I promised myself ten years ago when I left Bella Port that I would never look back at the town that made me feel invisible—that is until the unthinkable happens and Aunt Mitzi, the person I love more than anyone or anything, suddenly passes away and leaves me everything. We are talking a beautiful beach house, more money than I know what to do with, and of course her beloved bookstore, Paige’s Turn, named after yours truly. Not only that, she thinks she’s left behind something else for me. Or is that someone else?

I, Charlotte Valentine, am mostly of sound mind. Typically, I make really good choices. I went to college, never did drugs...I even brush and floss every day. That’s not to say I don’t make poor decisions - believe me, I do. They always seem to involve men - everything from gluing my eye shut to falling in love with my boss. Did I mention he was famous? Oh, Drake Foster, you beautiful creature. My sister told me not to accept the position as his personal assistant. Apparently, she thinks it’s emotionally unhealthy for me to work for the object of my desire. What does she know?

Eight years ago, the older and irresistible Kane Hudson rocked my world. He saw me as more than just a shy and awkward premed student. And somehow, he helped me to see myself too. He made me believe I was beautiful and that dreams were worth fighting for. He was a dream. Then, without warning, it all came to an end. He went off to England and I headed to medical school. My hope was to never see the man again. That was wishful thinking. Now we're both back in my hometown and, as luck would have it, we are both vying to become the next CEO of my family's blood plasma company.

Kasie Baldwin’s life is not turning out how she expected. Separating from Jake, her husband of 17 years, and living back home with her momma were not in her plans. She for sure never saw herself getting mixed up in a reality TV show.

My name is Natalie Archer, and I confess to loving nothing more than scheduling my life. And by scheduling, I mean every aspect. So why not schedule my wedding? Do I have a groom? No. Am I dating anyone? Also no. But I have a plan. A good plan, even, to find a Mr. Right who fits all my criteria. The biggest one being he MUST not be famous. Been there, and never doing that again. I’m just about ready to put my plan into action when my famous ex reenters the picture—Josh Keller, the hottest stand-up comedian around, otherwise known as the thorn in my side and the love of my life.

Every person has that one thing they’re known for, and it doesn’t matter what you do, that one thing—whether good or bad—follows you around like a bloodhound for the rest of your life. Tragically for me, it’s a story I wrote when I was 15, based on a real person, Reece Cavanaugh. And guess what? He grew up to be a pirate—okay, lawyer. Same thing. To make matters worse, the man is representing my ex-fiancé. But the more I get to know Reece—the real version, not the imaginary one who ravishes me—I can’t help but wish we could roll around in the sand together.

With a name like Isabelle Valentine, one would think I was destined to find true love and believe in the ridiculous notion of soul mates. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all about love. I even own an inn with my sister where each room is named after our favorite romantic couples. But soul mates? It seems highly implausible there is that one person, your person, meant only for you. My sister, of course, would tell me I’m dead wrong and that the very inn we own calls to such lovers. So, what if she did find her own unlikely happily ever after here with one of the most famous men alive?

Once upon a time, people called me the holiday queen. But catching my husband under the Christmas tree with another woman kind of did something to me. Like make me digitally crop him out of all our wedding photos and post them online. Thanks to all the requests I received to do the same for other jilted partners, I started a new business called the Holiday Ex-Files. Then along comes my ex-husband’s best friend, Noah Cullen. He has a plan to help me believe in the magic of holidays again. Maybe, just maybe, it will be a very merry Christmas after all.

At 17, Charlee Jensen packed her bags and left her beloved hometown of Loveland, swearing she would never have anything to do with the men that left her heartbroken: her father, the man who taught her heroes can fall; and Ryan Carter, her much older neighbor and teenage crush.

If Ariana Stanton has learned anything in life, it’s that men leave. She’s been taught this lesson well from the father she’s never met, who sends her a mysterious letter once a year, to her ex-fiancé, who left her for another woman. So, when she meets the charming and seemingly perfect Jonah, she promises him they will never be more than friends. It’s a promise she can’t keep. But before he has a chance to leave her, she sends him away.

An arranged marriage isn’t the worst fate for a princess like me. Especially because I’ve been in love with my intended groom since we were children. But when my prince shows up with an American girlfriend instead of an engagement ring, all arrangements are off. The clock is nearing midnight; I won’t turn into a pumpkin, but if I’m not wed by summer’s end, I’ll forfeit my kingdom. Just your typical royal dilemma. Out of sheer desperation, I make a deal with a devilish duke. Rafe de Silva is the prince’s rival and has a plan so ridiculous it just might work.

If I were ever to write a memoir, it would be titled, Jenna Peterson’s Guide to Dating Emotionally Unavailable Men. I’m like a professional at it. I’m so good, I can take any dysfunctional man and turn him into Prince Charming, just in time for him to dump me and then go on to marry the next woman he dates. I’m about ready to give up on loving real men and focus on lusting over fictional men in the Turkish dramas I can’t stop devouring.

Ever since his career-ending injury, Pat has bounced from job to job, idea to idea, short-lived relationship to short-lived relationship. But when his father purchases the town of Sheet Cake, Pat suddenly sees his life with clear purpose: get his brothers on board with his dad's wild idea and win back the one woman who got away. Lindy was supposed to be traveling the world, not stuck in a small town, caring for her niece. But she would do anything to keep custody of Jo, even if that looks like a marriage of convenience with the man who already broke her heart once.

Brooke is living her best life far from the city and career that tried to destroy her. She's happy spending her summer renovating the house she inherited and gardening with her elderly neighbor, Miss Lily. But when Miss Lily's handsome—and obnoxious—grandson shows up, making wild accusations and dragging up Brooke's past, Brooke must convince Ian he has her all wrong. But what happens when their chemistry proves even more dangerous than Ian's accusations?

Not everyone is destined to live happily ever after, right? I’d be fine with averagely ever after. Lower expectations mean less heartbreak. But then I meet Mac and Daisy. Single dad Mac needs a temporary nanny for his daughter, Daisy. I need a second job until my promotion kicks in. It’s the perfect arrangement…until it isn’t. Because who can resist a dad buying ballerina tights after a day spent in a hard hat? Not me, that’s for sure. Now, Mac’s green eyes and Daisy’s crooked pigtails have me dreaming about a future I can’t give them.

So . . . I signed up for something. Not a gym or Costco membership, which probably would have been wiser. Oh no, I signed up for a social experiment. You heard me right. I, Lanie Davenport, am going to be the subject of a scientific study. Do I know what this study is for? Not exactly. But I know it means I have to live with a stranger for twelve weeks and do a video diary once a week, answering the researchers’ questions.

Ever since I first read Pride and Prejudice at twelve years old, I’ve dreamed of being Elizabeth Bennet. That dream is now about to come true. I, Monroe Wilde, the woman some could argue isn’t exactly Elizabeth Bennet material, have been chosen to play the beloved heroine for one week at Pride and Prejudice Park, a destination experience for Jane Austen devotees. To make this dream even more amazing and surreal, my best friend, the Duke of Blackthorne, Alastair Fitzroy, has volunteered to play my Mr. Darcy.

A woman does her very best to avoid at least one of the following people in her life: an annoying coworker, her brother’s best friend, and her first kiss. Unfortunately, for me, all three happen to be the same person—Brandon Cassidy. I’ve done my best to avoid the man, even if it means working in the ladies’ room whenever he visits the main office. Sadly, my days of hiding are coming to an end because I’ve been assigned to assist Brandon through the end of the year. The holiday season is already hard for me, but this . . . this is just the icing on the fruitcake that is my life.

A word of advice? Never fall in love with an Englishman in New York. If you do, chances are that he’ll captivate your soul and never let you go. Take me, for instance. For the last thirteen years, I’ve heard “So This Is Love” on repeat every time I think of Simon Harrison. If this is love, it kind of sucks. Especially given that Simon only ever saw me as his friend before proceeding to marry my supposed best friend.

I, Emma Loveless, have a destiny. It's not the greatest of destinies, but when you have a name like Loveless, what can you do? I'm cursed to always be the friend, never the girlfriend. Unless you count my love affair with Duncan Hines, Dr. Pepper, and the ever-lovable Pillsbury Doughboy. It doesn't help that I have a meddling, albeit wonderful, mother who can't help playing matchmaker. Thanks to her, I can say I've been on a date with a felon. Now she swears she's found the one for me, her new optometrist, Dr. Sawyer King.