Book picks similar to
Beauty and the Gentleman by Lucy Darling


romance
college
novella
contemporary-romance

Primed


Lena Lucas - 2020
    devoured it.
Z was jealous, pushing that emotion so deep no man ever dared even look at me when he was near.
And the way he touched me, licked me, nuzzled my neck as he scented me, made me feel like I slept beside a predator, one who claimed me irrevocably until I knew there would never be anyone else for me. He was all man, but I swore he housed an inner ruthless animal deep within.
I was Z’s.
He was mine.
And if this was what drowning felt like, I never wanted to reach the surface.
Lena’s note: This one is a fast, down and dirty story that lets you know exactly where it’s going… if you know what I mean. No drama of any kind to get in the way of the juicy bits (pun intended). Just a good old-fashioned smut-fest with a HEA! Enjoy.

Bounced


Brill Harper - 2017
    I've seen some crazy stuff as a bouncer. I thought I'd seen it all.But I've never seen anything like her. Just one look and I knew my life was never going to be the same. She's sweet, innocent, and looking for trouble.She found it.I'm big and mean and more trouble than she ever imagined. I'm going to mess up all her carefully laid plans. And I'm going to make her mine.SarahI'm a careful girl. Life is too dangerous not to be. I have a plan. Goals. And none of them include an overly-muscled, tattooed, possessive bouncer with an eye patch from the road house just outside of city limits.I just wanted one night off from being perfect, boring, and careful.He's too much man for a girl like me. Too intense. Too visceral.But I don't think he's going to let me go.Author's Confession: I don't even know if this could happen in real life. Luckily, it's a book. That means the hot, tatted, beardy bouncer can totally take one look at the virgin college student studying actuarial science and know he's going to marry the sh!t out of her. Right?

Bare Your Soul


Rochelle Paige - 2016
    Walking into a strip club and asking for an audition certainly qualifies as desperate, but when her mom's battle with cancer ends months before Angelica is due to start college, she doesn't feel like she has much choice. The moment Morgan Cadwell sees her on his stage, he knows she's the one woman who could make him break all the rules. There's no way he's going to let Angelica dance for other men, so he hires her as his live-in personal assistant instead.Morgan's offer lets Angelica keep her clothes on...but little does she know that, in the end, he'll make her bare her soul instead.

Score


Juliette Jones - 2017
    Shy and artistic, she’d rather keep to herself. But when she gets talked into attending a school football game by a new friend, the drop-dead gorgeous quarterback can’t take his eyes off her. Will Blake Travis be the one to bring Skye out of her shell?Blake Travis is saving himself. The hottest superstar at UT just isn’t interested in playing any other field except the one with a football on it. A romantic at heart, he’s holding out for the real thing. As soon as he lays eyes on the shy stranger with the smoky green eyes and flaxen hair, he knows he’s found her.SCORE is a super-sweet, safe, scorching-hot story about first love. No love triangles, cliffhangers or cheating.Book #1 in the Travis Brothers series

King Sized


Madison Faye - 2018
    Whoops. It’s her wedding day. I’m not the groom. Oh, but I’m going to be… The world may call me a King and a gentleman, but there’s nothing gentle about me. I’ve fought like hell to get to where I am, and these rough hands want one thing and one thing only – to hold her and never let her go. She’s my obsession – my addiction. Blonde, blue-eyed, innocent and tempting, with lips that beg to be tasted and curves that were made to press against me. But a rival king – a cruel, evil piece of garbage – has stepped in to buy her hand and her innocence with the promise of paying off her parents’ debts. He thinks that makes her his, but he’s about to learn how wrong he is. You see, the rumors about my royal staff and crown jewels aren’t tall tales. She deserves a real man. A better man. King Milton just isn’t the right fit for her. …Oh, but I am. And I’m going to “fit” with her so well that she’ll be moaning for more. I’m a king, after all. And kings take what they want. And tonight? I’m taking her. I’ll do anything to make her my queen. …Even if I have to steal her. Grab those tiaras and hold on to your jewels! One totally obsessed, totally big alpha King, one smart, sassy, stolen bride, and enough insta-love, kindle-melting steam, and sugary-sweetness to knock you right out of your throne. This book is utterly over-the-top fantasy with pretty much zero grounding in reality. You’ve been warned ;). As with all my books, this one is safe, with no cheating, and a HEA guaranteed. This is a novella-length book of approximately 100 pages, though the page-count below and on your e-reader may show differently. For a limited time, this new release edition contains additional content for further reader enjoyment, as a thank you for your support.

Stoking Her Fire


Mila Crawford - 2018
     Growing up as Avery’s friend was the hardest part, especially when all I wanted to do was claim her as mine. But I was that awkward, geeky kid with the black-rimmed glasses, a social outcast. Time and distance had separated us, but I never forgot about her. My love for Avery never lessened. It only grew. Now back in town, working as a firefighter, I doubt she’ll recognize me. I’m big, strong, and confident, so different from who I was all those years ago. Seeing her again after so long has me realizing too much time has passed. I know what has to be done. I need to let Avery know she’s mine and that nothing and no one will stop me from claiming her. Warning: This is a friends-to-lovers, double virgin safe romance that also has that spark of filth thrown in. Yes, you read that right … double virgins. No need to wear protection for this one because these two know exactly what they want, and that’s each other.

Finders Keepers


C.A. Rose - 2017
     He found her. He’s keeping her. No one, not even her, is going to keep him from doing just that.

Claimed By The Mountain Man


Frankie Love - 2016
    "I'm claiming you as mine, right here, right now." SILAS I want a wife who knows what it means to live off the grid, cook my food, and keep my bed warm. In exchange, I'll give her a lifetime of happiness in the form of my c*ck. But d*mn, Everly's more than I bargained for and I don't think she has any idea what it means to be mine. Hell, I wanted a wife, but I'm not sure I know how to live with a woman. EVERLY Did I expect to be a mail-order bride at twenty-two? No. But honestly, my life could be a helluva lot worse. The agency says this Alaskan mountain man is rich, hot as heck, and willing to pay off my student loans. I'm crossing my fingers he's everything I signed up for. But I may be a little over my head. Mostly because I'm marrying a stranger and also because I've never dated. Period. Clearly I have no clue how to be a wife ... but it's too late to back out now. *WARNING: This story features a mountain man who knows exactly what he wants. And how he wants it. Don't one-click if you want a tame mail order bride story ... this is a classic Frankie Love romance ... steamy as hell with a HEA.

VCard for Christmas


Hope Ford - 2021
    I gave him my v card.Yea, it probably wasn’t the smartest move.He’s my hot, older next-door neighbor and he looks like he would be trouble.But after one taste of my cupcake, he’s on a mission.He watches me like an obsessed voyeur, and I probably should tell him no, but when he gets in a bind, I agree to be his fake wife.It was supposed to be a fun Christmas Eve celebration.I wasn’t supposed to fall for him.And I definitely wasn’t supposed to end up in his bed after one date.Lincoln is smart, handsome, protective and exactly what I wanted... but I wasn’t ready for the next morning when I hear another woman on the phone claiming to be his wife.Was this all a game?If so, it’s one I really didn’t want to lose.Welcome to a filthy dirty Christmas! Forget sugar and spice and everything nice … this year we want to show off our naughty side. Taboo, dangerous, and over-the-top, we’re bringing you everything you were too scared to ask Santa for. **Don’t worry, loves, these are still packed with the heroes you crave and the HEA’s you deserve!

Doing Him Good (The Very Good Boy Duet #2)


Abby Knox - 2019
    When the church sends him to time out to think about what he’s done, he instead has something way less wholesome on his mind. Boone intends to spend every waking — and sleeping — moment with the tempting Delilah, the woman he first meets on his way out the door of his church for the very last time. After a week of sowing his long overdue wild oats with the girl of his dreams, Boone has a decision to make: will he beg forgiveness or pursue happiness? Uhm, I think we all know the answer to that!  Contents may also include: An appearance by Boone’s younger sister Molly, from Fencing Her In. Two adorably awkward virgins. A fight at the roller derby. A commemorative tattoo. And Molly’s famous peach cobbler to help the parentals calm down about everything.
 Don't forget to grab the stand alone companion to this book, Fencing Her In.

Justified


Aurora Rose Reynolds - 2014
    Nolan sees Chloe through a window of a bakery in downtown Manhattan. At first sight, something about her calls to a piece of him he thought was lost. Without thinking, he begins watching her, and when the moment presents itself, he strikes, claiming Chloe for himself. For a man who is used to getting what he wants Nolan wont let anyone or anything stand in his way.

Cole's Salvation


Elisa Leigh - 2018
    He gave up long ago thinking he would ever find his mate. For months he's been restless, on the verge of coming unglued. When his sister sets him up on a blind date, he almost loses it. She should know he'd only ever date his mate. When his sister refuses to cancel the date, he goes to let her down gently only to find that his mate is waiting for him. Follow the Major family, a group of black bear shifters living in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Dealing with the death of their father and hiding their shifting abilities from the small town they're from is nothing compared to the moment they meet their mates and claim them as theirs. These are safe, interconnected novellas, guaranteed happily ever afters, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you glued to your Kindle.

Bought and Paid For


Jordan Marie - 2017
    He wanted to own me. I just wanted to be his. JACKSON I wanted Megan from the moment I first saw her, and nothing would keep me from her. I could have been called a bastard for knowing her father would fail in paying me for a mutual business agreement, for knowing I would take Megan as payment. But she was mine and in my world, when I wanted something, I took it. And I wanted her. She was bought and paid for, collateral damage when her father failed to uphold his end of the deal. They all think it’s only for a week. They’re wrong. I’m keeping her. MEGAN My father couldn't fulfill a debt to Jackson King, but Jackson didn't seem to mind, not when he got me as his payment. Having been attracted to the brutal businessman for years, I couldn't help but feel arousal and trepidation at what he had planned. He wanted me for a week, to do with as he pleased. He wanted my virginity. But I knew this was more than just repaying a debt. This was about Jackson wanting to own me, not just my body, but every part of who I was. And the depraved part about it all was the fact that I wanted to give everything to him. I wanted to be his. WARNING: This is a fast and hard ride, featuring an over-the-top Alpha who fights dirty and plays dirtier. It’s a safe read, but it’s short, filthy and so hot you might need a nice, big, long, cool… drink to get you through to the happy ending.

The Major's Welcome Home


Tessa Bailey - 2018
    Never at a loss for words, Kenna is nonetheless rendered speechless by the gorgeous, hard-bodied and utterly inexperienced Army Major that lands in her passenger seat. Outraged by Beck’s lack of a welcome home after seven long years overseas, Kenna takes matters into her own hands, giving Beck something he’s only ever fantasized about in his bunk. Beck has never shied away from a test of will and Kenna gives new meaning to the word challenge. One problem? Kenna’s father is the Lieutenant General presenting Beck with a Silver Star and Beck is determined to treat Kenna with the respect she deserves. Kenna has other ideas, however, tempting Beck’s resolve at every turn. But how long can one lonely, starving man hope to resist the woman he craves? **The Major's Welcome Home originally appeared in the OFF BASE anthology under the title OFF BASE: BECK AND KENNA**

Falling for the Babysitter


Penny Wylder - 2017
    A very, VERY hot single dad. And he wants me to be his babysitter. I could use the extra money so that part's easy. What's NOT easy is the fact I've had a crush on Deacon for years. He never knew, and it never mattered. I was too young then. But I'm not now. He looks at me like he wants to rip my clothes straight off. His brother hates me, though--thinks I'm no good, just another woman trying to wreck Deacon's life. If he catches us together, he'll probably throw him AND his cute daughter out on the street just to prove a point. I can't let that happen. But after seeing Deacon shirtless... noticing how stiff his whole body gets around me... I'm not sure I can keep resisting. Or if I even want to. This is a standalone novella with a HEA and NO cheating! Penny Wylder writes just that-- wild romances. Happily Ever Afters are always better when they're a little dirty, so if you're looking for a page turner that will make you feel naughty in all the right places, jump right in and leave your panties at the door!