Hoax and Kisses (When in Pine Falls, 1), Elodie Colliard

He swore never to fall for a city girl again. She's on a mission to charm his small town.

MATT BECKER is stretched thin. Running his flower shop solo is a full-time job, but now he's also tasked with caring for his teenage sister while their parents are away. With her expensive new school draining his savings, Matt's barely keeping his head above water. He needs money-and fast.

Groomed to inherit her father's hotel empire, ZOEY DELACROIX is finally poised to take the reins. But first, she must convince shareholders she's got what it takes and silence her own doubts. Her plan? Secure a piece of land in the town where her father once failed. Falling for a local? Definitely not part of it.

When a crucial town vote spirals into disaster and her reputation takes a hit, Zoey finds an unexpected lifeline: Matt. He suggests a fake relationship to win back the town's favor in exchange for a spot in her small business investment program. It's strictly business... until it isn't. Matt never expected the spoiled city girl to fit so easily into his world. And Zoey never questioned the future set for her until she began picturing a life that looked a lot more like his.

As lines blur and real feelings get tangled in their fake romance, Matt and Zoey must find the nerve to rewrite their future or risk losing the one thing they never saw coming: a shot at love.

In this cozy small-town romance where The Holiday meets Gilmore Girls, HOAX AND KISSES explores the path to self-discovery and the unexpected connections that bloom along the way. Steamy and soul-stirring, this story is a tribute to the kind of love that sneaks up on you and never lets go.