Book picks similar to
Renaissance of the Heart by Lori M. Jones


contemporary-romance
romance
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chick-lit

Winters Cove: Complete Trilogy


Harper Maguire - 2019
    But I have dreams. I want to move to the city and be a princess, pampered by some romantic prince. I ache so deeply to get out of this town that I can taste freedom on my lips. And if I’m going to escape, I don’t want any entanglements. So, this thing with Bryce Winters? It’s just friends with benefits. A convenience. But that convenience turns into something else when Wilder Pyre comes to town, turning everything on its ear when he purchases the Winters Sawmill and Paper Company, the biggest employer in town. My employer. Why would this man, a self-made billionaire, want a sawmill in a small town? And how, for crying out loud, could he be a friend of Bryce’s? Bryce, whose great-great grandfather founded the mill generations ago? It’s a mystery I’m in the perfect position to unravel. But will it be my heart that unravel instead? Part Two: Clan Wars Cash Metcalf met the love of his life in high school, but social hierarchies being what they are at that tender age made it impossible for him to act on his feelings. A few years later, the timing was off again as he was headed off to the military and she was going off to college. They did, however, share one night together and he thought they were finally on the same page. But when she failed to send him letters at bootcamp, he imagined he was wrong, that she didn’t feel the same about him. Harper Root was a nerd in high school, the kind of girl boys only paid attention to when they needed help on their homework. She thought Cash was one exception, but when he romanced her and then disappeared, not answering her letters, she realized he was just like the others, just more callus about it. So, Harper accepted that she would have to raise her baby boy alone without the father Cash should have been. Five years after he left home, Cash comes back a hero. He served proudly in the Marines and then began his own security firm after inheriting a huge windfall from a fellow soldier. The moment he steps off the plane, Cash’s only thoughts are of Harper, but when he hears she has a kid, he knows his dreams of rekindling their romance are dead before they began. But the danger that brought him home, bears from another clan, forces Harper and Cash back together as they battle a mutual enemy. Part Three: True Intentions Wilder Pyre came to Winters Cove to give back to the community his mother came from. He told everyone that he’d bought the mill to make their lives better, but this tight knit community struggled to believe this stranger. But it wasn’t the community Wilder really had to convince, it was Staci Asola, a beautiful employee of the mill who’d made it her mission to prove Wilder had dark intentions. How could he convince her that his intentions were pure without exposing her to the dark underworld that was a much bigger part of this than he wanted to admit? Staci Asola couldn’t believe Wilder’s intentions were pure because she knew where he came from. Wilder Pyre came from the same rival clan of bears that had come to Winters Cove and attacked her friends, leaving one with a bullet wound in her abdomen. She knew because she was part of that same clan. It was a fact that Wilder’s biological father had murdered Staci’s parents, and it was also a fact that the same man wanted to destroy Winters Cove. But where did Wilder’s loyalties really lie? Had he bought the mill to appease his psychotic father, or was he honest in his insistence that all he wanted was to give back?

Teasing Destiny


Melanie Shawn - 2015
    A heart that, with time, learned to heal and guard itself. But when Jefferson James Briggs returns to their small hometown of Wishing Well, Texas, memories of that unforgettable night come back with him.... JJ Briggs knew he had started something he couldn't finish four years ago. But now, he was back to set it right. The sexy Major League pitcher never forgot about his fiery redhead. The love and passion he felt for his “Pip” never faded. They say old wounds cut deep...will JJ be able to heal the pain he caused all those years ago? Or will history repeat itself, keeping his Destiny just out of reach?

Over You


Christine Kersey - 2012
    But when her aunt decides to do some remodeling on the old house, Jessica is dismayed to discover that the contractor is her ex-fiancé, a man who dumped her several years before. Helping distract her from her troubles are mysterious fifty-year-old letters she finds in her aunt's attic. The contents of the letters spur Jessica to do some digging, but as the truth of the past begins to be revealed, Jessica regrets ever finding the letters. Over You does not contain any profanity or sexual content.

The Good Life


Jodie Beau - 2013
    She doubts she can ever be the person she once was.But when Roxie's charmed life is turned upside down, her best-friend creates The Good Life List to help turn it back around. The instructions are simple: Complete each task on the Good Life List by the end of the summer.With list in hand and the help of a sexy and charismatic guy from her past, Roxie is only a few check marks away from living the good life, even if it means getting thrown out of a bar or skinny-dipping in the neighbor's pool at 3am.Coming on April 9!

Our Husband


Stephanie Bond - 2000
    But how even?Fate has just thrown a curveball at the women in Raymond Carmichael's life-- all three of them. When they meet at his hospital bed, they discover they're all married to the same man. And when Raymond suddenly dies, the police suspect that one of these spunky ladies has commited murder...The Socialite-- Blonde, post-menopausal, and mad as hell, Beatrix always suspected Raymond married her for her daddy's money...twenty-one years ago.The Doctor-- a smart, small-town family physician, thirty-five-year-old Nathalie had ironically insisted on only one thing from her husband of seven years...absolute honesty.The Stripper-- Twenty-one and an exotic dancer, Ruby would have chalked up her brief marriage to a learning experience...if she hadn't been pregnant.Now they're three women left with a man's betrayal-- and worse, each other. But one thing they each insist-- they didn't kill Raymond. What can they do? Something outrageous and probably impossible: stick together to catch a murderer...A Selection of the Doubleday Book Club

An Unlikely Match


Barbara Dunlop - 2014
    He’s got all the confidence in the world where it comes to applied physics, but he’s never been the guy who gets the girl. Cheerleader Amelia Camden has sworn off boyfriends, focusing instead on her budding acting career. But when her nerdy, next door neighbor passes up his high school reunion, party enthusiast Amelia is determined to change his mind. Wanting his former classmates to appreciate Morgan the way she does, as a brilliant, compassionate, engaging man, she goads him into a haircut, a great suit and a pair of contact lenses. Morgan plays along with the sexy Amelia. Who wouldn’t? But when her flattery turns to flirtation, he knows it’s all part of the act.

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?

When First They Met


Debbie Macomber - 2012
    Now, in this original short story available exclusively as an eBook, Macomber shares a sneak peek into her new series set in Cedar Cove, which features Jo Marie, before she becomes the owner of the beloved Rose Harbor Inn.   From the moment Jo Marie sits next to Paul inside the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium, she feels a spark. Paul’s striking blue eyes and kind smile tell her that he’s someone special—different from any man she’s met before. When they strike up a conversation, Jo Marie and Paul realize how much they have in common, yet there’s one thing keeping them from a fairy-tale ending: Paul is in the military and will ship out of Seattle within the next six weeks. As Jo Marie wonders if she should once again open her heart, she decides that, no matter the stakes, she can’t forgo her chance at true love.  Includes an excerpt from Debbie Macomber's Last One Home.

Love Letters, Inc


Carole Dean - 1997
    Enter Rosie O’Hanlon. Rosie wants kids. Lots of kids. And she wants a man who’ll value home, hearth, and a horde of happy children as much as she does. But, hey, this is the 21st century, full-throttle motherhood can be a tough sell at the best of times, and right now she’s sidelined by a neck brace due to some recent surgery. She intends to kick start her search for the ideal father figure the minute the brace comes off.By day Rosie is a technical writer, by night she’s an ink-stained scribe who pens old-fashioned love letters for the romantic at heart. She’d kind of, sort of, hoped LOVE LETTERS, INC. would help pay the groaning mortgage on her aging farm house. Not. But she’s enjoying the letter writing too much to stop. She particularly enjoys writing letters for Gardenia to her fiancé Kent Summerton.The problem is Kent isn’t engaged, to Gardenia or anyone else. Kent is the sexy-hot, very much single owner manager of a prestigious local resort. Ambitious, organized, and over-scheduled, Kent does not find the anonymous letters he’s receiving from Gardenia amusing. And when they become more and more explicit, he starts to feel a bit…stalked. He decides to track Gardenia down and put a stop to her purple pen.All roads lead to Rosie, who’s not happy to learn she’s been duped by Gardenia into writing erotic spam. She’s even less happy to be instantly attracted to work-crazed Kent. With his green eyes, chiseled chin, and muscles in all the right places, he might be calendar material, but he’s so-o not the man for her, and so-o absolutely not the future father of her many children. After all, a six-pack of abs doesn’t trump family values.Rosie’s right. Kent doesn’t want a messy passel of kids. Kent wants a successful business, an organized life, and a clean balance sheet. Kids? Time sucks and trouble. This he knows. Or thinks he knows. But Kent doesn’t know what trouble is, until he starts wanting what he can’t have—Rosie O’Hanlon.P.S. I hope you'll enjoy Rosie's love story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Dirty Shame


Tess Oliver - 2016
    He also always knew that he’d never love anyone as much he loved Rylan Merritt. But sometimes love isn't enough.Seven years ago, Rylan Merritt left Bluefield Ridge with her heart in tatters. Now she’s back. And Kellan Braddock, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the boy who she loved beyond anything has grown into a man. Will she risk her heart again? The story of a first love so strong it never fades.

The Blue House in Bishop


Sunanda J. Chatterjee - 2017
    Duke Wilcox is forced to recover in the house of his old college roommate, Dr. Sunil Samant. Haunted by his failed mission and failed marriage, Duke has lost his trust in women and yearns for a chance to redeem himself.Indian Police Inspector Alisha Raj has a passion for bringing criminals to justice. After leaving the police force with a broken heart, she agrees to an “arranged marriage” with Sunil. But it is an unusual proposal; Sunil asks Alisha to pretend to be his fiancée to please his dying mother.Alisha comes to Bishop to leave her past behind, only to fall hopelessly in love with Duke. But she is engaged to Sunil, whose mother is expected to visit any day. The attraction seems mutual, but Duke’s troubled past prevents him from opening his heart.Everything changes when a mysterious woman shows up with a baby, seeking Sunil’s help.But is this woman who she claims to be? Why is the FBI after her? And how is she involved with a Colombian Drug lord?A story of loyalty, camaraderie, and love, The Blue House in Bishop brings four strangers together in a fight for survival.

Intercepted


J.Q. Anderson - 2015
    Jake was once a water polo Olympic Gold Medal Winner. Now he is an Escort. The lucky few women he selects as clients pay small fortunes for a weekend with Jake. Natalia just graduated from culinary school in Buenos Aires. She works the ski season in Aspen. She needs the money. The moment they meet a sudden attraction grips them. It can’t be: She’s engaged. He’s a hooker. A story about passion, deception and what lies hidden in the darkest corners of love.

Indelible Love - Emily's Story


D.W. Cee - 2012
    Her world shattered, she picks up the pieces when she finds love again with Jake.Dr. Jake Reid - Successful doctor, loving boyfriend, the one who wants to fulfill Emily's happily ever after - falls in love with Emily at first sight and pushes their relationship fast and furious.Max Davis - Reserved, indecisive, Emily's first love - believes he let go of his first love for her sake, for all the right reasons. Eighteen months after the break-up, he's ready to win Emily's heart again.Insecure from her broken relationship, Emily can't fully trust Jake's passion and love for her and struggles between Jake, the man who wants to create a future with her, and Max, the man who wants to relive the past. When both men propose, Emily's indecision causes her to lose her true love. Laugh, cry and cheer for Emily as her relationships unfold through culinary delights that begin in Napa Valley and weaves through eateries in San Francisco, Kyoto, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Paris. Who she chooses for her happily ever after may surprise you in the end.

Barefoot at Sunset


Roxanne St. Claire - 2016
     Barefoot at Sunset When forty-eight year old widower Mark Solomon arrives in Barefoot Bay for his high school reunion, he’s not quite prepared for the onslaught of memories or the attention from interested single women who’ve gathered for the annual event on the beach. He’s ready to ditch the whole thing and resume his life as an adventure-seeking world traveler until he discovers a woman sobbing on his doorstep…and has an idea. By her own admission, advertising copywriter Emma DeWitt is jaded, jilted, and jobless, but she goes over the edge when she learns that the resort villa that was supposed to be the site of her romantic honeymoon is occupied by a single man. But when the sexy silver fox who's staying in the villa surprises her with an irresistible offer to pose as his fake fiancée, Emma sees a way to have her week in paradise and begin healing her broken heart. Mark believes every person has only one soul mate…and he’s met, married, and buried his. Emma believes that love is a marketing concept created to sell fairy tales and expensive weddings. What if they are both wrong…and completely right for each other? Don’t miss a minute in Barefoot Bay! Barefoot Bay Timeless Barefoot at Sunset Barefoot at Moonrise Barefoot at Midnight Barefoot Bay Undercover Barefoot Bound Barefoot With a Bodyguard Barefoot With a Stranger Barefoot With a Bad Boy Barefoot Bay Brides Barefoot in White Barefoot in Lace Barefoot in Pearls Barefoot Bay Billionaires Secrets on the Sand Seduction on the Sand Scandal on the Sand

Taming Mad Max


Theresa Ragan - 2011
    Believing his life will be cut short, Max tries to live every moment to its fullest. For this reason, Max shies away from forming close relationships. What would be the point of falling in love and starting a family only to leave them as his father left him and his sisters? When Max discovers he has a thirteen-year old daughter though, it throws all his years of planning and preparation for an early death into a tailspin.Nutrition expert, Kari Murphy, used to think Max Dutton, aka Mad Max, was to die for, but she’s older and wiser now. The last time Kari reacted with her heart instead of her brain, she conceived the thing she loves most in life…her daughter, Molly. As much as she dislikes Max Dutton for taking her declaration of love and throwing it in her face fourteen years earlier, she knows that if it wasn’t for him her life would be meaningless. And that really ticks her off, especially when she’s hired by the NFL franchise to follow Max around for a couple of weeks and give him healthy-eating advice, foolproof facts about carbohydrates and tasteful tips on cooking and shopping smart. Kari doesn’t want to be anywhere near the man, but what choice does she have? Her career is on the line.Taming Mad Max finaled in RWA’s 2008 Golden Heart competition under the title, Better Late Than Never.