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The Crystal-Clear Waters And Crisp Mountain Air Aren't The Only Things
Keeping Lana Todd In
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DECEMBER 3, 2026
Fly By Midnight - Better Late Than Sooner
*All Rights Reserved.
Women's Fiction ~ Romance
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AT A CROSSROADS, LANA TODD HAS JUST TEN DAYS TO DECIDE HER FUTURE.
Escaping Hawaii during the holidays, assuming this will be her last vacation for a while, she arrives in Lake Tahoe with a suitcase full of summer clothes and a secret she has no intention of unpacking.
Desperate for winter gear, fate brings her to a sporting goods store, where she meets Brad Arlington, a ruggedly handsome local whose teasing smile and quiet kindness catch her off guard. While he outfits her to battle the cold, Lana tries to keep her distance, but their lively encounter soon turns into snowy forest adventures, breathtaking sunsets, and laughter on the slopes. She even meets Brad’s lovable golden retriever, Bentley.
Having fun for the first time in years, Lana dares to imagine whether the ambitious life she’s been chasing is the one she truly wants after seeing glimmers of something very different. She wasn’t looking for love, but somewhere between stolen kisses and late-night confessions by the fire, the casual flirting becomes far more.
As her vacation dwindles, her official duties call her back home. Believing in what she found with Brad, determined to see where things go, Lana is about to make a decision when a voice from her past emerges from the shadows and threatens to turn her world upside down.
Will she regret not taking a chance on the man her heart refuses to forget?
SOMETIMES, THE GREATEST LOVE STORIES BEGIN WHEN
LIFE TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TURN.
Brad Arlington & Lana Todd
BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO
EXPERIENCE THE
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Want An ARC Reader BACKSTAGE PASS?
Welcome to the Immersive ARC for Winter Break In South Lake.
YOU'RE AMONG THE FIRST TO READ THIS BOOK!
You’re not just receiving an Advance Reader Copy. You’re stepping inside the story before anyone else.
An Immersive ARC is designed to make the reading experience feel more personal, engaging, and memorable.
Along with your early copy of the book, you can discover Exclusive Content created to bring the story to life!
Throughout the ARC, you will find photographs sprinkled throughout the chapters to enhance your experience,
as well as MUSIC links to set the mood.
Below are some EXTRAS! Locations, mood boards, playlists, behind-the-scenes insights, my author notes,
special surprises, and other pieces of the world that inspired the story.
CLICK THE COVER
TO APPLY
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STILL OPEN!
"Just beautifully written! It was a heartfelt combo of romance, real-life struggles, and emotional healing. This love story develops naturally, and the connection to Lana's late father adds emotional depth. It's an engaging, feel-good read for anyone who enjoys limited spice with memorable characters. Such a lovely ending that will stick with you." ~ Maria S
"I am hooked by the growing connection between Lana and Brad and can't stop turning the pages. Need to know how their story ends. Love the location change! I'm on chapter 40 already, and it's only day two!" ~ Genie. B
"The female lead is so different. She is more than courageous and brave. The chemistry between the characters starts immediately. I like that I didn't have to wait too long. LOL. South Lake is absolutely charming, and every chapter left me with new questions. It's the kind of book that's difficult to put down." ~ Sandra K.
"This book is filled with heart and unforgettable characters. (Loved Marlena! Not just Brad and Lana.) The slow burn develops easily. The emotions feel genuine. The author's descriptions of Lake Tahoe make you want to vacation there. I wish more people in the world were like Lana Todd. Such a caring young woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders." ~ Kirstin C.
"E.A. Stark has a wonderful way of blending heartfelt emotion with just the right amount of spice. She also explored the difficult decisions women face as they try to balance family and career. I found myself rooting for Lana. Throughout the book, I smiled, teared up, giggled, and constantly wondered what would happen next. Brad was so hunky! Loved him!" ~ Jeanette N.
"Brad Arlington is the perfect man for Lana Todd. Dreamy, supportive, and very protective. The moments between them felt real and were very moving. If you enjoy mature romance and a story filled with hope, this is one you'll want to experience. It had me reading until two in the morning!" ~ Maria G.
📖 Women's Fiction
❤️ Slow-Burn Romance
❄️ Cozy Winter Escape
🏔️ Breathtaking Lake Tahoe
☕ Small-Town Charm
👩 Powerful Heroine
👨 A Handsome Local Who Changes Everything
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Inspiration Board
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The music
FLY BY MIDNIGHT
Some stories have a soundtrack long before the first page is finished. For Winter Break in South Lake, that soundtrack belongs largely to Fly By Midnight, the indie-pop duo made up of Justin Bryte and Justin Slaven (Slavo). I’ve been listening to their music for five or six years, and somewhere along the way, their songs became intertwined with the feeling of this story.
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“Better Late Than Sooner” was the very first song I attached to Winter Break in South Lake. The sound, the lyrics, the sense of timing and fate—it immediately felt like Lake Tahoe, and, somehow, it felt like Brad.
“You Come Around” became the song that captured Lana and Brad finding their way toward each other, while "Infinitely Falling - the Romantic Redraw" and “Prototype” fit another layer of their story almost perfectly.
I love discovering independent artists and supporting musicians who create music on their own terms, and Fly By Midnight is especially meaningful to me because they built their career independently rather than signing with a major record label. Their music has the same kind of authenticity I value as an indie author: creating something from the heart, finding the people who connect with it, and building something meaningful without fitting into someone else’s mold.
So when you hear these songs while reading, I hope they become part of the experience—another little piece of Lake Tahoe, Lana, Brad, and the story they were meant to find. (Support them by streaming - over and over again!)
FLY BY MIDNIGHT - Better Late than Sooner
(Picture C/O Flaunt.com)
The Surprise!
Tahoe may have brought them together, but FATE has other plans.
When Lana's work calls her home to Hawaii, the world she's left behind comes rushing back.
From snow-covered mountains to the warmth of the islands, two very different worlds are about to collide.
Skiing Northstar
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