Book picks similar to
First Site by Rose Fresquez


romance
contemporary
interracial-romance
clean-romance

It All Started with a Lima Bean


Kimi Flores - 2013
    It must be gifted freely.Abby Sullivan cherishes the life she is creating for herself in her hometown of Santa Barbara, California. She adores her best friend and supportive family. Her job as a kindergarten teacher offers her life hope and purpose. She is very talented at many things, especially hiding the pain of her past. That is until her world collides with Caleb Hunter’s, giving them both a lesson in forgiveness and love.A life changing love is cruelly snatched by sickness and death. A person must be willing to give love, the greatest gift of all, to receive love.A successful writer, Caleb is living life day-to-day. Giving refuge to his sad and lonely heart since his wife's sudden death from cervical cancer, his primary focus becomes honoring her memory by rearing their five-year-old daughter, Madison. Yet, when Madison Hunter walks into Miss Abby’s kindergarten class, everything changes for all three of them.With a little nudge from a loving mother-in-law who has everyone’s best interest at heart, anything is possible, especially when forgiveness and love gift even more blessings than ever imaginable.**This is book 1 in the Intertwined Hearts series. Each book in the series follows a different couple and they can each be read as stand alones**

Ghost Writer


Tiana Laveen - 2016
    These adult themes/topics cover a gamut of subjects, including but not limited to: 1. Graphic depictions of sexual acts/sexual intimacy 2. Child abandonment 3. Mental illness and depression 4. Unnatural Death 5. ‘Lightweight’ chilling/ supernatural elements 6. Divorce 7. Periodic mentions of drug use 8. Homophobia 9. Racial tension/ethnic subjugation 10. Profanity Please be advised. Sloan Kenneth Steele, a popular NYC author, has recently uprooted himself from the stony, callous grip of Manhattan. Wishing for a fresh start after an ugly divorce, he relocates to the city of Maxim. He is still close enough to his adult children and grandson to feel at ease, but there are enough miles between them for him to relish his newfound privacy. Besides, Sloan believes that home is truly where the heart is. What the notorious skeptic fails to realize is that his new life would have its fair share of things that go bump in the night. Not one to easily scare, Sloan ignores the odd goings-on in his newly renovated property, and immerses himself deeper into his work. As time wars on, he gets to know the locals and the place he now calls home. Then, a chance encounter at a grocery store in the wee hours of the morning weaves a path straight into his heart… Emerald St. Claire is a divorcee with an army daughter. A bit of a hermit, she does enjoy the company of others from time to time, as long as it doesn’t infringe on her passion – fixing the beloved worn and broken. Emerald loves her ho-hum routine, taking comfort in the predictability of her life … until Sloan enters the scene. The two forge a fast friendship and romance, but as Emerald gets to know Sloan better, she realizes he is not what she expected. He is more than she ever anticipated – a tapestry of manliness, suaveness, and contagious humor. On his part, Sloan finds in Emerald what he always desired – someone he can depend on, a person unafraid to love and be authentic, regardless of who is watching, even if that ‘who’ is the ghost that dwells in Sloan’s remodelled historic home. The house has a troubled history, and so does Sloan. This begs the question: Who is haunting who? On their independent journeys to self-discovery, forgiveness, and love, they find surprises around each and every dark corner. Will Emerald be able to endure a love that is unexpectedly meshed with the paranormal, and will Sloan finally become a believer in not only ghosts, but the resilient spirit of the human heart, with its ability to heal? Read “Ghost Writer” by Tiana Laveen to find out!

A Painted Summer


Amy Matayo - 2015
    As a homeschool graduate, a small town resident, and the only child of two over-protective parents, she’s dreamed of chasing big dreams. But big dreams take big courage. So in a moment of uncharacteristic boldness, Darby leaves the only life she’s ever known and sets off for California to test her skills in Hollywood. It works...until she runs out of money. That wasn’t part of her spur-of-the-moment plan, and she finds herself stuck in an unfamiliar city with too much pride to call home for help.With limited options, Darby finds herself working for dangerously hot Lennon Dixon, the owner of a downtown Los Angeles tattoo parlor. Lennon needs help and finds it in Darby. What he doesn’t expect is her odd aversion to his place of business...or his attraction to her. As for Darby, to call her new job unfamiliar is the world's biggest understatement. But to call her mutual attraction to Lennon unexpected is a very close second.Previously published as part of the Just One Summer collection.

Saving Jenna


Christina Butrum - 2018
    He had left once before, and nothing would stop him from leaving again. Coming back to West Grove was the last thing Ian wanted to do. If it hadn't been for the rental property, the small town would've never seen him again. Two weeks and he'd be gone. Until he sees Jenna Avery and realizes there's more than a house needing repaired. The only problem - Two weeks may not be enough time to save her.

Heart of Mine


Lindsay Bergman - 2018
    One kiss changed everything. My name is Madison Kavanaugh and I grew up in a small, modern-day kingdom in the Mediterranean Sea. My life in Coradova was better than any fairytale -- until I fell in love with my best friend, and the one person I couldn't have. Crown Prince Alexander. Now I'm forced to fight a love I can't give into. But with every look, every touch, I fall deeper for the prince who holds my heart.Amid a political storm of intrigue and mystery, I will risk everything for Alexander. Even my life.If you like the royal aspect of Kiera Cass' The Selection and the romantic mysteries of Colleen Coble, you'll love this sweet and swoon-worthy royal romance. Pick up HEART OF MINE today, and discover the Mediterranean kingdom of love, mystery, and happily-ever-afters..._____________________________(Note: Heart of Mine is a standalone novel in The Royals of Coradova series, a collection of sweet contemporary royal romances. While you can read them in any order, it is more fun to read them in sequence.)

One Last Chance: A Second Chance Romance


Lauren Wood - 2018
    He could do so many things to my body that I didn’t know were possible. I thought it would never end, this magical time, but it did. Our love couldn’t withstand reality. Now he’s back and his charm is being used on me. He’s trying to pull me back in." One Last Touch "One wild night in college, was the best lover I’d ever had. Cal made me scream till I was hoarse and begging for more at the same time. Then it was over, and I never saw him again. He was always the man in the back of my mind. Cal was the measuring stick to the next one." One Last Time "Matt, my first true love, was more than just a boyfriend. He was skilled in pleasure and he’d played my body like a fiddle. It was perfect, and I was sure for a time that it would never end. A love like ours would withstand the test of time. But it hadn’t and when he left school, I never saw him again. Life brings us back together and I know this time, it’s right." One Last Love "The year before college was one of the best in my life. Frank did things to my body that I didn't know were possible. I craved him , knowing that he was mine. It all started in a moment and it all ends the same way. Frank left , cravings and all. I knew that Frank was always going to be the one I compared every other man to. Even though he was gone in the blink of an eye." One Last Chance is the complete series box set. As always, lots of love and romance and a very satisfying HEA!

Second Chance in Summit County


Katherine Karrol - 2018
    God, however, had other plans. Her: “My marriage, career, and reputation just crashed around me and eliminated the little trust I had left in myself to make good decisions. I packed my bags, shook the dust off my feet, and started driving, begging God to tell me where to go. He brought me to a tiny, charming Northern Michigan town, where I’m recreating my life from scratch – without men.” Him: “My whole world turned upside down when I lost the love of my life and had to start over as a single father. I am now both mother and father to my little girl and have built my life around taking care of her; and protecting my heart from ever being hurt like that again. Love is not a part of my life anymore.” God: “We’ll see about that.” Can two people who have sworn off love stop fighting their attraction long enough to see that God is doing something? Can they trust Him enough to risk giving happiness another try?

Season of Romance


Alexa Verde - 2019
    A small-town paramedic in need of healing... Will a season of romance bring them together or pull them apart? Businessman Andrey Sergeyev's organized life changes in ways he never planned when he becomes guardian of his orphaned nephew. He moves to small town Rios Azules to care for grieving Ilya in the boy's familiar environment. Andrey's fiancée breaks off the engagement because of Ilya's health challenges. Another romance is not on Andrey's agenda, no matter how much paramedic Melinda Macalister attracts him with her sweet smile, kindness, and neighborly support for Ilya...Melinda isn't looking for love, either, especially after her last boyfriend left her because of her health issues. She'll just have to hide her crush on her new neighbor. He's going back to Houston soon anyway. But she can't refuse to help him with Ilya, who needs her more than ever. Problem is, the more she gets to know Andrey, the more she realizes he might be the one for her.Will Andrey and Melinda choose to keep holding on to old hurts? Or will they find love in Rios Azules, Texas?This book, Season of Romance, was first published as Love's Ransom, as part of the First Street Church Kindle World. The book has been revised, improved, and greatly expanded in length, so it's nearly twice longer.

Swooning over the Football Billionaire


Ellie Hall - 2020
    He’s a football player in need of refinement.  During their lessons will they become more than friends? After a humiliating accident, Maggie leaves her position as a Disney Princess and lands a job as an etiquette coach. A tumultuous childhood leaves her wary of the rich and famous. When her first client is an obnoxious, over the top football star, she channels her cheery princess personality to endure teaching him how to be a gentleman.Declan is the first to admit that he’s quick-witted and cocky, on and off the field. When a prank gone wrong turns into a scandal, he and a few of his team members end up at the esteemed Blancbourg School of Etiquette. Lucky for him his coach is cute. Unfortunately, if the players get involved with their non-football coaches, they’re off the team.After a week-long crash course, Maggie and Declan take their lessons out of the classroom to see if he can behave in public. When tragic news takes him to his native Ireland, they each get a glimpse of who the other really is and an unexpected friendship blooms. Despite their best efforts to remain that way, their feelings for each other blur. Will they keep things in the friend zone or fall in love and wind up in the end zone? This is book 1 in the Football Billionaire Bad Boy Romance series. Each book stands alone but reading them in order provides a deeper, richer experience. It is a sweet, “clean and wholesome” romance without swearing or mature content and contains a HEA. If you like faith-friendly, heartwarming, Hallmark-style romance, you’ll love this feel-good series.

The Sheikh's Priceless Bride


Holly Rayner - 2018
     Jacqui Bauer is barely scraping by. A talented baker who’s been dealt a bad hand in life, her bills are piling up, and customers are few and far between. Little does she know, her distant uncle left her a priceless gift, if she’d only embark on an adventure to find it. After months of searching, Khizar concludes that the diamond must be in Jacqui’s possession. Determined to make the precious heirloom his own, he engineers a plot: he’s going to woo Jacqui, and make her his bride. After all, who can resist a gorgeous sheikh? As they follow the clues the enigmatic billionaire left them, embarking on an international adventure to retrieve the diamond, the unexpected happens: Khizar begins to fall for Jacqui for real. Can the Sheikh go through with his deceptive plan now that he understands the stakes? Will Jacqui discover her birthright, and score the man of her dreams? This is a Sheikh romance novel from best-selling author Holly Rayner. It contains a guaranteed HEA, and a tale of romance that will capture your heart.

Falling on Main Street


Tara Grace Ericson - 2018
    Endless thoughts of her best friend's betrayal and her tattered reputation follow her to the small town where she takes refuge. Luke Brand has a good life, though not a perfect one. A widower while he was still young, he chases off any threat to the memory of his young bride and the house they lived in together. Can Luke get over his stubbornness and follow his mother-in-law’s desire and God’s instruction to help the town’s newest resident? Between the infuriating hot and cold signals of her landlord's son and the sincere faith of those in her new circle, Charlotte is left questioning a lot more than how to take back her career. Can Luke let go of a bride viewed through the skewed lens of memory? Will Charlotte’s pride and ambition thwart her efforts to find happiness again? Or, can this time in the charming Indiana town of Minden spur healing for both Charlotte and Luke and help them find the way to a new life, together? Tara Grace Ericson's debut novel is a sweet inspirational romance that introduces readers to the idyllic Midwestern town of Minden. Themes include forgiveness, purpose, and community - presented throughout the story of friendship and romance that hints at the passion of true love.

Saving Face


Brenda Barrett - 2013
    Natasha Rowe and her partner Harry Campbell are asked to go under cover to investigate what appears to be a murder. In the process of investigating, Natasha finds herself attracted to lecturer and psychiatrist Taj Jackson. She also realizes that all is not what it appears to be at the school. There are secrets and lies under the veneer of holiness, especially in the life of the dead president.

Christmas with the Captain


Holly Stevenson - 2019
    She’s wary of love. Can a Christmas miracle bring them together? Welcome to The Cove With heavy iron gates, two security stations, and a groundskeeper's cottage, The Cove has everything a billionaire could ask for in a home. Dubbed Billionaire Bachelor Cove because of the resident's single status and income portfolios, The Cove is the perfect place to hide away from the world. But, as the residents soon find out, they can't hide from love. Christmas with the Captain Emmett Rockwell is the founder of Omni Tech. At age thirty-one he’s acquired the ultimate American dream of unlimited wealth and time. There’s just one problem—he doesn’t have anyone to share it with. The women he’s dated have all had dollar signs in their eyes, and Emmett is tired of playing that game. He’s ready to become a confirmed bachelor when he meets Grace, the caterer hired for the upcoming Christmas party on his yacht. Grace is a breath of fresh air, treating him like a regular person, and Emmett isn’t about to ruin that by confessing his true identity. He tells her a half-truth: that he is captain of the yacht. Grace Palmer never knew how satisfying it would be to start her own catering company. With her sister as her business partner, she spends all day doing what she loves—cooking and baking up new recipes to her heart’s content. Coming off of a bad relationship, Grace isn’t looking for romance, but when Emmett walks through her door, her heart has other ideas. Convinced he’s a playboy captain, she pushes him away, but his charm and persistence break through her defenses. As the night of the Christmas party draws closer, Emmett plans to tell Grace the truth about who he is, but a vengeful ex-girlfriend beats him to it. Will Grace run when she realizes Emmett hasn’t been upfront about his identity, or will love be enough to turn the tide and cross the ocean between their hearts?

Chancing Love


Jade Royal - 2021
    He has no manners and doesn’t think twice about the weight of his words. Why him? He must have slipped something in my chai tea. Nigel When I woke up this morning, I didn’t plan to meet the woman I wasn’t strong enough to walk away from. But she’s here. In this coffee shop. And she answers my questions with more questions. It should be irritating as hell, not sexy. Or maybe somebody slipped something in my coffee.

High Heels and Big Deals: A Christmas Fake Fiancé Romcom Novel (Good Girls Don't Come Last)


Jennifer Youngblood - 2021