No more bad-boys. No more getting arrested. Instead, hard work and good behaviour has earned her a job teaching at the local Boys Secondary School, and a proposal from a worthy man. So what if he doesn't exactly light her fire - surely passion is overrated?When her friend since childhood, Ethan Quinn, storms back into the small Irish village he left to pursue a career as a Hollywood action hero, she's stunned to discover she's as susceptible to his lethal charm as every woman in the world. And when a compromising photograph floods the media of them in a clinch, her almost fiancé reveals his true colours, CarEthan starts trending on twitter, and she loses her job, could anyone blame her if she accepts his invitation to hide out at his Malibu beach house?Ethan loves women, but never lets his girlfriends into his heart. He's failed at being there in the past, and won't put his heart on the line for anyone, ever again. But Cara's a different matter - and when passionate attraction is added to his friendship with the one person he's always confided in, he's thrown for a loop. Cara's lost everything, and like it or not, he's responsible. There's no fighting the attraction that blazes between them - but when the month long affair is over, will he ever be able to let her go?

    Will romance find four couples in the month of December or will the pressure to keep the festivities Mistletoe Square is known for keep these couples apart? Find out in this collection of four novellas from inspirational authors Pepper Basham, Cara Putman, Janine Rosche, and Teresa Tysinger.The Christmas Clue to Finding You by Pepper BashamAfter five years away, Piper Dawson returns home to Kedgewick Creek and is pulled into a Christmas Scavenger Hunt that resurrects a heartbreak from Christmas past she’s not quite ready to mend. Will a matchmaking granny, a little Christmas magic, and a cute guy in a kilt make all the difference to her Christmas yet-to-come?Silver Bell Secrets by Cara PutmanGrowing up with dyslexia, Avery Blair didn’t love books, but the family-owned bookshop held her heart. She never expected her little business on the backside of nowhere to garner a New York City publishing house’s attention. Hunter Chase has lived an “always winter, never Christmas” existence, and spending the holidays in Christmas Town U.S.A. wasn’t exactly on his Christmas wish list, but he had no choice when his boss gave him an ultimatum. Can small town and big city discover a Christmas future that will last far beyond the page?An Unscripted Christmas by Teresa TysingerEllie and Oliver Larson face a Christmas full of uncertainty rather than festive cheer. Ellie is tired of playing a supporting role to Oliver’s passion of running the Kedgewick Creek Playhouse. Oliver can’t imagine his life without her. When things go off script, will their love story find its second act?Dreams in Toyland by Janine RoscheToy shop owner Peyton Hammond knows a secret that could take down online giant Kiljoy Toyz and its owner, Joey Kiljoy. After the two adversaries spend Christmas Eve delivering gifts for charity, will the sun rise on newfound love, or will prejudice and lost dreams keep hope in the dark?

    . .It’s all work and no play for longtime friends-turned-business-partners Kristen and Jasper—until an unexpected kiss turns things personal. Will it mean the end of something, or the beginning? With a major contract in the balance, Christmas around the corner, and a lot of unspoken feelings, it may take an unpredictable blizzard in New England to seal the deal . . .

    But things are starting to look up when my catering business finally gets local recognition.When my oven overheats in the middle of baking cookies for the annual gingerbread house decorating contest, the smokin’ hot guy next door offers to help with my goodies.Drake is a steamy cup of hot cocoa and I’d love to dip my cookie in his cream.But can I trust my heart to a guy with a notorious reputation and bachelorhood emblazoned across his chest?DrakeVoted Cranberry Corner’s most eligible bachelor is an honor, but it’s not who I aspire to be.Full disclosure: I’m tired of serial dating and one night stands. I want the deluxe relationship package with all the sprinkles and cream filling.Problem is I’ve found the red-headed woman of my dreams, but she thinks I’m nothing more than a smooth talking player.Hope is a curvy swirl of cinnamon and sugar and I’d love to taste her candied ginger center.Can I convince her there’s more to me than what greets the naked eye?Sugar & Spice Nights is a multi-author series of holiday inspired instalove, curvy woman and hot guys stories. Come find out how hot and sweet the nights can get today!Don't forget to meet ALL the hunky sweeties!Sugar Cookies & the Single Dad by Brynn HaleShortbread & the Scotsman by Lana DashGingerbread & the Guy Next Door by Piper CookEggnog & the Engineer by Elsie JamesCupcakes & the Cowboy by Scarlett WoodsPeanut Brittle & the Prince by Kate TilneyMacarons & the Mountain Man by Tarin LexBiscotti & the Bad Boy by Krysta FoxLemon Bars & the Lawyer by Layne DanielsFudge & the Firefighter by Sadie KingBrownies & the Billionaire by R.K. CovenXOX Piper

    Isobel Gray is dreaming of a perfect movie-style Christmas for her first Noël away from home, and with a hot man and a bucket list of festive fun ready to be ticked off, she thinks she has it all wrapped up. But when her boss-slash-boyfriend goes AWOL just days before the holiday, she finds herself a little Lost, Actually instead. Will she end up home alone, or is there a Christmas miracle waiting under the mistletoe?‘The Christmas Bucket List’ is a fun, festive romcom novella (25,000 words approx.) - perfect for curling up with on a chilly winter night!

    Feeling supremely unworthy and desperate to get a life—even an imaginary one—Kit embarks on a self-improvement campaign featuring DVD fitness guru, Danny Fit. In the meantime, Jesse has begun a subtle campaign of his own, one designed to bring Kit out of his DVD dream world and into Jesse's arms. Jesse isn't perfect—he's no Danny Fit—but he hopes that the kind, funny man who has been looking at him so soulfully since his first day at work has what it takes to be everything Jesse has always wanted.

    She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him.

    Each brand-new title is inspired by a Christmas carol and will lift your spirits and bring on the holiday cheer. We Need a Little Christmas by Leanne Banks - Can a handsome cynic become a Christmas believer? Frosty the Snowman by Mimi Barbour - Stranded in an Alaskan snowstorm, strangers Hali and Terry are forced to rely on each other for survival. Last Christmas by Joan Reeves - Annabelle gave him her heart, but Rick threw it away. He wants redemption, she wants revenge. Holly Jolly Christmas by Mona Risk - Pregnant at 18. Adoption would save the baby’s future but may cost her the man she loves. Do You Hear What I Hear? by Patricia Rosemoor - Live-in-lovers Shelley and Jake are now in a cold war of their own over Christmas. White Christmas by Rebecca York - Was she in a coma, or was she in a Christmas fantasy? So This is Christmas by Denise Devine - He was her child nemesis, now he’s her best friend forever. Grown Up Christmas List by Donna Fasano - All she wants for Christmas is to feel safe… then she meets her guardian angel. Blue Christmas by the Sea by Traci Hall - Alone for Christmas, Tamsyn helps mystery writer Evan find his mojo—love is a gift neither can refuse. Santa Baby by Taylor Lee - Lily’s only hope was that this time, he wouldn’t be able to find her. Let It Snow by Stephanie Queen - A stranger and a snow storm on Christmas Eve create the ultimate test for Dane & Shana. Merry, Did You Know? by Jennifer St. Giles - Can a Christmas Miracle change the future of a woman who doesn’t believe in love and a man who can't love again? O Christmas Tree by Alicia Street - Can Piper convince Cody to let go of his painful past and embrace the hope of Christmas and possibly love? Sleigh Ride by Katy Walters - Miss Sophia Vale faces poverty. Enter the Earl of Breconbridge, renowned as a rake hell with a conscience. Deck the Hearts by Rachelle Ayala - Can Holly’s jolly Christmas spirit help Grinch Gordon Gills save the town of Christmas Creek? Silver Bells by Jacquie Biggar - Can a Christmas wish bring two stubborn souls together and give a little girl the gift she wants? Hark the Herald Angel Falls by Michele Hauf - To earn her halo, angel Merit must convince the person who holds her earthly soul in limbo—her husband—to stop loving her. Little Drummer Boy by Dani Haviland - How could a mere drummer boy help those stranded in the worst winter storm of the 18th century? I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Nancy Radke - When former a former Navy SEAL plucks a woman from the Mediterranean Sea, he discovers a fighter tougher than he. Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Cynthia Cooke - A big city girl reunites with a small town boy—magic. A Santa in need of an elf—Christmas magic.

    Come find out how hot and sweet the nights can get today!CheyenneI pride myself on being a hard worker and I never let myself get distracted from my dreams. My next goal is to own and operate a bakery. But first I need to pay off my student debt.In the meantime, I’m one step closer to my dreams when a local restaurant hires me as a seasonal temporary pastry chef.When my best friend’s older brother visits me at work, I give him a tasty treat.Jordan is sexy, smooth, and works hard on me.But can I let him veer me toward love over my career?JordanAfter years of busy life in the city, I lost who I am and I’m done with the chaos. I couldn’t be happier to move back to my small hometown and take a job as a ranch foreman. But most of my old friends moved away and the holidays are a little lonelier than I imagined.Luckily, everyone at work is extremely welcoming and I’m sure I’ll find friends fast.When my sister’s best friend stands behind the counter, I’m sweet on her.Cheyenne is kind, curvy, and I want to butter her bread.But can I prove to her she’s the one and not just the next one?

    We were technically engaged, not that we’d told anyone. He was happy just knowin’ I’d said yes, and I had some head-clearin’ stuff to work through. Knowing I was good enough for Trav was one thing, but knowing if I was good enough to be a husband and father was somethin’ else entirely.Life at Sutton Station had never been better. Business was strong, Trudy and Bacon’s little baby, Gracie, was a few weeks old now and as cute as a button, Ma’s health was good, and my relationship with Laura and Sam was in a pretty good place. And Travis? Well, life with him was still all kinds of perfect.But, to Travis’s dismay, Christmas at the Station was just another day. Another day of getting up before the sun, feeding animals, fixin’ what needed fixin’, and checking water troughs all while tryin’ to keep out of the blistering heat.And this year weren’t much different. Only that it was Travis’s first Sutton Station Christmas. The fact we didn’t go all out with decorations and celebrations baffled him, and if I was bein’ truthful, it disappointed him too.Which was why I had to make it a special kind of Christmas…NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:This book uses Australian English spelling and grammar. There will be words like brumbies (wild horses) Macca’s (McDonald’s) and a serious lack of g’s on most ing words. There are also run-on hyphenated sentences. It’s just how Charlie speaks.TIMELINE ACKNOWLEDGMENT:(beware of spoilers for book 4 below!)Anyone familiar with the Red Dirt Heart series, will know it spans the seasons. In RDH1 when Travis arrives, it’s summer, RDH2 is autumn/winter, RDH3 is spring and RDH4, being Trav’s pov, is back to summer and spans another year. Christmas in Australia is in summer, so according to the actual timeline of the series, Travis’ first Christmas falls between RDH3 and RDH4, though it is not mentioned.So, like a small snippet of something that didn’t technically happen, this Christmas story is of Travis’ first Christmas at Sutton Station, therefore falls between books 3 and 4. They’re not married, there’s no Milly.A small reminder of where the storyline was up to… Travis has asked Charlie to marry him, but they’ve not told anyone yet. Trudy and Bacon have just had their first baby, Gracie, and Nugget still steals every scene he’s in.

    Deciding not to follow in her family's Oscar-winning footsteps, Jules chooses to take a more behind-the-scenes career in one of the Top 10 Talent Agencies in Chicago. After being dumped five hours before spending Christmas with her dysfunctional family, she needs a plan to avoid their judgmental eyes. Enter: Kayden Reece.Kayden is the black sheep of his family, being the one actor drowning in a world of doctors and lawyers. Never really getting a jumpstart at his acting career or landing a big time role, he can feel his dad’s disappointment soaking into his spirit. When Kayden gets a chance to meet and sign with a big name agent at Walter and Jacks Talent Agency, he’s ready to prove everyone wrong. Jules stumbles into the building in shambles, ugly crying, and begging to pay an actor a big sum of money to be her made-up boyfriend for five days, Kayden jumps at the opportunity—finally able to say he landed a role. When secrets start to unravel, Kayden and Jules must learn that all families have their baggage, sometimes co-stars fall in lust, and it’s important to always have invisible mistletoe hanging around. This holiday season join the two fake lovebirds as they partake in the role of a lifetime.

    . . until I landed smack dab in the middle of a freaking winter wonderland, otherwise known as Carole Cove, Montana. It’s merrier and brighter than the North Pole. The town even comes with its own Mr. Holiday—Noel Holiday, that is. Not only is he holly and jolly but he’s hotter than the lattes he sells at his café. And for some reason he would love nothing more than to share the magic of the season with me.Unfortunately, this little trip of mine isn’t exactly filled with good cheer. But Noel’s kisses have a way of making me believe in Christmas miracles. And a miracle might be exactly what it takes to keep the holidays from being ruined forever.

    Everywhere.Hailey Jennison is smart, funny and, unfortunately, stacked like a blonde brick house. She’s well aware the impact her looks have on the male gender, and she hates it. Socially awkward, she keeps to a safe, boring routine, meeting friends once a week for dinner, some laughs, and entertainment.Entertainment comes in the form of a little harmless voyeurism, watching the living, breathing sex god across the quad parade around his apartment half-naked. Hailey watches and yearns, indulging in this weekly fantasy that almost—but not quite—satisfies her every desire.When Gage catches Hailey in the act of ogling him, he gives her a choice—go out with him, or he’ll call the cops. But he has no intention of calling the law down on every man’s wet dream. For he’s been watching her, as well. And he has plans to fulfill her naughty fantasies.

    Part #1 Jason and Haley’s honeymoon

    Lola Blakeman has a plan for her life…and it doesn't include kissing a grumpy lumberjack.Her whole life, people have been telling Lola to loosen up, ditch her schedules and checklists, and be spontaneous. But they probably didn’t mean she should hop into her sensible hybrid and drive without a plan or direction—straight into a blizzard.Eric Jolly may be a grouchy recluse, but when a mysterious blonde crashes into his life—literally—he can't just leave her to freeze in the snow. But it's a complication he doesn't need. He only has a few days to get his family's Christmas tree farm ready for the season. And he's far behind already.With a heavy dose of Christmas magic and a little luck, Eric and Lola might just save the farm and fall in love while they’re at it. That is, unless Lola's secret ruins it all.*This holiday novella was previously published in the Snow in Love charity anthology.The Road Trip to Love sweet romcom series features smart-as-a-whip heroines and swoon-worthy heroes as they navigate the speed bumps, u-turns, and detours that propel them toward a destination they never expected: love.