{"product_id":"the-ugly-stick-cori-lane-9798196028274","title":"The Ugly Stick: A Clean \u0026 Wholesome Hockey Romance","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhen hockey's grumpiest single dad returns to my hometown, he doesn't even recognize me as the ugly duckling from his past.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eI 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOf 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt'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! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThen 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSo much for leaving the past behind me... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eIf you're craving a clean, no spice romance with elements like: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ci\u003ea hockey celebrity returning to his home town\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ci\u003ean ugly duckling becoming a swan\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ci\u003ea single dad with a very special daughter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ci\u003ea cozy small-town setting\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ci\u003eforced proximity\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ci\u003ea grumpy sunshine duo you can't help rooting for\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis is the book for you!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Cori Lane\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798196028274\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/07\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 290\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.64lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.65d","brand":"Cori Lane","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48659914981631,"sku":"9798196028274","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-ugly-stick-cori-lane-9798196028274","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}