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North Star Angel A YA Friends to Lovers Holiday Romance by Mila Nicks ➱ Release Tour with Giveaway

 


North Star Angel
by Mila Nicks
Genre: YA Romance


The map of your heart will show you the way...

It’s Christmas 1997 and Mariah Rowland’s freshman year of college couldn’t be more of a disaster. Her high school boyfriend dumped her, her course load is stressing her out, and the college parties aren’t what they’re cracked up to be. Craving some normalcy, Mariah heads home for the holidays, but after a shocking discovery, she realizes even home isn’t the same.
 
Now she’s on a cross-country quest to right a wrong. Accompanying her is ex-best friend, Mason Wright. Mason’s on a mysterious journey of his own as he makes his way to California. Wounds old and new are opened between the friends throughout their travels, including some feelings they thought no longer existed. 
 
But as their road trip ends, Mariah once again discovers that nothing is as it seems. She has some life-altering decisions to make that will change things forever.

North Star Angel is a coming of age, friends to lovers, holiday romance with a guaranteed HEA. It features young adult characters in mature situations and may not be suitable for readers under eighteen.



North Star Angel Excerpts:

 

Excerpt #1:

 

“Hey, baby, you here alone?”

Her runaway thoughts evaporated and she looked up to a man holding a beer bottle. He didn’t ask before dropping into the seat across from her. Far from her usual type, the mid- to late- twenty-something man wasn’t bad-looking. He stood at about six feet tall with slicked back hair and a grin that ate up half his face. His smug vibe betrayed him as the type to finesse and smooth talk.

“I’m here with a friend. He’ll be back any minute.”

“Shit, hope I’m not in his seat. He won’t mind if I join y’all, would he? Name’s Chuck,” he said casually. He invaded more space, folding his elbows onto the table with his bottle in hand. “Between me and you, I’m waiting on someone. First date.”

“That sounds nice,” she humored. “But my friend and I were leaving soon, so you should probably find someone else to wait it out with.”

“I don’t mind if y’all leave. Hell, this booth’ll be ours if you do. I come here all the time, but I’ve never seen you here. You new in town?”

“I’m passing through. I’m headed home for winter break.” The beer stirred a candor out of her that made her flinch upon second thought. She doubled down on keeping her next replies ambiguous.

“Ahhh, a college gal. I thought you looked young. Where do you go? Graduated from Tennessee U myself.”

“Not there.”

“Then where?”

“I don’t think it matters, does it?” She gave him her best polite smile.

“You’re right. It’s none of my business. Just saw a pretty girl sitting by herself and figured I’d come over to say hi.”

“And your date?”

“Alright,” he said, holding up his hands and chuckling. “You caught me. There is no date. That was a pick-up line. Pretty good, eh?”

“It’s better than what’s your sign. But it’s still a fail. And I was serious about my friend. He’s coming back.”

“You’re spoken for. I get it. I can take a hint. Figured I’d shoot my shot. It can never hurt,” he said, leaning forward. “How about I buy you a drink? That one’s almost done for.”

“What’s going on?”

Mariah and Chuck looked up to find Mason standing in front of the booth. His face rivaled stone, the opposite of Chuck’s broad grin.

“Guess this is the friend. I’m Chuck.” The tall man held out his hand and chuckled. “I was just telling your gorgeous lady friend here that I ought to buy y’all a round of drinks. What’s your poison?”

“You’re in my seat,” snapped Mason.

Chuck’s eyes darted from Mason to Mariah and back again. His grin widened. “Buddy, I come in peace. I’m just tryna enjoy my night. Mingle and make some friends. Swear I was only coming by to say hello—”

“Nobody asked you to. Get outta my seat and go. Now.”

 

Excerpt #2:

 

Mariah closed her eyes and exhaled. The jig was up, but her agitation only amplified. “Look, it’s none of your business what I’m doing here—or what’s going on with my car. Can you please take a hint and go? I’m good. I’m fine. I got this. Bye.”

“Alright, I will. Didn’t wanna intrude…just thought it was strange seeing you out here like this.”

“And it’s not weird for you to be out here?”

“I’m ’bout to hit the road. That’s why I’m here—stopped to get gas.”

“Okay, and so was I. Happy?” she asked, crossing her arms. “I was going to drive to Texas to see my dad.”

Mason’s brow creased. “Figured you’d spend it with your mom like you’ve been the past couple years.”

“This year’s different. I decided not to. I wanted to spend it with my dad in Texas, but obviously that’s not going to happen now that my car’s dead.”

A long beat passed between them where neither moved and neither spoke. His eyes bored into hers and the gears in his brain could practically be seen turning. Her own burned with irritation as she edged toward a dismissive goodbye and returned to her car. Finally, a slight smile cracked onto Mason’s bearded face.

“I’ll drive you,” he said quietly.

“What do you mean drive me?”

“I’ll take you if you want. I’m headed to California. I’ll drop you off on the way.”

Mariah blinked and stared. Words scrambled around uselessly in her head. “Me and you? Drive to Texas together?”

“Why not?” he asked, turning his gaze onto the parking lot. His pickup truck waited parked on the opposite end. “I’m already headed that way.”

“It’ll add extra time to your trip…”

“I don’t mind. I’ve got the time for it,” he said vaguely. He shrugged again. “Choice’s yours. If you don’t want to, I get it. But I need to know. I’m already thirty minutes off schedule.”

The crossroads left her more conflicted than ever. On one hand, she couldn’t imagine spending the next couple days solely in his company, forced to endure the tight confines of his truck after what they’d been through. But on the other hand, the ghostly college campus and chaotic household with Mom and Bill seemed much worse. Then she pictured Dad, alone and sullen in his townhouse for Christmas. She drew in a shaky breath and listened to what her heart whispered.

“Okay,” she said with a hesitant nod. “I’ll go with you.”

 

What inspired you to write this book?

 

I have a tradition of writing a holiday story every year around December. At the time I wrote North Star Angel, I wanted to write a holiday story that didn’t completely revolve around Christmas, but instead a story that happened with Christmas as a backdrop. I was also planning a road trip in the coming months, which helped me think of the road trip element of the story. Everything else unraveled from there as I began writing.

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

 

I’m still on a mission to write love stories featuring women of color. I’m really looking forward to 2021 and the projects I have planned. So many fun ones!

 

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in North Star Angel?

 

Mariah Rowland is a stubborn, book smart eighteen-year-old freshman in college. She’s a little overwhelmed by all of the changes going on in her life right now, so she seeks solace at home during the Christmas vacation—at least that’s what she thinks she’s doing when she heads home and realizes everything has changed. Mason Wright is her ex-best friend who agrees to drive her on her cross-country quest. He’s laidback but secretive, and he’s on his way to California for reasons of his own.

 

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

 

Christmas and road trips were my two big ideas I wanted to incorporate with this book. Everything else I improvised from there since I’m a pantser. One of my favorite romance tropes is friends to lovers, so I knew I also wanted that incorporated. The characters created themselves as soon as I started writing. I had no clue who they were until I reached the end.

 

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

 

Titles are so difficult! Probably one of my least favorite parts of the book process. All of the good titles are taken, he he. I do try to make my titles as unique as possible, even if that’s not always feasible. With North Star Angel, it’s kind of a dual meaning for the characters. I can’t go into too much detail without giving away aspects of Mariah and Mason’s relationship. But the title is about both of them.




Mila Nicks is an emerging romance author on a mission to pen heartfelt love stories featuring women of color.
From the time she was a small girl with crayons and an overactive imagination, she’s had a passion for storytelling. In addition to receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, she is presently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing. She has also served her country in the United States Air Force.
When she isn’t penning uplifting love stories, you can find this imaginative writer traveling across the globe, sampling new cuisines, or spending quality time with her spunky pet Chihuahua, Zayden. 





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