The Lake, the Spark, and the stand he never made until now
Excerpt from 43° North by Alana Grace
The lake stretched out before her, calm and endless, reflecting the soft blush of dawn. Shannon took a deep breath, the crisp air filling her lungs, grounding her in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
She wasn’t running anymore. Not from the past, not from the mistakes, not from the life she’d left behind. Here, on this quiet shore, she could start to unravel the tangled threads of who she used to be and weave something new.
Then he was there—quiet, steady. Nick didn’t ask for her stories; he waited until she was ready to tell them. And when their hands brushed, it wasn’t a spark—it was a slow, steady burn, like embers glowing beneath ashes, waiting to be fanned to life.
But peace, she learned, was never simple. Sometimes it was messy, loud, and complicated. And sometimes, the past showed up just when you thought you were finally free.
Hello BookLovers,
It’s time for a steamy contemporary romance! Our pick is 43° North by Alana Grace, book two in The Newfound Lake Series.
Shannon didn’t just leave her past behind—she arrived in a small lake town to heal, breathe, and find herself again. She wasn’t looking for love, but life had other plans.
With the support of a fierce new circle of friends, she slowly opened up to Nick—the steady, present spark who saw her as a new beginning, not a broken past. Their connection was real, slow-burning, and full of promise.
But just as she started to trust her joy, her ex showed up—not with apologies, but chaos. His disruptions shook her world and threatened the peace she fought so hard to build.
Now, Shannon faces a choice—not between two men, but between who she was, who she is, and who she’s meant to become. Will she stay quiet to keep the peace or speak out to protect it?
This isn’t about starting over. It’s about becoming unapologetic in her truth.
Ready to dive in? 43° North will have your eyes glued to the pages. Dare to pick it up?
Happy Reading!
Alice McMurtry
ReadMyBook.net
P.S. While catching up on book blogs and reviews, I’ll also be working on my next manuscript and reading The Great Migration by Steve Ramirez. I’m excited that a few other book-stagrammers will be reading it around the same time—can’t wait to share thoughts!
~Also, don’t forget to check out the book review on Good Reads, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon,. :-)
In Light N Love!
