Book picks similar to
The Missing Ingredient by Marika Ray


romance
contemporary-romance
contemporary
fiction

Billionaire's Unexpected Bride


Alexis Winter - 2021
    “We can’t pretend like they haven’t.”I don’t break rules. EVER.1. NEVER mix business with pleasure.2. DON’T put my job in jeopardy.3. Absolutely do NOT fall in love with a client.Guess I should say . . . I didn’t break them, until I met my new billionaire client, Drake Slade.Arrogant, rude, hated by everyone in town, and 100% NOT my type.The day my perfect LA life was uprooted to move to middle-of-frickin’-nowhere Colorado was the day I was convinced my life was over.Raise and promotion be damned, what good is it if the only place in town is a Dollar Store?But here I am, wearing a denim skirt and cowboy boots, rootin’ and scootin’ my way around town, and square dancing my way into Drake’s bed.Don’t worry, I have a plan. Sort of.He’s just a little distraction to make my time here pass. After I get the town to love him, I can move back to LA.Now I just need to convince my heart . . .

Show Time


Tawna Fenske - 2020
    Being one of the suckers who falls in love on TV? Hell, no.Lucky for me, I found a CFO who shares my urge to skip the mating game part of my family’s social experiment and reality show. Vanessa and I can cast the cops, teachers, and nurses needed for a self-contained community, and leave the dating mess to my siblings.Easier said than done. Vanessa’s smart and funny and hot as hell, and for once I can’t focus on running the show. Somewhere between a sexy waterslide ride and adopting dog, we share a helluva lot more than spreadsheets. The only thing riskier is realizing someone’s out to destroy our project before it’s off the ground.How do I save the business, protect my family, and keep my hands off the sexy CFO? For once, I’m not sure I’ve got it all under control.

Love at Coco Bay


Kirsty McManus - 2021
    With a recent promotion from receptionist to co-assistant manager—not to mention the ongoing opportunity to live and work with her best friends—everything is perfect.Well, except for one tiny thing. Sasha has never had much luck in the boyfriend department, and the only guy she’s ever been interested in is event planner Dash, a Channing Tatum lookalike who is oblivious to her affections.But when a resort guest insists that Sasha work with Dash on an upcoming wedding, they are suddenly thrust into a three-month-long high-pressure environment. Sasha can no longer hide from Dash, and Dash has no option but to get to know Sasha.As expected, things get off to a rocky start, and when a mystery investor arrives at the island, the situation only gets worse. Sudden changes in the corporate hierarchy and bizarre managerial decisions mean that not only the wedding, but the entire resort’s future is in jeopardy.Can Sasha survive the chaos, make the wedding a success, and end up with her dream guy?She’s going to try.

Lingerie on the Floor


Amanda Aksel - 2017
    But my lingerie business is in trouble. If I don’t find an investor before I return to L.A., I’ll be forced to close my London boutique. The good news is the top fashion magazine wants to feature Kate Golden Lingerie in a double page spread. The bad news—they want me to model my lacy thong. How can I say no? I care way more about sexy lingerie than I do about love, until him . . . Drew, the insanely hot photographer I keep crashing into. I can’t help myself. He drove me wild during our boudoir photo shoot. Those eyes. That delicious mouth. The way he feels between my legs when I’m riding on the back of his motorcycle. I know, he’s a rich, bad boy, who only dates models. Sooo not my type. I’m not his either. But we can’t keep away from each other, even when we try . . .

Kitty Valentine Dates a Billionaire


Jillian Dodd - 2020
    DATE THE GUY. WRITE THE BOOK. Six years ago, Kitty Valentine took the book world by storm when her sweet debut romance hit number one on the New York Times Best Sellers list, which was followed by a string of successful releases. Her latest novel, however, totally bombs, causing her editor to suggest she write much sexier books.To Kitty, writing smut is the literary equivalent of stripping. But with no advance coming in and her royalties dipping to an all-time low, Kitty has no choice. Armed with a hot-guy spinning prize wheel, made by her best friend, listing all the different types of men she will date and then write about, Kitty will be spinning-not stripping-her way back onto the best-sellers list.

Man of the Moment


Thea Dawson - 2018
    is here to serve.Tired of being the "cute one" in a family of glamorous people, Annabelle Winter decides to hire a gorgeous man from the Gentlemen, Inc. Agency to be her date at a big family event. Just once, she wants to be the envy of every woman in the room.And with Archer Carleson at her side, she is.Archer, a struggling actor in Los Angeles, doesn't mind making a wallflower like Annabelle look good for an evening—he's getting paid, after all, and it's a chance to further hone his acting skills. But when he realizes that Annabelle's family could hold the key to his career, he decides to take their professional relationship to a personal level.His attempts to boost his career by charming Annabelle backfire, however, when he begins to fall for her. Archer will have to decide which means more to him: Annabelle—or a shot at stardom.

Sexy Bad Neighbor


Misti Murphy - 2017
    A war that involves goats, phallic chandeliers, stolen kisses in the rain, strawgasms, and eating out on the kitchen counter. A war that could damn well involve two hearts and a plan. Her plan doesn’t involve falling in love. His life doesn’t involve plans. This could be a problem.

Make Me Lose


Ember Leigh - 2019
    We’re enemies. Born minutes apart on the same day in the same hospital, our parents thought this meant we were somehow destined to be together. We knew were we just destined to beat each other. Competition boiled over until junior year, when the cold war turned into an unexpected peace offering. Maybe my hormones allowed me to notice his broad shoulders, stormy gray-blue eyes, and soccer star’s chiseled frame. But after I fell for him…he stomped all over my heart. Ten years later, I’m at the top of the realty game in Bayshore and Grayson is just a distant memory. Until he shows up from NYC, his ego bigger than a skyscraper, and asks me to sell the house he recently inherited.It’s easy to say no. Even though I want to climb him like the jungle gyms we used to dangle from in strong arm battles.But I forgot that Gray doesn’t take no for an answer. And that he isn’t content unless he’s defeating me. He butts into my evenings on the boat. Ropes me into water skiing battles. Even shows up at the bar and creates a scene when I’m scouting a date to the upcoming Bicentennial Ball.It’s almost like he’s gunning to win me. But if he wins, that means I lose.And I’m not ready to cede victory just yet.

Star Crossed


C.D. Reiss - 2020
    Not for one minute.Since that day I’ve measured all women against her and every one of them has come up short.We're in the same town, on the same block, in the same building, and the gulf between us is just too wide to cross.Until I stop running from trouble long enough to throw her camera off a balcony.She’s a career-killer. A PR disaster.Loving her again is career suicide, and I don’t care.This time, I’m running toward her, even if it ruins me.Star Crossed is a new and improved version of previously published title, Shuttergirl, with a brand new epilogue and previously unpublished, totally swoon-worthy and emotional new scenes.

Pretend I'm Yours


Ella Miles - 2018
     I’m a twenty-two-year-old virgin. Tonight that changes. I thought my first time had to be magical. The perfect date. The perfect place. The perfect guy. I thought I wanted to be in love. But now, I’m desperate. I’ll take any guy as long as he’s decent looking and treats me well, at least for the night. Turns out Mr. Perfect isn’t so hard to find. He’s hot, dreamy, and filthy rich. And he wants me. Sex with him is going to be better than I ever imagined. He’s going to ruin me for all other guys. I know that it is just for one night, but it doesn’t matter. I’m happy to get my perfect night. One night isn’t enough, for either of us. Because Mr. Perfect just fake proposed to me. And he wants this proposal to last a lot longer than one night. Will you pretend to be my wife? **This book is a standalone romance.**

Protecting My Heart


Melanie Shawn - 2018
    It was never more than that, but she fooled herself into believing friendship was enough. Donovan Valentine knew he could never make a move on his best friend Ella. After all, she depended on him. He was the only stable man in her life. If denying his feelings was the price he had to pay for protecting hers, then he was more than willing to pay it. Celebrating their high school graduation, they drunkenly took part in a marriage ceremony using fake IDs. But now, fifteen years later, it turns out that the IDs weren't so fake, and neither is the marriage. When Donovan returns to Valentine Bay to straighten things out, will this accident turn into the best thing that ever happened to them? *** Standalone romance with HEA and no cliffhanger. ***

Baby for Brother's Best Friend


Sofia T. Summers - 2020
    And I dream of having a family. A baby. So I went to the only person who I thought could help me. My fertility doctor.Who, in fact, is my younger brother’s best friend. The age gap should’ve been enough for me to keep a distance. But my heart didn’t listen. Playing by the rules had never gotten me anywhere.So I wanted the forbidden fruit this time. I wanted his strong arms to hold me tight. And his gorgeous eyes to look into mine. I knew what was coming.It was the one thing I didn’t want. Love.Full length standalone brother’s best friend romance. No cliff-hangers. HEA guaranteed.

The Cowboy's One and Only


April Murdock - 2020
    If you see the good in the change, it can make all the difference. Acceptance takes longer for some than others. Logan Thackston wasn't dealing with the changes that were coming well. In fact, he was choosing to be involved only when absolutely necessary. In the middle of his worry and annoyance about what felt like turmoil in his family, he met a woman who turned out to be his lifeline. Frankie Mills has been sent to live with her grouchy uncle while her parents jaunt around the world. The small town of Sagebrush, Texas was vastly different for a young woman than it had been for a child. The adventures didn't live up to her pleasant memories. And Uncle Elmer seemed more crusty than she remembered. Frankie and Logan met by chance and made a date the very night they met. They both felt the sparks. Their first date was a rock climb up Logan's favorite spot that lasted hours longer than planned. By the time they made it to Frankie's house, trouble was brewing. And from there, trouble was always near the surface. Though there was an intense pull to each other, it couldn't be permanent. Frankie would go back to Richmond one day - probably sooner rather than later. So they kept things simple. Easy. But were either of them happy to settle for this tepid friendship? When an accident changes the balance between them something snaps. The balance they'd created to survive the unknown was shattered. There were more unknowns now than ever before. While Logan tries to heal, will he be able to figure out what he really wants with Frankie? And when he does, will his plan be one that would work for everyone - including his family and hers, too? ~ ~ ~ Meet the family of ranchers in this book 1 as they do all they can to make their ranch thrive while making life meaningful. Each story in the series has a happy ending and no cliffhangers. Each book will have one brother finding love and a happily ever after.

On the Market


Audrey Wick - 2019
    Her methodical daily routine suits her just fine, so she aims to freshen up the property, sell it, and take her funds back to the city. She’s only got two weeks during her vacation to make this happen. Now is the time to cash in and get out. The oldest Hutchinson son, who people around town know as “Hutch,” is a third generation local who is poised to take over the family business with his brother, Cole. The barbeque brothers have very different ideas about the future of their restaurant, "The Hut." Just when he thought his biggest headache was his job, Hutch meets Valerie and both their worlds are upended. He’s drawn to this fish out of water, but Valerie’s time in Last Stand has an expiration date. Their sweet and saucy styles don’t mix, but can they both find the recipe to a happy future?

Seared: A Steamy Virgin Rom-Com


Hadley Harlin - 2019
    The last thing I need right now is a distraction.But he’s currently looming in my hotel room with a proposal.My knowledge of Italian cuisine in exchange for his German sausage.Sweet Mary, Mother of God, that’s a lot of sausage.Seared is a sweet and sexy romantic comedy featuring a slow-burn romance between a bad boy chef and a doe-eyed virgin. Travel the world on a global cooking competition and watch as these rivals balance their powerful desire for each other with their intense will to win. HEA and no cheating, Seared is a full-length novel that’s perfect for those who love fine food, celebrity chefs, and reality TV.