Book picks similar to
Provoked by Sarah Bailey


dark-romance
contemporary-romance
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The Movie Star Becomes a Cowboy


April Murdock - 2021
    After a messy divorce, she devotes herself to caring for her five-year-old son and running Silverstone Ranch. She may not be happy, but she can be content—if her eccentric father will only give his passion projects a rest.The latest involves hosting Cade Cooper, a drop-dead-gorgeous movie star, for an “all-inclusive” learning experience. With the upcoming rodeo, Marguerite doesn’t have time to placate an entitled snooty celebrity who insists on getting in her way. It’s as if Cade wants to annoy her.Cade prides himself on researching every role he lands, right down to the boots. His visit to Silverstone Ranch starts out like every other research trip… until he meets Marguerite. Intelligent, beautiful, and in charge, Marguerite’s nothing like the superficial women he spends time with in L.A. And her little boy is too adorable to resist.She won’t trust any man again, let alone a method actor. He’s determined to convince her of his sincerity. Then circumstances force him to break the one promise he made her—and she may never be able to forgive him.

Malice


Coralee June - 2021
    Don't ask any personal questions.2. Don't show up at her house unannounced.3. Don't ever, ever let anyone know you're friends.For three years, I followed the rules. Vicky and I met once a week at the diner where I worked. I was her slice of normalcy, she was the one person I could confide in. It might have been unconventional, but it worked for us.One night, all hell broke loose and I got caught up in a battle of bloodshed where we almost lost our lives. I ended up face to face with Vicky's dangerous older brothers. Anthony, William, and Nicholas Civella--the made men of the Kansas City Mob.After fighting for my life and proving myself worthy, they brought me into their deadly world. It was glamorous but twisted. Torture, death, and crime followed me everywhere I went, chiseling away at parts of me until I wasn't the same anymore.Slowly, I betrayed my best friend, and fell in love.Chances are they'll ruin me. This thing between us has deadly consequences. But in this criminal world, I'm learning that the rules don't apply when you're the boss.*𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘮 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 18 +. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘦𝘹 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.*

Bodhi


A.R. Hadley - 2018
    Her desire to submit an innate need. And it doesn’t take long for Audrey to realize this world has surpassed her wildest imaginations. But she lives in two worlds, straddling day and night, reality and kink — one foot has found its way into Gavin’s heart while the other rests on the outside. Her Master, though, doesn’t just want her submission… Gavin has decided he needs both feet.  Bodhi is a 63,000 word standalone novel.

The Midwife's Playlist


Piper Lennox - 2019
    The day he left, he ruined every single song.My name is Easton, and I catch babies. When I’m called to a teen mom’s birth in the middle of a thunderstorm, the last person I expect to see is Caroline. No, scratch that: the last person I expect to see—the last person I want to see—is her brother. Six years, and the sight of Ford still wrings my heart dry. His voice still melts me. His smirk still pisses me off in ways he can’t even imagine. Our small, Southern town broadcasts rumors 24/7, yet no one thought to tell me Ford was back. And now I’m stuck living near him all over again—stuck replaying the hell he put me through the last summer I saw him. I swore I wouldn’t give him the time of day. I failed. But I sure as hell won’t give him a second chance.* * *Once upon a time, I thought Easton Lawrence would be the girl who saved me. I didn’t return to sleepy little Hillford for redemption; I don’t deserve it. I didn’t even return for her. I came back because my family needs me. As soon as this is over, I’m out of here. Gone. A ghost.At least, that was my plan. I didn’t count on seeing Easton again—much less confessing I’m still in love with her. The day we met, she hated me: eight years old and sworn enemies. But as the years passed, I changed her mind. So maybe there’s hope. Maybe I can change it again.

Fight For You


Charisse Spiers - 2014
    The blood spattered everywhere was no longer mine. I wore crimson on my fists. I liked it. I finally tore out of the useless adolescent I was and took control—something I should have done a long time ago. But I wasn’t broken alone, and probably why it took so long. So much was stolen from her too, and once I set the beast inside me free, I couldn’t stop until I righted every wrong.Then we ran like hell.All she ever wanted was for me to love her. And in ways I did, every time he took what wasn’t his to take. I sent her away, forcing her to make a life for herself, never to come after me, to breathe a word of what happened, or to go back. I left her crying and pleading to go with me. I never looked back.I promised I’d make something of myself for both of us, and I did. For her I fight. I win. I make my opponent pay in blood. I will never again be at the losing end of a swinging fist. All it takes is unleashing memories in that cage and I can’t be beaten. I reward myself with a night of fun that never turns into morning. Then came Alyvia—the girl that proved she was better than that. The girl that became my best friend. The girl that changed my life in more ways than one.She gave me her. Piper Morgan—a real life dream catcher. I wasn’t supposed to touch her. I’ve never been a rule follower. She was too appetizing to pass up. I broke a promise. The first time I wanted a woman to stay, she walked away. The control I fought so hard for is gone. In the middle of my spiraling addiction, secrets are uncovered, my past returns, and unexpected circumstances hunt me down. The motto a fighter lives by—fight or get the fuck out of the cage.

Trips


Zahra Girard - 2020
    Contains dirty-talking, protective bikers who will do whatever it takes to keep their women safe. 'Trips' features tons of action, steamy scenes, no cheating, and has a HEA.

Informed Consent


Tawdra Kandle - 2020
    I wanted to build a home, grow my own food, and make a difference for cancer patients at St. Agnes Memorial Hospital. I had big hopes and lots of plans. That was before I met Deacon Girard.He’s arrogant and stubborn, arguing with me even when he knows I’m right. How can such a caring and dedicated doctor be so inflexible? And why can’t I seem to get him out of my head … or my dreams?DeaconI just can’t figure out Emma Carson. Our patients love her, and she’s making a huge difference in their recovery. So what’s my problem? Why do I go out of my way to fight with her constantly?Maybe it’s because she makes me question my intensity and second-guess my focus. Or maybe it’s because I’m not sure if I want to push her away . . . or make her mine.

Power


Victoria Woods - 2020
    My biggest adversary is out to take everything from me. My family. My business. My power.I have sworn to make him pay for his deceit, but first I must track him down.I own the biggest tech company in the world as a front for my criminal ways, but she has something I am missing.Amelia Becker.Brilliant. Beautiful. Brave.I am drawn to her. I cannot keep away. She consumes me.I want her to find him, but I need her to find me.TRIGGER WARNING:Subject matters like rape that may be dark and disturbing to some readers is included in this book.

Promise Me Tomorrow (Leave Me Breathless World)


Lyssa Cole - 2020
    As teens, our love grew stronger into one that lasts a lifetime. But one car accident left everything destroyed, my memories stolen from me, even the ones of him. Despite the difficulties, he waits for me to return. Patiently, he shows me our life, one memory at a time. He’s determined to make me fall in love with him all over again.Yet, when truths spills, and doubts grow, can I trust this man I don’t remember?Will my memories ever return or will I continue to pretend this is the life I know and love?“Juliet, if you promise me all your tomorrows, I’ll show you all our yesterdays.” ~WillPromise Me Tomorrow by Lyssa Cole is part of the Leave Me Breathless World. It’s a novella in the Moonflower Collection and guarantees a happily ever after! For a complete list of Leave Me Breathless books and authors, please visit leavemebreathlessbooks.com.

Masterson


Lisa Lang Blakeney - 2015
    That was my first mistake…A dangerous professional fixer. A sweet computer nerd. A passion that borders on the possessive. An attraction that’s completely off limits to explore… After Elizabeth Hill is brutally attacked in her apartment by an intruder and then unceremoniously dumped by her ex-boyfriend, she moves in with family that she barely knows for protection. All she remembers about her aunt’s stepson, Roman, is that he was the moody, mean boy who played a cruel trick on her when she was just six years old; but soon learns that he is now a complex and multi-layered man who has the ability to protect her, ignite her, and challenge her like no one ever has before. Wealthy Roman Masterson makes his fortune by fixing celebrity problems for big money and by any means necessary. He is a foul-mouthed, bad-tempered, manwhore who doesn’t have the time or inclination to babysit a gullible little brat from the suburbs…until he unknowingly spots her in the middle of a crowded dance floor and decides right then and there to claim every one of her orgasms from that moment on. Little does he know that the woman he’s laid claim to is the same girl he’s been sworn to protect. Author Note: Please note that this book was previously published under the title of Cousins and ends on a cliffhanger.

Man of the Moment


Thea Dawson - 2018
    is here to serve.Tired of being the "cute one" in a family of glamorous people, Annabelle Winter decides to hire a gorgeous man from the Gentlemen, Inc. Agency to be her date at a big family event. Just once, she wants to be the envy of every woman in the room.And with Archer Carleson at her side, she is.Archer, a struggling actor in Los Angeles, doesn't mind making a wallflower like Annabelle look good for an evening—he's getting paid, after all, and it's a chance to further hone his acting skills. But when he realizes that Annabelle's family could hold the key to his career, he decides to take their professional relationship to a personal level.His attempts to boost his career by charming Annabelle backfire, however, when he begins to fall for her. Archer will have to decide which means more to him: Annabelle—or a shot at stardom.

Indebted


J.L. Beck - 2014
    That all changed in a blink of an eye the moment Bree came home for break. She didn't expect to find her dad strapped to chair, a gun pointed at his head. Alzerro “Zerro” King wasn't a man to be messed with. Women flocked to him and men ran from him. He ruled the mafia with an iron fist and no one ever crossed him unless they wanted to pay the price. He believed the only way to pay for something, if unable to do so, was to do it in blood. Nothing got him harder than stringing someone up, and putting a bullet in their head. That is until Bree. One look is all it took for him to know she could pay for her father’s debt in many other ways… Ways that could get him hard. Could a big city mafia king fall in love with the small town country girl? Would she be able to handle his dark and demanding ways? When push comes to shove, would Bree end up running only to be killed? Or would she sacrifice herself for love?

The Vintner's Vixen


Rebecca Norinne - 2018
    She’s got plans and power tools ready, but an inconvenient attraction to her grumpy new neighbor is not on the agenda. Neither is kissing him practically all over town.Vintner Noah Blackstone’s main goal in life is to win awards for his wine. Everything is going according to plan too, until construction on the B&B bordering his property threatens his prize-winning vines. When Noah storms next door to demand an explanation, he doesn’t expect to meet the sexiest woman he’s ever seen. Everything about Angelica is both infuriating and exhilarating—from her pink tool belt to her quick retorts. And even though she drives him absolutely insane, he can’t help wanting her. Somehow, between long hikes through the forest and lovely picnics on the bay, Angelica and Noah manage to resolve their differences. But when Noah’s secrets are revealed and Angelica gets another shot at stardom, they’re forced to ask themselves some very hard questions. Can their love survive the truth? Better yet ... can they survive each other?

Conflicted


M.M. Koenig - 2013
    Her life was everything she wanted it to be; until one fateful night changed everything – leaving her broken and without direction. Nearly a year later, she still has little faith in anyone or anything. Desperate to reclaim her life’s ambition, she takes an unexpected offer that promises to solve all her problems. But as Mia moves forward, she’s faced with obstacles she couldn’t have foreseen. The biggest of them lies within the mystery of Ethan Fitzgerald; a man who affects her like no other, but who she should avoid pursuing, at all costs. On a mission himself, Ethan Fitzgerald didn’t care who he pissed off on his road to fulfill his mother’s dying wish. He relied on himself, and was closed off to the world around him – until Mia Ryan walked through his door. Normally one to avoid messy emotions, Ethan’s world is turned upside down by Mia, and he can’t seem to get enough of her. There are lines you can cross that will change the course of your life forever …

Rock & Regrets


Cassandra Lawson - 2018
    I was a fool! Austin was no Prince Charming. Rather than sweeping me off my feet, he broke my heart.That was fourteen years ago, and I am completely over Austin. He is in my past, and that’s where he’s going to stay. At least, that’s what I thought until he moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area. Now, he’s determined to win me over. It won’t work. I will not think about how good Austin looks playing the drums shirtless, or what an incredible kisser he is. All right, I might think about those things a little, but I’m definitely not going to fall for him again.AustinI’ve never been the guy who rides off into the sunset with the girl and makes all her dreams come true. I’ve always been the rebound guy, the one who helps rebuild a woman’s confidence after a breakup. It hasn’t been a bad gig. I got all the benefits with none of the drama. It was all I wanted until Piper walked back into my life.She’s not ready to forgive me, and I don’t deserve a second chance. I should just leave her alone, but after seeing her smile, I can’t do that. I’m done being the rebound guy. Piper doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make her love me again. This time, I’m not letting her go.