Book picks similar to
Carolina Mist by Mariah Stewart


romance
mariah-stewart
stewart-mariah
contemporary

All Shook Up


Susan Andersen - 2001
    Carver learned life's tough lessons on the streets, so when an unexpected inheritance sends him to the Star Lake Lodge to claim his half, he's expecting trouble. Being greeted with open arms by the whole Lawrence gang--feisty Aunt Sophy and calm Uncle Ben, clearly off-limits Dru and her young son, Tate--just convinces him they're working an angle, and he's determined to uncover it. Even though a tiny part of him longs for the home-and-hearth life they have...A Woman With a ReputationDru's finally beaten her bad-girl reputation, and though the Lodge may not be exciting, she's fiercely protective of her quiet home. Hard-eyed J.D.'s ability to push all her buttons--some of which haven't been pushed in way too long--just proves how wrong he is for her. So why does her son hero-worship the guy? And why does her heart clench when he gets that "nose pressed against the candy shop window" look on his faceIn Love...and All Shook UpThey thought they knew everything their lives had to offer...until they met. Can a failed good girl and a guy who never caught a break learn to believe in one another long enough to trust their love?

Burn for You


Angela Verdenius - 2014
    Arriving in Gully’s Fall in search of a new life, she didn’t count on falling for the hunky, motorbike-riding fireman who rescued her when her car broke down.Scott’s drawn to the rubenesque beauty, his desire for her steadily growing to an erotic burn. Can he discover the cause of her wariness and convince her to give him a chance?

Death Angel


Linda Howard - 2008
    In Death Angel, bad girls can wake up and trust their hearts, bad guys can fight for what’s right . . . and dying just might be the only way to change one’s life.A striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men, Drea Rousseau is more than content to be arm candy for Rafael Salinas, a notorious crime lord who deals with betrayal through quick and treacherous means: a bullet to the back of the head, a blade across the neck, an incendiary device beneath a car. Eager to break with Rafael, Drea makes a fateful decision and a desperate move, stealing a mountain of cash from the malicious killer. After all, an escape needs to be financed.Though Drea runs, Salinas knows she can’t hide–and he dispatches a cold-blooded assassin in hot pursuit, resulting in a tragic turn of events. Or does it?Left for dead, Drea miraculously returns to the realm of the living a changed woman. She’s no longer shallow and selfish, no longer steals or cheats or sells herself short. Both humbled and thrilled with this unexpected second chance, Drea embraces her new life. But in order to feel safe and sound–and stop nervously looking over her shoulder–she will need to take down those who marked her for death.Joining forces with the FBI, supplying vital inside information that only she can provide, Drea finds herself working with the most dangerous man she’s ever known. Yet the closer they get to danger, the more intense their feelings for each other become, and the more Drea realizes that the cost of her new life may be her life itself–as well as her heart.

Why Stars Chase the Sun


C.R. Ellis - 2018
     A no-strings-attached adventure with the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen—this was my alcohol-slash-lust-fueled proposal, and given before I could consider the potential ramifications. While his looks alone are enough to make a girl swoon, it’s the rest of him—a perfect balance of mysterious, sweet, and effortlessly charming—that draws me in. Through his cryptic comments and half-answers, he’s quickly become an enigma I’m determined to solve. One way or another, this adventure promises to snap the stagnant, lackluster pattern my love life has been locked in lately. Is it naive and a little reckless to think this won’t blow up in my face? Probably. But the bigger question is the only one I need to answer… Is the chance to soar among the stars worth the risk of being burned when the sun eventually rises? EMMETT Love is a mistake I won’t make again. My rules are simple. Keep things surface-deep. Don’t make plans. And never, ever get attached. One look at her is all it takes for me to break my first rule. One conversation with her is all it takes for me to question everything. Which means accepting her proposal is bound to be a mistake. She has no idea who I am or what kind of demons I live with, so I tell myself there’s no harm in spending one day with her. But the more I lose myself in her, the more she brings me out of the darkness and into her light, the harder it’ll be to let her go. When reality comes crashing down on us in the worst way possible, I have to decide between walking away…or risking everything for the woman who breaks all of my rules. Why Stars Chase the Sun is the first full-length novel of the Forget Me Knot series, but can be read as a standalone. **Due to strong language and sexy times, it is recommended to readers ages 18 and up.**

Bender


Stacy Borel - 2014
    Instead, she got Camden Brooks. Camden, with his sinful body, sharp tongue, and the inability to stay out of Keegan’s personal space, couldn’t seem to curb his interest in the new girl who wouldn’t put up with his domineering ways. Feelings were running rampant, sexual tension was thick, and both were struggling to let go of control. To some people, getting a roommate simply meant living with another person. But to both Camden and Keegan it was a curveball that neither was prepared to swing at. **Strong sexual content** Can be read as a stand alone. Each brother will have their own book. (A 96,000 word novel)

Wounded


Jasinda Wilder - 2012
    My family. My home. My innocence. In a country blasted by war and wracked by economic hardship, a young orphan girl like me has very few options when it comes to survival. Thus, I do what I must to live, to eat, and I try very hard to not consider the cost to my soul. My heart is empty, and my existence brutal. The one impossibility in my life is love.And then I meet HIM.War is hell. It takes a chunk out of a man's very soul to do the kinds of things war demands of you. You live with fear, you live with guilt, and you live with nightmares. If you haven't been through it, there's no understanding it. War leaves no room for love, no room for tenderness or softness. You gotta be hard, closed off, and ready to fight every moment of every day. Lose focus for a split second, and you're dead.Now the only thing that can save me is HER.

Defiance


Cherise Sinclair - 2018
    And then turns deadly The death threat is only the beginning…because the letter isn’t a hoax. Z walks out of his office into a barrage of bullets. He can take being shot at, but when the second shot splinters the empty child-seat in his car, he’s shaken to the core. The horror of what would have happened if his little girl had been there spurs him to action.Master Z is a Dom, a husband, a father—every instinct drives him to protect those under his care. When the police can’t catch his stalker, he must take matters into his own hands. He must keep danger far from those he loves. Secrecy and distance is the key. The funeral in Alaska is the perfect location, especially since Z won’t be alone. The survivalist’s sons have grown into men with lethal skills. With their help, he can trap the shooter and keep his family safe.As long as his impetuous and all-too-observant wife, Jessica, doesn’t discover he’s using himself as bait.Defiance is not only a wonderful addition to the beloved Masters of the Shadowlands series, but you also get to meet the sons from the upcoming Sons of the Survivalist series.

All In


Christie Ridgway - 2019
    She’s fancy high heels to his scuffed construction boots and soft pop to his hard rock, yet there’s an attraction that neither can deny. But he also recognizes a woman who wants forever, so he’s determined to keep his hands off until Gemma suggests one way to manage their combustible chemistry…a fling!Experience has taught Gemma to distrust commitment no matter how much she might desire it, so she’s on a guy hiatus when a handsome, sexy mountain of a man takes notice of her. All those muscles might be too hot to handle, but she finds herself compelled to give it a try…while still holding her heart safe. For as long as she can, that is…ALL IN is book one in the 7 Stud Club series and is a STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE.

Tattoo Thief


Heidi Joy Tretheway - 2013
    But as his house sitter, she must pick up the pieces for the front man of the white-hot rock band Tattoo Thief. When ultra-responsible Beryl confronts the reckless rock star, she wants to know more than just what to do with his mess. Why is he running? What’s he searching for? And is he responsible for the death of his muse? New York newbie Beryl must find her footing in Gavin’s crazy world of the ultra-wealthy to discover her own direction and what can bring him back.Steamy, sassy and tender, Tattoo Thief is a story of breaking from a comfort zone to find a second chance.

In Kelly's Corner


Roxie Rivera - 2013
    He’ll do anything to keep her safe, even if means getting up close and personal with the one woman he simply can’t have.Soon, Bee’s stalker isn’t his only problem. His gambling addict father is tangled in a mess of debts to two of Houston’s toughest loan sharks. With the family gym on the line, there’s only one way for Kelly to make everything right. He agrees to fight for the Albanian mob in an underground bare-knuckle fighting tournament.But winning the tournament and saving his family’s legacy comes at a high price—one that just might cost Bee her life.

Savages Next Door


Myra Brightholme - 2018
    And it seems like two bad guys live next door to me… Moving into a shady neighborhood was scary to me. I expected the problems, but I didn’t expect the two scary guys living across from me, or the animal need I quickly developed for them. With a crazy ex, a psychopath tracking my sister to kidnap her and her child, and money problems, I don’t have time to think about myself. And yet… I can’t help but become more and more attracted to them. Both of them want me, and I’m stuck in the middle. I can’t choose either of them… should I take both? This is a full-length novel with an HEA. Over 60,000 words of pleasure! 18+ Only. Enjoy!

One to Hold


Tia Louise - 2013
    Melissa Jones is a small-town girl trying to escape her troubled past. When the two intersect in a bar in Arizona, their sexual chemistry is off the charts. But what is revealed during their "one week stand" only complicates matters. Because she'll do everything in her power to get away from the past, but he'll do everything he can to hold her. Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. (M/F)

Next to Me


Jodi Watters - 2014
    A woman on the run.A man afraid of no one.A plan as old as time.Hiding from her violent ex, Ali Ross knows the law can't help her. She also knows someone like Sam can. Fearing for her life, she's willing to do whatever it takes to ensure her safety, and that includes seducing the sexy soldier next door. It’s the perfect plan. Until…A woman falling in love.A man already there.A past that won’t be ignored.All books in the Love Happens series are standalone novels:Next to Me (Sam)Wrong then Right (Beckett)True to You (Asher)Have a Heart (Jason)

Port of Paradise


Lisa Marie Rice - 2003
    When her good deed puts her life in danger, Hope is in need of protection, but she doesn’t want protection from a cop. She has good reason to distrust them--so how is it that she's ended up sleeping with one?Head of the elite anti-mafia squad, Capitano Franco Rivera finds the gorgeous American delectable but dangerous. He feels compelled to protect her, even though she can't seem to stop stirring up trouble.Hope needs a keeper and Franco is just the man to keep her…in his bed. Note: Port of Paradise was previously released by another publisher. This edition has been lightly edited and updated.

120 days...


M. Stratton - 2015
     120 days... The average number of days someone stays at Last Resort. 17 weeks... Surrounded by love, laughter and support. 4 months... More time than they had before they walked through the door. Real estate developer Ethan McGregor’s life was changed forever when his younger brother told him he was dying of cancer. Ethan was ready to do whatever it took to save Evan, but Evan had other plans. Say goodbye… Samantha Truman runs the privately-funded Last Resort. Watching her parent’s drive and determination to live longer than the doctors gave them was the inspiration for the resort. It is her heart and soul--she lives to make sure that each day is precious, and one more sunrise or sunset can make all the difference the guests at Last Resort need. After finding his brother’s journal, and discovering more about Last Resort, Ethan is determined to find out if this place is one of those “too good to be true” places that turn out to be a scam. But he was not ready for Samantha Truman, he was not ready for everything to change, for his point of view in life to be so incredibly altered, for the world to turn its axis. There are, after all, some things Ethan can’t control, who to fall in love with is one of them. How much can change in 120 days?