The Katahdin Wildcats
She wanted a Christmas miracle for her students. She didn’t expect it to come in skates.
Kindergarten teacher Kasey Thomas has one mission this holiday season: make her class’s Christmas pageant magical, even if the budget’s tighter than a new pair of skates. But when her Santa Claus bails at the last minute, she’s left scrambling—until an unlikely hero steps in.
Alex Nilsson, the Wildcats’ broody Swedish forward, is more used to breakaways than handing out candy canes. But when Kasey’s wide-eyed students beg him to save the show, the gruff hockey player finds himself donning a red suit and fake beard. To his surprise, wrangling kindergartners—and winning over their beautiful, determined teacher—might be tougher than anything he’s faced on the ice.
Between holiday rehearsals, snowball fights, and cookie disasters, Kasey begins to see the gentle heart behind Alex’s rough edges. And Alex discovers that sometimes the best victories aren’t won in the rink, but under the glow of Christmas lights.
As the curtain rises on the most chaotic pageant Maple Falls has ever seen, one thing’s clear: love might just be the greatest Christmas gift of all.
A short and sweet holiday romance, perfect for fans of small-town charm, hockey hunks with secret soft sides, and Christmas magic that warms even the frostiest hearts.