Book picks similar to
The Marker (The Bridge, #1) by Ann Howes


first-reads
romance
mafia
romance-contemporary

Just Another Silly Love Song


Rich Amooi - 2020
    Lori Martin is a positive and upbeat DJ, known for playing love songs and dedications. Ben Baxter dishes out no-nonsense, in-your-face relationship advice. Total opposites. Never in a million years would they want to work together.Fired for losing her cool after her boyfriend breaks up with her on the air, Lori surprisingly receives a job offer for the coveted morning show at the radio station across town where Ben works. She thinks she’s replacing him, but finds out they want to team up Lori with her archenemy to set the air waves on fire and boost ratings. Financially strapped, she can’t turn down the job.While their on-air fireworks and explosive chemistry make for great listening, what in the world will happen after work hours?The new feel-good romantic comedy everyone is talking about!

A Summer to Remember


Erika Montgomery - 2021
    But when a mysterious package arrives containing a photograph of her mother and famous movie stars Glory Cartwright and her husband at a coastal film festival the year before Frankie's birth, her life begins to unravel in ways unimaginable.What begins is a journey along a path revealing buried family secrets, betrayals between lovers, bonds between friends. And for Frankie, as the past unlocks the present, the chance to learn that memories define who we are, and that they can show us the meaning of home and the magic of true love.Experience the salty breeze of a Cape Cod summer as it sweeps through this sparkling, romantic, and timeless debut novel tinged with a love of old Hollywood."The perfect read for summer. A novel with depth, real emotions, lyrical writing, and flawed characters with whom to fall in love."--New York Times bestselling author Karen White

One Wrong Turn


Deanna Lynn Sletten - 2019
     When his estranged wife, Jess, has a terrible accident leaving her lying in a coma, Clay Connors returns to his family to care for his two daughters. He has been separated from his family for nearly two years and his eldest daughter, Maddie, is resentful over his being absent. Sadly, his youngest daughter, Jilly, barely remembers him. Clay’s reasons for staying away now seem self-serving in the light of their family’s tragedy. The past washes over Clay as the memories of what led up to their separation envelope him and his future hangs in the balance over whether or not his wife will wake up. Can they be a family again, or is he too late? One Wrong Turn is a story of time lost and redemption as Clay and his daughters struggle to reconnect and learn to trust again in the wake of a tragedy. (This is a re-release of the book by the same title: One Wrong Turn)

Heartless Prince


Brook Wilder - 2021
    Book 1 of the Cavazzo Mafia trilogy. This is not a standalone.WARNING: This book contains scenes that may be disturbing to some readers.

Road To Me


Erica Andrews - 2018
    Which at this point is very little now, because let's face it. How much dignity can one have sliding down the hall naked?" Doughnuts are the reason everything bad happens in my life. My Divorce. My Car. My inability to tell myself no. But you know, I also blame the sugary goodness for leading me to Kasper, Damon, and Dean. Starting over in a small town was never part of my plan.Meeting three attractive men the day I arrive kind of helps. So this is me.. I'm starting a new job, and working on making myself happier while i get to know who I am. These guys? They're the sprinkles on top. This is a slow burn reverse harem

Ms. Bitch


Tricia O'Malley - 2020
    A happy marriage, a successful career as a novelist, and an exciting cross-country move ahead. Tess has always played by the rules and it seems like life is good.Except it’s not. Life is a bitch. And suddenly so is Tess.When Tess discovers the truth about her marriage, she decides it’s time to live the life she’s always wanted, despite what her family and snake of an ex-husband expect of her.Tess throws caution to the wind and embraces her lifelong dream of exploring the world. Her first stop – scuba diving in Mexico. The sharks she can handle, but the handsome Scottish diving instructor with the flirtatious smile and broad shoulders has Tess tied in knots. With her hard-won independence on the line, Tess must decide what’s scarier – learning to love again or letting her past control her future.

A Very Nice Girl


Imogen Crimp - 2022
    Not with her wealthy classmates at the selective London Conservatory where she unexpectedly wins a place after university, not with the family she left behind, and definitely not with Max, a man she meets in the bar where she sings for cash. He’s everything she’s not—rich, tailored to precision, impossible to read—and before long Anna is hooked, desperate to hold his attention, and determined to ignore the warning signs that this might be a toxic relationship.As Anna shuttles from grueling rehearsals to brutal auditions, she finds herself torn between two conflicting desires: the drive to nurture her fledgling singing career, which requires her undivided attention, and the longing for human connection. When the stakes increase, and the roles she’s playing—both on stage and off—begin to feel all-consuming, Anna must reckon with the fact that, in carefully performing what’s expected of her as a woman, she risks losing sight of herself completely.Both exceedingly contemporary and classic, A Very Nice Girl reminds us that even once we have taken possession of our destinies we still have the power to set all we hold dear on fire.

Behind the Glass


Kristen Morgen - 2014
    Then she meets a handsome stranger/secret admirer named Michael Vale one fateful late night at a bookstore café. As a focused but struggling photographer with a passion for art, her outwardly happy world is turned upside down during this life-changing encounter when she quickly realizes she has met her soul mate. The undeniable attraction between them and their intense, immediate connection seem picture perfect as they discuss the shop’s local artwork, until Rebecca abruptly ends the chance meeting with no explanation.Betraying Brett, her loyal, loving boyfriend, is something Rebecca can never bring herself to do. Driven by a strong moral code and molded by divorced parents and a tumultuous childhood, she struggles to stay away from Michael, but fate and circumstance intervene, bringing them back together time and time again. As much as she resists, there is no denying her true feelings for him and the simple fact that Michael understands her in a way Brett never has. Michael proves to be everything she’s ever wanted, but remains just out of her reach.Behind the Glass tells the story of Michael and Rebecca’s extraordinary love and the many unconventional stages their relationship must go through. Their morals and their faith in true love and in each other will be put to the test as they learn that meeting one’s soul mate does not come without obstacles.

Every Little Piece of Him


Debra Kayn - 2018
    She takes you into the lawless mountain life where rugged men with a past leave you gripping your chair and holding your breath as she emotionally and physically strips down the most unlikely characters.Anders Stone trusts no one, except the other four who escaped with him to the Bitterroot Mountains to hide from their past. Cocooned at Stone Lair and in the wilderness around him, he can keep his crimes hidden as long as he never becomes involved with anyone else.Then, he hears Iliana sing, and he jeopardizes everyone's freedom.She's an addiction he can't quit, even when the danger surrounding him grows closer.The moment Iliana finishes her last song for the night and accepts the invite to meet the owner of Stone Lair, she knew there was something special between them. His age gives her security. His rugged, sexy looks turn her on. His reign over what he's built for himself on the mountain amazes her.He's everything she's ever wanted, but it's not enough.He's a loner, and she wants every little piece of him.

Underboss


Kristen Proby - 2021
    But he doesn’t mind because his family means more to him than his life. Which is why he's determined to make those responsible for the death of his aunt and uncle pay—in inventive and gruesome ways. And what better way to do that than to infiltrate the Russian mafia from the inside? It’s a good thing the bratva’s princess is stunning and seemingly willing to do whatever he asks. This vengeance could be the perfect mix of business and pleasure.Nadia Tarenkov has several things stacked against her: she’s a woman, and she’s not the eldest child in her family. But it doesn’t matter. She has her sights set on ruling the syndicate, and she always gets what she wants. When the heir to one of the States’ most powerful crime families comes knocking, Nadia sees it for the gift it is. He thinks he has her fooled, but she’s smarter, more cunning, and always two steps ahead. She’ll beat the gorgeous mobster at his own game, and secure her place in the fold.What neither of them takes into consideration, however, is that they aren’t the only ones with deadly plans in motion. To survive, they’ll have to come clean and work together—and acknowledge that the growing love they’ve been pretending isn’t there, is very real.

Desire: A Contemporary Romance Box Set


R.R. Banks - 2018
    A second chance with her is all I need.Book 2 - Saving HerShe's running for her life - scared and pregnant.Calee awakens the f*cking beast inside me.I will save, guard, and protect her.Book 3 - Snow and the 7 HunksHello, Enchanted Woods, an exclusive retreat for worn-out girls like me.A cowboy, an athlete, and a biker... maybe even a billionaire too.Seven is my lucky charm. Let's see which one is my happily-ever-after...Book 4 - Her HunkI let her go once, but I won't make that same mistake twice.Especially, now that she's in danger.I'm falling for Eleanor, and I'll risk everything to save her.Book 5 - Her TycoonWorlds collide, and pasts catch up.Can an alpha billionaire and a struggling single mother overcome everything for a future together?*** Desire is a Collection of 5 steamy stand-alone romance novels. No cliffhanger, no cheating, and plenty of steam. ***

Love is What You Bake of it


Effie Kammenou - 2020
    Later, when tragedy strikes, truths are revealed that leave Kally brokenhearted and untrusting.Eight years later, Kally is a successful pastry chef running the café she’d always dreamed of owning. With a home of her own, a profession she’s passionate about, and the support and love of friends and family, Kally is content with the life she has carved out for herself.Until the day Max Vardaxis walks into her café…With arguing parents, meddling relatives, an overly energetic grandmother, a man-crazy best friend, and the long ago, mysterious disappearance of a grandfather, this new man in town is just one more complication in Kally’s life, if not the main one.Kally must now decide whether to keep her heart safe or to once again take a ‘whisk on love.’

Sam's Folly


Carmen DeSousa - 2020
    He stepped up. He also never wanted to be a hero, but he and his search dogs can sense danger a mile away…So when a bigwig fight promoter needs someone to search for his missing fiancée, Sam’s more than a little reluctant. His family's company is in financial trouble, though, so if searching for a spoiled socialite will save it, then he's willing to break the rules — just this once.After witnessing a murder, Nora Molina needs to get away fast, and her best hope to escape without her passport is Alaska. A native of Argentina, Nora's accustomed to harsh winters and high elevation, so she gets more than a little irritated when some tracker thinks she needs rescuing. Even if he is get-out sexy. And even if he's the guy she stood up before leaving town. It's going to be a long few days.When an unexpected storm rolls in, Sam and Nora find themselves in each other's arms — to keep warm. Things get a little too hot when it's clear someone wants the two of them to stay lost — permanently.

Scarred


Vivian Gray - 2018
     I never lose control. Being a mob boss means keeping a tight rein on my emotions, my body, my business. But then I saw the fear in her innocent eyes, begging me to let her go… And I knew I had to make her mine. ANTON Buying things has lost its thrill. No one ever warned me about that particular downside of being a mafia billionaire. But winning things… Seizing anything you want from the weaker, the helpless, the cowardly… That still gets my blood churning. So, when the girl’s idiot boyfriend wagered her in a desperate final poker hand, I knew she was meant to be mine. She thinks I’m joking when I tell her to go wait for me. But I’ve never been more serious. And my armed bodyguard convinces her this is the farthest thing from a prank. Now, when the time is right, I will go back to where she is chained. I will lift up her pretty chin and stare straight into those gorgeous, helpless eyes. And I will tell her the sick truth of her frightening new reality: You belong to me now, kitten. SCARRED is a full-length, standalone, super steamy, bad boy mafia romance novel from bestselling author VIVIAN GRAY. This suspenseful, action-packed mafia romance is intended for mature audiences, due to violence, strong language, dark themes and elements, and explicit intimate scenes. The romance between the alpha male bad boy and the fiery woman he can't resist ends with a guaranteed happily ever after (HEA) ending, has absolutely NO CHEATING, and does NOT include a cliffhanger of any kind.

Toby


David Johnson - 2016
    Her formerly chaotic life seems to be settling down, until a peaceful walk in the woods leads Symphony and Toby to the reclusive cabin of Caleb Showalter, who knows more about her past than he’s telling.When an old friend resurfaces and expresses his affection, Symphony warily longs for love, and it is Toby that nudges her toward pursuing a reconnection. But when violence strikes at the hands of her possessive boyfriend, Symphony’s trust is shattered once again.Just when Symphony’s faith in humanity seems lost, Toby is injured in the woods, and she has no choice but to reach out to Caleb for help. Together, they face their fears and lost trust head-on. If they can save Toby, they might be able to let go of the past and to believe in the goodness of others—and themselves—once again.