Book picks similar to
A Stormy Spring by C.C. MacKenzie


romance
contemporary-romance
contemporary
ludlow-hall

The Posse


Tawdra Kandle - 2013
    After her husband’s death, she’s left with her family’s beach restaurant and two nearly-grown children. The last thing she’s looking for is another chance at love.However, if her husband’s best friends, the Posse, have anything to say about it, love is just what she’s going to get. The Posse is determined to take care of Jude, and when they decide the best way to do that is for one of them to sweep her off her feet, three begin to vie for her affections. But only one can reach her heart.In a story of friendship, loss and second chances, Jude will learn her life is far from being over.

Twelve Dates of Christmas: The Ballad of Lula Jo


Jessie Evans - 2014
    But when Lula refused Carter's proposal one dark December night--unwilling to abandon her hometown to live the dangerous life of a treasure hunter's wife--the holiday lights went out in her heart. She abandoned all hope of romance and embraced a hermit's existence, keeping her distance from dangerous men and untamed cowboys. Until now...Years of hard knocks have taught Carter that the greatest adventure is the one he once found in Lula's arms. He's back in Lonesome Point determined to win back the only woman he's ever loved, but Lula is just as determined to keep her heart under lock and key. She gives Carter twelve days--and twelve dates--to make his case before she sends him on his way, not counting on the fact that the two of them have grown into people even more meant to be.It looks like Lula and Carter are on track to Happily Ever After take two, but when Lula's old fears are reawakened Christmas Eve it will take a holiday miracle to keep them together.

Beach Walk


Grace Greene - 2015
    Two people in need. On a winter night several years before, a young runaway, Kelli, stumbled onto the porch of an oceanfront cottage. The woman who lived there, Margie, took her in and gave her the gifts of safety and security. Twelve years later, Margie dies. Kelli continues living at the cottage until the day the woman’s nephew arrives for a Christmas visit. And he intends to stay. Dylan has been on the road for many years. He calls himself a traveler, but he’s tired of always being on the move. When he arrives at his aunt’s home, he learns that she has died. Who has the better claim? And how far will Kelli go to keep the house that has become her home?

Wish Upon a SEAL


J.M. Madden - 2017
    Too much pink is annoying. Too much crowd puts him in a dangerous mood. When he bumps into Izzy Greer, for a few brief seconds, he forgets everything else around him. Too bad Izzy came to the reception with another guy, one that had trouble written all over him. Couldn’t Izzy see that? Blind dates suck in general, but weddings bring out the worst in some men. Izzy Greer doesn’t like being a damsel in distress, but when her blind date becomes both grabby and possessive, she realizes she needs some help getting rid of him. When things turn more dangerous, she prays one of the military guys at the reception saw him escort her away. She wishes upon a SEAL, and team leader Drake Hardwick materializes as if from a dream. Mature and sexy, Drake makes Izzy think this might turn out to be her luckiest wish ever.

Wicked to Love


Shayla Black - 2011
    Years later, he's still haunted by Kayla, holding every woman to her standard. And Brandon's secretary, Amberlin Evans, knows she can’t measure up.Amberlin would do anything to make her boss notice her. But when one phone call from Kayla sends Brandon running after her, she knows it's time to stop waiting for him to see her and move on. Funny how her resignation gets Brandon's attention in a way short skirts didn't.When Brandon confronts Amberlin, he realizes that he's been blind to his feelings for her—and that the way she always calls him Sir and says "please" has his thoughts turning wicked…

A SEAL's Song


Jennifer Lowery - 2014
    When criminals kidnap the beautiful wedding singer, he knows that he must rescue her, at all costs, if need be.Darci O'Shea jumped at the opportunity for a little adventure when she took the job of wedding singer in the tropics, but she didn't expect to be kidnapped by a band of thieves. Nor did she expect her rescuer to be a groomsman who could handle a gun as if he'd been born with it.Will the battle between their inner demons be the hardest one to fight, or will they find rescue in each other's arms?Content Warning: Sexual content

Hung


Anne Marsh - 2017
    The second time, I kissed the ever-loving daylights out of him on a dare. For a girl who’s on the lam and hiding from her cop ex, I’m failing miserably at laying low. Instead, I’m going up in delicious flames—because Pick’s the hottest, roughest, toughest bad boy firefighter I’ve ever laid eyes (or lips) on. He promises he has a big hose—and knows how to use it. I’d investigate, but I need my job as a cook at the fire camp. I’m supposed to serve my hotshot breakfast—not me. I’m supposed to keep my secrets. And I’m definitely supposed to stay single.But I’m not prepared for what happens after our kiss. Pick’s magnetic and dangerous. He’s short-term fun—not Mr. Commitment. But then he volunteers to be my muscle when my douche ex tracks me down. And I shouldn’t want more than that.But I do.I should run as fast as I could from Pick.But I won’t.Because he sets me on fire and you know what they say about firefighters—the hotter you get, the faster they come. How’s a gal to say no?This full-length standalone from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Anne Marsh is full of dirty swoonworthy hotshot firefighters that know how to use their hoses and who are about to learn how to use their hearts. This novel was originally published as a much shorter and tamer novella by eKensington and has been completely rewritten. The book is twice as big... and so are the hoses.

Promise Me Forever


Debbie Macomber - 1985
    She’s tough yet compassionate, doing whatever it takes to get them back on their feet . . . and she’s met her match in Sloan Whittaker. Bitter, angry, resentful, Sloan is ready to give up. But Joy doesn’t let anybody quit, especially not a man as talented as this brilliant tycoon—a man who, somewhere along the way, has won her heart.   After weeks trying to push Joy away, Sloan realizes he’s a fool. She’s determined to piece him back together, and now he knows why: Deep down, she’s as broken as he is. Joy is prepared to give him everything, and now Sloan wants to give her something in return. He can be the one to show Joy that she’s perfect inside and out—if she’s willing to let go of her own painful memories and make happy ones with him.

Because You're Mine


Claire Contreras - 2018
    They're the ones with experience. The ones with secrets. The ones that exude sex just by saying your name.From the minute I laid eyes on Lorenzo, I knew he wasn't just bad news. He was the headline.My opinion didn't change on our second meeting. Or our third. But my head and my heart are at war. He’s too mysterious, too gorgeous, too wild, and now, he wants me. I should run far away. So why am I racing toward him? I’m totally going to get burned. I know it. A man like Lorenzo won’t leave me unscathed.He'll make ashes of me.

Sweet Water


Anna Jeffrey - 2006
    Marisa Rutherford has actually returned to care for her mother, who's suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and to run her mother's cafe. But when the town is sold in an eBay auction, it could mean the end of Agua Dulce as Marisa and the other nine residents know it.Terry Ledger is a high-rolling real estate developer who knows a good deal when he sees it. Though purchasing a remote town in West Texas on eBay sounds crazy, this serene hamlet actually holds much promise as a hub for travelers. Unfortunately, the citizens don't share in his vision. To win them over to his side, Terry must curry favor with the town's unofficial leader, feisty Marisa, who fiercely guards her hometown and her recently broken heart. With different plans for the future of Agua Dulce, they find themselves agreeing on one thing--an undeniable attraction that could change their lives forever.

Marking Mariah


Liz Crowe - 2016
    Honestly believing that his new job as soccer coach and part time bartender will be all he needs to fix himself, he’s determined to leave everything about his old life behind.But a chance encounter at a karaoke bar turns into a smoking hot hook-up with a woman whose deep mocha skin and hypnotic singing voice turns him inside out. A woman he's a little surprised to meet again the next day—Mariah Bailey, recent winner of "Singers,” a national talent competition, and the high school’s new music teacher.When terrifying, inexplicable violence rips the sleepy community apart, Trigger must leap back into action— which forces Mariah to accept his feelings about her, and the fact that even he can't always save the day.

The Cowboy Takes a Bride


Kristi Rose - 2017
    To escape her father she'll need a protector. Love will only complicate their marriage of convenience. She’s on the run… A tyrannical father. A life she hates and doesn’t control. Freedom for socialite Meredith Hanover is not a luxury she has. When given an opportunity to become a modern-day mail-order bride to a rancher in rural Wyoming, she realizes this might be her only opportunity at a fresh start. He’s determined to stay… Jace Shepard’s dying father gave him two options: get married and take over the ranch or be cut out of the will. But life on the ranch is hard and isolating, something the previous women of his life couldn’t hack. With no other solution, he strikes a deal with a professional matchmaker for a temporary bride.The plan is foolproof. A bargain struck. Everyone wins in this ruse of fake love. Yet, if they're both pretending why does it feel so real?  Is Meredith ready to gamble away the freedom she’s always wanted and give her heart to the family-oriented rancher? Jace knows it’s only a matter of time before Meredith tires of ranching’s hard lifestyle and trades him in for her old-cushy life. Why should he trust his heart to her? Read more novels from USA Today Bestselling author Kristi Rose The Wyoming Matchmaker Series: The Cowboy Takes A BrideThe Cowboy's Make Believe BrideThe Cowboy's Runaway Bride The No Strings Series: The Girl He KnowsThe Girl He NeedsThe Girl He Wants The Coming Home Series:  Second ChancesOnce AgainReason to StayHe's the OneKiss Me Again  Meryton Matchmakers: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling Book 1: Lottie Pursues BillBook 2: Mary Captures Colonel FitzwilliamBook 3: Lydia Wins WickhamBook 4: Jane Adores BingelyBook 5: Darcy Ardently Loves Elizabeth Book 6: Honeymoon Postponed (A Mr.& Mrs. Darcy Adventure)

Lovin' Las Vegas


Kathy Ivan - 2017
    Meet these strong, independent couples, willing to risk it all on finding their happily-ever-after with the one that got away. IT HAPPENED IN VEGAS One little wager. What could go wrong? That's what Charlie King thinks when her friends dare her to reach out to the one man she's never forgotten. There's just one catch—he's the older brother of her former fiancée. Rodeo star Jared Drake is in Vegas for the Grand National finals when he spots Charlie. Their chemistry is instantly off the charts. There’s just one problem—his role in her broken engagement. This time around, can they beat the odds to happily-ever-after or will secrets from the past keep them apart forever? CRAZY VEGAS LOVE It's party time in Las Vegas when four former college roommates and best friends converge on Sin City. Add in a crazy drunken bet about finding "the one that got away" to see if there's a spark still burning after all these years—how bad could it be? The next day, after coming to her senses, Gloria Valenzuela had no intention of going through with the bet. Not until one of the other women played fairy godmother and arranged things so Gloria had no choice but to meet up with her ex. A world famous country music star, Kyle Greenwood had everything he'd ever wanted except for the one thing he'd left behind—Gloria. Then fate in the form of his matchmaking manager lends a hand and brings Gloria back into his life. Before the night is over, a simple practical joke escalates into more than either anticipate. Secrets from their past begin to unravel and threaten their last chance at happiness. Can they overcome their obstacles and hold onto their happily ever after? MARRIAGE, VEGAS STYLE It's party time in Las Vegas when four former college roommates and best friends converge on Sin City. Add in a crazy drunken bet about finding "the one that got away" to see if there's a spark still burning after all these years—how bad could it be? When Cynthia "Cyn" Evans finds herself without access to cash and credit cards, she tempted to cave in to her mother's demands to return home and become engaged to someone who's earned the family approval. That is, until she runs into Noah Cochran in the hotel lobby. What are the odds the one man she decided not to look for is right here in Vegas? Noah Cochran can't believe his luck. The consortium deciding on the contract for the brand new casino complex has narrowed its choices down to five contenders, and his company is at the top of the list. But he's the only unmarried businessman in the running, and if he wants to make a good impression, he needs a fiancee—fast. A fake engagement seems the ideal solution, until things spiral out of control. Will outside forces pull them apart when they've just found each other again, or can they hang on tight for their own happily-ever-after?

Wet 'n Wild Navy SEALs


Tawny WeberBarbara Ruffin - 2016
    Membership required a vow that once he became a SEAL, the team would be his only commitment. Distractions like relationships or dependents would be forbidden. Eight years later, on the cusp of achieving his goal, Sam has forgotten that vow. But Bryanna Spencer hasn’t. SEAL It With A Kiss by Rogenna Brewer Commander Marc Miller is the newly appointed CO of BUD/S. He’s been tasked with cleaning up SEAL training. For Miller, Hell Week begins the moment one red-hot redhead waltzes through his door. The last thing he wants is to be her commanding officer when the only thing he wants is her. Rogue by Laura Marie Altom One wrong move. Disavowed Navy SEAL, Nash Adamson, knows that's all it will take for his high school sweetheart, Maisey, and her unborn child to die at the hands of her psychopath ex. A SEAL’s Song by Jennifer Lowery Navy SEAL Jack Taggart attends his friend's wedding, hoping to catch some much-needed downtime between deployments. When criminals kidnap the beautiful wedding singer, he knows that he must rescue her, at all costs, if need be. A SEAL’s Vigilant Heart by Caitlyn O’Leary Mason Gault and Sophia Anderson’s wedding day is approaching when Mason comes home wounded from a SEAL mission. Are Sophia’s nightmares caused by the stress of his job, or for some other reason? Will Mason give up his the only job he has ever loved, after assuming he knows what is wrong, or can Sophia convince her white knight that she needs him to continue to follow his own heart? Withholding Evidence by Rachel Grant Military historian Trina Sorensen has a nearly impossible task before her: get recalcitrant but tempting former Navy SEAL Keith Hatcher to reveal what happened during a top secret Somalia op five years ago. Keith isn’t just refusing to tell the sexy historian about the op, he’s protecting a national secret that could destroy the lives of those he cares about the most. Her Firefighter SEAL by Anne Marsh For former Navy SEAL Kade Jordan, coming home is a miracle. Captured by insurgents in Khost, Afghanistan, he survived months of captivity when his SEAL team believed him dead. Now he’s back in Strong, California—ready to rejoin the local smoke jumping team and rejoin the living. Falling hard for a team member’s pregnant widow isn’t part of the plan. BONUS SHORT STORY : The Firefighter SEAL’s Baby Nobody’s Hero by Patricia Keelyn Sam Cooper has done his time on the hero circuit. First as a Navy SEAL and then as an FBI agent, Cooper learned how easily a man could stumble on that path. Now he’s nobody’s hero, a PI living on his boat and working cases where the only thing at stake is money. Then Jessie Burkett shows up on his dock, insisting he help find her missing sister. Hero Of My Heart by Teresa Hill Taken hostage while teaching abroad, Amanda Warren was convinced she was going to die until U.S. Navy SEAL Will Gerard charged in to rescue her. Now she wonders if she'll ever feel safe and whole again. BONUS NEW RELEASE: Seeking Bliss by Barbara Raffin When Bliss O'Hara's perfect hero walks off the pages of her latest novel and into her life in the form of former Navy SEAL, Jake St. John, it's to accuse her of stealing his life.

A Fall from Yesterday


Norah Wilson - 2016
    The first item on her agenda? Climbing White Crow Cliff, where her best friend Lacey Douglas died six years ago. If she conquers the mountain, perhaps she can rediscover her courage. But the only thing she finds herself is…lost. Family obligations have left Titus Standish stuck in Harkness. While his younger siblings went off into the world, he stayed, working the farm and running the local search and rescue. He was there when Lacey fell to her death and blames himself. He dreads the day another mission takes him up there again. But when Ocean’s mother calls, concerned that her daughter is wandering the mountain, he leaps into action. Ocean is thrilled to be found…until she sees her savior. She’s known Titus Standish all her life, and has loved him almost that long. But at four years his junior, she was just a kid with a crush. When Titus finds her, he’s determined to march her back down the mountain to safety. But Ocean has other plans; she’ll be damned if she’ll give up this trek. Yet all trails seem to lead to one place…straight into Titus’s arms.