Book picks similar to
The Promise by Kate Benson


romance
contemporary-romance
dnf
tbr

Bend


Kivrin Wilson - 2016
    My boyfriend’s best friend. He was never supposed to be anything more—until he was. When my college boyfriend betrayed me and left, breaking my heart, Jay picked a side. He chose me. He stayed, and for the past six years, he’s been my rock, my anchor, my compass…Now we’ve grown up, finished school, and have careers. Me as a nurse practitioner; Jay as a doctor. He’s been everything I needed, but now I want more. I can’t stop thinking about him, and I’m done hiding it.   It’s time to find out if he wants me, too. 
JAY

A friend. Not a lover. That’s who Mia Waters is to me. I’ve tried damn hard to make sure our relationship stays that way. I’m the shoulder she leans on, the last one to talk to her before she goes to sleep at night… And after six years, she means more to me than my own family.The moment I met her, I wanted her. But she belonged to someone else, so I pushed the need down. I didn’t take what I wanted. I’m not that guy. Her happiness meant more.  Until now. Until she asks me a question that shatters our unspoken boundaries. Have you ever thought about having sex with me? Six years of keeping her at arm’s length, and I can feel myself starting to give in and lose control with her.I can’t let it happen. There are reasons I didn’t get close. She hasn’t let go of her ex-boyfriend, not really. And she has no idea about the lies I’ve told her.What if she finds out about me? What if she finds out who I really am?And what will she do when I leave?

Something Reckless


Lexi Ryan - 2014
    I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.*****Lizzy Thompson met riverrat69 online through a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues. She’s nearly convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.Something Reckless is part one of the Reckless & Real series. Part two, Something Real is available now.

Trust Me


Kristin Mayer - 2013
    When she is finally ready to move forward with her life, she embarks on a getaway vacation to Miami, determined to find healing from the painful memories in her past. Damien Wales also has a tragic past that has left him a cold and distant person. However, the moment he sees Allison, he's inexplicably drawn to her, and he is a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. A sunset stroll brings the two together. Allison feels an undeniable attraction to Damien, but she's hesitant to get close to anyone. Damien will do everything he can to keep Allison in his life, but his overprotective and domineering demeanor might just push her away. When Damien's dark past begins to collide with his present, Allison's life is put in danger. Damien must keep her safe, but some things are just out of his control. Trust Me is the first book in the Trust Series.

Beautiful Mess


Jennifer Preston - 2013
    A senior in high school, she knows exactly what she wants out of life and where she is going. After her last boyfriend broke her heart, Bri swore off boys and dating, instead focusing on school, and dance, and getting into Stanford like she’d always dreamed. Until a chance meeting at the beach pushes her resolve, and threatens to unravel all her carefully made plans. Cole Marra had never really thought much about the future. He’d always had his dad, or his friends, there to make those kinds of decisions for him. He isn’t even sure who he is, let alone what he wants. Until the day Bri walks into his life and changes everything. Suddenly his future, which was uncertain at best, begins to take shape as he finally decides what he wants out of life. And now that he’s found it, he won’t let her go. But when Bri finds out that Cole isn’t exactly who she thought he was, everything between them falls apart. Now, Cole has to decide how hard he’s willing to fight for what he wants. Bri has to decide if she’s willing to open herself up and risk her heart again. They both must work to overcome their own issues, and decide if it’s worth taking a chance on love. Or, will the walls and defenses keeping them apart be too much to overcome?

Buried Obsession


Roxy Sinclaire - 2019
    Getting the inside scoop on the country's hottest billionaire. He invited me to his estate and I fell for him, hard. And then I met his brother. He's dark, dangerous and oh so bad. Nothing like the billionaire. But one night changed everything and I found myself in over my head. How did I end up tangled in this dark obsession? Praise for Roxy Sinclaire's Buried Obsession "Very original with awesome, broody, deceiving and strong characters!" - Lisa, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "This had me captivated and I couldn't put it down" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "Definitely a must read" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "I expected the typical romance story, but what I got was an outstanding read of suspense, drama, angst, jealousy, revenge, fear, guilt, twists you don't see coming and will have you on the edge of your seat" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "One of the best books I've read this year!" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "The chemistry between them is blazing hot" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "Hang on for a pulse pounding thrill ride!" - Lisa, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "I was on the edge of my chair with my head almost glued to the screen of my iPad, this is intense" - Ann, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "Excellent start to a new series" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "I was reading well into the wee small hours and even when I'd finished it I couldn't sleep, my thoughts were in turmoil back within the pages of this wonderful book." - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "A very dark, interesting, mesmerizing story" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "The dark twists that come next kept me riveted to my seat, biting my nails right to the end!" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "Very strong characters that are brooding and very deceptive" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "This is the best book ever! This book kept me up all night reading and had me on the edge of my seat as I turned the pages wondering what would happen next" - Lisa, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "Seriously, you’ve got a masterful storyline; interesting characters; outrageous twists and turns; and an HEA that gets farther away as you read" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "Bathroom breaks are optional" - Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ "Twists and turns that kept me on my toes as well" - Sharon, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★

Saviour


Lesley Jones - 2013
    Please contact Amazon for your free update if you previously purchased from them* Lauren has decided her marriage is over, but has yet to tell Jay, her abusive husband of the past twenty five years. On a night out with girlfriends, she has a few drinks and musters the courage to shamefully come clean over the abuse she has suffered over the years.Gabriel joins his brothers for a friday night drink at a local bar, thirty five, good looking and single after a very brief, failed marriage, all he is ever on the lookout for is a hook up....Even names aren't important to him...Straight sex, no complications.Watch as their worlds collide, neither of them prepared for the effect each will have on the other. The chemistry is instant and overwhelming and has the possibility to destroy them but will the mind blowing sex be enough to keep them together and overcome each of their pasts?Their story is sometimes harrowing and heartbreaking and touches on subjects all too often avoided. Don't expect a hearts and flowers romance read, although that is there too, along with some very funny moments

All the Ugly Things


Stacey Lynn - 2021
    A single decision... an accident.Cost me six years of my life. All of my hopes and dreams vanished. Until I was given back my freedom and the opportunity to start over... doing whatever I could to survive in a world much different than the one I knew before. I was working on my degree and waiting tables when my fate changed.An older man with silver hair and a fancy suit walked in, looking like he wanted to save me. He came for pie. But he offered me a job. When I turned him down, he sent his son, Hudson.The arrogant, sex on a stick wore me down.I took the job.I accepted his friendship. And slowly, over time, I began to feel things for this man I knew I shouldn’t.They gave me a home.A family.And then it was all ripped away.Now nothing can erase all the ugly things.

Less Than Nothing


R.E. Blake - 2014
    But her world flips upside down when she meets Derek – hot, tattooed, and charming, a singer from Seattle whose looks and talent take her breath away. What begins as a reluctant partnership quickly develops into a cross-country race against time - and awakens a hunger in Sage that’s unfamiliar and exciting. As they travel from coast to coast, Sage and Derek pursue their dream, only to discover that they can never run far enough to escape the demons from their pasts. Less Than Nothing is the breakout debut NA novel from USA Today bestseller R.E. Blake that critics are buzzing about and readers can’t put down. Sage & Derek's story continues in More Than Anything (book 2) and Best of Everything (book 3).

Captivated


Emily Jane Trent - 2013
    He’s a romantic Italian on vacation, surfing at Ella’s beach. But the gorgeous billionaire has secrets. Ella feels like she’s known him forever, but fears she will lose him. Can you meet your soul mate, only to lose him in the same instant? Adam shouldn't involve Ella in the evil he must face in Brazil. But will he stay away from her? Ella Walker, still suffering from issues of mental abuse, turns twenty-one and meets the man of her dreams. Can she break the bonds of her emotional prison and be the woman he desires? As an aspiring romance author, Ella struggles to find passion in her work. When Adam Bianci, the gorgeous Italian billionaire appears in her life, he lights up her drab existence. She’s determined not to let him slip through her grasp. But will his secrets and the tangled web of his own abuse keep them apart?

Interference


Mignon Mykel - 2016
    A way to give her the meeting her boss requested, but still say ‘no’ to her pitch.Look, I’ve never wanted the extras that come with an NHL career.Sponsorships, sure.Reality television? Hard no.Except—now that I’ve met the pixie redhead—I find myself agreeing...with one stipulation.She gets to be part of the show in whatever way that allows me to see her again.Twenty female “contestants” be damned.

Shuttered Affections


Rene Folsom - 2013
    The crippling memories of an abusive relationship, and the lack of support from her family, lead her to flee her old life and begin anew.After settling into a quaint college town, Juliana finally feels at peace, content to stay under the radar and keep things simple.Until Aiden Stone, her new photography professor, crashes into her life, blurring the line between love and lust. As their torrid affair reaches untold heights, Juliana struggles to keep her shuttered emotions, and growing affections, from throwing her into a relationship she isn't prepared for.With her newfound romance blinding her from the looming shadows of her past, her nightmares become reality, and she is forced to discover her true strength within.Warning: This novel contains sexual situations and is meant for adult readers ages 18 and up.

Talk to Me


Clare James - 2014
    The young, handsome, high-scoring player quickly became a fan favorite. He had everything going for him: fame, fortune, a promising career, and his pick of women. But when he made an abrupt exit from the NHL last spring, everything changed and he’s been in hiding ever since.Casey Scott plans to find out why.After interning for free all summer at the top television station in the Twin Cities, Casey lands an on-air gig. Trouble is, the new role is Sports Girl—which means reporting from local bars and tailgating parties to create excitement for the hometown heroes. All while wearing tiny team jerseys that are so tight they leave little to the imagination.But she has a plan. Uncover the biggest sports mystery of the decade, and she’ll be on her way. Question is, how far will she go to get the story?*Caution: This story contains explicit sex scenes with an alpha hockey player … who gives an entirely new meaning to the term Body Checking. *

Chasing Forever Down


Nikki Chartier - 2013
    Instead, she finds a mysterious stranger who plays by his own rules and chases his own dreams, and he's definitely cute enough to disappear with for the night. Convinced that he can help her escape the perfectly corporate future that's been planned for her, Haley agrees to meet him the next day. However, Mr. Mysterious is a no show.Determined to track him down, Haley enlists her best friend Linzi to help, but according to the local newspapers, the guy she met has been dead for years. Knowing he's very much alive, Haley and Linzi follow clues on a scavenger-hunt-style road trip that ultimately lands them in the surf town of Crescent Cove, California, where her mystery guy is no mystery at all. He's living as Colby Taylor, the west coast's biggest professional surfer.But talking to the surf star again is nearly impossible when he's guarded by a hierarchy of beach bums who are determined to send Haley back to the east coast. Haley is up for the challenge of submerging herself in their world, from wild summer nights and beach parties to ocean air and secret kisses in the dark, but when the lines blur between the ocean and the shore, she isn't so sure she's here for Colby anymore. Sure, being thrown off a jet ski sucks, but falling in love with one of these California boys might just be worse.(This is book #1 of the Drenaline Surf series but can be read as a stand-alone novel.)​​

Besieged


L.P. Lovell - 2014
    Men want to be him, and women want to be underneath him. He’s the entrepreneurial bad boy, the tabloids darling, and as infamous in the bedroom as he is in the boardroom. Theo is the moral free man whore, that women can’t even bring themselves to feel ashamed overLilly Parker. Everything about her screams sex. She’s beautiful, strong, intelligent and independent. She’s the career driven, man-eater, who can make a grown man feel like a sixteen year old boy.What happens when a player meets his match? This is alpha versus alpha, as two major players make and break the rules. The game is about to change.Hearts will become dangerously besieged, and walls will be battered to the ground.Love is a war. She who dares…wins.

Adam's Apple


Liv Morris - 2013
    Warning: Contains adult situations intended for readers eighteen and over."I take cocky, rich boys like you and teach them how to make love to women until they're barely able to mutter a word. Completely and utterly blissed. That's really what separates the men from the boys, Mr. Kingsley. Sex as an art form versus f**king for a release." -Kathryn.Adam Kingsley reigns as the young prince of Manhattan. Everything he touches turns to gold, making him the envy of Wall Street. Women swoon at his feet, money is no object, and his killer good looks are as wicked as sin. A dangerous trifecta that allows him to possess anything or anyone he desires.What more could a thirty-two-year-old man wish for? Maybe that his life never changes and his murky past stays far away... Sounds reasonable, yet life seldom is.Kathryn Delcour is an alluring socialite with unique erotic tastes who helps others find true sexual fulfillment. When she suddenly appears on the New York City social scene, Adam finds this complex woman too tempting to resist. He will stop at nothing to have her, yet she is warned to stay away from him and his player ways. Kathryn tries to keep him at arm's length, but her arms may not be strong enough to hold the charismatic Adam Kingsley at bay.The passionate lure of ancient sexual practices, a past that isn't content to remain buried and a present filled with intrigue, danger and revenge. An erotic story sweetened with secrets, seduction, and suspense.