Book picks similar to
Ethan's Bride by Margaret Desmond


contemporary-romance
romance
contemporary
fiction

Meant for Each Other


Delaney Cameron - 2017
    Here she can forget the episode that nearly ruined her last year of college. Was it unreasonable to suppose that this far from the scene of her crime she would be safe from meeting the man who knew all about her worst moment? After six months of nonstop traveling, Trey is happy to trade living on the road for the peace and quiet of Tybee Island. In such surroundings, he should be able to work undisturbed. These plans are interrupted by the appearance of a former student. Running into Kirsten is a disturbance of the worst kind: a reminder of an encounter he hasn’t been able to forget. Author’s note: This is a revised and expanded version of a novella published years ago under a different title and pen name. It takes place before the events of Dream of Me.

Blue Harmony (My Day Book 1)


Mary Kelly Reed - 2018
     MY DAY IS A SERIES - HOWEVER EACH BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE NOVEL Amy is tired of sabotaging all of her relationships because of Ethan. He broke her heart years ago, and she let him get away unscathed. It’s time for her to confront him and rewrite the past. Determined to set things right, she flies away with her friends for the blue skies of Santorini to carry out her plan; a plan that begins to collapse as soon as she crosses Ethan’s gaze. Surprise guests and an idyllic romantic setting will further complicate her designs. Is she right to insist, or will stirring up the past prove to be a dangerous game? EXCERPT “Good morning, Zoe, Allison ... Amy.” Why does a shiver go through me when he utters my name? It’s like he … “You look like you didn’t sleep well. I hope it wasn’t because of me.” “I don’t see why it would be because of you. Your kiss didn’t perturb me to the point of staying awake all night.” “I just wanted to make sure our walk didn’t get you too worked up to sleep, but I see the answer is quite different.” I try to picture him as a Greek statue, made of stone and unable to speak, and in my distraction I miss something Zoe asks me. “Excuse me?” “Ethan just offered to show us around the island. He knows it better than we do, and I think it’s a good idea. What do you say?” “I don’t think so,” I reply dryly.

The Billionaire Guest


Cathy Blossom - 2018
    Theo is focused on his billionaire business. Neither has time for love - or so they think. Lilly Franklin has won a stay at The Royal Quinton Hotel. She intends to stay in her room and use room service for everything she needs. She’s trying to forget how an evil ex-boyfriend changed her life beyond recognition. Theo Myerscough is also staying at The Royal Quinton. He’s there strictly on business. His job is to provide his father with a detailed report on the ancient hotel. Once Theo has done this, his father can begin his hostile takeover of the property. The hotel is not up for sale, but that isn't going to stop the ruthless Myerscough family from proceeding with their plan. Lilly and Theo literally collide with each other in the hallway of the hotel. Theo is surprised at his instant attraction to Lilly, and all thoughts of business flee his mind. When Lilly’s mum later asks a favour of him, he immediately agrees as it means spending a lot of time with Lilly. Lilly is not so sure about Mum’s plan. While she likes Theo, she doesn’t want to be dragged away from the safety of her hotel room. However, Mum insists, and Lilly reluctantly agrees to her plan. As Lilly begins to fall for Theo, she’s unaware of the secret he’s keeping from her. The secret which will break her heart.

One Last Summer


Jo Noelle - 2017
    She doesn’t believe in marriage, and she’s learned to only count on herself. At her Uncle Walter’s insistence, and a little emotional blackmail, she returns to Misty Harbor Cottages to help him for one last summer in a place that's really the only home she’s ever known. Cole Zamora has worked at Misty Harbor for more than half of his twenty-three years, and imagined someday owning the place. He met Jenna when they were ten-years-old, and his young heart fell hard for her, relishing every summer she came back. That is, until two years ago, when she broke his heart and never returned. Uncle Walter proposes a challenge between the two, with the winner becoming the new owner of Misty Harbor. Now, there’s a real chance Cole could lose his heart and his home. Jenna isn’t sure which worries her more—a summer of rivalry or romance? One Last Summer is a 100-page novella in the clean & wholesome romance category.

Yours to Give


Diana Fraser - 2020
    She believes long-term relationships are for idiots, and marriage is ridiculous. Max Connelly reckons that makes her exactly his kind of woman.But Max is pursuing his own dream, building his mountain resort into the place to be in the southern hemisphere. He knows what her publicity could do for his resort so he issues his own challenge—to get married. After all, it wouldn’t mean anything to either of them. Would it?Max and Laura first appeared in The Lakehouse Café, book 6 of The Mackenzies. For more information on Diana's New Zealand series, keep reading!--Lantern Bay--Yours to GiveYours to TreasureYours to Cherish--The Mackenzies--The Real ThingThe PA's RevengeThe Marriage TrapThe Cowboy's CravingThe Playboy's RedemptionThe Lakehouse Cafe

Small Town Hero


Kim Koby - 2018
    Rebecca is saving herself for marriage. After a crushing betrayal, she spins out of control when she catches her fiancé and best friend in bed together. Grief-stricken and desperate, she finds herself stranded in Tennessee and forced to rely on the kindness of a stranger.Ryan knows heartache. The only woman he loved walked away the day he proposed to her. He knew in that instant he'd never trust his heart to another. At least he has his dog to keep him company and a good job as a local firefighter.When Rebecca ends up in Ryan’s path, they blend like oil and water. While he’s content with what life gives him, she escapes by seeking her identity in expensive things. Can two broken souls find salvation with their complete opposite?

Crushing On You: Travis and Gabriella (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book One): Clean and wholesome small town romance


Christine Kersey - 2016
    Learn more by copying and pasting this link into your browser: smarturl.it/EF2Amz ***This clean & wholesome standalone romance by bestselling author Christine Kersey is the first book in the Emerald Falls romance series.When Gabriella Peters inherits her aunt's cottage in Emerald Falls, she's ready for a change. After a failed relationship in another city, she's determined not to make the same mistakes again. But when she runs in to a crush from her past, she wonders if taking a chance might be worth the risk after all.Travis Haywood plans to live in Emerald Falls only long enough to complete his veterinary internship, but when he meets Gabriella he begins to question what's most important to him--the woman who has captured his heart, or his long-held career aspirations.BONUS: Includes first two chapters of Dangerous Lies: Sawyer and Amethyst (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book Two)

It All Started with a Lima Bean


Kimi Flores - 2013
    It must be gifted freely.Abby Sullivan cherishes the life she is creating for herself in her hometown of Santa Barbara, California. She adores her best friend and supportive family. Her job as a kindergarten teacher offers her life hope and purpose. She is very talented at many things, especially hiding the pain of her past. That is until her world collides with Caleb Hunter’s, giving them both a lesson in forgiveness and love.A life changing love is cruelly snatched by sickness and death. A person must be willing to give love, the greatest gift of all, to receive love.A successful writer, Caleb is living life day-to-day. Giving refuge to his sad and lonely heart since his wife's sudden death from cervical cancer, his primary focus becomes honoring her memory by rearing their five-year-old daughter, Madison. Yet, when Madison Hunter walks into Miss Abby’s kindergarten class, everything changes for all three of them.With a little nudge from a loving mother-in-law who has everyone’s best interest at heart, anything is possible, especially when forgiveness and love gift even more blessings than ever imaginable.**This is book 1 in the Intertwined Hearts series. Each book in the series follows a different couple and they can each be read as stand alones**

Runaway Bride


Cynthia Luhrs - 2019
    In a daze, she left the city behind, only stopping for necessities, until she found herself staring at the ocean, inhaling deep lungfuls of clean salty sea air. The vintage car sputtered and died as she coasted into Magnolia Beach. Alex Parrish had it all. Money, women, model looks, and fast cars. Until the accident. Then his uncle stole his trust fund. Now he's broke, ugly, and ill-tempered, not to mention he doesn’t have a single employable skill. Certain she’s in no danger of falling for another entitled rich guy, Rose takes a position cleaning for the town hermit. She needs time to heal, to figure out what comes next. Alex doesn’t know who he is without his money and his looks, but going by the new housekeeper’s reaction, he’ll never set foot in public again. He’s fired every other housekeeper in three towns so he’s stuck with the beguiling Rose. Sparks fly. As Alex spends more and more time with Rose, he falls head over heels in love for the first time in his miserable life. Too bad she’s made it clear there could never be anything between them other than friendship.

MONDAY: Tall, Dark & Aromatic


Fifi Flowers
    Basil, the man in question, is instantly smitten by Pansie and makes it his mission in life to woo her with his poetry and charm. Could it be that he is the man for her at the so-called Hookup Café?Novella - STANDALONE - book 1 of 6MEET all of THE COUPLES at Cafélicious...Basil and Pansie, MONDAY, book 1 Marzi and Avery, TUESDAY, book 2Nate and Evie, WEDNESDAY, book 3Deacon and Saylor, THURSDAY, book 4Mason and Vivienne, FRIDAY, book 5Vin and Darla, SATURDAY, book 6

Afterglow (Four Corners Book 1)


Artemis Anders - 2018
    But when a friend's party means facing her ex and the woman he left her for, Teagan skips town and heads to the scorching heat of Arizona.She never expects to meet Aaron, an Army Major who's smoking hot... and also coming off a divorce. He's so not her type, but he gives her two days and one sizzling night to remember.When Teagan returns to Colorado and her man-free existence, Aaron keeps finding excuses to see her and inch his way into her heart. But when Aaron's past finds them, it threatens to shatter their connection... and break Teagan's heart for good.If you love steamy romance with heart-stopping twists and an HEA, you'll love Afterglow.Afterglow is a standalone novel in the Four Corners series.

Love of a Lifetime


Sally Bayless - 2019
    If she can just avoid questions from that cute guy at the newspaper, no one ever needs to find out about her past.Will Hamlin, editor of the local paper, has some serious questions about the mayor’s new secretary. She’s clearly hiding something—something that could be the big story the newspaper desperately needs to stay afloat. But after Will’s initial queries find nothing, he grows less interested in Cara’s past and more interested in winning her heart with slices of pie and stolen kisses.When a crime is uncovered at city hall just as Will unearths Cara’s secret, the repercussions shatter their romance. Can Cara ever escape her past? Can Will finally find a way to save the paper? And can they learn to place their trust in God and open their hearts to the love of a lifetime?

Going to the Chapel: The Wedding Chapel Series, Book 1


Mary Jane Morgan - 2016
     Custom builder, Sam McGinnis, has sworn off rescuing women in need. That is, until he finds a beautiful blonde sobbing her heart out in his almost-finished chapel. The woman is obviously in a world of hurt, and no way can he walk away from the heart-broken lady. But will rescuing Claire put Sam’s own heart in jeopardy? Books in the CRYSTAL SPRINGS ROMANCES series: Book 1: Long Road Home Book 2: Coming Home Book 3: A Home For Haley Book 4: Home at Last Book 5: Going to the Chapel Book 6: Since I Found You Book 7: Dare To Love Book 8: Choices Of The Heart Book 9: Healing Hearts Book 10: Secrets of the Heart

Jaded Billionaire


Jill Snow - 2018
     Ethan Thomas is disillusioned after selling his company for billions and discovering all the people he cared about are now only interested in him for his money. Needing to get away, he heads to a campground in Sweet Mountain, Montana. It’s the off-season and he is assured all the other cabins will be empty. He’s after complete solitude which is why the last thing he needs is a city-slicker faux camper in the cabin next door. Especially one who doesn’t even know how to boil water over an open fire. Lily Ryder doesn’t even know how to boil water over an open fire. Or on a stove for that matter. But she can’t pass up the opportunity for a big promotion at the newspaper where she works. All she has to do is spend one week at a campground and she’ll steal the job right out from under the nose of her rival. Camping, even in a cabin, turns out to be a lot hard than she expected, but the last person she’s going to turn to for help is the Neanderthal that almost shot her dog. They could just ignore each other, but Sweet Mountain is hiding a secret, one that could change both their plans forever.

The Cure


Parker J. Cole - 2017
    Yet, when Savannah’s niece is injured in a serious accident, the one man she can’t trust is the one she needs. Micah can barely contain his satisfaction when he sees Savannah’s message pleading for him to come to her side. Her disloyalty nearly cost his career and he’ll never forgive her for leaving him at the lowest point in his life. Despite her efforts to remain aloof, Savannah keeps seeing glimpses of the Micah she once loved behind his cool exterior. Micah fights an ongoing battle to not succumb to the sweetness of the woman he once cared for beyond anything else. But Savannah and Micah’s hearts remain sick with the pangs of betrayal. What, if anything, is the cure?