Book picks similar to
Staking a Claim by Ciana Stone


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Beautiful Oblivion


Addison Moore - 2013
    She’s tired of dating Warren McCarthy just to make her father happy. Reese has long since had her eye on someone else, and this summer she’s determined to make it happen.Growing up in Lake Loveless there has always been a strict monetary divide—there was the rest of the Lake and then there were the Waterman’s. Ace Waterman has worked for everything he has, and he doesn’t have a lot. He breaks his back doing grunt work while putting himself through college. He’s used to life passing him by.Reese has loved Ace from afar for as long as she can remember. The summer of her freshman year she comes home with plans to land Ace in her bed at least for a few short weeks, and, if she’s lucky, forever.Ace has loved Reese for as long as he can remember, but their friendship has never graduated beyond platonic, so when Reese comes home from her first year away and proposes the two of them have a summer fling, Ace is quick to comply. The rules: no strings, no expectations, just something hotter than the sun to set the sheets on fire.But when their worlds collide, and neither of them is willing to admit to having true feelings, it becomes clear to Ace he’s nothing more than a dirty little secret—that the summer fling was just something meaningless to pass the time.Reese wonders if she can ever stop trying to please her father, and it’s only through her mother’s letters that she finds the answers she truly seeks, but will they be the ones she wants to hear?As summer draws to a close, Ace and Reese are still very much enraptured even though the time has come to douse the flame and move on—but neither one of them is prepared to leave this BEAUTIFUL OBLIVION.

Rafe


A.K. Michaels - 2017
    Alpha of the Darkmoon Pack he can’t deny there’s something very wrong. When his mother lets him in on the secret he is shocked and in denial. No longer able to reject her words as mere fantasy, he embarks on the mission the Legends speak of. Nothing will stand in his way as the Hunger grows out of control, leaving Rafe powerless to resist the calling of his soul-mate. Rogue Wolves, a mystery magical illness that can cripple Shifters, and a Witch with a hidden agenda all stand in his way but he will do whatever it takes to rescue his love. Including calling in the dreaded Council. A Wolf's Hunger: It Can't Be Stopped! Book 1 in New York Times Bestselling Author, A K Michaels’ new Shifter series full of passion, intrigue and Paranormal Romance. All are standalones with a HEA and no cliff-hangers. Jam packed full of suspense, romance, thrills and hot Shifters.

Cool Shade


Theresa Weir - 1998
    But she finds that after a brief encounter with reclusive Eddie Berlin, her baby sister has vanished without a trace. Now it's going to take every last one of Maddie's wiles, feminine and otherwise, to get close enough to Eddie to discover what has happened, and to resist his mesmerizing allure, which may be just as dangerous as it is enticing.

Stand By Your Man


Bobby Hutchinson - 2005
    And she's pretty certain Sebastian is guilty as charged, so she’s trying her best not to find evidence to the contrary. She's doing the exact opposite of what Finn hired her to do, betraying the guy she—well, the guy she’s supposed to be working for, the guy she just might, maybe, almost be falling for . . .

Never Date Your Brother's Best Friend


Jules Barnard - 2014
    My friend needed a date, and my brother's best friend was single. Problem solved.Until I saw Jaeger for the first time in years, and sparks flew in the wrong direction.Jaeger has grown up and bulked up. But that shouldn't matter, because I have the perfect life. Really.Only my plans are beginning to unravel and now visions of Jaeger's hard abs, broad shoulders, and intense green eyes fill my head.I should hold back in case my friend is interested. Or in case of a million other reasons. But if Jaeger isn't willing to play by the rules, I don't think I can either.

Rescuing Lara


Lyn Horner - 2014
    . . even from herself. It won’t be easy with killers on her trail and the past haunting her. Lara Spenser guards one of seven prophetic scrolls held by the Council of Guardians. Now a band of killers are out to steal the scrolls. They murdered Lara’s uncle, the High Guardian, and left her seriously injured. She has since escaped to Ireland but knows the killers will find her. She desperately needs a bodyguard. Enter Connor O’Shea, ex-Special Forces soldier. Conn is on leave in Ireland after a devastating explosion on his firefighting job. Out of curiosity, he answers Lara’s ad in the local newspaper for a “strong chauffeur”. He takes on the job of guarding her Romance blooms between the two, but with Lara’s pursuers menacing them, the scene shifts to Texas. While Conn may prove his ability to protect her, can he rescue her from soul-deep pain that holds her prisoner? ROMANCING THE GUARDIANS Rescuing Lara – Book 1 Decoding Michaela – Book 2 Capturing Gabriel – Book 3 Touching Charlotte – Book 4 Profiling Nathan – Book 5 Beguiling Delilah – Book 6 Tempting Adam – Book 7 What readers are saying about Rescuing Lara: “I loved this book! There was never a dull moment.” “This story was just so well written. I fell in love with these people and I'm sure going to read the next book to see what happens to them all.” “Connor is a hero that you want to fall in love with. Strong, handsome and protective with a bit of a bad boy appeal with being Ex- military and owning a Harley . . .”

Serial Love


Maryann Jordan - 2015
    Pulling together like-minded men from the CIA, FBI, ATF, DEA, Border Patrol, SEALs, and police, they were devoted to the missions that no one else wanted or could solve. When the Campus Killer strikes again, Jack’s team is tasked by the Governor to find the killer, using whatever means they can. While following the trail of the serial killer, he becomes entangled in the life of the beautiful woman living next to his property. Bethany Bridwell moved in with her grandmother to take over running Mountville Cabin Rentals. She had no time for the handsome, mysterious man living next door who continued to intrude into her life...and her thoughts. >Jack battled his growing feelings for Bethany, worried his life would not allow for the white-picket-fence world she deserved. But he was unable to stay away. When the trail of the Campus Killer strikes close to home, can Jack protect Bethany long enough to give her what she needs? ****Due to scenes of an explicit sexual nature and language that some consider crude, please be warned - for 18+ only! If you do not like alphas with heart who fall instantly in love with strong female characters while dealing with real life issues...again be warned!!*****

A Date with Fate


Tracy Ellen - 2012
    She’s twenty eight, owns a bookstore, and is one determined, control freak of a woman. She’s decided to take the entire weekend off to have some fun. Except Anabel’s unapologetically single and perfectly uncomplicated life is suddenly upside down with problems! The cheating love of her life is back in town. Her family is meddling in her personal business. An adulterous wife of a good friend has gone missing. She’s been targeted for death by a homicidal serial rapist. An evil aunt has gone fanatic. Her sociopathic cousin has stolen her gun. The macho police chief is driving her nuts. And one not-too-tall, deliciously dark, and definitely not handsome stranger is enticing her to break all her ironclad rules on dating in the most intriguing of ways. Strange things are happening in Northfield, Minnesota. But Anabel’s never met the challenge she won’t stare in the eye while daintily spitting sideways in the dirt. Will Anabel begin to believe that life is never simple, some rules are meant to be broken, and a certain mesmerizing complication may be worth the trouble--even if it kills her? (Adult Content)

Cowboy's Fake Fiancée


Piper Sullivan - 2017
    I wanted him. Needed him from the time I knew what real need was. When he asked me to be his fiancée, I knew this would be my chance. I was a virgin who could finally be with the man of my dreams. But it was fake. I'll pretend he's mine until he walks away... Sage Winchester was my best friend’s kid sister. Only she’s not a kid anymore. She’s all woman with big blue eyes, long shapely legs that look like a wet dream in painted on denim. I want her but I can’t have her. When I needed a fake fiancée she’s the one I ask. It was just a little bit of pretending for a few months. Until a hotel in Houston changed everything between us. Now I can’t get enough of her even though I’ll never fall in love, never marry again. A fake engagement. A fake fiancée. For an entire summer. What could possibly go wrong? Only everything... Author’s Promise: A Steamy Western Single Dad Romance with a HEA ending.

Safe at Home


Christina Kirby - 2015
    The Georgia townsfolk’s true Southern charm is the unexpected prescription needed to heal her soul, and the sexy carpenter who touches her heart are distractions she didn’t plan on, but they might offer her a chance at a new life, if she can let go of her past. Town heartbreaker Spencer Malloy isn’t looking for anything serious. His days are perfect working as a contractor, attending his nephew’s baseball games, or taking him fishing. He never expects to fall for the big city girl, Samantha. She’s not his type, timid and closed off, but in her unguarded moments, he’s intrigued by the woman he can’t get out of his mind. The urge to get closer to her grows stronger each day, and when the shadow of evil resurfaces, he vows to protect Samantha, even if it means abandoning his home and joining her on the run. When confronted by the man who’s bent on revenge, Samantha must choose between running again to save the people she loves, or, if she has the strength, to stay and fight for her new life.

Wicked Games


A.D. Justice - 2013
    When the trail led her into a dangerous web of lies, she was forced to choose between destroying the man she loved and giving up her entire life to enter WITSEC. After three years of living as someone else, everything changed when her true identity and location were discovered. Noah “Reaper” Steele created a successful business in Steele Security, but he never fully recovered after he lost Brianna. He shared his bed with other women but they never had his heart. Noah's life solely revolved around his work. Everything changed the night he caught an intruder in his house and learned it was actually his long-dead love, Brianna. With their reunion, they discovered the passion that fueled their relationship was still alive, burning hotter than ever. However, even Noah’s love couldn’t erase the sting of her betrayal, and he wrestled with allowing her back in his life. Brianna was the only woman he’d ever loved, but he wasn’t sure he could forgive her treachery. For both to survive, Noah and Brianna had to band together, uncover the truth, and reveal the real threat before it was too late. In his fight against the wicked games that surrounded him, would he end up losing her all over again?Recommended for readers 18+ due to language, violence and sexual content.

Loving Lauren


Jill Sanders - 2013
    Now she’s not only in charge of her two younger sisters, but she’s running a full-blown Texas ranch. Caring for a thousand‑acre ranch has its ups and downs, physically, mentally, and financially. All she is looking for is a little break. What she doesn't have time for is someone who will only complicate her life further.Chase is back in his hometown. Helping his dad with his veterinary practice is high on his list. So is being with the lovely Lauren West. Years ago, he found a unique way to bind them together. Now all he has to do is prove to her that he’s the right man to spend the rest of her life with.

Justified Deception


Patricia Watters - 2011
    Ruth's private investigator is all but certain that ranch owner, Matt Kincaid's, adopted daughter is Ruth's child. But even though Ruth lands the job as nanny to Matt's six-year-old daughter, she must tread carefully. Matt's the maverick in a powerful family of lawyers and politicians and she can't predict what Matt or his family might do if the adoption's challenged. However, Ruth's carefully laid plans go awry when she finds herself falling in love with the man who might have stolen her child.

Trust Me: The Complete Box Set: Matty and Kayla's Story - Books 1-3


Christine Bell - 2014
     Book One: As the oldest McDaniels boy, it’s always been Matty’s job to take care of his brothers, but lately, he’s been doing a crappy job of it. After a rough couple months, his brother Bash is finally back on track to make a big name for himself in the boxing world, but when his golden opportunity gets taken away, there’s nothing Matty won’t do to fix it. Even if it means making a deal with the devil…and his bossy, red-headed protégé. Kayla James wasn't always notorious Boston mobster Mickey Flynn's right hand. Before that, she was nobody. He might not be perfect, but he took her in when she had no one else, and she’ll be forever in his debt. If he wants her to manage his cocky new MMA fighter and turn him into a money-making machine, she’ll do it…but she doesn’t have to like it. Once she takes the job, though, she finds herself curiously attracted to Matthias McDaniels. He understands her better than anyone ever has and she doesn't want to give him up, but it's only a matter of time before he discovers the truth about her... Book Two: Kayla James has finally found a guy who understands her. Matty McDaniels might seem like just another guy looking to get laid and fight his way out of Southie, but he's so much more than that. In fact, he's starting to become her everything. Which makes it even harder to accept that, when he finds out she's keeping another secret from him, he's going to hate her guts... Matty can't get Kayla out of his mind. She's the only girl he's ever been with that made him want to be a better man. Too bad her mobster father hates him and will do whatever it takes to keep them apart. Book Three: Kayla's world has fallen apart and only Matty knows what she's going through. Only, she can't turn to him anymore, because secrets and lies have torn them apart. Can they find their way back to one another and take down the man who has ruined so many lives? Or will their love be yet another victim of the formidable Mickey Flynn?

Caribbean Caress


Jenna Bayley-Burke - 2012
    But her impulsive plan has unexpected results. Her father is away on business and his partner turns out to be none other than her first crush. Joe Prinsen knows the only reason Saskia has returned after eight years away is to ask for money. After all, Dutch had to refuse her mother just two weeks ago. Joe thinks of the man as a father-figure, and he knows Dutch seeing his daughter would mean the world to him. But if she’s only after cash, Joe can’t have her finding out that her father lost everything after the last hurricane devastated the island. Joe has the most noble of intentions, but Sassy undoes every one until there is nothing between them but water. No matter how steamy the sex or how deep their connection, she’s leaving on Christmas Day. He asks her to return, but when she find out the truth, will she be willing to forgive all he’s hidden?