Book picks similar to
Darkness Before Dawn by Leigh Robbins
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contemporary
blind
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Traitor
Nicole Blanchard - 2018
Marines are the last to leave a fight… or the women who steal their hearts.
She trying to take back her life…
Peyton Rhodes has lost everything. Three years ago, her family was violently murdered while she narrowly escaped. Now, she’s conquered the resulting agoraphobia and is determined to wipe the slate clean. Her new beginning may be over before it starts when she is the only witness to a gruesome murder.
He may as well be dead…
Former U.S. Marine Ford Collier is back in the states after a perilous deployment without his team, his career, or the respect of his country. Secluded in the mountains of North Carolina, Ford doesn’t want anything to do with the murder in his backyard–or the pretty blonde artist who accuses him of the crime. Even if he hadn’t been at the scene of the murder, Peyton would still be terrified of a man like him–a man with violence in his blood.
The only way they’ll survive is together.
As dangerous complications arise – and passion heats up – it will take learning to trust again for Ford and Peyton to make it out alive.
Last Chance
Kira Blakely - 2017
That’s what the ad will say. I’ll need a baby, too, but we can ease into that. It’s like some sh#t out of a movie. My inheritance is on the line, and I don’t have a choice. But I never expected Janine Davis to respond. She's the one I left behind. The soft curvaceous goddess is everything a woman should be. Popping her cherry was the sweetest event of my life. But then the war came knocking. This is our second chance. I’ve never failed a mission, and I won’t start now. I’ll come, I’ll conquer, I’ll fu@king devour. This is a steamy full-length novel with a happily ever after.
Blue By You
Rachel Gibson - 2013
Yeah, it was hot while it lasted, but then he went off to join the Marines, leaving Blue in New Orleans. She's tried to block him from her mind for good, but nothing can really erase the feeling she had when she was with him.And now he's got the nerve to return—leaner, meaner, and strong enough to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. Blue's a successful businesswoman now, with no time to figure out what went wrong all those years ago. But Kasper knows she's the one woman for him … and now he's got to prove it to her all over again.
The Rebel
Kendall Ryan - 2021
And the chemistry I remember? It’s more combustible than ever. Except…our fling is forbidden and must exist only in secret. Her rules, not mine.I can’t be her forever. I’m not that guy, and even she knows it. But I can’t stay away from her either. I’m determined to claim not just her body but her heart, even if that’s the one thing she’s vowed not to give me.
The Smallest Part
Amy Harmon - 2018
The biggest lie she’d ever told. It reverberated through her head as she said it, ringing eerily, and the girl behind her eyes—the girl who knew the truth—screamed, and her scream echoed along with the lie. “Are you in love with Noah, Mercedes?” Cora asked. “I mean . . . I know you love him. You’ve been friends forever. We all have. But are you in love with him?” If it had been anyone else—anyone—Mercedes would have stuck out her chest, folded her skinny arms, and let her feelings be known. She would have claimed him. But it was Cora. Brave, beautiful, broken Cora, and Cora loved Noah too. So Mercedes lied. And with that lie, she lost him. With that lie, she sealed her fate.She was the best friend, the bridesmaid, the godmother, the glue. She was there for the good times and the bad, the ups and the downs, the biggest moments and the smallest parts. And she was there when it all came crashing down. This is the tale of the girl who didn’t get the guy.
The Beauty and the Beast
Alana Albertson - 2016
But without her love, I'll forever remain a BEAST.Isabella—Grady Williams is a national treasure, the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, America’s scarred superhero. With tattooed arms sculpted from carrying M-16s, this bad boy has girls begging from sea to shining sea to get a piece of his action.When my father squanders away my college fund, I make a deal with this dirty-talking Devil Dog—I will pretend to be Grady’s girlfriend for the Marine Corps Ball, and my dad will write Grady’s war memoir.Grady is fearless. Hell, this badass jumped on a grenade to save his fellow Marines! As much as I crave him, I refuse to allow myself to become addicted to a dangerous man who will detonate my heart.Grady—Isabella Cuesta is an angel who can see beyond my mangled skin, a pawn used to repay her father’s debt, a woman who makes me feel like a man instead of a monster.But I no longer believe in fairy tales.She’s mine until our contract ends. I’ll take her hard and rough, listen to all her hopes and fears, lay down my life to protect her.This beauty will never let herself love a dangerous man like me—a man who has killed, a man who runs towards gunfire, a man who never backs down from a fight.But without her love, I’m not a man—I’ll remain forever a beast.Publisher's note: This is a full-length, standalone novel. Happily Ever After. No cliffhanger. No cheating.
Dr. Hottie
Vivian Wood - 2018
I’m certainly not the type of woman to get drunk, meet a guy, and go to friggin Reno later that night to get married.But Dr. Hottie himself, AKA Jack Stratton, changed all that. Even if it was all a lie.Okay, so our relationship is as fake as a bad spray tan. It’s all to show up our mutual exes, make them realize how much they miss us. Can I help it if he’s so ridiculously handsome that simply being near him makes me blush? And when he smiles at me…Maybe I should’ve nicknamed him Dr. Panty Dropper.And I admit, part of me is head-over-heels in love with him. How can I not be when he keeps telling me we have to spend time together? We have to keep up the charade. We have to kiss in private so it looks good when we do it for show.When my ex finally gets the message a month after our “wedding”, I’m left with two options. Go back to the man who the whole town says is right for me… or gather all my courage and strike off in a new direction. A direction that includes a new future that Jack and I make, together.
Protecting His Fake Fiancée
Katie Knight - 2021
The only woman in his life is his childhood best friend, Corrine Harrison. So when Corrine pretends the two of them are engaged to fend off the condescending pity of an emotionally abusive ex, Weston is willing to play along. But he quickly discovers their charade is a little too real for comfort…Corrine always had a thing for Weston. But she knows she blew it when she announced her fake engagement. Her ex was so snide and dismissive that she blurted out the lie, failing to consider what a burden it would be for Weston, who had stuck her firmly in the friend zone. But after a single burning kiss from this smoking hot Navy SEAL, she's not so sure her feelings are unrequited anymore…They planned to stage a break-up before Weston shipped out to his next post. But suddenly, this fake engagement is feeling all too real. And when someone tries to sabotage her new bridal shop, Weston stands up to protect her. But who will protect her broken heart when Weston finally leaves?
Blurred Lines
Susana Mohel - 2021
Life has taught me enough to be sure love is a lie to sell diamonds on Valentine’s.I have everything I want. A stable career, the bank account, amazingly supportive friends, and a fabulous high heels collection.Until I lay my eyes on him. Evan Hayes.Panty-dropping gorgeous. Check.Cocky grin and attitude to match. Check. And check.That sounds good, right? But I’m six years older, he’s a player… and my brother’s best friend.An unexpected encounter on a stormy night turns into something else.Something intense and undeniable. The lines I carefully drafted around my heart become blurry, all the plans I made for my future are at stake.Could he be the man who makes me believe?
Pretend You're Mine
Lucy Score - 2015
He’s strong, sexy, broody. The last thing he’s looking for is a woman to ruin his solitude. When the wildly beautiful Harper stumbles into his life, though, he realizes that she’s the perfect decoy. A fake girlfriend to keep his family off his back until he’s deployed.So what if kissing her sends his mind to wicked places? He can control himself. Can’t he?Harper was on her way to starting a new life… again. But something about Luke makes her want to settle down in this small town and make his house a home. When she’s in his arms, she finally knows what it’s like to feel safe. Protected.One night of sharing a bed turns into something much, much more… and soon Luke can’t keep his mind off Harper’s wide gray eyes or his hands off her luscious curves. He never thought he’d feel this way about a woman again. But he knows that he can’t tell her the truth about his dark past. And she can’t reveal what she’s running from.At least this isn’t a real relationship. It’s only for a month. It’s only pretend. Until it isn’t…
The Reason
Jen Andrews - 2014
She has been through more in her twenty-three years than most people have experienced in their entire lives. After her ex-husband tries to take everything she’s worked so hard for, she makes one rule: Never date someone she works with. When her father’s newly hired mechanic moves into the apartment above their family-run business, Zoey’s lonely life is flipped upside down.As a teenager, New Zealand native, Andy Tate’s family is tragically killed in an accident, and he is taken in by his aunt and uncle. Andy is pulled away from the only place he’s ever known as home, and moved halfway around the world to Northern California.Ten years and one failed marriage later, Andy finds himself living in a new city, with a new job at James Racing, and living in an apartment next door to Zoey, his new boss’s beautiful and damaged daughter.After an interesting chain of events over one weekend, Andy and Zoey form an unexpected bond. Even though he’s the only one who can get through to her, she will do all that she can to keep him at a distance and not break her one rule.Will Andy be the reason for Zoey to start living her life again, or will she continue on her downward spiral, until she finally hits rock bottom?
Raine's Haven
Shari J. Ryan - 2017
From inside of my house, he was perfect. Then I found out everything looked different from afar. Raine, a blunt and hot tempered man was living a life he wasn't proud of, and I found myself oddly attracted to the sickening reality he opened my eyes to.RaineShe thought I'd fall for her seductive ploy and scarlet-glossed lips. She was right. Every person in this small town had something negative to say about Haven Leigh's life—the girl who had been handed everything on a silver platter. I ignored the rumors, and instead, searched for her truths.While struggling with disabling side-effects left behind by my coke-addict mother, Haven became the hope I needed. She was the good I wanted to be.But, as it turns out, she was the trouble I should have stayed away from.
Like the Wind
J. Bengtsson - 2019
Bengtsson - available in audio first!When a letter from his supposedly deceased mother finds its way into his hands, life changes in an instant for international pop star Bodhi Beckett. Reeling from the deception of those closest to him, Bodhi spirals out of control and is sent to a secluded mansion in the coastal mountains of Southern California for some rest and relaxation. But the retreat proves to be anything but relaxing when a raging wildfire sets the landscape around him ablaze.While escaping the flames, Bodhi rescues Breeze, a quirky, pet-loving woman, and together the two fight their way to safety. In the aftermath of the fire, Bodhi and Breeze hit the road to uncover the truth about his family. What neither of them expected is to forge a powerful connection that will change their lives forever...but can it survive the real world, or will it disappear like the wind?
Hard Glamour
Maggie Marr - 2014
Honoring her mother's last wish, Lane Channing vows to follow her dreams. She takes the 'big risk' and leaves her small Kansas town behind and heads to LA, the city of dreams. She's got a stellar job lined up, an old jeep, and 20 bucks to last her to her first paycheck. Her hopes shatter when she arrives to find her job's been given to someone else. Now she's broke and if she doesn't do something fast will soon be living on the streets. Welcome to cutthroat -- Lane is most certainly not in Kansas anymore. On the cusp of success... Dillon MacAvoy has one goal -- to become a star -- whatever it takes. Even if it means honing his bad-boy can't-be-tamed-and-forever-single image. Besides the image isn't far from the truth. Dillon cares only about his younger brother and his career. He's on the brink of superstardom if he can just decide on the next right script. But for that, he needs a script reader he can trust. In a strange twist of fate... Lane Channing is Dillon's last chance. If Lane lasts the summer without becoming MacAvoy's latest conquest, she's guaranteed a job in entertainment. No problem, as long as she can ignore the heat that pulses through her every time Dillon is in the room. After all, love and commitment with a sweet, hometown girl would only ruin the Dillon MacAvoy brand.
A Man Like Mac
Fay Robinson - 2000
First, though, Keely has to accept a devastating change in Mac's life and face the loss of the career she mistakenly believes defines her as a person. A Man Like Mac is a powerful story of courage, acceptance, and the ability of love to heal the wounded heart.