Brief

A high school teacher and coach who gave up on the possibility of a professional baseball career to move home after the death of his parents has spent nearly ten years raising his siblings. Since the youngest are finally graduating, this is his chance to get out of his small Alaskan hometown and be a college coach in a different state. He’s thrown a curveball by the arrival of the new principal, though, whom he has an instant romantic, and sexual, chemistry with. Now he has to decide whether to chase his lifelong dream or let himself see a possible future with her.

What We Liked

- Small town Alaska isn’t a setting that audiences are regularly treated to, and the uniqueness of this will be a huge draw. The large Bailey family is a great backbone for a show, too, as everyone can connect with a different sibling, and it even makes the possibility of spin-offs realistic. Everyone will want to know what’s next for Rome’s new restaurant, or how Brooklyn is handling her broken engagement, or if Phoenix has her music career off the ground yet. These are the kind of siblings you follow for years as a viewer, so familiar they become your own extended family.
- Film: This book would make a charming romantic comedy that doesn’t skimp on the steamy details. With plenty of fun, both risqué and not, and enough drama to shake a stick at thanks to the homegrown gossip tabloid, there’s always something new for the audience to uncover alongside the characters. Austin and Holly’s romantic hijinks would fill a swift and joyful feature easily, and their happy ending just seals the deal.
- TV: This is the kind of story that’s made for television. It’s a large ensemble cast set in a charming small town, the kind of thing TV series dreams are made of. The number of possible storylines is infinite, and it’s easy to see this running for several seasons and never running out of material. What’s more, the author has penned a whole series of Bailey family books, so there’s plenty of source material to draw on — plus more ways to hook in a loyal audience and keep that content coming.
- Key points: Unique location in Alaska; Large ensemble; Women-heavy cast; Memorable small town setting; Wide appeal for audience with range of cast ages

Synopsis

On her first day at Lake Starlight High School, new interim principal HOLLY RADCLIFFE learns that her hot one night stand from the weekend is none other than biology teacher and head baseball coach AUSTIN BAILEY. When they hooked up in Austin’s Jeep, neither of them had any idea Holly was Austin’s new boss. To add insult to injury, the town’s tabloid website Buzz Wheel has a photo of the encounter. It’s not clear it’s Holly in Austin’s jeep, but that’s the rumor and it just keeps spreading like wildfire. Austin is practically royalty in Lake Starlight, Alaska thanks to his family. The Baileys host the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration, and their company, Bailey Timber Corp, practically bankrolls the entire town. There are nine Bailey kids, and Austin took over raising seven of his siblings after their parents died nine years ago. He was 21 at the time, and he gave up his chance at major league baseball to come home and take care of the family.

The one sister he didn’t have to raise, SAVANNAH, took over the family’s lumber business with the assistance of their GRANDMA DORI, and it’s booming thanks to her business acumen. The youngest Baileys, twins PHOENIX and SEDONA, are graduating at the end of the semester, freeing Austin from his parenting responsibility so he can pursue coaching at the college level and leave Lake Starlight for good. Holly is only acting principal for the spring semester, since the previous principal will return after her maternity leave. Holly’s from Florida, where she left her best friend DANA and mom KAREN. The trick is she lied to Karen about where she was accepting a position. The real reason Holly is in Alaska is to see the father she’s never met, CLINT EDISON. She tracks him down in a nearby town, but she has to build up the courage to approach him. She can’t bring herself to do it yet, and she feels guilty as her mom raised her single-handedly and Karen doesn’t even know where she is.

Despite trying to keep things professional, the chemistry between Holly and Austin is undeniable. Holly is dragged along by a coworker, FRANCIE, to the Bailey’s Timber Founder’s Day Celebration. The Baileys even have their own float in the parade, where they all perform a song and are treated like rockstars by the crowd. Afterward, Austin convinces Holly to spend time with him, which leads to them sneaking into Holly’s house to avoid Buzz Wheel. They sleep together again, and Holly insists they keep things as casual as possible. No dinners, no roses, no romance. They’ll be in different states by summer after all, no sense in risking a heartbreak. However, they keep falling into each other’s arms, even fooling around behind closed doors at the school. As they grow closer, they open up to one another. Just like Dana, Austin encourages Holly to contact her dad. When she does, he’s an utter disappointment. He’s rich and successful, with an entire second family, but he’s rude about his privilege. Holly is on the fence, especially with how he condescendingly talks about her mom who’s a server. Then she learns that Clint’s lumber company is the main rival of Bailey’s Timber Corp. He’s tried to ruin them multiple times for his own profit, and he has no respect for Savannah. This infuriates Holly, and she decides she doesn’t need a relationship with him after all.

Thanks to Holly repeatedly ignoring her calls, her mom Karen wheedles her location out of Dana. Karen shows up out of the blue and plans to stay until Holly leaves. She wants to make sure Holly is okay, and to pick up the pieces from Clint being awful. Austin has an interview at USC for a coaching position, and he’s offered the job. For the first time he’s torn about accepting it, as he’s loathe to leave Holly behind. He’s falling for her, and her for him, but this has been his dream for years. Meanwhile the old principal decides not to come back, so Holly is offered the role. Her plan has always been to return to Florida, but she’s fallen in love with Lake Starlight. Even without Austin in it, she likes her life in this town. She and Karen both decide to stay, and Holly says goodbye to Austin after the high school’s graduation ceremony. Before he can leave for Los Angeles, Savannah and Grandma Dori confront him at the airport. Austin realizes he’s chasing an old dream, and that giving that up wouldn’t make him any less happy. He loves Holly, and she’s all he needs to be happy. He comes back to Lake Starlight and confesses he wants to spend forever with her, and she ecstatically agrees.

About The Author

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling author duo who writes contemporary romantic comedies. Their stories have heart-warming humor with a side of sizzle and always include a happy ever after.