Book picks similar to
The Permanence of Pain by Desiree Lafawn


romance
free
contemporary-romance
contemporary

Taken by Her Prince


B.B. Hamel - 2020
    So I took her home and nursed her back to health.With a fat padlock on the bedroom door.My crew’s moving in on the Irish mafia, and my sweet little princess is the Boss’s niece. I can’t let her go, not now that I have her.So once I fix her body, I’ll make sure she never wants to leave.Except she’s got a rebellious streak and a temper the size of Texas. She thinks she can fight back, but it only makes me want her more.In the end, she’ll come to me. And when she does, I’ll make her deepest, darkest, filthiest dreams come true.

His Rules


C.C. MacKenzie - 2015
    And for the fans of Nico and Bronte - we meet them again in this fast-paced, hilarious read! Ambitious, workaholic Anastacia Morgan runs Ferranti Communications with a cool-head and an iron will. Her latest project is ensuring sports star Olivier Conti does what he's told in a series of adverts. Olivier is impossible with a huge ego she's more than able to handle. His smile may do wonderful things to her libido, but Ana is determined to succeed where other women fail and resist the gorgeous soccer star. However, in this game there are no rules and Olivier's never missed scoring a penalty, yet.

Unspoken Words


H.P. Davenport - 2016
    Every important memory includes the other. From learning to play catch and first kisses, high school dances and college acceptances, they’ve always been there for one another. Without realizing it, the love they’ve always felt for one another evolves into something more. But when Camryn moves across country, they leave the words that could risk their lifelong friendship unspoken.Life goes on, and years go by before work brings Camryn back home. Opportunity smiles on them and both realize this may be their only chance. A chance for two friends to make new memories, and risk what they’ve always had to discover a love beyond their imaginations. To have everything their heart desires. But when the unthinkable happens, it threatens to shatter the delicate new connections Jamie and Camryn have made.When two lifelong friends are put to the test, can they come out on the other side as lifelong partners … or will those words forever remain unspoken?***Content Warning***This book contains a dark scene with graphic violence which may be a trigger. Reader discretion is advised.Editorial Reviews"Beautifully written, emotional and so realistic. I loved it." ~ Katy Evans, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author“H.P. Davenport delivers a beautiful, heart-warming, friends to lovers story in her debut novel, Unspoken Words, with a touch of suspense that causes you to tear through the pages.” ~ Michelle Lynn, USA Today bestselling author"Camryn and Jamieson's story will take up a part of my heart forever. H.P. Davenport weaves her words into gallant emotion that literally pours off every page and straight into your soul. I laughed out loud, winced and cried and grew to love not only these two characters, but the whole cast, within moments of opening this book. This love story will raise the bar for every one you read after it. Stunning." ~ Michelle Kemper Brownlow, Author“This is the debut book of H.P. Davenport. And I have to say she really knows how to pull out the emotional roller coaster for her first book! This book has it all. Swoon worthy moments, hot mess moments, and moments where you cannot put the book down because you need to know what is going to happen next.” ~ Karrie, Panty Dropping Book Blog  “H.P. Davenport has taken my heart on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.” ~ Tami, The Book Enthusiast

Love & Other Chaos


Jackie Walker - 2020
    Brody’s my friend - just a friend. He’s also my autistic son’s favorite teacher.He’s as off limits as they come, no matter how drop dead gorgeous he is. Falling for him would be wrong. Resisting him though, is becoming pure torture. After being burned by men who can’t handle dating a single-mom of a special-needs child, I refuse to date anymore. Not until my son is grown. My plan is working fine until my trouble-making bestie presents me with a dare that I can’t resist. I’m a sucker for a good dare - especially when margaritas have been consumed. And she’s just dared me to plant a surprise kiss on Brody’s sexy lips, while she records it for a trending TikTok challenge video. But if I do this, it could change everything. My life is already pure chaos and maybe now is not the best time to shake things up even more. Is it worth risking our friendship and his important role in my son’s life for one kiss? What if he wants more? What if I do? Love & Other Chaos is a hilarious, steamy, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy featuring a drop dead gorgeous and seriously buff teacher with the hots for a single-mom of an autistic pre-teen son... who happens to be one of his students. This story also includes wise-cracking grandparents with zero respect for personal boundaries, swoon-worthy beach scenes, a jerky boss with no concept of personal space, nosey siblings and a foul-mouthed best friend who loves to instigate trouble. If you don't like sarcasm, steam, sexy-times, heroines who drink copious amounts of margaritas and laugh-a-minute dialogue, then this might not be the book for you. It’s a stand-alone novel with a happy ending, because cliffhangers will kill your margarita buzz.

Lingerie on the Floor


Amanda Aksel - 2017
    But my lingerie business is in trouble. If I don’t find an investor before I return to L.A., I’ll be forced to close my London boutique. The good news is the top fashion magazine wants to feature Kate Golden Lingerie in a double page spread. The bad news—they want me to model my lacy thong. How can I say no? I care way more about sexy lingerie than I do about love, until him . . . Drew, the insanely hot photographer I keep crashing into. I can’t help myself. He drove me wild during our boudoir photo shoot. Those eyes. That delicious mouth. The way he feels between my legs when I’m riding on the back of his motorcycle. I know, he’s a rich, bad boy, who only dates models. Sooo not my type. I’m not his either. But we can’t keep away from each other, even when we try . . .

Hooked


K.C. Falls - 2013
    He lets women believe what they think they see. It’s easier that way. No woman would want the truth he’s never shared. Lara Lamb is sailing away from what she thought she wanted. Because she wanted the wrong things and always for the wrong reason. Lara sees Morgan for what he is: a rich, shallow Peter Pan who happens to have a cute monkey. Trouble is she’s only right about the monkey. She’s everything Morgan never wanted. She makes the easy way look like the coward’s way. Ready to take the chance, Morgan struggles with how to let Lara closer than anyone’s ever been. Will his unspeakable wounds be too deep for her to bear?

When the Music Ends


Simone Beaudelaire - 2013
    Young builder Sean Murphy isn't really in the market for a relationship. He's more interested in helping build his father's construction company. Even if he were, his sister's best friend isn't even on his radar. That is, until Sheridan plays matchmaker. A pity date quickly flares into irresistible passion. But as their love reaches a crescendo, personal tragedies and impossible decisions threaten to end their harmonious, unlikely romance. When the music ends, will these troubled lovers find a way to compose a life together? NOTE: this is a steamy romance and contains graphic sex scenes.

Not Fake for Long


Weston Parker - 2021
    Not that I have time for her crap.I’m a stockbroker in training and the last thing I need is to cater to my high-maintenance sibling’s every desire.And her first request? To learn to ride horses. So she can enter the wedding on one.You’ve got to be kidding me. We’ve never even touched a horse before.With lots of peer pressure and guilt tripping, we head to a breathtaking ranch, and lucky for me, the horses aren’t the only beautiful things to look at.The riding instructor is honestly the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. Everything about him sends me in a tizzy.Best of all, he’s nothing like my sister’s rich jerk of a fiancé.Wealthy guys are the worst. I work for them, with them, and avoid them at all cost.This hottie and I hit it off, and he offers to be my plus-one to the wedding, with a fake romance attached to it.I couldn’t be more thrilled until things start to not feel so fake anymore.I’m falling for his charm, his way with words, his scorching body.He’s perfect, until he’s not.Turns out, he’s a billionaire in disguise. And here I thought things wouldn’t be fake for long.Guess I was wrong.

Taking Down Brooklyn


K.B. Andrews - 2017
    That is until I met B. She was meant to be one night of fun. One night of forgetting my miserable, lonely life. I’m a hired killer, a modern-day hero of sorts. I’m paid well to take out the bad guys. I take the money, I do the job, no questions asked—until her beautiful face becomes my target.B suddenly has a name. Brooklyn Warren, the president’s daughter.The woman who I’ve thought about since the night we were together now becomes my target. She has a bull’s-eye on her head, and a large amount of money is being offered to take her out. But I don’t kill innocent people, and Brooklyn is not only innocent but highly intelligent and trying to save millions of lives.She’s come up with the cure for cancer and pissed off the mighty pharmaceutical companies. They stand to lose billions of dollars at the hands of a sexy redhead. Her father, being the president of the United States, doesn’t dissuade them from hunting her and threatening him.Instead of taking the contract to kill her, I rescue her. She, in turn, rescues me from my lonely life.Keeping her safe is the only thing that matters to me. Her life will save millions, mine will save none. I will risk everything to keep her safe.Now the hunt is on for both of us.

Twisted Fate


K.L. Bryce - 2020
    I fell for her crooked smile and ocean blue eyes the first time I met her in the fifth grade. In high school, no one understood me the way she did. Paige is the only girl I've ever trusted enough to let into my world.But I buried those feelings the day she chose my brother nine years ago.Fate seems to have a sick sense of humor because my newest client decided to sponsor her vlog. I advised them to cut her loose.It’s not personal, it’s business.And besides, I have another proposition that could give us something we both want.But my plan to stay cool, calm, and in control vanishes the moment her lips touch mine.She should run fast in the other direction.My soul is damaged goods.I could never give her the love she deserves.Luke Mason. My gorgeous, loner friend from high school. The boy I almost fell for…until Fate led me into the arms of his twin brother, and eventually, a broken heart.If it wasn’t for the business proposition Luke makes—and one I desperately need—I’d run fast in the other direction.What wasn’t a part of our deal? The oh-so-hot kiss we shared during one of my infamous moments of spontaneity. A mistake neither one of us plans to make again.But when our stares get way more intense, his eyes linger too long on my mouth, and his touch ignites something deep inside I haven’t allowed myself to feel in years, our promise of “strictly platonic” goes up in flames.No matter what happens, I can’t let myself fall for him.But I’m scared I already have.A love story spanning over twelve years, TWISTED FATE is a deep, forbidden love romance with LOL moments, passion and angst, and all the feels. Can be read as a standalone.

Elliot


Jenni M. Rose - 2018
    A hardworking contractor, his needs are fairly simple and when his grandmother’s house comes up for sale, everything seems to fall into place. Until his offer on the place goes up in flames when some out-of-towner drops a number he can’t even fathom, let alone match.Julia Hawkins is your average socially-inept, tech wizard on the verge of selling her multi-billion dollar website. Tired of the city grind and unable to handle the intricacies of being in the public eye, Julia retreats to a place no one will think to look for her: The Suburbs. But the place she's chosen as her own isn't quite up to par and she wants to make some changes. Big changes. If only she could get the local construction company to return her phone calls.What follows isn’t enemies to lovers. It isn’t insta-love. It’s two complicated people, with complicated problems, finding their forever in the most unlikely place. Right at home.***This series is a spin-off from The Freehope Series. We initially met The Williams Brothers in Book 3 of the Freehope Series, Confessing History. As Logan's cousins, they'll be attending Beth and Logan's beach wedding, and if you read this book, you will too!***

Thirty Days Have September (Thirty Days, #1)


Bibi Paterson - 2013
    Shy and unassuming, Abigail James loves to bake. She dreams of opening her own dessert café but instead she spends her days working as a data analyst and sneaking in her cakes as the company’s ‘diet assassin’ on the side. Taylor Hudson, the enigmatic owner of Hudson International, has been captivated by Abby’s innocence and quiet charm since the day she started working for the company. However, his history with women is marred by personal circumstances and he has vowed to stay away.A chance meeting sees Abby’s world turned upside down when, drawn in by Taylor’s chocolate brown eyes and unexpected kindness, she starts on a journey of attraction that will see her heart and soul laid bare. While their attraction is mutual, both Abby and Taylor have their own inner demons that they need to overcome if their relationship can move forward for them to find their own happily ever after.Due to the nature of the content this book is intended for mature audiences.

Bad Boss: An Office Romance: The Office Romance Series


Brooke Page - 2017
    Craft, to a T. His thick hair, cold blue eyes and strong jaw held power in a conference meeting, causing women to melt in his presence. I’ve wanted to confront him on his stubborn attitude and critical demands for employees. I’d bitten my tongue in many scenarios and held in my true feelings over a dozen times. Keeping the peace was necessary until I had enough experience under my belt to move onto bigger and better things. The only problem was; Craft Marketing was the bigger and better, and the longer I stuck it out with him, meant more opportunities would arise. I’d been the only female intern to land a job directly under him, and was also the only one who hadn’t slept with him. I knew he was promiscuous with the tall and leggy blondes that breezed into his office looking immaculate, then scurried back out with mussed hair, flushed cheeks, and unbuttoned blouses. I'd ignore the magnetic pull of chemistry and curiosity between us. Unless it came to my advantage.

Perfectly Bad: Pierce


Alice May Ball - 2016
    My voice shook, “Are you going to force me?”His nostrils flared.”Is that what you want?” His eyes gleamed and a shock beat through my body. I wanted to smack that grin right off his face. When I want something from somebody, I’ll take what they love the most. I wanted old man Grace’s club? So I kidnapped his curvy, sassy daughter. I didn’t give much thought to her when I slung her over my shoulder and carried her away. She was only collateral. But they say that opposites attract, right? I have to hold the little minx close or she makes all kinds of havoc. That’s where the real trouble starts. However close I hold my feisty prisoner, the urge to hold her closer and tighter gets stronger. It uncoils like a fat, sleeping python then it lengthens and hardens and nothing will make it sleep until it has fed. He’s hot as hell, but he’s a ruthless killer He took me hostage just to steal my daddy’s club. I needed to show him that I wasn’t like the paper-thin dancers and models who flowed into his arms and his bedsheets like a tide. I wanted to smack that smirk right off his chiseled face. The longer he holds me in his power and try as hard as I might, I can’t push away the thoughts of how it will be if he turns his brutal force on me. Can I resist him? This standalone, novel-length adventure races with passion, pulses with action, and climaxes again and again, rises higher and higher to a full, complete, satisfying and surprisingly happy ever after ending. It’s a bad boy romance like no other and you’re going to love it. LAUNCH BONUS for a limited time only, includes Alice May Ball’s Biker MC novel SAVAGE ANGELS for free ! ! !

When We Left


Elena Aitken
    He needs her to see how he’s changed. Can time really heal everything and make a second chance at love possible? Reeling from a painful divorce, and with a teenager in town, Cam’s returned to her hometown to heal. Not only is Timber Creek the only place that’s ever felt like home, her best friends are there...and the first boy she ever really loved. Evan has only ever loved one woman. Sixteen years ago he knew he wasn’t good enough for her, but now she’s back, and time has a way of changing things.Cam’s got her hands full trying to come to grips with her new life. The last thing she needs is to get involved with Evan again. But their attraction is impossible to ignore, and the connection that existed between them so many years ago is still very much alive.This could be the second chance they’ve always wanted, but there are years of hurt and misunderstandings between them. Never mind the truth of the past and the reality of the present that could once again threaten to pull them apart. This time for good.