Title: Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Author: Kimberly Ann
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
Krissy
I love everything about Christmas. From my jingle bell earrings to my handmade ornament business, everything in my life revolves around my favourite holiday. That’s why when the latest man I’ve been talking with online suggests me have our first date on Christmas Eve, I knew it was meant to be. That is, until he didn’t show.
Now I’m snowed in with Whiskey Falls’ hottest new bar owner. I try to salvage the night by decorating his bar with the meagre decorations left in the bar’s storage room while getting to know the man that might as well grumble ‘Bah Humbug’ with every sentence.
Brett
I expected a quiet Christmas Eve at the Lucky Dog Pub, but instead I have a bubbly blonde decked in head-to-toe Christmas burst through my doors. Snowed in and nowhere to go, I’m not about to let this beautiful stranger take her chances on the ice-covered streets.
Little did I know, letting her into my bar turned into the softening of my hardened heart, something I haven’t been able to do in a long time. With the Christmas magic fading and the snow melting, I have to decide if I’m able to open myself to Krissy, or if I want to continue with my solitary life.
Excerpt
I don’t know why I’m so invested in making The Lucky Dog look more festive, but I am. What I should do is pack up my things and go home before the snow gets too bad to drive. I should thank Brett and let him get on with his Christmas Eve instead of hanging decorations that won’t be seen by anyone but the two of us.
But I don’t.
Am I being pushy? Yes, but I’m determined to make it as Christmas-y as it can be. Everyone deserves a little holiday spirit. Even the grumpiest of the grumps, like Brett.
Plus, Mack isn’t coming. It’s snowing like a snow globe outside, and it’s Christmas Eve. I might as well make it fun.
With a sigh, Brett throws back the rest of his whiskey and stands. He doesn’t look at me as he lengthens his spine to his full, magnificent height, and walks down the darkened hallway I saw him come from earlier. Heaven help me, I can’t help but follow him.
“Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, it’s just us here, and I’m closed tomorrow. No one else is going to see this.” Brett lowers his voice as he stops in front of the first door and turns to me.
“Yes, even if it’s just for us.” I can’t stop the way my voice takes on a breathy hilt or the way my body leans into him, seeking him out. It takes every ounce of will in my body not to reach out and place my palm on his chest; feel the beat of his heart. Hope it’s racing just as fast as mine.
He holds my gaze for a moment, letting my words float in the air between us. His intense blue eyes hold mine, making my breath catch.
He’s so handsome. All thoughts I had about Mack are gone as I look into Brett’s ocean blue eyes.
With a brief nod, he turns and opens the door, breaking my trance. Flicking on the lights, he makes a grand sweeping motion with his hand for me to enter the room.
I step past him, looking over my shoulder to make sure he isn’t going to lock me in the room or do something equally baffling. He is a stranger, after all. Even if he is a sexy, intense, grumpy stranger.
Seeing he isn’t going to hold me captive, I let myself survey the room, taking in the haphazardly labelled boxes that are stacked on the shelves that line the walls. A free-standing shelf, packed with even more boxes, sits in the middle of the room, creating two aisles.
“Alright, I don’t know what’s in here. The previous owner left everything a mess. I tried to organize it the best I could when I bought this place. I know there was a box or two more, but I don’t know where they are. I just pulled out what I wanted to use.”
Taking a step forward, I run my fingertips along the sides of the boxes, making my way down the aisle closest to me. A faint layer of dust coats my fingers as I gingerly stroke them. I resist the urge to wipe them off on my pants. Instead, I keep going, smiling as I gaze at the messy handwriting adorned on each cardboard box.
Napkins, glasses, straws.
They must be in here somewhere.
“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to help me?” I turn to face Brett, placing my hands on my hips. The coarse wool fabric of my sweater is a welcome change from the gritty dust.
I take in the way he leans against the doorframe, arms crossed over his broad chest, one ankle crossed over the other. The white t-shirt under his blue plaid button up is straining against his muscles.
He’s so damn sexy.
He chuckles as he pushes himself up. “Of course.”
In any other scenario, I wouldn’t be here talking with him. I’d be at home reading a book or at the store working on an ornament. This handsome lumberjack of a bar owner would scowl at the men in his bar or be fighting off the women throwing themselves at him.
Something occurs to me, which I should have thought about before. What if he has a woman back home? Why would I just assume this drop dead gorgeous man is single?
My eyes shoot to his hands, which are currently folded into his arms across his chest. I would have noticed a ring on his finger before, right?
I can’t let myself go there. Then again, I’m not one to have the best judgement with men lately. It would be my luck that the only guy that’s held my interest for longer than five seconds would be married or attached.
There’s something about him. Something that’s so captivating. More than he’s classically handsome and could be on the cover of a magazine—or romance novel—just as much as he could own a bar. It’s something else about Brett that I just can’t put my finger on, but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Universal: https://books2read.com/baby-itscoldoutside
Share a holiday family tradition:
Every year on Christmas Eve, my family and I gather and have a dinner made completely of appetizer and finger foods, put together a gingerbread house and exchange Christmas ‘bags’ that consist of new pjs, a drink, and a snack we like. Then, after the kids are in bed, I stay up and watch White Christmas by the tree light.
Why is your featured book perfect to get readers in the holiday mood?
It has a Christmas-loving ornament maker who is snowed in with a handsome holiday grump. While forced to spend time together, she makes it her mission to turn him into a jolly old elf.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card
Open internationally.
Runs December 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on January 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Kimberly Ann lives in BC, Canada with her husband, two children and ridiculously cute German Shepherd. When she’s not dreaming of stories, she homeschools her two children as they explore the world together, reads anything she can get her hands on, and drinks a lot of coffee.
Growing up with her head lost in a book, it was no surprise when she picked up a pen, or her laptop, to write her own. Kimberly Ann’s stories are based on the world around her as she brings her imagination to life with stories of small towns, swoon-worthy men, and the women that keep them on their toes.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.kimberlyannauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyannbooks/
Tik Tok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8EY1LUt/