Book picks similar to
The Permanence of Pain by Desiree Lafawn


romance
contemporary-romance
contemporary
free

Loving Callie: A Lucky Strike Lovers Novel


Julia Jarrett - 2020
    But when she sees him again at the Lucky Strike pub, sparks fly a second time, igniting a powerful chemistry between them. This new relationship could be a love greater than she has ever dreamed of. Her family is a roadblock, though, and it's harder than Callie expected to have to negotiate her parents' expectations. They will never approve of Jake. A pub owner does not fit into their political ambitions, and if Callie keeps seeing him, she risks losing her only family.Her entire life has been about trying to earn her parents' respect and approval. Now she has a chance to have the love she has waited a lifetime for, and Callie faces an impossible choice.Read the debut novel reviewers say is “Everything I Want In A Contemporary Romance” and “An Insta-Love Story Done Right.”

Lush


K.D. Elizabeth - 2021
    It’s part of a series about a bunch of hot brothers and features a naughty bartender with an absolutely filthy mouth. You can jump into the series here without having read the others. There is no cheating and it has a HEA.

Wrath


Emily Blythe - 2018
    She can't forget.   Back then, the boy next door was a beautiful contradiction. An avid reader, the town brawler. My dangerous crush. Until one day, he left town like a thief in the night, leaving me devastated. A decade later, my nightmare returned. But Will Lewin was no longer the wild, charismatic boy of my past. He was a successful entrepreneur, a stranger. He was something bitter and resentful. A fully grown man... who still left me reeling. I didn't want his help, but I didn't have a choice. I had to let him back in. Even if I still hated him. Even if he could never forgive me for what I'd done. *** Wrath is part of Emily Blythe's Seven Vices Series, a collection of standalone contemporary romances that can be read in any order. This is a full-length book with no cliff-hanger. *** What reviewers are saying about Wrath: ★★★★★ "A flawless read... filled with angst, drama, twists, heartbreak, love, chemistry, entertainment... an all round fantastic second chance read." - Wendy's Book Blog ★★★★★ "Incredible, steamy, and downright delicious." -  Amazon reviewer

Mountains Wanted


Phoebe Alexander - 2012
    Sarah Lynde is an open-minded sexual adventurer. A sociology professor and single mother of two, she thinks she knows exactly what she wants, and it's not a relationship.That is, until she meets Army First Sergeant James McAllister, a handsome and intelligent ROTC instructor. Despite being from very different worlds, their connection is unlike anything she has ever experienced. Sarah knows she and James don't want the same things, but he's still a mountain she can't resist climbing. WARNING: Explicit Adult Content.

Boss Rules


Jenna Gunn - 2020
    Today my off-limits Boss..It was supposed to be my dream job.Ocean rescuer on the highly respected Southern California team.But he happened.A few hours ago Bryce Archer wasn’t my boss.Or my anything for that matter.He was a one night indulgence.One that left my voice shredded and my body in withdrawal.But my new job on his team doesn’t allow us to mix business and pleasure.The rule book says we’re done.But the electricity between us says we’re not.So my dream job hangs in peril.If I become the secret lover…it could all come crashing down.This badass job and perfect seaside town are everything I want.But now I want him too.Enough to risk it all.Enough to follow his reckless lead and break all the rules.It’s a dumpster fire in the making.One that might leave me knocked up, broken hearted, with my dreams in tatters.Boss Rules is a steamy stand-alone book in the Archer Brother's series. Scorching passion, plenty of humor, and lots of adventure action set this seaside love affair apart from the rest of the pack. No cliff-hangers and no cheating in this HEA. This one will melt you and your Kindle!

Chasing Pebbles


Felicia Blaedel - 2020
    When she suddenly finds herself without a place to stay for the summer, she is forced to go back. A stubborn, foolish part of her wants to show them that she can’t be broken. She’ll hold on to her anger, push the nostalgia away even if the scent of seawater and beach-roses is making it difficult.Ever since Frida left, Oliver’s life has been a little lonelier and a little greyer, despite him staying busy to distract himself. When he realises that Frida, his favourite human, the one person who was always up for his shenanigans is coming home, he knows he has to make it right.She’s hurting, and so much is left unsaid.Frida is afraid to trust. Oliver can’t let go of his guilt.Neither of them is prepared for how everything can feel the same and yet so, so different.Chasing Pebbles takes place in Denmark; it’s a new adult, slow burn, friends to lovers romance with a nerdy, talkative hero and a stubborn, compassionate heroine.Chasing Pebbles is book one in The Without Filter Series and it’s a complete standalone.

Can't Buy Me Love


Maggie Marr - 2012
    She's my assistant. I sent her far far away to a different division within my company for a very good reason--I want her. But while I can have most anything I want in the entire world I can't have Meg. Now Meg is back and she's brought me a deal that I simply can't refuse.

Beacon of Love


Allie Boniface - 2013
    He wants to protect the town's secrets. She's bent on uncovering them at all costs. As the mystery deepens, sparks fly and legends crumble. Is preserving tradition worth giving up a chance at true love? "Beacon of Love has likable characters, lively dialogue and a local mystery which needs to be solved. Well paced with just the right amount of humor, I found myself turning the pages to see just what was going to happen next...the scenes between Sophie and Lucas are fun, light and full of sexual tension..." ~Queen of the Night Reviews "I really enjoyed the premises of this story. True love...Secrets....New Love....Wonderful!" ~4-Stars on Goodreads "Beacon of Love by Allie Boniface was the perfect slice of heaven for me! Not only did we get a nice romance, but we also got to dig into an old mystery and try to solve a 50 year-old murder..." ~Romance Addict Book Blog *Note: this book was originally published in 2013 by Lyrical Press,

The Laws of Music


Carly Morgan - 2017
    Max Legend breaks them all. Katie Green has big dreams. She's had them since she can remember and she has the lists to prove it. They include: 
Go to college. 
Graduate. 
Go to law school. 
Graduate. 
Don't date musicians! Become a lawyer. Marry.
 Stay married. 
Become partner at a law firm. 
Have three children. 
Buy a home. 
Raise children. 
Stay married. 
Be a good mom. She's accomplished the first four goals on her list and has no doubt the rest will be accomplished soon. Max Legend is the lead singer of a popular Christian rock band. He's kind, talented, and beyond gorgeous. He’s also sure of his destiny, which includes sharing the good news of God’s love through music. Someday he hopes to find an amazing woman willing to love him for who he is and what he does. Katie and Max meet one fateful night at The Attic, a club where Max's band is performing. After a surprising and amazing kiss, they go their separate ways. But their meeting was obviously divine intervention. They are continuously running into each other. Rather quickly they get to know one another, but Katie won't accept that there is anything more than friendship between her and Max. Can Katie break her dating rules and follow her heart or are she and Max destined to be nothing more than a one hit wonder? The Love is a Destination series doesn’t have to be read in order. Each couple gets their happily ever after before THE END. But reading in order does make the experience more fun. ___________ LOVE IS A DESTINATION SERIES The Laws of Music The Laws of Attraction Love's Christmas Miracle My Valentine's Day Fiancé Dating by Design (March 2018)

Her Secret Santa


Kelli Callahan - 2019
     I don’t care if all of the people I work with call me Elly-nezer Scrooge behind my back. I don’t care if my family judges me because I haven’t been to a Christmas dinner in years. I don’t even care that I spend every single holiday alone. I’m happy. I’ve said that so many times that I think I finally believe it... Then my cousin signed me up for the Secret Santa Romance dating app. And I got matched with Ian... Sure, he’s hot, charming, and checks every single box I can come up with on the perfect guy list but there’s no way he’s going to convince me to go on a date with him or change my perspective of Christmas with his corny jokes. So why can’t I convince myself to stop talking to him, delete this stupid app, and get on with my life? This is a full-length standalone Romantic Comedy.

Faith in Love


C.M. Albert - 2016
    A road trip with a friend is just the distraction Egan needs to figure out how to get his life back on track. Celeste St. Angelo left the bright lights and big city for the mountains of North Carolina to open the next phase of her flourishing Angel Therapy business, a healing and wellness center. With the grand opening looming she has no time for distractions, especially love. When divine timing sparks an unexpected romance, will Egan and Celeste be able to leave their troubled pasts behind and find the courage to have a little faith in love?

Keeping Score


Shannon Stults - 2019
    Years later, Logan is back in her small hometown and ready to prove to everyone (especially herself) that she's not that same girl anymore. But the new life she's so carefully constructed starts to tear apart the second she runs into Cole Tucker. Logan thought she'd put her childhood rival and their adolescent games behind her, but it takes her only one night before she’s forced into one final game, a series of hilariously immature challenges that has the whole town keeping score. A game that, should she lose, could destroy everything she's built her new life around.

MONDAY: Tall, Dark & Aromatic


Fifi Flowers
    Basil, the man in question, is instantly smitten by Pansie and makes it his mission in life to woo her with his poetry and charm. Could it be that he is the man for her at the so-called Hookup Café?Novella - STANDALONE - book 1 of 6MEET all of THE COUPLES at Cafélicious...Basil and Pansie, MONDAY, book 1 Marzi and Avery, TUESDAY, book 2Nate and Evie, WEDNESDAY, book 3Deacon and Saylor, THURSDAY, book 4Mason and Vivienne, FRIDAY, book 5Vin and Darla, SATURDAY, book 6

Cowboys & Starlight


Jacqueline Winters - 2018
    She doesn't plan to stay. Ronnie Ross has spent the past three years working unthinkable hours as an interior design assistant. With a promotion one important project away, an ill-timed mistake costs her everything. Hoping to lay low for a couple of weeks, she takes her brother up on his invitation to visit him in Starlight, Wyoming. This could be the break she needs -- until an irritatingly handsome cowboy gets in the way. Colten Livingston swore he'd never fall for another city girl who'd leave his broken heart in her dust trail. Not after returning home two years ago when his dad fell ill cost him the wife who couldn’t handle country living. Now that his dad’s gone and his mom plans to sell the family home, there's nothing holding him back from returning to his dream job at Glacier National Park. Except the alluring city girl his mom's hired to complete the renovations. Best friend’s little sister or not, she’s definitely hiding something. Colten's determined to uncover her secret before she returns to Chicago. Which would be easier to do if a single touch from Ronnie didn’t make his pulse race. The last thing he thought he wanted might be the very thing he needs the most. Heat Level: Sweet/Mild Other Sweet Romances By Jacqueline Winters Starlight Cowboys Series 1. Cowboys & Starlight 2. Cowboys & Firelight 3. Cowboys & Sunrises 4. Cowboys & Moonlight 5. Cowboys & Mistletoe 6. Cowboys & Shooting Stars (Coming Soon) Sunset Ridge Series 1. Moose Be Love (releasing Feb 25th) 2. My Favorite Moosetake (coming soon) 3. Annoymoosely Yours (coming soon) Standalones 1. Hooked on You

Bearded Brothers: Mountain Brothers Box Set


K.C. Crowne - 2019
    Fortune favors the bold and I'll prove to Emily I'm the man for her.She may live a thousand miles from my mountain town, but I'm Harley Hunter...And when I want something nothing stands in my way.