To my dear, beloved Fall,
Hey, it’s me, Laura. Again. I hope you aren’t getting tired of hearing me say it, because I love you, I truly do, and I’m not sure I could ever stop singing your praises.
I love your sights. My hometown and state never look more gorgeous than they do on a clear (or, let’s be real, even stormy) autumn day. And I’ll never forget just how gorgeous New England was in the fall when those leaves change color. (It’s like nature putting on a new, limited engagement performance once a year.)
I love that it’s the only time of year when I feel halfway outdoorsy. Raking leaves is the only yard work I can handle. You only have to do it once or twice a season, and it makes for gorgeous photos. Plus, I think we can all agree that mowing and shoveling suck, and Fall, you don’t force me to do either. Oh, and how about traipsing through pumpkin patches and plucking apples from trees? That’s all the nature I could ever need. (And probably the most I can handle, if we’re being totally honest.)
I love the fruits of those outdoor adventures. Apple butter, apple pie, apple crisp, apple muffins, apple donuts, apple fritters. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancake, pumpkin lattes. Don’t even get me started on everything you can do with squash for easy, but totally fancy seeming, meals. Seriously, nothing dresses up a salad like some sliced acorn squash. And there have to be a million ways to decorate with pumpkins, corn husks, and baskets of mums. Oh–and pumpkin painting! Every time I break out the paint brushes and acrylics to have my way with you, I feel like I’m the greatest thing to happen to art since Michelangelo got his hands on the Sistine Chapel. (Who doesn’t love to feel like they’re a legendary artist once a year?)
I love pumpkin beers and hard ciders. And, Fall, now that you’re here, it means stouts are just around the corner. Now that it’s sweater weather, I can drink as much of these tasty beverages as I want with zero guilt. (It’s not like anyone will see me in anything but clothing that resembles burlap sacks until spring.) Speaking of clothes…
I love getting dressed up for you. The boots! The scarves! The sweaters! The sweater dresses! The leggings! The jeans! I think we can all agree my fashion sense thrives under your autumnal influence. (Plus, burgundy and browns are fabulous with my complexion.)
I love the way the air gets chilly enough at night that I can burrow deep under my covers. Bingley usually curls up next to me to stay warm, which is one of my favorite things. (I’m not too proud to admit that I’m willing to force this sign of affection from my cat. He’s just too sweet and independent to resist.)
I love that you give me football–one of the only things I love as much as you. From my Nebraska Cornhuskers to the Green Bay Packers, football gives me more drama and excitement than a year of soap operas. (And it also reunites me with the candidates for future Mr. Laura Chapman, like Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, and Ha-Ha Clinto-Dix. I don’t care if they aren’t on the market. It could still happen.)
Yes, fall, we’ve built a beautiful life together. I’ll continue to cherish you while you’re here. And once you’re gone for the year, well, don’t be a stranger for too long.
With the deepest love and devotion, your faithful companion,
Laura
**New from Laura Chapman, the third installment of her fantasy football romantic comedy Queen of the League series . . .
After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much-needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.
At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.
Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field?
*** BARGAIN ALERT *** To celebrate the new release, for a limited time, you can pick up the first two stories in the series for only 99 cents each. EBooks First & Goal and Going for Two are available for only 99 cents each. ***
In Laura Chapman’s Queen of the League series, Harper Duquaine joins a fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way). Her competitive streak soon emerges, and she catches the interest of her top two competitors. With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.
About the author: Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, and The Marrying Type. Her holiday novellas Making Christmas and What Happens at Midnight will be released on November 8, and are now available for pre-order. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.**GIVEAWAY**
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