Book picks similar to
Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood by Melanie Karsak


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Breathing Water


Tanya Bird - 2020
    An ancient secret. A bond that will change them forever.Failed ballerina Ella Lewis has just landed a job in an industry she knows nothing about. The goal is simple: build a normal life and keep her father happy. So when construction worker Dax Coburn enters the scene, six-foot-three of pure complication, she knows she should steer clear. The mystery shadowing him sets alarm bells ringing, yet she’s drawn to him in a way that makes no sense. As Ella gets to know the cryptic man, she discovers a secret that threatens to unravel her tidy life.Dax knows getting involved with a human is a bad idea. So why can’t he leave her alone? Gifted, funny, and alluring as hell, Ella Lewis is beautifully packaged trouble. As if he doesn’t have enough reasons to stay away, she’s just landed a job at the very company he’s vowed to destroy. Now his secret’s out, his pod exposed, and he must figure out if Ella is the mate he’s been waiting for or his path of ruin.If you love a paranormal bad boy, soul mates, and sharp dialogue, then this high-emotion romance is for you.Breathing Water is a standalone paranormal romance containing language and themes intended for mature readers.

The Sinking City


Christine Cohen - 2021
    As a patrician’s daughter, Liona enjoys the sparkling life of a noble family—although she would prefer to be tending to her flowers than practicing violin or standing around in a ball gown. But what Liona fails to realize is that Venice is a city of stone in a world of water. And ruling the dark waters are the Seleni—ageless, cold, and calculating.When she loses everything she relies on, Liona must set a new course that will shake the foundations of Venice itself.

Fallen Empire


Marc Alan Edelheit - 2021
    The First Galactic Empire has fallen. The Keeper of the Unknowable, Guardian of the Gates, the Eternal Emperor, is dead. Entire star systems have been ravaged by war, planets cracked by powerful weapons, and suns sent into supernova. The infrastructure of an advanced civilization that spanned thousands of stars is ruined. Trillions have died. Instead of liberation and a return to democracy, freedom, and a new golden age, humanity has been plunged into darkness.Eighteen years after the Great Fall of civilization, stranded on the wrecked world Asherho, Keira Kane struggles to make her way. Shattered by war, the climate of the planet has become inhospitable to life and is getting worse with each passing year. The government is a brutal regime, focused on maintaining its own grip on power instead of feeding the few million ragged survivors living upon its surface. What little law and order there is has begun to erode and break down.Adopted, protected, and raised by former Imperial Marines, Keira has been trained as a mechanic and technician. Her skillset is indispensable to maintaining the decaying infrastructure of her dying planet.Sent out on a routine repair job to Hakagi Tower, a seedy apartment block, Keira rapidly finds herself a fugitive, hunted not only by the government she has faithfully served, but by the planetary militia who wants her for their own nefarious reasons. A mysterious battle-damaged warship has also arrived in-system and they want something too.Unbeknownst to Keira, her Imperial Marine companions have been guarding an incredibly valuable secret, one that has the potential to save humanity or see its light extinguished from the galaxy forever.Caught up in a planetary revolt and hunted, Keira is thrust into a life-or-death struggle she never imagined possible. Though she has yet to suspect it, the road ahead is not only dangerous, but a path destined for her and her alone.Does she have the courage to walk it? Does she have the willpower to pick up a fallen standard? Or will she falter and allow humanity to continue its fall into darkness? Only time will tell…Find out why thousands of readers have fallen for Amazon bestselling author Marc Alan Edelheit’s captivating books! The battle to save the galaxy begins here!

Thalia De Luca


Jaclin Marie - 2020
    She knows how to make a man kneel to his knees for her. Alexander Russo is one of the biggest players known in the Mafia world. He knows how to not only mess around with women but also push Thalia's buttons. He is good with guns and fighting but the only thing he isn't good at is communicating with Thalia De Luca. When both Thalia's and Alexander's parents come together to assign an arranged marriage between the two, will sparks fly or will they burn in sorrow?Spin off to Ace De Luca

Protecting Her


Mia Ford - 2018
    This 7-book collection delivers you loads of steam and memorable HEA. Each book is a full-length standalone novel and there is no cheating and no cliffhangers.The collection includes...Protecting HerFirst Time with The MajorFalling For The SealRescue MeClaimedHis Brother's Wife andTakenSo, go ahead, ride in love with this one and enjoy yourself!Book 1: Protecting HerThe war was my fu*king nightmare. Veronica is my salvation.I'll do everything to protect her.Even if it means going back to that hellhole to bring her home. I just got home from the war. My nightmare is over, but a new one is just starting.Veronica waited for me, but now she's leaving on a sh*t assignment. Our second chance is fading fast, but I won't let it go.Losing my life is nothing.  It's losing Veronica that scares me.Sweet and beautiful... she doesn't belong anywhere near Afghanistan.The military trained me to fight. Veronica trained me to love.If she goes... then I go. When my worst predictions come true,I'll go after the ba$tards who took her from me.I'll fight for her... and the baby she's carrying.And I won't come home again without my family.Book 2: First Time With The MajorI think he wants to control me. My life is comfortable, predictable and boring....Until That guy next door walks into my café...He says he is new in the town. And I wonder if he is experienced with.....women.Those hard abs under that crisp shirt make me wonder how HARD I could make him.Those Greek God-like looks make me want to surrender. And that sexy voice...My world turns upside down. As he whispers my name.  But how can I do this? Should I let go of the fears from my past and try and venture into the unfamiliar future that awaits me? Should I let this guy control my desires....and my life? Book 3: Falling For The SealAs a SEAL, I am not used to second chances. I told ya, I am a fearless, son of a b*tch. Dead inside for so many years. But now I am back.Annabel Lee - I am home, and I am home for you. Would you be ready to give me a second chance? Book 4: Rescue MeI love my life the way it is. No commitments, no heartbreaks!That's until Josie enters my life.I found a new purpose to my life - Protecting Josie. And this time, I am not letting her go...Book 5: ClaimedI have only days to find a wife. My parents want me to be married,And this time it's an ultimatum. And then I meet AdriannaA sassy as hell free-spirited stripper. One casual hit leads to An indecent proposal for a fake marriage turning my world upside down  And I plant my seed inside her.

The Girl Who Played With The Ouija Board


William Malmborg - 2020
    

Stone Brothers Box Set


Bethany Jadin - 2019
    An accident sends Addie tumbling into our lives, shattering our quiet isolation. We're none too pleased about having an uninvited guest, especially since this storm's going to last a while. But she's got sweetness and sass, not to mention seriously tempting curves. Soon the fire isn't the only thing heating up our cabin, but once we've had her between us, letting her go might not be so easy... Addie found the cure for her wounded heart in the place she least expected. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than in the arms of these three passionate, dominant men. As our adventures continue, we discover more than just the heat of desire—a connection so deep it shakes us all. The four of us have lit a fire none of us expected, but my time in Meadowbrook is almost over. Will the embers between us cool and die, or will our unconventional romance grow into a lasting inferno? The Stone Brothers is a sizzling reverse harem series featuring a sweet and fiery romance with intense chemistry, devilishly-handsome men with dirty mouths, firm hands, and hard, unprotected wood, enough steam to melt the snow right off the mountains, and a heart-tugging, emotional rollercoaster of a storyline. This reverse harem box set contains the novels Mountain Fever and Mountain Cure. Love without limits. #whychoose

Rescue on Gimhae: Stories of the Orphan Corps 1


Earl T. Roske - 2018
    Comfort. Defend. There is no love lost between the Radial Marines and the Hospitaller Orphan Corps. So, when Sergeant Seavers learns a platoon of Marines will be tagging along for the drop down to the surface of Gimhae, he’s certain this will doom his chances at officer candidate training.As if that wasn’t enough for one mission, the colonists on Gimhae are acting skittish and uncharacteristically rude. Sgt Seavers isn’t used to this kind of behavior. Not from people his team of Hospitallers has come to save from the terraflu.Something’s amiss. Sgt Seavers can feel it. And it may have something to do with the smuggler ships hiding over the next hill.Rescue on Gimhae is the first book in the Stories of the Orphan Corps series. It is also a standalone story in the Hospitaller universe. There is no required sequence to the books in the Stories of the Orphan Corps series. Be the first on deck to experience the beginning of the adventures with the Orphan Corps. Buy it now!

Star Crossed: A Lovestruck Novel


Rachel Schurig - 2017
     Lola’s name and celebrity gossip have always gone hand-in-hand—that’s just the price she pays for being young, beautiful, and famous in Hollywood. But when the paparazzi catches her in a steamy embrace with one half of America’s favorite movie star couple, Lola knows things are about to get bad. If Lola wants to keep working in this town, she’s going to need some major image rehab. According to her publicist, what Lola really needs is an All-American boyfriend to salvage her bad-girl reputation. Sam Medina is the perfect choice to play the part—hard-working, decent, and decidedly not famous. He’s also sexy as hell. And he’s interested in being a lot more than a pretend boyfriend. Lola needs someone to save her career, not fight for her heart. But Sam refuses to follow the script…

Soul in Darkness


Wendy Higgins - 2019
    Their adoration for the mortal woman is so all-consuming that citizens begin to shower her with the very gifts and offerings they once left at the alter of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. But gods are known for their jealousy.Cupid, the god of love, takes pleasure in causing strife and mischief in the lives of humans. He uses love as a weapon, humoring in the weakness of people at the whims of their feelings. When his mother Venus approaches him about punishing the human girl who dares to steal her offerings and affections from the people, Cupid gladly accepts. Psyche's punishment is to be given to a mysterious creature who only comes to her in the dark of night under the pact that she will never lay eyes on him. She is terrified of this stranger, who the oracle described as a serpent. Her mate, however, is masterful in his dealings with his bride. He takes his time, morphing her fears into different sensations completely. Based on the Roman/Greek mythology of Cupid and Psyche by Lucius Apuleius, New York Times bestseller Wendy Higgins brings the tale to life, weaving layers that show exactly how a sacrificial lamb can be enchanted by an unseen monster.Adult Historical Fantasy. Standalone.

Abner's Adventure


Kirsten Osbourne - 2019
    When she is offered the opportunity to move to Texas as a mail-order bride, she jumps at the chance, hoping to be able to start a new life. Her new husband, and her new home, aren’t everything she dreamed they would be, and she must learn to adjust to life as a married woman. Abner Phelps has wanted a wife for years, but none of the women in Nowhere, Texas will give him the time of day. When he approaches Edna Petunia Sanders about finding him a bride, she immediately agrees to send away for a mail-order bride for him. When his new bride arrives, she’s everything he dreamed she could be. Will he be able to convince her that he is her one and only love? Or will she spend the rest of her life pining for what she doesn’t have?

A Love This True (Jasper Lake Book 2)


Leah Atwood - 2018
    When she fell short, she ran rather than face her parents’ disappointment. Only, distance didn’t make her shame disappear. Caught between loneliness and independence, she struggled with the decision to return home. Plagued with guilt after missing her sister’s wedding, she finally goes home to Jasper Lake, but her life can’t return to what it once had been. Elijah Brewer had his future mapped out—attend seminary, marry a nice girl, then pastor a mid-sized church. Moving to a small town in the Adirondacks didn’t play into those plans, but when he was asked to act as interim youth pastor at Jasper Lake First Community Church, he saw an opportunity to build his resume before leaving for seminary, bolstering his chance for a better position after graduation. Nothing could have prepared him for Trixie Graff. Opposites attract, but will her shame ruin his future or will they both learn the meaning of grace? Jasper Lake Series: Not This Time- Prequel- ASIN: B01IFCYS2K- Drew and Amie Born to Love- Book One- ASIN: B079V68BNW- Landon and Jessa A Love This True- Book Two- ASIN: B07C1V44D2- Elijah and Trixie All That Glitters- Book Three- ASIN: B07G2XV89P- Mac and Phoebe What Matters Most- Book Four- Late Fall 2018- Hunter and Beth

Let Me Burn (Six Silent Sins, #3)


Elodie Colt - 2020
    Crossed all the lines to protect her.But he may have crossed one line too many.NATHANI had a plan. Get her stalker out of the picture and make her mine. But she bolted the second I confessed my love.She wants to protect me, my stubborn dragonfly girl. Because her stalker didn’t heed my warning and came back to take her from me.But I won’t give up. She’s my perfect match.Now, I just need to figure out how to get my girl without becoming her worst nightmare. ELLA I should burst with joy. Ross declared his love for me. And what did I do? I ran.He wanted to protect me. He thought he could just chase Luka off and we’d live happily ever after. But Luka’s obsession with me runs too deep. He’ll always be my second shadow. He’ll never tolerate another man in my life. He’ll do whatever it takes to tear us apart.And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Ross safe, even if it means fighting against fate.Even if it means losing him for good... My silent sin.

Irredeemable (Pinnacle Heirs #2)


LeTeisha Newton - 2021
    No content has changed.One year … All he asks for is one year of my life to clear out all the dirt, the muck, the messed-up way of thinking that makes me splice myself open for relief. One year of no Rani, no Pinnacle heirs, no reminders of the past, and all I have to do is say yes. Just yes. It’s stupid. I know better. To say yes means there is never a chance to say no. I won’t control anything in my life, least of all how I live. This one word utterly takes over, and I no longer know where to turn for help. My release, my painful savior the blade, is now gone. All that remains is Demari Sestra. He always gives me a chance, a moment before the darkness to walk away. I can, I know it, but I never do. It leaves no one to blame but me. Rani, I once warned you the world would break you if you let it. Maybe I should have followed my own advice.Note from the authors: Irredeemable was previously published as Cutter and no content has changed. While Irredeemable can be read as a standalone, the pieces may fall in place easier if Irrepairable is read first. Unlike Irrepairable, this is not a reverse harem, academy, or bully romance. Simply put, Allie's story is dark, twisted, and might make even the darkest hearts cringe. Remember this: most topics in the book are real-life occurrences and will evoke strong feelings. Proceed with caution and know you have been warned.

Prince Of The Dark Fae


Lindsey Devin - 2022
    Nothing about serving the fae is easy. Or safe.Still, I thought I could have one nice thing. The pendant I found when I was young is my good luck charm and my secret. Until I forget to hide it at a ball and instead of bringing me luck it lands me in hot water.The King and Queen of the Light fae tell me it's stolen and that I have to return it. Only when I try it won't come off. The fae don't grant second chances. What they call me next makes my blood run cold.Witch.I'm not a witch. I'm a seamstress, a human, a nobody. Now I'm banished from the land of the light fae, leaving only one place to go.The Dark Fae’s Kingdom.Suddenly I find myself claimed by the dark fae prince. He's as handsome as he is deadly and I should be running from him. Only he and his kingdom awaken a side of me I never knew existed. I hunger for him, but every time he looks at me I can't be certain if it's me or the pendant he wants.This is the land of the dark fae, where every offer comes with a catch. Where trickery and cruelty are supposed to be celebrated. The grander the offer, the more wary you should be of the cost.The prince wants me to be his queen.But what will saying yes cost me?