Book picks similar to
Protector by Paulina Woods


fantasy
dnf
quickie
short-insta-love-books

Descension


B.C. Burgess - 2012
    Following a cryptic message to seek her birth family in Oregon, Layla uproots her life to find out the truth about her past. And herself.QuinQuin's natural charisma is attractive to plenty of women, but he longs for the one he's been dreaming of his entire life. When that day arrives, not only is he breathless, he's confronted with the challenge of a lifetime - an innate need to keep her safe and forever by his side.The EnemyThrough manipulation and dark magic, Agro uses the powers of others to elevate his supremacy and wealth. When he discovers Layla didn't die at birth, he sets out to find and possess her.Stretching from coast to coast and teeming with loathed villains and beloved heroes, The Mystic Series is rich with emotion, magic and intrigue. Whether the reader is laughing, crying or falling in love, they'll find themselves invested in Layla's fate through the rich dialogue and emotionally driven characters that weave the web of this fiery tale.

Anathema


Megg Jensen - 2011
    Make your own destiny. Reychel is a slave girl surrounded by magic, lies, and manipulation. Her best friend disappears in the middle of the night leaving Reychel to face her fifteenth birthday, the day her master burns his brand into the back of her bald head, alone. Sheltered from the outside world and without any hope for escape, can Reychel learn to believe in herself?

The Survivors


Amanda Havard - 2011
    Fourteen of them survived. The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family's sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back. On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she's sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all... HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR? The Survivors will steal your heart and invade your mind. Fall into the pages of Sadie's life, a world so frighteningly similar to your own, you'll find yourself wanting to go to the Montana mountains to find the Survivors for yourself. And it is only the beginning.

The Shattered Court


M.J. Scott - 2015
    If a woman of royal blood manifests powers, she is immediately bound by rites of marriage. She will serve her lord by practicing the tamer magics of the earth—ensuring good harvests and predicting the weather. Any magic more dangerous is forbidden. Lady Sophia Kendall, thirty-second in line to the throne, is only days away from finding out if she will be blessed—or perhaps cursed—with magic. When a vicious attack by Anglion’s ancient enemies leaves the kingdom in chaos, Sophia is forced to flee the court. Her protector by happenstance is Lieutenant Cameron Mackenzie, a member of the royal guard, raised all his life to be fiercely loyal to the Crown. Then Sophia’s powers manifest stronger than she ever imagined they would, and Cameron and she are inextricably linked in the process. As a witch unbound by marriage rites, Sophia is not only a threat to the established order of her country, but is also a weapon for those who seek to destroy it. Faced with old secrets and new truths, she must decide if she will fight for her country or succumb to the delicious temptation of power.…

A Bride for the Alien King


Roxie Ray - 2019
    And Earth is just the place to do it. Arranged matings are the only way we can survive, and as king I must set an example. But I never thought I’d meet her. One look at Rosa and I know she’s meant to be my queen. She’s nothing like I imagined, and more than I could ever dare wish for. But humans have only just learned that aliens exist, and I would surrender my kingdom before I forced her into a relationship she doesn’t want. Time grows short as ancient enemies close in on my home planet, and if we don’t transport our volunteer mates quickly we will run out of time. I cannot command Rosa to come with us … but I’m more than ready to seduce her into becoming my queen.

Destrózame


Tahereh Mafi - 2011
    No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Snake Keeper: Alien First Contact Romance (The Federation's Keepers Book 1)


Alexandra Norton - 2021
    What's next, getting abducted by a red-eyed alien snake monster?The Federation came to invite humanity into the fold. The last thing I want to worry about is alien "Keepers" or the humans they want to bring back to their worlds for an "evaluation period". I want to keep my head down, study, and live my normal life in peace.Xioumar, the Keeper put forward by the serpentine species of Xiorn, has plenty of willing human volunteers to go with him. I saw the one they assigned him, fawning over the towering, statuesque alien like a lovesick puppy.So why does it have to be me?He moves like a viper ready to strike, and his touch sends a very unsettling jolt of electric heat down my spine. Are they all like that, or is it just him?Ripped from my home against my will and taken hundreds of thousands of light-years away, I am trapped. And now I have to learn to live with this monster.But I'm not worried. I have a plan.

The Shadow Prince


Stacey O'Neale - 2014
    Discover a world of elemental powers, courage, duty, sacrifice, forbidden romance and a war for the very elements of life. Sixteen-year-old Rowan is an elemental prince. Banished to the mortal world, he doubts he will ever return to Avalon and claim the fire court throne. Until he receives a challenge from his estranged mother. If he slays Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental, princess of the air court, she will abdicate her throne. Is he capable of completing such a heinous task? And what price will he pay if he refuses? Perfect for fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas. "Filled with betrayal and intrigue, The Shadow Prince is a dark and twisty novella from an exciting new author!" Katee Robert, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Fire and Brimstone


J.B. Trepagnier - 2019
    I’ve always been excellent at chemistry. Turns out my knack for chemicals was because my mum is a witch and a potions master. Did I mention she summoned a demon for a ritual and Lucifer himself came? Can I tell you how weird it is to go from card carrying atheist to finding out Satan is your dad? Harvard is out. My magic was bound when I was a baby. Apparently, now I’m going to Fortuna Conservatory instead because once I’m unbound, I can cause hell on earth. Something about being the princess of Hell.I’m engaged to be married to who I thought was my mother’s cat and a boy from my high school I’ve nicknamed Cockblocker. Oh, he’s actually a hellcat and I hate him. I’m trying to get out of it. My high school ex is a hellhound and he’s at Fortuna with me. He’s unusually interested in who my father is and would have known what I was when we were dating. In fact, there are two hellhound leaders here that are just a little too interested in dear old dad. I’m woefully behind in everything since I was raised as human. A green haired warlock has taken me under his wing to help me with magic. A vampire tutor was arranged for me by the woman who foretold my birth.All the answers about me came in a vision to the hellcat’s mother, Lilith. She’s the one moving pieces in the background. She’s arranging marriages, choosing my classes, and putting people in my path. She’s also avoiding giving us any answers. Can I navigate a magical school when I have no training, not kill this hellcat I’m engaged to, manage my crushes on the warlock and vampire, and still survive with two huge hellhounds sniffing around? Something big is happening. My birth wouldn’t have been foretold if it wasn’t. I need to unlock all of my gifts as half angel half witch because whatever is going on, I’ve only scratched the surface.

Age of Victoria


Alston Sleet - 2019
    She wanted to explore the world and escape from the strict etiquette of British nobility. With her father fighting in India, the governess assigned to raise her controlled every aspect of her life. The financial downturn of a friend of the family would lead to her sister's longtime engagement turning into an immediate marriage. Victoria's thirst for adventure and tomboy ways would not prepare her for the sudden advent of the apocalypse. Can Victoria and her friends survive this new world of Classes and Skills? Join Victoria and her family on a LitRPG adventure, unlike any other!

Hope In A Time Of War


Athena Storm - 2019
    And yet she saved me… An angel who brought peace. I revel in war. In conflict. Death. And destruction. I fight for vengeance. In hopes it will soothe the sadness of my soul. At first I think nothing when I capture Faith Jorelle. But then I realize there is more to her. Her beauty - ethereal and fragile. Her spirit - passionate and free. She enraptures me. And the predator becomes the prey. We are on a world of the damned. Mindless conflict is all we know. And yet, when Faith walks among us. There is peace. This is the story of my beloved. The woman who stopped a war. Some call her a miracle. Others call her a goddess. Her presence and voice may bring hope to many. But to me, she will always be. My fate. My angel. My salvation. Mine. Hope In A Time of War is a standalone book within the wider Athenaverse. It can be read as a standalone, but it shares the same universe that you’ve found in other books. This book features a romance of an alpha male alien warrior, a smart, sassy human woman. Expect to see characters you’ve come to love pop in during the story. No cheating and HEA guaranteed!

Society of Wishes


Elise Kova - 2018
    That is, until the day she and her best friend are gunned down in a government raid.With her dying breath, Jo uses magical lore passed down from her grandmother to summon a wish-granter. Her wish? To save her friend’s life. Except wishes have costs, and for Jo, the price is the erasure of her entire mortal existence.Now, as the most recent addition to the mysterious Society of Wishes, Jo must form a new “life” alongside the seven other members, one of which being her savior himself. Living as an occupant of the Society’s lavish mansion should be quite the perk, but while it is furnished with everything its inhabitants could possibly need, it lacks one thing—freedom.Her otherworldly identity crisis takes a backseat, however, when Jo learns that the friend she sacrificed everything for is headed down the same path to ruin. Jumping in head-first, Jo uses her newfound magical abilities to protect him, only to realize that the ripples of her actions have far-reaching consequences. When the Society’s aloof leader Snow decides to give her a taste of his own ancient magic, Jo discovers that there are threads woven into the tapestry of her new reality that reach far beyond the wishes she is now required to grant. Ones that, if tugged on, could mean the unraveling of the world itself.

Carnival of Secrets


Melissa Marr - 2012
    And at the heart of The City is the carnival, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.All Mallory knows of The City is that her father—and every other witch there—fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable.While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the carnival.From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and Graveminder, comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

Graceling


Kristin Cashore - 2008
    As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Ink


Holly Hood - 2011
    Her heart tells her she can adjust, while her head begs for her old life back. Suddenly she's a misfit in a town of rich snobs and cruel teens. After almost being killed at a rock concert, she's dying to find out more about the guy who saved her...is he trouble? Is Hope in over her head?Slade Andrews, the tattooed bad boy and lead singer of the Evil Kings of Ink, is haunted by his past. When Hope moves to town, Slade is strangely drawn to her and determined to prove he is not the guy the town paints him to be. In a town full of lies, one secret could change everything.Not suitable for eighteen and under.