"Is there anything worse than getting sick on the four-hour flight home for the holidays?
How about the fact that my childhood rival, Jasper Jensen, is there to not only witness it, but to take care of me so he can hang it over my head for all of eternity?
Or maybe when an old fling is waiting to pick me up at the airport, hoping to rekindle our past over the holidays, and I’m so desperate to avoid him that I present Jasper as my boyfriend.
Jasper agrees to play the part if, in return, I attend his family’s famous Christmas Eve party to keep his meddling family from setting him up. It’s a small price to pay for my holiday peace.
But nothing is peaceful about the holidays this year. My sister’s getting married on New Years’ Eve and wedding planning is taking over Christmas. My family has no time for our holiday traditions; we don’t even have a Christmas tree.
Until Jasper swoops in.
Between helping me decorate for Christmas, taking me to look at light displays, and wrapping presents for underprivileged kids, Jasper shows me a side of him I’ve never known.
I’ve vowed to keep the hostility between us—my heart is safer that way—but that might be one tradition that I can’t hold onto this Christmas."
"Last Christmas, I gave Liam Hargrove my heart…
Okay, maybe not my heart. But I was ready to give him something else—until he panicked and dropped me on my ass, bruising both my tailbone and my ego. Now I’d like to forget the whole mortifying mess ever happened.
This year, I’m moving on. I’ve traded my silly crush on my brother’s best friend for a dream come true: opening Blush & Binding, Cedar Hollow’s first romance-only bookstore. With a calendar full of holiday events, this Christmas is going to be my best one yet.
Until Liam shows up.
With my parents’ house overflowing and the local inn booked solid, my mom oh-so-generously offers up my guest room.
Now he’s in my space, helping with inventory, charming my customers just by existing, and reading my annotated romance novels like they’re a guidebook. He says he wants to make it up to me…starting by reenacting a few of my favorite scenes.
His gingerbread house building skills are impressive, so I just might let him.
But this time, I’m not falling so easily—or at least not without a fight."
"SUMMER
After years on the road, I’ve discovered Coral Cove is the perfect beach town to live a quiet, untethered life where I can paint in the shadows. That is until a mermaid cosplay goes horribly wrong and Rory Shields, world champion swimmer and the town’s golden boy plucks me out of a sticky situation.
Our chance encounter soon develops into a surprising friendship, and the more I learn about Rory, the more I find myself feeling protective over this charming golden retriever of a man. So, when his meddling parents and relentless ex won’t leave him alone, I announce that we’re not only dating, but married.
My parents’ miserable marriage taught me to never say ‘I do’ but knowing the guise will help Rory focus on training, I agree to follow through with the ruse.
But the more we play husband and wife, the harder it becomes to keep the lines from blurring. And before I know it, I’m treading water in the deep end and falling for my fake husband.
RORY
After rehabbing a knee injury that almost ended my swimming career, I’ve returned to Coral Cove, home of the Carolina Current swimming club, determined to focus on training and preparing for the next summer games. But not everyone in my life is on board with my plans for another run for gold.
My parents and ex-girlfriend have a different plan for my life. Until Summer, the intriguing woman I pulled out of the ocean, announces we’re married and I realize being tied to the gorgeous, free-spirited woman is the perfect solution to keep my parents off my back.
What starts out as a marriage of convenience quickly turns into something much deeper, and suddenly I’m fighting for a future I never saw coming. But Summer doesn’t believe in marriage and happily ever after, so how can I convince her we’re meant to last?"
"Barrett I’ve rebuilt my father’s media company with hard work and determination, but my single status leaves me on the outs with the one businessman I need to get close to. A little white lie and I’m suddenly in love, head over heels. Now I need to find a fake girlfriend, someone to keep up appearances without any emotions. When I find my mother’s fiery assistant in a compromising position, it’s the perfect opportunity to get what I want: a girlfriend for business appearances, without any feelings involved. I won’t let the fact that I’m wildly attracted to the petite redhead get in my way. But the closer she gets, the more my heart thaws and all too soon I find myself having to choose between the business deal I’m determined to land and the woman I’ve fallen hard for.
Chloe After two years as editorial assistant, I’ve been given a chance to take on my dream job as an assistant editor. When my childhood best friend asks me to host her bachelorette weekend in the city, I’m thrilled to show everyone how amazing my life is in New York. (Things not included on the tour are my shoebox of an apartment or my romance book collection that is the only thing keeping me warm at night.) When I fail to confirm the restaurant reservation, I’m desperate enough to use my boss’s penthouse for a party while she’s out of town. No one will ever know. That is until her cold, dismissive, and annoyingly hot son walks in. To keep his silence, Barrett demands a favor in return: he needs a date for a business dinner. That’s easy enough until his mother finds out and he seals my fate by telling her we are dating. It’s that or kiss my job goodbye. While I’m reluctant at first, the more time we spend together, the harder it is to fight my attraction to him. Beneath that brooding, icy demeanor lies a heart of gold. But when a scandalous discovery puts his deal at stake, and our relationship to the test, will Barrett prove he’s all about business?"
"Colette
I’ve spent the last eighteen years of my life living and breathing dancing, there’s been no time for anything else. Now, as a seasoned member of The City Ballet, my goal of becoming a principal dancer is within reach. But in order to land a pivotal lead role, the choreographer wants more passion and emotion in my dancing. The problem? My lack of experience with relationships and love. The solution? I need to start dating, if only as research for the coveted role.
I’m used to drilling footwork. Repetition. Muscle-memory. But how can I practice dating?
I never imagined Rhys Spencer, my childhood friend and notorious ladies’ man, would be the answer.
Rhys
I’ve only come back to NYC to claim my trust fund, but being faced with losing control of my parents’ legacy foundation to my cousin and rival has me rethinking my plans. Though my reputation as a ladies’ man paints me in an unfavorable light with the foundation board and has me desperate to change my ways, if only temporarily.
My childhood friend, Colette Davenport, is the perfect fake girlfriend. She’s talented, gracious, and stunning. With her on my arm, I’ll have no problem convincing the board I’m the right man for the position. Everyone is shocked by the pairing of the sweet, yet determined ballet dancer and a tattooed bad boy with a BIG reputation.
When the competition intensifies, and I blindside Colette with a new proposal, things start to heat up. Soon, I’m on my knees for a different reason and I’m breaking all our rules.
With every kiss, every touch, I’m even more desperate to have her. To keep her for myself. I never want our arrangement to end, and no one is more surprised than me."
"Sophie
With college graduation behind me and a highly coveted internship with the most prestigious event planner in the country awaiting me in New York City, I’m ready to say farewell to Vegas and reward all my years of disciplined hard work with one passionate night in a sexy stranger’s bed.
The hookup was anonymous, only first names exchanged, so imagine my surprise when I find out he’s not only a new client’s brother, but my brother’s new boss. And the chemistry is still crackling between us.
But my priorities are focusing on my career and exploring my new city, not dating. Besides, Hunter Cartwright isn’t the guy for me. He’s thirteen years older, my brother’s boss, and a notorious bachelor. But I can’t deny my attraction to him and all too quickly I’m giving in to his proposal. An agreement for a no-strings attached relationship where Hunter shows me the city’s sights, including a full tour of his bedroom. It’s a simple arrangement…until my pregnancy test comes back positive.
Hunter
I’m married to my career as CEO of Premier Real Estate. Never able to give a woman the time or attention she wants, I’ve kept my romantic life casual.
From the moment I saw Sophie on the dance floor in Las Vegas, I knew I had to have her. I thought it would only be one night, but now that she’s living in the same city, I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s young, and focused on starting her career, but that’s perfect because I don’t have the time or inclination for a relationship. When she takes me up on my offer to show her the city while we explore the chemistry between us, I’m relieved. We’ll enjoy each other until the flame between us dies out. Then, I’ll do what I always do…walk away. But the more time we spend together, it’s becoming impossible to imagine that moment. And when we discover our no strings arrangement will have us entangled for the rest of our lives, I’m determined to prove to Sophie that I can be a forever kind of guy."
"Emma
Since the man I thought I would be walking down the aisle with broke up with me, I’ve been focused on my business.
As the designer of Emma Belle Bridal Gowns, headlining the Blushing Bride Convention in Las Vegas has been the highlight of my year. And the legendary editor of The Dress magazine wants to feature me in their upcoming issue?
A dream come true.
And it’s my birthday! Nothing can get me down…except maybe my ex’s engagement splashed across social media.
What’s a girl to do other than drink a truck load of champagne and see a male revue show?
When a dancer pulls me up on stage, the chemistry between us is undeniable.
Forget holy matrimony, I’m going to lower my expectations for one night.
One night that just may last forever.
Griffin
One last night…
After twelve years raising my baby sister, Sophie, and dancing for Las Vegas’s top male revue in order to pay bills and ensure she graduates college, I’m ready to hang up my tearaway pants and start a new life.
My intentions were to protect Emma, a captivating and tipsy woman at the show, from doing something she regrets. With chemistry neither of us can deny, the night takes an unexpected turn and we find ourselves waking up married.
It happens. We’ll correct our mistakes and move on.
But with a viral wedding video, our nuptials end up on Page Six, and Emma needs me in New York to play the part of doting new husband for a career-boosting interview.
I’ll play the part, do what she asks, then we’ll part ways.
Emma’s smart, enchanting and beautiful…and completely unexpected.
But right now, I have nothing to offer a woman like her, let alone forever."
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