Book picks similar to
Against the Ropes by Carly Fall


cheating
contemporary-romance
second-chance
cheating-hero

A Modern Love Story


Jolyn Palliata - 2012
    Abandoned as a small child, Luc is a foul-mouthed rebel who takes it upon himself to be her defender, whether she likes it or not. As they grow up, they fumble through their different roles in each other's lives—family, confidants and then, ultimately, lovers.Just as the couple is settling into their newfound relationship, they encounter a beautiful lawyer, Payten, who is immediately taken by Luc's rough edges. But he denies her, making him absolutely irresistible in her eyes. Payten is a woman who has grown accustomed in her privileged life in obtaining whatever she wants, no matter the cost or sacrifice. And she is fairly confident Luc will eventually see things her way…one way or another.Trigger Warning: Cheating hero

Blake's Mistake


Darcy Andrews - 2020
    But he's not sitting at his desk...he's leaning over it, and he's about to kiss the fiery redhead who's spread out underneath him... Six years and a college degree later, she's back working at the same legal firm she left under such miserable circumstances. Only now, she's returned as Blake Callaghan's legal equal, not as his secretary. Blake can't believe she's back...she's just as gorgeous as he remembers her but she's an ice-queen, refusing to talk about their past. They are thrown together on a tragic custody case and it's all a bit too close to the bone for Kristin. She knows she has to reveal the secret she's held for six years...but is terrified of how he will react. A heartfelt, second-chance romance set in New Zealand, Blake & Kristin's story will touch your heart. 'Blake's Mistake' is low-steam with a HEA and no cheating. Darcy Andrews writes classic second chance romance stories set in her beautiful country. She writes satisfying, relatable characters and always ensures there's plenty of drama and angst to keep you reading to the last page... 'Blake's Mistake' is the third book in the Second Chance Series.

Gabe


Evan Grace - 2015
    When she graduates from college as valedictorian with a degree in social services, her friend and mentor Jill Swanson offers her a job, but with one condition. She has to take two weeks off and just have fun. Taking the instructions to heart, Jasmine goes to a club called Debauchery and has a sizzling encounter with a sexy stranger. Ex-pro football player Gabriel Johnson is done playing the field. Gabe is tired of meaningless relationships, but when he meets a mysterious, beautiful, blue-eyed blonde at Debauchery and the chemistry is undeniable, he knows he’s finally found the one. What he didn’t expect was for her to freak out and run off. Jasmine thought she made a clean getaway, so needless to say, she’s shocked when she finds herself face to face with the hot guy from the club once again. He’s Jill’s. Half. Brother. Gabe wants to pick up right where they left off and doesn’t waste any time convincing her. Jasmine’s blown away by the intensity of their relationship. How can she control something that makes her feel so wild and uninhibited? But Jasmine can’t handle the pressure. First, she’s confronted with old insecurities. Then suddenly, her brother has a secret he’ll only share with Gabe, the father who abandoned her shows up—at Gabe’s instigation—and a professional tragedy is the last straw. What happens when it all falls apart?Is being with Gabe more than she can handle?

Wanted


Karin Tabke - 2014
     Wanted follows the X-rated exploits of bad-boy cop and the soon-to-be-ex-wife of a mob boss. He’s been hired to guard her body, but it drives him to distraction instead, putting his career—and his life—on the line... Wanted previously appeared in Men Out of Uniform.

Twisted Fate (Twisted Fate, #1)


Emery Jacobs - 2016
    Her free spirit and noncommittal attitude left him wanting more. A lot more—he wanted forever. Unfortunately, forever becomes complicated when fate has other plans.But that was years ago...Still shattered by his guilt and self-destructive behavior, Jack lives his life in agony over the past - never embracing the present. But when Jovie Blake shows up, demanding a piece of his heart, the past that he thought he'd buried, comes crashing down around him. Forcing him to confront what he lost so long ago. Regret is inevitable, and no one’s heart is safe. Can fate be so twisted and cruel?

The Truth About Love


Emma Nichols - 2015
    Nina and Shane are already married and have a special needs baby. Life isn’t the fairy tale she imagined. Their happily ever after has never seemed so far away. Then one October, everything falls apart. Years of addiction result in Shane having a complete breakdown. Nina must decide whether to keep the family together, or keep Kylie safe. The choice isn’t simple. The results are unexpected. The journey to happiness is long and difficult. See, the truth about love is that it’s messy, challenging, exhilarating, exhausting, and scary. Most of all, real love never ends.

Say You'll Stay


Sarah J. Brooks - 2020
    I’ve missed you for the past ten years. Haven’t you missed me?”The man who broke my heart ten years ago is back in our small town.Adam Ducate. My best friend since birth.His gorgeous blue eyes made him the object of every girl’s fantasy in our entire school.But it wasn’t just his perfect looks.He read biographies on the US presidents for fun.He could count to 100 in seven different languages.He liked George Romero movies and could recite all the dialogue from Day of the Dead.In short, Adam was everything every other boy in our grade wasn’t.So I took the risk and confessed my feelings to him.Of course, it all crashed and burned in extraordinary fashion.It crushed my heart when he left my life without a word and married Chelsea instead.The biggest b*tch ever.But now he’s back.And as much as I want to ignore the butterflies in my stomach, I can’t.They say second chances don’t come around often. But can I trust that Adam will stay with me this time – or will our past keep me running?

An Heir for the Millionaire: The Greek and the Single Mom / The Millionaire's Contract Bride


Julia James - 2010
    But what will he do when he discovers his impoverished ex-mistress is also the loving mother of his child?"The Millionaire's Contract Bride" by Carole MortimerImpossibly rich Xander Fraser wants struggling single mother Casey Bridges to be his bride...of convenience Casey knows their marriage can never be real, but that doesn't stop her falling for her new husband....

Loveplay


Diana Palmer - 1986
    She had devoted her entire professional life to escaping her backwoods past and was now a Broadway star. The one blot on her resume--an ill-fated affair with America's most promising playwright.Edward "Cul" McCullough, hot new author. He left Bett behind when his career took off, but now they were working together again. Yet Cul was still afraid of commitment, and even as Bett's sensuality washed away his inhibitions, he still tried to deny their love.THE ACTION: A love story, fraught with complications, but destined for fulfillment.

After Hours with Her Ex


Maureen Child - 2015
    He has big plans for his family's ski resort. But first he must face those he left behind—including the ex-wife he has never forgotten. Lacy Sills Wyatt has barely recovered from Sam's desertion. Now he's her boss! How can she work with him every day? And how can she keep from falling for him all over again? The answer is: she can't. But when Lacy learns Sam has ulterior motives for rekindling their romance, she's not sure she can forgive him…not even with an unexpected pregnancy to consider!

Knockout


Tracey Ward - 2014
    Sometimes it's about not giving up.Kellen Coulter has a way with women. A boxer from the wrong side of town, he worked his way through the wealthy daughters at Weston High with a brilliant smile, sweet words and vacant eyes. No one gets close. No one gets through. No one knows the secrets hiding inside.No one but me. I'm the only girl he's ever let in. The only one who has ever truly seen him. When we met I was just a kid, an old soul with an open ear and a full understanding of what it was to be misunderstood by everyone around you. But even I didn't know the demons sleeping inside him. Not until now.Not until it might be too late.*Due to language and sexual content, this book is not recommended for readers under 18.Knockout is told from Jenna's point of view with new elements of the story not covered in Brawler. Both Knockout and Brawler can be read independently of each other and in no particular order.

Shadows of Hope


Georgiana Daniels - 2018
    . . . . .you struggled with infertility but unknowingly befriended your husband’s pregnant mistress?What if. . . . . .the woman you were seeing behind your wife’s back gets pregnant, threatening your job and marriage?What if. . . . . .your boyfriend never told you he was married and you discover you’re pregnant? Crisis pregnancy worker Marissa Moreau suspects her husband is cheating, but little does she know how close to home her husband’s infidelity hits. College student Kaitlyn Farrows is floundering after a relationship with her professor leaves her pregnant. Soon she lands a job and a support system at the local pregnancy resource center and things seem to be turning around. But when Marissa and Kaitlyn become friends, neither one knows they share a connection—Colin, Marissa’s husband and Kaitlyn’s former professor. When their private lives collide, the two women must face the ultimate test of their faith and choose how to move forward as they live in the shadows of hope.

The Evolution of Us


D. Kelly - 2017
    Balancing one another perfectly, Holly Ryan and Declan James were together through most of college—until their relationship blew up, leaving Declan with more questions than answers.For the past two years, Declan has tried everything he can think of to earn Holly’s forgiveness, but even if he manages to help her let go of the past and give them another chance at happiness, she still has a secret. Not to mention, she can’t get over the revolving door of women he seems to have coming in and out of his apartment.Declan is desperate to prove to Holly she’s the one for him and isn’t above using his celebrity status or enlisting the help of their friends to win her back.All’s fair in love and war, right?

Saving Grace


A.D. Justice - 2017
    Keeping those promises would be a challenge, no doubt. But all I had to do was uphold my end of the deal then walk away without a backward glance. Somewhere along the way, our charade became my reality. With each day that passes, I realize time is once again my enemy. I can’t lose her a second time. I’ll never walk away—she healed my soul. Saving Grace is now my only hope.

Bride of the Lion


Elizabeth Stuart - 1995
    But nothing could defend her from the brooding magnificence of the invader who quickened her wild Welsh blood and stole her tender soul.Robert de LangleyFaull of arrogance and outlaw vigor, the fabled Lion of Normandy would hold his old enemy's daughter hostage for his plundered lands - until he decreed that he must keep them both.Tossed between vengeance and lingering desire, war made them enemies, and passion possessed them.