Being a single mom was hard, but celebrating our first Christmas without my girl’s father, in the Christmas-obsessed town of Sugarplum Falls, was even harder. I knew they needed me to be there with them, but I was sinking quickly, barely keeping my head above water. That was until a handsome man came into the salon I worked at, needing my help. Jackson Mason was as handsome as he was charming, and his five-year-old niece was just as adorable. She melted my heart instantly, and soon, I looked forward to our nightly hair appointments as I taught him how to care for her hair. Losing her mother a few weeks ago was hard, but her uncle seemed to have everything handled. That was until he came in one night, extremely grumpy and in need of help again. But this time, it wasn’t her hair that he needed assistance with. When he offered me a job as his new administrative assistant, I couldn’t believe it. But being in such close proximity to him on a daily basis proved challenging. Neither of us was in a position to act on the chemistry that flowed so easily between us, but our bodies didn’t seem to get that message. With three little girls looking to us to make this Christmas merry and bright, we couldn’t afford to let our feelings get in the way. Even if we got caught under the mistletoe and everyone encouraged us to kiss. There was too much on the line, and one little mistake could easily ruin everything.

Being Sugarplum Falls’ most sought-after nanny was something that I prided myself on. I was great with kids, and I hadn’t met a parent who I didn’t have a great relationship with. That was until I met Elliott Weston. He was new to town and as grumpy as he was good-looking. When he offered me the job—with the requirement that I would work exclusively for him—I couldn’t turn it down. It wasn’t just the outrageous salary that had me on board, it was the little boy with sparkling blue eyes that did me in. I tried to remain professional and keep my focus on his son, but Elliott was a distraction I never saw coming. Just like the unexpected blizzard that kept me stranded at his house, making it even harder to ignore the heat radiating between us. When I finally started to let my guard down, a curveball was thrown my way and challenged everything I thought I wanted.

“You have to kiss me!” Those were the words I blurted out to my employee seconds before asking him to be my fake boyfriend. When my parents told me they were coming to Sugarplum Falls earlier than expected and asked me to attend their friend’s holiday party—I knew it was all a ruse to set me up with their son. So, I needed a plan and fast. I was surprised when Zach agreed and fell right into the role of loving, doting boyfriend. But what caught me even more off guard was how easy it seemed to be for us to be together—even when no one was around for us to fake it. Regardless of how right it might have felt, there were too many reasons why I couldn’t date Zach. I had already convinced my heart, but his was another story.

Two authors walk into a bar… Only it wasn’t a bar. It was a hotel in the small town of Sugarplum Falls, and it was completely booked. Of course fate couldn’t be satisfied with leaving us stranded during the worst blizzard on record. No, it had to toss in a tiny cabin with only one bed as the cherry on top. I hadn’t planned to take a last-minute trip, but when the deadline for my book was breathing down my neck, I had no choice. I packed my bags and went in search of the inspiration I needed to get rid of the writer’s block that was keeping me from finishing. The only problem was that I found so much more than that. Like an attractive stranger with a knack for pushing me out of my comfort zone. A friendly barista who makes the BEST lattes. And learning enough about my past that it makes me question everything I thought I knew. I loved reading about living happily ever after, but that didn’t mean I had any clue how to do it.

What's worse than a man who hates Christmas? A Christmas-hating man who won't let me borrow his reindeer. Living in a Christmas-obsessed town while being a self proclaimed Christmas enthusiast means that I take my role as coordinator for the Frosty Fest very seriously. Everything has to be perfect, and I bust my butt to make sure it is. Everything was going to plan until Mr. Truman died and left his grouchy grandson in charge of the reindeer. Not only is he the epitome of a grinch, he's unwilling to even hear me out when I try to explain why this is so important to our town. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and if Brody Truman thinks that a catastrophic blizzard or getting stuck to his fence post will stop me, he's got another thing coming. I'll get those reindeer, one way or another. Even if I have to put everything on the line and make the man who hates Christmas find some holiday joy in that icy heart of his. But the clock is ticking, and I have less than two weeks to change his mind and save Frosty Fest.

When my music career took off six years ago, I had to leave my small-town life and the man I was in love with behind. But when my mom called, asking for my help, I couldn't say no. Singing was what I loved, and helping the Sugarplum Sweethearts win the local caroling competition would be an honor. I could sneak in, spend some time with my mother, then get back to LA to prepare for my upcoming world tour. What I didn't expect was to have an obsessed fan show up. Safety was the number one priority, and everyone assured me that I would be safer staying with Aiden—the former love of my life and current object of my heart’s affection. But just because I would be physically safe didn’t mean my heart wasn’t in danger. It was clinging to old memories and holding onto hope for a future that wasn’t an option for us. With each day that passed, I felt myself falling more and more. I was on a steep and slippery slope that I couldn’t afford to go down. Loving and losing Aiden once was enough to break my heart. Allowing it to happen again would shatter me completely.

Rule #1 for newly divorced single moms: Don't fall for your best friend's brother. Even if he is as handsome as he is kind and makes the most addicting lattes. Add in how great he is with your daughter and how he rushes to offer both of you a place to stay when you find yourself in need, and you may as well consider yourself a goner. But even as perfect as Sam is, a future with him is not possible. His life is in Sugarplum Falls while we’re just passing through as we pick up the pieces to start over. Staying would only complicate things, and neither of us needs that. Allowing the chemistry between us to ignite is a dangerous game, and I can’t afford to get burned. In another life, I might have considered what could be between us, but it’s not just my heart on the line anymore. Now there’s a little girl who is quickly getting attached to a man who isn’t ours to keep.

What to get someone you hate for Christmas… That’s not something I would typically look up online, but drawing my ex’s name in our company’s Secret Santa exchange left me no choice. For twelve long years, I was free of him after he broke my heart and moved away. But now he’s back, and thanks to small-town life, he’s everywhere I go. I tried to shake it off when he first started working at Waldon's. It's a big store, and there aren't a ton of employment options in Sugarplum Falls. Not only did we somehow draw each other’s names in the so-called “Secret” Santa exchange, but we’re constantly being thrown together and being forced to spend time with each other. As old memories rise to the surface, I’m reminded of the pain and heartache he’s capable of, but it’s hard to focus on that when he’s constantly going out of his way to do nice things for me. They say people change and that forgiveness is healing, but they don’t know the damage he did the last time I allowed myself to love him. It seems there’s a thin line between love and hate, and suddenly, I’m teetering right over it. No matter how much my heart wants to love him again, it can’t undo the pain he caused all those years ago.