The Kiss of a Stranger


Sarah M. Eden - 2008
    But he couldn't be more mistaken--the maid is not only a lady of birth, she's the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentlemen, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle.Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine's utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife's transformation from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately each of them wonders if theirs may become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted. As a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?

The List


Melanie Jacobson - 2011
    At least, not anytime soon. She doesn't care how many of her friends and family members and fellow churchgoers had weddings before they finished college -- the last thing she needs in her fun-loving twenties is the dead-weight of some guy. And that's why she created The List. By the time she completes all twenty-five goals -- from learning a language to skydiving to perfecting the art of making sushi -- she'll be more ready to settle down. Maybe.This summer in California is a prime time for Ashley to cross two items off the list: learn to surf (#13) and have a summer romance (#17). And Matt Gibson, the best surf instructor in Huntington Beach and the most wanted guy in the singles ward, is the perfect man for the job. Ashley hatches a plan to love him and leave him before heading off to grad school in the fall (#4, get a master's degree). But when Matt decides he doesn't like the "leaving" part, Ashley's carefully laid plans are turned sideways. Now Ashley faces an unexpected dilemma: should she stick to the safety of The List, or risk everything for a love that may tie her down —- or might set her free?

Sadie


Rebecca Belliston - 2011
    Terrified, Sadie flees her boyfriend's wrath, two FBI agents, and her "perfect life." Lost in a Montana snowstorm and desperate for refuge, she's taken in by four quirky guys on their annual holiday ski vacation. As her physical wounds heal, Sadie wonders if she will ever be able to escape the clutches of her wealthy and determined boyfriend. But just when her heart settles, she finds herself abandoned for a religion she doesn't understand. She must discover who has her best interests at heart and who she can trust…before it's too late.

Shades of Gray


Pamela Carrington Reid - 2008
    ”Samara shook her head. “I never will. I’ll always imagine you just like this . . . Or watching me through the lens of a camera . . . Or turning up on a beach somewhere . . . Or teaching me how to hold the camera. ”The tears flowed as she walked, and a sudden wind whipped them off her face. “Or sitting behind me in church when I least expect it . . . Or telling me things I need to hear when I don’t want to hear them . . . Or watching over me.” Fighting her way through the chaos of her family’s dysfunction, Samara Danes has immersed herself in a promising photography career. She sees no need to love or be loved. Then Adam Russell arrives in Samara’s hometown on Australia’s Gold Coast. Years ago, it was Adam who introduced her to the art of photography and opened her eyes to the wonder of the world. She in turn opened his heart to the truths of the gospel. Now can the older man’s kindness, wisdom, and strength help save a family that teeters on the brink of dissolution? Are Samara’s strong feelings for Adam more than just friendship and gratitude? With tender insight, gifted LDS author Pamela Carrington Reid explores the dynamics that stretch fragile relationships nearly to the breaking point. Shades of Gray is a richly crafted novel, genuinely moving and compelling—a tribute to the healing power of the gospel, where the lines of love are never blurred.

Soul Searching


Shannon Guymon - 2005
    “If he says yes, then I can date him; if he says no, then it’s just no.” Bryce came to a standstill and dropped his arm from her shoulder. “Are you serious? You’re telling me that you basically haven’t been allowed to have a social life? What is up with your dad?” Micah Rawlings would never dream of rebelling against her father’s strict rules and regulations—until she meets her new step-mother, who just happens to be younger than she is. Add some stalkers, extreme makeovers, and forbidden boyfriends, and Micah can’t decide if she’s going crazy or finally finding a little bit of happiness. Phillip Rawlings isn’t ready to lose control of his daughter just yet. Bryce Jorgenson is off limits, and Phillip will do anything to protect his daughter from him—even if that means revealing a dark and destructive secret. And Bryce’s former girlfriend, Michelle, is only too happy to come home from her mission and pick up where she and Bryce left off. After a little soul-searching, Micah realizes that life isn’t meant to be perfect. Throwing away preconceived ideas and being open to second chances might just be the only way she and Bryce can make it. Shannon Guymon is the author of Never Letting Go of Hope, A Trusting Heart, Justifiable Means, and Forever Friends.

Undercover saint


Frank Holdaway - 2012
    And he has deliberately avoided the Beehive State ever since his mother was murdered in Salt Lake City when he was eight years old. Ready at first to defy his orders from Washington, he resolves to stick around when he's attacked by a man with ties to his past. But this undercover assignment is unlike any Matt has encountered before. Not only must he find the bad guys, but he also must deal with eccentric roommates, a giant of a bishop who is also his boss, a boisterous ex-Marine who wants to engage Matthew in a public display of ultimate machismo, and a seventy-five-year-old woman named Permelia who wants to marry him. And these are small distractions compared to the beautiful Hope Winslow, a woman with mountains of hair who adopts him as a surrogate big brother. But before he can think about love, Matt has to get rid of a few terrorists, including his mother's killer--and his own inner demons.

Within the Dark Hills


Sian Ann Bessey - 2012
    Davies. Without family and tainted by scandal, she’s in dire need of a new identity and an occupation to match. Equally bleak is the future of Evan Powell, a miner who harbors dreams of escaping the black mines that are slowly killing him and finding refuge under the promised blue skies of America. But recently, the wife who Evan adored died, leaving the devoted father struggling to care for his young daughter, Jane.To benefit both Annie and Evan, the kindly reverend arranges a marriage of convenience, one that is quietly contracted in a hasty ceremony—an event that sparks pointed gossip among those in the small Welsh town and outright rejection from Evan’s family. Annie must tread carefully lest she let slip anything about her past— particularly when she learns that her former master has been afoot, inquiring about a missing maid. More importantly, she feels she must avoid any emotional entanglements with Evan, who remains devoted to his beloved deceased wife. But as Evan works with Annie to care for Jane, Evan knows their relationship is growing into something more and must face the torments of a divided heart. And in the midst of Mormon missionaries preaching a strange new religion, disaster strikes the town and Annie’s troubled history can no longer be hidden.

Secrets


Blaine M. Yorgason - 1992
    There's a woman who screams incessantly at her children, a "righteous" man who regularly beats his teenage son to"pound a little sense into him." and a prominent member of the community who abandons his family, taking their furniture and financial support with him. When it is discovered that a trusted fellow Church leader is sexually abusing his three daughters, the bishop is almost overcome. But more devastating even than this is his gradual realization that the post painful and unresolved scars in his congregation exist within the walls of his own home."It's a secret," she whispered softly, fiercely."Everyone is sworn not to tell. It's the deep, dark secret that you hold inside, because to tell it would mean to destroy the perverted balance of things."Even she, who should have known better, had agreed to remain silent. But this time something was going to be done. She wouldn't have to remain silent too long. This time something was going to be done...Powerfully and poetically written, Secrets is a must for all who have been touched by the ragged arm of abuse or who want to be supportive of someone who has been. A compelling novel based on true experiences, it offers solid information about healing and brings the reader to a deeply moving appreciation of the Saviors' atonement. Secrets confronts one of the most serious issues of our day. And as it weaves a tender and intriguing love story, it passionately draws the reader into its powerful message of hope.

Table for Two


Sheryl C.S. Johnson - 2012
    But when Jana determines that the move can help her get away from Brad—the overly adoring man in her life who she really doesn’t have any feelings for—she decides to go.When Jana arrives for her new adventure, both Alex and his young daughter, Elise, are easily enamored with her—as is Jeff, the ward member who becomes Jana’s first date in her new town. However, Jana is not so sure about her feelings for any of them. And as she works side by side with Alex to transform a shabby house into a charming boutique, it becomes clear to her that Alex wants more than a friendship. Though Jana resists, she knows she has to work out her confusion before she loses everything that is becoming so dear to her. Will she be able to come to terms with the fact that Alex’s deceased wife, Vanessa, will always be a big part of his life, as well as Alex’s and her differing religious convictions and so many other complications that might not fit at a table for two?

Reality Check


Karen Tuft - 2012
    But her two best friends have other ideas. Lucy is seriously steamed when she realizes they’ve signed her up to be a contestant on the reality dating show Soulmates, but she decides not to renege and soon finds herself in Los Angeles—a small-town Mormon girl vying for the love of millionaire bachelor Ethan Glass. At first this cute, smart, fun young woman, who would rather pray than party, bewilders Ethan. But his interest and admiration grow with every encounter. However, the conniving associate producer is determined to stir up some made-for-TV drama and takes strides to make this reality television show anything but real. When the show finally airs, Lucy has been recast as someone she unquestionably is not. Lucy is left humiliated in front of the world, and Ethan is left wondering who the Lucy is that he was falling in love with. Will the duplicities that have created this humiliation ever come to light? And will the truth emerge too late for the would-be soulmates?

The Icing on the Cake


Elodia Strain - 2007
    A rather innocent-looking cake, too, but that cake would open the door to opportunity - and disaster - for sweet-toothed, bargain-savvy Annabelle Pleasanton. In fact, between a promotion at work, her best friend's engagement, and her discovery of handsome photographer Isaac Matthews, that little cake has managed to turn Annabelle's world upside down. Things go from complicated to downright crazy as Annabelle discovers that handling her new writing assignment and plotting her friend's surprise bridal shower isn't going as easy as she'd hoped. Okay, okay - and appearing as a graceful, charming woman in the presence of Isaac is turning out to be, well, more than just a bit of a catastrophe. Not that Rona, a gorgeous boyfriend-snatching flirt, is helping things in the slightest. And just when things couldn't get any worse, smarmy womanizer Patrique worms his way into her life. Managing her life with the two of them in the picture may be more than she can handle. Then, when a misunderstanding threatens to destroy her job, her most cherished friendship, and her relationship with Isaac, Annabelle's courage and integrity are put to the test. Will she give in to pressure and do what is easy or will she do what she knows is right?In this hilarious yet inspiring novel, The Icing on the Cake offers comical predicaments, surprising twists, and tender moments that will delight readers of all ages.

The Sunflower


Richard Paul Evans - 2005
    Christine is a shy, unadventurous woman whose fiancee broke off the engagement only a week before the wedding, and Paul is a former emergency room doctor whose glamorous lifestyle, stellar reputation, and beautiful fiancee are cruelly snatched from him one fateful, snowy Christmas Eve. Deep in the Amazon jungle, against a backdrop of poverty and heartbreak, they must confront their deepest fears and, together, learn to trust and love again.

Love, Jane


Ranee S. Clark - 2017
    Jane has her heart set on serving a mission, and she can't delay telling Sean the news any longer: not only has she quietly submitted her mission papers, but she's also leaving in a month ... for Alaska. Shocked and devastated, Sean struggles to come to terms with Jane's decision. Unable to deny the depth of their feelings for one another, Sean makes a promise to wait for her.Life unfolds for both Jane and Sean, with communications limited to weekly e-mails. But with just a few months left in Jane's mission, Sean's messages stop. When she receives the dreaded "Dear Jane" breakup along with the news that she has been replaced by Sean's former flame, Jane knows the future she envisioned now belongs to another woman. But upon her return home, Jane quickly realizes some things are worth fighting for—perhaps, most of all, a shot at true love.

Of Goodly Parents


H.B. Moore - 2004
    A deeply divided family led by Lehi and his son Nephi leaves the ancient city of Jerusalem and flees into the Arabian wilderness to make their long journey towards a promised land.

Persuasion: A Latter-day Tale


Rebecca H. Jamison - 2012
    But when Neil's brother buys the house she grew up in, it seems fate has other plans in store, and Anne is woefully unprepared for the roller coaster of emotions that accompanies Neil's return. Fans of Persuasion will love this fast-paced, modern retelling of Jane Austen's most romantic novel.