Release Blitz and Giveaway: Holiday Crush: Lane Hayes
Holiday Crush
The hockey has-been, the barista, and some holiday magic…
Court
Cut from the team, fired my agent…now what?
This can’t be it for me. Unfortunately, the phone isn’t ringing. My best bet is to head home for the holidays and regroup.
Problem: I don’t know what to do with myself. Helping out at the rink might be my ticket out of here, but nothing is happening fast enough. And then there’s Ivan. No, no, it’s not what you think. We went to school together. We’re acquaintance-friends…nothing more.
But you know, I like him. A lot. He’s funny and relentlessly upbeat. I’m a better person when I’m with him—the kind who volunteers to deck the halls and wrap garland on lampposts and—
Whoa. What’s happening here?
Ivan
I love the holidays! But running the coffee shop on my own during the busiest season of the year is going to be a challenge. And the sudden appearance of my former crush is all kinds of distracting.
See, I spent my formative years mooning over Court Henderson, our high school’s hockey phenom, even though he was out of my league. Thankfully, I grew up and left the silly remnants of my youth behind. Or did I?
Grown-up Court is full of surprises, and under his gruff yet extremely fine exterior, he’s a good soul with a huge heart. He’s charming, sweet, handsome, and— Uh-oh.
My crush is back. Just in time for the holidays…
Holiday Crush is an MM bisexual, small-town romance featuring a renewed ancient crush, some mistletoe latte art, and a little seasonal magic.
Court shook his head at my amazing, incredible Christmas tree on his way to the door. “I can’t get over that thing. It’s wild.”
I beamed. “I know. I love it. I buy a regular tree too, even though it’s holiday overkill. But who cares? This is my favorite time of year, and I celebrate to the nth degree!”
He shoved his arms into his jacket, a playful grin on his handsome mug. “And do you celebrate by watching scary movies and stringing candy corn and plastic spiders into garland?”
“No, smartass, but damn, that’s a great idea for Halloween next year.”
He chuckled. “So…what do you do for Christmas?”
I braced my left hand on the doorjamb and cast a quick glance at the fireplace to keep from staring at my guest. Standing a foot apart in the cramped doorway between my foyer and living room felt oddly intimate. Court took up space in my tiny abode, with his broad shoulders, towering height, and big muscles. I was more aware of him than ever. It took me a second to gather my thoughts and remember what we were talking about.
Christmas. Right.
“The usual—decorate my house, string lights outside, drape fresh garland everywhere. And yes, there’s always mistletoe. I also watch holiday movies and listen to Christmas music from mid-November till the end of the year. I bake cookies too, which always turn out to be a hot mess, but baking is festive and fun, and my family and friends are kind enough to compliment me anyway. And…I sign up for every holiday event in town, including the Skate with Santa party at the rink, caroling at Wood Hollow’s Home for the elderly, Toys for Tots Sled Fest next to the Christmas Tree Farm in Fallbrook, and of course, Holiday Bingo. By the way, all of those, including Bingo, have volunteer positions…if you’re interested.”
“I’d rather shovel snow in Siberia,” he deadpanned.
I grinned. “Your holiday spirit needs a tune-up.”
“Yeah, yeah. I don’t do holiday spirit.”
“That’s an awful thing to say!”
“Why? There’s no point. I’m usually on the road, so I’ve never bought a tree and I don’t always remember to buy gifts, either. My brother shamelessly shows me up every holiday. Oren bought our folks an oil painting of their ten-year-old golden retriever a couple of years ago. And it was really nice. I bought Mom the same gloves I bought her the previous year and the wrong-sized slippers for Dad.”
“Oh, dear. Well, I’m happy to help you this year. I’m an expert at gift-giving and—what’s so funny?”
Court’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “You’re Elmwood’s emo elf, aren’t you?”
“Ha. Ha.” I moved by him to unlock the door. “Good-bye, Grinch.”
He snickered. “Later. And thanks for tonight. It was fun.”
“Yeah. It was,” I agreed, smiling as he stepped closer.
This was where I was supposed to shuffle out of the way to give him room to slip outside without letting the cold inside, but my feet were seemingly glued to the floor. And now, we were inches apart. So close I could see flecks of gold in his blue eyes and a scar half-hidden in his left brow. I should have jumped away and laughed off this little dance before I accidentally made it awkward.
Too late.
Ugh. Now I was staring at him and he was staring at me and…his mouth was right there, hovering over mine. I could feel his breath on my lips and smell gin and something woodsy and masculine on his skin. And nope, I couldn’t resist.
I leaned in, set my palm on his chest and pressed my lips to Court’s.
And that was the match that started the fire.
I’ve really come to enjoy being in this Elmwood world with its hockey hunks and quirky townspeople.
Minor league hockey player, Court Henderson hasn’t been playing well and his team wasn’t doing well either. But now it’s even worse because the team has dropped him and he no longer has an agent, so he has come back to Elmwood for the holidays and a break until he can figure out what to do with his future. His family runs a popular bakery in town He’s a bit, gruff, upset, and lost. But he’s also generally a nice and charming guy, even if he is not a big into the holidays so is a bit bah humbug.
Minor league hockey player, Court Henderson hasn’t been playing well and his team wasn’t doing well either. But now it’s even worse because the team has dropped him and he no longer has an agent, so he has come back to Elmwood for the holidays and a break until he can figure out what to do with his future. His family runs a popular bakery in town He’s a bit, gruff, upset, and lost. But he’s also generally a nice and charming guy, even if he is not a big into the holidays so is a bit bah humbug.
Ivan owns the coffee shop next door to the bakery. He had a crush on Court for all of his formative years but swore off of him in high school. He’s funny, energetic, community-minded, caring, dependable, and a complete holiday-a-holic and hopeless romantic. But he has not been lucky in love.
Their re-meeting is more of a meet-disaster. But as they begin running into each other more, they start to build a tenuous friendship and an attraction starts to build. A kiss. A little more. A crush is reborn and a new one is developing. A holiday fling is all it is supposed to be.
Both have their own insecurities and issues from their pasts and in the present. Court is just trying to figure out where he belongs and what he is going to do with his life. Ivan has his hands full with his own business and loves being part of the community but also feels lonely at times. This Elmwood community just seems to be so welcoming and healing for these guys after facing struggles in their lives and careers.
This is a heartfelt, hot, low angst, opposites-attract, resurrected crush, small-town, holiday romance. I just loved Court and Ivan. It was like they just found the one that they never expected at just the right time and found understanding, a true connection, trust, happiness, and purpose. It was just an enjoyable and smile-inducing holiday read. I am looking forward to more in this series.
Both have their own insecurities and issues from their pasts and in the present. Court is just trying to figure out where he belongs and what he is going to do with his life. Ivan has his hands full with his own business and loves being part of the community but also feels lonely at times. This Elmwood community just seems to be so welcoming and healing for these guys after facing struggles in their lives and careers.
This is a heartfelt, hot, low angst, opposites-attract, resurrected crush, small-town, holiday romance. I just loved Court and Ivan. It was like they just found the one that they never expected at just the right time and found understanding, a true connection, trust, happiness, and purpose. It was just an enjoyable and smile-inducing holiday read. I am looking forward to more in this series.
Court shook his head at my amazing, incredible Christmas tree on his way to the door. “I can’t get over that thing. It’s wild.”
I beamed. “I know. I love it. I buy a regular tree too, even though it’s holiday overkill. But who cares? This is my favorite time of year, and I celebrate to the nth degree!”
He shoved his arms into his jacket, a playful grin on his handsome mug. “And do you celebrate by watching scary movies and stringing candy corn and plastic spiders into garland?”
“No, smartass, but damn, that’s a great idea for Halloween next year.”
He chuckled. “So…what do you do for Christmas?”
I braced my left hand on the doorjamb and cast a quick glance at the fireplace to keep from staring at my guest. Standing a foot apart in the cramped doorway between my foyer and living room felt oddly intimate. Court took up space in my tiny abode, with his broad shoulders, towering height, and big muscles. I was more aware of him than ever. It took me a second to gather my thoughts and remember what we were talking about.
Christmas. Right.
“The usual—decorate my house, string lights outside, drape fresh garland everywhere. And yes, there’s always mistletoe. I also watch holiday movies and listen to Christmas music from mid-November till the end of the year. I bake cookies too, which always turn out to be a hot mess, but baking is festive and fun, and my family and friends are kind enough to compliment me anyway. And…I sign up for every holiday event in town, including the Skate with Santa party at the rink, caroling at Wood Hollow’s Home for the elderly, Toys for Tots Sled Fest next to the Christmas Tree Farm in Fallbrook, and of course, Holiday Bingo. By the way, all of those, including Bingo, have volunteer positions…if you’re interested.”
“I’d rather shovel snow in Siberia,” he deadpanned.
I grinned. “Your holiday spirit needs a tune-up.”
“Yeah, yeah. I don’t do holiday spirit.”
“That’s an awful thing to say!”
“Why? There’s no point. I’m usually on the road, so I’ve never bought a tree and I don’t always remember to buy gifts, either. My brother shamelessly shows me up every holiday. Oren bought our folks an oil painting of their ten-year-old golden retriever a couple of years ago. And it was really nice. I bought Mom the same gloves I bought her the previous year and the wrong-sized slippers for Dad.”
“Oh, dear. Well, I’m happy to help you this year. I’m an expert at gift-giving and—what’s so funny?”
Court’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “You’re Elmwood’s emo elf, aren’t you?”
“Ha. Ha.” I moved by him to unlock the door. “Good-bye, Grinch.”
He snickered. “Later. And thanks for tonight. It was fun.”
“Yeah. It was,” I agreed, smiling as he stepped closer.
This was where I was supposed to shuffle out of the way to give him room to slip outside without letting the cold inside, but my feet were seemingly glued to the floor. And now, we were inches apart. So close I could see flecks of gold in his blue eyes and a scar half-hidden in his left brow. I should have jumped away and laughed off this little dance before I accidentally made it awkward.
Too late.
Ugh. Now I was staring at him and he was staring at me and…his mouth was right there, hovering over mine. I could feel his breath on my lips and smell gin and something woodsy and masculine on his skin. And nope, I couldn’t resist.
I leaned in, set my palm on his chest and pressed my lips to Court’s.
And that was the match that started the fire.
Next Season
(The Elmwood Stories #2)
Lane Hayes
Website | Facebook | Reader's Group | Instagram | X | Newsletter | TikTok
Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.
To celebrate the release of Holiday Crush, Lane is giving away the Winner's choice of an
audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
A Rafflecopter Giveaway
Direct Link: https://bit.ly/HC_Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
0 comments