NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan brings you a new grumpy-sunshine standalone holiday romance.

Blakely

When my boss tells me I’m taking over the planning of the annual Christmas gala, I can barely contain my excitement. Not only is it a huge opportunity, but I also love all things Christmas.

I’m on cloud nine until I realize I have to work closely with the grumpy doctor, who is my opposite in every way. He loathes the holidays. At least that’s what he says. His eyes tell me a different story.

That’s why I make it my mission to make him fall in love with Christmas. That’s our family motto after all. I’ll make him love the holidays harder than ever before. How hard can it be?

Oliver

My contract states I have to serve on a committee. When I fail to submit which committee I’d like to work on, I’m assigned the Christmas gala. Me… the guy who detests the holiday.

In years past, I let the marketing manager handle it all. I was there if she needed me. She never did. I expected more of the same this year, but it turns out, I get more than I bargained for. I didn’t anticipate her. Miss Ray of Sunshine, assistant manager.

That’s how I find myself attending holiday events and attaching myself to her any way I can. She’s trying to make me fall in love with Christmas. Instead, Im falling in love with her.

Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan brings you the continuation of the stand-alone series surrounding five best friends who co-own a tattoo studio. Are You Ready?” is an age gap, single mom, found family, small-town romance.

Forrest

The moment I met Briar, I couldnt stay away. Shes my sisters friend, but that didn’t stop me. Especially after her daughters stole twin pieces of me.

I might have inked her flawless skin, but she’s the one under mine. Something about her draws me in, even when she pushes me away.

Every time we’re together, it feels like I’m home. I want to give her my heart, my time, and my love—not just to her but to her daughters too. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I’m the man they can depend on.

Briar

I never thought I’d fall in love, not after everything I’ve been through. Then Forrest walked into my life, turning everything upside down.

He’s tough on the outside—with his tattoos and confidence—but underneath, he’s gentle, patient, and kind—especially with my girls. He shows he cares in small, consistent ways, even letting the twins paint his nails, making them sparkle.

The fact that they adore him scares me, because it’s not just my heart at risk if he leaves. I love him more than I’ve let myself believe. But now, I’m ready to admit it—to him and myself. The next time he asks me, I’ll be ready.

Stella

Getting pregnant in college wasn't part of the plan, but I'll never regret giving birth to the best part of me. Even if my parents did disown me for it.

A fresh start in a small town seems like a good idea, until a handsome stranger shows me a little kindness and has me feeling things, I thought I'd never feel again… things I have no business feeling about a man I just met.

Every time I turn around, Maverick is there. One thing inevitably leads to another and my newfound friend comes with benefits. I'm doing my best to hold it all together, but the truth is, when I see him with my daughter, I know I've already fallen too far.

Maverick

From the moment Stella rolled into town, she's had my attention. Since that moment, I've been determined to befriend the sexy single mom who's down on her luck.

Stella has fallen on hard times, but something tells me she'll never take a handout. That doesn't mean I'm not going to try to help, so of course I put in a good word to get her a job. She's smart enough to know I had a hand in it, but that's what friends are for, right?

With each day that passes, Stella becomes more than just a friend. She's my best friend—who I apparently can't keep my hands off. She's worried we're complicating things, but screw that. Blurred lines or not, I ask her to stay anyway.

Lena

Stanley Riggins stole my heart back in high school. Our love blossomed amidst the chaos of life, surviving every challenge that came our way.

We married young, determined to face the world together. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, because what we built wasn't just a life, it's a home—for us and our five wonderful sons.

Now that they have incredible wives of their own, they've given us a lively bunch of grandchildren, and our lives are filled with more love and laughter than ever before.

Stanley

From the moment our eyes locked, I knew Lena was the girl for me.

I finally felt the magic the Riggins men always talked about. Through all the ups and downs, our bond only grew stronger. We started a business and then a family. I couldn't be prouder of our boys and the lives they've built with the women who love them as much as we do.

Having Lena by my side as we watch our love continue through the next generation is the greatest reward of all. It's a true testament to the enduring bond we forged in those high school hallways. Year after year, and breath by breath, she's still the one.

Faith

Graduating from college is bittersweet. I've accomplished my dreams, obtained my teaching degree, and am ready to find my dream job. However, I never realized how difficult or stressful it would be to find a position.

That's why I jump at the chance to visit Chad, one of my best friends, on base in California.

It was meant to be two weeks of catching up and putting all thoughts of job hunting out of my mind. Little did I know those two weeks would change my life and alter the course we were both on.

Chad

The day she agrees to join me in California is one of the happiest days of my life. Having her with me gives me the taste of home I've been craving, but deep down, it's more than that. She's important to me, more than just my friend, and my closest friend's twin sister.

Spending my nights with her has done nothing but reinforce this feeling I get when I'm with her. I know we said we'd keep things light, but she's making it so damn hard not to want more.

Then I get stationed overseas. Everything changes in the blink of an eye, and I'm not just talking about our jobs or the fact we're suddenly thousands of miles apart. Call it fate or destiny or just pure luck, but it's beneath the desert sun that finally our future becomes clear.

Courtney

Maybe blurting out my imaginary relationship status to my nagging mother wasn't the best idea.

Declaring that I'm dating my boss's brother-in-law, well, that was just wishful thinking and a lot of panic.

To my embarrassment, they both overheard me. But Merrick not only offers to be my plus one, he agrees to fake date me for the next couple of months leading up to my sister's wedding.

The more time we spend together, the harder it becomes to deny that every look, every touch, is making him more a part of my life than I'm prepared for.

The pain of thinking about walking away from him when it's time doesn't feel pretend. It feels real… too real.

Merrick

Courtney's sister is tying the knot, and her mom is relentless about her finding a date and settling down. In a moment of panic, she claims she's dating me.

To save her from the awkward situation and ease the pressure, I suggest we fake a relationship until the wedding. I figure we can hang out, show up to the wedding, and go our separate ways.

But as we start spending more time together and meeting each other's families, the lines between real and pretend blur.

What was supposed to be a simple agreement starts to feel genuine. I'm unsure when it happened, but this relationship is suddenly the real deal, and I don't want it to end. I want us to stay real.