He’s a hockey superstar. She’s a hotel maid. When he offers to pay her to wear his jersey to a game, she’s crowned the “Puck Princess.” What could go wrong with fake dating　aside from everything?

Ella

As I struggle to stay afloat in the housekeeping hustle, a handsome guest and I have a magical night sneaking into the pool, making wishes under the stars, and spilling secrets. But at midnight, I risk turning into a pumpkin, er, my not-so-fancy self, compared to the pro hockey player with the expensive watch. Time is slipping through my fingers as the bill for my dad’s care comes due.

Jack

I’m a hockey superstar, famous for scoring goals and stealing hearts, but I’m at a career crossroads. To fix this problem, I casually ask a pretty woman I’ve just officially met to wear my jersey at a big game. After a fun and flirty weekend, sparks fly, but there’s trouble off the ice because she’s not the trophy my billionaire father has in mind for me.

Ella

When he suggests we level up our fake relationship to a fake engagement, I don’t have anything to lose except my sense of reality as I’m swept into his wealthy world—and my grip on my emotions because this is starting to feel real.

Jack

Before we met, my life was mapped out, but she changed the game. Some argue it’s for the worst. But I’ve never felt—or played—better. Before, retirement from the league loomed. Now I have a new goal and it’s a future with her.

Will these starcrossed lovers from different worlds find a way to win each other’s hearts?

I have a kiss hangover. Is that normal for a first kiss?

My love life is one big bah humbug. When a blind date goes bad, a Knight in ugly Christmas sweater armor swoops in and rescues me with a kiss in a very public way.

That wouldn’t be a problem except Pierre plays for the team my father coaches and has a reputation for being the biggest flirt on ice. If you ask me, all hockey players belong in the penalty box.

Except, I wouldnt object to a second kiss or lessons. Dare I say Pierre is a pro? Could have something to do with him being French Canadian. However, his rescue PDA lands him in trouble with the team.

We make an agreement: he teaches me how to kiss and I play the role of the girl he can’t get over. For those of you not up against the glass, he pretends to be falling over his skates for me and I pretend to hate him so my dad doesnt get sus.

Then a winter storm leaves us stranded and it’s up to us to help save the Christmas Market. Seems like our game of fake-it is turning into a make-out. I mean make-it.

But what’ll happen when the holidays are over and we go back to our real lives? I don’t want to land on Santa’s naughty list, so I won’t tell a lie. Pierre had me at that first mistletoe moment. I just hope he feels the same.

I’m a ghostbaker—covertly making Christmas cookies for the dough-challenged—and a virtual assistant on the side. When an impossibly attractive guy in flannel kisses me under the mistletoe, sparks fly, then fizzle. He’s my boss.

Maddie

You know the saying, “Things are coming up roses”? More like they’re last year’s wilted and withered poinsettias. To cap off a series of unfortunate events, I accidentally sent my boss another client’s content. He didnt find the first kiss quote social media graphic amusing. Despite never meeting face-to-face, I doubt anything could make the grumbler smile.

However, when I get a cookie baking contract in a charming small town, I can’t help but think this is my big chance to pay off Gran’s medical bills. Then I realize I’m competing with the enemy: Stone’s Coal Co., my boss’s business.

Duffy

My mother fancies herself Mrs. Claus. She and her merry band of matchmaking elves are determined to find me “The One.” Home for the holidays, the “Not-The-One” who single-handedly ruined me for romance, is at the company holiday party. Acting rashly, I kiss a cute woman under the mistletoe. When our lips touch, it’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle. But it turns out she’s my virtual assistant.

Instead of stomping on the brakes, we go on a fake dating spree, resulting in entering the Annual Christmas Charity Bake　Bazaar Auction. I tell myself after the oven timer dings, it’ll be over. But I’m tangled in tinsel as secrets and lies pile up.

Even if we leave Santa cookies, I have a feeling if we keep up the charade, we’ll end up with coal in our stockings. But can we somehow make it work and land on the “Good List?”

This is a clean, sweet, closed door, small town, Christmas romantic comedy featuring a grumpy boss, mistaken identity, a fake relationship, a chorkie named Pop Tart, and lots of holiday merriment.

More about the Christmas Kisses　Cookie Crumbs series: Get ready to jingle all the way into the festive season with twelve Christmas novelettes that are like little bites of sweet and swoony delight. These heartwarming and feel-good romances feature second chances, enemies to lovers, fake dating adventures, and more, all wrapped up in the cozy merriment of Christmas. Plus, there’s a cookie recipe in each book!

Do I regret falling in love with a man who I’ve never met in person and whose heart belongs to someone else?

Actually, yes because I should know better than to think I’d be anything but lonely this Christmas. If the grinch were a lady, I’d be her. I didn’t choose this for myself, but compounding factors make me dread the holiday and not only because it’s also my birthday.

But no one wants to hear that sob story. Instead, I help heroes and people who’ve transformed their lives tell theirs. After spending months emailing back and forth as I cowrite a veteran’s biography, we meet to finalize the manuscript before the deadline.

Every second spent with retired SEAL officer Alexander Armstrong is like being stabbed with icicle daggers because he’s taken. Dramatic, I know. To make matters worse, we get snowed in and have to spend Christmas together in a town called Holidayle of all places.

However, his focus turns to thawing out my heart when I learn the truth about his. We take long walks along glowing paths under the softly falling snow followed by peppermint mistletoe kisses. I don’t know why he’d bother when our lives are in different states and each of us bear scars from the past. We’ll need more than a miracle to make this work.

Then again, what else is this season for if not hope?

They say love is messy. Turns out friendship is too, especially when you're stranded in a cabin with your best friend and hearts are on thin ice.

Teddy

I've heard that men and women can't be friends without it becoming something more. Harlow and I put that theory in the penalty box, thank you very much.

She laughs at my jokes, secretly admires my hockey butt, trusts me with her biggest fear (it's safe with me). In turn, she knows everything about me. Well, almost.

There's been a recent development. I'm gone for her. Down bad. Solid Crush. She lives rent free in my mind. I've caught feelings. This wouldn't be a problem except, you know, the whole shattering our friendship thing.

Harlow

You know those days you want to erase? It went like this: my boyfriend broke up with me (it was overdue), and then I broke up with my job while at a work conference (it was mind-numbing).

In an ironic twist, I won the raffle for a romantic getaway trip for two. Who else to bring other than my best friend who'll gladly commiserate with me? He has a hockey event nearby, so it works out perfectly.

Until we're stranded in the cozy cabin together. There's a blaze of attraction. A friendship-changing kiss.

What now? Do we hit the reset button? Salvage what we had? Pretend it never happened? These are things I'd talk to my bestie about, but I can't because I'm head over heels for him.

We weren't supposed to kiss…again. Is it still a second chance when our first one was a secret?

Rewind: In high school, I was Little Miss Brainy Rebel Girl to my twin's athletic Mr. Popularity. That also meant I avoided wading into the dating pool. Like a shark, it didn't help that my protective brother probably scared away potential suitors.

Fast forward: He's engaged, but our parents won't let him tie the knot until I find a boyfriend. Now, he has guys lining up to date me. This only becomes an issue when his best friend, Redd, gets a hero's welcome when he returns to play hockey for the Nebraska Knights.

Pause: Little does my brother know that Redd and I kissed on a senior year camping trip. After that, I swore off smooching forever. But I get looped into helping him fundraise for our old high school's hockey team, and he and his adorable secret move into my grandmother's old house.

We end up spending a lot of time together. Making pancakes, playing flashlight tag, going to the lake… The problem is we despise each other, or so I thought. Will things between us fizzle or will there be fireworks this 4th of July?

She's modern royalty. He's a laid-back surfer living that endless summer lifestyle. When these high school sweethearts reunite to renovate a house, it'll get a second chance, but will they?

Dee Dee

While visiting the West Coast for my cousin's wedding, I take a detour down memory lane, arriving in the small beach town where I spent my senior year of high school. All those years ago I pretended to be the girl next door instead of a Barclay—yes, the billionaire royal family. Flash forward to now, falling asleep in the sand wasn't part of my half-baked pit stop. Neither was waking up in the lifeguard's strong, capable arms.

Sunny

When I left for dawn patrol this morning, finding the one who got away on the beach was the last thing I expected. I'm not sure what shocks her more, the rundown state of her late grandmother's house or that I live in the guest cottage. But I am surprised when she extends her stay and asks me to help her spruce up the place to avoid her impending arranged marriage.

She's single and not ready to mingle. He's a military hero playing nanny to his niece and nephew. Will these enemies survive summer pretending to be a couple?

Katy

You know those love songs that chorus, Only You? My jam is, Anyone But Him. And guess who recently rolled into town? The guy who ditched me in high school and there's no avoiding him. When my grandmother strikes with her classic question about if I have a boyfriend yet, I want to dodge the family disappointment drama saga and say, No Way, but I can't let her downand he owes me.

Rocco

After over a decade in the military, I'm back in my hometown to help my sister while her husband is deployed. A brother helping another and all that. I didn't imagine the fiercely independent motorcycle-riding surfer girl from high school would still be here and be more beautiful than ever. When she asks me to be her fake boyfriend, I don't decline because it means righting a wrong.

This blast from the past was the last thing we expected. We're terrible for each other. Our heads say, Nope, but our hearts say, Uh-oh. Will we make this shot at a second chance real or blow it again?

She's a former heiress. He's a billionaire beach property tycoon. With the beloved town library under threat, these rivals must join forces or lose everything, including a chance with each other.

Bea

As the last in my circle to tie the knot, it's ironic that I go from riches to rags, er, wedding gowns. After I inherit my aunt's bridal boutique, I could wipe my tears with chiffon, but I'll make lace out of lemons while I wait for Mr. Perfect—who's nothing like my lifelong crush. Nuh uh. Then Mr. High School Heartbreaker himself strides in, full of swaggerand a fiancée.

Finn

One of life's cruelest jokes is wearing golden handcuffs, forced to help my stepmother-to-be plan her wedding. Having left my small town without looking back, when my eyes land on my secret high school crush, I can no longer resist temptation. But there's a problem. My company is positioned to tear down her shop, and she's intent on stopping me.

In high school, we had undercover crushes on each other, complete with loads of mutual pining. The catch is we're from rival families. Adults now, we create the rules, but can we break them for a second chance?

My sister says all girls want bad boys. Not this good girl. Except for that one time.

I was the small-town princess cliche in high school. I left to hit it big in Hollywood, only to return home without a shiny golden award. Instead, all I have is an oversized plate of humble pie. No glitz. Zero glam.

Just about everything is the same as when I left Hogwash. Nosy neighbors. Gossip galore. The no stop-light vibe. The only job available is at the Coffee Loft. On the upside, it's a family affair. Thanks, sis.

The downside, the police deputy is none other than our local juvenile delinquent. Seems he's grown up and reformed his life. But I don't expect him to protect me from a cascade of unfortunate events involving my ex, a missing dog, and other, um, things.

Until he does. Now I'm in his debt.

Maybe things have changed, especially how handsome he is in uniform, how polite he is when he stops in for tea, and how I can't seem to forget about him. Then the past comes back to haunt him, er, us.

Looks like he's leaving. Meanwhile, I'm stuck here. He says we'll stay in touch. But I can't help think he'll forget about me.