Book picks similar to
Desperate by Katerina Winters


romance
love-hate
contemporary-romance
possessive

Crown of Lies


Pepper Winters - 2017
    Until he showed up and saved me. THREE DAYS Since I threw a drink at the man my father expected me to marry, then found myself slammed against a wall with Penn Everett’s seductive voice whispering a proposal I couldn’t refuse. THREE HOURSTo fall into hate with the man who reminded me of so many things and hid so much behind his lies. He couldn’t be the man who saved me three years ago…but there’s something so familiar…THREE MINUTESFor our relationship to switch from no-strings to marriage. He announced it to my father—he’s ecstatic. He told my friends—they’re shocked. But he didn’t ask me, he commanded me—and I’m livid. THREE SECONDSFor his lies to slowly steal my heart and make me believe, hope…trust. THREE BREATHS For his truth to destroy me.

Rellik


Teresa Mummert - 2014
    He uses and abuses them like drugs and tosses them out with the trash. The only thing he gives a f*ck about is his music. That is, until Ella Lighten walks into his life and stumbles upon one of his darkest secrets. In the midst of doing damage control, he begins to obsess over the mysterious woman who wants absolutely nothing to do with him.Rellik won’t take no for an answer.

The Initiation


Nikki Sloane - 2019
    But there are rumors of a sordid rite of initiation. Whispers how one woman and nine men disappear into a boardroom. This time, that woman will be me. The Hale family owns everything—the eighth largest bank in the world, everyone in our town, even the mortgage on my parents’ mansion. And now Royce Hale wants to own me. He is charming. Seductive. Ruthless. But above all, he’s the prince of lies. My body may tighten with white-hot desire under his penetrating gaze, but I refuse to enjoy it. I’ll make a deal with the devil to save my family and sell myself to the Hales. But Royce will never own my heart.

Bitter Heat


Mia Knight - 2019
    He was the flame. After this, they would be ash. A cruel twist of fate leaves Jasmine Hennessy stranded in a remote cabin with her worst nightmare—her ex-husband, James Roth, who she hasn’t seen in five years. He isn’t acting like the man she married, but did she ever really know him? One night together kicks off a series of events that threatens her freedom as Roth seeks vengeance on those who ruined him seven years ago. He’s determined to bring her back into the world she left behind where money is king, reputation is everything, and people will kill to keep their secrets. Author's Note: This is a dark romance novel with triggers and mature themes that may make some readers uncomfortable.

The Wingman


Natasha Anders - 2017
    But their attraction is undeniable. Introverted Daisy McGregor is used to being a wallflower, but what she lacks in style, she makes up for with an acerbic wit, a passion for life, and a deep devotion to her family. So she’ll suffer through her sister Dahlia’s bachelorette party and accept the cloud of pity for going stag to the wedding.Out at the pub, sexy bad boy Mason Carlisle is a reluctant wingman tasked with entertaining Daisy while his brother flirts with her oldest sister, Daffodil. When the plan fails and Mason’s true intent is revealed, he feels intense guilt—and a sensual spark of desire for the unlikeliest of women.Daisy decides to use this unfortunate encounter to her advantage: to make it up to her, Mason will be another kind of wingman, playing the role of her boyfriend and wedding date. Will their ruse unravel completely—or will Mason and Daisy’s undeniable attraction ignite a scorching love affair that knows no rules?

Mafia's Dirty Secret


Summer Cooper - 2020
    Ungrateful. Bitch.That’s what Marie’s mother always calls her.She never wanted Marie in the first place and never stops reminding her.Marie almost escaped her abusive mother once.If only she really could have been a bitch.If only she could have left and let her mother rot away in her sickbed...She could be at university now, studying to become a doctor.Instead, she’s trapped in a place where she’s an outcast.Day after day, taking care of her mother’s every need and enduring every abuse.Until she meets him.Surely, a man like that wouldn’t notice her. Except… he had.But good things never happen to someone like her, do they?What if the rumours about him being mafia are true?Would it even matter?Warning: Story contains strong language, domestic abuse and adult scenes that may be upsetting. Intended for adults only.

Just Kidding


Lani Lynn Vale - 2020
    It’ll be fun, they said.Well, they—I.e. Kilgore Police Department’s public relations specialists—were wrong.Now, every time Dax Tremaine walks around a corner, the women of Kilgore, Texas can’t help calling him Mr. January.Mr. January, can you fix my flat tire? Mr. January, can you cuff me? Mr. January, can you sign my boob?It goes from bad to worse when even on a SWAT call, the women won’t stay away.***It was the worst time of her life. Rowen Roberts had finally admitted to herself that the man she loved would never love her back. She was just fired from her job for violating client confidentiality, and to make matters worse, she’s held up at gunpoint in a convenience store where she only wanted some ice cream to help mask the pain.The moment the gun is pressed to her forehead, she knows she has a decision to make. Follow the rules and maybe possibly live, or go down swinging where at least she can salvage just a little bit of her dignity.And when Mr. January himself tells her to do what the gunman says, she’s had enough. Rowen has never really been a girl that does what she’s told. Mr. January won’t have to save her. She can dang well save herself.

Bad Neighbor


Molly O'Keefe - 2016
    He's dangerous... He's right next door. I gave up everything to save my sister from a monster, and now I’m lying low in this rundown apartment so I can stay out of danger. Hiding from everyone.Except for the guy in apartment 1A.He’s rude. Silent. Muscled, mysterious, and hot as hell. I don’t know if he likes me or hates me, but the more time I spend with him, the less it matters.I want him.And for the first time in my life I'm going to go after what I want.She doesn’t belong in my world.From the second 1B moves in, I know she’s keeping secrets. She doesn’t belong here, much less with a street fighter like me.But that doesn’t stop me from craving her. Her softness and sweetness. She’s a drug, and suddenly I’m addicted.I know someone is going to try and hurt her and I can’t let that happen. But unless I push her away and get her out of my world, that someone could be me…

Wait With Me


Amy Daws - 2018
    When romance novelist Kate Smith suddenly gets writer's block as she's beginning the final installment of her international bestselling erotic Bed 'n Breakfast series, she'll do pretty much anything to get her groove back. Like sneak into a Tire Depot waiting room because her words flow there just like complimentary coffee-smooth, sweet, and scorchingly hot. She manages to fly under the radar until the rugged and charming mechanic, Miles Hudson, notices the quirky redhead slinking in and out of the employees only entrance. But she's way too intriguing to blow the whistle on. Doing a test-drive of her new book idea sounds like a much better option.

Redemption


Garrett Leigh - 2020
    When friendship turns to love, it’s up to Paolo to convince him second chances are worth the pain.Luis Pope is back on the street after a six year stretch in prison, but life on the outside seems just out of reach, especially when the whole neighbourhood knows his face for all the wrong reasons.Paolo’s temper makes it hard to keep staff, and he knows Luis’s rep all too well. But his nonno believes in redemption, and Luis isn’t the tough guy Paolo remembers. Prison has left its mark, inside and out, and all the kindness in the world can’t fix the three inch scar on Luis’s skull.And it can’t keep ghosts locked up. Luis’s the best worker Paolo’s ever had, and Luis’s happier than he’s ever been. But his old life doesn’t want to stay in the past. Trouble comes to call, and when it makes him an offer he can’t refuse, keeping Paolo safe hurts the most.Redemption is an angsty, standalone MM romance novel, with second chances, found family, friends-to-lovers, and buckets of hurt/comfort themed loveliness.

Shattered Dreams


Amber Torney - 2020
    don’t screamI prayed the hand over my mouth would suffocate me before I ever had to tell my best friend the truth.I loved Logan Ducane—he was everything to me.But my secrets ripped our families apart. I’ve spent the last four years trying to rebuild a life worth living,and trying to find my voice after I’d lost so much.Four years of progress ...GONE.I thought I had nothing left to lose, but I was so wrong. My bags are packed, and I’m on my way, to let another Ducane boy finish ripping me to shreds. He says I’m the enemy ...but if only he knew. **Logan**The last time I saw her she was scared, crying, and bloodied, my cousin’s cold and lifeless body at her feet.Four years ago, everything I thought I knew was uprooted and shattered.The girl I thought I loved was the cause of so much pain and angst.Her lies destroyed everything we had,but now I get my chance to make her pay.Four years of hate, anger, and pain—all ready to be released.Shattered Dreams is a Young Adult, Dark Bully Enemies to Lovers, Reverse Harem Romance. This book contains Dark and often confronting themes that some may find TRIGGERING.

Devious Lies


Parker S. Huntington - 2019
    Huntington comes an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance full of revenge and a dash of fate. “She could enjoy her pretty, perfect world a little longer. Soon enough, everything she owned would be mine.” I had a plan to escape the friend zone. Step one: sneak into Reed’s room. Step two: sleep with him. But when the lights turned on, it wasn’t familiar blue eyes I saw. These were dark, angry, and full of demons. And they belonged to Reed’s much older brother. Four years later, Nash Prescott is no longer the help’s angry son. I’m no longer the town’s prized princess. At twenty-two, I’m broke, in need of a job. At thirty-two, he’s a billionaire, in need of revenge. Who cares if my family ruined his? Who cares if he looks at me with pure loathing? Who cares if every task he assigns me is designed to torture? I need the money. Simple as that. I’ll suffer his cruelty in silence, knowing there’s one thing he wants more than revenge… Me. Note: Devious Lies is a 145,000-word standalone in the Cruel Crown series. If you love banter and angst, this book is for you! Welcome to Eastridge. Enter if you dare.

The Spy Who Left Me


Gina Robinson - 2011
    Just ask Treflee Miller. If she'd only known that her husband Ty would be here in Hawaii; muscular, sun-bronzed, and infuriatingly gorgeous, she would have brought the divorce papers for him to sign. But life is full of surprises when you're married to a world-class spy.Ty Miller can understand why his wife is tired of playing Mrs. James Bond. He's never home, he's always on a mission, and he's usually surrounded by exotic informants. He has to admit that the perfect spy makes a pretty lousy husband. But for the sake of Ty's security and Treflee's safety, they can't blow his cover. Not here. Not now. Not when his longing is so strong, her lips so tempting, and his enemies so close.

Make Me Shine


Elodie Colt - 2020
    After all, as a divorced man at the age of thirty-two, "blind sex" sounded like a nice distraction.Her code name is Devon. She’s my faceless fantasy. A diamond in a world full of rhinestones. I don't know what she looks like.I don’t know where she lives.I don't know her name.I will never know these things.And if I'm not careful, I might fall for a woman who's just a ghost in the dark. ELLANew name. New identity. Old demons.After escaping two years in hell, this fancy dating program was supposed to be my therapy.His code name is Ross. He makes me feel alive again. Every night we share at Silent Sins, our bond grows stronger.And he’s hell-bent on meeting me in person, throwing our anonymity away, and taking me on a real date.I want to do it.But my demons? They never sleep.

Barely Breathing


Erica Marselas - 2020
    My life, my choices are being dictated by my father.I was forced to give up the man I love in order to protect him and now I must marry a man who I hate. I thought I had found a way out.I thought my time in this gilded cage was almost over.Then one day Jaxson Holden walks back into my life, flipping it upside down.He’s angry, I get it. But he has no idea how much I have to lose—how much he has to lose with him coming back. Now I need to find a way to hold on while I’m gasping for breath as my past and present collide.Just keep breathing, River.Just keep breathing. Barely Breathing is a Second Chance Standalone Romance and the first book in the Keep Breathing Series.