Book picks similar to
In Defense of Love by Kathleen Creighton


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contemporary-romance
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Avenging Angel


Glenna McReynolds - 1993
    But when the beautiful lawyer lands in the middle of his investigation, she also lands at the top of a powerful man's hit list. Out of luck and out of time, Dylan only has one chance to save her, and he only has one plan - kidnap the beauty. Frightened senseless, Johanna is shocked when she recognizes her captor, the bad boy bodyguard who had once worked for her powerful boss. She had been dangerously attracted to him, and now she's in his clutches and at his mercy. But with the night heating up and the hitmen closing in, passion will have to take a back seat to survival...or will it? With these two, the only safe bet is on scorching desire and endless love!

A Conflict of Interest


Barbara Dunlop - 2013
    Given their work, a relationship is dicey -- and impossible now that the president has taken office.For Max, their relationship may be a lark, a fling -- maybe she's just another woman in the long line that forms a part of his bachelor lifestyle. But for her, what they have is different. She's all but given him her heart. And now she is having his baby.

Enemy Mind


Maggie Shayne - 2003
    But was the iron-willed academic truly the one they sought? Beautiful psychiatrist Dr. Maisy Dalton was unwittingly brought in to hypnotize the ruggedly handsome Zach into talking about the "memories" hidden within him. But the innocent doctor couldn't control her feelings for the mysterious man who spoke of mistaken identity and something called the Extraordinary Five. In her heart, Maisy knew Zach was telling the truth, and was willing to risk her life and love to help him unravel the secrets of MEDUSA and the potentially dangerous X5...Five extraordinary siblings,One dangerous past.Unlimited potential.

Colton's Secret Son


Carla Cassidy - 2017
    Embittered, the loner lawman heads home to Shadow Creek, Texas, a town full of unsettling memories for him. But Knox is floored when he discovers that the woman he loved and lost has a son that looks just like him.  Allison Rafferty thought she was doing the right thing by not telling Knox about young Cody all those years ago. Now the man she still loves insists on getting to know his son. And as a threat looms over Shadow Creek, they'll both discover just how far a Colton will go to protect what's theirs.

Time Off for Good Behavior


Lani Diane Rich - 2004
    Her abusive ex-husband keeps threatening to kill her, she just lost her crappy job, and a head injury (sustained while diving off the witness stand to attack an obnoxious attorney) has left her hearing phantom music no one else can hear. It isn't until she hits the rock bottom of her bottle of scotch that she begins to wonder if maybe -- just maybe -- the problem is her.On her pothole-ridden path to becoming a decent human being, she makes friends with Elizabeth, a single mother looking for her own solid ground; Father Gregory, the patient priest who counsels Wanda, even though she's not technically Catholic; and Walter, a Jimmy-Stewart-ish lawyer who is smart, sexy and single... and so far out of Wanda's league that she thinks he must have been sent from God as one last punishment for her past transgressions. Can an angry, lost woman find her way back from failure, or are second chances the stuff of myth?Wanda's gonna find out.You may want to move out of her way.

Summer Heat: Love on Fire


Caridad PiñeiroJackie Ivie - 2016
    Passion, steamy nights, excitement, and suspense. Something to suit every reader's taste. Grab a cool drink (you'll need it!), find a hammock, and curl up for an unforgettable escape.1: Caridad Pineiro, Under the Boardwalk - A passionate night under the boardwalk brought them together, but can Chase and Natalie rekindle that lost love in just one night?2: Nina Bruhns, Fast and Flirty - The top-secret package STORM Corps transporter Kade Maddox is hired to deliver turns out to be way more trouble—and a whole lot sexier—than he ever anticipated.3: Rebecca York, Outlaw Justice - Will a surprise reunion with her old lover save her life when she flees from a homicidal husband?4: Jennifer Lowery, The Fall (Book #2 ATCOM series) - The last thing ATCOM agent Brendan Devayne wants is to settle down, but Mia Lawrence makes him think twice…5: Taylor Lee, Jared: (Book 1, The Justice Brothers Series) - The rookie cop learned the hard way that when tangling with the Justice Brothers, Justice—like Love-- isn’t always fair or easy.6: Traci Hall, Festival by the Sea - Al Cooper’s too bad to be a cop and too good to be a crook; Darcy Smith can’t get enough.7: Stephanie Queen, Beachcomber Heat - This summer’s heat wave on Martha’s Vineyard is breaking records, but so is the crime wave. The combination is causing a wave of red-hot dangerous desire between Dane and Shana.8: Kathy Ivan, Sex, Lies and Apple Pies - A televised baking competition brings them together. But deceit, intrigue and revenge are on this menu. Can their love survive? 9: Jackie Ivie, The Hunted - LeeAnn’s got business in Miami. Bring on the sun. Sand. Sexy men to look at. The last thing she expects is to be someone’s target.10: Michele Hauf, The Geek Gets The Girl - Mistaken for the IT geek? This sexy CEO is about to learn the intimate operations of his company—up close, and personal.11: Rachelle Ayala, Bad Boys for Hire: Ken (Bad Boys for Hire Series, #2) - After Jolie Becker is left at the altar, her friends secretly hire a hunky beach bum to cheer her up.12: Katy Walters, Sands of Seduction - Clary escaped to a place of sea and sand, a place of passion and seduction. 13: Melissa Keir, Protecting Her Pigg - Arson and fire bring them together, but what will cause the most damage…the arsonist bent on revenge or their own stubborn ways?14: Dani Haviland, Pool Boy Wanted (No Experience Preferred) - He’d never known a woman before, and that’s just how she wanted him.15: Jacquie Biggar, Summer Lovin’ - Can two mismatched lovers find a way past their mistakes, or will they keep their lonely hearts forever guarded?16: Angelique Armae, Dark Wolf - When Highland wolf Callen MacHendrie catches intern Miranda Kendrick stealing his prized sword, the term wild romp takes on a whole new meaning.

Second Time Around


Robyn Neeley - 2015
    Come along for the ride as they learn just how powerful and sexy destiny can be: Holiday Wedding: Drew Cannon's attempt at a high-profile holiday doll for his family's company was a bust. To save the company's bottom line, he must team up with the company's marketing director, Lauren Kincaid - the woman who dumped him a year ago. Will working together mend and reunite their broken hearts? Secrets of the Heart: After a bad break up, Isabelle poured her heart into becoming a respected cardiologist. But now her flame, Nick Carter, has reappeared as Prince Nicholas Corsairs, heir to the throne of Wellfleet Isle, and he needs her to care for his ailing father. As If You Never Left Me: Rey and Joely Birch had what they thought was a perfect marriage . . . until it fell apart. Joely picked up the pieces and built a successful retail business. Now Rey is back, determined to win her heart again. But will his carefully laid plans disintegrate when she finds out what really brought him to Colorado? Marrying the Wrong Man: Morgan Parrish's dad planned her marriage to a man destined to be president of the United States, but she fell in love with the town drunk's son, got pregnant, and fled. Now she's back and waitressing at the bistro Charlie Cramer manages. If they give in to the attraction and screw things up again, their daughter will deal with the fallout, or they just might get that American dream after all. Coming Home: No woman ever really forgets her first love. Callie Sorenson's was tall, tanned, and - as her older brother's best friend - completely off limits. But now fate has brought her back home, where Callie quickly realizes that old feelings die hard. Can Danny McCutcheon win over the woman she's become? Love's Replay: Sandra Miller didn't think twice about the opportunity to move to a new city for her career. But the success she needs now comes at a high price: she'll have to partner with David Henderson, the man who said he loved her then crushed her heart. He's making it clear he wants her back, but is the potential personal pain worth the professional gain? Rescuing Dawn: Nurse Dawn Granger has loved and lost and it's a road she's not prepared to travel again - that is until paramedic Andrew Holmes reappears and makes her question feelings she thought long dead. The Bull Rider's Brother: Lizzie Hudson is enjoying rodeo weekend and the start of summer when James Sullivan, the cowboy who got away, walks his Justin Ropers back into her life. Can he learn to redefine family before she gives up on him and marries another? Wynter's Journey: Tragedy tore Wynter and Sam apart before he could tell her how he felt about her. Now fate has dropped her off on his doorstep, widowed, desperately broke, and very pregnant. His sense of honor dictates that he take her in, but soon old feelings resurface. Now the one person he'd wanted to leave behind is the one person he can't let go. Her Soldier's Touch: When U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Colten Taylor returns briefly to Phoenix to bury his brother, he's shocked to see Rachel Madison waiting for him at the airport. He regrets the morning he walked away from her; coming from an abusive home taught Colt to put limits on all his relationships. But now that she has his son in tow, will he keep running? Sensuality Level: Sensual

Emily's Ghost


Antoinette Stockenberg - 1992
    But she is unprepared for the effect that the intelligent and devastatingly sexy senator has on her, and finds herself drawn to his charms and intriguing interests--which include a yen for psychic phenomena.

Hawke


Ellie Masters - 2021
    Her picture-perfect relationship, the venture capital she needs to launch her fledgling company…gone. All she has now is the vacation she planned to take with her ex-fiancé—and there’s no way she’s letting that go. The last thing she expects (or wants) to find in Euphoria is love. But the sexy, confident man she meets there has her wondering if a rebound is precisely what she needs. Hawke Sterling doesn’t do romance. He’s far too jaded for that. Fairy tale, happily ever after endings just aren’t for people like him. But there’s something about Quinn that has him questioning everything. She’s smart, charming, and entirely too gorgeous for his peace of mind. Too bad the only thing he has to offer her is heartbreak. When it turns out that Hawke holds the key to Quinn’s professional success (or ultimate failure), he’ll have to decide if the cost of being with her is more than he’s willing to pay—and Quinn will need to decide if taking a second chance at love is worth the risk…___________________Read 9 holiday full-length stories from 9 of your favorite authors in this fantastic holiday collection. Each book is a standalone and sold separately by each individual author.Follow their amazing characters as they find their true love under the Mistletoe. Some tales are steamy hot, others naughty sweet, but oh…they are all soooo good!Each book is a standalone and FEATURES THE FOLLOWING AUTHORS:

Cool Shade


Theresa Weir - 1998
    But she finds that after a brief encounter with reclusive Eddie Berlin, her baby sister has vanished without a trace. Now it's going to take every last one of Maddie's wiles, feminine and otherwise, to get close enough to Eddie to discover what has happened, and to resist his mesmerizing allure, which may be just as dangerous as it is enticing.

An American Love Story


Rona Jaffe - 1990
    . . and their foolish choice. In love with the same man. The wrong man.  Women found him so easy to love. Clay Bowen had it all—charisma, good looks, and power in the glamorous world of television. Laura, the delicate dancer, gave up her dazzling career to marry him and have his child. Nina excelled at everything—except capturing her father’s complete attention. Bambi, his ruthless young “assistant,” thought she was using him. And Susan, a brilliant writer, couldn’t bear to think their twenty-year bicoastal romance was too good to be true.   In her most riveting novel since The Best of Everything, Rona Jaffe weaves a compelling story of passion and obsession. Moving from the glittering capitals of the world and the epicenter of the TV and movie industries to the darkest depths of the human heart, she holds her readers captive to the very last page.  Praise for An American Love Story   “Jaffe comprehends the ambivalence of women in love like few other contemporary novelists.”—New Woman   “Compelling . . . a novel of growth, despair, destruction and realization—a novel to read and have a daughter read.”—UPI  “Savvy and sharp.”—St. Petersburg Times   “Thoughtful, provocative.”—San Antonio Express-News

Awaken to Pleasure


Nalini Singh - 2004
    Painful experience screamed that Taylor Reid should run far and fast from Jackson Santorini. But keeping custody of her brother meant becoming her former boss’s bride. And giving Jackson a baby.Despite his powerful size and presence, Jackson had been wounded… deeply… by a woman. Yet he’d protected her at a personal cost, if his restrained ardor in deference to her virginal apprehension was one indication. Suddenly, for Jackson’s sake, Taylor wanted to replace pain with pleasure. Only, she’d never imagined what sensations—and secrets—she would awaken…

Second Love (The Love Makers Trilogy)


Judith Gould - 1997
    Tonight is her crowning moment: The beautiful businesswoman has just unveiled the San Francisco Palace, the fabulous new luxury hotel that towers over the neon-bright city like a giant, glittering jewel. But as the star-studded grand opening festivities gather momentum several stories below, Dorothy Anne stands alone on the hotel's penthouse balcony, anxiously scanning the skies for a glimpse of her husband Freddy's private helicopter. It never arrives, and soon her most dreaded fears come true. As Dorothy Anne tries to cope with the devastating loss of the man who was her friend, her lover, and her whole life, a mysterious group of powerful businessmen plot a ruthless takeover of her hard-won international empire. With dizzying speed, Dorothy Anne's world spins wildly out of control, plunging her into a nightmare of scandal, deception, and cold-blooded murder. Then she meets charismatic Hunt Winslow, a decorated war hero and rising political star on a clear career path to the White House - if his domineering mother has her way. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Hunt offers Dorothy Anne something as unexpected as it is miraculous: a second chance at love. But their illicit passion will place both their lives in grave danger and could destroy everything they have worked so hard to attainall they hold most precious.

Candleglow and Mistletoe


Josie Riviera - 2016
    Augustine to fill in at her ailing aunt’s candle shop. A few weeks in Snowing Rock will help her get past the humiliating memory lapse that ruined an important piano concert—and, ultimately, her marriage to her overbearing duet partner.She’s mentally rehearsing for her comeback performance when the bus she’s riding in slides off an icy mountain road.And one deep, calming voice emerges from the confusion to slow her racing heart—right before his ruggedly handsome face kicks it back into allegro.Gabe Waters is usually prepared for anything—as a professional stuntman, his life depends on it—but nothing prepared him for Noelle, the unattainable high school crush whose bravery saved him from more than just a bully’s flying fist. There’s no hint she recognizes him, but Gabe knows that face, those eyes…and he sees something that wasn’t there before. Distrust and apprehension.Their unexpected attraction kindles something as warm and sweet as a holiday candle. But the weight of their pasts could turn the promise of love to ashes.

Destined


Rubina Ramesh - 2017
    But he had his priorities set and her sick father was nothing but a burden. Esha didn't have any other choice but to apply for a loan from her office. But she had not banked on the fact that the Head of Geno Technologies needed her for other reasons.When Rohan Sharma saw Esha for the first time, he felt she was the one. He had no intention of falling in love with her for the pain of the past was still too much to bear. But he did need Esha as a decoy to his plan. But Esha was not a damsel in distress who would bend to his will easily. While he was sure that he would marry her only for six months, he still couldn’t understand why he felt a searing jealousy every time, her ex-fiancé Ayush’s name was mentioned.While these two souls had other plans in their lives, Destiny conspires to bring them together. But will the stench of Death let them live their lives?