When Night Falls Around Us by Laura L Walker

Laura L. Walker grew up in a large family in the beautiful Gila Valley of southern Arizona. From the time Laura was young, she spent hours drawing characters on paper and fantasizing about their adventures. Life became more serious, however, when she met her own hero at Northern Arizona University and they later became the parents of six children.

In between spurts of grocery shopping, sewing costumes or quilts, transporting kids to practices, and making dinner, Laura still enjoys putting her imagination to good use. She is the author of seven novels and three novellas.

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“Nineteen-year-old Felicity Everstone is living her dream while attending college and serving alongside her parents in the North Atlanta Georgia Mission for the LDS Church–not to mention dating a charming guy who sweeps her off her feet. But when she is unexpectedly sent home to Idaho to care for her nephew through her sister-in-law’s difficult pregnancy, and the friend she has been sharing the gospel with no longer wants to pursue that path, everything that once brought light and joy into her life nearly flickers out. Until she meets her good-looking but solemn neighbor, Erik.

Erik Cannon has already lost the love of his life. Now, as a young, successful businessman, making money seems to be his God-given talent, but he can no longer ignore the emptiness he feels inside. He needs to find purpose and meaning in his life once again. When his best friend’s sister comes to help her family through a crisis, Erik’s heart is reawakened. He senses this is a second chance at love for him, and that he and Felicity might be able to build a beautiful life together–until her old boyfriend comes back into the picture.

When darkness settles over Erik and Felicity’s path, will their emerging love be enough to light the way?”

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Snippet:

Erik covertly watched Felicity from his peripheral vision, taking silent note of her dejected stare out the passenger window of his truck. They’d traveled these same roads only a couple weeks ago. That day, the sky had been leaden with heavy clouds. Today the evergreens gleamed with dew and the sky dazzled with pure sunshine—if only the atmosphere inside his truck was half as bright.

“What’s the matter, sunshine?” The words popped out of his mouth before he could call them back. “You look about as excited for Christmas as Scrooge.”

With a long sigh, she pulled her gaze away from the passing scenery to look at him through downcast eyes. “Ordinarily, I love Christmas. But this year it’s just going to be . . . really different.”

Erik said nothing but realized that he’d unwittingly hit on the thing that was bothering her the most. She was missing her family back in Georgia, and now, she’d been booted out of Dustin and Lindy’s home for the time being. Understandable under the circumstances. Still—the week of Christmas? Come on.

What could he do to cheer her up? Most girls he knew liked flowers or jewelry, but those things also came with a stigma. She might read more into a gift like that than he intended. “Hey, want to see a movie tonight?”

She showed just a smidgen of interest with a slight raise of her chin. “What’s playing?”

“I don’t know. We can look up the theater’s website. I’m sure we could find something good.”

She took a moment considering it. “Um, well, I would but . . . I’m not sure what Reid would have to say about that.”

Reid? Oh, the boyfriend. The one with the nasally voice and who didn’t mind her sitting outside in freezing temperatures just to talk to him. “It wouldn’t be a date,” he assured her. “Just two friends watching a movie together. You could invite your other friends, if you wanted to.”

When Felicity finally answered, her voice came out as a near whisper. “I think I’d better pass, but thanks.”

Disappointment hit his gut, but he kept it carefully hidden. “No problem.” As they drove further into town, he silently berated himself. Yeah, she had a point. Asking her to a movie was about the same as asking her on a date. What had he been thinking? Thank goodness she’d had more sense than him.