Book picks similar to
Dodging a Bullet by Desiree Douglas
romance
contemporary
contemporary-romance
chick-lit
The Wager
Calista Kyle - 2013
This unassuming book shop owner would rather spend a night in with a good book rather than hobnob with the rich and famous.When her best friend Mel begs her to attend a charity gala with her, Lily reluctantly agrees. All she wants is to get through the night without embarrassing herself or snapping someone's head off. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen. Lily causes a bit of a stir when she berates another guest for spilling his drink on her.
...and a Billionaire
Roman Conrad is rich, bored and too handsome for his own good. He's never had a problem attracting women. When he sees Lily at a charity gala, she's already made a little name for herself as an Ice Princess. Seeing the perfect opportunity to alleviate his boredom and to get one over an acquaintance, he makes a bet that he can make Lily fall in love with him.What he never expected was that he would be the one in danger of falling in love.
The Betrayal
After a painful past, Lily is gun-shy when it come to love and trusting her heart to anyone. She suspects Roman may be too good to be true, but against her better judgment, she can't help being drawn to him anyway.She has no idea about the bet and Roman wants to keep it that way, but fate has other plans. After spending his whole life waiting for a woman like Lily will one careless wager ruin everything and tear them apart?
The Publicist
Christina George - 2012
The ego has landed.Can one woman change an age-old institution like publishing? Probably not, but Kate Mitchell sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system, books that don’t sell, and author egos that are often, well, as big as the island of Manhattan.Enter the star Editor, MacDermott Ellis: Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author--now as forgotten as last year's bestsellers and his nephew Nick: Tall, gorgeous, sweet, single and ready to sweep Kate off her feet. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions. As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week,” she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.The story only an insider could tell.
Game Player
B.J. Harvey - 2016
Matt Taylor’s motto:“I’m the king of the cut ‘n’ run. I wine them, dine them, then slide inside them, making sure I get up, get dressed and get out before they can even utter the words “second date.” Mia Roberts’ motto:“I’m queen of the chase. I meet them, greet them, date them and leave them. A social butterfly, I’m happily single and happy to stay that way.”The players have been found. The challenge has been set. Whatever happens, they’ll soon find out that playing the game can get you played in the best possible way.
Hometown Calling
Lexy Timms - 2019
The only thing is, my best friend is the bride. And we used to be more than friends. The groom isn't exactly stoked to have me there, either, so the deck is already stacked against me. And that's before I see that her little sister has grown up and become a knockout. She's forbidden. So why can't I stop myself? HER: He never spared me a glance in high school. He keeps telling me all the reasons why we shouldn't, but I'd like nothing better than showing him exactly why we should. I know I can't have him, so why do I want him so bad? My Best Friend's Sister Book 1 – Hometown Calling Book 2 – A Perfect Moment Book 3 – Thrown in Together
The Guestbook
Andrea Hurst - 2012
The lush and majestic setting of the Pacific Northwest calls to her and offers a place of refuge and perhaps renewal. Her grandmother has passed away, leaving the Madrona Island Bed & Breakfast Inn to Lily. Left with only an old guestbook as her guide–a curious book full of letters, recipes, and glimpses into her family history–Lily is determined to embrace her newfound independence and recreate herself, one page at a time. With the help of the quirky island residents she has befriended, she slowly finds the strength to seek out happiness on her own terms. But as soon as she has sworn off men and is standing on her own two feet, Lily meets Ian, the alluring artist who lives next door, and her new life is suddenly thrown off course. The last thing she wants to do right now is to open her heart to another man. Ultimately, Lily must decide if it’s worth giving up her soul for security or risking everything to follow her heart.
Jackie Cupid's First Love and It's Written In The Stars
Mary Leo - 2017
. . Jackie Cupid! Jackie Cupid’s First Love: When Eros, the god of Love, appears to Jackie Cupid and transforms her into a real life Cupid with magical love powers and an outstanding bombshell body, Jackie is keen to take on the challenge. “Look out, baby, there’s a new Cupid in town!” There’s just one catch. Jackie’s first couple is a test. The potential soul mates are estranged best friends who must fall madly in love with each other by Christmas morning or Jackie will lose all her powers, along with her outstanding bombshell body. Samantha Bowers, the local preacher’s daughter, and Luke Rutherford, an out of town businessman, haven’t spoken in over a year. Getting these two together is a series of star struck misadventures. Jackie has to learn how deep to prick someone with her tiny magical stars (arrows are way too gauche) so they can become delirious with desire . . . just not too delirious. More importantly, Jackie must learn when to poke them or that person might fall for anyone but their intended lover. The clock is ticking. Christmas is fast approaching. Will Jackie Cupid turn these two misbegotten lovers around in time to keep her powers? Or will her magic become a stardust memory? It’s Written In The Stars: Billionaire, Antonio Milani has come to London for the annual book fair and to retrieve his first edition, signed copy of Oliver Twist, from a woman who not only played him in his bed, but pretended to be a talented new author his publishing house was courting. Margot James has spent the better part of her adult life raising two children in a small town and writing stories in her personal journals. Now that her kids are grown, Margot takes a leap of faith and travels to London to visit her best friend, Jackie Cupid. When her friend takes a hike and leaves her with Antonio Milani, the delicious looking billionaire, Margot wants nothing more than to fly back home. But Jackie has used her magical stars on these two and the attraction, heat, and a pending book contract get in the way of Margot’s departure. Will Cupid’s magic be enough to keep these two lovers together, despite the odds, or will best-friend guilt get in the way of their destiny?
Finding Hope in Savannah
Melissa Wardwell - 2015
When she witnesses something horrifying and dangerous, they are forced into hiding. She seeks refuge in the small community of Isle of Hope, Georgia only to find that her life and her heart are still hanging in the balance.Officer Jake Andrews, dedicated his life to protect and serve the people of Savannah. In the back of his mind always wondering “what if”? The arrival of a young woman from his past forces him to face a long-buried secret, that will change how he sees his future.As danger comes to Georgia, Liz & Jake must learn to trust God and each other, to see their way out of the situation.
Loving From Afar
Mona Ingram - 2013
Ten years later, he returns home, telling himself he will avoid the woman who broke his heart.But nothing goes as planned. Can Allison and Cole forget the past and come to terms with the events that tore them apart?
Caught Up in Us
Lauren Blakely - 2013
It was a mad, crazy love full of kisses all through the night—but he broke her heart and she had to move on. Five years later, Kat is finishing her graduate degree and building her business as a jewelry designer, when Bryan, head of his own successful company, walks back into her life. Bryan has been assigned to Kat as her new business mentor and the rules are clear. No hanky panky permitted. Kat can handle that because she's totally over him... right? Except, he still makes her laugh, and he remembers all the things she likes. Not to mention that he's even more handsome now than he was then. Then there's the spark between them—the simply undeniable chemistry, and the tender ways he shows he still cares for her. Can they resist each other the second time around or will first love trump all?
Chasing Sunsets
Eva Marie Everson - 2011
A divorced mother of two, Kim resents her ex-husband for moving on with his life and living it up while she struggles to understand what went wrong. When her sons end up spending five weeks of summer vacation with their father, Kim's own father suggests a respite in the family vacation home on tiny Cedar Key Island. As Kim revisits her childhood memories and loves, she soon discovers that treasures in life are often buried, and mistakes--both past and present--become redeemable in God's hand.Readers will be swept away to an island retreat where they walk alongside Kim as she discovers that God's answers may not come easily, but they do come.
What Once Was Perfect
Zoe York - 2013
Heading home always stirs up mixed emotions for Laney Calhoun. Twelve years ago she left for graduate school, broken-hearted. She's found professional success, but positive personal relationships have proved elusive. Running into her ex-boyfriend fans flames she thought long extinguished, and causes a renewed interest in love. Not with Kyle, of course. Never again. But as sparks fly and items of clothing disappear, she scrambles to keep her emotions in check. ...Now he has a second chance to get it right. Kyle Nixon let Laney slip away once. Their chemistry together is undeniable, but steamy sex is not enough to convince her to let him back into her heart. Even if she did trust him again, her career as a paediatric surgeon is five hundred kilometers away from the hometown that he loves, and the life he once chose over her. Come home to Wardham. Come home to love.
Friends Like These
Hannah Ellis - 2015
With her sights set on the flamboyant Sebastian and his sophisticated group, Marie is sure that things are about to change for the better. But when a chance encounter brings some unlikely characters into her life, things start to veer off course. Marie would never normally be seen with this bunch of misfits but to her annoyance they just keep turning up. As lives quickly become entwined and unusual friendships form, Marie realises that we don't always get to choose our friends; sometimes they choose us. Buoyed by her newfound friendships, Marie might even take another chance at love.
Restless
Paris Hansen - 2015
While working with a matchmaker to find love, the last person Savannah St. James expects to fall for is the man behind the bar of her favorite restaurant. From day one, she’s pegged Gabriel Archer as a tattooed bad boy but quickly learns he’s more than he seems, and far more than she bargained for. When someone from Gabriel’s past returns and he begins to shut her out, Savannah starts to doubt their connection. And when her life takes an unexpected turn, everything changes. Will their relationship be over before it ever had a chance to begin?
The Finding Love series:
Restless (Savannah and Gabriel) Powerless (Finley and Liam) Speechless (Meghan and Oliver) Breathless (Brooklyn and Declan) Priceless (Andi and Braeden) Harmless (Sylvia and Logan) - A Finding Love Holiday Novella The books in the Finding Love series can be read as standalones, however, for optimum enjoyment they are best read in order.
Legal Ease
Lori Ryan - 2013
Dive on in to Book One of the Sutton Capital series and fall in love!Kelly Bradley is convinced she doesn't need to worry about falling in love when she comes up with her plan to marry Jack Sutton. She's dated so many great guys over the years, but hasn't fallen in love once. Not with any of them. It just isn't in the cards for her. So, when she approaches powerful, sexy Jack Sutton and proposes a temporary marriage-of-convenience, she's not one bit concerned that her heart will be on the line.Jack Sutton is used to having control over things, having things go his way. Things in his life aren't supposed to spin out of control. But Kelly Bradley flips his world upside-down and has him wanting more than he'd ever thought he would have. And, just when he realizes he wants a real marriage with Kelly, Jack finds himself racing to save the woman he loves.Before Jack and Kelly know it, not only are their hearts on the line, but Kelly's life is, too.Legal Ease is book one of the Sutton Capital series. It can be read as a stand-alone book. Lori's Sutton Capital series is a steamy series with adult language. For a sweeter series, please see her Evers, Texas series, beginning with Ever Hopeful.ISBN: 9780989245319 previous version found here, latest edition found here.
Where Your Heart Is
Rachel Schurig - 2016
She just needs a little time to work out a come back plan and then she’ll be right back to taking over the real estate world in the big city. Getting fired and losing her home were a setback, sure, but there’s no reason to think she’ll need more than a few weeks to get herself together. After all, Lilac Bay isn’t exactly her favorite place. And the feeling is mutual—at least when it comes to her ex, David Jenkins. Getting involved with the quirky islanders is not on her agenda, no matter how many fish fries and drunken book clubs her cousin Posey drags her to. She definitely doesn’t have time to help reopen the family restaurant. And mending fences with David, her first love, is absolutely out of the question—even if that means ignoring the spark that’s growing between them. But the more time Iris spends on Lilac Bay, the harder it is to leave. She’s getting closer with David, getting closer with her family, and suddenly she’s not so sure her old life was as perfect as she always believed it to be. Maybe she’s actually looking for something new, for something more. Maybe she’s looking for love. And maybe that love is right in front of her.