Mistletoe in the City, book 3 of Handmade for Christmas by Amber Daulton

I’m thrilled to welcome Amber Daulton back to the blog this week with her new novella, Mistletoe in the City, book 3 in the Handmade for Christmas series. Amber shared Trevor’s Redemption with us in August, book 3.5 in the Arresting Onyx series.

Background for Mistletoe in the City

Derek’s world is about to change forever—again.

After his father’s stroke, Derek Weston dropped out of college and returned home to help his parents with the family business, Oak Landing Apartments. Now living on the premises as the groundskeeper and handyman, he never expected the girl he’d secretly crushed on in high school to move into a unit right before Christmas or stir up desires he thought long gone.

Krista Hartley needs a fresh start away from her overbearing parents, but falling for the tattooed hottie who ignored her back in school wasn’t in the plans. Despite old hurts, Derek’s hot kisses and strong arms offer the shelter she craves.

When another woman sets her sight on Derek and drives a wedge between him and Krista, they’ll have to decide if their relationship is real, or just a winter fling.

An Excerpt from Mistletoe in the City

The five-man band at the far wall wailed on their instruments as the lead singer shouted profanities into a microphone. Several people cheered in the audience while at least a dozen others shoved at each other and ran in a counter-clockwise circle at the base of the stage.

“You like it?” Derek shouted from over the music.

“It’s wild, but I can’t hear myself think!”

“Let’s grab a drink. I’m paying for that, so don’t even try it.”

She grinned and held up her hands in surrender. With Derek in the lead, she bypassed the crowded booths along the walls and wove between a few occupied tables in front of the bar.

Derek snagged a barstool and lifted his hand to signal for the bartender. “What would you like, or do you trust me to choose?” he asked Krista.

“Go for it.” She slid onto the padded stool beside him and tucked her shoulders in to avoid brushing against the leather-clad biker at her right.

“One gin and tonic, and a Hurricane for the lady,” Derek called out to the skinny man and then said to Krista, “A Hurricane is rum, grenadine, and a few kinds of fruit juice. Taste like heaven. I think it was invented down in New Orleans.”

“Yummy.” She stuffed her purse and the teddy bear on her lap and rubbed her damp palms together. The body heat bounding off the loud, drinking strangers around her slicked her skin with sweat. “I’ve been to bars before, but never one like this. Why are those people running in the crowd?”

“That’s the mosh pit. It’s called slam dancing. You push and shove and try to keep up with the pack. When you fall—and you will fall—someone will pick you up.”

“Sounds crazy. You’ve done it?”

“A few times. Once, this guy elbowed me right in the face, gave me a huge shiner. Then I tripped, but he grabbed me up and bought me a beer. I was nineteen at the time. Nice guy.”

She laughed at the sincerity in his voice.

After the bartender delivered their drinks and Derek paid, she sipped the red, fruity concoction from a fancy highball glass. The wash of rum stung her throat, and her eyes watered. She coughed and pursed her lips. “It’s a little strong.”

“Go slow. I haven’t been here in months. Hell, I haven’t seen a concert in probably a year. My job keeps me busy.”

“Tell me about it. Working at the bank and now at the craft fair takes up so much of my time that when I have a free moment I conk out in front of the TV.”

He snorted and raised his tumbler. “To time-consuming jobs.”

“And the pursuit of fun.” She clanked her glass with his.

“Oomph.” Derek lurched forward as a passerby bumped into him.

“Sorry, dude.” The dark-haired man stepped back. Then his eyes bugged out. “Derek? Hey, man! It’s been a long time.”

“Paul, hey. Good to see you.” Derek stood and opened his arms.

They slapped each other on the back in a strict man hug—a two pats and you’re done kind of deal.

“I thought you’d be here since you’re a Scuzz Heads fanatic.” Derek plucked at Paul’s black T-shirt that featured said band’s logo and name. “Did you drag Jonas and Chet along, too?”

“Damn straight. My girl, Amy, is around here somewhere. She brought her…” he trailed off and met Krista’s gaze. “You’re here with a chick?” he asked Derek.

She arched her eyebrow at the word chick.

“Yeah, this is Krista.” Her date drew back and clasped her shoulder. “Kris, I’d like you to meet Paul. He’s one of my old college roommates.”

She forced a smile and shook his offered hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Paul turned back to Derek, dismissing her. “I haven’t seen you since that party at the start of the fall semester. What have you been up to?”

“A little of this and that. Mostly, just working for my folks.”

“You should get out more. Say, how’s your dad doing?”

Derek stiffened and rubbed the back of his neck. “Better. He still limps and gets dizzy when he bends over, but he’s doing well enough.”

She grasped Derek’s hand, and his rigid, straighter-than-a-metal-post back relaxed.

“Good, good. Want to say hi to the guys?” Paul hiked his thumb over his shoulder.

“No, it’s all right. I’ll call them tomorrow and maybe make plans to get together later.”

“Aw, c’mon.” He gripped Derek’s shoulder and pulled him away from the bar. “They’ll be stoked to see you and meet your girl.”

Derek shot Krista an apologetic smile before he grabbed his drink from the counter. She sighed and followed a few steps behind Derek and Paul to a half-moon-shaped booth.

Two guys already sat there and laughed over beers.

“Guess who’s finally dragged his ass out of the cave?” Paul announced to the men.

“Fucking hell! It’s Derek,” the blond of the group exclaimed and jumped up from the curved bench seat. His curly hair dangled around his tanned face like he was a surfer wannabe.

“Jonas, my man.” Derek hugged him, then greeted the other man with a hug and a rub of his shaved head. “Still going for the cue-ball look, huh, Chet?”

“What can I say? The ladies love sliding on it.” Chet waggled his eyebrows and cast his gaze past Derek’s shoulder to Krista. “Speaking of ladies, a pretty little thing has followed you over.”

A snarky feminist comment burned on her tongue, but her tight throat stole her voice. Pangs zigzagged through her cramping stomach. High school flashbacks filled her mind. So many times she’d overheard Derek and his buddies talking smack and cutting up, but never once was she—quiet, invisible Krista—the chick or pretty little thing they gossiped about.

How the tables had turned. The grass wasn’t greener on the other side, by far.

“My date, Krista.” Derek wrapped his arm around her. “We went to high school together and met up again recently.”

“Cool. Have a seat, guys.” Jonas waved them toward one side of the booth while he took the other side.

Summoning all her strength to not spout some bullshit excuse and race out the door, Krista settled into the booth and set her drink beside an empty martini glass. Heat swamped her, but she be damned if she took off her coat and got comfortable. She needed all the armor she could get.

Derek slid in and pushed the sleeves of his duffel right down his arms.

Figures. Leave it to him to settle in for the long haul. As he reached for her, she flattened her hands on her jittery knees. He winced at her rebuff, as if she cared.

After Paul saddled in beside Jonas and then Chet claimed the spot next to Derek, the four handsome guys sandwiched her in as though she starred on one of those reality TV shows in which she, the bachelorette, had to flirt with her adoring suitors who hung on her every word. But these men weren’t adoring and didn’t give two shits about her. Derek was the exception, of course—she hoped. Her chest clenched. Was her first date in months doomed? Would Derek revert to his old ways and ignore her in preference of his friends?

Dear God. She should’ve run when she had the chance.

What Amber Daulton’s Readers are Saying…

A New Adult holiday gem: Mistletoe in the City.
Author, Amber Daulton, brings to life a love story that everyone can relate to, and I think I may have had. It’s the holiday season, but all young, Krista Hartley wants for Christmas is a place of her own, away from her parents’ home and rule. She finds a great apartment within her means and in a decent area. What she didn’t expect to find was Derek and high school crush that she stayed away from due to his smooth talking, philandering ways. Well, Derek smooth talks his way into Krista’s life and bedroom and, for a brief moment, life is wonderful. Enter the dreaded, gorgeous redhead, Delia, who’s had eyes for Derek for a long time. As you can imagine, things get juicy in bed as well as out of. Find out how this mess gets started, and how it will end, in this nicely written, new adult holiday gem: Mistletoe in the City.

– Jeffrey Wirth

Mistletoe in the city by Amber Daulton
Reviewed for Amo and Sarah’s Book Corner.

This is my third book of Amber Daultons and it was fantastic. I really like Krista and Derek. This, like the others is a short sweet novella with lashings of instalove, I’m in heaven!

Krista and Derek knew each other in high school but were both too shy and insecure in their own skin to act on it – until one day 7 years later Krista goes to see about an apartment that his mother runs, yes you guessed it but things don’t run smoothly in the name of love and Krista and Derek have to smoothen out the boundaries.

This Christmas novella will leave you feeling warm and toasty and definitely feeling the Christmas spirit but Amber Daulton isn’t without her little bit of angst to get the blood pumping.

If you want a quick, daytime read where you can put your feet up, switch on the Christmas lights and make a cup of hot chocolate, then this is the book for you!

Amber you rock – amazing!
5 stars ⭐️

– SG loves books (Sarah)

We’ve all had the High School crush from a distance. What if that person walked back into your life? And, what if you found out that they always had eyes for you? What if you learned of this the moment he/she walked back into your life, and that they were as HOT as ever! Both to you, and for you?
How many of us could really say ‘no,’? And why should you?
Follow our young new lovers as they build a Romance for the Ages! In this heartwarming tale of Young Love, the reader can’t help but flash back to a happier, yet more complex time of emotional chaos and confusion; High School. From Start to finish, you are going to LOVE THIS STORY!!!
— Mark Casigh, Author
“Auld Lang Syne”
“The Penitent”
“Under the Mistletoe, 1945”

– MECasigh

Meet the author of Mistletoe in the City, Amber Daulton

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats. Feel free to visit her at https://amberdaulton.com/ or sign up for her newsletter at https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/.

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