Book picks similar to
Joy and Payne by Kat Baxter


romance
christmas
contemporary
insta-love

Romancing the Quarterback


Eve London - 2022
    And when I find out he's a pro football player, that lands him firmly in the swipe left category.PalmerWinning the championship game should have made me the happiest man alive. Instead, I'm hiding out at a mountain lodge trying to keep a low profile and trading verbal barbs with the curvy gal in the room next door. When we get stuck in a snowstorm together, every part of me wants to give into the temptation to kiss her senseless. She's gotten under my skin, and after one night, I know I need to make her mine.What happens at the yearly writer's retreat stays at the retreat...except the bonds these authors forge and the stories they tell. But someone forgot to mention that to the men they find themselves falling for in stunning Lake Tahoe. From the small-town sheriff to the hot, bossy cowboy to the grumpy, reclusive mountain man, these romance authors have stumbled upon real life trope-tastic heroes that sweep them off their feet. Sometimes literally. Get ready to laugh, cry, and swoon this Valentine's Day when these six authors bring you on a Galentine's Getaway you won't forget. Galentine’s Getaway is a collection of steamy short romances brought to by six of your favorite instalove authors!

Something Real


Emma Ashe - 2019
    Until finally…a match. Lissa Garcia, is everything he’s ever dreamed of: smart, funny, with a to-die-for curvy figure. Which might actually be the case if he leaves his safehouse to meet her. After discovering a new energy source, Adam’s receiving death threats, but after seeing Lissa’s picture, he can’t stay away—and after meeting her? His whole world is suddenly Technicolor. She chases away every shadow living in his soul. And Lissa is falling just as hard. Call it insta-love. Call it love at first sight. Call it crazy. But it’s definitely real. Now they just have to find a way to survive .*An Indecent Apposal is a spicy new romantic series filled with hot, dirty billionaire alphas and the beautiful, curvy girls who tame them. Perfect for a quick bedtime read or a quicker reader blush, you’ll love this new, free standalone novella. Something Real is an insta-love alpha male romance that will leave you with all the feels.

All He Wants This Christmas


Claire Woods
    Falling for the hunky single-dad every woman in town is hot for—is not on her Christmas list.So what, if the looks he gives her could melt the North Pole? She has no plans to get involved with another man who looks like sin on a stick.But maybe this Christmas, Kate will learn that some men are totally worth melting for.Gianni...All I wanted was for things to turn around for my son at school.I'm a simple man with simple wishes.But I never expected my Christmas Angel to be the mother of my son's nemesis. Or that we'd create enough heat to burn the house down every time we touched.The trouble is... she's already been burned.I don't want to break her heart. I just want to be the next man who takes it. But unlike her ex... I'm gonna cherish it and her FOREVER.All I want for Christmas is Kate--wrapped around me and under my tree..Authors note: This is meant to be a yummy, funny and sexy holiday read that will leave you feeling all mushy and gooey... like a melting piece of chocolate Santa stuffed into a stocking hanging on a mantel on Christmas Eve. No Cheating, HEA with plenty of fire to melt those Kindles. I hope you fall in love with Gianni just as Kate did!

Gravedigger


J.C. Jaye - 2021
    Tilling the earth by hand, he’s King of Oaklawn and likes it that way. No annoying folks in his face, and plenty of solitude to muffle the PTSD noise upstairs. But once he spies a sexy, tousle-haired angel kneeling in the grass every Saturday, it’s time to rejoin the land of the living, stat. Here’s hoping his Sunshine doesn’t mind a little mud…She’s been lost, but now she’s found. The death of her twin has gutted Casey Rae Kent. Turning hermit, weekly plein-air grieving sessions are the sum of her social life. But a thwarted attack and subsequent rescue by a hot Viking lookalike have her shaking off the stupor. Is this spade-wielding hero a gift from the heavens? Can Mr. Badass and Brawny be her sweet salvation? Hmm, best get this dirty boy’s take on clueless virgin unicorns…Two troubled souls, zapped by the lightning bolt to the heart. All’s fantastic until fate lobs more mega-grade grenades in their path. Hell, who said love was easy?

Night Before


Dani Wyatt - 2017
    Now, his Scrooge is melting away along with thoughts of if her sugar plums taste as good as they look. Penny Evergreen lives for Christmas. When her parents send her to New York for a month-long training to relieve the piano prodigy of her paralyzing stage fright, she takes one look at the elaborate Christmas Village at the prestigious Knight & Knight department store and she hatches a holiday plan of her own. Will these two star crossed opposites attract? Or will their deceptions be the end of this holiday fairy tale before it has a chance to take off? Author’s Note: Grab your candy canes and sit in front of the fire. This sugary sweet Christmas story will warm your heart and melt your panties. This May December quick holiday romance is sure to have you asking Santa for some Malcolm of your very own. Complete insta-everything, safe and always a happy ending. Or two. Or ten.

Blazing Hot Christmas


Beth Beaumont - 2019
    I know how to be happy, even when I’m single. Then along comes this smokin’ hot fire fighter, who rocks my world. Is he a player? Or is there something I don’t know? If he’s playing games, he’s gone, because I don’t share. Colt I’ve been burned by so many chicks. My heart has gone up in flames more than once. But then I meet this amazing woman, who tries her best to hide who she is from me. I have to break through her hard candy shell, because I know how sweet she can be…when her guard is down. I’m going to give her a Christmas she’ll never forget… If I can make her trust me.

Sweet For You


Harper Ashe - 2014
    But when she's hired by Blake Foods as a taste tester for a new line of diet desserts, she's devastated to discover that the real Mr. Blake isn't anything like the fantasy man in her dreams. Until one passionate kiss reveals there's more to the brooding billionaire than meets the eye.With profits slipping, the future of Stephen Blake's gourmet foods company is riding on the successful launch of his diet desserts line. Adding cute and curvy Abby Branson to the project team makes sense. After all, she smart, feisty, and fits the customer demographic to a T. Although love is the last thing on Stephen's mind, he can't help but notice that Abby is more delicious than anything his company creates.Sparks soon fly between the billionaire and the BBW. But with her insecurities and his wounded heart, coming up with the right recipe for romance won't be a piece of cake. Will Stephen and Abby succeed in the diet desserts business - and find true love in the process?Sweet for You is a feel-good romance with a HEA ending. This sweet, romantic novella is one guilty pleasure that won't pack on the pounds - even if you read it more than once!

Dating the Virgin: A Curvy Woman Instalove Romance


Piper Cook - 2022
    

Mr. Serious: More Than Money


Elisa Leigh - 2021
    She loves teaching, but it’s been one hell of a school year and she’s ready to grab a bottle of wine, roll up her sleeves, and tackle the fixer-upper she bought and make it a home. Fixing things isn’t new to her, she’s been doing it ever since she was a girl and had to piece her family back together after the unthinkable. What she isn’t expecting is to meet a man who throws a two-by-four into those plans and turns her world upside down.Christian Stone has worked his ass off helping to grow the family business into what it is today, making everyone a lot of money in the process. Money is great, but it hasn’t left a lot of time for fun or the one thing everyone’s hoping to find. His brothers set out to change that with surprising success. In the course of one night, he meets the woman of his dreams. Picturing their life together to only have her dash them to pieces. Christian didn’t get where he is today on dumb luck, no, he goes after what he wants.Will Christian prove to Reagan a life together is worth fighting for? Will Reagan push past her insecurities to let love in?Welcome back to Blue Mountain Lake, the sleepy Washington State town known for its friendly people and small-town way of life. This well-hidden gem is the perfect place to have some fun and fall in love.Mr. Serious is a Blue Mountain Lake Novella, full of plenty of steam and happily ever afters.

Mistletoe & Margaritas


Shannon Stacey - 2011
    So, after two years, she's not surprised by the steamy dreams telling her it might be time to start moving on. But she didn't expect her friend Justin to have the starring role. Justin McCormick has loved Claire since the moment he first saw her, but his best friend got there first. Now that Claire is ready to move on with her life, Justin is finding it harder than ever to hide his true feelings. And when they both get caught up in the holiday spirits at a party, their simmering mutual attraction boils over into a night neither of them can forget...20,000 words

Buck Me... For Christmas (Shifter Grove Brides #6.5)


Anya Nowlan - 2015
    or some buck? Riley Seston has had a crappy year. Not only did her best friend move away to cold and distant Idaho, but her fiance and boss made off with all the money they'd collected for kids' Christmas presents and he had the nerve to cheat on her! So obviously, things are not great. And when her little jeep crashes through the cold, icy waters of a lake in Idaho, things are going from bad to worse. So no wonder Riley's a little low on Christmas spirit, right? Blitz Frost is a man on a mission. A workaholic like no other, this buck has been sent to cool his heels at his family's cottage in Shifter Grove before the busiest few days of the year for him and his 8 brothers - Christmas! He had no intentions of enjoying it. None whatsoever. So when he finds himself rescuing a gorgeous, curvy damsel in distress and loving every second they spend together, this were reindeer is obviously thrown for a loop. But isn't that what Christmas is about - a little wonder and a little mystery? Can Blitz save Christmas for Riley? And can she save save him... This book is a little Christmas novella set in Shifter Grove. It can be read as a standalone and has a guaranteed HEA! Be prepared for a little twist on everyone's favorite reindeer and be ready to ice the heat - there's plenty of it in this book!Note: This story is the final (Bk 7), of the Shifter Grove Brides - and the first (Bk 1), of the Frost Brothers' Brides series.

Unwrapping Her Perfect Match


Kat Latham - 2014
    She’s a calm, capable nurse saving lives in a busy London hospital, but healthy men give her heart palpitations. When larger-than-life rugby player “Little” John Sheldon convinces her to bid on him in his team’s fundraising auction, she discovers how pleasurable heart palpitations can be.A rugby player was stirring, with desire no one could douse…John has wanted Gwen since he first saw her, but when he’s injured in a match just before Christmas he suddenly needs her too. Not only can the sexy nurse help him recover, but she might be able to help him look after his daughter—a shy ten-year-old who speaks only French.But will it be a Happy Christmas for all, and for all a good night?From decorating the Christmas tree to ice skating at the Tower of London, Gwen helps father and daughter open up and bond with each other—and she bonds right along with them. But when John’s agent calls with a life-changing offer, Gwen has to decide how far she’s willing to go for her perfect match. Will their first Noël also be their last?

Tyler


Olivia Sinclair - 2020
    Now.SophieEven before I knew what he looked like, he made me laugh.Now that he's here in front of me, I'm pretty sure I'm hallucinating.If there's even a chance he means what he says, can I take the risk?

Mr. Right Now


Annabeth Albert - 2019
    Right Now, but for how long? When Russ suffers a Thanksgiving disaster, his gorgeous neighbor Esteban is there to save the day. And after an innocent mix-up leads to the former Hollywood hottie playing the role of Russ’s date, Russ thinks scoring Esteban as his fake boyfriend is a huge win. The newly discharged marine is healing inside and out and could use some holiday cheer. For his part, Esteban is intrigued by his big, bad neighbor. He likes how his matchmaking cat brings out an unexpected caring side of Russ. Desire flares as the reasons to continue their ruse pile up for both men. And pretending feels so good. From chocolaty kisses to late night cuddles, their burgeoning friendship is getting cozier and cozier. But as the end date for their little deception looms, all the real feelings they’ve tried to ignore come tumbling in. Each must decide whether they have what it takes to ring in the New Year as a couple. Mr. Right Now is a stand-alone holiday novella with sweet, low-angst feels, spicy love scenes, and foodie inspired, quirky Oregon romance with a military flavor. Happy ending guaranteed with no cliffhangers! MM Holiday Romance.

Let It Snow


Macie St. James - 2020
    The handsome stranger who owns that ditch has no idea that his offer to help will lead to a holiday stranded together in the snow.Paul McKellar has retreated to a rental cabin to finish his book. While he’s on a tight deadline, he’s also trying to forget about the holiday. His mother’s surprised death happened just a year earlier, and the holidays will never be the same.But the more time he spends with Garland, the more he realizes there’s plenty left to celebrate. Once the holidays are over, though, they’ll be separated by hundreds of miles. Can their feelings for each other overcome the distance?Let It Snow is a sweet, clean contemporary standalone Christmas romance in a small-town setting.