Christmas at the Lake

Hughes follows up Christmas at the Ranch with another sweet and scenic holiday outing. Rebecca Huntley meticulously planned her Christmas Eve wedding to Ben Cole—but a mere six hours before the ceremony, Ben announces that he can’t marry her and is instead jetting off to St. Bart’s with another woman. Devastated, Rebecca goes alone on their planned honeymoon to Christmas Cove on Lake Tahoe. There, she runs into her college friend Zach Mason, who’s waiting tables at the hotel where she’s staying while working on a film for a contest with a lucrative prize. Zach doesn’t correct Rebecca when she assumes he’s a successful filmmaker—and that an elegant older guest is his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Rebecca leads Zach to believe that she’s married and that Ben was simply called away on business. Zach and Rebecca happily renew their friendship, but as both start to want something more, their lies and misunderstandings threaten to get in the way. Hughes brings to life this quaint Christmas village, complete with sleigh rides and a sparkling lake. The emphasis on nature and life’s simpler pleasures make this a sure hit with those who prefer their romances on the quieter side. (Sept.)