Book picks similar to
A Reckless Heart by Jennifer Wilck


romance
contemporary-romance
sweet-romance
beauty-and-the-beast

By All Appearances


Dawn Kinzer - 2019
    No matter what she does, Liana feels she never measures up.Bryan Langley, a talented musician, was close to signing a recording contract when a barn fire left part of his face severely burned. He survived, but his career did not.When Liana’s father hires Bryan as a caretaker on the family estate outside of Seattle, Liana’s and Bryan’s lives become entangled. He risks public humiliation for Liana’s success, and she encourages him to use his musical gifts, despite his reluctance. Thrown together, will they achieve their elusive dreams? And will the two find the love and acceptance they yearn for, or will their actions only drive each other away?

Mission: Believe


Stacy Eaton - 2019
    Shane Logan is lucky to have come from a privileged family, and after losing both of his legs in the war, he now has the best prosthetics that money can buy. While he is trying to move forward with life, he struggles with the past and the way people react to him and his disability. Dr. Lauren Falcone works tirelessly to help veterans deal with the trauma and pain of their deployments. Her unique virtual approach to therapy keeps her busy, and the assistance she provides to service members as they recover mentally helps her resolve her own anxieties. When Shane meets Lauren at a fundraiser for his father’s organization, he wonders if there just might be a chance for him to get his dream off the ground and maybe find a normal life with someone who can look past his flaws and see the man he is inside. Shane and Lauren are drawn to each other by their hope to make life easier for veterans, both physically and emotionally. Their goal is to build Shane’s dream organization, Rise Again Warrior, that will assist veterans to integrate more easily into society and have the opportunity to receive state-of-the-art technology and therapy. Now, if they can only have faith in themselves, learn to deal with their own demons, and believe in each other, they might find a way to bring this dream to fruition. The second book in the series will be released in May to coincide with Memorial Day.

The Sheikh King's Ward


Leslie North - 2021
    But he’s stunned when the “girl” turns out to be a twenty-seven-year-old American beauty, Fiona Nadide.According to a secret stipulation in her father’s will, Fiona will not obtain her inheritance and be free from guardianship unless she marries before her 28th birthday. But to Fiona, arranged marriages are archaic. She has absolutely no intention of getting married, and certainly not to a man handpicked by Bashar. The truth is, the only man she’s interested in is her smouldering guardian.As his ward, Fiona is strictly off limits to Bashar, and his advisors would be shocked if they knew where his thoughts about Fiona were drifting. Problem is, Bas can’t stop wishing he could have her for himself.

Felicity at the Cross Hotel


Helena Fairfax - 2017
    A few weeks hiking and swimming should restore her.But then the hotel’s new owner, Patrick Cross, takes Felicity for the replacement barmaid, and things don’t turn out quite to plan. With a grumpy chef, a waiter with love troubles, and the old Tudor building in need of renovation, Felicity’s quiet break soon turns into a working holiday.But Patrick’s dreams lie beyond the mountains, and Felicity’s loyalties lie with her family, and anyway, holidays can’t last forever...can they?

The Beast's Fake Marriage


Bree Livingston - 2018
    Now, with him in jail, she’s ready to start fresh in Dallas as a housekeeper for Rowan Masters—a well known lawyer and recluse.A car accident left Rowan Masters burned—both physically and emotionally. He’s spent the last twelve years hiding in his family home—and now, to keep his home he’s forced to marry.Isabeau loves the feeling of safety that Rowan’s mansion offers, and he needs a wife. When a marriage of convenience turns into something more, can they leave behind the nightmare of the past and find the beauty in loving each other?

It Started with a Sunset


Meg Easton - 2021
    Want to go on an adventure? She’s your gal. Want a serious relationship? She can probably introduce you to someone who does, but it’s not her.Brock McMillan spends his time striving for perfection, being a good older brother, and enjoying his job helping students get college scholarships. Oh, and disagreeing with Summer on pretty much everything that goes on in the office.Not that it’s purposeful. Their ideas are just kind of like their office spaces—Brock’s is minimalist and logical (but Summer will tell you it’s where ideas go to die) and Summer’s is lively, fun, and creative (but Brock will tell you it’s chaotic).They’re unwillingly teamed up to run Aquamoose Tracks together—the big overnight event put on by the Welcome Center at the university where they both work. And even though the event is literally all fun and games (and, okay, a healthy dose of info), neither of them thinks they’ll survive working together so closely.And they definitely never expect to fall in love.

The Hitchhiker in Panama


Liz Alden - 2021
     A backpack? Ready. A packed itinerary for Latin America? Planned. A hot sailor who wants to show me the world? Unexpected. Step One: I need a boat. I arrived in Panama with a limited budget for maximum exploration. I’ve only got a few months between my parents’ home in Sydney and the corporate world, so I better make the best of it. What I didn't plan on was meeting Eivind. He’s got broad shoulders, top-tier flirting, and a sexy accent that pulls me in. But giving into him could jeopardize my whole trip. Ukulele ballads, long walks in the jungle, and sharing the space of a small sailboat together means the tension will be off the charts by the time we make it to the Pacific Ocean. Eivind and his boat are sailing west, while I’m traveling south. I came here for an adventure, but now I might have an even bigger one. One hot night in Panama might change everything. The Love and Wanderlust Series by Liz Alden:The Night in Lover's Bay (prequel short story)The Hitchhiker in PanamaThe Sailor in PolynesiaThe Second Chance in the Mediterranean

Say Yes


Katy Kaylee - 2019
    Ryan grew up hot. And his perfect kiss just saved my life.Teasing eyes. Tempting lips. Muscles that could stop traffic.No wonder he’s a soap opera star.My voluptuous curves melted against his hard abs, and the next thing I knew, I was pregnant.My little brother’s gonna murder him, but only if he finds out.I’ve never been good at keeping secrets, and Ryan’s doing all he can to pry this new one out of me.What happens if I tell?The only thing worse than losing my family would be losing him.Has love always been a four letter word?

Cowboy's Convenient Marriage


Mary Sue Jackson - 2020
    Her entire life she believed she was a U.S. citizen, but it turns out she isn’t. Now, to claim her inheritance and continue running the company her late father just left to her, she has no choice but to get married—especially with her brother threatening to expose her non-citizenship and take over the company. If only she had someone in mind… And then she remembers sexy cowboy Emmett Sawyer, who as a teenager proposed to her, just to make her laugh. She never gave him an answer then, but now it’s a definite yes!Emmett’s reaction to marrying Charlie is an immediate and definitive no. She may be gorgeous, but getting married to a woman he’s barely seen since high school is not something he wants. That is, until he sees the conditions of his frail mother’s new nursing home and begins to rethink Charlotte’s impulsive proposal, which includes a nice cash influx for him and his struggling ranch.This fake marriage would give him enough money to take care of his mother and maybe even help lift his ranch out of debt. But when his and Charlotte’s fake kisses turn into the real thing and Emmett starts letting his heart get in the way of common sense, he realizes he’s in real danger of falling in love with his pretend wife…

Rest Thy Head


Elaine Cantrell - 2014
    She didn’t expect to live in the haunted room or to fall for the inn’s owner, a fire-scarred, war veteran who uses the inn to hide away from the world. She didn’t expect her sister to show up at Rest Thy Head either, much less her formidable mother. Now, thanks to the aid of a friendly ghost, Peyton has a shot at true love, and so does her sister Ashley, provided the guys cooperate of course!

Just for the Summer (Willowbury #3)


Fay Keenan - 2021
    While her three sons spend the summer holiday with their father, Kate has an opportunity to prove to herself that there is a new life, after her divorce.Harry Sinclair is the owner of Vale Volumes book shop on Willowbury High Street. Content, if a little bored with his lot, his shop, as well as his life, could do with freshening up. When Kate offers to spruce up Vale Volumes ready for the visit of a famous author, they find they have a lot more in common than colour schemes.But both have secrets and responsibilities, and when the trials of family life threaten their burgeoning friendship, can they overcome the experiences of their pasts? Will Somerset’s most magical town cast its spell on them? Or will Kate and Harry have to concede that their friendship really is just for the summer?Let Fay Keenan transport you to the perfect British summertime, with beautiful countryside, an unforgettable romance, and just the right dose of escapism. Perfect for all fans of Debbie Macomber, Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde.

Courted


Jennifer Chance - 2015
    But now I’ve got no choice.By the end of the week, I must give up my treasured military commission and take the throne. Given what my family’s already endured, I'll do it, too. There's no escape for me.Then, out on the edge of my beloved Aegean Sea, a dreamy-eyed American girl falls into my arms...and life as I know it will never be the same.Looks like we’ve got a brand new kind of fairy tale on our hands.

To Charm a Scarred Cowboy (Brides of Bethany Springs Book 1)


Charlotte Dearing - 2021
    The gruff cowboy is a man of honor. He’s never hesitated to risk his life and his scars bear the proof. The old wounds frighten most folks. His scarred face certainly scared off a fiancée a few years back.Since then, he’s resolved to lead a solitary life. He spends his days tending his family’s vast herds of longhorns. It’s just him, his animals, and the rugged Texas range. Life’s a tad lonesome but there’s no one to judge him.When his path crosses a woman on a runaway horse, Daniel forgets to hide his scars. The girl is in grave danger. His quick thinking saves Molly Collins, and the chance meeting draws Daniel out of seclusion.Molly is unlike any girl he’s met. Headstrong. Impossible. Aggravatingly beautiful. To his surprise, Molly leads a quiet life with no intention of marriage. Instead, Molly vows to fulfill a promise.She has no use for romance. But when Daniel learns of the danger that threatens Molly’s safety, he’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe. Even if it risks his stubborn heart.

Catching Waves


Kimberly Krey - 2019
    But will the painful parts of her past threaten to tear it away? Gage Craven has finally gained his famous father’s approval by agreeing to star in a Hollywood film. And while he’s basking in the feels of being his old man’s pride and joy, Gage can’t help but worry over the many ways he could lose it. Topping Dad’s must-do list are two very simple words: Stay Single. After all, what other father and son team could claim to have taken the title of Hollywood’s Most Eligible Bachelor? But when Carly Bridger surfs in and takes Gage’s life by storm, he stands to lose the relationship he worked so hard to earn. No doubt Carly’s worth the risk, but will Gage’s Hollywood ties scare her away? Second-grade teacher Carly Bridger is on the verge of breaking free from her past—namely, a cowboy poet named Jimmy who loves his broken heart more than her. Carly can only hope her summer job teaching surf at the Royal Palm will move her one step closer to the life she longs for. That hope comes to life when Hollywood hunk, Gage Craven, shows Carly she is able to feel something for another man after all. Yet just as hope for a future with Gage begins to flourish, the past she’s trying to forget comes back to haunt her. Will these crashing tides destroy their budding relationship, or will their new love be strong enough to survive the storm?

Broken Beast


Crystal Kaswell - 2021
    Until I offer her a lifeline: A million dollars to play my wife.Danielle Bellamy is mine.For the next year, the curvy photographer is staying in my secluded mansion, wearing my ring.A ruse, to exact revenge against the man who destroyed me.Only every time I gaze into her dark eyes, I forget we're pretending.Her kiss is intoxicating.Her touch is addicting.And when we finally fall into bed--It's not enough.I need more than her body.I need her everything.