Book picks similar to
Once Bitten by Betsy St. Amant


romance
contemporary
retellings
fairy-tale-retellings

Second Chance in Summit County


Katherine Karrol - 2018
    God, however, had other plans. Her: “My marriage, career, and reputation just crashed around me and eliminated the little trust I had left in myself to make good decisions. I packed my bags, shook the dust off my feet, and started driving, begging God to tell me where to go. He brought me to a tiny, charming Northern Michigan town, where I’m recreating my life from scratch – without men.” Him: “My whole world turned upside down when I lost the love of my life and had to start over as a single father. I am now both mother and father to my little girl and have built my life around taking care of her; and protecting my heart from ever being hurt like that again. Love is not a part of my life anymore.” God: “We’ll see about that.” Can two people who have sworn off love stop fighting their attraction long enough to see that God is doing something? Can they trust Him enough to risk giving happiness another try?

Love for the Ages


Carol Moncado - 2018
    Before she was the queen mother, Eliana Robertson was just a young woman studying at an Auverignonian university.Then she met a prince.Crown Prince Alfred of Eyjania knew he wanted to marry Eliana the moment he saw her, but even though he knows they're meant for each other, it can't be that simple.A scheming brother, a sister who thinks she knows best, and a mom who would give anything for her daughter to be queen all make it difficult for Alfred and Eliana to discover if they really do have a Love for the Ages.

Christmas Angel Joy


Morris Fenris - 2019
    You will love this awesome holiday romance read because the story is written by a bestselling author with you in mind.An inspiring sweet romance Kindle Unlimited novel that will warm your heart and your soul. You will not want to put this book down as you read beautifully written compelling paragraphs full of love and kindness and engaging characters. This story is bound to delight. Christmas Angel Joy (Three Christmas Angels Series Book 1) Joy, Hope and Charity are attending the Guardian Angel School in Heaven. Joy is in her second year of training as a guardian angel. Last year was a failure, but she’s been given a second chance to help her charge—an eight-year-old boy named Sam. Her task is to help Sam have the best Christmas ever. But when she discovers his only wish is for his mother to find happiness and not be lonely anymore, Joy realizes she has her work cut out for her.Melissa and Sam have been alone for the last five years. As the organizer of a big city Christmas festival, Melissa has dedicated her time and energy to making Christmas special for others. While the attendees of the festival appreciate her efforts, the wheels of local government only see the money it costs and have been looking for a way to cancel the annual event.One disaster after another seems to be an indication to Melissa that the festival is doomed to failure, but then she meets Jarod. He appears to be the answer to missing Christmas trees, but that’s not the only impact he will have on her and her son’s lives.Melissa has convinced herself that being alone is what is best for both her and Sam. With Jarod’s arrival, she’s shown a vivid dose of reality that Sam needs more than she can provide. He needs an adult male role model. She’s also shown that she needs more than Sam in her life, but fear of rejection and heartache make her cautious. Can she take the risk of having her heart broke again to find true love?Jarod wants her to take that leap. With him. He’s watched his siblings find their happily ever after, but he’s been in no hurry. Until now. He doesn’t want to lose Melissa or Sam and, although things are moving fast, he does his best to convince Melissa that their futures are together.Will Melissa be able to conquer her fear of the unknown and take what Jarod is offering her? A place to belong. A family and a love like no other.Joy is tasked with helping Sam with his Christmas wish, but she has to abide by the angel code of ethics. She wants to help Melissa and Jarod find true love, but can true love be forced, or does it just happen? “What a wonderful way to start the Christmas Season......” Kindle Customer“This was a great read! It had suspense, clean romance and Christmas miracles, who could ask for anything more!” Kindle Customer ***Scroll up and grab your copy now for FREE with Kindle Unlimited***

Safe in His Arms


Juliette Duncan - 2021
    HE SAYS HE’S SURVIVINGOutdoor instructor Max Carlton lives a peaceful and tranquil life in the mountains. He’s not hiding, he simply loves the freedom wilderness living brings. The downside is that sometimes he has to deal with people.Including Junia Fox, the attractive case worker who arrives with a group of troubled teens for a week-long retreat.City dwelling Junia prays the retreat will be just what the teens need. She knows what it’s like to be misjudged and shunned. Plus, the week-long escape from the city might do her good as well.It’s a pity the ruggedly handsome instructor is so offhand and rude.DANGER LURKS IN THE MOUNTAINSDespite their dislike for each other, Max and Junia are thrown together in a fight for survival when one of the teens places the whole group in danger. Can they get past their differences and learn to trust each other? Can Max protect Junia—and her carefully guarded heart? Or will his beloved mountains ultimately become their death trap?The Heroes of Eastbrooke series features clean, Christian, pulse-pounding romantic suspense in and around the picturesque town of Eastbrooke. Each book stands alone. Grab your copy now.

Five Gold Rings (Crossroads Collection)


Jaycee Weaver - 2020
    Leanne rescues him from a rooftop in a floodplain and it is clear there is much more to the story. Can their love redeem the hurts of the past to rescue their future?Laughing All the Way by Lesley Ann McDanielWhen Jessica's friends put her up to "fixing" their commitment-phobic co-worker, Conner, she doesn't take them very seriously. Conner doesn't know whether to laugh at Jessica or tell her to mind her own business.Ghosted at the Altar by Chautona HavigAfter his fiancée, Brenna, abandons Mitchell on their wedding day, she insists she loves him and still wants to marry him. As truths come to light, her little sister, Lauren, turns sleuth to solve the mystery of why Brenna ghosted Mitchell at the altar.Five Gold Rings by Amanda TruWhen three relationship-challenged couples wish for Christmas weddings, commitment coach, Oliver, teams up with a wedding planner, TeraLyn, to help make their marriage dreams come true.

Right Where We Belong


Deborah Raney - 2017
    But she’s not ready for the sparks that fly when she meets local nonprofit owner Eric Hampton . . . or for the sudden reappearance of an unwelcome face from her past. In Courtney Walsh's A Sweethaven Romance: Eleanor Waverly is practically Sweethaven royalty, but her comfortable, cushy world is turned upside-down when she discovers an old map hidden in the bottom of a 125-year-old time capsule. Her only hope of uncovering the truth lies with local firefighter (and Waverly rival) Jason Holloway, and with his piercing eyes and troubled past, it's clear from the start it's not only her way of life that's on the line, it's her heart.

A Match for Magnolia


Marion Ueckermann - 2016
    Adulterer. Divorced. That is Lord Davis Rathbone’s history. His future? He vows to never marry or fall in love again—repeating his past mistakes, not worth the risk. Then he meets Magnolia Blume, and filling his days penning poetry no longer seems an alternative to channel his pent-up feelings. With God’s help, surely he can keep this rare treasure and make it work this time? Magnolia Blume’s life is perfect, except for one thing—Davis Rathbone is everything she’s not looking for in a man. He doesn’t strike her as one prone to the sentiments of family, or religion, but her judgments could be premature. Magnolia must look beyond the gossip, Davis’s past, and their differences to find her perfect match, because, although flawed, Davis has one redeeming quality—he is a man after God’s own heart.

Kisses, Kids and Bundles of Joy: Seven Christian Winter Romances


Cindy Flores Martinez - 2016
    Kisses and kids abound in this collection of novellas that will warm your heart all winter long. One Winter Kiss - Lindi Peterson - Deena Ross travels to Ohio to try and sway her grandfather from making a big mistake, a mistake his neighbor Andrew has been encouraging. When a winter storm hits, and Deena is forced to stay with Andrew and his young son, Evan, Deena's vision of love is tested and she might lose her heart in one winter kiss. Childish Ways - Jenn Faulk - Kevin Peterson, a teacher at a small town elementary school, is unexpectedly reunited with Lisa Walker, a girl who spent most of their childhood tormenting and bullying him, when she comes back to town where she helps organize a winter carnival to benefit her niece's school. Lisa has no idea who he is, though, and as they work alongside one another and Kevin sees how much she has changed, he begins to question whether or not he can really trust her and let her into his life. The Baby & the Bachelor - Cindy K. Green - Playboy bachelor, Alec, discovers a baby on his doorstep only days away from being appointed to a political office, prompting him to appeal his assistant, Jane, for help. Misunderstandings and accusations from the press abound, leading Alec to wonder, even if he were prepared for a ready-made family, could sweet, church-going Jane ever find it in her heart to marry a sinner like him? For Tracy - Trisha Grace - One phone call led to Sarah Carter becoming the guardian of her favorite student, Tracy, while waiting for Tracy’s Uncle Keith to show up. But Sarah has no idea Uncle Keith was Keith Sutton, Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor, and doesn’t realize how much trouble she is heading for. Tropical Kiss Or Miss - Liwen Y. Ho - Therapist Olivia Chan can’t wait to escape it all—a failed marriage, a struggling practice, and her son’s recent health scare. The Hawaiian getaway she planned, however, gets rained on—quite literally—by a tropical storm and the unexpected arrival of her estranged husband Matthew, who’s determined to win her back. To Gain a Mommy - Tanya Eavenson - When Hope Michaels decides to face her past, she unknowingly purchases the house across the street from her former fiancé—the man her twin sister married, then widowed. Fire Captain Carl McGuire can put out any flame, except for the one Hope sparks within him—some things never change. Foolish Heart - Cindy Flores Martinez - Judy and Graham have feelings for each other, but they won’t admit it. After all, she lives in America and he lives in Scotland with his daughter, Mairi, who he could never leave to be with the woman he loves.

Home for Christmas (The Christmas Lights Collection, #6)


Chautona Havig - 2021
    Who does this Marine recruiter think he is? Her brother is a boy and is not ready to be sacrificed on the altar of “service to your country.” No. Thank you. When trying to talk sense into Max doesn’t work, she does the only thing she can think of. Take it to the top.Gareth Hudson has an exemplary record as a Marine recruiter and knows a good man when he sees one. So when Maxton McCollum starts asking questions in a diner one afternoon, it was obvious. This was a match made in military heaven. One young man anxious to serve his country. One country ready to train him to be the best version of himself.So when Avalon walks into Gareth’s recruiting office, all the wrong kinds of fireworks explode. In a peacekeeping move unlike him, Gareth asks for four Saturdays to change her mind. If he can’t, he’ll suggest that Max wait six months before signing up.Romance wasn’t part of the bargain, and with their age difference, Gareth knows it still shouldn’t be, but how do you resist the pull of love at Christmas?♥ Most Wonderful Time by Toni ShilohGabe Lewis loves Christmas, just not as much as his eccentric mother who gave him and his siblings Christmas names. When he discovers that his new co-worker Shanée Mitchell wants nothing to do with the season, he makes it his mission to show her the true meaning. But he never expected feelings to develop for the Air Force veteran. Can he take a chance that she feels the same way or miss the best gift of all?♥ The Road Home by Cathe SwansonTally has tried to leave her military history far in the past, but she's not ready to go back to her former life, either. Can an old army buddy help her find a new road home?♥ Now and Forever Christmas by Jaycee WeaverRomance ruined their friendship. This could be the Christmas they repair it?CJ Sinclair never imagined trading her chef’s toque for the domestic life but her pregnant sister needs help over the holidays, and the timing couldn’t be better. A breakup and a bad case of burnout are just two on a list of things out of her control these days. Then there’s Tobin, her once best friend who she hasn’t spoken to in years. Now he’s everywhere all the time and sparking feelings she thought she got over ages ago.The past eight years as a professional musician for the US Army prepared Tobin McGhee for his new job as high school band teacher. They didn’t prepare him for how he’d feel seeing CJ again. This time, though, he won’t make the same mistakes. He’s determined to rebuild the friendship they lost. Maybe even rediscover those feelings they had back in high school before everything went wrong.Can they make holiday music together and rekindle the friendship they once had, or will romance ruin everything again?

Secretly In Love


Jackie Castle - 2016
    Nothing but friends. Yet, when Nikolai returned from the mission trip last year, Sage’s feelings for him exploded and her pact gets harder to keep. Then on April fool’s day, she receives a letter from a secret admirer. A joke from her twin siblings. Nikolai’s life changed after the mission trip. One thing he has to face is his feelings for Sage. Pact or no pact, he needs to let her know how he feels. Overhearing Sage and Moi talk about how they wished they received real love letters, Nikolai comes up with the perfect solution. He sends her an anonymous love letter, but instead of love, he reaps the wild, whirlwind of Sage who is already angry about being made a fool of once and won’t stand for being the fool twice. Secretly In Love was formerly titled, Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice and was part of the April Fools Love novella collection.

Engaged by Christmas


Sarah Gay - 2018
    When Cat agrees to attend a party with her roommate, she doesn’t expect to ring in the New Year by kissing her roommate’s ex-boyfriend. Nikola isn’t looking for love, especially not when his ex-girlfriend shows up uninvited at his New Year’s Eve work party. When a Polynesian beauty entertains the group with a dance, it’s love at first sight. They share a beautiful kiss only to be interrupted by his ex-girlfriend. Will he ever locate the Polynesian Cinderella who leaves him in the center of the dance floor at the stroke of midnight without the slightest hint of who she is?

My Perfect Summer in Greece


Ian Wilfred - 2019
     Cheryl is excited her sister Julie has asked for her help in organising her wedding but things aren't turning out the way Cheryl had hoped. There's going to be no little village church and no bridesmaids dress; the wedding is taking place on the Greek island of Holkamos. Vangelis has the perfect beach location for a wedding but his little beach cafe has never catered for weddings before. Will he be able to cope with all of Julie's demands? Andréas has moved back to Holkamos to help run the family gift shop after the death of his father. The business has to move with the times but will his mum allow things to change? Johnny is Cheryl's best friend. He doesn't like the way Julie treats her and has a plan to put things right but is it the right thing for Cheryl and what happens when they both arrive on the Greek island. Could it become more than just a weekend wedding for Cheryl and Johnny?

Unwrapped


Christina Coryell - 2015
    Her roommate Camdyn’s plans, however, sound nearly perfect: A homemade Missouri Christmas, complete with a traditional turkey feast and the warmth and welcome of a festive home. The invitation to spend Christmas in Missouri is impossible to resist, and so is Camdyn’s brother, Charlie. Kind, smart, attractive, and determined, Charlie Taylor is everything Trina’s imagined in her perfect match. He’s also off limits.The Taylors are determined to give Trina the gift of a loving family Christmas, and she’s ready to rediscover the joy of the season. Is it possible to unwrap the ideal holiday while keeping her feelings for Charlie locked away?

Save the Date


Kari TrumboCamy Tang - 2021
    Adventures, mishaps, and dream destinations—this collection has it all!As our guest of honor, you’re cordially invited on a journey through twelve heartwarming and inspirational novellas that will take you from small-town America to romantic Paris, from the sunny shores of Hawaii to New Zealand. Office romances, friends-to-lovers, second chances, and more await you in these stories full of forgiveness, redemption, laughter, and love.Say “I do” and claim your copy of this limited-time anthology by your favorite USA Today and bestselling Christian romance authors!January Hope by Kari TrumboCleo Myles, a clothing historian, goes on the hunt for a wedding dress from an 1880s fashion magazine. When she discovers it’s been donated to a museum collection, the only thing standing in her way is a the curator, Lowel Johnson. Unfortunately, he has a no-touch policy on all curated items that just might put a stop to her hunt and her heart.A Valentine for Veronica by Lisa PrysockTemp agency owner Veronica Hayworth wonders why she purchased her dream wedding dress without a boyfriend in sight. When an encounter with a former high school peer, now a photo journalist for a wedding magazine, entices her to agree to a wedding feature for the February issue, the pressure is on to find a husband. Will Veronica’s pride and spontaneity lead to her demise, or will her faith lead to love?I Take You by Marion UeckermannSince childhood, Kaia Collins has dreamed about her fairy-tale wedding. But when her father’s choices crush Kaia’s dreams, her fiancé, Leo Campbell, is left scrambling for a solution to their dilemma. Kaia doesn’t want to delay their wedding, and neither does Leo—he’s waited a lifetime to make Kaia his wife.Adoring April by Chautona HavigWhoever heard of a church expecting an incoming minister to marry their only single member as a condition for employment? Is that even legal? What kind of woman would possibly agree to such a crazy idea?What’ll it take for Jesse to go from avoiding April to adoring April in time for their wedding?A Change of a Dress by Hallee BridgemanBelle Merchant struggles to leave the past behind and find a future that has so far eluded her. Scarred by an incredible act of heroism, combat veteran Vince Prince wants nothing more than to become an army chaplain and courageously walk the road less traveled. The two unknowingly come together time and again until they actually meet in person.Her Love So Sure by Jan ThompsonShe is a wedding planner—sort of. He is the man of the castle—maybe. Will the two be able to pull off the wedding of the century in this opposites-attract romance?The Wedding Dress by T. K. ChapinWhat if the dress you wore on your wedding day had a story to tell?Alexa Anderson doesn’t want to wear her mother’s wedding dress when it’s time to marry the love of her life, Brad Jackson. Little does she know, the wedding dress has a story of its own to tell . . .The Wedding Kimono by Camy TangA tomboy massage therapist and her boss discover a mysterious message hidden in her grandmother's wedding kimono. Can her family legacy help her to see her inner beauty and open herself up to love?One Vow for September by Liwen HoShe’s a writer with an unconventional assignment, he’s the jaded coworker playing her husband; together they’re one odd couple about to find out how real love is.Braver with You by Jaycee WeaverShe’d follow her childhood sweetheart anywhere, but first they’ll need all her courage and all his support to make it through the wedding their mothers have planned.Grateful for You by Dori HarrellJeans-only Libby Castleton hasn’t spoken to lawman Jamie Connors since she turned down his proposal. But when she sees a frothy gown in a store window, she knows he’s the guy for her. But winning him back might mean landing herself in jail.Countdown to Her Cowboy’s Christmas Wedding by Shoshanna GabrielA handsome rancher. The girl next door. A childhood promise comes due that could change their lives . . . for better or worse. When their Christmas wedding preparations bring out painful memories of heartbreak, will Kate be able to forgive Jay — and herself — so they can finally be together?

For Love...and Donuts (Sweetwater Island Ferry #1)


Sophie Mays - 2016
    If you like a good fixer-upper, fresh donuts and solid storytelling, jump on the ferry and make your way over to Sweetwater Island! After several stressful years, Virginia’s self-esteem is shot. So when she inherits her beloved Aunt’s house in the quaint, neighboring island town of Sweetwater, her longtime boyfriend Jason convinces her to sell it so that they can pocket the money. The only catch is, there are substantial fixes that need to be made before she can sell it. Fueled by HGTV shows, they decide that the house can be fixed up and flipped. On a recommendation, she hires Tristan, a cute, funny, church-going contractor, with a good heart and a dark secret. As Virginia puts more and more time into fixing up the old house, she rekindles her love of art and interior design, she reflects on all the wonderful times she had in the house growing up, and she spends time getting to re-know herself, and her new friend Tristan. Through their combined strengths, they renovate the old home into something gorgeous, and along the way they find that sometimes the most unsuspectingly beautiful things can be uncovered with a little sweat, proper attention, and some TLC. AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a 42,000-word stand-alone story with an HEA ending! Story is a clean romance with no offensive language. I love this story so much, and I truly hope you enjoy it!