Christmas Escape

If there is one thing she has learned in England, it's that not all Englishmen are created equal. Because this guy was turning out to be a real pill. Tired of spending the holidays throwing up on cruises with her parents and, you know, being dumped by ex-boyfriends, Claire Frost is determined to change her luck this Christmas. Taking time off from her flower shop, she follows her friend to London, ready to enjoy all-things England. And boy, does she. The frost-covered flowers. The frozen green hills. The bright red telephone boxes. The festive Christmas markets. Also the men. Definitely the men. Except, of course, her friend's cousin. Liam Everhart is super attractive, super swoony, and super English. Too bad he's also a super jerk. A super jerk whom she now has to spend every minute with. What a blessed, blessed relief that his Darcy/Poldark looks are overshadowed by his Darth Vader/Malfoy personality. She had enough Christmas baggage to deal with, so why would she ever add a swoony Englishman to the mix? This is a clean, sweet, wholesome romance set in present-day London, England that features the enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes, with a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

Things you bring on a desert island... • Sunscreen, obviously. Because these Irish freckles of mine will burn, baby, burn, and lobster red is not a great color on me. • An extra dose of my seizure meds, just in case. • A backpack full of snacks, including but not limited to a canteen of Dr. Pepper, a box of mini-Christmas cookies, and granola bars-the gross crumbly kind, not the chocolate chip kind, because I'm trying to be healthy. • Sunglasses, so that when I inevitably wind up staring at my brother's best friend-who I haven't seen in years-no one will be able to tell. I've been in love with him for years, but it would never work out; he lives on a literal island, while I'm still in grad school. It can't hurt to look, though, right? • Also bug spray. My packing list is all well and good for a quick port excursion as part of my family's Christmas cruise. But when the cruise ship leaves me behind, with only the contents of my bag and my brother's best friend to keep me company? Well, I've got problems, especially since I'm going to run out of medicine soon. And I don't think they make sunscreen strong enough to block the sparks that are growing between Beckett and me...

Some people face their problems head-on, other people run . . .**** When my ex-boyfriend sends me his wedding invitation eight months after breaking up with me, and the bride expects me to be in the wedding party, it's time for my tried-and-tested party trick: disappearing. And nowhere is better to escape to than the cozy English Cotswolds in the middle of December. Everything goes according to plan until I arrive in the Cotswolds. Snow is more slippery than I expected, my room is nothing like the listing described, and my pub owner landlord-well, he steps directly from my lumberjack fantasies and into my heart. The only problem? I can't fall for an Englishman who lives on the other side of the world from me. Not even one who has Dr Pepper on tap and kisses like it's an Olympic sport. It's much harder to run across the pond, and all good things must come to an end . . . but what if I can't say goodbye?

One little white lie, that's all it took. Now I'm suddenly having to fake-date my work nemesis to get through a week at a Vermont Christmas lodge with my family. The problem? I can't stand Miles Taylor. Not only that, but I don't date people I work with. But I can handle it. I've had practice faking my emotions for years. So, it shouldn't matter that Miles never lets me get away with anything. And that he happens to boil my blood hotter than a steaming pot of wassail. So, when he throws his annoying grin my way or forces me on dates he knows I'll hate, I'll just grit my teeth and smile. Or maybe not. Did I mention that Miles is the one person in the world I can't seem to fool? When my emotions begin feeling less like a sham and his arms feel way too comfortable, it makes me think that maybe Miles had a plan of his own. And I'm starting to like it a lot more than mine.

#### Love can be downright messy. This last year has been a total disaster, but my failed six-month marriage takes the cake. While my ex is out having the time of his life, my coping mechanisms consist of an unhealthy obsession with true-crime podcasts and trying to revive my floundering social media account. So, when I get an offer from one of social media's darlings-Nikki Aker-to make gingerbread centerpieces for her Christmas wedding, I can't refuse. Not only because the job pays well (my maxed-out credit card will attest to how much I need this money), but it's a last-ditch effort to increase my following before I'm forced to get "a real job." There's only one small problem I didn't account for: Nikki's a self-proclaimed matchmaker, and apparently, I'm her next target. My only hope to escape unscathed is to conspire with Nikki's grumpy-albeit gorgeous-brother, Landon, who seems equally determined to get through this wedding with his single status fully intact. All we need to do is convince Nikki we're developing feelings for each other. What can possibly go wrong? *This is a sweet/clean romance

Everyone loves a Christmas surprise––just not when it's a spy in disguise. Lacee: I'll be home for Christmas…alone was the plan, but everything changes when I bump into a handsome stranger who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. So there's a new plan, a plan that involves a casual holiday fling. Merry Christmas to me. But spending the holidays with Park Bradshaw in my charming hometown turns into Mission Impossible when I find out his knife skills go way beyond carving the Christmas ham. Now I'm on the run, living out my own Christmas version of Die Hard, where making it home in time for Christmas is the least of my worries. I just want to make it home alive ––and hopefully not lose my heart to the one man I'm not sure I can trust. Because as the countdown to Christmas ticks on like a bomb, I'm left wondering which side he's on.

Madi is counting on Paris's reputation as the City of Love. Now she just needs to figure out if it's old love or new love... Madi After two years and zero proposals, my relationship could use a little spark. Paris during the holidays seems like just the ticket-one perfect, final opportunity for my boyfriend to take things to the next level. The fact that he's rented me the tiny servant quarters in the apartment of a very good-looking Frenchman is... puzzling. And when he asks that Frenchman to take me around the city while he's busy at work trainings? Color me confused. Is this some sort of pre-engagement test? If so, I'm not sure I'm doing too hot. Rémy Offering to host my friend's vacation rental means making sure the first review is five solid, sparkling stars. When the guest who shows up is a beautiful American woman, I'm thinking my task might be more enjoyable than I thought. Until I find out she has a boyfriend. Madi deserves to have an amazing time in Paris, though, so I'm more than happy to oblige when the guy asks me to show her the city. It's cool. I'm cool. This is all for that five-star review...