Book picks similar to
Under the Hood by Sally Clements


romance
contemporary
contemporary-romance
novellas

The Weekend Girlfriend


Emily Walters - 2015
    Unfortunately he doesn’t see her as just his paralegal but also his own personal assistant. When he blames her for a mix-up in his personal life, Jessica sees no other option but to quit, thinking that her time with him is over. Much to her surprise, Kyle makes a proposition to her that she never thought she would hear coming from his lips. He needs a temporary girlfriend for his sister’s wedding and he wants her to be that person. Jessica accepts the challenge and finds herself thrown into his world, learning things about him she never knew. The more time she spends with him outside of work, the more she is drawn to Kyle. As the wedding draws near, she finds herself fighting off some strong feelings for the man. When the wedding weekend is over, will Jessica be able to walk away from Kyle with her heart intact?

Romancing the Ranger


Jennie Marts - 2016
    When the judge rejects her offer to pay for the structure and sentences her to rebuild it—with the hot ranger supervising—she embraces the challenge to take control of her life. Park ranger Wade Baker wants nothing to do with the rich city girl, no matter how tempting he finds her lush curves. She’s too much like his ex-fiancée, and if he’s learned anything, it’s that women like Reese don’t fit into his world. And he sure as hell wants no part of her big city life. Reese may not know a hammer from a screwdriver, but she’s working hard to prove she’s not just some pampered princess to be toyed with. And damn it if Wade doesn’t admire her tenacious spirit. If only they got along half as well outside the bedroom as they do in it, there might be a chance for them after all…

Sneaking Candy


Lisa Burstein - 2013
    Of course, secretly I already have made a name for myself: as Candy Sloane, self-published erotic romance writer. Though thrilled that my books are selling and I have actual fans, if anyone at UM found out, I could lose my scholarship…and the respect of my faculty advisor, grade-A-asshole Professor Dylan.Enter James Walker, super-hot local barista and—surprise!—my student. Even though I know a relationship is totally off-limits, I can’t stop myself from sneaking around with James, taking a few cues from my own erotic writing…if you catch my drift. Candy’s showing her stripes for the first time in my real life, and I’ve never had so much fun. But when the sugar high fades, can my secrets stay under wraps?

Little Dancer


Melanie Marks - 2015
    We were only twelve at the time. Now it’s five years later. I still have my thing for her—stronger than ever … but I’m STILL not sure how she feels about me. Maybe it’s best this way. I tend to hurt girls—they want more than I can give. But the thing is, I want to give Faith everything. She’s my little dancer—my life. She just doesn’t know it.Who am I? I’m the only guy Faith ever let into her life. I’m her best friend. Well, I was. Now, unfortunately, things have changed.Further summary of the book:When Faith is stalked by a boy at her new school, a secret admirer comes to her rescue. Only who is the admirer and how does he know so freaking much about her? It’s kind of freaking her out — until she discovers it’s the smokin’ hot guy she’s been secretly craving — her ex-best-friend, the guy she has secretly wanted to kiss since she was twelve. Awesome! Only, is he craving her back… or what?

Lucky Break


Kelley Vitollo - 2012
    But when living the LA life becomes too much, she heads back to the small town of Shamrock Falls for the vacation she needs to get her life on track—and immediately runs into Kade Mitchell, her former best friend and the boy next door she’s always regretted leaving behind.Kade, the new owner of Lucky’s—once the most popular bar in Shamrock Falls—is determined to bring the place back to its former glory, and seeing Sidney again is a distraction he doesn’t need. Sure, the chemistry between them is explosive, but Kade can’t let himself fall into a fling with his best friend—not when he knows she’s soon heading back to the glitter of Tinseltown.Now, with the possibility of her first major acting role looming, Sidney must decide if her lucky break is in Hollywood or right where she left it—in Shamrock Falls.

The Return of Ursula


Mimi Strong - 2014
    The house is paradise. Her husband is delicious. The water in the shimmering blue swimming pool is perfect. But there's trouble in paradise. Her new husband, famous actor Dalton Deangelo, won't invite her to the film set of his vampire-drama TV series. How are they going to consumate their new marriage at home if they're sleeping in separate bedrooms?The Return of Ursula can be read as a stand-alone short story with no cliffhanger! You can also read more about Dalton Deangelo and the sassy Peaches Monroe in Mimi Strong's bestselling Peaches Monroe series. This short story takes place between the final chapters of Book 3, Starfire.GENRE: Romantic Comedy with Steamy, Sensual Scenes. LENGTH: 11,000 words or about 40 pages.

The Courage of Eli Jackson


Kelly Hunter - 2014
    Pity it wasn’t theirs. Eli Jackson has just married the woman of his dreams. Sure, it was part of an online role-playing game and not exactly real, but he totally dominated the wedding battle that followed and his lady wife was very impressed. Eli never imagined that his brothers would bestow on them a real-world honeymoon package at one of the Gold Coast’s premier hotels. He never figured on costume designer Zoey Daniels being such fun. Together they’re dynamite, but Eli’s not looking for a real relationship and Zoey lives only for the day. Besides, no one falls in love this fast. Do they? Previously titled The Honeymoon Trap The Jackson Brothers series Book1: The Courage of Eli Jackson Book 2: The Heart of Caleb Jackson Book 3: The Downfall of Cutter Jackson *Bonus story: What a Bride Wants by Kelly Hunter included inside!*

A Man Like Mike


Sami Lee - 2013
    As if bright orange goo on her business shirts and terminal exhaustion aren’t enough to deal with, Bailey’s uncle shows up, insisting on being part of his nephew’s life. Roguishly handsome with a devil‐may‐care attitude, Mike Wilcox is always first with a quip or a flirtatious smile. When he breezily suggests he move in with her temporarily, Eve sees noway to refuse, as the cottage in which she lives was left to Mike by his late brother.On the surface, Mike seems like the perfect house mate. He’s a successful chef, so Eve’s diet goes from fast food to five star overnight, and he effortlessly takes on daytime care of his nephew, while working at a local restaurant in the evenings. But he wears muscle‐ hugging T‐shirts and makes the cottage seem like a home, things that appeal to Eve more than she cares to admit.A lonely, neglected child, Eve has learned to rely only on herself, but having Mike around soon makes her want to believe things can be different. How can she trust a man who’s lived life by the seat of his pants to stick around for the long haul?

Hot Shot


Denise Devine - 2013
    A sweet, romantic comedy.

Just for the Summer


Jenna Rutland - 2013
    After the year she’s had, she deserves a summer retreat to reevaluate priorities and make peace with past decisions. But from the moment single dad and sheriff Matt Reagan shows up, she has a hard time convincing herself that a life away from Lake Bliss could beat the life she might have here. Recently divorced Matt is ready for a new relationship, but he doesn’t want short-term—his son needs permanence, and so does Matt’s heart. Unfortunately, it’s the smart-mouthed and sinfully sexy Ms. Sullivan who catches his eye. But when Matt learns Dani’s secrets, will he still want her to stay? Or will her chance for love last just for the summer?

Bah, Humbug!


Heather Horrocks - 2011
    He digs into the snowman to discover two things: the weapon fits into the body just under the head, and the snowman was supposed to be the back drop for Lexi's next show.From this improbable beginning comes friendship. Can there be more for a woman who is afraid to get close again and a man who has shadows from his childhood?Families join together and hearts are healed as this couple goes walking in a winter wonderland.

Her Christmas Bonus


Rain Danvers - 2014
    She is highly valued by her boss and she loves her job, but there's a problem - she's totally attracted to him and the stress is killing her. She's taking three days off for the Christmas holiday and has posted her availability online, hoping to find a job when she returns. Before she can leave, she has to find her cell phone and she doesn't know where she left it. Terrance is the founder and owner of Templeton Designs and considers Sage so valuable to the company, he can't afford to acknowledge the feelings he has for her. He's stuck at the company this year when normally he would be enjoying the holiday in a warm, tropical location. It may be the year he finds a way to acknowledge the woman who holds his heart captive.

All the Way Home


Devyn Morgan - 2015
    Just a month before Christmas, his boss makes the worst possible announcement: the café will close if they can't find a buyer. JC, a decade younger than him at sixteen, and Hunter, only eight, deserve the best Christmas his money can't buy. Plus, he's been neglecting his own needs for far too long. When the perfect man walks through the door at the wrong time, a little indulgence turns into much more... Billionaire Declan Tanner is lonely. Since selling his company, he's got a bad first world problem: guys get intimidated by him or try to use him. He's responded by withdrawing and isolating himself, but on his psychologist's advice picks up a new hobby: learning to code games in a cozy little café. Hanging out every day with Nick, a gorgeous, clever, flirty barista, starts to stir ideas of more... but he has to take it at Nick's pace for the kids' sake. As Christmas approaches, Nick has to decide: should he let Declan in, or focus as always on keeping JC and Hunter happy? And what if there's a way to do both? All the Way Home is a standalone gay romance with a HEA ending.

Accidentally Married


Victorine E. Lieske - 2014
    Her rent is due and she needs a job. Desperately. After getting a tip about an open position, she rushes to Jameson Technologies and meets CEO Jared Jameson. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, she is put in the awkward position of pretending to be his girlfriend. Not the job she was applying for. And when she finds out Jared lied to her to get what he wanted, she decides to get back at him. In front of his family. Jared is stunned when Madison announces they are getting married. She pushed her revenge too far. How can he tell them it’s all a lie? And when his sick aunt asks them to be married before she dies, Madison comes up with a hair-brained plan to hire an actor and stage a fake wedding. What they both don’t know is Jared’s father has found out about the fake wedding. And he’s got his own hair-brained plan. This is a sweet romance, appropriate for any age.

Bargain in Bronze


Natalie Anderson - 2012
    So when an Olympic hopeful invites her to his flat to make her delicious cereal, she’s bewildered when his brother Jack walks in, accusing her of trying to ruin his brother’s career. Libby has every intention of staying single, but with Jack around, no way can she suppress the personal pleasure she’s long denied herself.Investment banker extraordinaire Jack Barnes’s attraction to Libby is instantaneous, but he’s raised his two siblings after their parents died in an accident, and it’s been all work and no play for as long as he can remember. He can’t let down his guard now—not when his brother is so close to the gold. But keeping Libby busy and out of his brother’s life challenges every ounce of his self-control.Until now…Neither wants a relationship, and though they can’t deny their incredible chemistry, Libby and Jack agree that what they have is temporary. So when things start to sizzle between them, will they be able to take the heat?