Book picks similar to
An Unexpected Gift by Lily Zante


chick-lit
contemporary-romance
ebook
romance

Sweet Holiday Wishes


Melissa McClone - 2017
    Working as a nurse and trying to save her failing marriage—to no avail—has drained her energy and joy. She’s a pro at caring for others, but she needs someone to look out for her, too. However, when her soon-to-be ex-husband asks if she’ll spend the holidays with him so he won’t be alone, she can’t say no. Other than his Army Ranger platoon, she’s the only family he has. Staff Sergeant Mitch Hamilton wants only one Christmas gift—his wife. Frequent deployments and training exercises kept him away from home, and he had no idea how taken for granted Lizzy felt until she asked him for a divorce. Now he must show his wife he’ll do anything to save their marriage, starting with a romantic holiday vacation to Indigo Bay. The stakes—losing Lizzy forever—are higher than any Mitch has ever faced. This is one mission he can’t…won’t…fail. A Beach Brides/Indigo Bay Miniseries: Book 1: Jenny (Jenny and Dare) Book 2: Sweet Holiday Wishes (Lizzy and Mitch) Book 3: Sweet Beginnings (Hope and Josh)

Dec the Holls


Jasinda Wilder - 2014
    Holly is working overtime, cold and lonely and broke. Across the hall, Declan is lonely too, and thinking this Christmas is going to be a joke. Then one blustery night Holly’s car won’t start and Declan is there to help with a little love in his heart. Open this gift from bestselling author Jasinda Wilder to find out if a single mother of two can let herself fall in love with her sexy-as-hell workaholic boss.

Little Miss Straight Lace


Maria Elizabeth Romana - 2010
    Just as her life begins to spin out of control, a dashing computer security expert arrives from South America and seems the perfect antidote. But is his sudden arrival just the happy coincidence it seems? Find out in this three-book series of romance, mystery, and suspense that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of murder, mayhem, sex, and drugs—of the pharmaceutical variety, of course—until the very last page. Praise for the Unbreakable Series: "Romana's characters are portrayed with skill, each is a credible person filled with foibles, warts and gaffes...the various twists and turns are handled with skill, are easily followed, and add depth and dimension often lacking in works provided by newer writers...Maria Romana's 'Little Miss Straight Lace' is a fast paced, keep 'em guessing and turning the page type read sure to intrigue readers who enjoy good writing, a bit of romance, a lot of action, and a downright good read..." —Molly Martin, Midwest Book Review "It was one of those books, I couldn't wait to finish, had to know what happened, but at the same time, I didn't want it to end." —An Amazon reviewer Books in the Unbreakable Series: Little Miss Straight Lace Little Girl Lost Daddy's Little Girls Read an Excerpt: Robert spoke with open hands and a casual stance, "Look, fella, take it easy. We just—" "O-okay, listen, I-I'll tell you the whole story. Everything. But I swear, I never did anything to her. Nobody did. Not on my watch, anyway. I took real good care of her. I swear. You gotta believe me!" Nic's pulse quickened. He took a step closer and cocked a brow at the stocky man, "Who her?" "Y-you know—your girl." "My girl?" "Y-yeah. You know...petite, brunette, pretty. Kinda..." The guy relaxed a little, pulling his hands away from the fence, and started forming an hourglass shape with them. Nic pursed his lips. "Okay. I know what she looks like." He lifted his chin at the stocky man, "So what are you talking about? 'Your watch'. 'Took care of her'. Where? When?" "Come on, you know..." The tattooed man looked from Nic over to Robert, as if he expected a more reasonable interrogator—a Good Cop to Nic's Bad. But Nic insisted, "Humor me." "Well, uh, well..." Nic took another step. The tattooed man gulped and started talking, "Yeah, okay. See, when I took the job, I didn't know it was her, okay? It was only when I saw her close up, in the light, that I recognized her. I remembered her from the bar. From that night last summer when I pulled her off the stool. I mean, I didn't know who she really was. I just thought she was your date, your girl or whatever, okay? I didn't know she was like...one of you." Keywords: Free Romantic Suspense, Free Mystery Romance, Romantic Suspense Series

Holiday Bound


Beth Kery - 2009
    Could it be that after so many stormy years, "slick Mitch" Carradine wants to offer an olive branch? Maybe the old man is mellowing, settling down with the new lover he's bringing along. Then Alex realizes the acid truth. This is no warm family visit. His father's new conquest is none other than the woman of Alex's sexual fantasies, meant only to dangle tauntingly in front of his face. At least an unexpected blizzard has frozen his father out of the picture entirely.Angeline Kastakis was looking forward to taking the next step in her relationship with Mitch. Too late, she realizes she's been led into a familial battle zone. Now it's Christmas and she's marooned in a blizzard with an insolent, gorgeous hunk of man whose blazing blue eyes tell her loud and clear he wants her in his bed. Preferably tied to it with a bow. There's no escape in sight. But as Alex stirs her secret longing to be mastered by a man, escape is the last thing on her mind...Warning: This book contains scenes of sensual submission hot enough to make you sweat in a blizzard.

Dirty Lies


Tamara Lush - 2015
    A reporter determined to get to the bottom of the story. A scorching romance where dangerous days bleed into hot nights.Luca Rossi is a wanted man waiting for justice. On the run from the mafia and hiding out in Florida, the celebrated Italian writer has turned into a recluse, fearful that the next person he sees may also be the last. Waiting in isolation, he counts the days until freedom.Skylar Shaw is an ambitious young reporter determined to make her name with a scoop. Beautiful, curvaceous, and fiery, her outward confidence masks hidden insecurities that push her to investigate - no matter what.When a plane spirals out of control and plows into the beach opposite Luca's hideout, he rushes to help a victim. Gone before the authorities can get his name, Skylar soon tracks him down. Her intense curiosity about the mysterious rescuer may lead her down a path from which there is no return.Sparks fly as Skylar falls for Luca's exotic accent and chiseled, tattooed body - and Luca finds his natural caution and reserves disarmed by the beautiful reporter. The two soon find themselves entangled in each other's arms. And while Luca tries to keep his secret covered up, Skylar's instincts lead her to dig deeper. What she uncovers could kill them both. * This book was previously published under the title HOT SHADE. This edition is a significant rewrite of that novel.

Married This Year


Tracey Pedersen - 2016
    Which is pretty sad, since her standards are outrageously low! All she wants is a good man with a sense of humour, who'll treat her right. That's not so much to ask is it? This New Year's Eve is as disastrous as any other for Jordan. Her date is a douche canoe, her best friend just announced she's getting married and even the bartender takes pity on her and buys her a drink. But Jordan is an achiever. She doesn't fail at LIFE! So she makes a plan. 365 days from now, she'll be married, come hell, or high water. Some quick notes on a serviette, a new goal setting phone app and she knows she's onto a winning idea. The perfect man is out there waiting for her somewhere, and no matter what awful dating shenanigans she has to endure, she's going to find him and make him hers. For good. If only she hadn't overindulged last night, she might know if the hot stranger in her bed right now has any chance at being 'the one'.

Barely Leashed


Cherrie Lynn - 2009
    Barely Leashed: An Unleashed PrequelTHIS IS A FREE READ WHICH CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITEThe Christmas before they came “unleashed,” Evan and Kelsey had no idea they were about to suffer the ultimate betrayal…

The Groom Wanted Seconds


Shirley Jump - 2012
    After a clunky marriage proposal, Rebecca Wilson breaks up with Jeremy Hamilton, an engineer lacking a romance chromosome. She goes away for the summer and thinks she has found true love. When she returns with a broken heart, Jeremy seizes the opportunity to convince her to give him a second chance.But it isn’t until he brings out his wild and fun side that Jeremy sees a dim flicker of hope for a future with Rebecca. His determination drives Rebecca to break into her secret cookie stash, hoping Thin Mints can make her forget Mr. Wrong. She’s already been burned twice before—is she ready to take a second chance on love?

The 12 Dares of Christmas


Leigh W. Stuart - 2016
    And she is prepared to do anything to make it happen. Even dare a man she just met to perform a strip tease for the local knitting society.Gabe Nicholson has one wish too—obtain the job of a lifetime to launch his career. Only his wishes get snowballed when his best friend's little sister hands him a pair of stripper pants and a bottle of eggnog-flavored body oil.It’s all sugar plums and mistletoe until a scandal caused by Lauren’s fundraiser threatens to ruin it all. With Gabe's work opportunities disappearing before his eyes and Lauren's fundraising efforts tanking, their game of dares stands to burn them both. Unless it ignites a spark of Christmas magic.

A Cinderella Christmas Carol


Hope C. Tarr - 2011
    With an important deadline looming, plus her dreaded Christmas Day birthday, Starr just wants the holiday to end. But when she wakes up Christmas Eve night to the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—all in the form of the super-hot Matt Landry, the new art director—she knows she’s in for a long night.Matt is the one person on Starr’s team she can’t boss around and the only one she doesn’t need to. He’s also her employee and totally off limits, even if he does seem interested. Though he’s seven years younger and all kinds of forbidden fruit, he’s the form the Powers That Be decided she’d be receptive to.Because they have a message for her: learn the true meaning of Christmas spirit or risk being alone for the rest of her life.

Wait for Me


Samantha Chase - 2013
    Tired of waiting for the time to be right, she takes advantage of her boss’s generous offer for a little weekend getaway to thank her for helping out with a difficult business deal.Former NFL superstar Lucas Montgomery is still suffering from a career-ending injury. His self-imposed exile from life is exactly what he wants; a sanctuary where there’s no chance for disappointment or distractions and that’s exactly the way he likes it. While his family has been patiently waiting for Lucas to come around and embrace life once again, they don’t realize that it wasn’t just his career that was lost, but his sense of identity.Lucas thought everything was fine until sweet, sexy and completely off-limits Emma Taylor comes crashing into his carefully constructed world one snowy weekend and turns his entire life upside down.Montgomery Brothers Series: Wait for Me (Book 1) Trust in Me (Book 2) Stay with Me (Book 3) Return to You (Book 4) Meant for You (Book 5)

Fireworks


Lindsey Gray - 2013
    Unfortunately, Sam is dating Lola, Sophie’s high school nemesis. Lola dumps Sam the day before he was supposed to introduce his mystery girlfriend to his family over the Fourth of July holiday. With the looming fear of disappointing his mother once again and his long held feelings for Sophie, he asks her to take Lola’s place. With family feuds, an old flame, and feelings that have been locked away for a decade, there is bound to be some fireworks.

All I Want For Christmas


Liliana Hart - 2011
    When she finds she’s without a place to stay for the night, billionaire Derek Worth tempts her with an offer she can’t refuse, and she finds out it’s a lot easier to stay warm being naughty instead of nice.A MacKenzie ChristmasGrant MacKenzie is ready to settle down and start a family. The only problem is the one woman he’s interested in doesn’t seem to be ready for the long haul. But fate lends Grant a helping hand in getting exactly what he wants under his Christmas tree.

Sacrifice


Flora Dare - 2014
    Her only hope for salvation is Leo, a self-made billionaire who left her as her mother lay dying. Anya needs Leo to save her from her father, and Leo needs Anya's name for his business... but as old flames rekindle, he realizes he needs her submission as much as he needs her name. Will a sham marriage to a man she never stopped loving save Anya or leave her a broken sacrifice to her father's insatiable greed? This originally appeared in the anthology, The Alpha's Touch.

Chances & Choices


Helen Karol - 2013
    to her new job as senior feature writer at Choices L.A., but most of all to the security and comfort of her best friend Julian West. To her, he’s the nice guy she can turn to for advice and comfort – the uncomplicated friend she can count on. Only he no longer feels that way. For months before she went to New York, he fooled her, playing the platonic friend when in fact he wants nothing more than to take her as his lover – and more, much more. But he can’t do that – he can’t let those emotions overtake him – not again. But on her first night home he blows his cover. And suddenly Claire sees him in a whole new light.