Book picks similar to
Down to Business by J.C. Alexander


new-adult
college
contemporary-romance
romance

Distraction


Angela McPherson - 2014
    The longing for him to love her back is something she keeps well hidden, even from herself. No matter how many miles apart they are, regular phone calls and texts keep them close…until the day everything changes.Wide Receiver Tristan Daniels has a good thing going. Much to his, and every single woman’s surprise, he’s in a committed relationship. The possibility of going pro looks more than promising…until his spur of the moment transfer to a rival college is approved. Now, Tristan will be forced to be in the presence of the woman he’s secretly loved for as long as he can remember. Elle.Being away from one another was enough to keep Tristan and Elle distracted, but angst, confusion, and troubled secrets launches them into a breathless, heart pumping story you won’t want to miss!Recommended for ages 18+

Summer Girl


Sophie Hill - 2013
    Every summer the tiny beachside town of Hidden Cove, North Carolina is flooded with wealthy tourists, with their money and their arrogance and their promise of casual flings. And to Slade, bouncer, brawler, heartbreaker, they’re the perfect way to drown his pain and quiet the demons roaring in his head. But Heather Tremaine is different. Quietly beautiful, deeply hurt, she’s a mystery that Slade finds himself desperately needing to solve. When he realizes that she’s on a quest for the truth about her past, a quest that will take her into dangerous territory, he’s determined to protect her at all costs. But Heather not the only one with secrets…and the last time Slade tried to protect someone he loved, it cost him everything. Will he fight for his love, or will his Summer Girl fade like the seasons? By the end of the summer, Heather will find out that the truth is more shocking than anything she’d ever anticipated…and she’ll make a choice that will change all of their lives forever.

Make it Last


Bethany Lopez - 2012
    Suddenly single, Briana focuses her energy on her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when Bri finally feels like she's on the right path, Colin comes back to town. Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.Make it last is the first novella in the Friends & Lovers Trilogy. You can read all three books, plus a bonus ending for each couple, in the Friends & Lovers Trilogy Box Set. Series Reading Order:Make it LastI Choose YouTrust in Me

This Love


Nazarea Andrews - 2013
    He wants an assistant and a distraction from the mess his life had become.They didn't know they needed each other.Avery Emili needs two grand. Two grand and a plane ticket--her sister is counting on her to get to Jamaica for her wedding. But the semester is over, and tutoring college freshman and high school students has dried up until the fall.Atticus Grimes needs help--the messy split with his wife left the twenty-eight year old professor scrambling to keep things together as the semester winds down. Now he's got a research grant he has to actually do research for and all he wants to do is drown himself in a tall bottle of bourbon.When Avery sees his ad for an assistant, all she's thinking is a summer job. But as they spend time together, in the office and out, both of them begin to realize something is there. Something that can't happen--he's a professor and she's a student. And both of them have histories, pasts that won’t let go. Can two broken people pulled apart by expectations find a way to be whole?

Saving Amy


Nicola Haken - 2013
    She drinks, she sleeps around, she cuts… anything to help her escape the agonising existence growing up between her mother’s drunken wails and her father’s fists. But nothing works. There is no escape. And Amy wants out…Enter Richard Lewis – the doctor responsible for saving Amy’s life after her drink and drug-fuelled suicide attempt. Thanks to his own hidden demons, Richard is drawn to Amy and her situation, and despite the incessant warnings from both his own mind and his jealous ex-lover Joanna, he feels compelled to help her.But how will Amy feel when she discovers Richard’s attachment to her is born out of his own guilt? He was her last resort – her last chance at being saved. Can anybody save Amy, or has she finally reached the end of a very long, torturous road?(Not suitable for under 18's due to language, scenes of self-harm and sexual content)

Striking


Lila Felix - 2013
    The worst part, her parents are following through on threats after this latest plea for attention. Banished from her L.A. paradise and plunged into the Appalachian Mountains with her industrious aunt and uncle, Cami is about to find out how precious life really is. Stockton Wright has been thrust into a hard life. He sacrifices everything to give his family and community what they need. He’s exhausted from life and work—and he’s only twenty four. What he needs is some change, and some sunshine. Even he will agree to that. He just doesn’t expect to find it in a stuck up, pompous, entitled Californian. Cami bursts into Stockton’s life like wildfire, consuming all his thoughts and tangling him in her web. What starts out as a contentious rivalry evolves into a desire neither of them expected. When hammer meets metal, will they crack under pressure or be forged as one?Cami and Stockton might just end up being exactly what the other one needs, but first their love will have to be drawn out in fire.

Promise Me, Cowboy


C.J. Carmichael - 2013
    Unfortunately, bronco rider Dawson O’Dell neglected to mention he was married the night he invited her to his bed after they’d both placed first in their rodeo events. When his wife walked in on them – Sage was deeply hurt and humiliated. After an accident in the ring the next day, Sage decides she’s quitting the rodeo–and cowboys—to become a chocolatier in her hometown ranching community, Marietta, Montana. She’s doing just fine, but then Dawson shows up —five years later, with a little girl in tow. He’s here for the Copper Mountain Rodeo hoping to win big. But he’s also got plans of settling down with his daughter and buying a house—the very same one that Sage has been dreaming about. He says he’s here for her and he’s making lots of promises. But can he keep them?

College Girl


Sheila Grace - 2013
    He's the teacher. And their worlds are about to collide ...In her second term of college Alex Reed has one thing on her mind: passing Calculus. So when her professor introduces Ryan Matthews, the new TA, she writes him off in a second. Tall, hotter than hell—clearly a major ego case. Whatever. Guys like him don’t notice girls like her. Besides, she’s never even kissed a guy, so her sex-crazed roommate can have Mr. Hot.Ryan Bennett left the family business and his pill-popping ex-fiancée to do something for himself. Then, only months before finishing his doctorate under an assumed name, he walks into his advisor’s freshman Calculus class and sees her. Alex Reed. The last thing he needs. Young, inexperienced—and off limits. But when someone who shouldn't follows her across campus at night, he’s forced to do something about it.What happens next will change their lives forever.Reader discretion is advised. This book is NOT appropriate for readers under 18 or those who are easily offended. It contains numerous explicit sexual situations, strong profanity throughout, violence, underage drinking, and other themes not intended for sensitive readers.

Drowning in Love


Beth Rinyu - 2013
    She had it all. Until the day her past, present and future were taken away, leaving her to face the world scared and alone. Trying to pick up the pieces of her broken life, while mourning the devastating loss of her fiancé she just goes through the motions as an empty shell.Enter Travis Montgomery, Olympic swimmer and totally gorgeous. He has several medals under his belt and just as many women. Mia is well aware of his womanizing reputation and refuses to be his next conquest, but finds herself coming alive again whenever she’s around him. They agree to be “just friends,” quickly finding that they are unable to fight the attraction between them. Mia’s life becomes complete once again with Travis in it; but nothing good lasts forever, at least not in Mia’s world. Torn apart by an ugly secret, Mia’s heart is broken once again. When the unthinkable happens and Travis needs Mia the most, she must reach deep inside to find forgiveness for the one man who will always hold the key to her shattered heart. But will doing so only break it further; this time beyond repair?

Someday Girl


Melanie Shawn - 2014
    Going away to college meant a fresh and new start for the girl who lived locked away in a prison of insecurities. She was ready to experience new things and meet new people. But she wasn’t ready for him…Jace Butler had experienced things that no person should have to. Trying to come to terms with his past and live in the present was a constant struggle for the man whose demons lie dormant beneath the skin of his rippling body and sexy smile. But when she walked into his life, the chance for a better life came with her…After finding each other, Cat and Jace also find that both past and present issues are trying to ruin their chance for a better future. Issues that will have to be dealt with for once and for all…together or apart.

Give Me Something


Elizabeth Lee - 2013
    I learned a long time ago that sometimes you have to use what you've got to make things happen. What I happen to have is a pretty smile, long legs and the ability to make men believe anything I say. Before you get on your high horse and start judging me, can you honestly say you've never batted your lashes at some guy for a free drink at the bar? That's what I thought. Keep that in mind as I tell you my story of how I took it one step further. My story of lies, deceit, manipulation and love. Yeah, love. Believe me, it fits. Especially, when you factor in Nick and Tucker – one had my heart and the other one wanted it all for himself. Which one? Well, I can't tell you that. It would defeat the purpose of the story. If I'm going to fill you in about me, Lila Garrison, and my life as a con artist you're going to need to know all the facts, including the ones about the two guys who made me want to give up the life of fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and easy money. Because sometimes, one person can give you something that's more valuable than all of that.If you're still interested, stick around. Just remember, I'm pretty good at convincing people to do what I want, so if by the end of this whole thing you feel worked over, don't say I didn't warn you.COVER REVEAL FEBRUARY 7th!

Wrong Girl


Lauren Crossley - 2014
    I don't promise my readers or guarantee my characters a 'Happy Ever After...' Happy endings are harmonious but they're not always real life. I'm a sucker for bittersweet endings so please prepare yourself for one of them before purchasing one of my novels. Hearts and flowers won't be found in my writing and neither will perfect conclusions to my stories.This book is the first in the 'Wrong Girl' series."You don’t think I know how messed up this is? You think I don't know how sick and twisted it is of me to want you? I know this is wrong. I know I shouldn't even be thinking about you in this way but that doesn't change the fact that I do! Samantha, I want you every second of every minute of every day and it’s killing me. I can't stay away from you anymore, I just can't do it. I need you and I know you feel the same way about me. We belong together and nothing you say or do is going to convince me otherwise. When I’m with her... I’m aching for you, I physically hurt because I can't be with you and I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do to make this right! The idea of never being able to have you is making me crazy. You're driving me insane and I'm seriously close to losing my mind if you tell me I can't have one more night with you. You’re not the wrong girl, Samantha, she is.” – Zack.“There are roughly seven billion people in the world. Seven billion people and I’ve somehow managed to fall in love with the only person I can’t have. The only man on this earth who I can’t be with and who I should never, ever want. He’s my soul mate, my saviour and the only man I need. He’s also my sister’s fiancé.” - Samantha.Samantha is 23 and broken. She’s always been the one and only disappointment within her superficial and judgemental family. Over the years she’s given up on the idea of pleasing them, the only one who’s ever treated her fairly is Rachel and that’s why she doesn’t mind when all of the praise and glory is bestowed upon her older and extremely beautiful sister. She has never envied Rachel before… until now.Samantha feels something for her sister’s fiancé from the first moment that she sees him. He’s kind, gentle, unbelievably gorgeous and incredibly off-limits. She knows she shouldn’t want him but no matter what she does she can’t seem to get him out of her head. Of course all of the guilt and emotional torment that she’s dealing with is pointless because he doesn’t feel the same way about her… does he?Zack doesn’t understand the indescribable, overwhelming connection that he feels to his fiancé’s younger sister. At first he convinces himself that he only feels sorry for her, he doesn’t understand why the family he’s marrying into treat her like an outcast. He’s determined to find out what happened to this girl to make her so introverted and distrustful but even Rachel advises him to leave well alone. How long can Samantha and Zack deny what they’re feeling and stay away from one another? And will he still be there for her after he discovers her dark secret, one that she’s concealed for sixteen years?Decisions must be made and hearts will inevitably be broken when Zack is forced to make his choice. He’s always believed his attraction for Samantha to be wrong and he has come to despise himself for wanting the wrong girl but what if his own fiancé might just be the wrong girl for him?Wrong Girl is a story about forbidden love, envy, passion and heartache, a story about two people who fall in love in the very worst of circumstances.*** This New Adult romance novel contains mature themes, strong language, sexual citations and possible triggers regarding sexual abuse that may distress some readers. It is recommend for readers 18+***

Trust Me


R.S. Burnett - 2013
    Their relationship is friendship with a lot of insults, flirting and sexual tension.Brooke doesn't know what to make it of it either, especially when Tucker seems to be her very own dream catcher.Tucker understands the relationship, he respects Brooke, he likes her and when he finds out what she's been hiding from, he feels protective of her. That doesn't mean he won't hurt her though.Even though she's been hurt by everyone in her life, Brooke still finds herself giving in and surrendering, especially when those bright baby blue eyes stare up at her and those soft, full lips that surround a crocked grin, whisper the two words that take her breath away ... she knows that she say should no, she knows that the answer has to be no, she knows that she can't afford to say yes, but she always does, who knew that the most seductive words in the world could be the two that shatter it all in the end? After all, all he said was ... Trust me.

That's a Promise


Victoria Klahr - 2013
    I’ve been to hell only to find it never really leaves when you get back. It haunts me through nightmares, unrequited love, lies, broken hearts, and now death. A monster almost took my life.My best friend carries half my soul a world away. My boyfriend broke my heart but refuses to let me go. And my father is dead.I don’t believe in fate and I don’t believe in happily-ever-afters, but for some reason, I still hope. Live, even with a tainted spirit.Long for my other half to come back to me. Risk another broken heart, just to feel loved again. And refuse to let another horror break me. In the face of my most recent tragedy, I have to decide whether forgiveness is something I can give. But even if that’s an option, can I be forgiven?(That's a Promise is book 1 in a 3 part series, and the new/ updated version will be available 10-10-2014)

Needing You


T. Renee Fike - 2013
    She does what she needs to get by and doesn't have time for friends let alone a boyfriend. She’s determined to push people away, but there’s one person who’s eager to get to know her. Tuck is a sexy bad boy who doesn't do relationships and makes no apologies for his own actions. He sets his eyes on the strong, independent Harper and will not take no for an answer. Will Tuck be able to change his bad boy ways to show Harper who he really is? Does he want to or does he only want her as another notch on his bedpost? Both Harper and Tuck have secrets that they’d rather hide and forget but secrets always have a way of coming out. Will Tuck and Harper be able to deal with their personal demons or will it rip them further apart? Will everything Harper worked so hard for crumble to the ground or will she realize that needing you is all she has ever really needed?