Maplewood Falls Series by Alina Jacobs

When your grandmother stalks the star hockey player on the rival team because “You need a husband, Dakota—you’re not getting any younger! ” it’s Christmas crazy on ice. It is not, however, the start of our great love story. I don’t date guys on that team. He doesn’t do casual, drunken hookups, which is all the captain of the Icebreakers is getting from moi. I give him the finger and tell him I hope he loses his teeth out there... moreWhen your grandmother stalks the star hockey player on the rival team because “You need a husband, Dakota—you’re not getting any younger! ” it’s Christmas crazy on ice. It is not, however, the start of our great love story. I don’t date guys on that team. He doesn’t do casual, drunken hookups, which is all the captain of the Icebreakers is getting from moi. I give him the finger and tell him I hope he loses his teeth out there. He smirks and wins the game because both this Christmas season and this hockey season are a fucking scam. Then my younger, much dumber brother informs me that he owes his bookie a bunch of money and really needs the Icebreakers to lose their next game, and could I pretty please be an amazing big sis and date their captain then break his heart so he’ll suck and lose the game—otherwise little bro will get killed, or worse, our mom will find out. As much as I eye roll my overly large, overly loud family, I’d do anything for them. Including date the captain of the Icebreakers. Barf. Ryder is a Boy Scout. He doesn’t swear. He uses words like ma’am and sir. On our date, he opens my door, pulls out my chair, and helps me with my coat. He even volunteers at the local animal shelter and loves handmade sweaters. No, it is not cute! Three warm, gooey cinnamon rolls dressed up as a six-five, hot AF hockey player are not my type. At all. Nope. Santa better bring me something nice this Christmas for all my pain and suffering! In bed though? Let’s just say sleeping with the captain of the Icebreakers… is not going to be a problem. less

When you're a blacklisted preschool teacher and somehow end up coaching the worst team in the NHL, it's shaping up to be the crappiest Christmas ever. We’re adding an NHL head-coaching job to the Yule log dumpster fire of my holiday season. I lost my apartment and had to move back home for the holidays. My mom sneaks into my bedroom to watch me sleep because she “can’t help it. I missed my little girl so much, Ellie! ”... moreWhen you're a blacklisted preschool teacher and somehow end up coaching the worst team in the NHL, it's shaping up to be the crappiest Christmas ever. We’re adding an NHL head-coaching job to the Yule log dumpster fire of my holiday season. I lost my apartment and had to move back home for the holidays. My mom sneaks into my bedroom to watch me sleep because she “can’t help it. I missed my little girl so much, Ellie! ”. And my day-drinking granny has declared herself the team's new equipment manager so she can ogle hockey butts in the locker room. The last thing I need is twenty-two adult toddlers with blades on their feet and bad attitudes for Christmas. Captain Fletcher Sullivan? He’s the worst, with his muscles and his sneer, turning every practice into The Grinch on Ice. Between breaking up fights, hosting snack time, and bailing my goalie out of jail, I have no time for Christmas cheer—or for the cocky, absurdly ripped team captain who thinks I don’t belong in the NHL. Yes, I played on the women’s national hockey team. Yes, I lift weights. And yes, I will pick up a six-four hockey player and put him in time-out if he doesn’t follow directions. There’s no Christmas miracle coming to save us. We lose. A lot. But armed with Goldfish crackers and juice boxes, I’m going to turn this team of ragtag hockey players into winners. Even if it turns me into the Grinch. Or worse—makes me fall for the enemy. less