Sugarplum Ridge Series by Daisy Woods

Michelle Vance traded her high-powered food critic career in Manhattan for a quiet Christmas in Sugarplum Ridge—just long enough to nurse a broken heart and avoid her ex's Instagram stories. But when Aunt Linda volunteers her to judge the town's beloved Christmas Cookie Contest, Michelle discovers her co-judge is Chase her high school crush, now a devastatingly handsome widowed baker with an adorable eight-year-old daughter... moreMichelle Vance traded her high-powered food critic career in Manhattan for a quiet Christmas in Sugarplum Ridge—just long enough to nurse a broken heart and avoid her ex's Instagram stories. But when Aunt Linda volunteers her to judge the town's beloved Christmas Cookie Contest, Michelle discovers her co-judge is Chase her high school crush, now a devastatingly handsome widowed baker with an adorable eight-year-old daughter. Between gingerbread critiques and cookie decorating sessions, Michelle finds herself falling for Chase's warm smile and Ellie's irresistible charm. But Chase is hiding a heartbreaking his family's bakery is weeks away from foreclosure, and this contest might be his last chance to save it. As Christmas Eve approaches, Michelle must return to her safe, solitary life in New York, or risk her heart—and her professional reputation—to fight for the family she never knew she needed. Sometimes the sweetest recipe for love includes a dash of hope, a sprinkle of small-town magic, and one little girl's Christmas wish. less

Emma Parker swore she was only coming home to Sugarplum Ridge for Christmas cookies and a quick family visit—definitely not to save the town's legendary holiday gala. But when her meddling Aunt Linda (mayor, matchmaker, and owner of musical earrings) volunteers her as co-chair, Emma finds herself trapped in twinkle-light chaos…. . .. and partnered with the one man she's been avoiding for six years. Nick Reynolds. Her childhood nemesis. The boy who put mistletoe in her locker seventeen times... moreEmma Parker swore she was only coming home to Sugarplum Ridge for Christmas cookies and a quick family visit—definitely not to save the town's legendary holiday gala. But when her meddling Aunt Linda (mayor, matchmaker, and owner of musical earrings) volunteers her as co-chair, Emma finds herself trapped in twinkle-light chaos…. . .. and partnered with the one man she's been avoiding for six years. Nick Reynolds. Her childhood nemesis. The boy who put mistletoe in her locker seventeen times. And now, the ridiculously handsome innkeeper who's turned reliable, community-minded, and way too good at making her heart race. With only five days until the gala, everything that can go wrong does—tie-dyed poinsettias, melting ice sculptures, a possessed coffee machine, and a town full of matchmaking busybodies determined to push them together. As Emma and Nick clash over every decoration and steal late-night moments over grilled cheese, the line between nemesis and something more starts to blur. The gala might be hanging by a thread of tinsel, but this Christmas, Sugarplum Ridge has one more miracle up its sleeve. .. A second chance at first love, wrapped in mistletoe and perfect chaos. less

Maria Coletti has survived three Valentine's Balls as the town's favorite single florist, and she's done smiling through the pitying looks. This year, she's showing up with a date—even if she has to fake one. Enter Chris charming corporate lawyer, commitment-phobe extraordinaire, and the man who accidentally set last year's office Valentine's party on fire (the less said about the flaming heart centerpiece, the better)... moreMaria Coletti has survived three Valentine's Balls as the town's favorite single florist, and she's done smiling through the pitying looks. This year, she's showing up with a date—even if she has to fake one. Enter Chris charming corporate lawyer, commitment-phobe extraordinaire, and the man who accidentally set last year's office Valentine's party on fire (the less said about the flaming heart centerpiece, the better). When Maria's cousin suggests a mutually beneficial arrangement—Maria gets her plus-one, Chris gets to rehabilitate his reputation—it seems like the perfect plan. No one needs to know it's all pretend. But between delivering candy-grams to half the town, surviving her five overprotective brothers' "casual" interrogations (and her matchmaking Nonna's pointed questions), and the infamous spiked punch bowl incident at the Valentine's Ball, their fake relationship starts feeling dangerously real. Chris's smile lingers a little too long over rose arrangements. Maria's heart does things it shouldn't when he defends Coletti's Flowers to the town council. And that kiss at midnight? Definitely not in the script. With the whole town watching—and her entire Italian family analyzing every glance—Maria has to is she brave enough to turn their Valentine's charade into something real? Sometimes love needs a little fake dating, a lot of roses, and one spectacularly disastrous punch bowl to get it right. less