Excerpt: Racing Christmas by J.L. Baldwin

Posted on December 19, 2018 by rolopolobookblog

There are only two things Vincent Henderson loves.

Racing and family.

Speeding around on the track has always fueled his insatiable adrenaline appetite. A devastating loss has left Vincent without the Christmas spirit. Now, with history threatening to repeat itself, his focus has been turned to fixing his father’s old race car so he can have the strength he needs get back on the track where he belongs.

That is, until Maybelle Tomlinson comes racing into his life, stopping him in his tracks.

Growing up as the typical sweet, southern belle, Maybelle is the epitome of what Christmas is all about. She loves everything about the holiday. From the tree, to the lights, and everything in between.Tennessee Christmases were always spent in a place she absolutely loves…her family’s bakery, with her mother’s signature creations.

When an impromptu holiday vacation throws Maybelle directly into the path of Vincent, she finds out he isn’t as amazing as she once thought. He’s rude, arrogant, and downright insensitive, but makes Maybelle’s heart race faster than any car would. Digging deep to find the man she once imagined is not going to be easy, but it’s a challenge Maybelle is up for.

It’s the adrenaline rush of a lifetime, but crossing the finish line isn’t always going to result in a happy ending.

“I like the sound of your laugh,” he says, his eyes sparkling.

I blush. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I should make you laugh more,” he tells me. Vincent seems like he wants to say more. “So do you know why my feelings toward Christmas are the way they are?”

I nod. “Yes, Ariel told me, since Rig told her, so it made it easier to understand. I don’t like it, but I understand.”

Vincent scrunches his eyebrows together in confusion. “Why does it matter so much to you? It’s just a holiday.”

“It isn’t just a holiday. It’s magic. That feeling you get when you wake up on Christmas morning to see the tree all lit up, and presents beneath the tree, and the stockings hung by the chimney with care, and…”

Vincent scoffs. “Let me guess. They hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there? I’ve heard this same song and dance before. It is not a happy time for me. Sorry to disappoint you.”

Now I’m getting angry. He’s just going to brush it off. “You can’t hate Christmas forever!”

“I disagree since it has caused me nothing but pain in the past, and unfortunately, the present.”

This is getting me nowhere. “Care to be up to a challenge?”

He raises an eyebrow. “A challenge? Sweetheart, I’m Vincent Henderson. I never back down from a challenge. It’s in my DNA.”

“Good, then we’ll go to the mall. And if you don’t love everything in the mall that has to do with Christmas, I’ll back off, and secretly love the holiday from afar. But, if you love it, I get the satisfaction of being right and bestowing the love of Christmas back into you. Deal?” I extend my hand out to shake his hand. Vincent seems unsure, but grins wide and grabs my hand. Instead of shaking it, he pulls me forward until I’m flush against his hard body. I inhale when his lips gently brush against mine. My breath hitches at the soft caress. His hand comes up and brushes softly against my cheek before closing his mouth over mine, stealing my breath in a kiss. Just as I go to deepen the kiss, he breaks the kiss and teasingly smiles.

“You’ve got yourself a deal, firecracker.

Growing up, J.L. Baldwin has always had a love of fairy tales and happily ever afters. Now, she loves her fairy tales grittier, darker, and sexier, while keeping that happily ever after ending. She has always dreamed of becoming an author and that dream finally became reality when she debuted her first book in December of 2015.In her free time when she isn’t writing, she can be found with a book in her hand, obsessing over Disney, thinking about a sunny beach somewhere, all while still thinking about the stories that have yet to be written.

J.L. is known for writing sexy, enticing romance with delicious, devious twists that are sure to entrance you for years and years to come.