Book picks similar to
Mountain Laurel by Donna Clayton
romance
contemporary
contemporary-romance
considering
What Are Friends For?
Patricia McLinn - 2006
Though that didn’t keep him from longing for the unattainable prom queen, Jennifer. The one person who did understand his out-of-the-box brain was Darcie, his best friend. After their high school graduation, Zeke and Darcie for one night jolted from friends to lovers. And then he left town, and she knew he couldn’t look back. What he didn’t know was the depth of Darcie’s feelings for him. Now it’s 17 years later, and Zeke’s a self-made billionaire founder of a tech security firm, Darcie’s a local cop and Jennifer’s a divorced mom of a tween girl. And their little town is flagging. At Darcie’s urging, Zeke returns to Drago to boost its economy. Will his new wealth attract the still-beautiful Jennifer? Or will Darcie, the one girl who always made him feel at ease, show him that true love knows no boundaries? * * * * * * * * What Are Friends For?, Book 1 of USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn's Seasons in a Small Town series, is a moving, passionate contemporary romance that will captivate fans of Bella Andre, Roxanne St. Clair and Jill Shalvis.
Christmas Fantasy
Janelle Denison - 1999
Then he met Teddy Spencer. She was smart, sexy...and terrified of commitment. But she also needed him--to play the role of her lover at the company Christmas party. Austin was willing to take the job...as long as he could convince her to make it a full-time position!
The Big One
Katherine Hastings - 2019
It’s the discovery of the late-night message she sent to the boy she loved ten years ago. The one she hasn’t seen since their week-long whirlwind summer romance in Door County. The boy she gave her heart to and forgot to take it back.You know... "The Big One". After they reconnect online, the years apart haven’t diminished their chemistry one bit. Desperate to find out if he’s really her one true love, she lets her meddling wingmen convince her to do the craziest thing she’s ever done in her well-planned life—she hops on a plane to surprise him in Italy. When Ellie waltzes back into his life and the sparks still fly between them, Liam is determined not to let her slip away again. He’s spent ten years trying to forget her, and now he’ll do anything to convince her to stay.As Ellie and Liam reconnect and try to bridge the ocean between them, they soon find more than just distance can tear them apart.
Fighting the Flames
Leslie Johnson - 2014
She'd escaped to her family's beach house in Cape Cod to lick her wounds and heal, vowing to never open herself up like that again. Never trust anyone but herself.Then she met Ryan James, the sexy firefighter next door who set her on fire with just a touch. They melted together, soothed each other's hurts. She felt too much. It scared her. She ran.Now, Jessie's still alone and her entire life has gone up in flames. It's a miracle she's even alive. Ryan saved her... she couldn't believe it was him. She didn't realize he lived so close.Fate can be kind or cruel. It can give a gift and then take it away.Jessie had tried to run from fate her entire life. There would be no running from it this time.Fighting the Flames is a stand-alone novella. Look for other books in the Firefighter Romance Series, including Fanning the Flames and Kindling the Blaze. These novellas can be read in any order, however, they are best experienced in sequence.
Holding On
Meg Jolie - 2013
Luke has been her best friend for most of her life. He’s always been there for her, catching fireflies with her, maneuvering the hazards of high school with her, attending college parties with her, and protecting her. He was the boy that she could always trust, the boy that stole her first kiss. His older brother, Jake, was the one who teased them mercilessly while they were growing up. Yet, he was the one who would ultimately steal Quinn’s heart.A surprise pregnancy and an unexpected tragedy are about to change everything.Forever.Friendship and family will be tested.Quinn will find out that sometimes the only way to get through life is to hold on with everything you have. And other times…the only thing you can do is let go.
Summer of Change
Elena Aitken - 2014
And he wants her.Successful, handsome and too damn charming for his own good—he's perfect.The only problem? Letting him in could destroy everything she knows and loves.Samantha Burke loves her quiet close-knit community of Cedar Springs, just the way it is thank you very much.The addition of an upscale new resort as well as its arrogant owner, Trent Harrison, and the change they're both sure to bring to town, is certainly not welcome. As far as Sam's concerned, Trent can turn right around and go back to where he came from.That is, until one very hot—and completely unexpected—kiss changes everything. Now Trent is pushing his way into her town, and her life and it's getting harder and harder for Sam to deny the heat between them. Change is inevitable, but can either of them drop their guard long enough to accept it when there's so much on the line? Including the chance for love?
ONE WEEK 1
Kristina Weaver - 2016
My brother’s wedding is basically turning into my worst nightmare. I can live with his soon-to-be mother-in-law and her crazy, weeklong “wedding games.” I can push away the thoughts of my passive-aggressive coworkers and my aggressive-aggressive boss. I can enjoy the time with my family and ignore the underlying tension. What I can’t do? Tolerate a week with my old schoolgirl crush. Devon Baxter, one of my brother’s dearest friends, has always had the power to render me tongue-tied and sick with nerves. I mean, the man is a walking hunk of delicious fantasy fuel, and he’s never looked twice at me. Asshole. But why would he? I mean, I guess I’m pretty…pretty dumpy. Pretty plain. Pretty inexperienced in matters of the bedroom. If he shows any kind of interest in me, I know it’s just temporary insanity. The worst part is, I might be okay with that. Yeah…he’s that delectable. Devon I can’t give myself to her long-term, but I can’t stop myself taking her for the short-term. The question is…will one week be enough? I’m a self-made billionaire, one of the hottest bachelors of the year—and still more to come if I have my way. I know how to handle women and give them what they need while taking what I want. And what do I want right now? Imp, my best friend’s little sister. Oh, but he’d have my head if I laid a finger on her. I know, because he told me so years ago, when he caught me…noticing her. But I’m not sure I can resist, not with an entire week spent at her side, with her beautiful hourglass figure tantalizing me left and right, the way it always has. I know she harbors a gigantic crush on me (adorable), and it’s going to be quite a struggle to stop myself taking advantage of that. Note: Short story. Cliffhanger ending. Part 1 of 3. (Very) Adult content.
Reed's Resolution
Natalie Ann - 2019
Eight Unique Stories. All Stand-alone Novels. On November 30, 2016, Hurricane Nina hit Bali, Indonesia. In the aftermath of death and destruction, eight strong sexy men will realize it’s time for a change in their lives. A resolution of sorts. A contractor, personal trainer, a millionaire, a stuntman, a rock star, a thrill-seeker, an army veteran, and a trust fund prodigal will all find a way to conquer their loss and learn to love. This is Reed’s story. Resolution: To be the man he used to be. To find a way to be happy once again. Reed Chapman thought he had the perfect life. A beautiful fiancée and a successful business. When tragedy struck, his perfect world imploded like the Titanic hitting the iceberg, making him realize his life had been anything but wonderful. Though his business is still thriving, his personal life and outlook on women are still sinking deep to the ocean floor with no life vests in sight. Taylor Winston never had much in life so when prince charming entered her life, she figured she had it made. She thought wrong. Now she’s a single mother relocating so that she doesn’t lose custody of her daughter. The last thing she has time for in her life is a man. Then why is her new sexy boss popping into her dreams so frequently and unexpectedly, making her wonder why she’d even consider accepting the proposition he so neatly laid out for her?
Chasing Charlie
Kathy Carmichael - 2001
But now Charlie's sweet ways are challenging his bachelor heart.THE TEXAS TWO-STEP, in series orderChasing CharlieCountry CourtshipCourting Trouble
Blue Penguin Bay Box Set: Blue Penguin Bay Books 1-3
Serenity Woods - 2017
Book 1: As Deep as the Ocean When Mac asks Fred to marry him, he tells her it’s strictly business, just a way to access her father’s inheritance so they can save the vineyard. But what happens when they fall in love? Book 2: As Beautiful as the Bay Sam has come home to Blue Penguin Bay to help his father in the family bakery. He longs to escape, and when a freak storm hits the bay, it gives him the perfect opportunity. If only he hadn’t fallen in love with sexy chef Ginger… Book 3: As Timeless as the Sea Sandi is certain that lawyer Jace is hiding something. The only way to keep her heart safe is to end their fling now. But when you share a love as timeless as the sea, there’s always hope for a happy ending.
A Risk Worth Taking
Heather Hildenbrand - 2013
Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale. Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations. Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy. When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.