Book picks similar to
Unlocking Fear by Kennedy Layne


romance
romantic-suspense
contemporary
suspense

Malice


Lisa Clark O'Neill - 2015
    A man known only as “The Ghost” begins wreaking havoc on the Hostess City, bringing murder and mayhem to its southern shores. When evidence turns up implicating Jillian Montgomery, the close friend of another agent, Jesse finds himself dangerously attracted to a woman at the heart of his investigation.Jillian Montgomery fears law enforcement – and with good reason. But when she finds herself being caught in a web of someone else’s making, it’s Jesse who she ends up turning to for help.Long-buried secrets from Jillian’s past are coming back to haunt her in ways she could never have predicted. It’s up to Jesse to help her exhume and exorcise them before it’s too late.

Twisted


Aleatha Romig - 2019
    It’s a world where knowledge means power, power money, and money everything. While I paid the ultimate price to have it all, it wasn’t my decision to give my life.. That doesn’t mean I ceased to exist, only to live.Going where the job takes me and living in the shadows, with deadly accuracy I utilize the skills inherent to me, not knowing from where they came, not recalling what I’d lost. And then I saw her.Laurel Carlson.I shouldn’t want her, desire her, or need her, yet with each sighting I know she is exactly what I have to have. Laurel has the ability to do what I thought was impossible. She sees what others don’t. My gut tells me that it’s a deadly mistake to change my plans and open my world to her. My mind says she’ll be repulsed by my twisted existence. None of that matters, because my body won’t take no for an answer. I’ve made dangerous mistakes before.This time, will the price be too high?From New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a brand-new dark romance bringing us back to the same dangerous underworld as SECRETS. You do not need to read the Web of Sin trilogy to get caught in this new and intriguing saga, Tangled Web. TWISTED is book one of the TANGLED WEB trilogy which will continue in OBSESSED and conclude in BOUND.Have you been Aleatha’d?

The Billionaire's Marriage Bargain (Clean Billionaire Fake Marriage Romance Series, #1)


Melody Archer - 2019
    Massive fears of another person he loves dying, has kept love strictly out of bounds. With his heart firmly caged in and with no intention of being tied down longer than a year, Adam proposes a marriage in name only to the girl-next-door, Elle Jennings. Elle is desperate to save her dad's ranch from foreclosure. She has 3 weeks to do it. All alone in the world, except for a stepmother and stepsister who dislike her, Elle wants to hold onto the one thing that brings her a sense of belonging... her father's ranch. When Adam asks her to be his fake wife, she agrees... with certain conditions. They agree to strict guidelines: 1) keep this a business arrangement 2) do not fall in love. It's only for one year. What could possibly go wrong with a marriage bargain? If you like strong but wounded heroes and feisty but scarred heroines, you'll love this marriage-of-convenience sweet romance! Buy your copy today or Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Chasing Justice


Danielle Stewart - 2013
    But her plans of settling into a normal life are derailed when she witnesses a prominent judge in her community committing a violent assault. Running from her own past and fueled by a passion to make the judge answer for his crimes, Piper is forced to decide if she’ll play by the rules or achieve justice in her own way.Complicating things further, Piper finds herself fighting a powerful attraction to rookie cop, Bobby Wright. Although she’s increasingly enamored with Bobby, his staunch belief in the justice system is in stark contrast to her own. She may not share his opinions about the effectiveness of the law, but she certainly can’t deny how safe she feels when she’s in his arms or how every kiss leaves her desperate for more.For Piper, the idea of finally living an ordinary life with a man to love is tempting. However, fate keeps placing the judge, quite literally, in her path. Will she decide the only way to win is to be as wicked as the judge, but with righteous intentions? And more importantly, will Bobby choose to let her go, or follow her as she crosses the line and takes justice into her own hands?

Betrayed by a Kiss


Kris Rafferty - 2016
    Her job as resident investigator at Whitman Enterprises is to track down the owners of delinquent accounts, but something about Dane’s case is off, and Marnie can’t resist a good mystery. The secret files and cover-up she finds after hacking her boss’s computer are more than she expected, and now she’s fleeing her former employer...right into Dane’s arms. Former detective Dane MacLain has spent the last year gathering intel against Whitman Enterprises, the company he believes responsible for his wife’s death. When a beautiful and intense woman shows up with information, Dane is willing to accept all she has to offer, especially when the help comes in such a sexy package. Caught in a deadly cat and mouse chase, Dane must do everything he can to protect Marnie as they run for their lives.

Decked


Heather Slade - 2021
    But when a woman dies in his arms on a dark road, Deck's hellbent on uncovering the mystery behind her death. She hung up her cowboy boots for city-slick stilettos… Determined to leave the ranch behind, Mila Palmyer sets off for life in New York City without a second glance at the hay-baling world she grew up in. But when her sister's death brings her back to town, she’s determined to unearth her family's hidden secrets. Relying on each other may be harder than they realized… As Mila and Deck search for answers, their chemistry ignites. However, the last thing Mila wants—or needs—is to get pulled back into small-town life. But when her sister's killer sets eyes on Mila, Deck will do anything to save her. Can Mila trust her heart and stay when she's determined to walk away?

Mr. Somebody


Tracie Douglas - 2021
    A titan in his industry, he wants for nothing, but it’s not long before he realizes money can’t buy happiness.The evening he comes face to face with Marisol Torres, everything changes.Marisol is the blast from his past he didn’t know he needed, and one night together turns both their lives upside down.Gabe knows he’ll never be the same without her, but Marisol has a secret that could end things before they even get a real chance to start.

Nothing to Fear


Claire Boston - 2017
    After a traumatic assault, Hannah Novak returns to her home-town hoping for a fresh start. However, when strange gifts turn up on her doorstep, and a stalker fixates on her, she discovers that Blackbridge isn’t the safe haven it once was. With no family left to turn to, she’s forced to seek help from the broody new cop in town. Ryan Kilpatrick has travelled across the country to create a stable home for his young son, but being a police officer makes that hard. He doesn’t need Hannah’s problems added to his own, yet her courage and vulnerability awakens the protector in him. With time running out, can Hannah learn to trust again before it’s too late? Because this time, there are no second chances.

Pure Temptation


Eve Carter - 2013
    Fearing her life is in danger, Daniella jumps on the ‘Grey dog’ and heads south, ending up in a cozy beach town in South Carolina. There she meets the handsome twenty-four year old Harley rider, John Connors.Dazzled by John’s sexy looks and hot tattoos, she finds herself once again tempted, this time with her heart at stake. Not until a bombshell of a secret reveals itself does she realize that the cartel is closing in on the money, putting not only her own life, but everyone else's, in danger.Pure Temptation is a suspenseful New Adult Romance that will have you reading into the wee hours of the night.

Wicked Games


A.D. Justice - 2013
    When the trail led her into a dangerous web of lies, she was forced to choose between destroying the man she loved and giving up her entire life to enter WITSEC. After three years of living as someone else, everything changed when her true identity and location were discovered. Noah “Reaper” Steele created a successful business in Steele Security, but he never fully recovered after he lost Brianna. He shared his bed with other women but they never had his heart. Noah's life solely revolved around his work. Everything changed the night he caught an intruder in his house and learned it was actually his long-dead love, Brianna. With their reunion, they discovered the passion that fueled their relationship was still alive, burning hotter than ever. However, even Noah’s love couldn’t erase the sting of her betrayal, and he wrestled with allowing her back in his life. Brianna was the only woman he’d ever loved, but he wasn’t sure he could forgive her treachery. For both to survive, Noah and Brianna had to band together, uncover the truth, and reveal the real threat before it was too late. In his fight against the wicked games that surrounded him, would he end up losing her all over again?Recommended for readers 18+ due to language, violence and sexual content.

Rattlesnake Road


Amanda McKinney - 2021
    ★♥ Named one of POPSUGAR's 12 Best Romance Books to Have a Spring Fling With ♥Welcome to 1314 Rattlesnake Road—the perfect hideaway to escape your past.After leaving her posh NYC life behind, fashion editor Grey Dalton escapes to the small, southern town of Berry Springs to pick up the broken pieces of her life. On impulse, she purchases a rumored-to-be-haunted house where she finds herself thrown into decade-old murder mystery, and onto the rocky road of recovery and self-discovery. Men are the last thing on her mind—until she meets a tattooed cowboy and a dashing businessman. One will steal her heart, the other, her soul.Rattlesnake Road pushes the boundaries and blends genres in this raw, emotional, no-holds-barred story. ★ "A dark, edge-gripping emotional read." - Obsessive Reads ★★ “sexy, suspenseful romance.” - Publisher’s Weekly Review ★★ "Strong characterization bolsters this profound, romantic tale." - Kirkus Review ★(Due to serious subject matter and mature content, please be aware that this book might be an emotional trigger for some readers.)

Bringing Down Sam


Leslie Kelly - 2012
    She's left that life far behind, and has no intention of returning to it. At least not until her best friends talk her into a crazy scheme to "bring down" Public Enemy Number 1: Sam Kenneman.Sam Kenneman has every woman in the country up in arms about his new bestseller, 101 Ways To Avoid Commitment. The book's supposed to be a joke--but women aren't getting it. Now he just wants the frenzy to die down so life can go back to normal.Her goal? Teach him a lesson.His goal? Don't fall for the sexy blonde.The problem? They can't resist each other!

Out of the Dark


Geri Foster - 2013
    His boss arranges for him to hitch a ride with the corporate attorney Emily Richards, who is in Russia as a mediator.Emily Richards wants only to return home then on to a peaceful vacation with her best friend. When armed men invade her hotel room minutes after Mac arrives, Emily is forced to depend on Mac to stay alive. Anger that Mac has entangled her in a life or death struggle quickly turns to fear when the men pursuing them call her by name.Together Mac and Emily engage in a tumultuous ride to escape with their lives and capture a crazed bomber and a vindictive drug lord. More difficult is tearing down their own emotional walls. Can they succeed and admit love is the most precious thing in life?

Against the Wild


Kat Martin - 2014
    The hot look in Dylan Brodie's eyes says he's going to be that man.But when Lane flies to the remote 1930s fishing lodge to help him renovate, she discovers a little girl who won't speak, eerie legends and strange sounds in the night. And when she investigates the history of the lodge, she uncovers a legacy of injustice and murder.As danger stalks his daughter and the woman he is coming to love, Dylan must risk everything to uncover the shocking truth.

Nixon's Promise


Riley Edwards - 2019
    After twelve years of service and twice as many deployments, all Nix wanted was quiet. He’d sought the solace of the land he’d grown up on and found the peace he needed to silence the noise and figure out his next move. Nixon’s stay was supposed to be temporary. He wasn’t supposed to meet a feisty, head-strong woman who made his pulse race and set his body on fire. Falling in love hadn’t been part of his plan. Taking a government contract to stop a homegrown terrorist group hadn’t been either, but when the organization threatens to attack Philadelphia, he had no choice but to accept. McKenna Wilson was living. Every day was the same. Raising her two teenage siblings didn’t leave time for much else. Most days, she was okay with that. Then she bumped into the sexy war hero and, in an instant, her world changed. She had no idea falling for Nixon would be so dangerous. Now she was going head-to-head with the small-town’s dirty sheriff who was hell-bent on ruining Nixon and avenging a fifteen-year-old grudge. She’d lost her heart, but losing her life wasn’t part of the plan. Nixon Swagger had learned a few things as a Navy SEAL—adapt, improvise, and overcome were among the many. In the middle of an inferno, so ominous even Dante wouldn’t buy a ticket, Nixon must adapt to his new surroundings and overcome multiple threats before he loses the woman he loves.