Book picks similar to
An Unlikely Alliance by Rachel John


romance
contemporary
contemporary-romance
clean

Just a Name


Becky Monson - 2018
    But she never could have planned for this.Holly Murphy’s perfectly planned life is not going so well. Her fiancé recently dumped her, the team she supervises at work secretly hates her, and now the promotion she’s worked so hard for is in jeopardy.Thinking that maybe Holly is too tightly wound and needs a break from everything, Holly’s boss demands she take a vacation. Holly’s best friend Quinn comes up with a wild idea for Holly to do a nationwide search for a man with the same name as her ex-fiancé to go with her on her honeymoon trip. That idea is a no-go for play-it-safe Holly, until her boss finds out and loves the idea.Resigned, Holly gives in and starts the nationwide search, and when handsome Nate Jones from Newport Beach gets picked to go with her, she wonders if this whole thing won’t be so bad after all.Will Holly learn that sometimes even the best laid plans need to be thrown out the window once in a while? Or will it send her running and screaming back to her safety net?

Bitch Slap


J. Kenner - 2017
    I love the way they look. The way they smell. The way they feel. Especially the way they feel. And I’ve pretty much made it my mission to give each and every woman who shares my bed the ride of her life.Then I met her. Bitchy as hell and completely uninterested in me. And damned if I didn’t want her. Crave her. I told myself I only wanted to tame her. That it was all about the challenge. I never expected to break through that ice queen exterior and find the softness underneath. Never expected how wild she’d be between the sheets or the way she’d cry my name with such sincere intensity when I totally rocked her world. Most of all, I never expected to fall for her. But I did.And the question is, now that I know I want her, how the hell do I go about keeping her?

Brutal Obsession


Kennedy Layne - 2016
    That was six years ago and he's finally ready to ease off the accelerator. A unique opportunity to work for a top-shelf security and investigations firm in Florida is right up his alley.Ashlyn Ellis had everything she'd ever wanted--a high-profile career as a federal prosecutor, an upscale apartment in the city, and a beach house for when she needed to decompress from all the stress that accompanied the job. All three are threatened when she realizes someone has been following her every move for a very long time.When Ashlyn comprehends the lengths her pursuer is willing to take things, she calls in a favor. She never expected her plea for assistance to materialize in the form of Keane Sanderson--the one man who had every reason to revel in her misfortune. She's finally given the chance to rekindle the flames of desire she never should have extinguished, just in time for it all to be taken away when the stalker takes his obsession a step too far.Series Description: Safeguard Security & Investigations (SSI) is owned and operated by Townes Calvert, a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant who returned home to the States a bit more damaged than he'd care to admit. Not that anyone could tell outside of a very select group of former active duty buddies. It had taken Townes quite a while to acclimate to civilian life and he'd kept himself busy in the interim working in treacherous situations with even more dangerous friends. The final result is a close-knit unit of highly trained former military men who have the experience to protect the innocent, investigate crimes on the gritty edge, and aid local law enforcement when justice has taken a back seat to political correctness. Follow along as Kennedy Layne conveys each of their gripping stories as they work together on investigations that lead them down perilous paths of passion, intrigue, and suspense...

Those Red High Heels (Those and That Book 1)


Katherine May - 2015
    Emma's recently engaged best friend, Brynn, calls for Emma to ditch her life in Chicago, and to come immediately out to the Big Apple to perform her maid of honor duties. What Emma doesn't expect is to find the man of her dreams in Brynn's social circle. Not only is he taken, but he lives in a very different world than Emma is used to. Will Emma be able to fit into this new life, or will she return back to where she started? In this witty romantic novel by Katherine May, you will follow Emma on a life-changing adventure to New York City. Will Emma snag the man of her dreams, or just a really cute pair of red high heels? *This is book 1 in the 'Those and That' series. Both books are stand-alones, and you do not need to read them in order to understand the storyline. There are no cliffhangers. **Book 2 will release in late 2015.

The Problem with Planning Love


Claire Cain - 2020
    Divorcé. Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army.All titles I’ve come to terms with, even if I didn’t see those first two coming.I never imagined making a military move to Germany as a single parent. What else I never imagined? Having an insane spark like I’ve never felt with my son’s kindergarten teacher.Livie’s a singular force of light and beauty, and I’ve never wanted someone so much. But after what happened last time, I can’t escape the dread of dragging a new wife into this life and failing again.Besides, our lives are too different. Our plans don’t match. We definitely shouldn’t date and absolutely can’t afford to catch feelings.Everything changed the day I walked into that classroom. And now the only thing that scares me more than trying for another chance at love is living with regret if I don’t.The Problem with Planning Love is a dual point of view romance told in first person that will give you all the sizzle and heat but keep it sweet.

Single Dad's Waitress


Amelia Wilde - 2017
    Valentine is serving up the exact opposite at the Short Stack Café.She’s a disaster waiting to happen—a gorgeous, irresistible disaster.Ryder can’t risk his newfound stability on a whirlwind like Valentine. He definitely can’t risk his heart. But one taste of her has him willing to pick up the tab, no matter the price.(Previously titled Over Easy.)

Black Desire


C.J. Thomas - 2017
    But he was the reason I stayed. Criminal defense lawyer, Kelly Black, came into my life as I was on my way out. He was infuriatingly handsome, except the Madam said I couldn’t have him. And no matter how many dates I had to keep my mind off of him, Mr. Black was the man who dominated my thoughts. Then it happened. Ignoring the warnings that he was dangerous, I let him into my life not realizing that his touch would be the reason my broken past resurfaced. Determined not to lose the man who turned my life around, it was up to me to let him know who I truly was. But when he presented me with a demand of his own, I wasn’t sure I was ready to agree to his terms. Submitting was never my strong suit. *Black Desire is intended for mature audiences only.

Perfectly Oblivious


Robin Daniels - 2017
    Unfortunately Bebe seems to be immune to his flirty charm and good looks, which means one of two things: a) she’s completely oblivious to how he feels, or b) she’s just not into him. If that’s the case, declaring his love would be disastrous for their friendship. Bianca Barnes (Bebe) has a huge problem: the universe hates her. Every time she admits feelings for a boy, he ends up falling for her sweet, popular, and beautiful sister Beth. To avoid a broken heart, Bebe has sworn herself to secrecy. Nobody can know how she feels about Cam…Ever! Neither person wants to confess their feelings, but the universe has its own plan. Out of the blue, Bebe is courted by a secret admirer. Cam has to step up his game and Bebe has to make a choice. Play it safe and accept the affections of her mystery man or challenge fate and take a chance on the boy she loves. Content Description: This is a stand-alone YA contemporary romance with companion novels to follow. It contains minor language, innuendo, crude humor and steamy tension but is generally very clean. No sex. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Tess in Boots


Courtney Rice Gager - 2014
    But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess makes a new plan: disappear.Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth, dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made.

Not the Billionaire


Krista Noorman - 2019
    Then Genevieve Willis walks into the Schultz building, ranting about her meeting with the cold fish head of the company, unaware that’s exactly who she’s speaking to. Immediately drawn to her beauty and sense of humor, Sebastian can’t resist this opportunity to finally get to know a woman without the stigma of the Schultz name. So he introduces himself as Kurtis from the Public Relations department, then implores his playboy younger brother to act as president in his place.Genevieve can’t believe her luck landing her dream job, though she’s not looking forward to working with Sebastian, whose reputation as being distant and unapproachable precedes him. But she’s pleasantly surprised by the warm, welcoming man behind the desk. Yet as they develop an easy rapport and he turns on the charm, she can’t stop thinking about Kurtis, the sweet PR guy, who captured her attention just by being himself.As “Kurtis” and Genevieve begin working together on the biggest charity event of the year, will it become impossible for him to conceal his real identity? And will she forgive him when she learns the truth?

Going Down


Jayne Rylon - 2016
    If you’re extraordinarily lucky, you’ll be invited to join them on The Divemaster, where work and pleasure go hand in hand. Welcome aboard! Archer Banks relishes his carefree lifestyle. Together with friends and fellow divemasters Miguel Torres and Tosin Ellis, he travels the world, SCUBA diving by day, entertaining lonely female tourists by night. Until his father dies, instantly transforming Archer from a beach bum to a billionaire by shackling him with an enormous, undesired inheritance. With the help of his family’s longtime butler, Archer is determined to turn his new golden handcuffs into a golden opportunity. He prays Miguel and Tosin will come along for the ride when he repurposes his family’s mega-yacht into a vessel well-suited for both work and hardcore play. Never in his worst nightmares does he expect their maiden voyage to be such rough sailing. Not only is Archer’s old crush, Waverly Adams, among their passengers, but the men have also stumbled upon a vast sunken treasure—one worth killing for. Waverly surprises Archer with an alluring naughtiness he never got the chance to experience in their younger days. Busy accepting the challenge she issues his dominant side in The Divemaster’s onboard club every night, he might be distracted and short on sleep. But could he also be blind to more dangerous facets of her personality? When the divemasters can no longer deny there’s foul play at hand, will Archer be going down with the ship, cursed by his family’s fortune, or will Waverly turn out to be the woman of his most wicked dreams? *This is a standalone novel set in the Divemasters world*

Stranded on the Beach


Noelle Adams - 2018
    The man who broke her heart. A second chance at love.Rebecca Holiday's sisters force her to take a two-week vacation on the beach for some much needed rest, but then she runs into the man who broke her heart, the only man she's ever loved. When they decide to spend time together, it's supposed to be closure, but what they discover is a second chance at love.The Holiday Acres seriesStranded on the Beach (Book 1, Rebecca and Phil)Stranded in the Snow (Book 2, Olivia and Scott, published in the Snowed in for Christmas anthology)Stranded in the Woods (Book 3, Penny and Kent)Stranded for Christmas (Book 4, Laura and Russ)

Mountain Hero


Cheryl Yeko - 2013
    But can he keep her safe when they’re left stranded during a harsh winter storm? Love Blossoms:Sometimes, one finds their Soul Mate in the most unexpected places.

Fetching


Kylie Gilmore - 2021
    Only she’s no damsel in distress.WyattI’m a self-made billionaire with a soft spot for damsels in distress, so when I move to the quirky lakeside community of Summerdale, I immediately zero in on the woman I most want to…ahem, rescue. Only the stubborn woman refuses to cooperate.SydneyWhen Satan, aka Wyatt Winters, moves to town, I do my best to be welcoming. After all, I’m the owner of the historic restaurant and bar that he keeps showing up at, despite criticizing nearly everything about it. Deep breath. I might’ve lost my cool and made a rude gesture in his direction. And told him off. How was I to know he was considering investing in my place?Did I mention I’m in debt up to my eyeballs and every bank has turned me down?Still, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I’d ever work with him. Or admit he fires me up in every way.And then a snowstorm traps us together and—I’m melting.This romantic comedy stands alone with a swoonworthy happy-ever-after! No cliffhangers.NOTE: A portion of Fetching’s book sales will go to Pets for Vets, a nonprofit that trains shelter dogs to be therapy companions for military veterans with PTSD.

Loving the Boss: A Standalone Sweet Romance


Agnes Canestri - 2020
    If only she can avoid falling for her boss... Eleni is in desperate need of a new beginning—preferably one that’s far, far away from her cheating ex. So when she’s offered a dance instructor gig at a remote tropical resort, she jumps at the opportunity. With a drastically clean slate like this, nothing can go wrong.At least until she meets Matteo, the resort’s handsome dive manager with eyes deeper than the ocean. But the fuzzy feelings won’t fool Eleni twice. After all she’s been through, the last thing she needs is another potential heartache.Matteo isn’t looking for love, either. He’s more comfortable in the water than out of it, and finds the depths of the ocean a lot easier to navigate than matters of the heart. Besides, he needs to stay focused if he wants to eventually open his own free diving school.All he’ll have to do now is ignore how his heart starts the funny dance whenever Eleni is close to him. Easy, right?But everything changes when Eleni is transferred to the dive center to work as Matteo’s assistant. With the new forced proximity their best intentions go out the window —and it’s not long before the line between business and pleasure blurs…Can Eleni and Matteo learn to overcome the wounds of the past and heal together, even if their ambitions and desires are oceans apart? Loving the Boss is a sweet contemporary boss/employee romance with lots of heart-pounding and toe-curling kisses. It's book one in Gems of Love series. It can be read as a stand-alone. Previously published as Pearl of Love.