Book picks similar to
A Splash of Substance by Elizabeth Maddrey


romance
christian
contemporary
christian-fiction

Christmas in Peakview Box Set


Jill Haymaker - 2019
    If you love small town western romances you'll love these stories of hope and second chances. COLORADO COWBOY CHRISTMAS Cynthia Welch has made a name for herself as one of Chicago’s top divorce attorneys at the expense of her personal life. Burnt out, she heads to Peaktop Guest Ranch for a couple of months of solitude over the holidays. AJ Coulter, a cowboy from Wyoming, has been a loner and a drifter ever since his divorce and his teenage daughters leaving for college. He finds a temporary job at Peaktop Ranch as the head wrangler. When their paths cross, Cynthia begins to question her life in Chicago, and AJ struggles to find a way to keep her in Colorado. Can the spirit of Christmas bring these two people from very different worlds together and help them find their way to true love? COLORADO GOLDEN SUNRISE Forty-three year old, Kelly Charm, feels her life slipping away in Prairie, Nebraska. A single mom, she longs for a better life for herself and her teenage son, Ethan. Having scoured online job ads for months, she finally finds an ad for a hardware store manager in picturesque Peakview, Colorado and decides to take a chance. Forty-six year old, Jake Midnight, is Peakview County’s most beloved EMT. He’s the best at what he does—professionally, that is. After a failed marriage, which ended over twenty years ago, he’s put his personal life on hold. He’s content to live alone. That is if you don’t count his three horses, two dogs, five cats, and two pigmy goats. When the unfamiliar high altitude of the Colorado Rockies causes Ethan to have an asthma attack, Jake is quick to jump to the conclusion that Kelly is an irresponsible parent. Kelly is furious at the arrogance of this man who know nothing about her or her son. Sparks fly, but there’s no denying the underlying attraction that sizzles between them. The warmth of the holiday season has been known to melt hearts, even one’s which have been closed for years. A PEAKVIEW CHRISTMAS Only five days until Christmas, and FAITH OWENS has had enough. Not willing to spend one more holiday with her abusive, alcoholic husband, she loads her two young daughters, Gracie and Hope, in her car and leaves her life in Scorpion, New Mexico behind. Newly divorced, ZANE WILDER, faces his first Christmas without his son, Ace. He can’t wait for the holiday to be over. To escape sitting home sulking, he travels from Montana to Colorado to spend the week training his young horse, Storm Cloud. When their paths collide at Hearts Haven Bed and Breakfast near scenic Peakview, Colorado, they find more than a place to rest. Two lonely, cautious hearts are brought together by the magic of Christmas, with a little help from Violet Crandall or maybe Santa himself. Will their budding romance continue when the holiday ends? Can two broken families find the missing pieces that lead to happiness? This Christmas, come home to Peakview, Colorado where everyone has a chance at love.

The Accidental Wedding


Debra Elizabeth - 2017
    As she walks through the casino, she bumps into the most handsome man she’s ever seen. When he asks her to dinner, she doesn’t hesitate. As she learns Cade Tyndale’s story—he needs to wed or lose his British estate, her impulsive nature rears up and she agrees to marry him and move to England for one year. What does she have to lose except her heart to the impossibly handsome Earl of Barrett?

Three Days


Michael Wojciechowski - 2019
    When she does, her nosy seatmate, Paul, asks if she liked it. She claims it’s average at best and argues that McCarthy has lost his edge. Unbeknownst to her, her seatmate is Kurt McCarthy. Kurt McCarthy is Paul’s penname—a secret Paul doesn’t reveal.Paul’s headed to Chicago for his first public reading—a sold out performance in which Kadie has a ticket. However, minutes before Paul takes the stage, Kadie calls and asks him to meet her for dinner. Paul abandons the reading and his 1500 fans.Over the next three days, they fall in love. Paul never reveals he’s Kurt McCarthy, and he flies home promising Kadie he’ll return in two weeks. Unfortunately, an unexpected development unfolds, preventing him from returning. Can they reunite, or will the prospect of what might have been haunt them forever?

Rogues Always Wear Black


Catherine Mayfair - 2020
    Until he meets Constance. Her strong spirit, quick tongue, and virtuous smile has him question honoring his oath of protecting her or fulfilling his own growing desire …Fearing that her stepfather will find her, Constance decides to trust Stephen and accepts his offer of protection. He is brave, handsome, and his kiss has caused a passion to emerge she did not know existed.Yet, doubts soon arise in her heart, and Constance's faith in Stephen is tested by his lingering touch, for her mother had always warned that Rogues Always Wear Black.The Princess Bride meets Robin Hood in this Steamy Regency Romance adventure.

All I Want For Christmas


Tracey Mayhew - 2018
     Three years on, she returns to help Holly Richards, her best friend and business partner, through her own rough patch and quickly finds herself falling back into village life as if she’s never been away. But a chance meeting with a handsome stranger soon has Jess confronting her own ghosts of Christmases past and she finds herself accepting his offer to help her rediscover her Christmas spirit. Can friendships, both old and new, help restore Jess’ faith in Christmas and will she find love along the way? Discover the wonder of Christmas with this endearing romance, perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Debbie Macomber, Trisha Ashley and, of course, all things Christmas!

Forbidden Love


Ainsley St. Claire - 2018
    Then I met Dillon. I feel the pull, but I can’t let myself get distracted. Not now.He has eyes of the hunter, and when he looks at me, I know I'm the prey.He's dangerous and all wrong for me. I thought I could stay strong and resist him.I was wrong.Dillon:Women have always been simple for me. Seduce her, bed her. Repeat. Until I met Emerson. She was off limits. No problem, I had plenty of discipline. I could handle mind over matter.When I recognized the brains inside the seductive package, she became my personal black hole.With her I was losing the battle. I don’t know if it was hormones, or pheromones, or black magic.No matter what the rules said, I couldn’t pull away.Damn the rules.Forbidden Love is the first standalone book in the Venture Capitalist series of steamy romantic suspense. If you like heartthrob bosses, sexy-and-smart heroines, twist-filled plots, then you’ll love Ainsley St Claire’s too-hot-to-handle tale.Buy Forbidden Love to slip into a scandalous romance today!

Show Me a Marriage of Convenience


Alexa Verde - 2020
    The last thing he wants is for his son to become a bargaining chip between a con artist grandfather and a ruthless ex trying to get their hands on the family fortune. So Kade agrees to a crazy proposal from the woman his child adores. But as a former foster kid, Kade learned to walk away before getting hurt. Can he now learn to stay and love?Heather Johnson dreams of a real marriage with the man her sister abandoned, not a fake one. But the rumor is Kade might leave their small town again and take her darling nephew with him. She's reluctant to trust a womanizer-husband or not. If she allows love for him to ignite her heart, will her marshmallow-soft heart become roasted and burned?Cowboy Crossing Romances series set in a small town in the Show Me State is about curvy forty-something women and the swoon-worthy single dad cowboys who love them, though sometimes those rugged handsome men might need a nudge-or a push.

No More Tears (A Town Without Pity, #1)


Sandy Appleyard - 2020
    A hardened cowgirl. The gunshot that erases all doubt.Laura Warner knows nothing but horses. Her entire life has been lived on a ranch. It’s her love, her dream, and aside from the love of her life, Quentin, it’s the only thing that she ever thinks about. But when tragedy strikes at Kelsey Ranch, Laura is left to care for the horses and the land with the help of her siblings. Years later, Laura feels content with life, but when a gunshot blasts only days after she has to make a difficult decision, Laura learns that everything happens for a reason…and it doesn’t always lead to more hardship…sometimes it leads to happiness. But can she convince herself that this is possible?Grayson Thomas is an out of work lowlife, who just happens to have world class siblings that drag him out of his rut days after he loses everything, or gives everything up, depending on one’s perspective. When he makes the decision to flee from El Paso and move to Huttonville, just outside of Dallas, his brothers give him their thumbs up. Grayson has no idea that he’s about to step into the world that he does, and when a gunshot blasts on his second day in Huttonville, he’s left wondering if he should make tire tracks back to El Paso, or stay in Huttonville.When Laura’s face becomes a staple in Grayson’s life, what was once a demon craving becomes a distant memory. What he once worked hard for and lost soon becomes something that he may have again. Things that once brought him to the edges of demise, become obliterated and exist only in random nightmares. Grayson’s tough exterior is softened through Laura’s honest and thoughtful words, and Laura sees life in a new light, and learns to laugh and have fun again with someone that isn’t family. But is this enough? Can two people who have been through so much, lost everything and worked hard to gain it back, learn to trust enough to let their guard down and see life and love for what it is? Short answer, yes. They both do. But just when they do, someone who has been watching from afar swoops in and threatens to take everything.Can they survive yet another tragedy…and more important, will they have to?This is a book about survival and love. In that order. This series is the start of a huge helping of feels. Each story has medium heat and a cliffhanger ending, so be sure to read the books in their proper sequence. Get addicted today!

Shelter from the Storm


Kristen Ethridge - 2015
     As the director of the Port Provident Animal Shelter, Becca Collins had devoted her life to helping the furriest residents of Port Provident. When a special Labrador retriever needs her help on the eve of Hurricane Hope, Becca can't say no--even if it means she'll have to ride out the hurricane on Provident Island. She doesn't have the supplies to properly take care of a geriatric dog with specific medical needs, but she knows who does--her greatest opposition for a new town animal shelter, local veterinarian Dr. Ross Reeder. With the storm looming only hours away, Becca has no other choice but to show up on his doorstep, throwing a wrench into Ross' plans to evacuate himself and his combat-weary former Army dog. Ross and Becca are used to disagreeing with one another, but they soon realize the only way they're going to survive the wrath of Hurricane Hope is to put their differences aside and work for the good of the animals who depend totally on them. As they discover they have more in common than they thought, they work to rebuild the Texas beach town where they've both put down roots. But then Becca learns secrets about her past that threaten to change the whole direction of her life. As she struggles with love, faith, and lies, will she still need the shelter she's found in Ross' arms or will the aftermath of the storm take away everything they've worked to build? WHAT IS AN ENHANCED EDITION AND WHY SHOULD YOU PICK UP THIS STORY? This enhanced edition of Shelter from the Storm takes you behind the scenes for the stories behind the story. There's a section of exclusive bonus videos, photos, and write-ups where Kristen gives her readers a front-row tour of the places and history that inspired Ross and Becca's world--and they're only found right here. Plus, during the exclusive launch period through September 24, 2018, you'll also receive a link to an additional short book for you--Rising Tide: Volume 2, a seven-day companion devotional written by Kristen. Best-Selling Christian Romance author Kristen Ethridge brings readers home to Port Provident, Texas for the Port Provident: Hurricane Hope series—sweet escape romances full of hope, heart and happily-ever-after. These clean romance novels with a light, uplifting thread of faith and love will sweep you up in the story and leave you with a smile. Port Provident: Hurricane Hope Enhanced Editions Moonlight and Mistletoe—August 14, 2018 Shelter from the Storm—September 4, 2018 The Doctor’s Unexpected Family—September 25, 2018 His Texas Princess—October 16, 2018 Holiday of Hope—October 30, 2018

Tangled up in Blue: A Rainy Day Women Romance


Linda Steinberg - 2021
    Deadbeat dads, that is. Until she's arrested by a handsome detective who won't listen to reason. But when she discovers a dead body while working a case, she needs Detective Tall, Dark and Handsome's Help.Protect and serveWhen Dallas P.D. detective Trey Donovan arrests a feisty, gun-toting woman with a stack of hundred dollar bills stashed in her camisole, he senses this is no ordinary drug bust. He manages to maintain his professional composure but he can't get her out of his mind. On his next case, when he finds Selena standing over a dead body, they agree to work together to catch a killer.Trey is by the book; Selena prefers to color outside the lines. But the chemistry between them sparks creative detective work. And ignites simmering passions. Despite their intentions to keep the relationship professional, a rainy night stakeout leaves them 'tangled up in blue.' And when Selena's out-of-the-box ideas put her in danger, Trey realizes this is a woman he will never put out of his mind. And that's a 'Dunn deal.'Tangled up in Blue is the first book in the Rainy Day Women series, featuring women empowering women--and the men who love them. In a converted warehouse near downtown Dallas a group of strong, professional women come together to volunteer their services to the women of an under-served community. They name their facility the Rainy Day Women's Center. Each book is a stand-alone romance about competent, independent women and the equally competent, independent men they can't ignore--or live without.

Diving into Love


Kat Bellemore - 2020
    She didn’t need another.When Bree Garrett’s former college roommate invites Bree to move to Starlight Ridge, a small tourist town on the Californian coast, she is all too happy to leave the deserts of New Mexico and the memories of her former life. She only has three conditions:One- No one can find out about her fear of water—totally embarrassing when you live next to the ocean.Two- No seafood. She can't stomach it. Yeah, she sees the irony of points number one and two.Three- No blind dates. The last thing she needs is a relationship. Her ex-fiancé would agree.Easier said than done when the only job available is at a surf shop and the owner, Caleb, is under the impression that Bree has applied to be a scuba instructor, and not a cashier, as she had intended.Bree tries to clear up the misunderstanding, but it’s hard when she seems to lose her voice—and her breath—every time Caleb is near. How could she not when he happens to be attractive, single and, as it turns out, also doesn't like seafood?Bree and Caleb struggle against the pull of the tide that seems determined to bring them together. But, despite their differences, maybe this is one battle that is okay to lose.

Falling for the Foe


Milla Holt - 2019
    Now, they have to work together. Nia has devoted her career to fighting for life-saving medicines for Ugandans with HIV. But when first-line treatments begin to fail, she must find a pharma company willing to supply her clinics with affordable medicines before patients start to die.Too bad her firebrand activism just led her into a highly-visible online clash with the head of the pharma company that owns a new and powerful anti-HIV drug.Magnus is poised to market a game-changing treatment for HIV, but an avalanche of bad PR threatens to destroy his company's reputation and kill his bottom line. When he travels to Uganda in a bid to boost his social justice credentials, he's not expecting to feel such a deep attraction to the woman whose viral blog post led to all his troubles.To get what they want, their only solution is to work together. He's out to rescue his business, and she's trying to save lives. Neither ever dreamed it would be their hearts on the line.

A Bridge Between Hearts


Casey Swan - 2021
    Adam Finlay left the vet practice he was working for when cost cutting led to animals suffering. He would love to open a one-man practice of his own, but all his savings went to his ex wife in her battle against cancer. He’s still getting over the divorce, and he doesn’t have anything to offer a woman at the moment anyway.Adam’s sister has set him up in a rental house in the small seaside town of Kauri Bay, not far from the family farm, and he soon notices Polly, the manager of the Beach Front Cafe. Polly knows she can’t get interested in the handsome young vet, she really mustn’t, but her heart flutters every time he’s near her. The two young people find themselves in an impossible situation – or is it? Not when help comes from a completely unexpected source. A clean and wholesome romance, set in an inspirational community.

The Billionaire Needs a Wife


Rachael Eliker - 2021
    He’s convinced Luke is wasting his life and wants him to hurry up and marry before the end of the year, or he’s firing Luke and cutting off his inheritance.It’s not that Lauren’s life is awful, but things aren’t as perfect as she’d hoped. She’s floundering in a dead-end job, she hasn’t had a date in months, and as a Southern girl, she doesn’t mix well with upper Michigan winters. Applying for a new position across the country at the prompting of her friend, Lauren’s excited about the promise of a new start.Only there’s a surprise that comes with the job—her ex is her new boss.There’s a thorny history between Luke and Lauren, but their attraction for each other is alive and well. If they want to give love a second chance, their challenges have only begun.

Let Your Heart Beat Again


Janith Hooper - 2017
     After four months on the job, twenty-four-year-old Rebecca Harper has become something of a jack-of-all-trades on the Cooper Bar-6 Ranch...except for her cooking. But the four strapping sons who run the ranch in their father's absence need wise counsel more than unburnt bread, and Rebecca is perfect for the job. Whether dealing with the driven eldest, the belligerent youngest, or the personalities in between, she recognizes the source of each young man's pain is a lifetime of a father's indifference. As soon as the rogue returns, Rebecca aims to give "Mr. Cooper" a thick piece of her mind. Not that dishing out hard truth will make her feel any more alive. Past betrayal has taught her to live at arm's length from anyone who might mean too much to her. So she cooks and cleans and counsels, at once harboring anger against a man she has never met and numbing herself against the life she has forgotten to desire. Until one night, one thunderstorm, and one heroic stranger changes it all. In that fleeting moment, Rebecca Harper dares to hope her heart will beat again. * * * Breath Without Life novels portrays seven bachelor ranchers, each so broken down by old wounds that he cannot conceive of ever finding love. Be there when one Cooper after another meets the one incredible woman who can make him whole again. Every book within this series is a stand-alone love story, though ranch life circumstances run chronologically through all six novels.