Book picks similar to
Christmas Hostage by Jane Blythe
romance
suspense
mystery
christmas
Wild Love
Melissa Schroeder - 2021
In fact, I prefer my partners don't get too clingy. Don't get me wrong. I like a good night of loving, but beyond that, I’m happy to see them leave inthe morning, without my number.Then I met him. Quinn is a big bear of a man, with massive hands and amazing...staying power. Like all night long and the next morning kind of staying power. So when he asks me to spend the next day with him, I do. The only reason I give him my number is because he makes me laugh. And, okay, so I might have met up with him once or twice.That doesn't mean I need him. Because I am Everly Freaking Spencer, and I don't need anyone (other than my bestie), and definitely not a man.Only...He shows up by chance at my store, which totally freaks me out. Finding out he's my favorite author doesn't help either.And the surprise that's dropped in our laps later that day?Major. Freak. Out.But, like I said, I don't need anyone.Right?If I keep repeating that, I might just believe it.Author warning: Get ready for a trip into the hippiest little town in Texas. There's gossipy little old ladies (LOLs), an app that every teenager hates, trips to Denver and Cali, a woman who is convinced true love doesn't exist, and man who aims to prove her wrong by doing things to her that should embarrass the author. And she was. (Not really). Along the way readers get to spend time with the gorgeous Hawthorne brothers and gay ducks. SERIOUSLY. GAY. DUCKS. Just get the book already because you know you want to know about them. Also, there's a happily ever after fit for a woman with commitment issues and man who just doesn't know when to give up.
Alexander & Rebecca
Marianne Knightly - 2015
So seriously, in fact, that he’s followed duty over pursuing the woman he’s loved for years. However, now it’s time for him to marry, and he’s tired of waiting. He’ll pursue her despite royal objections, and despite her own.A commoner falling in love with a prince.Rebecca Campo loves her work as chief of staff to Princess Catharine, her friend and Prince Alexander’s twin sister. Alex is every woman’s dream, and it comes as a shock when he seems to want her. Even after their passions overtake them, Rebecca still doesn’t believe they’re meant for forever because she’s only a commoner, not a future queen.An unexpected threat that can destroy them both.When a death threat is made against Alex, the whole family goes on alert. What no one counted on, however, was Rebecca getting caught in the crossfire.This novel features an older virgin and the future king who wants her, a royal family that loves one another (even while they annoy each other), and a look behind fictional palace walls.*This is a standalone book in the series with no cliffhanger, and features sexy scenes and swearing. Emotional trigger warning: discussion of potential assault.* * *Meet the Royals of Valleria, a country as old as the fall of the Roman Empire. The reigning king and patriarch rules with his beloved queen. Nine children, now grown, ranging from the eldest twins to the youngest son, watch over the country they love and care for. Bound by honor, duty, and loyalty, follow their lives as they fall in love, face tragedies, and triumph against the evils facing them.
Dakota Peace
Megan Kinney - 2020
Her peace is short lived when a flat tire strands her on the other side of South Dakota with nothing but her high heels and a speeding ticket. State Trooper Travis Wilkins offers to keep her company while she waits for a new tire, but the quick fix turns into an overnight stay which turns into an extended stay. She soon finds herself in the middle of a foster child’s kidnapping case helping the handsome law man. His presence doesn’t quite settle her anxious heart. With the support of her new friends and her blossoming relationship, Natalia starts to believe she could finally experience a peaceful life … until an armed madman threatens it all.
Love and Protect
Lori Ryan - 2014
He's providing refuge. Together, they'll fight for new love and survival...Laura Kensington is desperate to give her unborn child a fresh start. On the run from her late husband's ruthless family, she takes refuge on a Texas ranch. As her twisted mother-in-law hunts her down, she has one reason to be hopeful: a loving man who believes in second chances.Cade Bishop has dedicated his life to protecting injured and neglected animals. He didn't hesitate to protect the strong, beautiful Laura when she showed up on his doorstep, but he never expected the passion he feels for her. As the truth comes out, Cade dedicates himself to guarding the woman he's falling for.When the powerful family draws near, Laura and Cade will need more than a refuge to preserve their love and their lives. Love and Protect is the first standalone book in the Heroes of Evers, TX romantic suspense series.Love and Protect was previously published as Ever Hopeful.
Ryder
Teagan Kade - 2021
Change my mind.Ryder Summers—The big, bad New York Vulcans linebacker with an anger-management problem to match.He’s being sent to an exclusive beachside retreat to ‘heal’ and ‘refresh’. Read: save his career.And I’m the sucker who has to escort him.I didn’t go to Harvard to babysit an oversized toddler who can’t control his temper, and I’m sure as hell not giving into his endless pickup lines and bad boy wiles.I’m a professional. I don’t fall for guys like Ryder, even if he is a hundred kinds of hot—sinful, seductive, and oh so gorgeous.But the more I get to know him, the more I wouldn’t mind a taste, just a teaser of what it’s like to actually live.One ‘O’—one back-breaking, headboard-shaking climax is all I want, just to know it’s not a myth.I have no doubt Ryder can deliver, but the secret I’m guarding could destroy both our careers, nothing but disaster incarnate to follow.So why the hell am I hungering for his touch, ready to throw caution to the wind and whip my panties off?One thing’s for sure, sports fans. Things are about to get crazy.Join Ryder and Amber in this brand-new series big on steam and naughty surprises. This full-length bad boy romance can also be read standalone and includes no cheating, no cliffhangers and a take-your-breath-away extended HEA.
Hit & Run
Freya Barker - 2019
As is working the night shift at a local hotel to bring in a much-needed income. Rosie juggles to keep all the pieces of her life together and has no room to add anything more. One morning after a long shift, when she witnesses a hotel guest crash into a dumpster, her careful control starts to unravel. Security specialist, Jake Hutchinson, has his hands full protecting the arrogant lead actor of a movie being filmed in town. Since the production company and crew arrived at the hotel, the entitled star has been nothing but trouble. The only thing that can improve his mood is the occasional nightly glimpse of the redheaded housekeeper. Until he finds himself trapped between desire and duty.
Anti Hero
Skye Warren - 2016
After losing his team in a fiery betrayal, he left the army. Now he works for cold hard cash.And the girl he loves? She's better off without him.Until her story makes her a target.Then he'll protect her. He'll kill for her. He just won't let himself fall for her again. That would be dangerous, for both of them.WARNING: Contains an inked military man, a plucky reporter on a mission, and explosive chemistry!ANTI HERO is a full-length standalone novel with plenty of heat and suspense!!
Made of Steel
Ivy Smoak - 2020
The only thing she knew for sure was that she was going to marry him. Just as soon as she could convince him that she didn't have cooties. But tragedy tore her away from him before they ever got a chance at their happily ever after. And the worst part? He forgot all about her.Ten years after Summer lost everything, she's given a fresh start in the witness protection program. The only rule: don't speak to anyone from her past. A rule that's hard to follow when she finds out that the boy next door is living right down the hall. Unlike him, she never forgot. But she knows that the future she once dreamed of is no longer an option. And if she reveals her identity, she could get them both killed.Miles fell in love with the girl next door when he was eight-years-old. When she disappeared in the foster care system, it felt like a piece of him was missing. So when she shows up in his life again with a different color hair and a new name? It doesn’t fool him. And this time he'll do whatever it takes to keep her.
Bad Billionaires 2
Elise Faber - 2020
Rachel knew that. She was a good girl—sigh—she’d always been a good girl. Except when it came to him. She’d met the him in question in a bar of all places and his lean strength, gorgeous face, and way-too-charming personality had combined to shatter her defenses. All of a sudden she’d been doing all of those “dangerous, bad girl” things her grandmother had once warned her of. And just like her grandma had predicted, he’d vanished come morning. No note. No exchanged numbers. She hadn’t even known his name. Fine. Whatever. Rachel had chalked it up to a horrible—albeit, wholly pleasurable—mistake and moved on. She was the assistant to Heather O’Keith, a kick ass, take-no-prisoners CEO of a billion dollar corporation, she didn’t have time to sit around and worry over a man. But then Heather had gotten her happily ever after by marrying equally successful business entrepreneur, Clay Steele, and Rachel discovered that she had to work in close, day-to-day contact with him. Sebastian Henley. The man from the bar. The sexy, gorgeous, irresistible disappearing man from the bar. And he still made her want to do bad, bad things. Bad Divorce Bec Darden was a high-powered attorney who had spent her entire adult life building a fearsome reputation both in the courtroom and the boardroom. But once upon a time, she was also a naïve and romantic—aka idiotic—soul who’d married her college sweetheart on a whim just before graduating. She and Luke were young and in love and— No surprise, her marriage had been short-lived. Explosive. Miserable. And incredibly, incredibly short-lived. But now Luke Pearson was back in her life and with the worst possible news. Her marriage, the one she’d almost immediately regretted, and the subsequent divorce she’d paid through the teeth for by working insane hours and basically not sleeping for several years hadn’t happened. As in she was still freaking married. Luke had been sexy in high school, gorgeous in college, but he was even hotter as a grown man and his reappearance in her life hadn’t done anything to dampen the attraction she felt for him. But Bec had already learned that sex wasn’t everything. One broken heart was enough, and she wasn’t in the market to give Luke another chance at shattering her all over again. He needed to sign the divorce papers she drafted and leave her to her life. Except . . . what did they say about best laid plans? Because Luke wouldn’t sign. Bad Fiancé Sera used to believe in happily ever afters. Well, she still believed in them. Just not for her. For Seraphina Delgado, finding a man who loved her for who she was inside, rather than simply appreciating her outward appearance, had proved to be impossible. She wasn’t trying to be cocky—cock, ha¬—but she was beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that she’d spent her childhood and tween years modeling and shooting commercials and . . . well, only being appreciated for the way she looked. And that was more curse than advantage because looks faded. People aged, wrinkles formed, boobs sagged . . . Anyway, none of that mattered because no man ever saw who she truly was on the inside. Until Tate.
Final Target
Zara Keane - 2020
Through the crosshairs of his sniper rifle, he realizes that his target is a former girlfriend—a woman who supposedly died five years previously.Moira Collins is an intelligence agent whose cover has been shot to smithereens. When she finds herself on the wrong side of an assassin’s rifle, she’s appalled to recognize the only mark she ever let herself fall in love with.
Beacon of Love
Allie Boniface - 2013
He wants to protect the town's secrets. She's bent on uncovering them at all costs. As the mystery deepens, sparks fly and legends crumble. Is preserving tradition worth giving up a chance at true love? "Beacon of Love has likable characters, lively dialogue and a local mystery which needs to be solved. Well paced with just the right amount of humor, I found myself turning the pages to see just what was going to happen next...the scenes between Sophie and Lucas are fun, light and full of sexual tension..." ~Queen of the Night Reviews "I really enjoyed the premises of this story. True love...Secrets....New Love....Wonderful!" ~4-Stars on Goodreads "Beacon of Love by Allie Boniface was the perfect slice of heaven for me! Not only did we get a nice romance, but we also got to dig into an old mystery and try to solve a 50 year-old murder..." ~Romance Addict Book Blog *Note: this book was originally published in 2013 by Lyrical Press,
Love at Sunset Lake
Sally Bayless - 2018
An artist who's withdrawn from the world. A property battle that just might heal them both.When struggling caterer Tess Palmer inherits her great-aunt's home at Sunset Lake, Missouri, she thinks she's found the way to save her business. Selling the property can provide just the infusion of capital she needs to pay off her debts and move to a larger commercial kitchen.Wildlife painter Jack Hamlin, who lives across Sunset Lake, wants the area kept exactly as it is--a place where waterfowl can thrive and where he can find peace and solitude to ease his troubled heart. Although he's drawn to Tess's honesty and beauty, he's appalled to learn she would welcome a deal with a developer, and he vows to stop her.As Tess discovers the reasons why Jack is so passionate about protecting the lake, she finds him more and more attractive. She takes a tentative step past her own emotional pain to risk her heart again. But there seems to be no solution to the impasse over the property. As a sale becomes imminent, can Jack and Tess trust God--and each other--and finally find a love that will last?
Lost Summer
M.T. Stone - 2016
Now I've Been Given Chance To Save Her... Hopefully It's Not Too Late!
DylanWe had the time of our lives and I finally stole her innocence. Then someone stole her. Now I’m stuck in the hot seat, being grilled under the bright lights. Sitting here, all I can think about is going out there and finding her. At this point, however, it’s going to take a miracle just to stay out of jail. Unfortunately, I’m not the type who attracts miracles or even luck for that matter.CarsonOlivia Bennett is the only woman I’ve ever loved, but I lost her after choosing the Marines instead of college. Now her daughter is missing and the blame has been pinned on my only nephew. With twenty years of military and DEA experience, I know I can hunt down the bastard who took her and bring her back alive. If I succeed, it will heal some old wounds with my family and give me another shot at winning back the woman of my dreams.SummerI return to consciousness being face down on a stinky piece of cheap, prickly carpet. My head is pounding. I can’t open my eyes. I try to move my arms, then my legs, but both are tightly bound. All I hear is the sound of tires humming against the pavement. I try to scream, but my lips are pressed so tightly together that I can barely muster a moan. My mind goes blank as I scramble to think of any way of improving my odds. I have no idea where I am, where I’m headed, who has taken me or why? My heart races out of control as tears soak the blindfold that relentlessly keeps me in the dark. I find myself spiraling into utter despair.**Lost Summer is a full-length (92,000 words) stand alone Romantic Suspense with No Rape Scenes, No Cheating and No Cliffhanger. If you like a fast-paced book that you can’t put down, you will love this one!
Bennett
Seraphina Donavan - 2015
She takes care of her ailing mother, she manages PR for the family’s distillery, Fire Creek. And every day she quietly resents the fact that he stepped in and kept her from being with the one man she loved… a man who still lives there in their small town of Fontaine, Kentucky and who haunts her every minute of the day, waking or asleep. Bennett Hayes has loved Mia his whole life, and for one brief moment, when they were young and full of hope, it seemed like even the long history of bad blood between their families wasn’t enough to keep them apart. But he’d been wrong. Mia never showed the night they were supposed to run away together and when he confronted her about it, she broke his heart. But fate and circumstance throw them together again and the fire that raged between them at eighteen is even hotter now. The burn is inevitable. But there are forces at play, people on the periphery of their lives whose agenda goes far beyond just keeping them apart… they will stop at nothing to keep their secrets, even if it means murder.
Unauthorized Series: The Complete Collection
Lisa Ladew - 2015
All romantic suspense. Jen, the heroine of the first book, is Jerry's sister from the Edge of the Heat Series. Unauthorized Affair - Twenty-six year old Jen Mansko finds out the hard way that she's too trusting. Her apartment ransacked, her bank account emptied, and her heart broken, Jen has had enough and high-tails it to the only place she can think of where she will be welcomed – her brother's house. Anxious for a fresh start, Jen does something completely out of character and decides to become a cop. Soon, the athletic beauty with the striking-pink locks captures the attention of ex-navy seal Police Sergeant Hunter Foley. When she is vetted for an undercover assignment, Jen dares another feat and quickly wins the approval of the powers that be. Once embedded in the covert operation, yet another unlikely suitor is drawn to her. With two men on opposite sides of the law vying for her attention, Jen is forced to make a choice or risk having all she's worked so hard for ripped away from her. Unauthorized Deception - When blackmailing leads to leaving it all behind, Ivy is desperate for the truth. The man she'd come to love suddenly disappears, leaving a note on her bedside table, Ivy's world is shaken to the core. The man she knew wanted nothing more than to be a cop. He wouldn't have thrown it all away. It will be up to Ivy to find the answers, but the journey she embarks on is full of twists and turns. This sadistic game of cat and mouse will lead to a very unlikely source and familial bonds will be tested. After working so hard to learn to love and trust, Ivy must gather her resolve and push past the deception. Will Ryker still be the same man once the web of lies is destroyed? Unauthorized Obsession - Officer Kara Price has recovered from her injury and is back doing what she loves best, patrolling the streets of Westwood Harbor, praying that she never hears from her stalker again. But when her neighbor sees a man lurking outside her home, her partner finally forces her to take the case to the detectives. Her attention is distracted by a confident, cocky, gorgeous business owner who sets his sights on her and won't take no for an answer. Within days, her stalker turns from slight annoyance, to imminently dangerous, pulling her attention back to her current crisis. When the investigating officer suspects her new boyfriend is her stalker, Kara balks immediately. But when what they uncover in the investigation lands him in jail, Kara is torn between her heart and her safety. As her life spins out of control she holds tight to the hope that both of them will make it out of this alive and out from under suspicion. Unauthorized Return - Coleton, our handsome and rich poet from book 1 returns, battered, bruised, and a little more bitter than before. But when the Sgt. Aria Gale, the police officer assigned to protect him is the twin sister of the most recent woman to crush his heart, he wonders if standing and fighting is even worth it. When Coleton's car blows up, he has no more choice. He and Aria go on the run. But how will she react when she finds out about Coleton's involvement with her sister? Especially once he finds himself falling in love with her.