Book picks similar to
Against the Odds by Laura Drake


harlequin
contemporary-romance
4-stars
tortured

Chock Full of Christmas (Heartsprings Valley Sweet Romance #5)


Anne Chase - 2019
    A lesson in chocolates -- and love! Eight years after her painful divorce, Abby Donovan is passionately devoted to making her little chocolate shop in Heartsprings Valley a delicious success.When widower John Buckley and his two adorable kids sign up for a chocolate class, Abby finds herself surprised by the immediate connection she feels with them -- and by the realization that the little shop of her dreams may no longer be enough to keep her fulfilled.With a gentle push from the Christmas spirit, can Abby overcome her wounded heart and embrace a future filled with love and happiness?The Heartsprings Valley Sweet Romance series celebrates love and romance during the most wonderful time of the year.Christmas to the Rescue! (Book 1)A Very Cookie Christmas (Book 2)Sweet Apple Christmas (Book 3)I Dream of Christmas (Book 4)Chock Full of Christmas (Book 5) It's always Christmas in Heartsprings Valley!

The Christmas Promise


Nikki Larson - 2020
    But now that her dear husband has died and her money is running out, she reluctantly returns home to the small town of Crystalline Falls.Hunter Flynn is restless. Expected to work on his dad’s Christmas tree farm with his older brothers, he dreams instead of traveling and settling in some tropical location where he can enjoy the sun and the surf and keep his troubles at bay.Sabrina Townsend knows what she wants, and nothing will stop her from getting it. And this year, she’s decided, she wants Hunter Flynn back. If only Elise Silverstein would get out of the way.When Hunter runs into Elise, who broke his heart several years ago when she married Wesley, he is reeled in once again by her captivating personality. They were so young the last time they fell in love, and foolish. Now he is tempted to let himself become all wrapped up in her again. But wouldn’t that be a colossal mistake? An enchanting story about the joy of Christmas, the importance of family, and falling in love in the most magical holiday season of the year. This is a Sweet Contemporary Clean Romance with Christian themes, perfect for holiday reading.

Small Town Shepherd


Nala Henkel-Aislinn - 2021
    Sam lost her career and her boyfriend on the same day. Needing an escape, she makes a radical decision—leave the big city for a small town, get a regular job, and take a break from men and romance.Brody is picking up the pieces after divorce. He’s hoping for a fresh start in the small community of Maple Cove. Instead, he’s forced to co-manage a failing animal hospital with Sam, who seems ready to hate him on sight.Watch two people learn to face their fears and love again in this sweet, small-town enemies to happily-ever-after romance.Small Town Shepherd is the first book in the sweet romance series Maple Cove Dog Lover’s Society.

Hunted


Beverly Long - 2014
    Although the former army helicopter pilot had grown up to be honorably protective—and ruggedly handsome—could she confess why she'd really come to this remote hideaway?Ethan could tell there was more to Chandler's "visit" than she'd say, but with secrets of his own to safeguard, he understood. Still, with unknown assailants suddenly hot on their trail and a brutal snowstorm bearing down on them, Ethan knew he'd do anything to keep the emerald-eyed beauty safe. And keep their spontaneous reunion from ending.

Sweet as Sin


Inez Kelley - 2011
    Sin was something he knew intimately. John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won't lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she's as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?

Devil You Know


Max Henry - 2015
    Love can be a sweet gesture of flowers on your anniversary. Love can be a meal waiting at home after a long day at work. Love can be a gentle caress. Or the unspoken words in your lover’s eyes.Love isn’t a backhand, given because of a warm beer. Love isn’t wearing long-sleeves to hide bruises from the ladies at the supermarket.I thought I’d never experience love. Such emotion didn’t seem to fit with what I had—who I was.But he stepped in, and showed me his.He pulled me from the dark abyss I had lost myself to, and showed me the simple things which could bring such joy. Sun on my face. The smell of fresh coffee. Colours in the autumn leaves. All the little things.He shows me these things, but he doesn’t share in them. He knows happiness, but he doesn’t feel it. He will give love, but never accept it. He saved me. Now it’s my turn to return the favour …

Breach


K.I. Lynn - 2016
    Follow them on their journey, along with all the challenges the tortured couple faced. Find out why so many people love the tortured, dirty talking lawyer Nathan Thorne.Includes Release, Breach 3.5 novella

The Divorced Not Dead Workshop


CeCe Osgood - 2014
    Too bad she’s an idea person with zero follow-through. That changes when her best friend, Pilar Vega, a feisty go-getter, chooses to set up the workshop, puts herself in charge and gets Dorsey to agree to be her “gofer.” Things are fine until Dorsey’s widowed stepfather Ralph, and his bride-to-be, Audrey, ask Dorsey to join their wedding cruise to Cabo, which is on the very same weekend as the workshop. Dorsey and Pilar decide to hold the workshop during the cruise. But do things ever really work out as planned. No. No, they don’t. Complications arise with a startling mishap, rebellious attendees and a fraud accusation, the arrival of Audrey’s good-looking but wily nephew Finn, and the reappearance of Theo. Struggling through the turmoil, Dorsey must face her biggest challenge if she’s to win the love, and life, she’s always desired.

Dawn's Early Light


Jessica Scott - 2017
    He's haunted by what he's seen, and the only thing he wants is to be normal again -- especially when he sees Hayley Arsenault, the girl he left behind when he went off to war. But how does a scarred soldier learn to let in love? BookShots Flames Original romances presented by James Patterson Novels you can devour in a few hours Impossible to stop reading

Fugitive Trackdown


Sandra Robbins - 2015
    But a shy Southern librarian is no match for a murderer, and as a novice bounty hunter, she's quickly cornered. Fugitive recovery specialist Adam Knight arrives just in time to rescue Claire. But now she owes her life to the man who once broke her heart. With the killer still tracking Claire, Adam decides she needs a guardian—and he's the best man for the job. Set on seeing justice served, Claire and Adam must join forces…and try to outrun a desperado and his deadly traps. Bounty Hunters: Finding justice one fugitive at a time

A Marine for His Mom


Christy Jeffries - 2015
    The wounded warrior has been his pen pal for months, and now that he's come to Sugar Falls to recuperate, Hunter is over the moon. His mom? Not so much. Maxine Walker has been acting weird ever since Cooper showed up. She seems to get mad whenever the veteran is around, which doesn't make any sense. And now Cooper is acting weird, too. Hunter doesn't understand why grown-ups always say things are complicated when they're really simple. His pen pal soldier and his sassy, stubborn mom belong together. But maybe they need just a little push…

The Tree Keeper's Promise


Tamara Passey - 2016
    That’s how long Angela Donovan hoped to know Mark Shafer before they married. But less than a year later, she still fears repeating the mistakes of her previous failed relationship. As Christmas approaches, she senses Mark’s plans for a proposal and wonders if she can learn to trust again.Mark has learned all there is to know about the Shafer miracle trees—or so he thinks. Papa reveals secrets about the trees’ matchmaking power just as a highway expansion threatens to destroy the family legacy. Mark is determined to save the farm and the promise of love stirring in the branches of the Shafer miracle trees. Heartwarming and engaging, The Tree Keeper’s Promise captures the warmth and wonder of the holiday season.

The Chase: The Complete Series Box Set


Jessica Wood - 2014
     This complete series box set includes The Chase, Volumes 1 through 4. The Chase, Volume 1 735 to 1. 735 = number of notches on his belt. 1 = the notch he couldn’t get. Who is he? Dean Chase. He loves the thrill. He loves the women. And above all, he loves the chase. But the one thing he doesn’t love is being tied down by a woman. To him, once the chase is over, it’s time to pull up his boxers and move on to the next target. That is until he meets Blair Parker. Blair is unlike any of the women under Dean’s belt. She’s confident, mysterious, and sassy. In Dean’s world, she’s the wicked curved ball he couldn’t figure out. She’s the first woman who always seems to be out of reach no matter how hard he chases. So when it comes to Blair, Dean couldn’t move on. Dean will need to change his ways in order to chase Blair down to make her the 736th notch on his belt. But will chasing after Blair become Dean’s undoing and end his love of the chase once and for all? The Chase, Volume 2 736 = the number of notches on my belt. 736 = the notch I can't get out of my head. 736 = the notch who leaves me wanting more than I’m prepared to give back. Who is 736? Blair Parker. She is unlike any women I have met before. She's powerful. She's feisty. She's headstrong. And above all, she’s the one I had to break my one and only rule to chase down. But there’s just one problem. She wants nothing to do with me before and after our night together. If that’s not enough, life then throws me another curve ball. I’m offered an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s an opportunity to achieve the success I’ve worked so hard for. It’s an opportunity anyone in my position would kill for. It’s an opportunity that I’d be crazy to say no to. But there is a catch. There is a price to pay. There is something I need to do in exchange for this opportunity. To be the youngest partner at the most prestigious international law firm, I need to make Blair the casualty of my success. The Chase, Volume 3 When the Blonde Bitch broke my heart ten years ago, I had vowed two things. One: I would never waste my time on loving someone again. Two: I would never have anything to do with the Blonde Bitch again. When I met my 736th notch, I broke that first vow. The minute I saw Blair, the second our eyes met, the microsecond I tasted her in my mouth, I knew that was the one vow I had to break. But the second vow, that I would keep. That vow I had control over. That vow I would take to my grave. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. Because Fate had other plans in mind. Fate was in on a cruel joke, and I was its target. The Chase, Volume 4 No one told me things would turn out this way. No one told me that to be honest with Blair, I had to break her heart.

The Christmas Inn


Stella Maclean - 2012
    But Marnie knows this favor is bound to be complicated because the owners need a confidential report immediately. Marnie's impressions could affect their decision to sell.From the outset, the inn is not what she expects…and neither is the manager, Luke Harrison. She quickly develops a rapport with this very attractive widower and his adorable little boy. He knows something is up, yet she can't tell him that the inn—which is home to Luke and his son—is in danger. Marnie's torn between her obligation to her brother and her growing love for Luke. Fortunately, things have a way of working out at Christmas!

Her Ride


Rachael Orman - 2014
    I have too many secrets, too many scars to hide from the world. I thought the years away would've dulled the crush I've had on Ellis since I was a child. They didn't. He's got his eye on me and nothing I say will change his mind. Not even when my boyfriend shows up and he finds out the darkest, most embarrassing secret I have. He thinks it's the only one I have, little does he know, I have a bigger, scarier one that I absolutely refuse to share.**WARNING: CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT - Also, please don't bother reading if you think being in the Marines leaves you unfeeling and cold without the need for comfort when far far away from home. Don't read this if you have problems with LOTS of sexy scenes or sex. There is vulgar language used so if that bothers you, probably best to skip this book**Alternative Cover Edition for ASIN:B00KN9UUSA