Ten days. Two life-changing projects. One royal mess.

Trapped by an ironclad noncompete in a Manhattan bakery where she’s spending her December doing all the work for none of the credit, Emma Clark is saving every penny. She’s going to open her own place and make a better life for her and her mom, who is struggling after a health crisis. The light at the end of the tunnel is still years down the road when a life-changing holiday opportunity falls into her lap.

Before she can say “Yule log,” Emma’s slinging croissants in a snow globe of a European castle and masterminding the greatest dessert the kingdom has ever seen. If she impresses the impossible-to-please queen, the money will speed up her timeline by a full two years. It’ll be smooth sailing as long as she doesn’t do anything stupid, like falling for the devastatingly handsome Prince Leo, who spends his days ignoring royal protocol and getting his hands dirty outside the castle walls.

Leo isn’t looking for a diversion, not even a gorgeous sugar-dusted one. He’s laser-focused on building a new women’s shelter when Emma stumbles into his life just in time to save it. Their connection is instant, undeniable…and so problematic.

The queen has one rule: no dating Americans.

It should be an easy one to follow. After all, they don’t even live on the same continent. It’s not like they’re going to knowingly sabotage their own lives and careers just to make out under the mistletoe. Right?