Amanda Helmus

Demi Crawford was Magnolia Falls royalty. I was the boxer from the wrong side of the tracks. She was the epitome of everything good, while I was broody and rebellious. We couldn’t be more different. Her family was enemy number one which made her guilty by association. I despised her before I even knew her. It was easier that way. But now she’d moved in next door to me, and she was everywhere I turned. I couldn’t avoid her no matter how hard I tried. She was beautiful and honest and sweet. Everything I knew I shouldn’t want. Shouldn’t need.

I’ve always loved my life and career. That was, until my boss, best friend, and partner in crime fell in love during a trip to her hometown and made me become a bougie cowgirl. It only took a few visits to the sleepy town of Poplar Falls for me to understand the draw.

It’s December in Poplar Falls and the small town is thrumming with activity and alight with festive cheer. Merry Hearts features all your favorite couples coming together in one story to bring you joy, happiness, and a little Christmas hometown joy.

I had my life and career all planned out. That was until I was betrayed by someone I trusted and my perfect opportunity was stolen from underneath my nose. So here I am, back on Stoneyridge Ranch in Poplar Falls licking my wounds. I love being home with my family and friends, but I am determined to move past my anger and build my career. I have goals and plans too big for my hometown.

My big brother and I landed in the care of my aunt and her husband after my parents died in a tragic accident when I was three-years-old. I grew up smothered by love from a family that knows what the bitter sting of loss feels like.

When I returned to Poplar Falls six years ago, I’d given up on love. I’d made the mistake of marrying the sexy rebel right out of high school. He’d ended up in jail. I’d ended up pregnant. With a baby on the way, I decided to give up my wild, impulsive ways. All I wanted was a family and to watch my sweet son grow up, happy and healthy. Then Myer Wilson keeps showing up in my life—and my son’s life.

When my ex-boyfriend puts a hit out on me, there's only one man I can run to for protection. Cristian Marchetti. The head of the Marchetti Mafia family. My best friend's father. My last resort. But Cristian's protection doesn't come for free. What he wants might cost me my life. He's the Mafia king, and I'm his sacrifice. And now, I must become his wife.

Bracken Casey. Our hometown’s playboy. My brother’s best friend. The man I love. He doesn’t do girlfriends. He doesn’t do commitments. And he doesn’t see me as anything more than his best friend’s little sister. Until one night changes everything. A drunken kiss leads to a drunken screw. Now he can’t keep his hands off of me, and I can’t say no. Rules are set: No one can find out. It can’t lead anywhere. But rules were always meant to be broken. And that’s exactly what we are doing. Breaking them all. Something bad is bound to happen.

What's the best way to get back at your cheating ex? Give every guy who hits on you his number. That's what I did when I met Silas. Little did I know, we'd see each other again. One run-in leads to another. One fake date leads to a friendship. That friendship leads to feelings. But everyone knows feelings and friendship don't mix. We're too much the same. It'd never work out. That changes when one of us asks for more. Everything falls apart. There's no going back. Can our friendship survive...or will love destroy us?