It all starts with a bucket list and a romance novel…. I’ve known Ryder McAdams my entire life. We’re neighbors and our families are besties. He’s also friends and teammates with my younger brother, Maverick. But Ryder and me? We’ve never been close. In fact, I’ve always gotten the distinct impression he doesn’t like me very much. He goes out of his way to ignore me. Know what makes it worse?

A year ago, she begged me to stay. A year later, it’s my turn to beg her not to go. My obsession. My downfall. I tried to resist, to keep her at a distance. I tried to save myself. But no one will be saved here, not even a selfish bastard like me. My life has always been about sport and family, including my stupid brothers. Until that night, the night I made the worst decision of my life. And I’m still paying the price for it. We both are. But the time has come to take back control of the situation, to risk it all, to convince her to let me in, because she can’t be anything other than mine.

I never expected to inherit a sprawling estate in a small town I’d never even heard of. To claim it, I have to outmaneuver my scheming cousin and fulfill one impossible condition: Find a groom. Enter Ledger Timberbridge—the infuriatingly charming stranger I crossed paths with on my solo (read: canceled) honeymoon. Now, he’s here in Birchwood Springs, fighting to save his family’s struggling logging company. And somehow, he’s probably my only shot at keeping my inheritance.

There's nothing wrong with playing the game--except when you know you're about to lose. As a little girl, I dreamed of becoming many things. A twenty-five-year-old photographer struggling to make ends meet with a mountain of legal fees wasn't one of them. Making questionable decisions wasn't either. After hanging up my camera, I start a job I loathe that has me questioning my morals on a daily basis. Until I run into Chicago's newest bad-boy goalie whose reputation is a trainwreck--Emory Olson.

Despite my last name being Kingsley, I had to work hard for my crown. I’m a gifted hockey player, but earning a spot in the Hannaford U hockey team took more than talent. When it comes to dating, that’s a different story. I’ve always had it easy. There’s never been a girl that I couldn’t win over. Until I met Gia Mancini, a goddess among mortals. Not only did my charms not work on her, she friend-zoned me.

Being hired as the PR representative for the hockey team I’ve always been a fan of, should be a dream come true, especially because my old crush plays for them. My suggestion to save Briggs's career is solid… have him fake date someone wholesome who can change his image. That’s when my big mouth gets in the way and I admit to being the-girl-next-door. Now… my boss is offering me the promotion of a lifetime, but it comes with strings… Fake date Briggs Conley!

Making decisions I regret is basically a hobby. So I guess it really wasn’t that surprising when I went out on a date with an Elite. And then he tried to assault me. I might be small, but I’m strong. I fought him off...then went straight to the dean. He didn’t believe me. No one does. And now my date from hell is in revenge mode, and I somehow end up in the campus pool. Did I mention I can’t swim?

As a single father, I often feel like the weight of the world sits on my shoulders. When my daughter’s nanny gives me her two weeks’ notice, I’m sweating bullets. Fear that my NHL season with the New England Bay Sharks could be derailed consumes me. Finding a replacement seems impossible when, suddenly, Maci McKenzie—a struggling author who’s running from some deep, dark secret in her past—steps into the picture. She needs a change of scenery to help her write, and I just need someone who isn’t a complete weirdo to watch my kid when I’m not around.

It’s true. I’m not what most people would call “pretty” and, well, high school was rough. Fast forward ten years and life is good, until a bunch of jerks think it’s hilarious to put the “butterface” (AKA me) on a wedding Kiss Cam with the hottest guy ever - and that old humiliation hits hard. I recognize him immediately. The hottest cop in Waterbury and totally out of my league. But then he kisses me. And we totally forget the room, the crowd, everything. Then he tells everyone we’ve been dating for months.

Eighteen years old, a Bratva princess, and Lev Melnikov's daughter. That should be enough to keep me away, but the second I see Natalya all grown up, I know she's mine. I try to fight what I feel for her, but my principessa is determined to bring me to my knees, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to get me there.