My whole life has been a lie. Nobody truly knows me. But I know myself, and I’m a coward. Years ago when my heart shattered, I used the weakest adhesives to put it back together. I can’t risk falling in love. My soul is too fragile. Love isn’t guaranteed. It’s always a gamble. And I know, better than most, that it’s not worth the fall. The body can only withstand so many tragedies before it ceases to exist. Only one person has made me want more. Only one. Yet I know it would break me to lose him, and he’d be impossible to recover from. The loss—devastating.

Cade Richards is the starting forward of the NHL team the Cranes. He’s at the top of his game and scoring like a champ. On a quick trip home, he runs into Iris, the woman he’s spent his adult life striving to be good enough for, the one who holds his heart. Iris Feldmore’s life is in shambles. Everything she’s worked for has crumbled. Her brother returns home with his best friend—her first love, Cade—in tow. The hockey team gave Cade the nickname of Heartbreaker, and it’s fitting because he broke hers. If she’s honest with herself, she’s never gotten over it.

As an author, words have always been my escape. In my mind, I've lived the many versions of happily ever afters I've written for the world to listen to. I've created swoon-worthy men who would do anything for the women they love. The worlds I've created have left women wishing the stories I've penned were real. Yet my life outside the pages is void of romance and dictated by fear—something I have in abundance while my trust is scarce. I'm terrified of the horrors that could break me and avoid them at all costs. But he found me anyway.

I have known Jax my whole life, and I have loved him with every breath I've ever taken. The fact that we were born a mere month apart to mothers that are best friends has made us inseparable since birth. What we have is so rare, one would think our story would be written, our fate sealed. But, unfortunately, that's not how life works. Life offers us many choices that can turn destiny into chance.

My fate was sealed the first time I met the gorgeous, fun, and older Ollie Hale. Though forbidden, he captivated me, and for years, I couldn’t let him go. I never thought I’d have him, but then…an unexpected kiss and the start of something new. My heart aches for his love while my mind tells me to run. I’ve seen this story before, and it doesn’t end well. He’s a damaged man unable to give me more, and I’m a woman who wants it all. I’ve dreamed of my happily ever after, but I’m terrified we’re heading toward a tragic ending. I’m just praying it doesn’t break me.

It’s the flight before Christmas and Molly just got an unexpected gift: a free first-class upgrade on her plane trip home for the holidays. Bring on the complimentary cocktails! But after one too many, she spills all her secrets to the hot guy seated next to her—only to wake up mortified when her buzz has worn off. At least she never has to see Liam again ... or so she thinks. When Molly arrives at Christmas House, the festive rental home that she and her family are sharing with her sister’s fiancé and his wealthy family, she discovers that Liam is one of the new in-laws. Oops.

When mystery author D. B. Ziegler is late delivering her book, Abi Schore steps in to help. Surely she can give her favorite author moral support over the holiday break and get the manuscript to her boss at Tea & Sympathy Publishing in time for the new year. When Abi shows up on Ms. Ziegler’s doorstep bearing holiday treats, she’s met by the author’s handsome grandson Dov, who reveals a startling plot twist. His grandmother isn’t able to finish the book and Dov promised he’d complete it so fans won’t be disappointed—a task that’s harder than he ever imagined.

Living in a year around Christmas town has its drawbacks. The caroling, the decorations, the insanely cheery spirit, it never disappears. It's why I like to hibernate away in my cave - I mean housekeeping a healthy distance from the holly jolly spirits. And all was going according to plan until my nemesis, Storee Taylor, moved in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Without blinking, she turned my simple world into a real nightmare-before-Christmas, especially when she decided to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest - which she was determined to win.

There's no place like home for the holidays ... especially for Lesley Carver. Life in the big city just wasn't her jam and now she's back in Hickory Falls, working at the family diner and helping her mom after she took a tumble. Lesley longs to build a life here, working at the cafe, selling her handmade ornaments and ... er, apparently reviving her high school crush on her best friend’s older brother. Only one problem, her mom wants her to leave Hickory Falls far behind.

Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of best-selling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.

Tilly Farriday isn’t feeling very jolly this season. Recently divorced and broke, she’s squatting in one of her rental agency’s properties until her new home is ready. The sprinkles on top of the burnt Christmas cookie that is her life? The new owner shows up early, forcing Tilly to hide in the attic to save her job…and what remains of her dignity.

Clark Griswold was onto something...at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER.

After a snowstorm grounds her flight, Lucy makes a last-ditch effort to get home for Christmas using a rideshare app. She thinks she’ll be taking a road trip with a stranger...but the guy who shows up is someone she knows all too well. He’s the hookup she ghosted a few months ago, and now she’ll be stuck in a car with him for the most awkward road trip of her life.

After a bad breakup, Nola wants nothing to do with Christmas, especially in her quaint hometown of Bright Harbor, Maine. Infuriatingly charming and cheery, Nola’s surroundings only worsen her sour mood. To make matters worse, Caleb, the boy who broke her heart years ago, is all grown up and still living in town. While doing her best to avoid him, Nola bumps into the local mailman, who gives her a mysterious letter. And when she finds that the writer is a fellow Scrooge, she can’t help but feel her spirit lifting.

My whole life has been a lie. Nobody truly knows me. But I know myself, and I’m a coward. Years ago when my heart shattered, I used the weakest adhesives to put it back together. I can’t risk falling in love. My soul is too fragile. Love isn’t guaranteed. It’s always a gamble. And I know, better than most, that it’s not worth the fall. The body can only withstand so many tragedies before it ceases to exist. Only one person has made me want more. Only one. Yet I know it would break me to lose him, and he’d be impossible to recover from. The loss—devastating.

My fate was sealed the first time I met the gorgeous, fun, and older Ollie Hale. Though forbidden, he captivated me, and for years, I couldn’t let him go. I never thought I’d have him, but then…an unexpected kiss and the start of something new. My heart aches for his love while my mind tells me to run. I’ve seen this story before, and it doesn’t end well. He’s a damaged man unable to give me more, and I’m a woman who wants it all. I’ve dreamed of my happily ever after, but I’m terrified we’re heading toward a tragic ending. I’m just praying it doesn’t break me.

As an author, words have always been my escape. In my mind, I've lived the many versions of happily ever afters I've written for the world to listen to. I've created swoon-worthy men who would do anything for the women they love. The worlds I've created have left women wishing the stories I've penned were real. Yet my life outside the pages is void of romance and dictated by fear—something I have in abundance while my trust is scarce. I'm terrified of the horrors that could break me and avoid them at all costs. But he found me anyway.

I used to wonder if soul mates existed. I know now they’re real. Our love was true, raw, and deep - our connection, magical. Every day with him was a gift, and I knew it. He was my forever, yet our forever wasn’t long enough. Each second that passes without him hurts, and maybe it always will. They say that time heals all, and I hope they’re right. Perhaps time will save me, or maybe love will. When it comes to soul mates, who’s to say we get just one?

He told me that he’d destroy me. I knew he wasn’t lying, and I loved him anyway. I believed in love - in him. I just wasn’t prepared to carry the weight of his demons. I wanted forever with him, but life showed me love was temporary, and forever was a dream. Despite everything that happened, even now, I wouldn’t change any of it. For a love to have the capacity to destroy you, it has to be extraordinarily powerful - and that kind of love is impossible to walk away from.