by Cami Checketts
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Twitter: @camichecketts
Just released: November 3, 2014
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Holiday, Christian Romance, New Adult, Novella
Paperback: 582 pages (complete anthology)
Rating: 4.5
Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn't pursue him or even seem interested. Ty's career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.
My two-bits:
I found this to be a sweet read that incorporates college, basketball, christmas and small town vibe.
Despite obstacles thrown into the would-be couple's relationship it was nice to see how the characters worked through things so that love prevailed.
Excerpt:
Shivering in the vicious canyon breeze, Kazlyn skirted a group of slow-moving girls and ran directly into the back of an insanely tall guy. Her bag flung from her fingers and books scattered in the crusty snow piled up next to the sidewalk.
“Snot!”
Tall dude turned and gave her a friendly smile. “No, it’s Tyrese.” His smile grew as he looked her over, white teeth flashing against his smooth, dark skin. “Most people call me Ty, but you can call me anything you want to.”
“Ugh!” She ignored his flirtations and pretty-boy face. You’d think a man that large would have a face like Andre the Giant. Grabbing at books, she shoved them into her bag.
“Here, let me get that for you.” Ty reached farther across the snow bank than she could; with octopus arms it was probably easy.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
He retrieved a few more books and her peppermint lip gloss. Of course, he would find the only feminine thing she had time for during school. His grin got even bigger. “This looks…” He glanced over her face before focusing on her lips. “Yummy.”
Could the guy get any more arrogant? Kazlyn held out her hand. He surrendered the books, but held onto the lip gloss. She sighed, shoved the books into her bag, then held out her hand again. He placed the lip gloss into her palm and wrapped his warm fingers around her freezing ones.
“Wouldn’t want you to lose that.” Ty squeezed her hand. “Maybe you’ll give me a sample one day.”
Her eyebrows shot up. She yanked her fingers from his and stomped around him. “No free samples, buddy.” She tossed a challenging look over her shoulder, almost hoping he’d call her bluff. He winked and grinned.
Kazlyn whipped back around, smacking herself in the face with her long, blonde hair. First, she ran into him. Then, she whacked herself with her own hair.
He laughed. “Maybe I could be an exception.”
Kazlyn kept walking. He caught up to her in four steps, though she’d taken ten. Curse his long legs. She couldn’t resist looking at him and almost wished she could dislodge the picture—fabulous smile, dark eyes surrounded with thick lashes she couldn’t have achieved with heaps of mascara, and chocolate skin.
“Why are you following me?”
“I’m not. I’m walking next to you.”
She huffed. “That’s because you walk so stinking fast. If you didn’t have giraffe legs, you’d be following me.”
He laughed. “Come on. I have more muscle on my legs than most giraffes.”
She allowed him a small smile. “Knobbly-kneed giraffe.”
“I told you it’s Tyrese.” He pumped his eyebrows. “Now, you get to share your name with me.”
“Not happening. I don’t tell strange men my name.”
“Aw, come on. You already gave me a hug from the back.”
“I ran into you!”
“And I forgave you immediately.” He winked. “I’m sure most people would forgive that beautiful face of anything.”
Kazlyn wanted to glare at him, but she couldn’t. Her dad used to say a similar line to her. “Are you always a schmoozer?”
That brought her another chuckle. “Didn’t your momma teach you not to call names?”
“Didn’t your momma teach you not to follow people?”
He laughed louder. “She said it was okay if the girl was really pretty.”
This is one of the stories from...
Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.
Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.
