Book picks similar to
Sam's Choice by S.M. Donaldson


2
angsty-heartbreak
college
interesting

Storm Front


Rachel Curtis - 2013
    She's just as attracted to his sexy intensity and humor as she used to be, but she's not a silly girl anymore. Sure, she might enjoy a one-night-stand, but she's never going to fall for him. Not again.Always forced into the public eye because of his business dealings and high-profile relationships, Michael doesn't trust journalists, and he doesn't trust women. Allison is both, which means he can never surrender to his tumultuous feelings for her, even though they only rage stronger when the storm finally ends.

Where Life Takes You


Claudia Y. Burgoa - 2013
    During her high school years, her mother married; bringing home not only a new husband, but a step sister her same age. The latter took over her Mom's role — making Becca's life miserable. Including stealing Ian — Becca's best friend and boyfriend — Lisa treated her worse than her mother had for the previous fifteen years. A couple years later, thing ended up in tragedy. Becca buried that part of her life in the deep corners of her psyche, caught between sanity and nightmares. Between therapy, work and her constantly looming past she can't seem to find room to breathe. The memories of her late step-sister, Lisa, are her closest company. Her best friend, Dan gives her that family love she always lacked. Everything was close to perfect, until everything and everyone from her past came back. Now she's trying to figure out how to survive and keep that bond which seems now to be held together by a thread.

What I Did Not Learn At IIT: Transitioning from Campus to Workplace


Rajeev Agarwal - 2013
    But what are the habits and behaviors that actually lead to success? Drawing on his own experiences, Rajeev Agarwal, the founder and CEO of MAQ Software, concisely explains the steps he took for a successful career. As Agarwal realized that an IIT degree and a technical knowledge was not enough for his success. To distinguish himself, he shares his habits, behaviors, and thinking. Encouraging graduates to look at their careers over a forty-year span, Agarwal explains that successful people choose to be passionate about every job they have. Successful people recognize that performing average work does not advance them in the direction they want. The little bits of dedication here and there all add up-showing up to work on time, getting proper rest and nutrition, always striving to learn, and owning the results of your actions all build toward success. Transitioning from college to the workplace can be difficult. Graduates are required to determine their own lives, making several important decisions before the age of thirty. By providing an honest account, this book will make that transition easier.

Surrender to Me


Alexis Noelle - 2013
    She only had two goals in life, to get her college degree and to get the hell away from her house. When she meets Lucas everything that she thought she had wanted was now turned upside down. Lucas Masterson has it all money, fame, and his dream job of being in the music industry. He knows that most people are just out for themselves and will use him as much as they can. When he meets Becca he realizes that he never really knew what he wanted. He thinks that she is the most amazing person he has ever met, but can he balance her and his crazy life? Can two people who come from completely different worlds make it work? Can Becca let Lucas in before it's too late? Will the people trying to tear them apart succeed? Get ready to get lost in this crazy romantic adventure and surrender yourself to Lucas and Becca. **Surrender To Me is for mature audiences only-strong language, and explicit sexual content are apparent.**

Finally


Scarlett Metal - 2013
    She's ready to move on and have some fun, but she's been too busy to meet anyone new.Marcus has always been a player, unable to settle down with one girl. No one seems to meet his long list of requirements in a woman.Marcus and Lauren have known each other for a few years, working for the same company but at different locations. They've always flirted some back and forth, but Lauren had been with Kyle. Now that she's single and they are in the same city for meeting, they spend a few passionate days together, both assuming this is just a fling. They both eventual realize they want more than a fling, but can they make a long distance relationship work? And when Lauren's old boyfriend comes back to win her affection, can Marcus compete with their history?

Serial Summer


Angel Lawson - 2012
    This is the completed version of the novel.***Paige Barnes is on the run.From her junior year of college.From her ex.From life.Good thing her mother, true crime author Julia Barnes, just purchased an Airstream trailer for an adventurous move to costal South Carolina to write her next book. Living by the ocean in a shiny, silver camper may not be what Paige had in mind for the summer, but sometimes a fresh start is just what a girl needs.That is, if she can escape the past. They’ve barely unhitched the camper when Paige realizes her mother has been keeping secrets. Big ones. They have an entire family living in Ocean Beach that Julia’s never mentioned, a connection to the most notorious serial killer in South Carolina history, and relationships to mend.All of these things should be enough to distract Paige from her problems, but when she meets recent college graduate Justin Hawkins, a summer rebound seems like a great idea. Part beach bum, part business man, Justin is just the kind of fun Paige hopes will help her forget the mistakes she’s made.It works until her past comes nipping at her heels and her mother’s secrets are revealed to be darker than she ever expected. Bolstered by their new friends and family, they’re both ready to face their fears head on...but at what cost?***Serial Summer is a Adult/New Adult Romance. It has mature situations and relationships. It is not categorized as Young Adult like my other books.***

Not Your Fault


C. Young - 2013
    Working the night shift at a local gym has given her buns of steel and enough endorphins to deal with the ninth anniversary of her brother's death. When a new owner takes over the gym, Delaney's forgotten past comes somersaulting back at her. Kris Payne isn't just her new boss, he's her ex-boyfriend from high school and he's got a smile that's as cocky as he is gorgeous. Delaney has no business being attracted to the womanizing, muscular man from her past. She tries to ignore his flirtatious nature, and the fact that she has a boyfriend isn't the thing she feels guilty about. In fact, being in a relationship bothers her a lot less than it should. After all, she can always ditch the boyfriend, but she can't ditch Kris' involvement in her brother's death.

Bound For Christmas


Sam Crescent - 2012
    They only touched hands. Until now.Bernice Rowe has been fascinated by the man who regularly visits the library where she works. They never speak and only stare at each other. When she learns that her mystery man is one of the dominant men at Club Kink, she makes a choice to become a submissive.Master Leon has been visiting the library for one reason—Bernice. He wants her desperately but knows his desires are not for everyone. When Leon finds her at the club he makes sure everyone knows she is his submissive.He takes her away and starts her training. Leon is determined to make her his woman in time for Christmas. Neither know how the other feels, and it looks like it is going to be a Christmas to remember for both of them.

Falling into You


Lauren Abrams - 2013
    Instead, thrust into a world of glittering parties and oversized bank accounts, she immediately feels like an outsider.Chris Jensen’s Hollywood agent keeps telling him that he’ll be the next big star, just as long as he gets the lead role in the reboot of a classic action franchise. When he returns to New York after a two-year absence, he has other things on his mind—his dying father, an irate sister, and the beautiful, seductive, infuriating, and ruthless Sophia Pearce. He's not exactly thrilled when she asks him to be her roommate's tour guide, but he reluctantly agrees.When Hallie and Chris meet, they're irresistibly drawn to each other. However, Chris’s meteoric rise to stardom and long-suppressed secrets from Hallie’s past threaten to destroy their tenuous connection, and each is forced to examine whether happy endings are nothing but a Hollywood fantasy.

Fate Book


Mimi Jean Pamfiloff - 2013
    Because her lie is dangerous, sexy, and just showed up on campus, angry as hell and looking for her... Ugly duckling Dakota Dane has a new boyfriend. He’s male-model gorgeous, built to perfection, wealthy, and smart. He is also a lie. As in, 100% fabricated. Does it matter that Dakota has a perfectly good reason for making him up? Not really. Not when Dakota’s made-up boyfriend shows up in the flesh.So is she crazy? All signs point to maybe. But the walking, talking enigma with the deadly vibe isn’t about to give her any answers or let her out of his sight. And with college just around the corner, Dakota fears her dreams of a bright future have just collided with a dark rabbit hole…

A Touch of Honor


J.P. Grider - 2013
    The doctors say she’s fine – it’s all in her head. But Honor feels pain. What she doesn’t know is…it’s not her pain– it’s everyone else’s.Seventeen year-old Honor Stevens is not an ordinary teenager. Sure, she looks like one on the outside…but on the inside, there’s a whole world of pain going on. Honor is an empath. That means she can feel other people’s pain – like that of the girl who is about to be raped in the woods, or the girl who is dying of cancer, or her mom…who is suffering a heart attack. What she doesn’t know is what Ethan Sutherland comes to town to tell her – she can save these people. But at what cost? For every life Honor saves, she knocks years off her own.When Ethan comes looking for her, he isn’t counting on falling in love. Now that he has, he wishes he hadn’t told her about her abilities. Though he tries his best to talk her out of saving every soul, Ethan loses the battle – Honor’s too nice for her own good.Then there’s the matter of Ethan’s estranged, morally corrupt half-brother, Storm – he loves Honor too. And because Honor is intrinsically empathic, she’s aware of Storm’s softer side and begins falling for him as well.When the two brothers are forced to work together against a group of evil empaths who are after Honor, they need to put their differences aside and focus on saving the one girl they both love.A Touch of Honor is a paranormal love story of a different kind. In a world gone mad with vampires and werewolves, A Touch of Honor tugs at the heartstrings with a girl out to heal the world…one person at a time.

Just Stay


Michelle Abbott - 2014
    She's anticipating two weeks of mind-numbing boredom. Then she meets Trey, a local boy. He's absolutely gorgeous. The trouble is — he knows it. He's arrogant and egotistical, and Pia intends to avoid him at all costs. But Trey is not the kind of guy who gives up easily. When he sets his sights on Pia, her resistance is futile. It's just a holiday romance, some light-hearted fun, right? But one of them is about to discover that still waters do, indeed, run deep. When what lurks beneath the surface finally erupts, the consequences may prove to be catastrophic. For age 17+ due to sexual content and strong language.

A Gift of Magic


Julianne Berokoff - 2020
    Vienna is sick of her bloodthirsty, throne-stealing parents. So when she's Chosen by an advanced academy she's never heard of, she thanks the gods above. When she realizes the school isn't supposed to exist, and that it's in fae territory...Well... bring it on.--Tavi is oath-sworn to keep his powers secret. And for most of his life, he's done so.But once the Carthian Princess invades his world, the walls he's built so high begin to crumble.Vienna is reckless, and trouble clings to her like perfume. No sooner does she arrive at the Fae Academy than a cloud of darkness threatens to sweep them all away.If not for her stubborn spirit, battle skills, and a group of powerful new friends, she wouldn't stand a chance.--This is Book 1 of a complete series (trilogy). This story is full of friendship, epic adventure, and the trials of finding your true self - a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers academy fantasy for young adult & new adult readers. Includes some adult language and intimate scenes later on in the series.

Pucking Parker


Jillian Quinn - 2020
    In the men’s locker room, of all places.As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, Mr. MVP gave me one of his killer smirks, right before dropping his towel in front of me. Just to prove a point. That no woman can resist him. Not even me.Now, he keeps finding ways to see me, touch me. And I find myself wanting to break my dad’s rules about his players. Rules I never break for a reason. Because falling for a player like Parker… was never part of the plan.

Savage God: A Dark College Bully Romance


Ivy Blake
    He feasts on my tears and screams for breakfast, stares me down with hateful eyes and taunts me with salacious threats.I was the first girl to say no to him…But Nate doesn’t give a shit about the word no.I was lucky to escape him once, now my luck has run its course.Oakwood was meant to be my safe haven, my escape from home, but now it’s become the lion’s den and my tormentor lurks in the shadows, waiting to pounce.My cries mean nothing to him; they only make him want me more. Nate doesn’t ask, he takes.My bully likes to play with his prey before he devours it.He vows to bring me to my knees and have his way with me.I don’t know when he’ll strike, but I know he’ll make me pay for daring to disrespect him.Nate knows all the right spots to touch, which makes me hate him even more.But when his hand is wrapped around my throat, it’s hard not to be tempted by that deliciously cruel mouth.I won’t stop fighting him, I won’t bend to his will. And yet, I don’t know how much longer I can continue living in fear. If I surrender, will Nate finally leave me alone?‘Savage God’ is a standalone dark college bully romance that will be a part of a series of standalones set at Oakwood Academy. Check the trigger warnings before diving into Nate and Violet’s deliciously dark story! Recommended for older readers.