Showing results by author "Samantha Baca" in All Categories

It should have been me. I was supposed to be the one who died in the car accident that day. Not my best friend who had a family to leave behind. But like most things, life is unpredictable and filled with unexpected changes.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, but when my Grinch of a landlord decides to raise the rent on my bakery and a new candy shop opens directly across from me, I’m anything but jolly. The problem is that it’s not just ANY candy shop— it’s an over-the-top fancy chocolaterie owned by none other than Ryder Jones— former best friend and the boy who unknowingly stole my heart in high school.

I don’t hate Preston Roberts, but I also don’t see what all of the craze is about with the women in Whiskey Creek practically drooling over him. Is he good-looking? Sure. Does he treat others with kindness? I guess so. But none of that matters because he is exactly the kind of guy I need to avoid.

Pumpkin spice has never been my thing. But you know what is? Doctor Tanner Hayes, the new gynecologist in Stone Creek who’s so good looking that he has all of the women in town ready to drop their pants. I wasn’t planning on staying in town long after Thanksgiving. It was supposed to be a quick visit to see my dad and his new family, and then I’d be on my way to figure out my next step, whatever that was.

I had one job. One responsibility. Lust wasn't a distraction that I had time for, and love was even further off the table. My career was demanding and required my undivided attention which left little time for romance. But when my sister went missing after meeting a guy from the same dating app as the beautiful way too young for me college student that I had been assigned to protect, everything changed.

You have to kiss me! Those were the words I blurted out to my employee seconds before asking him to be my fake boyfriend. When my parents told me they were coming to Sugarplum Falls earlier than expected and asked me to attend their friends holiday party I knew it was all a ruse to set me up with their son. So, I needed a plan and fast. I was surprised when Zach agreed and fell right into the role of loving, doting boyfriend. But what caught me even more off guard was how easy it seemed to be for us to be together even when no one was around for us to fake it.

Two authors walk into a bar… Only it wasn’t a bar. It was a hotel in the small town of Sugarplum Falls, and it was completely booked. Of course fate couldn’t be satisfied with leaving us stranded during the worst blizzard on record. No, it had to toss in a tiny cabin with only one bed as the cherry on top. I hadn’t planned to take a last-minute trip, but when the deadline for my book was breathing down my neck, I had no choice. I packed my bags and went in search of the inspiration I needed to get rid of the writer’s block that was keeping me from finishing.

Being a single mom of four kids has never bothered me. However, after getting married to their dad at a young age, I quickly learned that I was better off taking care of things myself. As long as they were happy, that was all that mattered. But when a new man showed up in town, I suddenly started second-guessing everything. Being around him created feelings that I hadn’t felt in— ever? The way he looked at me and talked to me was different than anyone I had met before, and I was quickly under his spell.

I wasn't dreaming of a white Christmas, nor were my troubles out of sight. I had a demanding job and pressing deadlines, which meant it was far from being a silent night. When I asked my grandma if I could stay in her cabin over the holiday, she was more than thrilled to have me back home. But she failed to mention the sexy handyman remodeling the house, or that he might not make it down the mountain with the snowstorm moving in.

What’s tall, handsome, with a devilish smile and piercing blue eyes? My best friend’s older brother that was completely off-limits. It wouldn’t be such a problem to avoid Jack (and the butterflies he causes to swarm in my belly), except that he was constantly in my space. Or maybe I was in his? It was hard to tell since I was now working for his family. Either way, we were both adults and knew how to resist temptation.

Have you ever met someone and immediately knew they were meant to be yours? If someone had asked me if I believed in love at first sight, I would have said no. But that was before I met Calli. It’s not just that she’s the new girl in town and everyone is curious about who she is. It’s so much more than that. SHE is so much more. Calli is a breath of fresh air, and I can’t help but notice how she lights up the room when she smiles.