Art teacher Angie Newcastle’s life is all monotone. She wasn’t always this dull. She’d been an up-and-coming artist with the world at her feet. But after contracting the Wrong Man Syndrome and spending years doubting herself, she no longer recognizes herself. When she loses her job, she can’t afford to keep ignoring the obvious: Her life needs a serious overhaul. And she knows exactly where to start: in Ireland, teaching art classes to her ex-pat cousin’s village community.

Trevor Merriam doesn’t like being ordered around by his older brother, much less to a sleepy Irish village to complete a business deal for their family company. Worse: the owner of the land he needs to buy doesn’t want him there. In fact, Becca O’Neill loathes him so much that she won’t even serve him the award-winning scones her famed Wild Irish Rose Bed and Breakfast is known for. Even worse than that (and not getting scones is bad in Trevor’s book): Becca has an ornery cat, a mischievous Irish setter, and a famous ghost all intent on making sure he fails.

When journalist Meredith Hale's dreams of happily ever after—or Nora Roberts Land as she calls it—go up in smoke, she leaves the big city to return to her family and their small-town newspaper. A new start? Yes please! Not to mention that it’s a chance to prove her ex wrong. She will find her own romantic hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest—even if it kills her.

When famous—and infamous—country singer rock star Rye Crenshaw saunters into the diner where she cooks, Tory Simmons is certain she's got him pegged. He's a bad boy who lives large. But while she couldn't care less about country music or arrogant men, Rye makes her an offer she can't refuse when he asks her to be his private chef. The job is the answer to all her prayers: It will clear out her debt and finance the fresh start she desperately needs.

Quarterback Jordan Dean thought he had everything until his longtime girlfriend broke up with him. His football rock star life had become too burdensome to her. Plus there was another teensy weensy reason. Chef Grace Kincaid had gotten tired of waiting for him to propose. Ouch. When Jordan wins the Super Bowl, he tells himself it's enough. But he can't get Grace out of his mind. When she calls, insisting they meet, he eagerly agrees.

Clare MacBride has her life in exactly the order she wants it. In a year, she’ll have finished her geology dissertation, though she’s no closer to figuring out the answer to one question that plagues her: Why does she feel stones pulse with energy? A centuries-old curse, a mysterious faction of protectors, and a mythological godstone all sound like Old World fairy tale nonsense to Clare. It only takes one rainy evening with a silver-eyed fae and a handsome stranger promising protection to rock her world forever.

Perpetually cheerful Gwenith Donovan is pleased with life. She owns a hobby store she loves, carries on daily arguments with her chubby cat Macgregor, and maintains a meticulous comic-book collection that makes her geeky heart sing. With no need or interest in romance to muck up her happy routine, Gwen is content to spend her days managing her shop and her evenings over a pint with friends in the village pub.

Born into the Scottish Clan MacBain and Drumblair Castle, Liv MacBain has always dreamt of leaving the ancient homestead and becoming her own person in the world of fashion. From a young age, she worshipped the trailblazing designs of the haute couture glitterati, hoping one day to join them. With older brother Kerr, the rightful heir, Liv has been free to spread her wings. Fast forward. Liv is now 28 years old, working at a high-end fashion house and living her dream life in New York. She’s never been happier. Until everything changes with one devastating phone call from her brother.

Imogen, captain of the Irish charter boat, Mystic Pirate, has little time for friends and doesn’t trust her lovers. Perhaps the real issue is that she can’t trust herself, as she hasn’t yet found a good explanation for why otherworldly images dance before her eyes. Half-convinced that she is one step away from losing her mind, just like her mother, Imogen prefers to spend her life at sea with the only family she knows—her crew members.

The knight was supposed to be a man. Not me, Sophie MacKnight, a marketing associate from California. This must be a practical joke that the Scots play on visiting Americans. Because otherwise I’ve inherited a haunted castle in Scotland, along with one irritatingly sexy Scotsman, who would be delighted if I turned tail and ran. Frankly, I thought I would fly here, sell the heap of bricks, and head back home to a life that I…well, I was comfortable with at the very least. Instead, the people of Loren Brae are in trouble, and it appears that as the new owner of the castle.