Book picks similar to
Dear Maggie by Brenda Novak


brenda-novak
romance
contemporary-romance
harlequin

Devil's Gambit


Lisa Jackson - 1985
    Yet she couldnt help but feel relieved when Zane offered to buy her out. Though Tiffany didnt trust him, she was drawn to him like a magnet. What did this mysterious man want from herand why was he using a gambit with her heart? Lisa Jackson takes my breath away. New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller

Marriage by the Book (Born in the USA: Florida #9)


Joan Johnston - 1989
    So when her children gave her the book You Don't Have to Stay Single, she threw it away. Then she met sexy Tom Steele, and hurried back to the trash can.One heated look from pretty Megan and Tom realized something was missing from his life. But what did a rugged bachelor know about wooing a wife? Or becoming a daddy?

Deep in the Heart


Sharon Sala - 1995
    So she runs to the safety of her tiny Texas hometown, and to the sweet, haunting memories of John Thomas Knight. A dedicated small-town sheriff as tender as he is tough, John Thomas was Samantha's best friend, her first love—and now he is her only chance. Fate has carried them down different roads, but the fire has never died—and the passion flares white-hot the moment their eyes meet again. But this time Samantha must trust the proud, strong, devastatingly handsome lawman with more than her heart—she must trust him with her life. Because there is another man who wants her, and he's waiting for the right time to strike. And the next sweet, sensuous kiss she and John Thomas share could well be Samantha's last.

The Fireproof Girl


Loretta Lost - 2016
    When the constant danger became too much to bear, she ran away, thinking she could survive on her hacking skills alone.That was until she met Cole Hunter. He became the only person she could trust: her family, her friend, her partner-in-crime. Her everything. After struggling through college and starting their lives together, she believed that nothing could ever tear them apart. Until it did.When news of a brutal murder reaches Sophie, she’ll do everything in her power to fix what is broken. If it isn’t too late…---------When Cole was nine years old, he watched his whole family burn to death in a house fire. Fueled by years of obsession, he started one of the world’s leading architectural firms, with a mission to design homes resistant to fire, earthquakes, floods, and every threat known to man. Sophie was his secret weapon. She was his purpose. Since they were teenagers, he was determined to build a better life for her, so she could finally be safe, and they could be together. But disaster has always followed Cole around, ripping away everything he loves. This time, if he isn’t careful…His enemies might just take him down.

The Right Path


Nora Roberts - 1985
    But could Morgan's suspicions about the mysterious Greek tycoon withstand the all-consuming desire ignited by his kiss?

Trust


Pamela M. Kelley - 2014
     Her Fiance, David, is a former minor-league pitcher turned stockbroker who is surprised to discover that there are things he didn't know about Lauren. With the help of his 91 year old grandfather, & his friend Jack, the assistant sheriff, he searches for the truth.

Two Alone


Erin St. Claire - 1987
    Beautiful and self-confident businesswoman Rusty Carlson was hurt, terrified and alone with a man she feared. But one thing was certain--she would surely die without his help.Vietnam vet Cooper Landry had a deep-rooted grudge against beautiful women like Rusty. Experience had taught him they were takers. But he'd survived far worse dangers, and this time he'd be damned if he'd let her risk his chance for survival.But there were predators in the dense woods-- both animal and human--and the odds were against them. They could handle that. What Rusty and Cooper weren't prepared for was the discovery that they desired more than just survival--.

His Undercover Princess


Avery Flynn - 2016
    But the men who killed her entire family in a bloody coup have done just that and now they’re coming for her. All Elle wants is to disappear into anonymity again, but the panty-melting billionaire who kidnaps her isn’t about to let that happen.On the society pages, smoking hot financier Dominick Rasmussen is one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. As a secret resistance fighter, his one goal is to get Princess Eloise on the throne and restore the monarchy. The biggest problem? His stubborn and sexy undercover princess has no interest in ever wearing a tiara again.Their goals couldn’t be more opposed, but neither Dom nor Elle can deny the attraction bringing them closer together. As the stakes rise and danger increases, they are forced to choose between love and country…

Coming Home


Mariah Stewart - 2010
    But after years in seclusion, his sister’s wedding draws him to St. Dennis, a peaceful town on the Chesapeake Bay. Though he swears he isn’t interested in finding love again, Grady can’t ignore the mutual sparks that fly when he meets Vanessa Keaton.Although her past was marked by bad choices, Vanessa has found that coming to St. Dennis is the best decision she’s ever made. Bling, her trendy boutique, is a success with tourists as well as with the townspeople. She’s made friends, has a home she loves, and has established a life for herself far from the nightmare she left behind. The last thing she’s looking for is romance, but the hot new man in town is hard to resist. And when Vanessa’s past catches up with her, Grady finds that he’s unwilling to let her become a victim again. As together they fight her demons, Grady and Vanessa discover that life still holds some surprises and that love doesn’t always have to hurt.BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Mariah Stewart's Long Way Home.

Every Time I Think of You


Tracey Garvis Graves - 2014
    But when Daisy’s grandmother is killed in a seemingly random act of violence, Daisy must take steps to protect herself and her child. Despite a thriving career in San Francisco, thirty-six-year-old Brooks McClain has returned home to spend what little time his mother has left before she succumbs to the deadly disease that is ravaging her. The seasoned investigative reporter has taken a position with the local newspaper and been on the job less than twenty-four hours when he’s summoned to cover the death of Pauline Thorpe. Brooks is all business, but the more time he spends with Daisy DiStefano, the more invested he becomes; there’s something about a single mother, a defenseless child, and an unsolved crime that has stirred Brooks’s protective instincts like nothing ever has before. And when the unthinkable happens, Brooks will do whatever it takes to clear the name of the woman he’s fallen for and the child he’ll protect at any cost. Romantic and suspenseful, Every Time I Think of You shows how far two people will go to fight for the ones they love, and the life they’ve always imagined.

Blue Midnight


Tess Thompson - 2014
    “If you change your mind, here’s this.” It was the last kiss that ever weakened her knees, the last sky she noticed for over a dozen years. Then she left, returning to her fiancé, the wedding she’d committed to, and the secure life she’d yearned for since she was a little girl. Thirteen years later, her husband leaves Blythe for his young associate. Devastated, she’s unable to imagine the next chapter of her life as she packs her family’s belongings. With only the name of the small town where he once lived and the memory of their last kiss, Blythe heads across the Pacific Northwest in search of Finn. What she finds in the foothills of Blue Mountain challenges everything she thought she knew. She never expected the changes that face her, but it is her destiny…and destinies cannot be denied. The first book of the Blue Mountain series, laced with Thompson’s lovable but complex characters, Blue Midnight is a mature love story about second chances, family, and the complexities of trust and vulnerability after betrayal.

Lucky Charm


Carly Phillips - 2008
    Now, divorced and broke, all he has left is his teenage daughter and a healthy respect for ancient sorcery. But then Gabrielle returns, determined to defeat the curse and rekindle their passion. But will her stubborn streak and her unwavering love be the lucky charm Derek so desperately needs?

Serpent In Paradise


Stephanie James - 1983
    First time in eBook. A girl walks into a bar. When Amy Shannon enters The Serpent, a seedy island bar, she immediately catches the eye of Jase Lassiter. He knows she doesn't belong in his little hole in the wall, but he will do whatever it takes to keep her there.

A Whole New Light


Sandra Brown - 1989
    . . A WHOLE NEW LIGHT Cyn McCall knew she could always count on her late husband’s friend and business partner, Worth Lansing. He could make her laugh and forget her problems. She could tease him about his many romantic entanglements. The last thing Cyn expected was to find herself longing for a man who could never settle down.When Worth invites Cyn to a getaway weekend in Acapulco, he doesn’t expect to be sharing a room—or to respond to her the way he does to any beautiful woman. While he thinks it’s time Cyn stopped mourning and moved forward with her life, he can’t escape the feeling he’s betraying his friend’s memory. But even guilt can’t stop the desire that overwhelms him—and ultimately overtakes them both.Cyn wants to believe their night of passion was sparked by the exotic locale and intoxicating scent of hibiscus. But Worth knows they share something deeper, something that will outlast the Mexican sunglow. He knows he’s finally ready to stop playing games . . . if only Cyn would open her heart to new possibilities and the promise of love.

Barefoot with a Bodyguard


Roxanne St. Claire - 2015
    When former CIA consultant Gabe Rossi creates a secret “privatized witness protection” operation hidden within the security firm at the local resort, things get a little more suspenseful on the island paradise. Gabe’s clients need to keep a low profile and stay safe while he helps them create new identities...and, sometimes, they find love. (To find out how Gabe started the operation, be sure to read the series prequel novella, Barefoot Bound.)Barefoot with a Bodyguard – book one in the seriesAbout to take the bar exam after ending a five-year marriage that derailed her career plans and her life, Kate Kingston craves independence and a vacation. Somewhere warm with sea breezes, sunshine, sand...and no scary threats against her that have been showing up in her dad’s office. Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for some serenity while she studies and puts her life back together. But when she meets the brooding wall of muscle her father hired to protect her, Kate feels her hard won independence slipping away as fast as her resolve to avoid men who wield power over her.Mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov has been on the run for a long time. Guarding a young attorney-to-be while pretending to be her husband is not a bad way to live off the grid, hidden from the Russian mobster who is hunting Alec with deadly intent. But Kate brings out a tender side Alec doesn't understand, or believe he deserves, and he soon realizes that keeping them both safe is only half the challenge. Keeping his hands off her and his attraction under control will be every bit as difficult in the closed quarters of an exclusive resort.When their make-believe honeymoon in paradise turns sensual, complicated, and dangerous, Alec and Kate realize it’s not just their lives that are in jeopardy, it’s their hearts. And they’ll have to fight to the end to save each other…and their love.Don’t Miss a Minute in Barefoot Bay - they can be read and enjoyed in any order and all stand alone!"Plenty of heat, humor, and heart!" -- USA Today Happily Ever After"Fun and engaging! A celebration of family and forgiveness!" -- Publishers Weekly"Lively, light, pure entertainment!" -- Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling authorBAREFOOT BAY UNDERCOVERBarefoot Bound – The Undercover Series PrequelBarefoot with a Bodyguard (June 2015)Barefoot with a Stranger (October 2015)Barefoot with a Bad Boy (Date announced soon – Gabe’s book!)THE BAREFOOT BAY BILLIONAIRESSecrets on the Sand (always free!)Seduction on the SandScandal on the SandTHE BAREFOOT BAY BRIDESBarefoot in White (currently free!)Barefoot in LaceBarefoot in Pearls