Book picks similar to
Take Me If You Can by Karen Kendall


romance
romantic-suspense
contemporary
romance-suspense

Love to the Highest Bidder


Rachel Ann Nunes - 1998
    Jared is a buyer for an exclusive New York gallery. Sparks fly as the two come head to head in a bidding war for a hideous but very expensive Indian Buddha from the Kushan period. Each is determined to win the statue, but others also want the Buddha—at any cost. Thugs, art forgers, the FBI, or Jared’s beautiful and alluring boss . . . who will end up with the statue? During a string of hair-raising exploits, Cassi and Jared are forced to develop a tentative friendship that deepens into romance. Will they survive long enough to see it through? Best-selling author Rachel Ann Nunes has crafted a wonderfully intriguing and romantic drama in this fast-moving novel, bringing two idealistic young people together from opposite edges of the continent and allowing them, in their own way, to find an unexpected connection. In the end, their very lives depend on the trust they’ve developed. If you love romance and excitement that you're not embarassed to share with your daughter or your mother, you’ll be captivated by A Bid for Love.

One Texas Night (Midnight Whispers Book 1)


Sylvie Kurtz - 1999
    But Melinda has none.Melinda says she can't remember what happened the previous night. Grady knows two things for sure. That a beloved preacher's daughter is dead. And  that Melinda's lawyer father once manipulated Grady to set a murderer free.Grady is the kind of cop who won't stop until he gets answers. With his job on the line, he needs to uncover the truth. Is Melinda's amnesia real? Or is she hiding a terrible secret?To prove she's not a murderer, Melinda will need to uncover the secret hidden in her nightmare-shredded memory. And prove to Grady that she's not her father's daughter.But when someone tries to kill Melinda, Grady can't help wanting to protect her. But when Melinda's memory starts to return, the secret it reveals threatens to destroy them both.

Hell or High Water


Julie Ann Walker - 2015
    One sunken Spanish galleon. Millions in gold and silver coins lying on the ocean floor. And a past that refuses to let the guys of Deep Six Salvage forget the Navy SEAL motto: the only easy day was yesterday...There's more than one kind of treasure...The nation's security has always been CIA agent Olivia Mortier's top priority. But a mission-gone-wrong has begun to make her wonder if there's more to life than risking hers.And more than one secret at the bottom of the sea...Only two things could make Leo Anderson abandon his hunt for the legendary lost ship, La Santa Christina, and return to the world of weapons and warfare he swore to leave behind: a capsule of enriched uranium, lost on the ocean floor, and a plea for assistance from the one woman he can't seem to forget...

Dead on the Dance Floor


Heather Graham - 2004
    Dead on the Dance Floor by Heather Graham released on Jan 25, 2005 is available now for purchase.

Crazy for Her


Sandra Owens - 2014
    But for two years he kept his distance…torn between honoring his solemn vow and succumbing to his secret love for his fallen comrade’s wife. But when Dani Prescott desperately reaches out to Logan for the help only he can give, he rushes to her side—determined to fight for her safety as fiercely as he fights against his own buried desire.Someone claiming to be her husband is stalking Dani and her infant daughter, making them virtually prisoners in their remote country home. Logan’s elite military training and high-risk security expertise have outmatched more dangerous enemies. But the real challenge will be the burning temptation that threatens to overcome Logan whenever Dani is near…especially when she reveals her own hidden passion.

Eye of the Abductor


Elaine Meece - 2012
    To regain custody of her four year old son. If the courts won’t give him back, she has a backup plan. Abduct him.The hotter-than-hell detective living above her not only finds his way into her dreams, but also into her life. As Detective Brance Stone gets acquainted with the sexy woman living in the apartment below him, he makes plans to get the lady into his bed. But she makes it clear she's not looking for a relationship with him or any man. That doesn't stop Brance from trying. He soon discovers she's a felon hoping to regain custody of her little boy and decides to help, despite the fact that his involvement could possibly destroy his career and alienate his all-cop family. When a big-time drug lord comes looking for Allison and the five million her dead ex-husband stole from him, she has to take drastic measures to ensure her safety as well as her son's. She doesn't have the money, but she doubts anyone believes her, and she has no idea who to trust anymore.Is Brance just another dirty cop, or will he be able to save her heart along with her life?

Shoot to Thrill


Nina Bruhns - 2000
    KYLE “KICK” JACKSON is a bona fide bad-ass. The product of a rough childhood and a youth spent proving how tough he was, Kick was the perfect CIA black-ops operative. Right up until the fateful mission that left his best friend dead and Kick in the hospital for months. They were betrayed…from the inside. Now his former bosses will stop at nothing, including kidnapping, to get him back to complete his mission.Unfortunately, there is a complication. A big one.LORRAINE “RAINIE” MARTIN is a fiercely dedicated ER nurse—-a vocation decided upon when her parents were killed in a brutal carjacking. But the impenetrable fortress of safety she has erected around herself and her heart do no good when she finds herself stranded in the unforgiving desert, dependent on a dangerous man without mercy for her very survival…and the only way home is to confront her worst fears

The Burning Point


Mary Jo Putney - 2000
    It is now being rereleased under its original title The Burning Point.The first contemporary novel by New York Times bestselling author, The Burning Point is a riveting story of the ties that bind two people together—and the incendiary forces that can tear them apart.Kate Corsi always dreamed of working for her family’s world famous explosive demolition business— a wish her old-fashioned father denied until the day he died. According to his will, Kate will receive a fortune while her ex-husband, Donovan, will inherit the family business. But only if they agree to live under the same roof for a year.Forced into a reluctant alliance, Kate and Donovan must discover the truth about her father’s death—and confront the past that almost destroyed them both. And as they face their shattered dreams, their wrenching secrets and bitter resentments, they find themselves sliding perilously toward the burning point where passion catches fire once more…The Burning Point was listed as one of the five best romances of the year by Library Journal.The Circle of Friends series:#1: The Burning Point#2: The Spiral Path#3: An Imperfect Process#4: A Holiday Fling (A Circle of Friends Novella)Praise for The Burning Point:“Powerhouse novelist Mary Jo Putney explodes on the contemporary scene with an emotionally wrenching and dramatically intense story. She tackles a very difficult subject with insight, and compassion. Exceptionally powerful reading!” —Romantic Times Magazine“This passionate love story [unfolds] gradually, in trademark Putney style. The author has created a realistic, well-crafted story, laced with elements of suspense and mystery and featuring sympathetic protagonists whose biggest mistake was marrying too young.”—Publishers Weekly“Kate and Patrick are both complex people, and answers do not come easily for the unresolved issues in their past. Set against the backdrop of demolition work and a question of sabotage, this gripping story sizzles with passion and danger, but is ultimately about healing and forgiveness—not only for others, but for ourselves as well. Mary Jo Putney will no doubt gain new fans with this book.” —The Old Book Barn Gazette“Ms. Putney is one of the very best authors who excel at historical romances—now she's crafted her first contemporary and fans of both genres will be delighted to learn that her incredible talent for compelling characterization and original premises comes through on every page. She takes a taboo issue not normally found in a romance and with touching sensitivity, creates a poignant tale about forgiveness and the awesome power of love to heal all wounds… I could not put it down.” —Rendezvous About the Author A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney's novels are known for psychological depth and intensity and include historical and contemporary romance, fantasy, and young adult fantasy.

Billionaire's Apprentice (Billionaire Romantic Thriller, #1)


Chase Carroway - 2013
    On the day Tori Winters arrives at the estate of the world's richest man, she is a struggling young woman just trying to pay for her final semester at school. Her car barely makes it up the driveway, her credit cards are beyond maxed out, and she's wearing her best pair of flats, straight off of Payless's discount rack. From the moment Miss Chen looks down on Tori, the red soles of her unmistakable Christian Louboutin shoes peeking over the edges of the mansion's marble staircase, it's clear she isn't impressed. But a mysterious phone call instructs Miss Chen to hire Tori on the spot, an event that will change this young woman's life immeasurably. Readers are in for a wild ride with Billionaire's Apprentice, the first in a series of romantic thrillers featuring the dashing and mysterious Dorian Atticus. Filled with intrigue, suspense, and wonderful descriptions of what life can truly be if you have no limits, as long as you are willing to seize the moment when opportunity arrives.

Into Danger


Gennita Low - 2003
    knows her name ... but little else."A tough Navy Seal with a reputation for efficiency, Steve McMillan has heard all the stories about the "world's most glamorous assassin." But nothing prepared him for the goddess in tight black leather who now stands before him. Marlena is his new assignment -- his superiors in the shadow world of secret missions want him to get information and then turn her over. McMillan is the consummate professional, but dealing with this beautiful enigma is playing with fire. To trust her would be crazy -- as crazy as following his burning desire for her to its passionate conclusion.Because there's something beyond the yearning in her eyes and the inviting softness of her lips. Dark clouds are circling around Marlena Maxwell, drawing Steve along with her into a lethal game of deception and betrayal. And perhaps the deadliest mistake they could both make would be to fall in love ...

Selling Scarlett


Ella James - 2013
    Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail. When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.Follow Elizabeth - code-named Scarlett - to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.

Breach of Trust


DiAnn Mills - 2009
    She blames their leader—Daniel Keary—whom Paige believes betrayed them. Disillusioned and afraid for her life, she disappeared and started a new life as a small-town librarian. But when Keary announces his candidacy for governor of her state, he comes after Paige to ensure that she won't ruin his bid for office. He threatens everything she holds dear, and Paige must choose between the life of hiding that has become her refuge . . . Or risking everything in one last, desperate attempt to right old wrongs.

Dial M for Mischief


Kasey Michaels - 2008
    But the shocking gossip surrounding her father's sudden demise has sent her over the edge… right into the arms of millionaire Sam Becket.Jolie and Sam once shared much more than a bed, till fame ended their escalating relationship. Now that very limelight is bringing them back together. With a murder to solve and a white-hot passion to quench, they're really about to give the paparazzi a field day.

The Edge of Courage


Elaine Levine - 2012
    . . Rocco Silas has come home to Wyoming after long years as a Red Team operative in Afghanistan. It isn't easy returning to civilian life, especially burdened as he is with a staggering case of PTSD or hunted as he is by an enemy determined to seek an eye-for-eye--neither of which can he battle until he confronts the truth of what happened one fateful day in the high mountain ranges of the Hindu Kush. . . . She alone holds the key to his sanity. Mandy Fielding's dream of opening a therapeutic riding center on her family's ranch is almost within her grasp--until she hires Rocco Silas, a dangerous ex-Spec Ops friend of her brother's. His haunted eyes and passionate touch promise a love she never dared believe possible. Can they confront the truth of his past and build a future together or will the enemy stalking him destroy them both?

Swept Away


Toni Blake - 2006
    There, she can let the sun warm her body as she contemplates a future without the passion she craves. Then she lazily opens her eyes, only to see Brock Denton… muscular, half-naked, the one who got away – the one who makes her body tingle with arousal.How Brock arrived is a mystery, but it’s clear he’s in danger. Kat faces danger, too, in the arms of a man who is determined to free her from her every inhibition with his hands, his mouth, and more!Kat has five steamy days and five sultry nights to make up her mind – return home to a man she doesn’t love, or satisfy her wildest passions with Brock and let her herself be… swept away.