Book picks similar to
The Way Back Home by C. Lymari


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Love & Other Chaos


Jackie Walker - 2020
    Brody’s my friend - just a friend. He’s also my autistic son’s favorite teacher.He’s as off limits as they come, no matter how drop dead gorgeous he is. Falling for him would be wrong. Resisting him though, is becoming pure torture. After being burned by men who can’t handle dating a single-mom of a special-needs child, I refuse to date anymore. Not until my son is grown. My plan is working fine until my trouble-making bestie presents me with a dare that I can’t resist. I’m a sucker for a good dare - especially when margaritas have been consumed. And she’s just dared me to plant a surprise kiss on Brody’s sexy lips, while she records it for a trending TikTok challenge video. But if I do this, it could change everything. My life is already pure chaos and maybe now is not the best time to shake things up even more. Is it worth risking our friendship and his important role in my son’s life for one kiss? What if he wants more? What if I do? Love & Other Chaos is a hilarious, steamy, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy featuring a drop dead gorgeous and seriously buff teacher with the hots for a single-mom of an autistic pre-teen son... who happens to be one of his students. This story also includes wise-cracking grandparents with zero respect for personal boundaries, swoon-worthy beach scenes, a jerky boss with no concept of personal space, nosey siblings and a foul-mouthed best friend who loves to instigate trouble. If you don't like sarcasm, steam, sexy-times, heroines who drink copious amounts of margaritas and laugh-a-minute dialogue, then this might not be the book for you. It’s a stand-alone novel with a happy ending, because cliffhangers will kill your margarita buzz.

The Secrets You Keep


Delaney Foster - 2018
    Independent. Focused. Driven. Grace Matthews is determined to make a difference. Confident. Powerful. Intense. Callan Fontaine is a force of nature. Because he has to be. As the lead mercenary on his team, it's how he keeps his men alive. A wounded man. A compassionate doctor. And a chance meeting that makes their two worlds collide. Now Grace's future hangs in the balance while Callan's past lingers in the background. Will she be enough to show him the world is still beautiful? Or will he walk away from the one woman that can be the light in his darkness? What do you do when the one thing that can put you back together is very thing that threatens to rip you apart for good?

Becoming Hank


Maggie M. Lily - 2021
    But, long before parenthood, they were in love.Take a step back in time to meet a young Henry "Trip" Trellis before he met Darla and changed the course of his destiny.Haven't read the Building the Circle series? No worries. This short read will introduce the family and leave you hungry for more!

Encore


Selena Laurence - 2020
    Life has been nothing but sex, drugs, and rock and roll for twenty years, and he's not sure he can stomach one more minute of the party. When an invitation to his twenty-fifth high school reunion shows up, Ross decides he has nothing to lose--after all, he already lost his daughter's love and a fair amount of self-respect. So he catches a flight back to his hometown, but when he walks in the door of the high school gym, his gaze lands on someone he never expected to see again. Carly Ellis is busy, getting by, and most days pretty happy. Life hasn't always been easy, but she has her teenage son, a good job in real estate, and an ex who doesn't cause too much trouble. Granted, she'd rather skip her high school reunion, but when your best friend is on the organizing committee, there's no getting out of it. Then she walks through the door of the high school gym and her gaze lands on someone she never expected to see again. Once upon a time, Carly was Ross's high school prom date. One very sweet night that both of them knew didn't mean a thing. Now they have a chance to do it again. Same conditions. Same game. But after a night in Carly's arms, Ross isn't sure he wants it to end. Could she be the answer to everything he's been missing? A key to the future he secretly wants? With life offering him a second act, will Ross be able to pull off his most important encore ever? Encore is an uplifting rockstar, second-chance, single parent, high school reunion romance with a hero who needs a little reboot, a heroine who's strong enough to give it to him, two sassy teens, a perfect HEA, and an iguana named Chuck--just because.

Brayden


Susan Fisher-Davis - 2017
    Leaving Texas to return to Montana is step one, opening a rescue sanctuary for horses in honor of his late wife is step two, and doing whatever he can to protect his heart from the pain of falling in love again is step three. Melissa Conroy has been in love with her best friend’s husband since the first moment she met him…so when he calls her out of the blue to offer her a job, she leaps at the chance. She knows how much he loved his wife but even if it only means being close to him, she is willing to risk the heartache of rejection until she becomes the other woman. Terrified of losing someone he loves again and being left alone, Brayden pushes Melissa away even as he can’t help but seek her out, until he pushes her away one too many times and she says enough. Now he’s at risk of losing her forever and his greatest fear has come true. Is it possible to have two great loves in one lifetime—and love both at the same time?

Her Best Friend (Love Off Limits)


Hannah Jo Abbott - 2021
    But that plan didn’t include moving home after college, single with no job. And it definitely didn’t include falling for her best friend.Travis never asked out the one girl he wanted to in high school. But it’s against the rules to date your best friend.Hoping things can be different now, Travis jumps at the chance to hire Julie at his store. But his plan to spend time with her is foiled when she tells him she signed up with a dating app.As Julie goes on dates that are epic failures in every way, Travis is the one she shares the stories with. He’s more and more sure she’s the girl for him. But admitting his feelings might scare her away.Will their friendship turn into something more, or will fear end their relationship forever?

The Stone Family Treasure (South Port Beach Romances #6)


Taylor Hart - 2022
    

EveryDayLove!


Lucy McConnell - 2018
     Daisy Covington has dreamed of having her own line of cosmetics since she was a fourteen-year-old girl with a beauty channel. Her channel has grown over the years to be one of the top two beauty channels on the MyHeartChannel site and her dream is within reach. She just needs a segment that will put her over the top. When Beckett Kingsly, Daisy's older brother’s best friend and career humanitarian, crashes on her couch for a couple days, she comes up with a plan. She’ll do a fundraiser for the charity Beckett works for in exchange for the chance to give him a makeover on her show. His worn-out cargo shorts, unruly beard, and man bun are all on the chopping block. After some pressure from his boss—FreeWater could use the exposure to Daisy’s eleven million subscribers—Beckett reluctantly agrees. But as Daisy works to transform Beckett, she realizes that her crush from long ago hasn’t faded. She’s falling for him even though he’s waiting for orders to leave town. Though Beckett seems like the perfect guy, Daisy wants to settle down with a man who will actually be in the same country for more than a couple weeks. If She can’t find a way to make it work, she'll miss her chance at a truly beautiful life.

The Billionaire Looks Back


Christie Logan - 2019
    The woman he loved and left behind. When they meet again, will sparks re-ignite? Or will a long-kept secret tear them apart forever? Billionaire football star Shawn Canaday may seem like every woman’s dream, but his reappearance in Applewood, New York makes him Marg Hahn’s worst nightmare.She fell for him once, before fame and ambition became more important to him than love, and she has the evidence to prove it—their daughter, Lauren. Marg soldiered on as a single mother, raising her child on her own while keeping Shawn in the dark.Now guilt and a promise to an old friend bring him back to town, where he and Marg reconnect. When they find themselves stranded together, they discover their love never died.But he still doesn’t know about Lauren. When he learns the truth, will they at last be a family? Or will he turn his back on Marg for good?

Smooches


Susan Renee - 2021
    You know, the kind that are made with pictures ripped from magazines with special notes about your life goals or biggest wishes. (Mine of course, is covered in glitter!) As a single mom, it’s hard to put my dreams and goals first, but I made my list. 1. Finally finish my degree 2. Learn how to cook new recipes. 3. Travel outside of Washington state. 4. Buy myself something that makes me feel desirable. 5. Find real, honest-to-goodness-rip-your-heart-out-and-hand-it-to-someone-love. The realist in me knows that last one is a bit far-fetched, but when an old college friend shows up in my driveway offering me something I can’t refuse, my mind starts wondering if maybe that last goal could be attainable after all.He’s kind, compassionate, strong, helpful, and attractive. All positive attributes of a great man. There’s just one problem. He’s my Ex’s best friend.

Home to You


Sandra Marine - 2020
    Or with the wounded teenager who should’ve been his.But Annie’s holding a bargaining chip Nate can’t refuse, and she’ll use everything she can to protect her son and secure his future.Nate’s determined to keep his distance, but when old feelings are resurrected, he must decide if some risks are worth taking.And if some secrets are better left unsaid…

Fake Bride


Cassandra Bloom - 2017
    Anaconda,’ they call me. I don’t chase women, they chase me. I’ve made my fortune, I’ve built my empire. I play to win and live by my own set of rules. My darkest secret? There's something I’m missing. Something all my billions can’t buy. Till she came into my life. Every inch of her curvy form makes my mouth water. But she’s heard of my womanizing reputation. Now she needs a job. And I have the perfect assignment for her. $50’000 for her to be my Mrs. for two weeks. She is mine now. Now the game is on. And I play Dirty… I won’t let anybody f*ck with my plans. But to really fall for a girl. To make her completely and utterly mine. Claim her for my own. My wildest dream and my darkest nightmare all in one… Which one will it be? If I toy with my desires, will she steal my heart? Fake Bride is a steamy fake marriage romance story with no cheating, no cliffhanger and, as always, a happy ever after ending. Includes bonus content for your reading pleasure! Enjoy.

Winning the Cowboy Billionaire : A Chappell Brothers Novel


Emmy Eugene - 2020
    Oh, and did Olivia Hudson mention his money?He's got a ton of that too.As the oldest son in the Chappell family, it's up to Spur to lead his brothers into the next generation of raising and selling championship racehorses. He loves it with his whole heart and soul, but a horse can't keep him warm at night.So when Olli Hudson, one of his neighbors, asks him to be her arm candy for one night to woo an investor, the worst he thinks can happen is his eyes might get permanently stuck up in his head for how often he rolls them.He wasn't expecting to be swept off his feet by the five-and-half-foot powerhouse of a woman with a nose that can sniff out the purest scents...and all of his hidden feelings for her.Will Olli be able to win over the cowboy billionaire? Or will she lose everything--including her heart?Start this brand-new series by Emmy Eugene and meet the Chappell family of cowboys in the beautiful Kentucky Bluegrass region!

Call Me Sugar


Dez Burke - 2019
    So what if he's got magic hands and a really big wand?I’m sure he can make a dress disappear into thin air too.Look, I'm not trusting a man who dropped a live snake in my palm.Falling for a blue-eyed hunk with messy, blond hair isn’t in the cards.Not for a numbers nerd like me who came to Vegas on a mission: Get in, make money fast, and get out.Sugar's a sinful distraction. He's not putting me under his spell.Don't remind me this place is the devil's playground.I only messed up once with one little kiss.I'll vanish before his next kiss says stay…Call Me Sugar is a wickedly sinful romantic comedy standalone with no cheating and a steamy HEA that will leave you begging for more.

Her Billionaire Co-Nanny (Candyman Sweet Family Billionaires, #1)


Shanna Delaney - 2021
    Her new job as a summer nanny to the ultra-wealthy could make all the difference.Richard manages international relations for his family’s massive candy company, and coming back to the family’s New Hampshire lake house for the summer is like coming home. But this time the house contains more than just family—his sister has brought along a nanny. A cute nanny.When circumstances pull Richard’s sister back to the West Coast, Richard and Emma agree to share responsibility for the kids.As attraction flares, Emma and Richard have to face their differences and decide: Is this just a summer sizzle, or can they each change perspective enough to make whatever’s between them last?