Book picks similar to
Country At Heart by Char Dafoe


ex-died
lgbtq-romance
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theme_opposites-attract

Not Like Other Boys


K.A. Merikan - 2014
    Win a boyfriend. ---Ethan. Taxidermist. Goth weirdo. Can’t wait to be done with high school.Ethan is a young artist-entrepreneur with a love for quirky taxidermy. Roadkill is so much better than people. By the end of high school, all he wants is to develop his business, yet all his parents want is for him to go to law school. That is more than enough of a problem for Ethan, so any kind of love life is out of the question. That is until Robert Hunter, the quarterback of the football team, comes crashing into him. Literally.Robert. Quarterback. In the closet. More than meets the eye.Robert is the popular kid, the quarterback on his way to med school. He’s gay, but not exactly coming out since he doesn’t like to stir the pot. One night, spurred on by too much booze, he ends up causing irreversible harm to Ethan, the school’s weirdo.The aftermath.Robert will do anything to avoid charges for what he’s done, but when Ethan makes an indecent demand in return for his silence, Robert might just be in way over his head.For Ethan, it’s a simple act of revenge on a bully, but when Robert turns out to be not-so-straight, their arrangement gets complicated all too fast.POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: First love, fitting in, entrepreneurship, disability, high school, jock/goth, taxidermy, artist, coming out, becoming an adult, enemies to lovers, hurt/comfortGenre: New Adult M/M romanceLength: ~ 90,000 words (Standalone novel, no cliffhanger.)WARNING: Contains steamy, passionate scenes, violent injury, themes of bullying, and a morally ambiguous proposition(This book was formerly published as ‘Diary of a Teenage Taxidermist’)

Fierce & Fabulous


Elizabeth Varlet - 2016
    Behind the Sassy Boyz's seductive smiles and sinful dance moves are desires that will leave readers breathless.Fitch Donovan never thought a lap dance could change his life, but from the moment the gorgeous dancer's lips touch his, his world comes screeching to a halt. No matter how hard he tries, he can't shake the desire that rocks him to his core. He's longed for this passion all his life—he just never dreamed he'd find it with another man.Sharing a soul-shaking kiss with a straight boy is the kind of drama Ansel Becke just doesn't need. Spotlights aren't made for two and Ansel prefers to keep things on a one-night-only basis. So when Fitch shows up asking for an encore, Ansel knows he should send his gorgeous ass packing.Though Ansel tries to pretend that what's between him and Fitch is far from fabulous, there's something about the big, burly contractor that makes Ansel's world sparkle in a way no amount of glitter ever could. And Fitch will do whatever it takes to convince Ansel that when the thing you need most in the world falls right into your lap, you'd be a fool to let it go.

Scripted Love


Helena Harte - 2021
    She moves to LA and jumps in with both feet to turn her books into movies. It gets even better when her new director is dapper butch, Rix Reardon. Everything is looking damn near perfect. For now, anyway.Rix Reardon splits her time between running her own production company and fundraising for the local LGBTQ Center. Life is great, but she yearns for a soul mate and the patter of tiny feet. When she starts filming with her favorite writer and they hit it off, Rix begins to wonder if Layla could be her future.But Layla receives an offer of a lifetime that Rix sees as a betrayal. Then there's the bombshell that Layla doesn’t believe in happy ever after, and Rix’s dream life begins to slip away.Will Layla and Rix find their way to love, or is happy ever after not in the script?

#CassiNova


Lori G. Matthews - 2020
    Now she refuses to open her heart again, choosing casual sex over deeper commitments, until a not-so-chance meeting with her favorite Hollywood starlet turns her world upside down.Will Alex give love another try? Will Sam find the courage to follow her heart, Hollywood be damned? Will anyone get a baby goat in pajamas?#CassiNova is a sweet, funny, fun romp through the Hollywood Hills.Genre: RomanceEditor: Alissa McGowanCover Designer: Kayla Mancuso

Finding Jaime


P. Dawn - 2016
    Well, I'm setting that straight. Now I don't give a damn because I know who I am. I know who I love is nobody's business but my own, and if anybody has a problem with it, then that's theirs, not mine. I can't change who I am any more than you can change the color of your eyes. You might be able to cover them up and make them appear different, but they're still the same underneath no matter what you do."Jaime knows deep down that there's something different about herself. Something that has been suppressed since childhood. Keeping her true feelings pressed down causes her to lead an unhappy life, with empty experiences that mean nothing to her.One night, all of that changes.Stumbling upon a secret club called 'House' introduces her to a world she's never given a single thought to. However, there she quickly understands that there's more to the club than meets the eye.She has the chance to learn how to be herself and to explore her own sexuality without the risk of others finding out before she's ready.One person is there for her every step of the way. A beautiful and mysterious woman known only as Butterfly guides her through her journey of self-discovery.But, when Jaime is ready to admit to her feelings, an accidental discovery sends her reeling.Will she forgive the betrayal from the one person she thought she could trust, or will she hang up her mask and hide away from her true self once more?Warning.This book contains scenes unsuitable for any person under the age of 18 years due to graphic sexual content, and bad language.

Insult to Injury


Gun Brooke - 2019
    She withdraws from her privileged life to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island. Romi Shepherd is homeless in New York City and barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway. After being wrongfully arrested, she hitchhikes back to Rhode Island and, out of money and options, hides in a secret room in the house she grew up in, unaware that the new owner is about to move in permanently. When Gail discovers Romi has been living in her house, she is curiously drawn to the young woman. Romi is torn between feeling guilty for lying to Gail and enamored of her, and she fears the truth will set them on a path toward heartbreak.Cover Artist: Gun Brooke and Sheri HalalGenres: Contemporary / RomanceWords: 67,500

He Owns My Heart


Evie Drae - 2020
    Trapped in the sticky fine print of an ironclad contract that forbids him from revealing his very-much-single status until the season finale of his reality show airs, he calls an elite male escort service that caters to the rich and desperate.Accustomed to servicing his often less than savory clients at more upscale locales, twenty-six-year-old Toby Carmichael is surprised when his handler sends him to a run-down motel off I-55. But “surprise” doesn’t come close to describing the shock that rocks his system when a delightful stuttering mess covered in tattoos and nearly ten years his senior stumbles into the room—and right into his heart.For the first time since Toby was forced into the life of prostitution, a kiss sparks a desire that has nothing to do with money and everything to do with genuine chemistry and the faintest beginnings of something so much more. But Toby’s dark past and troubled present make it impossible to see a future with Landon. And when the truth comes to light, a horrified and helpless Landon is determined to save Toby at all costs.Content Warnings: Some content in He Owns My Heart may be triggering for some readers, due to the depiction of traumatic topics or other subjects or themes that may be difficult to read. Content warnings include the following:• A main character with childhood history of physical and verbal abuse by a parental figure—discussed by character as an adult, nothing depicted on page.• Homophobia from a close family member of a main character.• Discussion of previous self-harm/cutting behaviors by an adult survivor—presence of physical scars and mental ramifications discussed.• A main character involved in prostitution with dub-con/non-con aspects—all interactions between the main characters contain full consent and there are no graphic on-page depictions. More graphic experiences are alluded to via inner monologue narrative.• A main character involved as a victim in human trafficking associated with the illegal drug trade.• Consensual Domination/submission relationship between the main characters—including light bondage, tease and denial, edging, the use of toys, and mild pain play (i.e. slapping and predicament bondage).• Depiction of moderate on-page violence between main characters and antagonists—no blood depicted.• Depiction of stalking activities by an ex-partner of a main character.• Consumption of alcohol by main characters and side characters.• Graphic portrayals of consensual penetrative cis male/cis male sex with condom usage. Oral sex scenes without use of condom shown with first instance occurring prior to reader’s knowledge of previous health check by both parties with both parties fully aware of the other’s health status before oral sex occurred.As always, if any of these topics could potentially impact your mental health or wellbeing, please consider skipping this read. Your emotional and mental safety are always the top priority.

The Other Women


Erin Zak - 2020
    She should leave him, but hasn’t. Instead, she leads a safe life in Chicago and sees Willow Carmichael on the side. When Willow moves for a job opportunity in Las Vegas, their love affair comes to a screeching halt, leaving Cecily broken, guilty and confused. Francesca Lopez has everything she needs: family, friends, a great job, and glittery non-stop Las Vegas excitement. If she’d known her perfect life was going to be flipped upside down when none other than Willow Carmichael tore her way into it, she would’ve guarded her heart a little better. While on a business trip in Las Vegas, Cecily meets Francesca by chance at a bar and are inexplicably drawn to each other. What starts as friendship grows into more, beginning to heal Francesca’s heart and give Cecily the strength to be true to herself. But when they discover they have more in common than they think, the very person who bound them together may be the reason they’re ripped apart.Genre: Romance

My Ticket Out


J.N. Marton - 2020
    A mysterious new girl. A secret romance…Charlie Baker wants out. She wants out of her small, southern hometown of BluHaven and she has her sights set on a basketball scholarship to a college as far away as her dreams can take her. Everything is going according to plan until she moves to town.Aspen Sullivan is breathtaking. She is beautiful, smart, talented…. She evokes feelings in Charlie that she hadn’t thought possible. When their friendship blossoms into something more, Charlie discovers a new truth about herself. But with Aspen’s mysterious past, they must keep their relationship a secret.Will their love be strong enough to endure the trials of deceiving those closest to them?Do they have what it takes to escape the constraints of the south and the closet together?My Ticket Out is a Young Adult, LGBT story about love, and self-discovery. If you enjoy stories that include romance, heartbreak, and embracing who you are, then you will definitely love this book by author J.N. Marton.Pick this book up today to see if Charlie will find her ticket out.

Heart's Surrender


Emma Weimann - 2014
    But soon simple attraction turns into something more. What happens when the worlds of a handywoman and a pampered housewife collide? Can nights of hot, erotic fun lead to love, or will these two very different women go their separate ways?

Olivia's Awakening


Ronica Black - 2020
    One morning, after struggling to run up a mountain trail, she meets Eve Monroe who stirs her in ways she doesn’t understand.Eve helps women achieve the physical fitness they yearn for, but when it comes to her love life, she buries her own yearnings and only dates casually. All that changes the day she meets the beautiful and sheltered Olivia. Eve is surprisingly smitten, and she soon finds that her desire to help is quickly overshadowed by her desire to make love.When Olivia hires Eve as her trainer, their attempts at controlling their attraction are no match for their unbridled passion. But it’s the deeper, more poignant feelings neither of them can ignore that have Olivia and Eve questioning everything they’ve ever known about love.Cover Artist: Tammy SeidickGenres: Contemporary / Romance Tags: Coming Out, Friends to Lovers Romance, Virgins/First Love

Arbor Vitae


Susan X. Meagher - 2006
    Struggling to work through her grief, she always puts her children’s needs first, leaving little time for herself. Five years later her youngest child leaves for college and Abby decides to kick start a new lease on life by returning to the dating scene, as well as transforming the backyard of her home into an oasis of beauty and tranquility. She hires Clancy O’Connor, a high-spirited young landscape architect who is trying to build a business. Clancy develops a serious crush on the beautiful widow before their first meeting is finished. It's a recipe for heartache; even though Abby seems remarkably comfortable with Clancy’s lesbianism, Clancy is unable to imagine that Abby would be willing to take the leap given the differences in their age, class, wealth and lifestyles.As Abby reveals more of herself to Clancy during their many hours of consultation, the connection between them begins to spark. After an evening of small intimacies and shared dreams, the women can no longer fight their mutual desire. Although Abby has her doubts about the future, she and Clancy embark on a torrid love affair… but all too soon a threat develops that could destroy the tentative bond that holds them together.

How to Win a Guy in 10 Dates


Jane Linfoot - 2000
    But the heat is sizzling and the attraction is explosive. And they’re fighting it all the way….

Meridio's Daughter


L.J. Maas - 2001
    Cassandra (Casey) Meridio has come home after a six-year absence to find that her father's new Kare is a very desirable, but highly dangerous woman. Set in modern day Greece on the beautiful island of Mýkonos, this novel weaves a tale of emotional intrigue as two women from different worlds struggle with forbidden desires. As the two come closer to the point of no return, Casey begins to wonder if she can really trust the beautiful Karê. Does Nikki's dark past, hide secrets that will eventually bring down the brutal Meridio Empire, or are her actions simply those of a vindictive woman? Will she stop at nothing for vengeance... even seduction?

Auraria


Tim Westover - 2012
    None of these distract James Holtzclaw from his employer's mission: to turn the fading gold-rush town of Auraria, GA, into a first-class resort and drown its fortunes below a man-made lake. But when Auraria's peculiar people and problematic ghosts collide with his own rival ambitions, Holtzclaw must decide what he will save and what will be washed away. Taking its inspiration from a real Georgia ghost town, Auraria is steeped in the folklore of the Southern Appalachians, where the tensions of natural, supernatural and artificial are still alive.