Book picks similar to
Crank by Shauna Allen


contemporary-romance
romance
contemporary
second-chance-romance

Play the Man


Ketley Allison - 2015
    A deliberate loner, he gives you his body, but never his heart. Women find both his eyes and their sheets cold the next day.I’m hired as his new cocktail waitress, and my own losses allow me to see the real pain behind his sins. He’s not what he appears to be, but fixing him isn’t possible.I should listen to my past and stay away. Instead, he lures me into his underworld where vice and fortune thrive. He’s a wickedly hot, illegal addiction. Dangerous. Seductive. Forbidden. I’m not just betting my heart on him. I’m wagering my life. Play the Man is part of the steamy and suspenseful Falling Paper Duet. Theo and Scarlet's journey concludes in Win the Game, out December 18, 2018!

Cavanaugh


Jody Kaye - 2018
    Convenient marriage.The only child of an oil mogul, Rose Kingsbrier should’ve had it all. That changed the day her momma died, leaving her to live a solitary life in a mansion that was more like a mausoleum.Rose tried for years to get her father’s attention, eventually finding it easier to become Eric Kingsbrier’s source of grief than to live in grief’s shadow. Convinced that she’s irresponsible, now Rose’s father intends to marry her off. But she won’t let him barter her away that easily.Ross Cavanaugh’s construction business is renovating the Kingsbrier mansion and, before the job’s even started, he’s swept up in Rose’s schemes. The southern heiress is a hot ticket and easy-going Ross enjoys their budding friendship until Rose proposes a marriage of convenience to solve her problem and provide Cavanaugh Construction financial backing. Rose may not mind dragging her reputation through the mud, but Ross has worked too hard to be accused of fortune hunting. When Rose gets herself in over her head, agreeing to her offer may be the only way to save her.The slowburn romance prequel to the Kingsbrier Quintuplets.Note: There is sensitive matter within this story. The characters react to their circumstances based on the time period. Please consider reading reviews or contacting the author if you have questions.

Shock Me


Casey Hagen - 2020
    Or she did...until her best friends rescue her from her painfully wholesome life for a wild night out in the one place a good Christian would never find her…the hottest strip club in the county, just outside the city limits.Utterly forgettable, Mabel Lee never caught the eye of hot guys. Not once.But the elusive Viper, he definitely looked. After years of stripping, Kellen Savage’s nights on stage blend together, the faces all the same. Until her.When the prim and proper cross between school marm and 1950’s housewife sitting front and center gives him an unintended show of her own, he’s fascinated by the spectacle as she stubbornly tries to keep up with her fast friends. He might just have to rethink his bachelor status.Unfortunately, he has that pesky personal rule about bedding the clientele.But, you know what they say about rules…

Staying Grounded


Marianne Rice - 2017
    But after an altercation with a drunk passenger is posted on social media, he's forced to go on administrative leave until his name can be cleared. To get his wings back, he must attend anger management classes, and to avoid the media frenzy near his home base in Texas, he heads to Rocky Harbor, Maine. Responsible therapist Maggie O’Fallon wants a stable relationship with a man who’s not going anywhere… Maggie grew up with parents who were never around, physically or emotionally. Needing steadiness in her life and in a relationship, she only dates men with normal jobs. But when Graham walks into her office and flashes his charming steel-blue eyes at her, she's at a loss for words. Torn between her ethics and her heart, Maggie asks Graham to see a different therapist so they can explore the chemistry between them. He has everything she’s been looking for—except stability… Maggie touches something deep within Graham and he panics, pushing her away, too scared to face his feelings. But when a private investigator threatens to discredit not only Graham, but Maggie’s practice as well, he is faced with two choices. Fight…or take flight. Battling a lawsuit and his heart, Graham must decide what’s more important—the life he thought he wanted…or Maggie. Maggie might be the only thing that will ever help Graham Stay Grounded.

Deceived


Danielle Pays - 2019
    Their current demand? A prominent local winery-and the land it sits on. No doubt it would only take one visit for him to charm the owners into selling.But his plan hits a snag the second he lays eyes on the alluring woman, dead-set on maintaining her family legacy. For the first time, he can see a forever with a woman. A forever that’s threatened when she discovers who he really is.Then the unthinkable happens: Declan is arrested for a catastrophic attack, threatening both their livelihoods and futures. And even though he maintains he’s innocent, Brooke’s trust is stretched so thin she doesn’t know what to believe.Or who’s really to blame. Who do you trust when everyone lies?This is a steamy, stand-alone, HEA romantic suspense.

Collecting Secrets


P.E. Kavanagh - 2018
    Too innocent. Too traumatized.Friendship was less than what she wanted, but all she could handle.Ten years later and she’s a different woman. Strong, successful, brave. At exactly the wrong moment, one bold move threatens everything.The safe harbor of Jackson’s family.The unconditional commitment of his friendship.The collection of secrets she never knew existed,Claims and confessions come hard and fast as Jackson and Camille navigate all that has never been said. Each step they take, closer to the truth and each other, demands another layer of secrets must fall.

Murphy's Wrath (Murphy's Law Book 2)


Michelle St. James - 2019
     Once upon a time Ronan lived by simple rules: take care of his family, take care of his dog, take care of his business - and never, ever let it get personal. But that was before he fell head over heels in love with Julia Berenger. When an ill-fated trip to Dubai forced Ronan to choose between finding Julia’s sister, Elise, and saving Julia’s life, he didn’t even think twice. Julia knows Elise is alive. It doesn’t matter that Elise was taken by a group of powerful men hidden behind the secret society called Manifest: this time Julia won’t let anything get in the way of saving her sister. Not even Ronan. But when a new lead turns up in Florence, Ronan and Julia begin a whirlwind quest for answers that brings them face to face with one of the most powerful men behind Manifest. The discovery leads them to a yacht off the coast of Greece and a high-stakes rescue operation with Ronan’s brothers that may force Julia to go it alone. Ronan has already broken one of his cardinal rules by falling in love with Julia — now the only question is whether he can let her go.

Forget the Stars


Kelsey Kingsley - 2019
    At thirty, he never thought he'd still be unmarried and living with his parents. And with the added stress of his poor health, he's convinced the only thing within his control is the success he's found as a rock star.After reconnecting with his childhood best friend, Chad sets into motion a new plan to regain control over his happiness, and things start looking up. But when he finds himself diagnosed with a potentially debilitating chronic illness, he begins to wonder...Is this as good as it's going to get? Or is it at all possible for a guy like him to get everything he's ever wished for?

Carved in Ink


Marissa Farrar - 2018
    Meet the men of London tattoo studio, Carved in Ink. Art Fletcher has made his London tattoo studio his life, so when he learns the building he rents has changed hands, he’s immediately wary.When petite, curvy Tess turns up at his door, and announces she’s flown over from her home country of America because she’s the one who’s inherited the building, Art’s emotions and sex drive are thrown into turmoil. Even worse, she moves into the flat above the shop, hikes up the rent, and gives him attitude at every encounter.Tess isn’t going to be won over by his muscles, tats, and sexy British accent. As things get heated and sparks fly, the pair can’t decide if they hate or love each other. But maybe Art will be the one to heal Tess’s scars for good... if she’ll let him. *Please note, each of the ‘London Inked Boys’ stories follows a different couple and can be read as a standalone, but they’re probably best read in order.

Tempted: The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale #1


Felicity Brandon - 2019
    She's feisty and tempting.And she doesn't let anything come in the way of her mission.I've dealt with my fair share of rule-breakers.So, Delilah isn't what I need.But I can't stop dreaming about holding her in my arms.She might be hiding a secret.A secret that could destroy me and burn the city to the ground.There's only one question that remains.Is she worth the destruction that she's about to cause?

Layover


Becca Jameson - 2020
    A chance to experience the forbidden. Her parents would never approve. Her mother’s heart is set on her marrying a Guatemalan. But he rocked her world, and she can’t get him out of her mind months later. The chemistry… The way he made her feel… The control…When he steps into her path again, she can’t resist the temptation. She won’t. JasonNo way was he going after a woman who snuck out on him. No matter how good the sex was or how well they connected. He needed to focus on his last few months in the Army. But she was never far from his mind, and now he’s moved to her town. He’s not about to let her slip through his hands a second time, but is she using him? He’s been screwed over before. He won’t make the same mistake twice.

KISSED


Carla Krae - 2013
    Best friends. It was only a crush Beth harbored for Jacob until she was eighteen. Until London. Neighbors. Best friends. That was all Jacob thought of her until London. Until she kissed him and stole his heart. It's funny what Geometry class and a shared backyard wall can bring about. With a two-year age difference, Beth and Jacob were firmly in the Friend Zone during high school, but a pre-college trip to London will change their lives forever. Kissed is the first of five books in the My Once and Future Love Revisited series exploring Beth and Jacob's relationship with all its joys, flaws, and heartache. New Adult Contemporary Romance saga.

Make Me Lose


Ember Leigh - 2019
    We’re enemies. Born minutes apart on the same day in the same hospital, our parents thought this meant we were somehow destined to be together. We knew were we just destined to beat each other. Competition boiled over until junior year, when the cold war turned into an unexpected peace offering. Maybe my hormones allowed me to notice his broad shoulders, stormy gray-blue eyes, and soccer star’s chiseled frame. But after I fell for him…he stomped all over my heart. Ten years later, I’m at the top of the realty game in Bayshore and Grayson is just a distant memory. Until he shows up from NYC, his ego bigger than a skyscraper, and asks me to sell the house he recently inherited.It’s easy to say no. Even though I want to climb him like the jungle gyms we used to dangle from in strong arm battles.But I forgot that Gray doesn’t take no for an answer. And that he isn’t content unless he’s defeating me. He butts into my evenings on the boat. Ropes me into water skiing battles. Even shows up at the bar and creates a scene when I’m scouting a date to the upcoming Bicentennial Ball.It’s almost like he’s gunning to win me. But if he wins, that means I lose.And I’m not ready to cede victory just yet.

Torrid


Jayne Blue - 2015
    The perfect family. The perfect life. In one horrible year, it went away. I can never have it back but I can hurt the man responsible for taking what was left. I know how to steal something even more important from him. He doesn’t see how she looks at me instead of him. I can make her burn for me, make her addicted to me before I send her back.And it will be so easy.Tora - I’ll cross any line to get to the truth, no matter who I have to hurt. I don’t have a choice. I’m not afraid to use sex to get what I want. I know you think that makes me a whore. But until you understand what’s at stake, you can’t know.Don’t judge me until you do.Sometimes, you have to take what you want no matter what it costs.This is part one in a sizzling new erotic romance series by Jayne Blue. It contains strong sexual content and is intended for mature readers.Book Categories

Unapologetic


Pamela Ann - 2016
     He was my first everything. I gave him my heart—coming in and out of my life whenever it was convenient for him. I gave him my all—though he graced the tabloids with different women in his arms. River Ellis was Hollywood’s golden bad boy. He rose to fame a few years before me. And now that I’m slowly gaining ground in the film industry, he decided it was time to charm me with his godly presence. For two years after he left me, I had built resistance; simply waiting for the day he’d come begging me back and I’d truly take pleasure in rejecting him. But time and time again, even though I’d set my heart and mind into doing one thing, life had a way of testing my will, my endurance.