Book picks similar to
The Boat House Pretty Beach by Polly Babbington


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contemporary-fiction

Coming Up Roses


Staci Hart - 2019
    Maybe it’s the day-to-day grind. Maybe it’s that client who never knows what they want, or the guy who always cooks fish in the microwave.But not me. I love every corner of the Longbourne Flower Shop, every flower, every petal, every stem. I love the greenhouse, and I love Mrs. Bennet, my boss. I love creating, and I love being a florist. I don’t hate anything at all.Except for Luke Bennet.The Bennet brothers have come home to help their mom save the flower shop, and Luke is at the helm. His smile tells a tale of lust, loose and easy. He moves with the grace of a predator, feral and wild. A thing unbridled, without rules or constraint. When he comes home to save Longbourne, I almost can’t be mad at him. Almost.He doesn’t remember that night I’ll never forget. That kiss, touched with whiskey and fire. It branded me like a red-hot iron. But it meant nothing to him.Everyone hates part of their job, and I hate Luke Bennet.Because if I don’t, I’ll fall in love with him.

Love Like Water


D.E. Malone - 2018
    Is There Room Enough for Love? After losing her job, Darcy Conti takes a tour guide position at Sturgeon Widows Tours, a quirky family-run business in the small town of Hendricks on the shores of Lake Superior. As she settles into her new role narrating local history excursions, she fights an undeniable attraction to the man she was hired to replace—the owner’s son.  Fresh from a relationship gone sour, Sean Stetman plans to avoid dating for the foreseeable future. Taking a leave of absence from his parents’ tour company, he wants nothing more than time to fish, hike, and work on his cabin. But when the tour driver quits, he is suddenly back on board, reluctantly shuttling Darcy and the tour guests along the North Shore. Together Darcy and Sean survive unruly tourists, meddling mothers, and even an unscrupulous developer looking to give the Stetmans’ tour company some fierce competition. Can they also survive falling in love?

Perfectly Imperfect Mine (Garrison Brothers Book 1)


Amelia Shea - 2018
    Bounty hunter Trey Stone is in the small town of Cedar Bluff on a special assignment. The plan is to complete the job and head back home…until he meets Sadie.From the moment Stone comes into the diner where she works, she is obsessed. Their first encounter leaves her fearing for her life. A dead body and her own abduction have Sadie steering clear of Stone.They both try to resist their need and desire for one another, which proves too strong to deny.When Stone stakes his claim, the night is filled with intense passion and fulfilled fantasies. What began as primal lust has culminated into a deeper connection. As Sadie and Stone begin to fall in love, secrets still stand between them. Stone’s refusal to discuss his work has Sadie wondering what he’s hiding. Her curiosity leads her to look into Stone’s business, and the discovery of a side to his life Sadie may not be able to accept. When the truth comes out, she will have to decide.

Sex, Lies, & Family Vacations


Leslie Langtry - 2012
    Somehow, her family never seems to notice that the laundry gets done, the house is picked up, dinner mysteriously appears on the table, and then cleans up after itself. Instead of being her children's idol and her husband's lover, she's become a funny little footnote in her own life. That is until she takes her children on vacation to Disneyworld in sunny Florida, where she just happens to end up in a hotel room right next to her college flame, Alan James. Old passions ignite and new excitement sparks as Laura and Alan bring new meaning to "The Most Magical Place on Earth." But when Laura and Alan's spouses unexpectedly show up in Florida, a comedy of errors ensues, and only one thing is for certain: Laura's life will never be the same again. Note: This book was formerly published under the title The Adulterer's Unofficial Guide to Family Vacations. What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry's books: "Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense." - Chicago Tribune "Langtry gets the fun started from page one with a myriad of clever details." - Publishers' Weekly "Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, 'Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…' one truly original and wacky novel!" -RT BOOK Reviews "Another wicked blend of action, romance, mystery and dark humor, Guns Will Keep Us Together gives readers bullets, buff guys and bad boys…I hope the Bombay family continues on with their deadly misadventures. -News and Sentinel

Kade (Wyoming Brothers Book 1)


Deann Smallwood - 2017
     Lied to and taken to the cleaners by a beautiful blonde, Kade has learned a hard lesson and slams the door to any possibility of a woman in his life. Aren’t they all liars? And Hope, with her lie of omission about her background, unknowingly fits that description. Kade isn’t about to give her a chance to win his love and to convince him of her innocence. His beloved Double K ranch is doing just fine with the help of his seventy-eight-year-old Gran—the only woman he can trust. He sure doesn’t need Hope Jackson, a recently returned brother and baby girl, and three abused boys complicating things and resurrecting feelings long dead.

A Fearless Governess For The Forsaken Duke


Emma Linfield - 2020
    Her silver lining comes in the form of a governess position in the employ of a Duke.Still traumatized by his wife’s accidental death, Benedict De Clare, Duke of Tradegrove, has become obsessed with collecting perfect portraits of women that resemble her. That is until he finds himself falling in love with the most disheveled governess he has ever met.With the Duke slowly mending his relationship with his estranged son, Lucretia and Benedict’s blossoming love bridges the social chasm between them.However, as tensions rise among the staff and Lucretia finds herself on the receiving end of vicious threats, up-until-then hidden clues are tied to the late Duchess’ accident. And the only person who can save Lucretia's life has no tongue to speak…Emma Linfield's 25th book is a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.

Healed by Her Soothing Sight


Aurora Hanson - 2019
    But after the death of her parents, things for her and her brother have gone downhill. When her brother suggests that the only remedy to the situation is to find a husband for her, she rejects his proposition, and vows to marry for love. Her willful and stubborn nature will make her run off to Arizona City as a mail-order bride. Will her dream of finding true love come true or will she be trapped in a terrible nightmare?Red Wilson has just received a letter that informs him that his estranged parents succumbed to yellow fever three years prior, and his inheritance awaits him in Savannah. Intent on buying his own ranch, Red eagerly makes his way back home to claim the fortune. A stipulation in his father's will, though, will ruin his plans; in order to collect his birthright, Red must be married. Out of nowhere, the ghosts of the past will come back alive in his effort to claim what belongs to him...Magnolia has decided to refuse Red without even giving him a chance to prove himself. Red needs to cast his demons, so saving Magnolia could be his salvation. Will Magnolia return to reality and make the right decision for her? Will Red manage to protect her, or will he relive the painful past?"Healed by Her Soothing Sight" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

His Longing Heart


Jan Thompson - 2015
    She is a billionairess violin collector with a trust fund. Living in two different worlds, will their unexpected romance last?His Longing Heart is the first novel in USA Today bestselling author Jan Thompson’s Seaside Chapel Christian small-town beach romance series. This book is the updated second edition of the previously published Share with Me.The musician…Six years ago, Ivan McMillan was a budding crossover violinist on a world tour with his pianist sister. His career was cut short when Grandpa Otto died suddenly, leaving Grandma Yun saddled with enormous medical bills that ate up all their savings. In the midst of Ivan’s struggle to provide for his elderly grandmother and to save their family home from foreclosure, he finds himself falling in love with his billionairess friend, whose lifestyle he cannot afford.The muse…After Brinley Brooks’s ex-boyfriend abandons her due to her vow of purity, the twenty-something heiress goes home to St. Simon’s Island to spend time with her family and to accept her life as a single woman. At her sister’s birthday party, Brinley is mesmerized by a violinist friend, Ivan, when he plays one of Bach’s orchestral suites. Music therapy or not, her heart starts to seek its own second movement in her love life. Or is she just lonely? One thing leads to another, and Brinley enters Ivan’s world of material poverty and spiritual wealth.The minuet of their lives…When one of Ivan’s worst fears comes to pass, he feels obligated to show Brinley what it means to be a Christian living through adversity. However, trusting God is the last thing on his mind as the crisis affects his career, his life, his family, and his relationship with Brinley. Ivan cannot let her see how far he has sunk. What is a Christian man to do?

The Lying Game


Maxine Barry - 2006
    She has one goal: to find the real killer of Rollo Seton.While inside, a mysterious benefactor has put £2 million in trust for her. She uses the money to buy the Manor House in Nether Dene, the tiny village she grew up in.THE VILLAGE DOESN’T WANT HER BACKShe hires Connor O'Dell, a good-looking bodyguard. He’s there in case things get rough. But it's Lowell Seton, the younger brother of Rollo and the love of Oriana's life, who quickly becomes the greatest danger . . . to her heart.And when Connor falls for Mercedes Seton, Oriana's former best friend, things threaten to totally fall apart.THE REAL KILLER WILL STRIKE AGAIN TO PROTECT THEIR SECRETS

Hotel Las Flores


Kate McCabe - 2005
    But underneath the surface, all is not what it seems.There's Trish who has arrived with a pressing problem, and her oblivious writing-obsessed husband Adrian in tow. Mollie McGinty and her family are celebrating a win with a trip to Tenerife, even though she cannot stand the heat and her husband will not eat the food. Charlie Dobbins has made the trip to try to overcome his shyness with women. Bobby Bannon is escaping a public humiliation, and society hostess Monica Woodworth is determined to crawl her way back up to the top after a fall.What will happen when this quirky cast of characters all find themselves staying in the Hotel las Flores?Will they return home with a new outlook on life or even with someone new? One thing's for sure - nothing in their lives will ever be the same again.

Returning For Her Happy Ending


Carol Colyer - 2020
    However, when tragedy strikes once again and she is to suffer the passing of her Indian mother, something calls her back to her original roots. Upon her arrival in town, though, she feels confused and isolated, and she has to deal with everyone's biased behavior. In an unexpected twist of fate, she bumps into her young love, Michael, who hires her as a cook without having the slightest suspicion about who she really is. Will she find the strength to reveal the truth about her origins to Michael? Will she be able to adapt to her new lifestyle and convince everyone to find common ground with the Indians?Michael Peterson has always thought of himself as a lone wolf since the loss of his beloved one. Βeing convinced that his loved one's death is Indians' fault, he has vowed to seek revenge ever since. The moment his eyes meet Kalani's, though, he feels an electric connection between them and gets overcome by the memories of a long lost love. She is an intriguing, mysterious girl who he can't quite figure out, especially when he notices how she is willing to give Indians the benefit of the doubt. Will he figure out her real identity? Can he get past his own prejudice to finally reach happiness?Although fate meant for them to find each other again, secrets from the past come back to haunt and tie them together in ways they had never imagined. Will Michael and Kalani be able to get past their differences and reignite the fire of their lost love? Will they be able to face the townspeople that are not ready to let their old ways die and embrace the new?"Returning For Her Happy Ending" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Where's the Groom?


Cathryn Brown - 2020
    Now her groom’s missing and a new man’s helping her search for him.Summer realized she’d made a big mistake. Why did she say yes to him? When her groom never arrives at the church, she uses her one clue to find him. She gets a big surprise. And she meets her Watson to help her search.Cameron agrees to help Summer because a family member’s caught in her mystery. She’s glad to have someone working with her, especially when he’s handsome and has a great smile, but a new romance is out of the question. But she sometimes (maybe too often) gets in trouble when she leaps before she looks, so he could come in handy.Cameron and Summer are immediately pulled into a mystery bigger than a missing groom (with no dead bodies!) and fighting their attraction to each other. If they can find the groom—and solve this mystery—they’ll part ways and never need to see each other again.They’re caught in a situation they didn’t create. Can a woman who almost got married find love on the run?

O'Mara's


Michelle Vernal - 2021
    Settle in and enjoy your stay at O'Mara's, where stories abound, romance lurks and laughter sounds.  Aisling O'Mara. Her heart was broken once, and she won't let it happen twice. Besides, she's far too busy managing the guesthouse, shopping for designer shoes and learning to dance the salsa for love. So she's built a fortress as impenetrable as the Berlin Wall around her heart.Now her former fiancé has reappeared in Dublin, and he's determined to knock that wall down. But, can she trust him or, has love been stepping on her toes all along?Una Brennan's booked into the guesthouse she used to walk past each morning when she was a young girl, full of hopes and dreams. She left Dublin more than fifty years ago, vowing she'd never set foot in the city again. What devastating event caused her to go, and what's brought her back now?Other people's problems are easy to solve, and when these two very different women share a late-night pot of tea, they might open each other's eyes to the possibility of learning to love again.

Batter Up


Robyn Neeley - 2014
    A delicious premonition she shares every Monday evening with the bachelors of Buttermilk Falls as they gather at the Sugar Spoon bakery for Batter Up night. Investigative reporter Jason Levine just found himself as the man candy for a bachelorette party in Las Vegas. Roped into attending the Vegas nuptials, was he hearing things when the groom shares that the only reason he’s getting married is because a small town baker conjured up the name of his soulmate in her cake batter? Sparks fly when Jason tries to expose Emma as a fraud, but reality and logic go out the window as he begins to fall under her spell.

Fooling Around with Ford


Piper James - 2021
    Tricked. Manipulated. The life and career I’d worked so hard to build crumbled around me, so I abandoned it and moved in with my parents. Shady Springs Retirement Community in Sweet Pea, Florida was the perfect place to hide out, even if I was stuck sleeping on the couch.Then along came Ford Birmingham, a jerk who ran over my things with his lawnmower, destroying them and blaming me for the whole thing. As frustrating as he was charming, it didn’t take long for me to soften toward him…but I knew it was a dead end.His life was here, but mine wasn’t. I would be leaving as soon as I found a new job in a new town where I could rebuild my shattered world. Ford I’d mowed the grass at Shady Springs for twenty years and never met a resident as intriguing as the beautiful and feisty Virginia Jones. Of course, everyone else who lived there was at least twenty years my senior, so…When I accidentally shredded her e-reader, sunglasses, and towel one bright and sunny December afternoon—starting a feud I was definitely all-in for—I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I knew I’d eventually win her over, but to what end?She would leave Sweet Pea, and me, eventually. But sometimes, the reward was worth the risk.Fooling Around with Ford is the first book in the Sweet Pea Flings series of interconnected standalone novels. A sweet & steamy romance, this book has all the spice with a guaranteed HEA.