Book picks similar to
Chicago's Best by Katharine E. Hamilton
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The Unremembered Girl
Eliza Maxwell - 2017
It’s all he can do to keep his compassionate but ailing mother and his stepfather—a fanatical grassroots minister with a bruising rhetoric—from ruin. But they have no idea they’ve become the obsession of the girl in the woods.Abandoned and nearly feral, Eve has been watching them, seduced by the notion of family—something she’s known only in the most brutal sense. Soon she can’t resist the temptation to get close. Where Henry’s mother sees a poor girl in need, his father sees only wickedness. When Henry forges an unexpected bond with Eve, he believes he might be able to save her. He doesn’t know how wrong he is.Eve is about to take charge of her own destiny—and that of Henry’s family. As both their worlds spin violently out of control, Henry must make an impossible choice: protect the broken young woman who’s claimed a piece of his soul, or put everyone he loves at risk in order to do the right thing.
Blackthorn
Nate Johnson - 2017
Petty Officer Logan is tasked with escorting Kaylee Williams through the rough streets of Montlake. Little did he know a simple assignment would morph into a race across the galaxy. If he wants to get her to safety, Miller must avoid pirates, the Imperial Navy, and the hazards of deep space. All while keeping a decrepit starship from blowing up along the way. Kaylee Williams desperately needs to get to Taurus. The future of the Empire rests with the secret information she carries. But can she trust this strange man to help her? But, if she can’t trust a man who repeatedly risks his life for her. Then who can she trust.
Deadline
Sandra BrownSandra Brown - 2013
Haunted by everything he experienced, he's privately suffering from battle fatigue which is a threat to every aspect of his life. But then he gets a call from a source within the FBI. A new development has come to light in a story that began 40 years ago. It could be the BIG story of Dawson's career one in which he has a vested interest.Soon, Dawson is covering the disappearance and presumed murder of former Marine Jeremy Wesson, the biological son of the pair of terrorists who remain on the FBI's Most Wanted list. As Dawson delves into the story, he finds himself developing feelings for Wesson's ex-wife, Amelia, and her two young sons. But when Amelia's nanny turns up dead, the case takes a stunning new turn, with Dawson himself becoming a suspect. Haunted by his own demons, Dawson takes up the chase for the notorious outlaws. . .and the secret, startling truth about himself.
The Broken Trail
Christa MacDonald - 2016
With the school director on a power trip and evidence of shady dealings, there’s nothing relaxing about it. Maybe it would be easier if she wasn’t so distracted by Captain MacAlister, the local cop she can’t get along with, yet can’t get out of her head. She didn’t trek up to the middle of nowhere to lose her heart. Mac doesn’t need the kind of trouble he believes Katherine will bring. He’s got enough to deal with from poachers to drug crime. Mac has rules to maintain his faith, like avoiding the pull of an attractive woman who doesn’t fit his life. But when he meets Katherine, he’s drawn in by her intelligence and strength, despite getting burned by her quick temper. When near tragedy strikes, Katherine reveals her feelings, and Mac doesn’t hesitate to respond. If only their scars, both seen and unseen, didn’t threaten to tear them apart. Two wary hearts must soften and two steel wills bend if they have any hope of making it down the broken trail to love.
Going Once...
Deborah Raney - 2016
An amicable deal is struck between the two young opposing bidders, but it will take time to pay off a loan. And as the months go by, the two discover they have secrets in common—secrets that just might change everythingOriginally published as "Going Once, Going Twice..." in A Kiss is Still a Kiss
Bring Me Back
Taryn Plendl - 2012
For two years, Ally has gotten through her very routine life by giving into her fears, living alone.Ian is grieving the recent death of his young fiancé. Unsure of how to move on, he moves into a house in the mountains just down the shared drive from Ally, where he wants nothing more than to be by himself.When Ally finds herself needing help for the first time in two years, she has no choice but to turn to Ian. Together, Ally and Ian are forced to deal with their own fears to get them through the next few weeks. What they never planned on was the deep feelings they would develop for each other, but is it enough to bring them back from the pain of their pasts?**Contains adult content. Recommended for 17+
Vivian Rising
Daniella Brodsky - 2016
So when Grams dies, Viv feels completely alone. Everything she once knew seems unfamiliar and unwelcoming—until she finds hope in a most unlikely place: the cluttered second-story walk-up of an alarmingly perceptive astrologer. Viv thinks horoscopes are about as reliable as fortune cookies, but when Kavia’s first reading dissuades her from taking a train that later crashes, she’s hooked. Under Kavia’s guidance, Viv begins to process her grief and rebalance her life. She faces her mother, gets her career back on track, and even shares some meaningful moments with Len, her handsome new neighbor. Every prediction seems to speak directly to Viv’s life, and so far, the stars haven’t steered her wrong. Then the stars tell Viv that the bond she has forged with the insightful yet guarded Len isn’t meant to last. Len has become her greatest source of security and comfort, but just as she settles into his arms—and into his heart—Kavia insists that a relationship with him is dangerous. Now Viv faces a choice: should she follow the path that’s been written in the stars, or trust herself to write her own story? Witty and honest, Daniella Brodsky’s charming novel is a powerful tale of moving on, letting go, and keeping the faith—in any form it happens to take.
Buy Vivian Rising to turn the page into this unputdownable love story today!
*Includes Book Group Discussion Guide
The Billionaire's Bodyguard
Tamie Dearen - 2019
only one weekend. How hard can it be?Mack has one job—to keep his boss’ sister safe. But there’s one tiny complication... Mack has secretly had the hots for Mariah since the day they met. Oh, and one more complication… Mariah doesn’t want a bodyguard.His plan is to keep watch from a distance. But when a case of mistaken identity forces Mack and Mariah to fake a relationship, Mack has a hard time hiding his attraction. Or keeping his mind on the job!The last thing Mariah needs this weekend is a bodyguard… especially not Mack, her brother's super-hunky head of security. Just looking at him puts butterflies in her stomach. But she knows they could never be together. When Mack shows up at the wedding rehearsal she's attending, everyone thinks he's her boyfriend. Hopefully she can ditch the man before he notices how he affects her.The more time Mariah spends with Mack, the more she's drawn to him. But a man like Mack, hardened and tough from life's circumstances, would never want to be with a woman like her who's had an easy life. They have no hope for a future. Right?Will Mack be able to keep Mariah safe even though her nearness short-circuits his brain?Will Mariah's stubbornness be the death of her… literally?FROM THE AUTHOR:You may have seen this story before if you read all of the Christmas anthology, Stockings, Wishes and Christmas Kisses, but there are a few changes and additions in this edition. If you’re a fan of the Limitless Billionaire Romance Series, you’ll enjoy seeing some of your favorite characters. If you haven’t read the Limitless Series yet, don’t worry—this is a standalone romance.Books by Tamie DearenInspirational Billionaire RomanceThe Billionaire's Secret MarriageThe Billionaire's Reckless MarriageThe Billionaire's Temporary MarriageThe Billionaire’s Alternate MarriageThe Billionaire's BodyguardThe Billionaire's Practice KissLimitless Sweet Billionaire Romance Boxed SetSweet RomanceThe Best Girls Series:Her Best Match (free)Best Dating RulesBest Foot ForwardBest Laid PlansBest IntentionsSweet Adventure (Prequel to Her Best Match)Sweet RomanceA Rose in BloomRestoring RomanceCherished by the CowboySweet AdventureChristian RomancePromise of LovePromise of HopePromise of FaithPromises Holiday Family Boxed SetThe Alora Series - YA/FantasyAlora: The Wander-JewelAlora: The PortalAlora: The Maladorn Scroll
Burned
Jennifer Youngblood - 2014
Sydney Lassiter has the perfect life—glamour, wealth, and all the high-society status to go with it. But something is tell her that she needs to return to the sleepy little town of Stoney Creek, Alabama where she grew up. She hasn’t been there since her father was killed in a boating accident—or was he murdered? She takes a job as a safety consultant at the local sawmill—the same place where her father worked—and sets out to discover the truth about his death. In Stoney Creek, you don’t ask the kinds of questions Sydney is asking. There are too many secrets—secrets that someone will do anything to keep hidden. To complicate matters, Sydney becomes enmeshed in a confusing love quadrangle involving two men, and the other woman, who seems to want both of them. And both men seem to have some connection to the death of her father. The closer Sydney gets to the truth, the more it seems that her quest could destroy not only her but the people and town she has come to love.
Going Home: When Everyone Thinks You're Dead (Walkersville Book 1)
Joanne Reid - 2015
The story continues in Being Home where more is revealed of this story. It concludes in Staying Home**Liza Diamond tries to go back home now that everyone thinks she has been dead for ten years. She discovers that the beauty of the small town of Walkersville still conceals a seamy underbelly of low-level intrigue, secrets, and lies. Liza herself is telling a few lies, the biggest of which is that her return is not driven by a desire for revenge. Her return is all about revenge for a love gone very wrong. This is part one of a series about life, intrigue, and gossip in a small New England town where society's rules and roles are set by family histories.Being Home is Part 2 of the Walkersville series. Staying Home is Part 3.
Love Is Enough
Emma Easter - 2018
Can three sisters find true love?
It doesn't come easily for the Gardner clan.The sisters share two major things in common - their love of God and great difficulty finding soulmates.Will the run-away bride ever be satisfied?Will career ambition trump finding love?How will pregnancy change a rocky relationship?You'll fall in love with this first installment in The Sisters of Rosefield Series. Get it now.
Breaking Storm
Vikki Holstein - 2020
Conceived in a violent, drug-induced rampage, Pipa is being hunted by the man responsible. He wants her dead, and no matter how far Kelsey and Pipa run, the brewing storm is never far behind.Protection lies in Kelsey’s hometown of White Wattle Creek in the form of Ethan, the man who’d always been her safe place. The one she loved. And the one who broke her heart. But she not only has Ethan to face when she returns. The emotional abuse of her past and the truth surrounding Pipa’s existence both rain down on her from the clouds gathering overhead.When Kelsey finally opens her heart to Ethan, her nightmares tip over into reality, and with Pipa’s future hanging in the balance, Kelsey must find the strength within to fight for their right to happiness … before the storm breaks.
The Inn by the Cove: A Sweet, Small Town Romance
Ellen Joy - 2021
So, why can’t she just hate him?Previously published as "Inn with You."Zoe has dedicated her life to working at the family inn, where she lives with her son, but the business has fallen on hard times. She has ideas about how to turn things around; but, her father owns the place and he’s stuck in his ways.To make matters worse, Zoe learns that her father has a silent partner, Ethan’s father. Ethan has a trust fund, but Zoe’s not impressed when he comes to town with his own ideas about what’s best for the inn, as well as an ultimatum from his father. If the inn doesn’t start turning a profit, he’ll force a sale.Tensions rise as the two struggle to agree on anything. But, neither can deny that they’re starting to fall for one another. As Zoe and Ethan struggle with their feelings, and their plans to save the inn, Ethan realizes he can’t carry out his father’s wishes without risking whatever it is he has with Zoe.Will Ethan help Zoe save the inn or will family obligations get in the way? Enjoy this first in series, enemies to lovers romance!Then, once you fall in love with Camden Cove, you can enjoy the rest of this sweet, shoretown romance series:The Inn by the CoveThe Farmhouse by the CoveThe Restaurant by the CoveThe Christmas Cottage by the CoveThe Bakery by the CoveAlso, check out Ellen Joy's sweet western romance series, Prairie Valley:Her Second Chance CowboyHer Next Door CowboyHer Pretend CowboyHer Fresh Start CowboyHer Christmas Cowboy Her Last Chance Cowboy
Eagle Eye Security: Complete 5-Part Series
Camilla Blake - 2019
They soon discover her house has been tossed, and everything with her company is not as it seems. With both of them on the run, Joshua enlists help from friends, who quickly end up in the cross hairs of a powerful private military group. Can Joshua put aside his quest for revenge long enough to save the beautiful financial wizard? Or will her own choices lead to results that are more than they can handle? Book Two What starts out as a light security job for Kincaid turns explosive as a young bartender named Mindy becomes the target of both a car bomb and a personalized, at home booby trap. But when an attorney from Mindy’s hometown is found murdered in his hotel room while on a trip to meet her, both security agent and barkeeper are quickly put under the microscope by local law enforcement. Forced to flee from the city, they must travel to the one place Mindy can confront her past and the troubles plaguing them both: the home she abandoned as she tried to put her past behind her. Book Three A routine bodyguard detail for a Japanese businessman goes south when Ben ends up at a local underground gambling hall as part of an evening of entertainment. Things get even worse when rivals to the local crime syndicate show up to cause problems, and both he and the hostess Elizabeth are forced to work together to rescue as many revelers and gamblers. Now, Ben is being tapped by a local fixer to find the gambling hall’s head of security, and if he refuses Elizabeth and her younger sister will be the ones held responsible. Ben will have to swallow his pride and work with the attractive woman if he wants to make it out alive. But can he do it, even as a third criminal organization appears seemingly from nowhere and begins to hunt the same man? Book Four He just wanted to deliver a letter from her dead brother. He didn’t want to end up protecting the gorgeous political campaign manager from a crazy stalker ex-boyfriend, or be responsible for trying to extract her former roommate from a communal religious cult. But, as the local Mayoral election heats up, Thomas and Rachel will find out there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to all the moving pieces in the local electoral game. Especially since the cult leader has a shady, murderous past, and is busy trying to secede from the city. Thomas will have to find a way to bring in the cult’s founder while also mustering the courage he needs to tell Rachel that he’s the one really responsible for her brother’s death. Book Five The owner and boss of Eagle Eye has had some of the worst jobs imaginable. At least, he thought so. Now, Mark Riley is forced to deal with hired killers and drug cartel hitmen as he tries to spark a war and save Paige Henry, the daughter of a Washington bureaucrat who can end Eagle Eye with nothing more than a stroke of her pen. The target of his rescue attempt, a covert CIA agent, is less than satisfied with the outcome. The only way she’ll let him return her home to “the company” is if he first helps her bring down the cartel that first kidnapped her. The only problem is that it’s the same cartel that invaded his own adopted city. Can Mark temper Paige’s desperate need for revenge? Or will she drag him down with her as he’s forced to confront Eagle Eye’s own involvement in the cartel’s rise to criminal power?
Her Billionaire Lifeguard
Sophia Summers - 2019
A woman in hiding. And a man who is determined to win her over. She won't even glance his way. Uninterested. Until she thinks he's just the lifeguard. Go figure. Then Trey discovers she's really the daughter of his deceased hero and business mentor. He will stop at nothing to help her even if it means pretending to be the hotel staff and hanging out in a local dive. But trust is hard won when you've seen betrayal and right when she needs him most, Trey might be on the outs forever. Join us in this story of charming Mexican vacation spots, humorous romantic moments, and a romance chockfull of heart warming efforts to win over the love of this billionaire's life. Grab your copy.