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Retro by Emma James


romance
new-adult
contemporary
contemporary-romance

Tangled up in Blue: A Rainy Day Women Romance


Linda Steinberg - 2021
    Deadbeat dads, that is. Until she's arrested by a handsome detective who won't listen to reason. But when she discovers a dead body while working a case, she needs Detective Tall, Dark and Handsome's Help.Protect and serveWhen Dallas P.D. detective Trey Donovan arrests a feisty, gun-toting woman with a stack of hundred dollar bills stashed in her camisole, he senses this is no ordinary drug bust. He manages to maintain his professional composure but he can't get her out of his mind. On his next case, when he finds Selena standing over a dead body, they agree to work together to catch a killer.Trey is by the book; Selena prefers to color outside the lines. But the chemistry between them sparks creative detective work. And ignites simmering passions. Despite their intentions to keep the relationship professional, a rainy night stakeout leaves them 'tangled up in blue.' And when Selena's out-of-the-box ideas put her in danger, Trey realizes this is a woman he will never put out of his mind. And that's a 'Dunn deal.'Tangled up in Blue is the first book in the Rainy Day Women series, featuring women empowering women--and the men who love them. In a converted warehouse near downtown Dallas a group of strong, professional women come together to volunteer their services to the women of an under-served community. They name their facility the Rainy Day Women's Center. Each book is a stand-alone romance about competent, independent women and the equally competent, independent men they can't ignore--or live without.

Black


T.L. Smith - 2016
    I am strong, but I have scars. I am an angel, but the devil. I met her when I was sixteen and she was a breath of fresh air. She swooped in, making me smile. But then she left, taking my next breath with her. Her smile could light up a room, making my black heart pitter patter. I found her again ten years later, with a syringe in her arm. Blood coming from between her legs. She was broken and I was glad she was broken. She wouldn't think less of me and my damaged ways.

Sunset at Catoctin Creek


Natalie Keller Reinert - 2020
    It’s home to farmers and shopkeepers, dreamers and schemers. And it’s the perfect place to fall in love.Rosemary Brunner’s life might look small to some, but she has things arranged just the way she likes them. She’s turned her family farm into a sanctuary for troubled horses. She has dinner once a week with her elderly neighbors. And if she needs a little company and gossip, her best friend Nikki can swing by with dinner from the Blue Plate Diner and plenty to say. For a country girl with a heaping helping of social anxiety, she has things figured out just fine.Then Stephen walks into her life, and her careful little world falls apart.Stephen Beckett can’t understand why his father retired to sleepy Catoctin Creek. The days are too quiet, the nights are too dark, and everything moves too slowly for his high-octane lifestyle. The sooner Stephen can get his life back in order and head back home to Manhattan, the better.Then Stephen meets Rosemary, and a bolt of lightning seems to set the dark country night aglow.With opposite intentions, their chances at a happy ending don’t look great. But Stephen and Rosemary might not be able to help falling for each other…if Stephen’s ambitions and Rosemary’s traditions aren’t too much for this budding romance to bear.

Shattered Rose


T.L. Gray - 2013
    GrayAvery Nichols knows how to wear the mask. Perfect student, perfect daughter and perfect friend. Nobody would ever guess that inside, Avery is a prisoner to her own self loathing. Then she meets him…and everything changes. Handsome, charming and self assured, Jake Matthew sweeps Avery off her feet in an effortless fashion. Avery knows that Jake is everything she needs and all she has ever wanted. She would destroy herself to be loved by him…until he walks away.Broken and lost, Avery meets Parker. His genuine, caring nature reaches past the mask and the shattered pieces her heart begin to slowly heal. But just when Avery starts to feel whole again, she realizes the impossible.Jake never really left.

Heir Untamed


Danielle Bourdon - 2012
    Encountering the Royals for the first time, Chey experiences an instant attraction to Mattias, second in line to the throne. He's charming, confident—and taken.During a horseback ride to clear her head, Chey finds herself in a scuffle with Sander Fisk, head of security. Rugged, determined and sharp tongued, Sander is infuriating as well as intriguing.Faced with conflicting emotions and a mystery unfolding in the castle, Chey must decide between men: a Prince of Latvala, or an arrogant rogue.She discovers the hard way that this particular fairy tale was more than she ever bargained for.

The Way We Fall


Cassia Leo - 2015
    Maybe we shouldn’t have fallen so fast and so willingly.Maybe we shouldn’t have moved in together before we went on our first date.Maybe we should have given our wounds time to heal before we tore each other to shreds.Maybe we should have never been together.Houston has kept a devastating secret from Rory since the day he took her into his home. But the tragic circumstances that brought them together left wounds too deep to heal.Five years after the breakup, Houston and Rory are thrust together by forces beyond their control. And all the resentments and passion return with more intensity than ever.Once again, Houston is left with a choice between the truth and the only girl he’s ever loved.The Way We Fall is the first book in The Story of Us series, which follows the tumultuous love story of Rory and Houston. The sequel, The Way We Break, will be released Spring 2015.

Beautiful Lies


Heather Bentley - 2016
    But looks can be deceiving, and in my family, deception is an art form. So, I bide my time and count the days until I’m free. Heiress Christina Harcourt lives a life surrounded by the finest this world has to offer. Unfortunately, what she wants most can’t be bought. After losing her mother in a heinous crime, she tries her best to live the life she knows her mother would want for her. But through her family’s hurtful ways, Christina learns the only way to do that, is to leave this life far behind. Everything is going as planned, until she meets him.Sexy, carefree CJ Whitford is a hard-working, blue collar guy who can’t get the guarded brunette out of his head. So, he takes a chance and rearranges his life to go after the girl he’s falling for. He quickly discovers that Christina’s secrets are as big as her heart. A heart so fragile that all it will take to destroy it is one more lie…his.TRIGGER WARNING: Please read reviews before purchasing.

Seized By Love


Melissa Foster - 2015
    To keep friends and family from finding out about her sexy secret, she's put her social life on hold until her sister's education is paid off and she can stop filming the webcast.Blue Ryder fell hard for Lizzie Barber when he met her a year ago, and he hasn't been able to get her off his mind since. Everything about the feisty little brunette, from her tight bod to her seductive smile, cuts straight to his heart. Though Lizzie has turned down every invitation he's extended--Blue is not about to give up trying.Renovating Lizzie's kitchen brings Blue further into Lizzie's life, and the oven is not the only thing heating up. One night and one powerful kiss changes everything. But when Lizzie's secret is revealed and the safe bubble she's hidden in shatters, true love may not be enough to put the pieces back together.***MORE RYDERS coming soon!Chased by Love (Trish)Claimed by Love (Duke)Swept Into Love (Gage)
Rescued by Love (Jake)

The RYDERS are part of the Love in Bloom family. Each book may be read as a stand-alone novel, or as part of the series.Read the full LOVE IN BLOOM series:SNOW SISTERSSisters in LoveSisters in BloomSisters in WhiteTHE BRADENS (at Weston, CO)Lovers at Heart (Treat & Max)Destined for Love (Rex & Jade)Friendship on Fire (Josh & Riley)Sea of Love (Dane & Lacy)Bursting with Love (Savannah & Jack)Hearts at Play (Hugh & Bree)THE REMINGTONSGame of Love (Dex)Stroke of Love (Sage)Flames of Love (Siena)Slope of Love (Rush)Read, Write, Love (Kurt)THE BRADENS (at Trusty, CO)Taken by Love (Luke)Fated for Love (Wes)Romancing My Love (Pierce)Flirting with Love (Ross)Dreaming of Love (Emily)Crashing into Love (Jake).BRADEN WORLD NOVELLASPromise My Love (Rex & Jade's Wedding Novella)** Best if read after The Bradens at Weston & Trusty, CO.SEASIDE SUMMERSSeaside Dreams (Bella)Seaside Hearts (Jenna)Seaside Sunsets (Jamie)Seaside Secrets (Amy)Seaside Nights (Sky)Seaside Embrace (Hunter)Seaside Lovers (Grayson)Seaside Whispers (Matt)THE BRADENS (at Peaceful Harbor)Healed by Love (Nate)Surrender My Love (Cole)Crushing on Love (Shannon)River of Love (Sam)Whisper of Love (Tempest)Thrill of Love (Ty).

Chasing Justice


Danielle Stewart - 2013
    But her plans of settling into a normal life are derailed when she witnesses a prominent judge in her community committing a violent assault. Running from her own past and fueled by a passion to make the judge answer for his crimes, Piper is forced to decide if she’ll play by the rules or achieve justice in her own way.Complicating things further, Piper finds herself fighting a powerful attraction to rookie cop, Bobby Wright. Although she’s increasingly enamored with Bobby, his staunch belief in the justice system is in stark contrast to her own. She may not share his opinions about the effectiveness of the law, but she certainly can’t deny how safe she feels when she’s in his arms or how every kiss leaves her desperate for more.For Piper, the idea of finally living an ordinary life with a man to love is tempting. However, fate keeps placing the judge, quite literally, in her path. Will she decide the only way to win is to be as wicked as the judge, but with righteous intentions? And more importantly, will Bobby choose to let her go, or follow her as she crosses the line and takes justice into her own hands?

Staying Grounded


Marianne Rice - 2017
    But after an altercation with a drunk passenger is posted on social media, he's forced to go on administrative leave until his name can be cleared. To get his wings back, he must attend anger management classes, and to avoid the media frenzy near his home base in Texas, he heads to Rocky Harbor, Maine. Responsible therapist Maggie O’Fallon wants a stable relationship with a man who’s not going anywhere… Maggie grew up with parents who were never around, physically or emotionally. Needing steadiness in her life and in a relationship, she only dates men with normal jobs. But when Graham walks into her office and flashes his charming steel-blue eyes at her, she's at a loss for words. Torn between her ethics and her heart, Maggie asks Graham to see a different therapist so they can explore the chemistry between them. He has everything she’s been looking for—except stability… Maggie touches something deep within Graham and he panics, pushing her away, too scared to face his feelings. But when a private investigator threatens to discredit not only Graham, but Maggie’s practice as well, he is faced with two choices. Fight…or take flight. Battling a lawsuit and his heart, Graham must decide what’s more important—the life he thought he wanted…or Maggie. Maggie might be the only thing that will ever help Graham Stay Grounded.

Catch My Fall


Ella Fox - 2013
    In need of a fresh start, she settles into a new town and begins to make a new life. Tristan Chamberlain has always kept girls at arm's length and he has no intention of changing. He’s caring, smart, handsome, but he’s also dealing with a lifetime of guilt that’s slowly but surely destroying him.Sometimes what you run from is the one thing that will save you.Separately, they’re both free-falling. Together, they’re about to find that love can create the strongest safety net of all.

Forget the Stars


Kelsey Kingsley - 2019
    At thirty, he never thought he'd still be unmarried and living with his parents. And with the added stress of his poor health, he's convinced the only thing within his control is the success he's found as a rock star.After reconnecting with his childhood best friend, Chad sets into motion a new plan to regain control over his happiness, and things start looking up. But when he finds himself diagnosed with a potentially debilitating chronic illness, he begins to wonder...Is this as good as it's going to get? Or is it at all possible for a guy like him to get everything he's ever wished for?

Spark


Brooke Cumberland - 2013
    Weak, powerless, and fearing the one person who has hurt her the most…can she overcome the barriers to move forward?Being saved by a muscled Godsend was never on her agenda, but when firefighter, Eric Reilley comes into her life unexpectedly, everything changes. Velaney has never felt loved or cared for, and her past prevents her from letting anyone in. Eric manages to break down her walls—despite the repercussions that come for them afterwards.They have an undeniable spark—something she has never felt before, but will it be enough? Can love overcome all obstacles? Can they save each other to protect their love or will her past shatter everything she never knew she needed…?**Spark is for mature audiences only – strong language, explicit sexual content, and sexual abuse are apparent.**

Dark McKenna


Shayne Ford
    He doesn't believe in second chances.When Vivian Mason, a college freshman who has no family left and struggles to survive, runs into a broody, handsome man one November night while fighting a cold rain on the streets of Manhattan, she has no idea who he is.A man of a few words, a body made of steel and eyes brimming with fire, the mysterious stranger saves her life more than once.Soft and delicate and a moving target, she falls for the broad-shouldered man, although his identity remains a secret to her.Fate pulls him away from her before one morning, she finds herself and her best friend in the boardroom of a multi-billion corporation, waiting for the company's owner to commence his speech when the door opens, and a tall, dark-haired man wearing a high-end suit walks in.She stares at his back for a few moments before he slowly turns, and then her heart stops.NOTE:The enigmatic male lead makes an appearance in Golden Heir Series.Spoilers of Shade's story (the lead man in the Golden Heir Series) are present in the Shades of Love Series.This book ends in a CLIFFHANGER.Three books in this series. All available.

Forever Mine


Elizabeth Reyes - 2010
    She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno. Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl. With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark about the guy waiting for her back home?