Once Upon a Sugar Plum: A Sweet Nutcracker-Inspired Christmas Rom-Com (Once Upon a Time in Colorado Book 1)
ChristmasAdded on January 13, 2026
Description
Sometimes the sweetest love stories aren’t choreographed—they’re discovered.When my fiancé leaves me on our wedding day, going home is the last thing I want—until it becomes the only place left to start over.Storybook Ridge is supposed to be a temporary reset… except I walk straight back into the arms of Colton Atwood.My best friend. My almost. The boy I never kissed—and the man I never stopped comparing everyone else to.Now he’s restoring the Sugar Plum Inn, a place practically stitched together with Christmas magic. And when the walls start humming with familiar music, and the lights flicker like they’re trying to tell me something, I can’t ignore the truth:This town—and this man—still feel like home.Then Colton secretly signs us up as partners for the Christmas Tour of Homes, and suddenly we’re tangled in twinkle lights, late-night projects, and feelings I promised myself I’d never revisit.I’m afraid of choosing wrong.He’s afraid I’ll run again.But the magic of the Sugar Plum Inn has other plans… and so does my heart.This book was previously published as Love at the Sugar Plum Inn, but has been altered and expanded.Once Upon a Sugar Plum is a cozy, closed-door, (light) magical-realism Christmas romance featuring best friends to lovers, second chances, small-town charm, holiday magic, he falls first, she’s scared to, home renovation bonding, one couch, and a Nutcracker-themed enchantment that brings them back together.Once Upon a Time in Colorado:Once Upon a Sugar PlumOnce Upon a Winter Beast (coming Dec. 2025)Once Upon a Rose (coming Dec. 2025)
Reader Reviews
The theme of the Sugar Plum Fairy is constant throughout this story, playing when the characters least expect it or at key points in their relationship. FYI, it is now my ringtone, just because.Madison is back in Storybook Ridge, fresh from being jilted at the altar and losing her job. Being back with her father and grandfather also means seeing her childhood best friend. Colton Atwood, the one that got away, the one she almost kissed at their final high school disco. He’s now the owner of the S
“Fear doesn’t build dreams. It squashes them.” pg 12“You’re having a pity party. And we don’t host those in this house.” pg 41“Sometimes the thing you’re most scared of is exactly the thing — or the person — you should move toward.” pg 41“Hope feels dangerous. Hope feels like lighting a match in a room full of kindling.” pg 59“I’d pick you, every single time.” pg 64“Maybe some roads aren’t meant to be chosen so much as followed. ” pg 90This is a sweet friends to lovers Christmas romance. Colton
🌟🌟🌟🌟This was such a sweet, whimsical holiday read.Inspired by The Nutcracker, this story follows Madison and Colton, best friends since kindergarten who never quite crossed the line. Madison has always wished she’d kissed Colton at their high school dance ten years ago. Now, a decade later, Colton has bought the Sugar Plum Inn, determined to restore it. Madison has also come back home after a broken engagement, helping care for her grandfather and trying to figure out her next chapter.The st
