Book picks similar to
Passion and Illusion by Barbara Delinsky


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Heaven Can't Wait


Pamela Clare - 2010
    Though Will thinks it’s a crazy idea, he’s not about to admit he can’t do it. The two end up making a bet, vowing not to be the first to ask for sex. But what starts as a bet turns into a game of no-holds-barred seduction—winner take all.

Across the Creek


Jeremy Asher - 2012
    An unlikely childhood romance between a poor boy and a wealthy girl began the day Jesse decided to do the impossible and cross the creek. A love was born, one that would become their shelter, protecting them from the storms of their lives, until the day Jesse witnessed his mother’s murder, forcing him to leave his childhood home…and first love. Ten years later, life has finally gotten better for Jesse. He has a loving family, a charming pet shop to run, and one semester left before graduating with a degree in architecture. Everything is great, until the day fate intervenes and his long-lost love walks into his shop and back into his life.Sarah, engaged to a budding attorney, is struggling to keep everything together. Her father, diagnosed with terminal cancer, is running out of time. Sarah races to build their dream business while planning her wedding in time for her father to walk her down the aisle.Their brief encounter starts a series of events that neither Jesse nor Sarah expects. After a decade of running, Jesse is now forced to face the demons from his past, while Sarah has to choose between her handsome attorney and her first love. Just when they think love has given them a second chance, Jesse is faced with an impossible decision, one that will change their lives forever.Across the Creek is the first in a 2-book series. Beneath the Willow is the second.

Coming Home


Mariah Stewart - 2010
    But after years in seclusion, his sister’s wedding draws him to St. Dennis, a peaceful town on the Chesapeake Bay. Though he swears he isn’t interested in finding love again, Grady can’t ignore the mutual sparks that fly when he meets Vanessa Keaton.Although her past was marked by bad choices, Vanessa has found that coming to St. Dennis is the best decision she’s ever made. Bling, her trendy boutique, is a success with tourists as well as with the townspeople. She’s made friends, has a home she loves, and has established a life for herself far from the nightmare she left behind. The last thing she’s looking for is romance, but the hot new man in town is hard to resist. And when Vanessa’s past catches up with her, Grady finds that he’s unwilling to let her become a victim again. As together they fight her demons, Grady and Vanessa discover that life still holds some surprises and that love doesn’t always have to hurt.BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Mariah Stewart's Long Way Home.

The Apple Orchard


Susan Wiggs - 2012
    She loves illuminating history, filling the spaces in people's hearts with stories of their family legacies. But Tess's own history is filled with gaps: a father she never met, and a mother who spent more time traveling than with her daughter. Then Dominic Rossi arrives on the doorstep of the San Francisco shop Tess hopes to buy, and he tells her that the grandfather she never knew is in a coma. Tess has been named in his will to inherit half of Bella Vista, a hundred-acre apple orchard in the magical Sonoma town called Archangel. The rest is willed to Isabel Johansen. A half sister she hadn't heard of. Isabel is everything Tess isn't: all softness to Tess's hard angles, warm and nurturing where Tess is tightly wound. But against the rich landscape of Bella Vista, with Isabel and Dominic by her side, Tess begins to discover a world filled with the simple pleasures of food and family, of the warm earth beneath her bare feet. A world where family comes first and the roots of history run deep.

Dodge the Bullet


Christy Hayes - 2011
    But Sarah doesn’t know a Colorado Senator has earmarked her ranch for purchase and he’ll do anything to get it. Unwilling to sell, she dismisses his continued offers and moves ahead by improving the land with the help of a sexy stranger. A.J. Dodge is a man with a past. He’s returned to his hometown ready to set down roots and make things right with his family and whatever anyone else thinks he doesn’t give a damn. Until his old friend Tommy Thornton asks a favor, a favor he can’t refuse, and Dodge becomes involved with the beautiful widow Sarah Woodward. She’s alone with her young sons on a dilapidated ranch she’s determined to get up and running with or without his help. Under pressure to deliver the Woodward ranch to a land developer with shady connections, the senator sets in motion a dangerous plot to convince Sarah to sell. Dodge will risk everything to protect Sarah and the boys including his heart.

Chase the Moon


Dinah McCall - 1997
    Living off the land in rural Kentucky, they adhere closely to the words of the Bible. But there is more going on at their compound than either Elijah or Gracie realises. In fact, a man has been killed for knowing too much. When the victim's twin, Jake Baretta, arrives at the compound to search for his twin's killer, he struggles to keep his heart and attraction to Gracie to himself, and his mind on the job. Everyone knows the first rule of undercover work: Never fall in love with enemy.

A Valentine She'll Remember


Mimi Barbour - 2018
     LOVE OF MY LIFE by Mimi Barbour - A story about abandoned puppies, a controversial businessman and a woman who bought her very first home only to find she’s sharing the duplex with a hero whose heart is as mushy as a young girl’s dream. "A very cute little story about coincidences, in our lives, that sometimes, turn into great happenings! The rough and tumble combination of two adversaries, coming together, in more ways than one, made for a delightful read!" DROP DEAD GORGEOUS by Patricia Rosemoor - Sasha Brozynski arrives at the chapel for her best friend's Valentine's Day wedding, but the bride disappeared without a trace. Nick Donatelli, son of a crime boss, had a reputation as a ladykiller. Was he drop-dead gorgeous or drop-dead guilty? "Drop Dead Enjoyable! Great story, believable characters, and I wanted more ... my heart was racing with the romance and the mystery, and danger!!!" WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN by Taylor Lee - They call her the Blonde Barracuda. The press loves her, the politicians fear her, and the mob is out to get her! "A DOUBLE WOW! Lexie and Jake without a doubt are sexiest special agents ever." SOMEONE LIKE YOU by Suzanne Jenkins - Life gets in the way as upstate NY sisters, Marley and Abigail cling to each other and their young children. But a babysitter introduces them both to Jay Malik, a medical student from India, who becomes their lifeline to happiness, forgiveness and healing. "A tale of two sisters who have been through the ringer of emotions . After reading you feel you know them intimately and find yourself cheering for the sisters. Awesome!" TWO HEARTS UNBROKEN by Tamara Ferguson - Honorably discharged from the Air Force, wounded warrior Sarah Benton accepts a position retraining wounded warriors. When Lieutenant Brand Reardon discovers her cowardly fiancé broke up with Sarah because he couldn’t deal with her injuries, Brand decides to do what he’s wanted to do from the moment they met, and make her his. But can he break through her wounded heart before Valentine’s Day, when he’ll be reassigned? "Her plot is compelling and real, especially those parts concerning the care and rehabilitation of wounded veterans, and her romantic passages are sensitive, caring and tasteful. Each of her stories is inspiring" LOVERS IN TRAINING by Alicia Street - When private fitness trainer Shannon meets her hot new client, loving her job takes on a whole new meaning. "After reading one book by this author, I had to read them all!" ROAD TO REDEMPTION by Natalie Ann - Can the nurse heal the doctor? They say opposites attract, but is Cori’s over the top personality too much introvert Dr. Max Hamilton? “Sometimes love is slow and heartwarming then other times it's fast and fun. This book and this story will amaze you.”

Lost In Italy


Stacey Joy Netzel - 2011
    Her itinerary did not include being stranded by her siblings, kidnapped by a sexy American movie star, dodging bullets, or fleeing criminals in a car chase around Lake Como.And that's just in the first three hours....often go awry.Trent Tomlin put his movie career on hold to investigate his brother's murder-ruled-suicide at his Italian villa. He's closing in on the suspects when an American tourist unwittingly films the murder of the retired cop helping him. The killers will stop at nothing to get the evidence-including holding Halli's family as collateral.Life's a little different unscripted. Thrust into the role of real-life hero, Trent finds himself falling for the Plain Jane whose beauty blossoms with every challenge they face. But how can he keep the evidence from falling into the wrong hands and get justice for his brother and friend without betraying Halli and her family?

The Fabric of Us


Kimberly Wenzler - 2018
    Their children are settled; Ella is married and planning a family and Nick is starting his senior year at college. After thirty years of sacrifices and struggles for their family, it is finally time to do all the things they've dreamed to do as a couple.Always unpredictable, life has other plans for the Bennets when Olivia gets shocking news that threatens all that she and Chris have built together.* * *Alternating between the past and present, THE FABRIC OF US beautifully unfolds the layers of a devoted marriage, exposing an interwoven thread of secrets and consequences that threaten to unravel a relationship once believed to be built on love, trust and faith.

Wildest Hearts


Jayne Ann Krentz - 1993
    She'd come to the elegant penthouse to meet Oliver Rain, the richest and possibly the most dangerous man in the Pacific Northwest. Annie needed this sensual, secretive corporate maverick for what she was about to propose. Marriage! With her brother Danny missing after a mysterious plane crash, Annie is struggling to protect his hot electronics company from the sharks who think he's not coming back. But fanciful, ethical Annie -- who usually runs a bizarre bric-a-brac shop knows Danny's alive, and she's determined to keep his company safe by putting his biggest investor at the helm. When Oliver actually says yes to the marriage of convenience, Annie dreamily envisions a few platonic weeks of helping him become a sensitive New Age guy. Oliver has a different plan; his cold, gorgeous eyes have been watching Annie, and he sees his chance to seduce the beautiful schemer. Love is the wild card destined to teach these two strong-willed opposites a lesson: icy control might run the business world, but all hell is about to break loose in the passionate territory of the heart.

Sweet Memories


LaVyrle Spencer - 1984
    Her precious beauty was treasured by everyone but herself - until a very special man showed her a very special love.BrianProud, sensitive, caring, Brian Scanlon sought to unleash the butterfly wrapped in Theresa's cocoon of inhibitions. But trust for Theresa came haltingly and a bold, courageous decision she makes alone nearly destroys the promise of their love.Sweet MemoriesA story of passion. A story of pain. A story that will make you laugh - and cry - as it brings warmth and magic into your heart. Sweet Memories is a classic love story to savor and one you will never forget.From the audiobook synopsis

Trial by Fire


Jo Davis - 2008
    Lieutenant Howard Six- Pack Paxton loves three things: being a firefighter, riding his Harley, and his bachelorhood. That is, until the curvaceous Kat McKenna falls into his arms at the scene of a fire and melts the six-foot-six tower of bronze muscle But just as passion ignites between them and they explore new heights of ecstasy, a ruthless arsonist with a deadly secret and a thirst for vengeance becomes their worst nightmare.

When Lightning Strikes


Brenda Novak - 2012
    And it's up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster of A-list clients, including the biggest box office hit of all—sexy and unpredictable Simon O'Neal. But Simon, who's just been through a turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won't listen to anything she says. She drops him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him.Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody of his son, but that's going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl who'll drag him off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek….Gail's the only one he can trust. She agrees to become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn't reluctant because he's too hard to like. It's because he's too hard not to love!

Wild Child


Molly O'Keefe - 2013
    Monica Appleby is a woman with a reputation. Once she was America’s teenage “Wild Child,” with her own reality TV show. Now she’s a successful author coming home to Bishop, Arkansas, to pen the juicy follow-up to her tell-all autobiography. Problem is, the hottest man in town wants her gone. Mayor Jackson Davies is trying to convince a cookie giant to move its headquarters to his crumbling community, and Monica’s presence is just too . . . unwholesome for business. But the desire in his eyes sends a very different message: Stay, at least for a while. Jackson needs this cookie deal to go through. His town is dying and this may be its last shot. Monica is a distraction proving too sweet, too inviting—and completely beyond his control. With every kiss he can taste her loneliness, her regrets, and her longing. Soon their uncontrollable attraction is causing all kinds of drama. But when two lost hearts take a surprise detour onto the bumpy road of unexpected love, it can only lead someplace wonderful.

The Wedding Cake Wish : (Little Duck Pond Cafe, Book 17)


Rosie Green - 2021