Hello again, friends! And welcome to another chaotic romantic comedy from me, Eliza Solares. Stay until the end of this part for a little teaser.

This story has been so much fun to work with! There are pranks and skeletons and a haunted house and so many other delightful Halloween antics I can't wait to share with you! These characters walked into my head and set up shop right after a group of my writer friends decided they were going to host a spooky season read-a-thon and I thought... well, it's fate. So here I am, having written the first portion of the book already and I'm so so ready to get rolling! I hope you love the cover and blurb and would love to see you back here next week for the first proper chapter.

If you are interested in keeping up with the story, you can follow me at authorelizasolares or add this book to your library so you'll get notifications when a new chapter is posted. If you think someone else might want to read it, please feel free to share! And of course, as always, thank you so much for taking the time to check out my story. Of all the stories on Wattpad, you found your way here, and I'm very glad to see you. I hope you'll stick around and check out the rest of A Kiss in Costume.

~ * ~ Blurb ~ * ~

Alexander is ready to find love. But his socially awkward, analytical nature makes it hard to find just the right person. And when his analysis reveals he may be the problem in his relationships, he sets out to do what any math-loving nerd would do: solve the problem. Step one is to find a sexy costume for a masked Halloween party. And who better to help him than the prettiest girl Heartsbrook's Haunted Halloween has ever seen?

Jaqueline's determined to take back control of her life. After her ex used his influence to have her fired, she refuses to let him manipulate her into one more thing she doesn't want to do or say or wear. And now that she's found a new job, there's only one thing left to do: get even. So when she lands face to face with a man who has exactly the security clearance she needs to enact her plans, it must be fate.

They are the perfect solution to each other's problems. And it all seems so easy until their friendship of convenience develops into a love neither of them saw coming.

A Kiss in Costume is a Halloween Romantic Comedy and the first book in the Holidays in Heartsbrook series, a collection of small-town holiday romantic comedies.

~ * ~ Sneak Peek ~ * ~

Bars have never been my scene. They are loud and crowded and warm and everyone expects me to be social. Which I am not.

But today, I'm armed with sixty-two talking points, etiquette tips I read from Heartsbrook's highest authority, Carmina MacDonald, and the courage of two more drinks than usual. The only thing I need to complete my epic rebound is my trusty wingman. That's what you call them, right?

No. I'm not second-guessing myself. I'm right. I'm waiting for my wingman, Ernesto. But the two pints of beer I've downed are not sitting well, churning in my stomach as the electronic pop music bounces through the room. The women to my left are laughing and drinking something in a tall skinny kind of triangular glass.

"What are you drinking?" I ask, loud enough to be heard over the music.

Their conversation pauses for a moment and then returns to normal, as though I never spoke at all. I guess that's the sign I should stop. I said something awkward again.

No. That's what the old Alexander would do. New and improved spontaneous Alexander will ask again. Girls like assertive, right?

Gah. Stop questioning yourself and pluck up the courage. You are a catch.

"Those look good ladies. Can I get you another of... what are you drinking?"

One of the women, dressed in a skin-tight bright yellow dress with small blue flowers, turns around to face me, her dark ponytail falling over her shoulder as she does. "We're fine here. Go bother someone else."

Bother? I didn't know I was going to be a bother. Yesterday Debrah said I wasn't exciting or assertive enough and today I'm being called a bother for trying to do just what she said. I know people all have different preferences, but how am I supposed to figure out which people want what?

In all my overthinking, I forget to leave the table. Worse still, I only notice I should have left when the woman huffs and turns back around, joining her friends in a lively discussion about the local high school's most recent football game. Maybe I'd have more luck if I learned to like football?

I put a quick note into my phone about the failed interaction and spin to face the door. Where is Ernesto?

I'm going to need all the help I can get, and Ernesto is still nowhere to be seen. I scan the crowd of sharply dressed guests just to be sure.

The whole room is bustling with activity, music blaring through speakers I can't see, televisions with various sports - and one with darts - lining a few of the walls, and a third wall entirely dedicated to a music video of some kind. The bar is all dark granites and gold accents. White and gold tables and chairs, with red littered here and there to remind us of which hotel we're in.

Perhaps I shouldn't have picked the most upscale bar in Heartsbrook to have this little rebound adventure. People over at The Pint and Piglet are probably more receptive to people with skills of my level. But giving myself a challenge seemed like a really good idea when I conjured it up yesterday.

~ * ~ Thanks ~ * ~

Once again, thank you for checking out A Kiss in Costume! I hope to see you Monday for the whole chapter. If you want to be notofied when it is posted, please be sure to add this book to your library and/or follow me at authorelizasolares !

If you are looking for something else to read while you wait for a new chapter, I have several other stories on my profile that are free to read. You can also find some awesome readings lists filled with books by other authors which I can highly recommend.

Thanks for joining us and I hope to see you again soon. I cannot wait to share Alexander and Jaqueline's story with you.

~Eliza.