Spotlight: Once Upon a Charming Bookshop by Heatherly Bell
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(Charming, Texas, #6)
Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Publication date: November 28th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance
Synopsis:
Time to rewrite their story?
He’d always simply been her best friend. But when Noah Cahill moved back to town, bookstore owner Twyla Thompson knew something was different. Was it holiday memories of the loss they’d both shared or Noah’s surprising decision to reignite a dangerous career? Their solid friendship had been through so much, yet now Twyla grew breathless every time Noah was near. Why wasn’t Noah—handsome, fun, but never one to cross the line—showing any signs of stopping?
From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Charming, Texas
Book 1: Winning Mr. Charming
Book 2: The Charming Checklist
Book 3: A Charming Christmas Arrangement
Book 4: A Charming Single Dad
Book 5: A Charming Doorstep Baby
Book 6: Once Upon a Charming Bookshop
Excerpt
She took the opportunity to grab the remote. “Well, let’s fast forward and watch evil Hans fall off the Nakatomi building. That’s your favorite part.”
“Great special effects. He actually looks like he’s falling.”
“I know. He was such a great actor.”
“But we’re starting from the beginning.” Noah reached for the remote and lowered himself to the floor with his back leaning against the couch, then pressed play. “Hey, do I…um…”
There was a pause. Too long of a pause. “Do you what?”
“Confide in you too much?”
“What’s too much? We’re best friends. I’ve known you for half my life.”
“Okay. So, it doesn’t bother you?”
“Why would it bother me?”
There were already lines they wouldn’t cross. She and Noah were both private about stuff you wouldn’t necessarily share. They had achieved, in her opinion, the perfect balance. Were there times when she shared more with him than a partner? Sure, yes, but that was only reasonable given their closeness.
“I had a feeling I was wrong about this.”
But rather than seem happy, he looked disappointed.
“Wrong?”
Twyla felt a pinch of dread squeeze between her ribs. Since the moment he’d returned, she understood on a bone deep level that he wasn’t telling her something. This thing, whatever it was, was bigger than his breakup. Bigger than a decision to go after his dream.
And every time she saw him it felt like that tiny thing had grown larger between them.
“Don’t worry.” Noah patted the empty space next to him. “Some people are trying to mess with me.”
The movie had started, and Bruce Willis now carried an enormous teddy bear off the plane and met his driver. It was difficult for Twyla to focus.
Something had rattled Noah.
She plopped down and grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Who’s messing with you? Finn?”
“No.” Noah scowled. “Why are we talking about him?”
“Did he say you and I are too close? I shouldn’t have asked you to fix me up with Finn. That was stupid.”
“You’re right. That was stupid.”
“Why was it stupid?”
He cocked his head, observing her as if studying a strange phenomenon. “You just said so.”
“Well, I can say that. But why would you say it?”
He closed his eyes and rubbed the middle of his forehead. “God, help me.”
“Honestly, is there something fundamentally wrong with me? Why is it so stupid that me and Finn could be a thing? He’s single. I’m also single.”
“It’s because…” Noah’s eyes were strangely focused on her now, as if there was nothing else in the room. No TV on in the background with Bruce Willis making his way into his screen wife’s boisterous office Christmas party. “Well, Finn…is… He’s still hung up on someone.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, so it wouldn’t work because he can’t stop thinking about this other woman.”
“Well, that’s a good reason.”
“He thinks about her all the time. Day and night. It’s…ridiculous.” Noah rubbed between his eyebrows and looked genuinely worried for Finn.
“Gosh, don’t be so hard on him,” Twyla whispered. “It happens.”
“Yeah. Okay. I won’t be.” Noah squeezed her hand, like he always did. A little pat of reassurance.
But this time, his hand lingered on hers even as he put his attention toward watching the movie.
Twyla lost what little focus she had, though she tried to follow along. Easy to do since they’d watched this movie dozens of times.
She was afraid to speak or even breathe.
Noah practically recited certain lines verbatim. Twyla winced when the elevator doors opened, and a dead man appeared wrapped in lights and wearing a Santa hat.
“This is not a Christmas movie,” she said, shaking her head.
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About the Author
Bestselling author Heatherly Bell was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but lost her accent by the time she was two. After leaving Alabama, Heatherly lived with her family in Puerto Rico and Maryland before being transplanted kicking and screaming to the California Bay Area. She now loves it here, she swears. Except the traffic.
Over 200,000 copies of Heatherly's books have been sold, many of them translated into two languages.
Heatherly also writes sweet and wholesome books under the pen name of Maria Michaels. She is represented by Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency.
Luke’s unwavering loyalty to Lexi and her family gives this sweet romance unexpected integrity ...Readers looking for a tender romance that leans more toward the emotional than the physical will find this very satisfying." ~ Publishers Weekly/Booklife review on Country Gold.
"Heatherly Bell writes romance that will capture your heart." ~ Marina Adair, New York Times bestselling author.
"What a thoroughly delightful story. I adored it." ~ Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author on Lucky Cowboy.
Connect:
https://www.heatherlybell.com/
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https://twitter.com/HeatherlyBelle
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9836502.Heatherly_Bell
