by: Lara Van Hulzen
Series: The Endicotts of Silver Bay
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
Release Date: November 29, 2022
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Eva Endicott comes to Silver Bay to prove to her family that she can make it on her own. Working in the local bakery, she’s determined to save enough to open her own cake decorating business. Winning an upcoming Christmas cake competition is the key to her dream, so Eva has no time for distractions, especially not devastatingly handsome ones that make her heart skip a beat.
Tyler Vance is the personal trainer for professional baseball pitcher, Drew MacIntyre. After following a retired Drew to Silver Bay, Tyler’s own future is uncertain. Things become more unsettled when a beautiful baker enters his world. Eva fascinates Tyler and as he gets to know her better, he considers planting his roots in Silver Bay. But when the location Tyler chooses for his training facility is the same one Eva wants for her bakery, something has to give.
With the contest deadline looming, Eva can barely think about Tyler. Until a blinding moment finally reveals her true feelings.
Is it too late? Or will a Christmas miracle give them both more than they ever dreamed?
Age: 32
Date of birth: August 2
Physical Description: 6’5. Blonde. Brown eyes. Big guy – former professional wrestler
Occupation: Personal trainer for a major league baseball player
3 likes in no particular order: Classic rock music, Podcasts, Helping others.
3 dislikes in no particular order: Complaining, Most vegetables (he eats super healthy so has to force them down), Being late somewhere.
Drink of choice: Eva gets him addicted to Christmas In A Cup which is essentially a peppermint mocha.
Favorite food: Steak and potatoes
Favorite song: Back in Black by AC/DC
Choice of transportation: Very large SUV like a GMC Yukon. He’s a big guy so he likes a big vehicle.
Favorite way to spend an evening: Watching movies with Eva by the fire.
Favorite holiday tradition: He didn’t have too many growing up, but he did enjoy decorating the tree.
Best memory to date: Kissing Eva under the mistletoe.
If you could have a do-over, what would you do differently? Make sure he talked to his parents more often, even when things were tough between them.
What’s something you’ve said you would never do, but in fact have done? Learn to bake Christmas cookies.
Most romantic gesture (done or received): He cooks Eva dinner and takes care of her after finding her upset and overwhelmed.
Words to live by: “I think too often we are afraid to be real with people. We only want them to see the best in us or about us. But life is full of mess and mess is where we get to know each other best, I think.”
“Get a room,” Eva said. She sat up straight and turned to the doorway as a deep voice said the exact same words at the exact same time.
Her eyes locked with the man who had spoken—Tyler Vance. Drew’s friend and personal trainer. He was also the man that had Eva’s tummy flipping every time she saw him and made her daydreams a bit steamier than she was used to. Sure, she’d dated and been interested in guys before, but something about Tyler made everything in her stand up and pay attention. It was a response she was still trying to wrap her head around, but the more she thought about it, the more frazzled she became.
He took up the entire doorway. At six foot five and made of solid muscle, the man’s presence was hard to ignore.
“Sounds like great minds think alike.” He smiled at Eva, then cocked his head toward Drew and Baylee, who were still making out in the middle of the bakery kitchen.
Eva looked at the couple then back at Tyler. “I’d like to say you get used to it…”
He laughed, the deep sound echoing through the room, as well as Eva’s whole body, sending a shockwave that had her breaking eye contact with him and turning her focus toward her computer once more. She stared at it as if it held the secret to all she needed to calm down in the presence of Tyler. Her floating screen saver wasn’t the lifeline she’d hoped for though. Her heart still pounded and her level of awareness to Tyler’s proximity was off the charts.
“We can hear you, ya know.” Drew said. He’d unlocked his lips from Baylee’s, but his eyes still stared down into hers, the two of them lost in their own form of nonverbal communication.
“You sure about that?” Tyler teased. “We can give you two some time if you need.”
Drew turned to his friend, leaving one arm wrapped around Baylee’s waist. “All right, all right. You can’t blame a man for wanting to see his beautiful wife whenever he can though.”
Eva rolled her eyes. “You mean every hour on the hour?”
Tyler chuckled again. “Before a workout. After a workout. Messaging her in the midst of a workout.” He held up a finger with each thing he verbally checked off.
Smiling, she pursed her lips and looked away when Drew gave her the evil eye.
“Okay, y’all.” Baylee patted Drew’s chest. “As fun as this is, it’s time for us all to get to work. We have a bakery to open and you two have a pitcher’s arm to keep strong.”
Now it was Tyler’s turn to roll his eyes. He looked at Eva. “You’re right. You’d think you’d get used to it, but I’m not so sure that’s possible.”
“You’re just jealous.” Drew gave Baylee one more kiss then moved towards Tyler. “It’s time we find you the love of a good woman.”
At that, Tyler ducked his head and turned to leave. Not before Eva caught a glimpse of what had to be him blushing. It was hard to believe a man that size could blush but based on the heat that rose in her own cheeks, she decided it was time to get going on work and get her mind off a gorgeous man who rattled her, and him finding the love of a good woman.
Her eyes locked with the man who had spoken—Tyler Vance. Drew’s friend and personal trainer. He was also the man that had Eva’s tummy flipping every time she saw him and made her daydreams a bit steamier than she was used to. Sure, she’d dated and been interested in guys before, but something about Tyler made everything in her stand up and pay attention. It was a response she was still trying to wrap her head around, but the more she thought about it, the more frazzled she became.
He took up the entire doorway. At six foot five and made of solid muscle, the man’s presence was hard to ignore.
“Sounds like great minds think alike.” He smiled at Eva, then cocked his head toward Drew and Baylee, who were still making out in the middle of the bakery kitchen.
Eva looked at the couple then back at Tyler. “I’d like to say you get used to it…”
He laughed, the deep sound echoing through the room, as well as Eva’s whole body, sending a shockwave that had her breaking eye contact with him and turning her focus toward her computer once more. She stared at it as if it held the secret to all she needed to calm down in the presence of Tyler. Her floating screen saver wasn’t the lifeline she’d hoped for though. Her heart still pounded and her level of awareness to Tyler’s proximity was off the charts.
“We can hear you, ya know.” Drew said. He’d unlocked his lips from Baylee’s, but his eyes still stared down into hers, the two of them lost in their own form of nonverbal communication.
“You sure about that?” Tyler teased. “We can give you two some time if you need.”
Drew turned to his friend, leaving one arm wrapped around Baylee’s waist. “All right, all right. You can’t blame a man for wanting to see his beautiful wife whenever he can though.”
Eva rolled her eyes. “You mean every hour on the hour?”
Tyler chuckled again. “Before a workout. After a workout. Messaging her in the midst of a workout.” He held up a finger with each thing he verbally checked off.
Smiling, she pursed her lips and looked away when Drew gave her the evil eye.
“Okay, y’all.” Baylee patted Drew’s chest. “As fun as this is, it’s time for us all to get to work. We have a bakery to open and you two have a pitcher’s arm to keep strong.”
Now it was Tyler’s turn to roll his eyes. He looked at Eva. “You’re right. You’d think you’d get used to it, but I’m not so sure that’s possible.”
“You’re just jealous.” Drew gave Baylee one more kiss then moved towards Tyler. “It’s time we find you the love of a good woman.”
At that, Tyler ducked his head and turned to leave. Not before Eva caught a glimpse of what had to be him blushing. It was hard to believe a man that size could blush but based on the heat that rose in her own cheeks, she decided it was time to get going on work and get her mind off a gorgeous man who rattled her, and him finding the love of a good woman.
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Writing stories since she was a young girl, Lara's dream of being a novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor series. An avid reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with various organizations. She has a BA in Journalism and a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy. Lara loves tea, baseball and living in Idaho with her husband and Great Dane.
Places to find Lara Van Hulzen:
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My husband loves cookies, so I would back them.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your release of Christmas Cakes and Kisses, Lara, it sounds like my kind of holiday read! I would bake a variety of cupcakes (from simple vanilla and chocolate to coconut and cream filled) so he could have his choice of delight and I would make beignets! Have a magical holiday season!
ReplyDeleteI am cookie baker, so I would whip up several different kinds of yummy cookies.
ReplyDeletered velvet cake with ermine icing
ReplyDeleted
A delicious white cake with some raspberry filling and icing
ReplyDeleteRed velvet cake it’s so pretty & tastes so good!
ReplyDeleteI am famous for my from scratch carrot cake and lemon meringue pie, but I would try to find out what his favorite baked dessert is and bake that for him as a surprise
ReplyDeleteIt would be a toss up between my Nana's banana bread or fried apple pies. The fried apple pies are both fried and baked (but never deep fried) and are incredibly time intensive, but also the most delicious thing ever.
ReplyDeleteI would bake Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Blossom cookies!
ReplyDelete