The Ugly Stick by Cori Lane

When hockey’s grumpiest single dad returns to my hometown, he doesn’t even recognize me as the ugly duckling from his past.

I was the most forgettable girl in high school. You know the one – fat, braces, bad clothes, the works. And so painfully awkward that it never occurred to me to fight back, even when the other kids said I got beat with the ugly stick.

But ten years later, I’m a whole new woman. I’ve lost weight, gained confidence, and all I want is to enjoy the new life I’ve built and leave the past where it belongs.
Of course, that would be a whole lot easier if I didn’t just find out that big-time hockey star Caleb Stone, the leader of that crew of popular kids who made my high school life so miserable, is back home to play for the Stallions this year after losing his temper on the ice one too many times to stay in the big league.

It’s bad enough that he’s got the whole town talking, but now he’s eating at the diner where I work, shopping where I shop, and to top it off, he’s even living in my building!
Then I see him with his daughter. Daisy has Down syndrome and a smile that lights up a room. And as the sweet little girl and her single dad melt my heart, I start to wonder if maybe Caleb Stone isn’t the man I always thought he was.

So much for leaving the past behind me…

If you’re craving a clean, no spice romance with elements like:
a hockey celebrity returning to his home town
an ugly duckling becoming a swan
a single dad with a very special daughter
a cozy small-town setting
forced proximity
a grumpy sunshine duo you can’t help rooting for
This is the book for you!