Book picks similar to
The Surprise by Alice Ward


romance
contemporary
contemporary-romance
arc

No Strings Attached


Nicolette Day - 2013
    He wants her forever.Hayden Summers just landed the job of a lifetime taking pictures for Time magazine, but she’s determined to leave with no regrets. The first thing on her list? Erase the memory of her cheating ex with a wild night of anonymous sex. The second? Figure out why her best friend, sexy bar owner Jace Jennings, stopped speaking to her the night she told him about the job. Jace has a problem. Hayden isn’t just leaving the country, she’s risking her life—just when he’s realized he’s in love with her. When fate traps them in the storage room of his bar together, barely contained desire simmers to surface. In one last attempt to keep her, Jace offers Hayden the one thing she wants: a night of hot sex, no strings attached. But when the night is over, will Jace be able to let her go? And will Hayden leave with her heart intact?

Ramsay


Mia Sheridan - 2016
    Several years before, Brogan was the son of her family's gardener, and the boy she hurt and betrayed. But Brogan is no longer the quiet, sensitive boy she remembers. Now he's a man—gorgeous, powerful . . . and seeking vengeance.Brogan Ramsay can't let go of the memory of Lydia tricking him cruelly, leaving his heart shattered and his family penniless. And now he's back to destroy her family the way his was destroyed. There's only one problem . . . the girl who wounded him so badly years ago is now a woman who still has the power to render him breathless.Ramsay is the story of betrayal and wrath, of the strength of regret and the power of forgiveness. It is the story of the thin veil between love and hate, and how more often than not, when we seek to inflict pain on others, the heart we wound is our own.THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY ARIES. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Stalking His Claim


Lucy Darling - 2020
    Watched over me. Protected me. Though he’s older than me, I’ve always seen him as someone I can relate to on every level. He still sees me as a little girl, so I tell myself I have to let him go. Then the world comes crashing down on me. And where do I run? Right into his open arms. Now that I’m grown up, I want him to see me as more than the little girl he used to dote on. I want him to see me as the woman who loves him with every breath I take.She’s always had a place in my heart. When she was little, I loved spoiling her. As she got older, I was happy to be a shoulder for her to lean on. And when she was all grown up? That’s when I realized I needed distance, that I couldn’t trust myself around her. She’s too young, too innocent, too everything-I’m-not. That doesn’t stop me from keeping tabs on her, though. Watching her every move from afar. Until one day she comes running, and I finally let myself hope for more. But can she love the man who’s kept her at arm’s length the past few years? Or will she run again when she finds out all I’ve done to make her mine?

Doctor Babymaker


Madison Faye - 2018
    Every inch of him… I’m the youngest, brightest, and most hotshot medical director the fertility clinic’s ever seen. Nothing gets between me and my job, until Ada Chase walks in. I’m not supposed to touch her, at least, not in the way I want to. She’s off limits in so many ways. Too rich. Too innocent. Too never-been-touched. …Too much my patient. The sheltered young heiress is in my office so her rich, sh*tty family can see if she’s capable of bearing children. And I’m supposed to examine her – every inch of her sweet, tempting body – to check. But I’ve wanted her since the instant I laid eyes on her, and now I’m obsessed, possessed, and driven like I’ve never been before. First, I’m going to make her beg. Second, I’ll make her mine. And third? Well, third is the best part. Third is me putting a baby in that soft young belly. And after that, I’ll steal her away from all of this. F**k the medical code of conduct, forget professionalism, and d*mn the consequences. Oh, Ada can bear children alright. …so long as they’re mine.   I know what you’re thinking – this sounds like dirty, filthy doctor-fantasy smut. And if you’re thinking that, the good news is, you’re entirely correct ;). This book is hot and heavy insta-love and lust at it’s finest, with a dominant alpha hero completely obsessed with claiming and making babies with his untouched heroine. Safe, no cheating, and a HEA guaranteed. The doctor will see you take you now… For a limited time, this new release edition contains additional content for further reader enjoyment, as a thank you for your support. Though the page-count below may show differently, Doctor Babymaker is a novella-length book of approx. 25k words.

Contractual


Alice Tribue - 2015
    They told me I’d be an escort; they made it sound so easy.Really I’m just a high priced call girl.Desperation brought me to this and it led me to him, my one and only client.Hating him is easy, he reminds me of my shame.Wanting him is wrong it fills me with guilt.Loving him is a losing battle yet it’s become everything.A gift and a curse, he consumes my every thought and I’d rather play my part in his bed than to spend one day without him.

Under the Cowboy's Control


Lynda Chance - 2011
    Crossing the border into Texas turns out to be the easy part.Virtually penniless and enticingly innocent, she soon finds herself at the mercy of Travis Blake. Travis is a hard-working, self-made rancher that has never known love or softness of any kind. His only use for women is sexual, and Selena is caught on his ranch with no way out.While Selena plots her escape from his control, Travis ruthlessly and methodically tightens his possession and makes it impossible for her to leave. The struggle that follows is a clash of wills that pits purity against passion, virtue against vice and love against lust.Excerpt: “I specifically told you to stay away from the men and stay at the house. In fact, I’ve told you more than once.” He ate, standing up, and scrunched up the bag when he was finished. “You got anything to say to me? Anything in your defense?”“Am I on tri—trial?” “Yeah, you’re on trial. And I’m the only judge you’re going to get. No jury of your peers. Just me. My decision. Got that?” His voice rose.Selena took a step back from him. “What’s wrong w-with you? How can you b-be so nice and then s-so mean?”He stalked toward her. “Really?” He reached down and swiped her wrist and held it tightly in his grip. “Really? You don’t get it yet? You haven’t quite figured it out? I told you what happens when a man wants something he can’t have. Have you forgotten so soon? Are you saying I can have it? Are you? I tell you what, Angel, you let me take you back to the house, strip you naked every night. You sleep in my bed, and we’ll see just how nice I can be.” He slammed his mouth down on hers. His tongue went deep, tasting her sweetness. He pulled her into his body, his erection straining against her. He lifted his mouth from hers. His hand went to the back of her head and grabbed hold of her hair and pulled until her eyes were on his.His face was menacing, his hold on her uncompromising. He fisted his hand in her hair until she was completely captive. His other hand went to her neck and felt her racing heartbeat. His hand roamed down and settled on her breast. Her flesh swelled against his palm, her nipple hardening. His thumb moved back and forth across the tight little pebble. They stood there, panting together. His touch gentled, and his words became beguiling. “Come on, Baby. You don’t want to be a virgin forever, do you?” His mouth lowered and he took a gentle kiss from her parted lips. “I can make it good for you. You don’t need to be scared. I won’t hurt you. It won’t hurt at all.”She pulled away from him, accusation in her eyes. He stood in front of her, blatant masculinity dripping from his pores. He had a dominant nature, and she felt its intensity now.His eyes were riveted on her, his nostrils flaring. Goddammit! He had sworn to himself that he wasn’t going to try to seduce her, and then he had gone and done just that. “Shit.” He turned away and dug his cell phone from his pocket, flipped it open and pressed a button. He spoke into the phone. “Yeah, get back here and take her back to the house.”He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. “I’m not going to apologize. You’re playing with fire and you know it. You better watch out, little girl, because you’re going to get burned. I want you to get back to that house and stay there. You can go to the barn and see those damn skunks, but that’s it. Nowhere else.

Dirty Secret


Emma Hart - 2014
    Now, though, she’s back in their hometown of Shelton Bay, South Carolina, at the same time Conner’s band Dirty B. is home on a tour break.Sofie Callahan has spent the months since her father’s death avoiding anything to do with her hometown. But with her brother in Afghanistan, she has no choice but to return and sort out her father’s house, even if it means facing the boy she fell in love with and revealing the reason she left.Conner has questions, and when his broken heart and her guilty one collide, Sofie has to start answering them. Their present is rocky, their future unknown. Only one thing is certain: Sofie’s daughter will change everything.

Bombshell


Jen Frederick - 2018
    One minute I was arguing with my three-month-old about how many grapes she could stick in her tiny mouth and the next minute I was staring at the face of the father of my child. The guy ghosted me after I told him I was pregnant. I sent him texts, called him and even posted a certified letter but received zero response. While he was down for the baby-making activities, he had zero desire to accept the consequences.So I did what any other like-minded woman would’ve done in my position. I reached into my cart and started hurling things at him. To my surprise, he not only paid for the damage but followed me home. Now, he’s telling me he never got my messages or my letter and that he’s ready to be a father. He’s patching drywall, doing the laundry, and carrying the trash to the curb, and I’m remembering what it was like when he was loving me every night. A few heated stares and a few brushes of his hand against mine and my long-dormant female parts are roaring to life. Everyone’s going to think I’m a few French fries short of a Happy Meal if I let him back into my life, but my heart can’t keep asking what if…THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN AUDIO ON THE READ ME ROMANCE PODCAST.

Bentley


Melanie Moreland - 2018
    Their pasts dictate the men they are, but their present shapes their future. What happens when these men meet the one person they are destined to be with? Can they fight their feelings and walk away? Or will they each succumb and learn the sweet agony of love?BentleyThe leader of the group. He is uptight, formal, and cold. Rigid and set in his ways, always following the same path. Until the day, he stumbles upon her. Emmy.She brings with her spontaneity and light. The world she lives in is so different from his, yet he cannot control the draw to her. Nor can he explain the way she makes him feel. Happy. Protective. Loved.

Truth


Trilina Pucci - 2018
    But what starts a one-night stand with a gorgeous bombshell named Drew feels like it should become his forever.DominicI’m ruthless, powerful, and unforgiving. The kind of man that kills without remorse.But the moment I see her, I want her. No matter the consequence.It was supposed to be one night. No more.That’s what I told myself. It’s what we agreed. Then Drew walked away. It felt like she’d ripped my heart from my chest. One I didn’t even know existed until she’d made it beat. I warned her not to leave—that I’d never forgive her.She wouldn’t listen. She should’ve known better. If Drew wants my forgiveness. She’ll have to earn it. I will own her body and soul. Consume her until she begs. Because every King needs his queen. And Drew Matthews is mine. USA Today Bestselling author, Trilina Pucci, brings you and hot, fast-paced mafia romance with an instant connection between two flawed, stubborn people that fight like hell to ignore their fate.

Worth It


S.M. Shade - 2017
    A wedding we shouldn't have been invited to. Two unexpected romances. A scoop of sexy. And a double scoop of chaos. Lydia is a good girl who is above revenge. Good thing she has us. No one cheats on our best friend and rides off into the sunset with his new bride. What was supposed to happen? Unleash hell like two badasses. It was a simple plan, but we failed to anticipate a few things. A rogue prosthetic, an accidental exorcism, and dominatrix strippers willing to take things way too far, just to name a few. What actually happened? As usual, nothing went as planned, especially when two sexy distractions popped into the mix. We were there to avenge our friend, not to get entangled with two cocky, arrogant men, who don’t like to hear the word no. I was sure we could resist. I mean, it was only a week, right? What could happen in a week? Not intrigued enough? There's totally a duck in this story. Ah yeah. Now we have your undivided attention. Enjoy our chaos. #WorthIt

Taming Him


Kennedy Fox - 2018
    Working on the ranch helped build his solid eight-pack and smoking body. He's every girl's wet fantasy, and he knows it too. Alex doesn't follow the rules of your typical playboy bachelor. After wining and dining his dates and giving them the best night of their lives, he always sends flowers and calls the next day—even if it's to say, let's just be friends. His mama taught him manners after all, and his Southern blood knows how to be a gentleman. Still, that isn’t enough to tame the wildest of the Bishop brothers. River Lancaster has finally met the man of her dreams. Too bad after six months of romantic bliss, she finds out he's married. With a broken heart and blind rage, she books herself a ticket to Key West, Florida. Tired of cheaters and liars, she’s set on escaping to forget he ever existed. Who needs a man when there's an all-you-can-drink margarita bar, anyway? That's what she tells herself until she bumps into the right guy who can make all those bad memories disappear.Even if it's only temporarily. Two weeks on the beach is what they both need. No strings attached, no expectations, no broken hearts. Too bad the universe has other plans—one that'll change the entire course of their lives in just nine short months.This is book 1 in the Bishop Brothers series. Each book features a different brother and can be read as a complete standalone. HEA guaranteed!**Not suitable for readers under 18 due to adult language and sexual content.**

Love At Last


Claudia Connor - 2018
     With her ex-fiance's words, I'm in love with someone else, still ringing in her ears, Clare Franklin flies off on her would-be honeymoon alone. Resigned to the fact that not everyone gets a happily ever after, she's sworn off men. Until she gets tangled up, quite literally, with one very sexy veterinarian.The only thing Dr. Deacon Montgomery is looking to share is his surgical expertise, but his instant attraction to Clare makes him wonder if he could be more than just a doctor, and daddy to his twin two-year old daughters. Sun-filled days and hot, steamy nights only deepens the connection, causing them each to hope for something more. Until one phone call from home changes everything. But a love like theirs is hard to find, and definitely too hard to forget.

The Bad Guy


Celia Aaron - 2017
    I’ve decided to lay myself bare. To tell the truth for once in my hollow life, no matter how dark it gets. And I can assure you, it will get so dark that you’ll find yourself feeling around the blackened corners of my mind, seeking a door handle that isn’t there. Don’t mistake this for a confession. I neither seek forgiveness nor would I accept it. My sins are my own. They keep me company. Instead, this is the true tale of how I found her, how I stole her, and how I lost her. She was a damsel, one who already had her white knight. But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me. I’m the bad guy. Author's Note: This is a 90,000-word romance with dark themes and a HEA.

Security Breach


Evan Grace - 2018
    One night, and I was sure I’d never see her again. Fast forward six months and I’m staring into those same eyes. Only this time Delilah is my boss’s daughter. But the real kicker…she’s very much pregnant. Now my only goal is to stand by her, protect her, and make sure my new family is taken care of. But there’s a certain danger lurking in the shadows, threatening everything I hold dear. I won’t rest until my family is safe. I won’t stop until I’ve annihilated every threat. Delilah is mine. The child she’s carrying is mine…and I’ll be damned if anyone takes them away from me.