Book 1 of the Polar Paired Series
Romance Enemies to Lovers
Date Published: December 19, 2023
Publisher: Avoca Press
Expect the unexpected when it comes to love under the Aurora skies.
In the frosty mayhem of the Alaskan film set for Everybody Loves Polar Bears, accident-prone Macy Applegate catapults herself into a hilarious array of mishaps better suited for a blooper reel. As Macy dreams of stardom, she reluctantly works with Nick Westwood, the grumpiest and most arrogant assistant director this side of the Arctic Circle—a man who irritates her more than a stuck zipper in a sub-zero wind chill.
Beneath Nick's stoic exterior lies a mysterious secret, and the only thing more challenging than Alaska's winter is these two trying to get along for longer than a commercial break. Macy is a walking disaster in matters of the heart, and Nick is fed up with shallow relationships. But fate has a penchant for mischief when Nick transforms from Macy’s nemesis to her off-screen hero, chipping away at the permafrost around her heart. Should she give this guy a chance or continue wishing on the magical aurora borealis for perfect love?
In this hilarious romantic comedy, where polar bears play supporting roles and love takes center stage, Macy and Nick navigate a situation as unpredictable as Macy's on-set blunders. If you swooned through The Proposal and chuckled at The Hating Game…and if you have a soft spot for polar bears…get ready for laughter in this heartwarming tale of unexpected love!
Enemies to lovers
Celebrity romance
Grumpy sunshine
Strong woman, alpha male
Forced proximity
Polar bear love
Snowbound Alaskan cabin
Northern lights
Polar plunges
Excerpt
A tall, neon life-size Barbie hurried
toward them, long blonde curls springing up and down like miniature slinkies.
Victoria Miracle approached in all her glittery goose-down glory, a fusion of glamor
and frostbite protection, reminding Macy of a disco-themed northern lights
display. Winter seemed to follow her around like a trusty sidekick, along with
her entourage of three scurrying behind her.
Macy got a kick out of The Talent and how
they expected everyone to dote on them and cater to their every need.
Victoria’s demeanor was a stark contrast to the independent nature of women
Macy knew in Alaska. She’d read about the coddled movie star stereotype, and
here was one in the flesh.
“Make this quick. I’m freezing my tush
off.” The movie star’s frosty breaths puffed out of her like a high-speed
locomotive.
As Victoria strategically positioned
herself next to the pond, Macy couldn’t help but imagine her strutting down the
runway of a 1960s psychedelic fashion show. Her flashy style was part Picasso,
part Gucci, and all sass. Victoria stood out in this winter wonderland like a
burst of disco in a snow globe.
Macy bet Victoria never met a camera she
didn’t like.
The animal handler stood by, holding a
long leash attached to the little polar bear cub. He gingerly placed the leash
in Victoria’s hand, mumbling instructions to hold on tight.
The fish-out-of-water movie star gave
Macy a critical up-and-down assessment. “Are you from here? Have you been
around bears?”
Macy shrugged. “I know what to do around
black and brown bears.”
Victoria gave her a look of appraisal.
“Good enough for me.” She called out to Zippo. “Keep this bear woman next to me
at all times.” A makeup artist appeared, dabbing lip gloss on Victoria’s
already shiny lips and arranging her flawlessly spiraled curls. The artist
hurried off again.
Zippo ordered the animatronics operator
to dunk Mother Snowflake. The operator slowly lowered the crane, placing the
fake bear into the water. “We’ll edit the crane out later,” he announced to no
one in particular.
“Vicky, say your lines, then squat next to the
little bear and deliver the rest. And don’t scare him,” directed Zippo from his
perch on the crane arm. “We need a tender moment, with Fake Mother Snowflake
watching.”
Macy couldn’t help herself. “Excuse me,
hate to keep interrupting, but that wouldn’t happen in real life. The mother
bear would attack the human to protect her cub. She wouldn’t just hang out and
watch.”
“This isn’t real life. It’s the movies,”
Zippo said flippantly. “We do what we want in a movie. Now, can we get on with
this, please? It’s a tad nippy out here, and I’d like to get this done, if you
don’t mind.” He turned away to talk on his headset.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist,”
mumbled Macy.
Victoria chortled. “Love your style, Bear
Woman,” she purred.
Zippo cocked a brow. “Are we ready now,
ladies?” He turned to the crane operator. “Lower the fake Mother Snowflake into
the water. Quiet, everyone. Rolling. Marker!” He peered through his camera
monitor.
A woman held up a black-and-white
clapboard in front of the camera. Zippo nodded at the red digital readout.
“Scene fourteen. Take one!”
The person snapped it and hurried away.
Zippo pointed at the extras. “Background,
action! Victoria, go!”
While Macy and her merry band of extras
gathered around Victoria, the drunk guy holding Macy’s prop news camera
suddenly stumbled.
“Where’s my news reporter? Oh! There you
are,” he slurred, beholding the glorious Victoria. “Hey, you wanna see my
oosik?” He swung his camera and bumped the unsuspecting bear cub on the head.
“Your what?” Victoria wrinkled her face
just as the frightened cub bawled and ran in circles around her, wrapping his
leash tightly around her legs.
“Get this savage beast away from me!” she
yelled. Her legs lashed together as she teetered toward the icy water.
“Somebody! Get this leash off me!”
Macy sprinted forward. Her ninja-like
reflexes prevented Victoria from tumbling off the edge, but in the process,
Macy slipped on the ice-crusted snow. Her feet fought for traction, but it was
a losing battle. She lost her balance and flailed wildly, teetering backwards.
Arms spinning like windmills, she failed to restore equilibrium and executed a
flawless butt-first plunge into the chilly water, like a clumsy duck on a crash
landing.
About the Author
LoLo Paige is an award-winning author in both romantic comedy and romantic suspense. She’s been honored with several awards, including an RWA chapter award for her romantic comedy, Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart. Irish Thunder and Everybody Loves Polar Bears are her recent rom-coms published in 2024. Her romantic suspense books have topped Amazon bestseller lists in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, and Publishers Weekly has featured her books in their Booklife section. Her second book, Alaska Inferno, was a finalist for best indie romance in the 2022 Kindle Book Review Awards.
Contact Links
TIKTOK @lolopaigeauthor
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