Book picks similar to
An Unexpected Gift by Lily Zante


chick-lit
contemporary-romance
romance
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Kings Crossed Lovers


Donna K. Weaver - 2020
    Not if he's going to have the brilliant medical career he's always dreamed of. But when he's given a trip to a theme park resort as a college graduation present, he can't exactly say no. Even if Samantha—the one girl with the power to dismantle his goals—is tagging along. Samantha Diederik has managed to avoid her high society mother’s manipulations since the woman moved to Europe. Now she’s back and pressuring Sam to move to New York with her. With that battle on the horizon, Sam proceeds to go on vacation with her brother and his roommate. She’s crushed on Ethan for years. They've only met online, but their hours-long conversations are the highlight of her week. Now she has a chance to find out if the cyber magic she's felt with him will translate to real life. And wow, does it ever—with sparks flying! Now all she has to do is find a way to fight off her mother's machinations while convincing Ethan she won’t destroy his dreams.

Christmas in the City


L.J. ShenPenny Reid - 2019
    Travel through six cities and fall in love with these enchanting love stories. L.J. Shen & Helena Hunting Just The Tip  It’s not every day you meet a stranger who knows how to jingle your bells… Corinne Michaels & Melanie Harlow Baby it’s Cold Outside My Christmas list did not include a broken heart, freezing temperatures, or my tree stuck in the door to my apartment building, but that’s what I got. Just when I thought Santa had failed me, I got something I never thought to ask for … Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward Kissmas in New York It was just supposed to be a simple kiss with a stranger.  I'd done it to prove a point--that I hadn't lost my sense of adventure. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. Maybe I'd get something in my stocking after all this holiday season... Sierra Simone & Kennedy Ryan The Christmas Crown Noelani, queen of Manaroa, has one mission on her diplomatic visit to the States: forge strategic alliances for her homeland. When she meets brooding security specialist Brock Grimsby, their unexpected alliance heats up the holiday. One night. No promises, but come Christmas, will either be able to walk away? Penny Reid & L.H. Cosway Songbird Two lonely souls find companionship in Dublin for one magical night. Broderick Adams doesn't mind his solitude, until she walks in. Ophelia Kelly sings to heal her heart, but has no idea he's listening. Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy EPIC Jamie and Wes are having a blast living and working in Toronto. Until a scout for another team swoops in to make one of them an offer that might complicate the life they've built together.

The Arrangement: The Ferro Family


H.M. Ward - 2013
    Just when she doesn't think things could get any worse, they do. When her car stalls out at a busy intersection and she gets out to check under the hood, a guy steals her car. Armed with a dress and a pair of Chucks, Avery runs after the thief. When a hot stranger offers to help, she can't say no. That's how Avery meets Sean Ferro, the totally sexy, totally damaged guy with more secrets than she has time for.Avery doesn't have time for anything anymore. Her is life falling apart and it's not just the car. It's everything, and it doesn't matter how tightly she tries to hold on, there's nothing left to hold on to. With the sudden death of her parents, it's only a matter of months until Avery's shot at college is gone, and she's living in a cardboard box. Other students have their families to rely on when things get bad. Avery has no one. But there's one option, one incredibly sexy, morally devoid, option. If Avery takes a job as a call girl, one guy could save her. One client. One time. She just has to say yes.

Where She Belongs


Cindy Procter-King - 2011
    For Jess Morgan, Destiny Falls holds too many painful memories. Nine years ago, a logging accident near the remote timber town killed her dad and her high school sweetheart. To make matters worse, her mother quickly sought comfort with another man. That choice tore Jess apart and drove her to seek a life far away. But now fate steps in, and family obligations force her return home. Before long, she’s convinced that persuading her mom to live with her in Toronto will repair their shattered bond. However, she doesn’t count on a long-ago friend re-entering her life and challenging her convictions. Rugged forester Adam Wright believes in family, roots, and not running from heartache. Now, all he wants is to help Jess break down the walls of the lonely sanctuary she’s built for herself and heal her past hurts. It’s not until she rejects his plans for their future that he realizes his persistence is pushing her away—not at all what he intends.Has he lost his chance? Or can he convince Jess that where she truly belongs is with him...forever?

A Christmas Wedding


Jennifer Lewis - 2014
    Veronica Baxter is excited about her wedding to Zadir Al Kilanjar, but worries that her estranged parents will ruin everything. Can they find Christmas miracles among the madness and enjoy the weddings they’ve dreamed of?

Crushing On You: Travis and Gabriella (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book One): Clean and wholesome small town romance


Christine Kersey - 2016
    Learn more by copying and pasting this link into your browser: smarturl.it/EF2Amz ***This clean & wholesome standalone romance by bestselling author Christine Kersey is the first book in the Emerald Falls romance series.When Gabriella Peters inherits her aunt's cottage in Emerald Falls, she's ready for a change. After a failed relationship in another city, she's determined not to make the same mistakes again. But when she runs in to a crush from her past, she wonders if taking a chance might be worth the risk after all.Travis Haywood plans to live in Emerald Falls only long enough to complete his veterinary internship, but when he meets Gabriella he begins to question what's most important to him--the woman who has captured his heart, or his long-held career aspirations.BONUS: Includes first two chapters of Dangerous Lies: Sawyer and Amethyst (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book Two)

Codename: Mistletoe: A Military Bad-Boy Christmas Romance... With Explosions!


Simone Scarlet - 2018
    I'm single, alone for the holidays - and this sexy hunk of burly British beefcake is exactly what I need to come down my chimney tonight. Or he would have been - if our Christmas kisses hadn't been interrupted by a terrorist takeover.Now this Sexy Santa and I are under fire, on the run, and stuck on the top floor of a towering skyscraper fighting for our lives.And the truly scary part? The way this Santa is snapping necks, shooting guns and keeping me safe... I'm starting to suspect he's not really a stripper at all! DEX Talk about 'right girl, wrong time.' Surely there's no worse time to meet the girl of your dreams than the middle of a hostage situation.But these ruthless terrorists don't know the truth. I'm only humiliating myself, working as a Santa-themed stripper, because I haven't got my green card yet. It's the only job that'll pay cash-in-hand, no questions asked.But before I'd come to New York, I'd been Codename: Mistletoe - a sergeant in B Squadron, 22 Regiment, Special Air Service.I'd traveled all around the world, met interesting people - and killed them.I'd been honorably discharged and come to America to find a new life.Instead, I found Holly - and I think she's the most amazing girl I've ever met.So, I'll do anything to keep her safe - and as these terrorists are fast discovering, I've got the skills and training to do exactly that. Codename: Mistletoe is a 42,000 word Christmas romance packed with explicit scenes of sizzling sensuality, taut excitement and intense emotion. Enjoy!

Merry and Bright


Kristen Ashley - 2015
    The story of how Elvira met Malik.

Chasing Perfection: Vol. I


M.S. Parker - 2014
    That is, until they meet me. My name is DeVon Ricci and I’m an asshole. At least they all seem to think so. But I don’t give a shit because they never last long. Two or three weeks tops, then they're gone. Not that it matters. There’s always another talent waiting to take a seat on the casting couch, but I've yet to find what I'm looking for. I know what I want and I won't settle for less. I'm always chasing perfection.The embodiment of the American dream, DeVon Ricci had come to America from Italy when he was a teenager and then, with hard work and perseverance, had worked his way up in a cutthroat industry to emerge as the head of one of the top talent agencies in Los Angeles. Now it looks like he has everything he could ever want, except for the perfect woman.Don't miss a minute of summer's hottest new romance series, Chasing Perfection.

INDEMNITY


K.A. Hunter - 2016
    A survivor. But it hadn’t always been that way.At eighteen, tragedy struck, hurling her into a dark underworld. Freedom became a thing of the past as her new reality unraveled.Rescued a year later, she vowed to one day get the justice she deserved. However, her road to recovery was long and difficult. Driven by revenge, she fought like hell to prepare herself.When the opportunity she’s been waiting for arises, she’s quick to seize it.Her tormentor only knew her as the shattered girl she once was. He has no idea what she’s capable of now. But he’s about to find out how far she’s willing to go.No matter what it takes, she will get her indemnity.**TRIGGER WARNING...this story contains non-explicit abuse scenes and there is harsh language throughout. Indemnity is intended for mature readers**

Her Billionaire Cowboy


Sophia Summers - 2018
     Sparks fly when they meet again at the Texas Ranch resort, but when Stet's boss interferes with a suggestion of his own and pressures from the public sale of Abby Jane's company weigh her down, the matchmaking wiles of the ranch owner and the romantic atmosphere in Texas may not be enough to bring them together. The first book in the Texas Ranch Resort Series sets up a cast of hilarious and heart warming characters that will last through the whole series. Look for all titles coming soon.

Paxton: Return to Myre Falls


Anastasia Chase - 2018
    She always had.That's why she opened the only no-kill shelter in town, and she was damn proud of that fact. They currently had one vacant position, left by her alcoholic ex-boyfriend. After him, she promised herself she wouldn't get involved with co-workers ever again. But when she saw him, the words lodged in her throat, right along with her heartbeat.Holy cover model, Batman. This guy was gorgeous.He was tall, lean, and corded with muscle. He looked like a serious athlete, though something told her that he was one of those fortunate few that never had to work out to get good muscle tone. She felt an intense desire to strip him of that shirt and taste every inch of his yummy-looking torso, from happy trail to clavicle.But he had his own secrets.Maybe she wouldn't freak out if he ever showed her his wolf form? And then again, maybe she'd run screaming in the opposite direction. Not every human had the temperament to deal with the life they lived. But none of that mattered because he knew it for a fact.He could feel it in his bones. She was his fated mate.

Take Me Home


Alison Foster - 2015
    This is not that kind of Christmas story. Well, there is kind of this big beastly creature in almost a blizzard, but that’s Tanner, the brutish muscle cake of a bodyguard that my father sends after me whenever I try to disappear. I hate Tanner except when he gets too close and then everything goes haywire a little, like the time he tracked me down in a remote Canadian motel with the snow falling outside and the heat rising inside. He tried to drag me back home for the holidays on this mega road trip, but things got weird and kinda strangely awesome, but that can’t happen because my father will literally kill us both. It’s that kind of Christmas story. *This novelette is a Christmas story featuring Tanner Hayes, the bodyguard from Scandal*

Must Love Santa


Nina Bruhns - 2012
    He just needs to close this one last big case first, by shutting down a human trafficking ring run by a scummy veterinarian. Which is why he’s out on the street street corner dressed as Santa Claus, ringing a damn bell and taking covert photos of the vet’s customers, hoping one of them might be the link he needs to put the vicious bastard out of business.But his irrepressible Airedale terrier has very different ideas. K-9 Zenon has lasered his sights on a cute little perfumed fluff ball trotting his way...along with the adorably sexy lady holding her leash and teetering on a pair of too-tall stiletto heels. When the pretty lady tumbles to the pavement, well, what’s a gentleman—canine or Santa—to do? Why run to the rescue, of course!

Comfort Crossing Holiday Collection


Kay Correll - 2017
    (Books 2.5 & 3.5) THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE A story of love, moving on, and a dog named Louie Veterinarian Holly Thompson accepts a temporary position in Comfort Crossing in an effort to escape all things Christmas. What she finds is a small town that embraces all things Christmas and a handsome neighbor with a small son who both capture her heart. Add to that their adorable pup, and she knows the holidays are not going to be what she planned. At all. Steve Bergeron is quite content being a single father. He’s not willing to risk his heart — or his son’s — on another woman who is sure to leave them. It’s quite clear Holly will be gone by the new year. But he finds himself willing to do anything to chase away the sadness that lurks in the depths of Holly’s eyes. This isn’t part of his carefully laid out plans. At all. When an accident on Christmas Eve forces them both to question their choices, can the magic of the season warm their hearts and bring love and joy back into their lives? THE CHRISTMAS SCARF Sometimes, Christmas wishes bring their own special magic… Missy Sherwood has always wished for one thing, to be a country singer. After trying to make it for years in Nashville, she returns to her hometown of Comfort Crossing, Mississippi, feeling like a misfit and a failure. But there’s no use in telling anyone the truth just yet—she’s here for longer than the holidays, she's home for good. Right? Dylan Rivers is glad to see his old friend return to town, not only to help him with the children’s Christmas pageant, but because her homecoming sparks long-forgotten but never acted upon feelings. But there is no use in acting on those feelings, she’s soon to head back to her fabulous career in Nashville. Right? Then a stranger comes to town and has Missy re-examining her dreams. She gets one final chance at stardom, and her life-long wish is within her grasp. Is there really magic in the stranger’s scarf, or is it in the power of knowing her heart’s true wish?