Book picks similar to
The Shell Shop by Mia Alexander


first-in-series
contemporary
home-family-hearth
01-books

Just for the Summer (Willowbury #3)


Fay Keenan - 2021
    While her three sons spend the summer holiday with their father, Kate has an opportunity to prove to herself that there is a new life, after her divorce.Harry Sinclair is the owner of Vale Volumes book shop on Willowbury High Street. Content, if a little bored with his lot, his shop, as well as his life, could do with freshening up. When Kate offers to spruce up Vale Volumes ready for the visit of a famous author, they find they have a lot more in common than colour schemes.But both have secrets and responsibilities, and when the trials of family life threaten their burgeoning friendship, can they overcome the experiences of their pasts? Will Somerset’s most magical town cast its spell on them? Or will Kate and Harry have to concede that their friendship really is just for the summer?Let Fay Keenan transport you to the perfect British summertime, with beautiful countryside, an unforgettable romance, and just the right dose of escapism. Perfect for all fans of Debbie Macomber, Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde.

Honeysuckle Season


Mary Ellen Taylor - 2020
    Though her new life as a wedding photographer provides a semblance of purpose, it’s also a distraction from her profound pain.When asked to photograph a wedding at the historic Woodmont estate, Libby meets the owner, Elaine Grant. Hoping to open Woodmont to the public, Elaine has employed young widower Colton Reese to help restore the grounds and asks Libby to photograph the process. Libby is immediately drawn to the old greenhouse shrouded in honeysuckle vines.As Libby forms relationships and explores the overgrown—yet hauntingly beautiful—Woodmont estate, she finds the emotional courage to sort through her father’s office. There she discovers a letter that changes everything she knows about her parents, herself, and the estate. Beneath the vines of the old greenhouse lie generations of secrets, and it’s up to Libby to tend to the fruits born of long-buried seeds.

Sugar Street (Sugar Street #1)


M.J. Pullen - 2018
    Adventurous Jess adores her sportswriter husband, but he’s more likely to fall asleep than respond to her creative attempts at seduction. Delia agreed to an open marriage when she had nothing to lose; but now that the reality of her choice has settled in, she feels a void no direct sales commission can fill. Infertility has left ex-tennis star Carras feeling powerless and frustrated. PTA president Maizy is desperate for acceptance in the Sugar Mills community, and with her health-conscious husband. Enter Parker, a gorgeous young tennis pro moonlighting as a male escort. Could a little well-orchestrated jealousy cure the marital blues? Will a risky scheme put the spark back in their suburban marriages, or burn everything they’ve worked for to the ground?Playful women's fiction with relationships at its core, SUGAR STREET is a story about marriage, friendship and the wild hopes that lie beneath quiet desperation."[Pullen] systematically dismantles the contentment of her very comfortable characters while also keeping the story bouncing with zippy, involving dialogue and a fine sense of dramatic pacing. A glitzy romp that features suburban wives making unconventional—and haphazardly disastrous—attempts to break out of the safe patterns of their lives." - Kirkus Reviews

Beyond the Lens


Hannah Ellis - 2016
    Before she knows it she’s jetting off to a piece of paradise on a beautiful Spanish island. Much to her surprise, Lucy makes new friends and has the time of her life, even indulging in a behind-the-scenes romance with a hunky cameraman.Convinced the production will never make it to the screen, Lucy returns home on cloud nine, but soon finds that things are not always as they seem.

Summer Island Book Club


Ciara Knight - 2021
    The arrival of her wildly successful, buttinski friends, overwhelms Julie when her life goes from peaceful to melodrama, makeovers, and matchmaking. Especially when they make her believe there is still life to be lived with one handsome sailor who’s just moved to town. Trevor Ashford retreats from big city life to sunny Florida after a failed marriage and damaged reputation. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company in peace, but when Houdini-a mischievous pet ferret-steals an engine part and leads him on a merry chase into the arms of Julie Boone, he has to choose between being a recluse or embracing a new love.

The Notecard


Jon Rance - 2020
    

Filigrees, Fortunes and Foul Play


Emily Selby - 2018
    But when she discovers the body of her best cleaning client with a quilling needle in the neck, Katie becomes one of the key suspects and her life takes a sharp turn.   Katie's job as a police clerk gives her the opportunity to share her hunches with the Inspector leading the investigation. But he's all-logic-and-evidence and not exactly open to listening to her intuitions. Caught in the clash between hunches and cold logic, she is forced to look at her hometown and its quirky inhabitants in a way she’s never done before. Will Katie be able to find the murderer, convince the Inspector to listen to her, and clear her name before another person dies? Don't miss the first book in the new cozy mystery series: The Paper Crafts Club Mystery - click buy now!

Forgive Me Not


Samantha Tonge - 2018
    But now, two years later, she’s ready to face up to her past; she’s ready to go back.But Emma’s unannounced return causes more problems than she could have foreseen. The people she knew and loved aren’t ready to forget, let alone forgive. And the one person she wants to reconnect with the most, her mother, can’t remember who she is.Just as Emma starts to rebuild trust, an uncovered family secret and a shocking past crime threaten her newly forged future...Sometimes simply saying sorry isn’t enough.Perfect for readers of Ruth Hogan or Amanda Prowse, this is an extraordinary and unforgettable novel about running away from yourself – and finding a way back.

A Piece Of Normal


Maddie Dawson - 2017
    . . . Like Anne Tyler, Shelton seems to possess a nearly boundless capacity for empathy. She has the ability to make us love her characters for their faults, not in spite of them.” —Connecticut Post Warmhearted, insightful, funny and poignant, bestselling author Maddie Dawson takes the unfathomable ways of love and family, and celebrates [the joys of] the ordinary craziness of being human. “You know what people really need? Somebody who will listen hard and then find a way to tell them, ‘It’s not all your fault. It’s going to work out fine. Don’t give up.’” So advice columnist ‘Dear Lily’ Brown deeply believes. But Lily could write a letter to herself, asking what to do about an ex-husband who still wants her dating advice, how to redecorate the family home she’s kept exactly the same since her parents died tragically young, and how to move on with her strangely becalmed life…And oh, yes, what to do when your wild-child estranged sister storms back into town, blowing your nicely arranged life into disarray. “As her protagonist tries to learn that she cannot and does not have to control everyone around her and tries to enjoy the "fun" of a dysfunctional family life, Dawson delves into family relationships with humor and empathy, making this a pleasurable read.” –Booklist “Shelton’s greatest talent is a gift for juxtaposing comedy and tragedy to the pulsing beat of the modern-day mating dance.” —BookPage **This book was originally published under the pen name, Sandi Kahn Shelton ***

Promise to Keep it Trill


B. Love - 2021
    That was the price most paid when they gave their souls to the streets. When Jason’s crimes finally caught up with him, he made his best friend, Kannon, promise to look after his heart in human form – Makayla. Years pass, and Kannon comfortably rules Jason’s empire… getting close to Makayla and her secret love child in the process.When Jason finds out he and Makayla conceived a son their last night together, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to regain his freedom – even if that means becoming an informant. That choice puts a target on Jason’s back that forces him and his family to flee. Though Makayla is happy Jason is out, she finds herself struggling between rebuilding a family with him and missing what she had back home with Kannon.Bodies drop by the dozens in an attempt to lure Jason back home, forcing him to face the consequences of his choices. With Makayla caught up in a love triangle, she has to choose between her past with Jason or the future she saw with Kannon. After love, betrayal, and murder… the trio of friends learn what it really means to keep it trill. Please note: This is a 74,000-word URBAN romance standalone.

Sugar Bright


Ali Dean - 2021
    Too bad he's not who she thinks he is. Complete with unforgettable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a dash of Dean's signature sports writing, this small-town romance delivers an uplifting vibe that will make your heart happy.Mia’s plans implode when, on their three-year anniversary, her boyfriend announces that he’s moving to the other side of the country instead of proposing like he was supposed to. She had a vision of small-town bliss that included marriage and children and now she’s fallen off her timeline. Fortunately, Mia’s friends have a tried-and-true breakup recovery process that will get her back on track. Unfortunately for Mia, training for a marathon relay is part of this process. She’s used to being the clumsy nerd amongst super athletes, but if it means the hot new guy in town is going to coach them, Mia is willing to subject herself to the torture of training.When Jamie escapes big city corporate life to take over as the P.E. teacher in rural Vermont, he isn’t sure he’ll fit in. To his surprise, the locals welcome him with open arms, and he starts to think this might not be a temporary hiatus after all. Once he meets Mia, Jamie can even see himself in Sugarville for the long haul, with her at his side. However, Jamie is hiding a secret that not only threatens to make him an outcast in town, but will destroy any chances of a future with Mia. What happens when Mia finds out Jamie isn’t who she thinks he is?

A Family Affair


Mary Campisi - 2006
    Her father has another family which includes a mistress and a daughter. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father's secret life, Christine heads to Magdalena, prepared to hate the people who have caused her to question everything she thought she knew about her father. But what she finds is a woman who understands her, a half sister who cherishes her, and a man who could love her if she'll let him. The longer she's around them, the more she questions which family is the real one. . . Attention Book Clubs! Included on my website is a Book Club Discussion Guide for A Family Affair. This story is filled with moral ambiguity, difficult choices, and second chances--all great topics for conversation and contemplation. Truth in Lies Series: Book One: A Family Affair Book Two: A Family Affair: Spring Book Three: A Family Affair: Summer Book Four: A Family Affair: Fall Book Five: A Family Affair: Christmas Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter (TBA) Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise (TBA)

Living with Markus


Florence Osmund - 2016
     Having put an embittered past behind him, Marc builds a successful landscaping business with clientele from the affluent suburbs of Chicago and starts to appreciate the finer things in life—and he's found the perfect woman to share in it. But when his alcoholic sister and her two young sons enter into the picture, Marc falls victim to their helplessness and temporarily puts his own life aside. When his despondent father is added to the mix, it doesn’t take long for Marc to completely lose sight of his own dreams—and his girlfriend. Does Marc save his relatives from their ill-fated lives, or save himself from entering into a life of self-sacrifice and missed opportunities? Painful soul-searching and late-night talks with the captivating tenant downstairs guide him to an unexpected decision and discovery of his true purpose in life.

Protected by the Bad Boy


Evangeline Kelly - 2020
    When she’s attacked after a concert, she thinks a crazed fan is responsible, but a chilling phone call soon after brings up memories from the past that still haunt her. She hates the idea of a bodyguard trailing her steps, but she relents when she realizes how dangerous the situation has become. Troy Littman has waited for a promotion and chance to head the new division of Bad Boy Bodyguards for a long time. He’s ready to put all his attention into developing the office when he’s given one last assignment: protect a country singer from potential harm. A no-fraternization policy prevents relationships between clients and bodyguards, and Troy has always maintained a professional distance. But Kayla Keller gets under his skin in a way that no other woman has. Troy has to choose between a relationship he desires and a promotion he’s wanted for a long time. And just when he thinks he has the answer, new information pops up, putting Kayla’s life in even more jeopardy. Will they catch the man who attacked her, or will their growing love slip between their fingers before it has a chance to begin? A Christian romance with a happy ending!

Wanted


Jennae Vale - 2019
    They’re wanted by the English Dragoons for reaving their own cattle in the year 1747. In order to escape, they flee on foot and the only way they can go is up. Climbing to a cave on Ben Macdhui might be their last hope, but they’re soon caught in an avalanche that tosses them through time to the year 2019 and a place very far away from home. Kirsten Hunter is part owner of a ski shop in the tiny Sierra Nevada village of Delight. She’s also a member of the local search and rescue team. Her days are full and her personal life is suffering. It isn’t until she meets Bear that she believes there might be something missing in her life. Unfortunately, she thinks he and his brothers are irresponsible, extreme skiers who have flouted the rules and were caught in the controlled avalanche she was tasked with overseeing. Having no idea that they are actually time traveling Highlanders she is angered that they risked their own lives and the lives of her search and rescue team for what she sees as an adrenaline rush. The attraction Bear and Kirsten have for each other becomes harder and harder to deny as they spend time together, but standing in their way is a jealous man who wants Kirsten all to himself and Bear’s desire to return to life the way it was before the Highland defeat at Culloden - the life he’s lost and can’t forget.