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Elisabeth Barrett | Holiday Travel
December 4, 2013
It’s December now, but if you’re anything like me, you plan your holiday travel
as far in advance as possible in order to minimize the likelihood of anything
going wrong. Flying during peak times is the worst, but no matter which way you
slice it, traveling anywhere this time of year can be hectic and
stress-inducing. I have three young kids, which just ratchets up the level of
travel insanity, so I do everything I can to ensure that things run smoothly. I
pack activity bags, way more food than we’ll need, and even special treats for
the kids if they act on their best behavior while Mr. B and I are struggling
with the luggage. Ann Smith, the heroine in my latest novel, CHRISTMAS IN TAHOE, also
likes for things to run smoothly. Ann works as an actuary in Silicon Valley,
and to minimize the chance of things going wrong while traveling, she always
likes to know where she is, where she’s going, how long it’ll take to get there,
and most importantly, whom she’s going with. For several weeks, she had been
looking forward to a carefully-planned ski trip to Lake Tahoe with her best
friend, Mandy. But when Mandy gets stuck at work at the last minute and instead
sends Chase Deckert, a sexy snowboarder, to Ann’s office to drive her to Tahoe,
Ann is thrown for a loop: “Mandy, please don’t do this to me,” Ann Smith muttered to herself as she
scanned One World Insurance’s well-maintained parking lot for her ride. “Not
right before Christmas.” But Mandy Aligheri’s little blue Prius was nowhere to be seen. Just the usual
panoply of sedans, minivans and SUVs. And a handsome guy sporting a beard, leaning on a huge truck.
Definitely not her ride.
Her gaze slid over him and toward the entrance to the parking lot. Still no
Mandy. It was just like her friend to be late, a pattern since college. They
used to joke that if they combined Ann, who was always early, with Mandy, who
was always late, they’d make one person who was always right on time.
. . .
Just as she was about to pull her phone out of her voluminous bag to see if
she’d missed any messages, Huge Truck Guy peeled himself off his truck and
started walking directly towards her.
“You Ann?” he said. Even from twenty feet away his voice carried, a deep
masculine rumble.
She nodded stiffly.
“I’m Chase,” he said, holding out a hand. “Mandy asked me to come pick you
up.”
Reluctantly, she shifted her skis to her left side and took his hand. Rough
fingers slid over hers and gripped her palm. Strong. And warm.
And it wasn’t just his fingers that were rough. It was the whole package. Worn
jeans, a crew-neck sweater, and a pair of scuffed hiking boots complimented his
thick, midnight black hair. His beard—somewhere between a five-o’clock shadow
and full-on lumberjack—didn’t hide his strong jaw and lean cheekbones. His eyes,
almost as dark as his hair and filled with intelligence, settled on her.
A crazy pattern of heat played a samba on her skin. When she closed her eyes to
get her bearings, kaleidoscope colors flashed behind her lids. Was she having a
stroke? The likelihood of that happening given her age, sex, and overall health
was less than one percent, as were the odds that she was having a heart attack.
A tumor was another possibility, but that was even rarer, clocking in at a
probability of zero-point-four-five percent.
Dawning awareness crept over her and, shocked, she blinked once. Then twice. For
this was something that couldn’t be predicted with any probability whatsoever.
Something so creaky and rusted from disuse she barely recognized it for what it
was.
Desire.
Ann isn’t thrilled about being ditched by her friend or about the disruption to
her carefully laid travel plans, but she decides to head up to Tahoe with Chase
anyway (smart move). Over the course of the long weekend, she comes to grips
with her past, gets a new lease on life, and falls in love. Sometimes, a little
chaos thrown into our holiday travel is all we need to truly appreciate the
season!
GIVEAWAY!
To thank you for stopping by, let me know whether you organize your holiday
travel plans or leave things to chance, and one commenter will be randomly
selected to win a digital copy of CHRISTMAS IN TAHOE!
About CHRISTMAS IN
TAHOE:
Silicon Valley actuary Ann Smith is an expert at calculating probabilities, but
lately the odds haven’t been in her favor. Two years ago her fiancé died a week
before their planned Christmas wedding, leaving Ann heartbroken and alone. When
a friend suggests heading up to Lake Tahoe for a long Christmas weekend of
skiing, wine, and relaxation, Ann thinks it might be just the thing to help get
her life back on track. But Ann’s plans go awry when her friend cancels at the
last minute, and Ann ends up driving to Tahoe with Chase Deckert, a sexy
snowboarder who pushes all her buttons.
Chase Deckert is a man who lives by his own rules. A few years ago his business
partner betrayed him by selling out their biomedical research for a quick
profit. Chase left science far behind, and now spends his days snowboarding in
Tahoe, wanting nothing to do with the dog-eat-dog world of Silicon Valley. Chase
has closed his mind and his heart and only believes in one thing: fate. But fate
seems to be in a giving mood, because joining him for Christmas is a brave,
beautiful woman who shows him the true meaning of the season and helps him
rediscover a part of himself he’d long forgotten.
Fueled by the mountain scenery, the season, and their unbelievable chemistry,
Ann and Chase end up learning more about each other—and themselves—than they
ever imagined possible. Can one long, steamy Christmas help them realize they’re
meant to be together? Or when the holiday is over will they be right back where
they started?
About Elisabeth
Elisabeth Barrett
lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and spends her days
teaching, editing, writing sexy contemporary romance, and enjoying time with her
sometimes-bearded husband and three spirited children. She is constantly
perfecting her home-work-writing juggling act, but in her free time she loves to
hike open space preserves, grow orchids, bake sweet things her husband won’t
eat, and sing in grand choruses.
Comments
38 comments posted.
Re: Elisabeth Barrett | Holiday Travel
We are fortunate enough that most of our trips are orchestrated by our
daughter. It is great not to have to think or plan, just go along for the ride.
The past two summers we have taken trips with our friends and we plan in
advance.
(Melanie Backus 1:13am December 4, 2013)
we have 2 kids and we take mini trips throughout the year and
one big trip in the summer. we usually ask them where they
would love to go and we usually take them there.
(Denise Smith 2:49am December 4, 2013)
My children are now grown but I know the angst of which you speak. I
recently did a road trip with my daughter and her four little ones in a
minivan for 14 hours. Sometimes the best you can hope for is dreaming of
getting to your destination with all souls still breathing and hopeful that
nothing was said that can't be forgiven. Usually this applied to me and the
other adult, lol. Air travel adds different stresses now and we have done
that also but unless you are going super far away that doesn't take quite so
long. The best advice is enjoy as many moments as possible. My kids still
remember singing in the car on long rides and playing games on the plane
ride as ways we past the time. If you can act like it is going smoothly they
tend to have an easier time. At least that is my experience. On another
note, I love reading your books and my only complaint is that I read them
way quicker than you can write them! I wish that you had piles of those
stories stashed somewhere. (If you do, let me at them)
(Patti Paonessa 5:26am December 4, 2013)
I live fairly close to the beach, so get there more often.
Did have a trip to Las Vegas and Fernley, Nevada. I'm planning next summer.
(Barbara Wells 7:29am December 4, 2013)
When we travel, I'm a well-oiled machine. I have lists and
lists and start packing a week in advance as I usually only
have a hour or two of free time during these busy days before
Christmas. When we stay home, I clean more than usual but try
to do as much prep work as possible in advance.
(Robyn Roberts 8:22am December 4, 2013)
Our travels basically involve going to the local theme parks
and those trips are usually planned especially around the
holidays as we want to make sure we see everything we want to
see. Thanks for the giveaway!
(Linda Townsend 8:37am December 4, 2013)
Our travels include visiting our son out west, good friends in Fla and occasional trips visiting other friends and relatives.
(Pat Lieberman 8:42am December 4, 2013)
I'm fortunate these days in that I don't have to travel at holiday time - and I thank my lucky stars!!! However, if I did, I would definitely make plans in advance knowing full well that they won't always run smoothly. Your book sounds great - thanks for the chance to win. Great luck with it.
(Nancy Reynolds 9:29am December 4, 2013)
I leave things to chance..mostly. I also am known to be able to pack quickly.
(Beth Elder 9:45am December 4, 2013)
About the only thing that I have taken care of is the room. My Husband and I don't fly, so we drive to our destination. The trip is pretty much by chance. We like to sightsee, so if there's something along the way that one of us wants to see, we'll take a detour. I think that's the best way - no pressure. Your book sounds like a really fun, romantic read. A page-turner that's perfect for this time of year. Bring on the hot chocolate!! Have a Merry Christmas, and all the best in the coming Year!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:58am December 4, 2013)
I am an organizer.
(Pam Howell 10:04am December 4, 2013)
One of my kids usually does the planning.
(Wilma Frana 10:50am December 4, 2013)
I don't think we've ever traveled around the holidays--just like to stay home and let someone else do the traveling during the busy time. Years ago when I was in college I went home for Christmas one year and I flew on Christmas eve---it was great only six passengers on the whole big plane and we partied with the crew all the way home.
(Sue Farrell 11:13am December 4, 2013)
I travel with my sister and older nephew a lot. This year our trip is to be to Brazil.
(Vennie Martinisi 11:58am December 4, 2013)
Not travelling this year... but when I do travel, I like to plan things out.
(Colleen Conklin 11:59am December 4, 2013)
I am the organizer.
(Pamela Jaenke 12:10pm December 4, 2013)
Most of my family live within a very short drive so holiday
travel is not something I have experienced. But I do know how
crazy holiday travel can be.
(Marguerite Guinn 12:20pm December 4, 2013)
I'm very fortunate to have all my family living nearby. We will have our Christmas celebration at my son's house, a mere 10 minutes away from my home.
(Anna Speed 12:28pm December 4, 2013)
I tend to organize my travel plans and budget buffer time into
layovers for possible unexpected difficulties.
(G. Bisbjerg 1:01pm December 4, 2013)
I would like to read this book..
(Tina Lechuga 1:12pm December 4, 2013)
I got lucky my kids travel well. We moved from eastern PA to south TX
(1900 miles) with no problem. I went back with 4 kids and our Pom this
year without hubby and we had no issues. Hoping to do a family trip soon,
but first we need to move.
(Michelle Schafer 2:11pm December 4, 2013)
I leave things to chance, I never know if I have to work on Christmas eve, but I try to visit with my family on Christmas day
(Ann Unger 2:42pm December 4, 2013)
We haven't gone anywhere in awhile, but when we used to fly to Fla when the kids were younger, I wrote out packing lists for each person in the family & crossed off the items as I packed them. That would never happen now, unless we were leaving the country! You can always pick up a toothbrush somewhere!
(Sharlene Wegner 3:47pm December 4, 2013)
We only travel about an hour and a half by car on Christmas day so all we need to do is figure what time to leave.
(Maureen Emmons 5:06pm December 4, 2013)
I'm one of those type A personalities and I have all our trips and routes laid out. However, we do go off the path now and again and that is fine with me. I'd love to read this book!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 5:12pm December 4, 2013)
We don't travel during the holidays. LOL Everyone comes here.
(Marcy Shuler 6:02pm December 4, 2013)
HI ELIZABETH, I DO LOVE CHRISTMAS STORIES, SURE HOPE YOU GET
DOWN HERE!!
(Linda Bass 6:06pm December 4, 2013)
I am in a wheelchair, so I don't really travel anymore, it's just too complicated. I do get to see local family members though. Looking forward to reading your book.
(Carol Woodruff 6:26pm December 4, 2013)
I love traveling, but even more fun is moving to many wonderful towns and cities in the USA. My husband and I have relocated so many times due to jobs, etc, and just love the idea to move one more time.
(C Culp 6:33pm December 4, 2013)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: CHRISTMAS IN TAHOE. I like
the book cover too! We love to go on vacation and travel but
have not gone anywhere in over 15 years. Lots of health
issues and we have 4 small dogs too. Your new book sounds
fascinating and I would love to win it and read it this
Christmas. Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 7:44pm December 4, 2013)
I love planning our trips. Thanks for a chance to win your book. Happy Holidays.
(Linda Hall 9:45pm December 4, 2013)
We don't travel for the holidays! We let family come to us. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Martha Lawson 10:31pm December 4, 2013)
I don't travel much. The most I plan is getting the time off and getting everything in the car the first day if we are going on a long trip. For the holidays, we stay close to home. Two hours is the farthest we go. I usually roll out of bed 15 minutes before we leave, get ready and get in the car.
(Laura Gullickson 10:51pm December 4, 2013)
We stay home. Most of my family lives in Puerto Rico. Hopefully I could have a nice Christmas in PR some day.
(Yaritza Santana 10:55pm December 4, 2013)
I love to travel through the books I read!
(Lucinda Schmaltz 11:41pm December 4, 2013)
I'm a well organized traveler. I have all my places I need to go to when I'm travel.
(Kai Wong 12:08pm December 5, 2013)
Fortunately, family is only a fifteen minute car ride away.
(Mary C 1:41am December 5, 2013)
I've just come back from visiting family.So staying put for
the holidays now.
(Mary Preston 7:49pm December 7, 2013)
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