Book picks similar to
A Fine Mess by Kristy K. James


christian-fiction
romance
christian
contemporary-romance

Brides and Betrayal


Michelle Lynn Brown - 2014
    As she longs to come out from under the stain of their sin, she is held back by the constant whisperings in her mind that never fail to remind her who she is and where she comes from. Hunter cannot forgive his mother’s adultery and vows never to be like his father - blindly accepted the sins of others. Fearful that they will fall into the same trap as his parents, he tries to control every situation, but his jealousy and judgmental attitude only add to Holly’s feeling of unworthiness. As the years pass, Hunter’s anger and mistrust grow, taking their toll on Holly and Hunter's marriage. When handsome widower, Seth Hargrove, befriends the couple, he urges Hunter to let go of his anger, and reminds Holly she is more than her parents' sin. Will Seth be the key to reconciling Holly and Hunter and redeeming them from the disastrous path their marriage is on?  Or will his friendship only lead to betrayal?

Firefly Summer


Kathleen Y'Barbo - 2015
     Trey’s biggest challenge isn’t performing surgery…it’s restoring Sessa’s heart! Artist Sessa Chambers may never recover from losing her prodigal son. Even as she grieves the tragic decisions that led to his death, and left her with a toddler to raise, she’s asked to work on her dream project—restoring carousel horses for the Smithsonian. But she can’t do it on her own… Dr. Trey Brown can’t pick up a scalpel again. Yes, he acted in self-defense, but the events of that awful night haunt him. He was trained to save lives, not take them. When he goes to the young man’s widowed mother to apologize, she’s not at all what he expected. For one thing, she’s not as alone as he thought—not with the fearsome ladies of the Pies, Books, and Jesus Book Club in her corner. For another, she’s beautiful, and being in her presence is more jolting than any eight-second bronco ride from his former rodeo days. Before he knows it, she’s captured his heart as easily as they capture the fireflies gracing Sessa’s Texas ranch. How can they overcome their past to embrace a future together?

A Reason to Run


Christina Coryell - 2014
    When life handed her complications, she buried herself in capturing them on paper and crafting a perfect narrative. The fact that her latest novel was currently sitting at the top of the bestseller lists let her know she had succeeded—not that anyone else noticed, since she hid behind a pen name.It had been tempting to step away from the anonymity at times, but not on days like that one. Not when the humiliating video of Peter proposing was going viral and her name was spreading through peoples’ homes like wildfire. Her inclination to run felt justified, especially when she cloaked it with novel research. The change of scenery should offer the perfect quiet backdrop to finish the manuscript on time.Of course, she hadn’t factored in an unintended clash with local bachelor Cole Parker. His charming smile and witty demeanor leave her intrigued, even though circumstances seem determined to keep him at arm’s length. Despite distractions, can the two of them find a common bond to tie everything together and construct the perfect story?

What God Brings Together


Melissa Wardwell - 2014
    Just when she thinks she has found her path, a return to her hometown brings past hurts rushing back into her life. Can Emma learn to finally release the hardships of the past and rely on the goodness of God’s plans for her future? Eight years after a disfiguring accident, self-torment and life in the shadows keep David from all that he holds dear. When a chance encounter stirs him to hope again, he battles the voice inside that tells him he doesn’t deserve his second chance. Can he accept the gift of restoration God is offering him? Or will he allow self-doubt to rob him of his greatest love and the family he longs to embrace?

The Rose of Winslow Street


Elizabeth Camden - 2012
    Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families. When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past. As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.

Unfailing Love


Julie Lessman - 2015
    He stole her peace. Can hope steal their pain? At the age of eighteen, Lacey Carmichael was a wild girl bent on fun, promised to Jack Carmichael, a straight-and-narrow pastor’s kid bent on the seminary. When her father kicks her out of the house, she runs away from Isle of Hope, turning her back on everything she loves. Now, eight years later, she’s back as a woman of faith, hoping to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she denied. Only the bridges she’s burned are still smoldering, kindled by an adulterous affair by Jack’s pastor father that damaged his son’s faith. But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to “hope” for them all?

Stuck in the Middle


Virginia Smith - 2008
    Meanwhile, Joan is stuck at home with Mom and her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement—or romance.When a hunky young doctor moves in next door, Joan sets out to catch his eye. But it won’t be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly, and Joan is sure that she can’t compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, Joan begins to find her way out of this rut and into the life she’s been hiding from.Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, soul searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry that is sure to make you smile.

A Class of Her Own & A Chorus of One


Janice A. Thompson - 2012
    Then she lands in the same history class with her daughter and finds herself offending the toughest professor on campus. Professor Andrew Dougherty, still a bachelor at forty-seven, has sworn off women. His heart was broken years earlier by a skittish fiancee. Just when Laura feels that she has no alternative but to drop out of school due to stress and finances, Andrew begins to realize that it is time for the battle to cease between them. He is beginning to discover that his feelings for Laura Chapman are not at all what he thought at first.BOOK TWO: A CHORUS OF ONE: It’s the opportunity of a lifetime…Jessica Chapman has her happy ending planned out. Does it really matter that she and her fiance’ don’t agree on every little detail? Or even on some big ones–like her passion for music and the theater. Jessica plans to become Nathan Fisher’s wife and live “happily ever after” in Houston. But then Jess is offered the internship of her dreams. The handsome and tenderhearted Colin Phillips sees something special in Jessica, believing the Lord has chosen her to train vocally gifted children–in Dallas. Could God also have chosen her to play a more important role in Colin’s life? Should Jess settle for an ill-fitting lackluster marriage? Or will the Lord orchestrate the perfect due?ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Janice Hanna Thompson is the author of nearly eighty books for the Christian market.

A Love So Real


Kimberly Rae Jordan - 2019
    Driving aimlessly along the west coast, she’s drawn to the small town of New Hope Falls in Washington State and soon finds herself in a place unlike anywhere she’s been before. Welcome to the fictional town of New Hope Falls! A sanctuary for those needing refuge. A beacon for those who are lost. A place for the hurting to call home. Come for a visit and fall in love with New Hope Falls and its residents, both old and new. As a social media influencer, Arianna is used to the internet world. She has millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram, and her career depends on her good reputation. Unfortunately, one bad decision has repercussions that could negatively affect everything she’s worked hard to build. Needing time to think and consider her next move, away from the pressures of her world, she flees LA in search of clarity and peace. Fall may be a beautiful time in New Hope Falls, but for Elijah McNamara, it brings back a lot of bad memories. In the midst of dealing with those, a breath of fresh air appears at the small resort his family owns, distracting him from the memories and making him feel things he hasn’t felt in a very long time…if ever. They come from completely different worlds and are each deeply entrenched in those lives, but it doesn’t stop the feelings they have for each from growing. However, Eli’s past is resurfacing, causing him to consider what his presence in Arianna’s life might mean to her career. Could he withstand the spotlight if someone chose to shine it on him because of Arianna’s career? Because of how she lives her life in front of a camera for all the world to see? As the past reaches into the present, it becomes clear that someone wants Arianna gone from New Hope Falls. Can Arianna and Eli find a way to bring their worlds together in spite of it all? Or is Arianna destined to leave the sanctuary of hope and peace she’s found to return to the life she left behind in LA. This Christian romance novel of 105,000 words is the first book in the New Hope Falls series from USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Rae Jordan. This is a sweet romance of faith and love that you can share with both your grandmother and your daughter! If you enjoy heartwarming Christian romance with a focus on love, faith, and family, be sure to check out these other series and books by Kimberly Rae Jordan: The Callaghans & McFaddens Fostered by Love BlackThorpe Security The McKinleys Home to Collingsworth Those Karlsson Boys Other Christian romance books by Kimberly Rae Jordan: Faith, Hope & Love Marrying Kate

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.

Falling for Her Boss


Liz Isaacson
     Jace Lovell only has one thing left after his fiancé abandons him at the altar: his job at Horseshoe Home Ranch. He throws himself into becoming the best foreman the ranch has ever had—and that includes hiring an interior designer to make the ranch owner's wife happy. Belle Edmunds is back in Gold Valley after she lost her job at a prestigious design firm in California. She's working for a conglomerate, but she's desperate to build a portfolio that she can use to start her own firm in Montana. She applies for the job at Horseshoe Home, and though Jace and Belle grew up together, they've never seen eye to eye on much more than the sky is blue. The spark between them now that they're adults can't be denied, and as Jace and Belle attempt to work together, they also fight their growing attraction to each other. But Jace isn't anywhere near forgiving his fiancé, and he's not sure he's ready for a new relationship with someone as fiery and beautiful as Belle. Can she employ her patience while he figures out how to forgive so they can find their own brand of happily-ever-after? **This is Book 1 in a brand-new series! See below for the order of books Liz has written. All books are standalone romances, but are tied to a specific place to create a series. Gold Valley Romance (spinoff series from Three Rivers Ranch): Before the Leap (Book 1) After the Fall (Book 2) - coming February 20, 2017 Through the Mist (Book 3) - coming April 3, 2017 Three Rivers Ranch Romance: Second Chance Ranch (Book 1) Third Time's the Charm (Book 2) Fourth and Long (Book 3) Fifth Generation Cowboy (Book 4) Sixth Street Love Affair (Novella) The Seventh Sergeant (Book 5) Eight Second Ride (Book 6) Christmas in Three Rivers (Novella collection) The First Lady of Three Rivers Ranch (Book 7 - can also be read first!) Lucky Number Thirteen (Novella) ~ coming March 6, 2017!

Walking on Sea Glass


Julie Carobini - 2019
    Suddenly single, Liddy Buckle flees the desert to work at an up-and-coming seaside resort with her best friend, Meg. The breezy backdrop of an inn by the sea offers Liddy the dream of starting fresh, but soon she is shocked to discover another setback brewing in her life. Despite the battle that lies ahead, she finds herself drawn to Beau Quinn, a captivating widower with a wounded heart of his own. As Beau and Liddy's burgeoning relationship attempts to survive, will Liddy have the courage to trust a man again--especially one as emotionally fragile as Beau? Can Beau commit to a woman facing a challenging recovery? And what is going on behind the scenes at Sea Glass Inn, where late night deliveries and secret meetings are spoken about in whispers? Set in a fictional California seaside town, Walking on Sea Glass weaves a romantic story of courage, faith, and the power of true love.

A Marriage Carol


Chris Fabry - 2011
    Over time they have drifted apart; the sparks are dead. Marlee is convinced she married the wrong man, and Jake feels tied down to the wrong woman. Jake is distant and tired of being controlled, while Marlee is tired of being the only one trying to the save their marriage. They go to bed Christmas Eve, in separate rooms, each rationalizing... life is too short to be miserable... love shouldn't hurt like this... their marriage must end for happiness to return.But then something peculiar happens: The ghosts of Marriage Past, Marriage Present, and Marriage Future reveal to them their past choices and present realities, and how their future might look if they do not change their stories.Jake and Marlee experience a Christmas gift that will radically change their thinking and cause them to look at marriage not for what they can get out of it, but for what God can do in and through their marriage.

Finders Keepers


Catherine Palmer - 1999
    Fiery Elizabeth Hayes is determined to preserve Chalmers House, the Victorian mansion next to her growing antiques business. But Zachary Chalmers, heir to the mansion, has very different plans. Together they learn that God has the best plans of all-if we will only surrender to him.

Texas Whirlwind


Bonnie Blythe - 2002
    Is it true that she bought love with her ready-made family or can she trust the One that the even wind and waves obey? A Christian romance.