Book picks similar to
I Need a Hero by Codi Gary


contemporary
military
romance
contemporary-romance

Home Sweet Home


Candis Terry - 2015
    Those closest to him, did not. When he returns home to Sweet, Texas, he believes he's broken and has lost everything—including his soul. The only fair thing he can do to the woman who's patiently waited for him to come home is tell her to move on with her life—without him.… but she never will Sassy waitress Paige Walker has no intention of walking away from the man of her dreams. He gave his all for his country and served with honor. Now it's time to pull him from the darkness and give him hope. With a heap of love, the help of the entire town, and a tail-wagging companion, Paige makes sure her hero knows there's no place like home sweet home.

Loving You Is Easy


Wendy S. Marcus - 2014
    He’s a wounded soldier returning home from the battlefield. Can they place their trust in the power of love?   Nobody plays the role of perfect politician’s daughter better than quiet, respectable math teacher Brooke Ellstein. But she won’t be caught swimming with the sharks again, not after the son of a wealthy donor sinks his teeth into her and gets away with it. Still, political connections have their perks, such as heading up the governor’s “Support Our Troops” pen-pal initiative—and getting first dibs on the smoking-hot sergeant whose picture shakes her right down to her goody-two-shoes.   When corresponding with sweet, classy Brooke, Shane Develen instinctively hides his commando tattoos and blue-collar roots—and he can tell that she’s hiding something, too. But Shane knows he’s gained her trust when Brooke gives him a blisteringly sexy photo. Then he’s injured in an ambush and a fellow soldier posts the snapshot online. Overnight, Brooke’s reputation turns to ashes. Even though he’s totally wrong for her, Shane shows up on Brooke’s doorstep, determined to set things right—and discovers that right or wrong has nothing on the chemistry they share.

Cross My Heart


Carly Phillips - 2006
    As the owner of Odd Jobs, she's gone from rags to riches...sort of. Because Lacey's harboring a secret -- she was born Lillian Dumont, and spent her childhood with a silver spoon in her mouth, until the deaths of her wealthy parents and the evil schemes of an abusive uncle forced her to take drastic measures. She'd never planned to return to her former life or her abandoned identity -- but when her childhood sweetheart, Ty, resurfaces and urges her to claim her rightful inheritance, she decides that maybe being the Dumont heiress wouldn't be so bad. Lacey's uncle doesn't see it that way, though -- and he's willing to do anything to stop her.Now, it's up to Ty to protect Lacey before that silver spoon becomes a silver bullet. But if they live through this, the future's looking bright for this downtown guy and his brand-new uptown girl!

Sweet Little Lies


Jill Shalvis - 2016
    . .As captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas—the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she’s in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.Fall for him—hard . . .Pub owner Finn O’Riley is six-foot-plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don’t ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.And then tell him the truth.Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it’s what she wishes for at the historic fountain that’s supposed to grant her heart’s desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story—because Pru’s been keeping a secret that could change everything. . . .

Rough Justice


Jen Talty - 2018
    Still bitter over being forced to leave the military, he struggles to make the best of his return to civilian life. That is, until he’s given his first assignment to protect the daughter of the man he holds responsible for his half sister’s death. Amber Baxter, now known as, Amber Winchester, left Eagle Rock, Montana and never looked back. Despite her father’s legacy, she managed to get a degree in Communications and Broadcasting and made a successful career working as a correspondent for a major news channel. Life since Eagle Rock, had been nothing less than spectacular until she uncovers a treasonous plot that puts her in the line fire. Needing refuge, she returns to her hometown and the safety of the Brotherhood Protectors. However, she never expected to come face to face with the man who’d been the first boy she ever kissed… and the man she’d left behind. Thrust together in a deadly game of espionage, Shamus and Amber must reconcile their past while fighting a battle that not only threatens their lives, but the very things they love most. Note: This book was previously published through Amazon Kindle World.

Ready to Roll


Suzanne Brockmann - 2016
    Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella, his extended family, and his kickass teammates in SEAL Team Sixteen. The only easy day is yesterday. BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training is known for being the toughest, meanest, most physically punishing program in the entire U.S. Navy, and a new crop of tadpoles have arrived in Coronado eager to prove their worth—to make it through Hell Week, and become U.S. Navy SEALs. Although Izzy prefers assignments out in the “real world,” he’s glad to be an instructor for the current BUD/S class, because it allows him to spend time at home with his wife, Eden, and her lively and lovable extended family. Eden’s sixteen-year-old brother, Ben, is dealing with a new crush and a homophobic bully in his high school, but it soon appears that things are not as they seem. Meanwhile, Eden’s other brother (and Izzy’s SEAL teammate and former frenemy) Danny Gillman and his wife Jenn have just had a baby who has colic and cries constantly. As Ben deals with the type of too-serious high school drama that could involve a body count, and Danny and Jenn juggle a new baby, lack of sleep, and postpartum blues, Izzy is intrigued by “Boat Squad John,” a misfit team of young SEAL candidates all named John, including the intriguing young Seagull, his swim buddy Timebomb, and Seagull’s nemesis Hans. Does Seagull have what it takes keep Boat Squad John still standing when the dust of BUD/S Hell Week settles or will they ring out? Set in Coronado during BUD/S training Hell Week, in Ready to Roll Brockmann introduces the SEAL officer and instructor nicknamed Grunge—Lt. Peter Greene—as she delivers what she does best: a story celebrating the U.S. Navy SEALs—and the women (and sometimes men) who wholeheartedly love and support them. (About 56,000 words or 225 pages) Note: Ready to Roll is the third installment in a trio of stories featuring Izzy Zanella that starts in Free Fall and continues in Home Fire Inferno (Burn Baby Burn) originally published in Way of the Warrior, a charity anthology of military romance stories with proceeds benefiting military veterans.

Protecting His Pregnant Lover


Leslie North - 2020
    She hasn’t seen him in ten years, and reconnecting with him at their high school reunion is a bit of a surprise. A bigger surprise is that after one night of passionate love-making, Olive is pregnant, and Levon has long since left town on a final SEAL mission. When he returns seven months later, he’s a member of the private security group Southern Soldiers of Fortune, who are in town for a joint operation with the local police to stop a gang from infiltrating the school where Olive works. When Olive accidentally stumbles onto a gang meeting, the threats on her doorstep leave no doubt—she’s being targeted. And when she agrees to move in with Levon for her own safety, it soon becomes clear her heart is in danger too.Knowing Olive’s at risk is driving Levon crazy. He realizes he’s being overbearing, but he just can’t stop himself. The thought of anything happening to her or his unborn child is enough to make him more than a little controlling. But what’s safer—keeping her close, where he can protect her, or pushing her back, out of harm’s way? He needs Olive to be okay, but his impulses are giving him mixed signals even as the clock starts counting down to a confrontation with the gang. A shocking reveal of a gang member’s identity could drive Olive away from Levon for good, leaving him wondering if solving the crime will come too late to resolve the mystery that matters most to him—how to hold on to Olive’s heart.

Hot Colorado Nights


Paige Yancey - 2018
    Dating is the last thing on Maddie’s mind since she walked away from her first and only love. Her life is just the way she thinks she likes it until her sister is kidnapped. When she meets with the detective on the case, she’s surprised to come face to face with the only man who’d ever held her heart. Former Special Forces soldier, Derek Lewis, gave up Army life to raise his son as a single dad. He returned to his hometown, joined the police force and became a detective. Since he’d walked away from the only woman he’d ever loved, he never considered marrying, and now that he has a son, he puts all his energy into making a home for the boy. Until he’s called in to investigate the case of a missing woman, the sister of the girl he let get away. Together, Derek and Maddie work to find her sister and, in the process, they might have a shot at a second chance with love. Note: This book was previously published through Amazon Kindle World.

The Bride Wore Denim


Lizbeth Selvig - 2015
    The spirited and artistic Crockett sister has finally learned to resist her craziest impulses, but this latest trip home and Cole's rough-and-tough appeal might be too much for her fading self-control.Cole Wainwright has long been fascinated by the sister who's always stood out from the crowd. His relationship with Amelia, the eldest Crockett sister, isn't as perfect as it seems, and with Harper back in town, he sees everything he's been missing. Cole knows they have no future together—he's tied to the land and she's created a successful life in the big city—but neither of them can escape their growing attraction or inconvenient feelings.As Harper struggles to come to grips with new family responsibilities and her forbidden feelings for Cole, she must decide whether to listen to her head or to give her heart what it wants.

Desperate Choices


Tracy Brody - 2020
    After Ray left to join the Army, she put her unrequited crush behind her. Over the next five years, she fell in love, married, and started a family. Only her happy life was shattered when her husband was killed eight months ago. Being a single mom was never her plan, but Stephanie’s doing the best she can for her daughter. However, danger may be closing in after she witnesses activity that may tie her husband’s unsolved murder to a drug smuggling operation. Elite soldier Ray Lundgren has been following orders since high school—even when his best friend forbid him from dating his sister. On leave following a deployment, Ray is back in town when a desperate Stephanie turns to him for help. When he takes charge to help protect her and her daughter, the attraction both tried to deny years ago reignites. Ray’s time home is running short, so when the police ask for Stephanie’s help to get evidence, they go along with the risky plan to crack the case. When danger emerges from an unexpected source, this time Ray disobeys orders from the authorities, but will he be able to get to Stephanie in time when not only their shot at love, but her life, is in jeopardy?

Before the Mission Begins


Christi Snow - 2013
    24 hours to say goodbye to his twin sister.Instead he found her. A girl that was nothing like the one he thought he knew.They have 24 hours. 24 hours before he deploys on an extremely dangerous mission. 24 hours together in a freak West Texas snowstorm. 24 hours that will have to get them both through the awful next year.When the resident good-girl decides to take on the visiting bad-boy, 24 hours is all it takes to change their lives forever.This is the story of the 24 hours that no one knew ever occurred…until now.The timeline of this novella is set before the When the Mission Ends trilogy occurs, but this book is actually meant to be read between Book #2, Operation: Endeavor, and Book #3, Operation: Endurance.

Drew (Heaven Hill Shorts Book 8)


Laramie Briscoe - 2020
    

Conrad


Anne L. Parks - 2018
    His career destroyed, his dog lost, and the beautiful doctor who saved his life out of reach, Conrad vows to reclaim the life he’s lost. First on his agenda: locating his four-legged best friend. Julie “Doc” Sutton returns from her deployment in Syria as an Army Reserve physician, determined to rebuild her medical practice, her life, and her broken heart. Looking to fill a solitary void, she adopts a retired military service dog. When Conrad learns Georgie is being fostered by the Brotherhood Protectors, he travels to Eagle Rock, Montana—and comes face to face with the woman he left in Syria who still owns his heart. But Doc’s world is in chaos from threats against her life. With her would-be assassin closer than ever, Conrad vows to protect her—even if it means sacrificing himself to save her.

Already Designed (The South Haven Crew #1)


Xavier Neal - 2018
     When laid-back Hollywood heartthrob, Levi Stone, asks Kadence Allan out for a date he isn't expecting to be rejected. He isn't expecting to have to practically beg for a chance. He isn't expecting to be challenged every time she opens her mouth. Most importantly, he isn't expecting how hard he's willing to work at being Mr. Right rather than Mr. Right Now. Can Levi convince Kadence he's worth the risk of rearranging her entire life to include him, or will she stick to the plans she's already designed?

Junk Mail


Kendall Ryan - 2019
    Oops. Not my finest moment — but I have nothing to be ashamed of.She thought I was no better, and I quote, than the knuckle-dragging douche-bags she was never dating again.It was a stupid dare from a girl I’d met online, but since she’d given me a fake number, I didn’t feel bad that my interests were suddenly focused elsewhere — on the fiery and sharp-tongued, Peyton that I found myself sparring with over text for the rest of the evening.The following day, my case of mistaken identity came back to bite me in the banana.When I strolled into the office, I was introduced to Peyton as the new client I needed to win over. The Peyton, in case you're not tracking.And let’s just say she had my full attention.Brains? Check. Beauty? Oh yeah. And the best part? She hated me on sight. Dear God, do I love a challenge. Let the games begin.