmas. You, Zach, and me, if you don’t mind including me.”
She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to taste the metallic trace of blood. It was enough to stop the tears from streaming. She didn’t understand him.
“Why would you want to spend Christmas with strangers?”
His hand was still on her face and it was making it hard to breathe. Could you fall for someone in days or was she just over-emotional and lonely? She had fallen once for the wrong boy. She wouldn’t again. Nate is no boy. No. But he could hurt her all the same. And this time, it wasn’t just her.
“You’re part of this place. I like you and I like Zach. We practically live together and you have traditions here that I want to learn about and be part of. I came here to start something of my own but I want you to be part of it, Lindsey. You and Zach. I had a few episodes of guilt after reading some emails and thought I’d extend an olive branch and invite my family. But if you don’t want them here, if you’re sad because of Amos and Maggie, I understand.” She couldn’t stop looking at him. It was too much to ask that he really meant the words he was saying. But he certainly seemed genuine. Their eyes stayed locked on each other, but her breaths came quicker when she realized his face was coming closer. It was getting harder to focus.
The bus honked to signal that Zach was home. Nate dropped his hand, pulling back. Once again, she felt a bit like Cinderella, but at the part where the end came too soon. The tension ebbed between them but she could still feel his fingertips on her jaw.
“That…sounds perfect,” she answered.
She nodded, eyes down, but he tilted her chin up and kept his fingers there. God. His touch made.
“Yes. I just…I’m not sure what to do with Zach if I’m working on Christmas. I’ve never—”
“Whoa. For God’s sake Lindsey. You think I want you to work?”
“Um, boss—employee. It seems logical.”
“Wow. You’ve had some crappy bosses.”
“Actually, I’ve only ever had two. And they were wonderful.”
One tear slipped. He caught it with his thumb. Another. He caught that one too which made her want to cry harder.
“I don’t want you to work. I’m wondering if you would be okay if my family joined us for Christmas. You, Zach, and me, if you don’t mind including me.”
She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to taste the metallic trace of blood. It was enough to stop the tears from streaming. She didn’t understand him.
“Why would you want to spend Christmas with strangers?”
His hand was still on her face and it was making it hard to breathe. Could you fall for someone in days or was she just over-emotional and lonely? She had fallen once for the wrong boy. She wouldn’t again. Nate is no boy. No. But he could hurt her all the same. And this time, it wasn’t just her.
“You’re part of this place. I like you and I like Zach. We practically live together and you have traditions here that I want to learn about and be part of. I came here to start something of my own but I want you to be part of it, Lindsey. You and Zach. I had a few episodes of guilt after reading some emails and thought I’d extend an olive branch and invite my family. But if you don’t want them here, if you’re sad because of Amos and Maggie, I understand.” She couldn’t stop looking at him. It was too much to ask that he really meant the words he was saying. But he certainly seemed genuine. Their eyes stayed locked on each other, but her breaths came quicker when she realized his face was coming closer. It was getting harder to focus.
The bus honked to signal that Zach was home. Nate dropped his hand, pulling back. Once again, she felt a bit like Cinderella, but at the part where the end came too soon. The tension ebbed between them but she could still feel his fingertips on her jaw.
“That…sounds perfect,” she answered.
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This sounds wonderful. I enjoy her books under both names.
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