Faced with a broken engagement due to her guarded heart and her family expecting to meet her fiancé during the first Christmas without her Gran, Lia Taylor decides to take her friends' advice. She'll take a fake fiancé home for Christmas.

Ryan Barton grew up in foster homes, unaware he had a family until he met his grandmother at sixteen. Lia's offer of a noisy family Christmas with a big elaborate meal sounds like heaven, even the part about pretending to be her fiancé.

As Lia and Ryan get to know each other and practice casual touching, hugs, and kisses, their feelings grow. They decide to try for a real relationship with the promise that when either of them withdraws due to old fears, the other will pull them back.

But what will save them when they both withdraw in fear? Are their recent feelings strong enough to save their new relationship or will they hide within the safety of their guarded hearts?

Other titles by this author
Sweetwater Springs series:
A Suitable Wife
Her Unexpected Family
His Small Town Princess

Tropical Heat (all standalone novellas):
Sunset Beach Sizzle

Return To Paradise

Other Standalone titles:
Nobody's Baby
Heart 2 Heart (a short story collection)
Home for Christmas

Crainesian series (writing as Annie Rayburn):
Insight (short story)
Phantoms & Fantasies
Bittersweet Obsessions

Check Carol/Annie's website for an up-to-date list of titles available.

Reviews say Carol's books are:
"Highly captivating!" "intriguing and a wonderful read" "Emotional and heartwarming" "Engaging!" and "Great reading!"

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