Book picks similar to
Emilie's Christmas Love by Joyce Lavene


christmas
romance
contemporary
contemporary-romance

Scent of Cedar


Shanna Hatfield - 2018
    . . No one said anything about a friendly camel or a hunky mechanic Cedar Haynes has a choice: change her high-pressure lifestyle, or end up dead by the time she’s thirty. Not one to do things by half measures, she quits her demanding corporate job, swaps her sports car for an SUV, and moves to the peaceful mountain community of Faraday. She envisions a quiet, peaceful Christmas, surrounding by silence and sparkling snow. When a camel takes up residence on her porch, she realizes small-town life may be more quirky and complicated than she imagined. Thankfully, the local mechanic seems to have all the answers - plus good looks, bad-boy charm, and a mysterious aura that leaves her wanting to know more. Rhett Riggs left big city life behind the moment his small-town uncle needed his help. To make ends meet, he takes over Faraday’s one and only garage and gas station. He gets more than he bargained for, though, when Uncle Will passes away, leaving Rhett a run-down farmhouse, a wacky camel named Lolly, and a deep-rooted love for the community he considers his home. With the holidays approaching, he watches with interest as a new neighbor moves in next door. He waits for Lolly to send the woman running, like she has the last handful of residents. Only this time, if his beautiful neighbor leaves, she’ll take his heart with her.Between spilled secrets, mistaken identities, and a camel determined to spread a little love, it will take more than mistletoe and holiday magic to help Rhett and Cedar find their happy ending.Come along on a sweet Christmas romance adventure sure to uplift the spirit, touch the heart, and imbue the warmth of the holiday season. ˃˃˃ Read all four sweet romances in The Friendly Beasts of Faraday series! * Scent of Cedar (Book 1) - A woman in need of a new beginning finds herself tormented by a camel and captivated by the town's bad boy. Can she overcome her fears to embrace a sweet holiday romance?* Tidings of Joy (Book 2)- Only one woman can draw a shy mail carrier out of his shell, but it will take the help of her donkey and puppy to make it happen.* Boughs of Holly (Book 3)- A free-spirited nurse winds up on a ranch with a stubborn cowboy and his matchmaking grandpa. Will love triumph over her need to roam?* Wings of an Angel (Book 4) - Will a fun-loving teacher convince a woman sworn off romance to give love a second chance? He'll need a hand from her son and his furry, feathered friends. ˃˃˃ The inspiration for the stories. . . The Friendly Beasts Christmas carol mentions a camel, a donkey, a cow, a sheep, and a dove. That sweet carol is what sparked the idea for this series, along with a steal-the-show camel at a live nativity performance. Start reading this heartwarming holiday series today!

A Season for Second Chances


Jenny Bayliss - 2021
    Her kids are grown up, her restaurant is doing just fine on its own, and her twenty-six-year marriage has come to an unceremonious end. Untethered for the first time in her adult life, she finds a winter guardian position in a historic seaside home and decides to leave her city life behind for a brand-new beginning.When she arrives in Willow Bay, Annie is enamored by the charming house, the invigorating sea breeze, and the town's rich seasonal traditions. Not to mention, her neighbors receive her with open arms--that is, all except the surly nephew of the homeowner, whose grand plans for the property are at odds with her residency. As Christmas approaches, tensions and tides rise in Willow Bay, and Annie's future seems less and less certain. But with a little can-do spirit and holiday magic, the most difficult time of her life will become...a season for second chances.

The Mistletoe Motive


Chloe Liese - 2021
    She loves them. She’s full of festive cheer. He’s brimming with Bah, Humbugs. Besides unreasonably seasonable names, the only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city’s most beloved independent bookstore, Bailey’s Bookshop. But when the store’s owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment.With the Baileys’ requests to minimize expenses, win new customers, and make record sales dancing in their heads, Jonathan and Gabby conclude—barring a financial Christmas miracle—one of them will soon be cut from the payroll. Neither are willing to step down from their position, so they strike a bargain: whoever has more sales in December gets to stay on in the new year; the loser will resign. With a lifetime's worth of festive tricks up her sleeve, Gabby should easily outsell her nemesis, except the unreadable Mr. Frost’s every move seems purely designed to throw her off her game.As if that wasn’t bad enough, Gabby's deceptive ex won't quit pursuing her, and her anonymous online friend suggests they take a break. Worst of all, as the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby meets a new, tender side of Jonathan. Is this the same man she's called her cold-hearted enemy?Maybe he’s got a motive she just can’t figure out—or maybe Jonathan Frost isn’t as chilly as she once thought. Maybe Jonathan and Gabby already know—and love—each other in ways they never thought possible.This is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe


M. RobinsonAlta Hensley - 2021
    The notorious Morelli family hosts their annual Christmas ball. And you are invited to experience the sensual feast.MEET ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE is an exclusive anthology of scorching hot NEW holiday stories. Download your copy and tell a book-loving friend, because it won't last long.HOLIDAY STORIES INCLUDE:O Holy Night by Pam GodwinSanta Baby by Claire ContrerasAll I Want for Christmas Is You by M. RobinsonLast Christmas by Katee RobertCarol of the Bells by Maria LuisSilver Bells by Alta HensleyO Come All Ye Faithful by Amelia WildeSilent Night by Sienna SnowIt Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Jenika SnowAll I Want For Christmas Is You by Sam MarianoLittle Drummer Boy by M. O'KeefeBaby, It's Cold Outside by Giana DarlingAway in a Manger by Jade WestThis Christmas by Theodora TaylorHallelujah by Skye Warren

Long Dance Home


Julie Mayerson Brown - 2012
    But on her 29th birthday, her grand plan begins to unravel, and the disciplined, former ballerina’s life is turned upside down. Newly unemployed and devastated to learn she and her boyfriend are not on the same page, Cece returns to Clearwater, her hometown in Northern California wine country, hoping to find comfort for her broken heart with her family. Being back in Clearwater only adds to her stress, however, when she reluctantly agrees to help rescue a small-town production of The Nutcracker. Having once been the ballerina that would make Clearwater famous, Cece’s return attracts attention, inspires gossip, and forces her to examine a decision she made years before at the most vulnerable time of her life. As old wounds are opened and secrets revealed, long-held beliefs about Cece’s childhood are challenged, leading her to question everything she thought she knew about family, love, and herself.As Cece struggles to accept the truth, she lets go of one dream and discovers a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined. “A perfect, cozy read for the holidays. Delving into the topics of loss and regrets, this book is full of surprises. Heartwarming and poignant.” Lisa Manterfield, author of A Strange Companion.

Shoe Strings


Christy Hayes - 2011
    The cabin she rents is perfect, but one look at the owner’s son and Angelita’s in lust big time. She finds resisting the charming Jesse Bloodworth as difficult as maneuvering small town life in her custom made stilettos. Jesse has spent years rebuilding his relationship with his teenaged son and ex-wife after running out on them eleven years ago. But his dad’s not so quick to forgive and forget. The water under the bridge becomes mighty choppy when beautiful Angelita walks into their lives. Jesse’s ex, Kerri Ann, is a far cry from where she thought she’d be in life. Even before she got pregnant with Ty, things between her and Jesse had faltered, and there was only one person to blame: Bryce Jenson. Kerri Ann never expected her long-ago crush to settle back into Sequoyah Falls to practice law. Hell, no one did. Bryce had his reasons for returning home and Kerri Ann was at the very top. They seem destined to remain just friends, until Angelita comes to town and stirs everything up. As Angelita and Jesse embark on a relationship, her father’s demands become threats and she’s forced back to Atlanta. Jesse’s attempt to save her uncovers more of her past than he bargained for. Will Angelita’s prince charming come to her rescue or does Jesse’s love come with Shoe Strings attached?

Christmas at Tiffany's


Karen Swan - 2011
    Three seasons. One chance to find the life that fits.Cassie settled down too young, marrying her first serious boyfriend. Now, ten years later, she is betrayed and broken. With her marriage in tatters and no career or home of her own, she needs to work out where she belongs in the world and who she really is.So begins a year-long trial as Cassie leaves her sheltered life in rural Scotland to stay with each of her best friends in the most glamorous cities in the world: New York, Paris and London. Exchanging grouse moor and mousy hair for low-carb diets and high-end highlights, Cassie tries on each city for size as she attempts to track down the life she was supposed to have been leading, and with it, the man who was supposed to love her all along.

Second Chance Mistletoe Kisses


Anne-Marie Meyer - 2018
     Quinn is a single mom who's down on her luck. It's a few days before Christmas and despite the fact that she's desperately trying to keep her world from crumbling down, fate isn't on her side. Just as she wrangles her five-year-old daughter into her truck, the wind picks up and scratches the Jaguar next to her. Dollar signs flash through her eyes, but it's nothing compared to the fact that the car belongs to Collin Stewart—the boy who broke her heart so many years ago.  Collin is back in his sleepy home town to spend the holidays with his sick grandmother. While out on an errand for her, he discovers that the girl he's never really been able to forget about has scratched his car. His thoughts keep returning to her and at the prompting of his grandmother, he calls her to inquire about her plans for the holidays. He soon discovers that there's been a fire at Quinn's house and the only plausible thing to do is ask her to stay with him.  It's difficult enough living in close quarters with a person you once loved, but add in Collin's sneaky grandmother or Quinn's precocious daughter and feelings become hard to ignore. Both want to protect themselves, and before they can fully trust one another, they need to decide if they can overcome their fears.

Kiss the Girl


Melanie Jacobson - 2021
    She can’t wait to leave Creekville again, and she’ll keep everyone at arm’s length until she’s out of there. That especially means the new high school coach…no matter how cute and charming he is.Noah Redmond knows Creekville is just a detour for Grace, the funniest—and sexiest—woman he’s ever met. He even joins forces with her to defeat the matchmaking schemes of . . . well, just about everyone trying to get them together. But when he and Grace must also tackle building a Christmas booth for the town’s biggest event of the year, he sees his chance for escape from the friend zone. When Grace agrees to a fake relationship to convince Noah’s boss he's ready for a promotion, the plan works perfectly until they share an unplanned kiss that changes everything. With the lines between friendship and romance blurred, is their undeniable chemistry worth risking their friendship when their future is anything but certain?

Wrapped in You


Kate Perry - 2014
    She doesn't take vacations, and she especially doesn't go anywhere during the holidays. But her boss insists it's the price she needs to pay to become a full partner in his new private investigation firm. She'll do anything to become partner--even subject herself to love, peace, and Christmas music.Trudy figures it's no big deal: she'll hole up in a hotel in Laurel Heights, drink gin, and watch action movies until she can return to London. Only her tyrant boss gives her a holiday list of to-do items, for which she must email picture proof of completion.It's impossible... Until she meets Mason, who proposes a deal: he'll help her with the list if she's his date to his office holiday events, to show his edgy tech employees that he's more than a nerd from Iowa. From the moment she agrees, Trudy gets more than she bargained for, but she refuses to be corrupted by the magic of the season--or love.Be sure to check out the rest of Kate's Laurel Heights Novels: Book 1: PERFECT FOR YOU Book 2: CLOSE TO YOU
Book 3: RETURN TO YOU Book 4: LOOKING FOR YOU Book 5: DREAM OF YOU
Book 6: SWEET ON YOU
Book 7: TAMED BY YOU Book 8: HERE WITH YOU Novelette: ALL FOR YOU Book 9: MAD ABOUT YOU Book 10: LOVED BY YOU And get to know the Summerhills...Book 1: SAY YOU WILLBook 2: LOST IN LOVEBook 3: LET'S MISBEHAVEBook 4: STAY THE NIGHTBook 5: ONCE UPON A DREAMBook 6: HOW SWEET IT ISBook 7: GIVE A LITTLELike strong independent women and the sexy alpha heroes who love them? Are you a fan of the greats like Bella Andre, Kristan Higgins, and Marie Force? Then try Kate's quirky romances. We think you'll love them, too.REVIEWS:"Kate Perry is on my auto buy list." –Night Owl Romance"Hot! Recommended!" –Bookpleasures"Kate's brilliant, as evidenced by the fact that she married me." - the Magic Man, Kate's husband"I can't help the ear-to-ear smile I have plastered to my face when reading any of Kate's books… She makes me laugh out loud, even on a crowded bus!"–Donna, Public Transit Romance Reviewer"Perry's storytelling skills just keep getting better and better!" –Romantic Times Book Reviews"Kate's writing is fluid, with a touch of sexiness and loads of romance, just what you need to relax after a long, hard-working day."–Gabby, Romance Reader Extraordinaire"Kate writes books?" –Kia, Kate's brother"Kate Perry's Laurel Heights series is of my most guilty pleasures. ;) Keep on keepin' on and kickin' ass!" –R, Closet Romance Fan"Reading Kate Perry's books is my favorite way to spend an afternoon (well..okay, my second favorite way, the husband insists I clarify...)" –M.W., Bedroom Enthusiast"A winning and entertaining combination of humor and pathos." –Booklist

Christmas at Seashell Cottage


Donna Alward - 2014
    Dr. Charlie Yang has just had the strangest first date ever: Caroling, hot chocolate, and an abandoned baby in a manger. Plans with her sexy date must be put on hold as her first priority is caring for the infant. She takes on temporary guardianship, but the big surprise is that her date wants to see her again—baby and all.Dave Ricker is still finding his feet after life as a SEAL. Working in Jewell Cove puts him closer to his young daughter, and being a better dad is his first priority. But the local doc knows how to raise his temperature, too. One date—no matter how unusual—is not enough.Planner and perfectionist Charlie is learning how to “go with the flow,” and that includes falling for Dave. But she wants promises he can’t make, security he can’t offer. When the baby’s mother is located, Charlie’s world falls apart. Dave gives her comfort, but can he offer her forever, in time for a perfect Christmas?

Holiday Heartwarmers Trilogy


Mimi Barbour - 2015
    Three stories to lift your holiday spirits! Snow Pup A small town’s lovely deputy and a father who lost his son years ago to a vindictive wife team up to save the kid from an overzealous social worker and foster home he hates. Find Me A Home An accident changes the lives of: a little baby girl who loses her parents, a crabby puppy who hates all men, a soft-hearted beauty who fears for her brother and also the cop who can’t escape his destiny. Frosty the Snowman Stranded in an Alaskan snowstorm, strangers Hali and Terry are forced to rely on each other for survival. The frigid temperatures are brutal and when Terry falls through the ice to save a puppy, the stakes for survival become enormous.

Christmas Hostage


Jane Blythe - 2017
    Now it’s giving them a second chance.He walked away because he thought it was what she wanted. When FBI Agent Tom Drake arrives at the scene of a robbery, the last person he expects to see is his ex-wife. Seeing her again reminds him of everything he lost when they divorced, and the only way he's going to survive being around her again is to keep reminding himself this is just another job.She let him walk away because she thought it was what was best for him. Hannah Buffy is conflicted about seeing her ex-husband again, especially when he starts claiming he thinks the robbery at her store wasn’t random. Positive it is just another way for him to paint her as a victim, she ignores his warnings at her own peril.↝ Trigger warning - mature content, issues of sexual assault/abuse, violence ↜

Advent


Chautona Havig - 2012
    Why is the highest paid, most successful man in the office not getting the promotions that he has earned? Why is his wallet worn out, his briefcase falling apart, and why doesn’t he at least participate in the office “Secret Santa?” These are questions that plague Lita Cathey. After three years sitting across from him, she knows only his work ethic and strange propensity to disappear from the office in a rush. As the month counts down, the most unlikely relationship builds until Lita’s heart is so entangled that she has to face her own fears. Merry Christmas, Lita!

Christmas in Quincy


Devney Perry - 2021
    She’s leaving home to spend three peaceful and quiet days in Quincy, Montana, trading gifts and grandeur for room service and slippers.But she should have expected her family to thwart her plans. The minute she finishes unpacking her suitcase at the quaint Eloise Inn, Austin Myles knocks on her room door.As the head of her father’s security team, Austin’s been ordered to drag Cleo back to California. Only when she refuses to leave, he has no choice but to stay. After a Christmas in Quincy, everything between them is about to change.