Book picks similar to
Pretty Lives Ugly Truths by K. Elle Collier
2nd-reading-challenge
book-series
contemporary
dnf
Courage
Kristen Proby - 2021
This is the first story in the Heroes of Big Sky, all about men in uniform in Cunningham Falls!Natasha Mills feels like she’s loved firefighter Sam Waters her entire life. Since she first met him during middle school, she’s harbored a secret crush on her best friend’s big brother. It’s just something she lives with every day—too bad he doesn’t notice her. To Sam, Tash is his little sister’s best friend and that’s it. Disaster strikes the Waters family, leaving Sam’s sister and her husband dead, and their young children in the hands of Sam and Natasha. Suddenly, these two are navigating the loss of people they loved, while trying to figure out parenthood together. The grief is devastating, and raising twins is harder than either of them bargained for. But in working together, and leaning on each other, Sam and Tash learn that family comes in all different shapes and sizes.The more time he spends with Natasha though, the more Sam realizes just how sweet and sexy she really is. He finds himself slowly but surely falling for her. But when the time comes for him to let her go—will he be able to walk away from the family he’s helped build?
Rescue Me
Allie K. Adams - 2011
Being in close proximity brings back emotions they'd long since buried when, once again, Spencer withholds vital information from her. But, after the mission draws to a close, they can no longer fight the attraction. One touch detonates the inferno burning between them as they give into the passion threatening both their control.
Mounting danger...
Despite knowing he can't be the fairy tale hero Kat wants, Spencer makes promises he can't keep while harboring secrets that may ultimately destroy her. Kat refuses to fall back into the role of a pawn in TREX's web of lies and deceit. She walks away from the only man she's ever loved in the hopes he'll come after her--this time.When Kat's life is threatened, Spencer vows to protect her at any cost. He's willing to do anything to ensure her safety--even if it means putting his own life on the line. Will rescuing Kat be Spencer's final mission?
Ignoring your instincts could prove fatal.
***This book has been completely rewritten and republished under the same title as the previous work.
White Lies
Jeremy Bates - 2012
Fearful for her safety, she lies about her destination in order to get him out of the car. But when she later discovers that he is a teacher at the same school, she finds herself feeding that initial lie with more lies.Then Katrina meets Jack Reeves. Handsome, charismatic and strong, he is exactly what she needs to extricate her from the expanding network of lies. She falls fast and hard for him. But when Jack lands himself in the middle of a grisly murder, she must decide whether to turn him in--or tell yet another lie.
Epic Sins
Trudy Stiles - 2015
These will all be STANDALONE novels focusing on the various characters from the band Epic Fail that were introduced in Dear Emily.Garrett Armstrong, the lead guitarist of Epic Fail, womanizer and not so nice guy, leaves a trail of women in his wake. A recent one-night stand wreaks havoc, and turns his present completely upside down. He’s faced with a reality that he never expected. Never wanted.Samantha Weston can’t escape the black cloud that follows her. She suffered an unspeakable loss as a teenager and has been climbing uphill ever since. As soon as her life starts to become manageable she’s slammed with another tragic event, forcing her to abandon the only thing in life that she cherishes. A heartbreaking situation throws this unlikely pair together. They’re forced to face things that seem impossible. Can Sam get past the demons that haunt her? Can Garrett accept a fate he swore to avoid at all costs?Can they conquer the sins that are poised to destroy them or will they become an Epic Fail?Epic Sins is the first book of the Epic Fail series, a spinoff of The Forever Family series. Reading The Forever Family series is not required as these are all spin-off/standalone novels, but it may enhance your experience.
Church Chick
Michelle Carey - 2012
In a shallow attempt to move forward, she marries the older Deacon of the church, but is liberated when he dies on their wedding night. Now free to find love and happiness, Sabrina discovers the dark side of love and lust when she is confronted by her new best friend Blair; when Blair thinks Sabrina has stolen the man she loves.
Hidden
Shalini Boland - 2011
Madison Greene is in foster care until one day she inherits a fortune, she inherits a house, she inherits a cellar full of danger. Alexandre Chevalier lives in 19th century Paris. On an archaeological expedition, he discovers a lost underground city where his life changes forever. Their lives entwine, but this is only the beginning...
Illicit Magic
Camilla Chafer - 2011
Young witch, Stella, has to put her faith in strangers just to stay alive but she might not be any safer in their midst than from the danger she is running from.There is more than one dark secret in her new family: Étoile’s sister is spoken of in fear and sadness; Marc is supposed to be a powerful witch but is missing his magic; where does the owner of their safe house vanish to every day and why does Evan have the eyes of someone not quite human? There is only one secret that someone will do anything to keep quiet, but whose secret is it and will Stella have to pay the price for silence?
Gathering Tinder
Julie Wetzel - 2014
His busy schedule and eccentric ways are enough to keep her on her toes. But, all is not what it seems when she discovers the handsome man employing her just happens to be the most powerful vampire in the area. This is the first book in The Ancient Fire SeriesThis is part one of two. The original book was divided due to length.This book has been rated using the Crimson Tree Publishing Disclosure System. All scores are out of 5. For more details please visit the their website. Violence - 5Language - 3Romance / Sensuality - 1Drugs / Alcohol - 1Note: This book is currently free on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, etc.
The Sweetest Revenge (The Sweetest Love Book 1)
Grey Huffington - 2018
She's the only one to blame and takes full responsibility for the lack of commitment he's shown throughout their time together. As another year rolls around, and their fifth anniversary approaches, Earth decides that she can no longer withstand his ill-treatment and the neglecting of her deepest desires. She conjures a plan and, strategically, dismantles Premise from his core with a simple tap of her finger and flick of her wrist. For Premise, the term, "What you won't do, another will," doesn't quite hold relevance in his life until he's on the receiving end of indescribable pain caused by the woman he thought would continue to wait in vain until he noticed her.
Someone Else's Daughter
Linsey Lanier - 2011
Independent. Skeptical.Thirteen years ago her abusive husband stole her baby and gave it up for adoption.She comes to Atlanta to find her daughter.THE PIWade Parker.Ace detective.Wealthy owner of the Parker Investigative Agency.The most eligible forty-four-year-old bachelor in Atlanta.Still mourning the death of his socialite wife, he must solve a disturbing murder case.Before the killer strikes again.THE MURDERERA serial killer strangling young girls in a bizarre ritual.Why?She doesn't need a man.He needs to find a killer.Together, can they save a thirteen year old girl?
Grim Undertakings: Book 1 of the GrimFaerie Chronicles
Whit McClendon - 2019
There are a few who do the dirty work on the side of the Light. Unknown protectors walk among us, gleefully using fang and claw and magick, leaving a bloody trail of vanquished evildoers in their wake. They are the GrimFaeries. If you are evil enough to try to tip the balance towards the Dark side, you might just get a visit from one. And they won't be leaving a coin under your pillow.When Kane the Grim is tasked with finding a serial murderer in Houston, he discovers that there is much more at stake. Magick is afoot, and an evil sorcerer is behind the killings. When he rescues a witch from certain death, his new mission becomes clear: stop the bad guy before it’s too late. Teaming up with a witch who's as good with a gun as with her spells, they'll face monsters, magick, and M-16's, as they risk everything to stop the evil in its tracks before all is lost.
If you're a fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, you'll love the first tale of the GrimFaerie Chronicles, an exciting new urban fantasy from Whit McClendon, the author of the Fire of the Jidaan Trilogy!
The Gauguin Connection
Estelle Ryan - 2012
Masterful forgeries. Art crime at its worst.A straightforward murder investigation quickly turns into a quagmire of stolen Eurocorps weapons, a money-laundering charity, forged art and high-ranking EU officials abusing their power.As an insurance investigator and world renowned expert in nonverbal communication, Dr Genevieve Lenard faces the daily challenge of living a successful, independent life. Particularly because she has to deal with her high functioning Autism. Nothing - not her studies, her high IQ or her astounding analytical skills - prepared her for the changes about to take place in her life.It started as a favour to help her boss' acerbic friend look into the murder of a young artist, but soon it proves to be far more complex. Forced out of her predictable routines, safe environment and limited social interaction, Genevieve is thrown into exploring the meaning of friendship, expanding her social definitions, and for the first time in her life be part of a team in a race to stop more artists from being murdered.
Mirror
Cassia Leo - 2012
When Brina Kingston is hired by Luke’s competitor as a corporate spy, Brina successfully works her way into a position as Luke Maxwell’s new executive assistant. What Brina doesn’t expect is to find herself in a compromising position in his bed.Brina thinks she has the savvy to see past Luke’s cunning intellect and extract the trade secrets she was hired to acquire. But she soon finds herself falling for his charms and risking the most important assignment of her career and, possibly, the greatest relationship of her life.This is the first installment in the LUKE Series.
A Dead End
Keeley Bates - 2015
Blackballed by the producers of her hit TV show, she returns home to the affluent town of Westdale, chock full of Mayflower descendants, to enroll in college and lead a quiet life...until she discovers a skeleton in her house. Kit quickly finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation led by the handsome detective, Romeo Moretti. With the help of her new neighbors, Kit channels her former character, hotshot detective Ellie Gold, in order to solve the murder so she can get back to renovating her house and avoiding the Mayflower Madam, who also happens to be her hypercritical, gin-swilling mother. Saints & Strangers cozy mystery series: Book 1: A Dead End Book 2: The Deep End Book 3: The Bitter End
In His Eyes
Peggy L. Henderson - 2015
When a tragic accident claims her father’s life, Katherine is left to deal with an overbearing mother whose agenda does not include a young daughter. Fate deals her another devastating blow, leaving her to face an uncertain future far away from everything and everyone she’s loved. Trace Hawley used to push the limits of the law, and no one was going to plan his future for him. The death of the man who always had his back leaves him to finally face responsibility. The promises he made a decade ago have shaped him into the man he is today, and will bring him face to face with the one girl from his past he always tried to avoid. After a ten year absence, Katherine returns to the ranch she once loved to discover the shocking reason her mother summoned her home. Surprised to find Trace still at the ranch, her childhood infatuation grows into something far stronger as he challenges her to lead the life she once wanted, but seems to have forgotten. When Katherine is forced to make a choice between saving her father’s dreams or following her own, Trace might be the only one who holds the key to both. ***Content Warning: This book contains mild language, mild violence, and adult situations including physical intimacy, and is intended for mature readers.