Book picks similar to
Guarding Her Heart by Laura Haley-McNeil
romance
suspense
mystery
indie-romance
Steal My Heart (Small-Town Romance Collection): Second Chance Romance & Sweet Inspirational Romance
Kimberley Montpetit - 2021
These five small-town novels will keep you reading and your heart fluttering all night long!THE SECRET OF A KISSA lonely stretch of highway, a handsome stranger, and a long-kept secret that could wreck everything.
Linden Adair is a talented makeup artist on the New York Broadway show, Phantom of the Opera, creating the hideous scar for the actor who plays the phantom every night. But nobody knows the deep scars Linden carries after the divorce from her husband, Mark Denly—who is the famous director of Phantom.UNBREAK MY HEARTCaitlin Webster suffers the worst New Years' Eve of her life when she discovers her fiancé with his old girlfriend. Soon, Caitlin finds herself in the snowy wilds of Montana almost run over by a red monster truck careening across the icy roads. It’s not the most fortuitous of encounters with contractor Quentin Hudson who's doing a remodel for her aunt's Snow Valley Bed & Breakfast and Caitlin avoids the man like the plague despite the fireworks that erupt between them. MOSTLY DANGEROUSSofia Ambrose is on the brink of a new career, far from the dark secrets of her family’s historic Texas estate, when she and her five sisters are summoned home for the reading of her grandmother’s will—a grandmother who, at 88-years-old, is still alive and kicking. But the truth is more shocking than she could have imagined. Her grandmother has turned Ambrose Estate over to Sofia, and she must give up every hope of a regular life in order to run it and protect her family’s legacy. When several dangerous oil fires break out and she meets firefighter Gavin Spencer, Sofia's life will never be the same again. If you like romantic chemistry and moody mysteries, then you’ll adore this sweet and smoldering love story.THE CHRISTMAS HIDEAWAYMy Christmas Plan This Year:Option 1: Spend Christmas with nosy family members picking at my personal life...or lack thereof. No thank you!Option 2: Spend Christmas in Los Angeles all alone. Not a chance!Option 3: A small-town cozy holiday getaway. Yes please!!One small problem: Logan Redmond. Revé Chatham sure knows how to pick 'em. After two failed engagements, she thinks she's found “the one”, only to have it end—in a very public disaster just before the holidays. All she wants is a man who truly loves her and a kiss that takes her breath away.THE NEIGHBOR’S SECRETEthan Smith:Friend? Yes.Foe? Probably.Enemy? Maybe.Lover? Hopefully! After being left at the altar on her wedding day, Allie returns to her quirky hometown by the ocean, but her nerves are shattered by an intruder on the very first night. The intruder is devastatingly handsome, but she soon learns that he’s using a fake name and has old ties to small-town Heartland Cove that will turn her entire life upside down, especially when her ex-fiancé shows up and wants her back.FREE in Kindle Unlimited!KimberleyMontpetit.comClick the Follow button for Kimberley and never miss a single new release! Now go fall in love all over again!
Becoming Me
Staci Stallings - 2018
Just ask her. She’ll tell you. After all, he is her sister’s best friend, “royalty” in her high school, a senior, and so talented he would never notice a nobody like her. So Paige resorts to pouring her non-existent feelings for Nelson into a very special notebook, a notebook of the words that cascade through her without her knowing how or where they come from. She’s always been like that, writing words that are poetic, ephemeral, and too precious to share with anyone else. But what happens when she loses the notebook that contains the words that are such a part of her? Worse, when Nelson starts to want to hang out, can she play it cool or will he learn all the secrets she’s been keeping from everyone, even herself? Nelson Samuels knows he’s always been a little weird. For as long as he can remember, he’s done his best to keep just how weird a secret from those closest to him. Yes, they know he writes music. What they don’t know is that he hears music in haunting melodies all the time. Having learned to capture some of them into notes on a page, he struggles to share just enough of his talent without risking anyone knowing all of it. It’s only when Nelson starts to notice his best friend’s younger sister that life is about to dare him to open the deepest secrets he holds about himself to someone else. Will he be brave enough to share the imagination side of him, or will he forever stay trapped in knowing he has this amazing gift but being too afraid to share it with anyone? “Becoming Me” begins The Imagination Series by USA Today Best-Selling Christian author Staci Stallings. This set of stories begins in the very real world and takes the reader on a journey to learn that we all have gifts and talents, and those were placed inside of us by a God Who loves us and wants us to learn to use them—for ourselves, for our friends and family, for the world, and for His Kingdom. Come along on this journey that dares to ask what would happen if we all stopped judging our differences and started celebrating them instead.
Marked
Kaylea Cross - 2014
She hasn’t seen Jake in years but her former college friend told her he’d always be there for her and she definitely needs him now. Even though her feelings for him go far deeper than friendship and just being around him risks her heart, she would do anything to keep those she loves safe from a madman bent on unleashing hell.Only one man from her past can helpFBI Special Agent Jake Evers made the biggest mistake of his life when he let Rachel slip through his fingers over two years ago. It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t seen her since then—if she needs him, he’ll be there. When he learns that she’s the target of a domestic terror cell, he’ll do everything in his power to keep her safe. He’s never gotten over her and won’t risk losing her again now that she’s reappeared in his life. But the threat is more widespread than they realized and now it’s a race against time to keep her and scores of innocent civilians alive.
Cooking Up Love
Gemma Brocato - 2013
Jemima George leads a charmed life as a personal chef and assistant to reality television's latest darling. But that changes in a New York minute when her Aunt Caro dies under odd circumstances, bequeathing her a small restaurant. Jem plans to sell the cafe and continue her life in NYC, until a dramatic phone call from her cheating boyfriend convinces her to experiment with the ingredients for happiness and accept her Aunt's legacy. Throwing herself into remodeling the restaurant with the help of the town's delicious contractor, Jem revamps the menu and renews her faith in herself. Jack Kerrigan considered Caro a surrogate mother and hates the idea that the cafe could be sold. He doesn't need the remodeling project, but if it means Caro's beautiful, fascinating niece will stay to run the restaurant, he's all in. He wouldn't mind being savory to Jem's sweet. Jack's brassy ex-wife is cooking up a scheme of her own, where Jack tosses Jem like a salad and comes back to her. Fold in a creepy attorney hiding secrets of environmental mayhem, add Jem's claustrophobia, half-pint niece and nephew twins, one mysterious lockbox, and bring to a boil-a recipe for romance. A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance
Follow a Wild Heart
Bobby Hutchinson - 1987
Logan Baxter spots her winning the log rolling competition at the timber show and is instantly smitten. Logan is single, social and fond of electricity, indoor plumbing and gas heat.Karena dislikes cities, crowds, and strangers. Can a stubborn 12 year old boy and a capricious moose calf addicted to exhaust fumes help love find a way?
The Rancher and The Event Planner
Cheryl Gorman - 2013
Now she must complete thirty days of community service in her home town of Salvation, Texas helping sexy ranch owner and mayor, Rafe McCord revitalize the town for a chance at winning The Best Texas Vacation Contest before she can plan the most important event of her career. JC stopped believing in fairy tales and happily ever after a long time ago. But Rafe is a cowboy fantasy in the flesh and romantic feelings she doesn’t believe exist are growing in her heart. Rafe knows he isn’t good at relationships as he was never able to make his deceased wife happy. Unfortunately, the local judge—his soon-to-be-disowned brother—has saddled him with his best friend’s little sister, Jennifer Barrett to help the town win the contest, give a much needed boost to the economy of Salvation and a chance to host the East Texas Rodeo. Only Jennifer has changed from an ugly duckling into a gorgeous swan and resisting her is impossible.
Carter
Adrienne Bell - 2015
Ally Weaver is used to following the story, but she’s never had a lead blow up on her before…literally. Now one of her confidential sources has been murdered, and she’s determined to find out why. But Ally can’t risk drawing anyone else into this violent mess…no matter how skilled--or gorgeous--he may be. But a girl can’t always get what she wants. And when the pair find themselves thrust into the crosshairs of a corrupt politician who would do anything to stay in power, they must work together to expose a deadly conspiracy before they become the next victims. But while both Ally and Carter are willing to put their lives on the line to discover the truth, neither is prepared for the danger the other poses to their heart. *** Part romantic comedy, part thriller, and filled with plenty of intrigue, CARTER is the first novel in the Sinner Saints contemporary romance series. ***
Tattoo Killer
A.J. Norris - 2016
At least that’s what his ex-wife wants the police to believe…A tattoo artist and single father, Mikey becomes a suspect in a series of homicides thanks to an anonymous tip from his ex. The case against him seems straightforward, especially since Mikey is connected to the victims, but police detective Harry Hunter knows finding the psychopath isn’t that simple. The physical evidence doesn’t add up. After Mikey is released and amid the turmoil of his life, he meets Grace Bell, a beautiful divorcee, in a chance encounter.Mikey is everything that straight-laced Grace isn’t…Grace is tired of living a rigid existence and wants to break free from the routine of her mundane life. The tattoo artist’s free spirit and charm quickly draw her into his world. From the back of his Harley, he teaches her how to let go and have fun, leading to a sizzling passion she never knew existed.Another woman is found dead, and the killer isn’t finished yet…Grace is unaware of Mikey’s part in the investigation of the local homicides, but when her estranged father, detective Harry Hunter, finds out who she’s dating, he’s quick to fill her in. Even though he thinks Mikey is innocent, there is a killer in Webster and he’s not stopping until he gets what he wants. Every victim is connected to Mikey, and her father fears Grace will be next. After Detective Hunter receives a threatening phone call from the killer, he rushes to protect his daughter, but is Grace really the next target of the… Tattoo Killer?
Gloria
Jessica Lynch - 2019
Growing up an only child, all she had was her grandmother. After Nana’s passing, Gloria thought she was the last one left in her family.Well, she is. Since Great Aunt Patti is dead and all.That’s okay. The nice lawyer who wrote her a letter assured Gloria that her great aunt lived a long, happy life in a small town that Gloria has never heard of. And now, as her next of kin, everything she owned belongs to Gloria.Including a house. Which sounds like a godsend to Gloria, who is eager to start her dream business and could use the extra cash.Only there’s a catch. Because of course there is. The house is hers—but only after she lives there for a year. One year in Hamlet and then Gloria will have enough money to follow her dream. Why not? It’ll give her time to work on her flavors. And it wasn’t like she had much going on for her in the city anyway.She’s moved in by Thanksgiving, ready to spend the holidays in her new home.So what if her new neighbor is the hottest guy she’s ever seen? Franklin is as grumpy as he is handsome, and he hates Christmas.Seriously.A year? Gloria will be lucky if she makes it to January.
* Gloria is a small town Christmas romance set in Hamlet! It’s not explicitly part of the Hamlet series and for two reasons: the timeline and how different in tone it’s going to be compared to the other (darker, more suspenseful) books. Gloria will be a sweet, low-stakes, fluffy romance, similar to Hallmark Christmas movies, though it will feature characters and settings from the Hamlet books. You don't have to be familiar with those books to read this book—it's definitely a stand-alone—but it's also a bit of a prequel to that series, set a couple of years before the first Hamlet book Don't Trust Me.
Elusive Identities
Olivia Jaymes - 2019
In fact, it might be impossible. After spending most of his life in his father’s shadow this is Chris Marks’ opportunity to show what he can do. So when he sees a woman on television that’s the spitting image of the victim, he’s determined to talk to her. Ella Scott is a reporter tired of covering dog shows and charity car washes. She’s dying to sink her teeth into a real story. When Chris tells her she might be a connection to a cold case, she jumps at the chance to cover the murder investigation. But someone out there doesn’t want the case resurrected and is determined to shut it down. By any means necessary. As the danger escalates, so does their passion for one another. Can Chris keep the two of them safe long enough to bring in a cold-blooded killer?
The Accidental Hero
Angel Vane - 2019
Ex-Navy SEAL Julian Montgomery thinks rescuing the alluring conservator will be simple … until he recognizes the gunman as the missing woman he’s been looking for—Ella Sapphire.Finding Ella could be Julian’s one chance to make up for the mistakes of his past, mistakes that led to the destruction of his SEAL Team. Dodging a blaze of bullets, Julian rescues Mena and Ella’s newborn son as Ella escapes into the night.Days later, Ella’s corpse is found on a secluded beach. Struggling to fight the sizzling attraction brewing between them, Julian and Mena search for answers to the gruesome murder. But a killer lurks, willing to stop at nothing to keep Julian and Mena from discovering the twisted truth.
Eleven Days: An Unexpected Love
Lora Lindy - 2012
Little does she know she would meet that one special love, an unexpected love. That one true love is Mike Ramsey and he's a U.S. Marshal. As their love grows, so do their troubles. Someone is stalking Lana. Mike has to figure out who it is before the stalker gets Lana. Not only does he have to protect her, he must find the connection between Lana and the killer before it's too late. They soon find out this stalker also wants Mike dead, and he'll go through any lengths for that to happen. Mike's team find out how desperate this man is when he starts murdering.
Colorado Takedown
Cricket Rohman - 2018
Romantic. Nothing will stop a McAllister cowboy from protecting the woman he loves. Hannah Hudson has a distorted view of home and family due to her odd, impoverished upbringing. She longs for her own Happily Ever After, but she’s willing to settle for escaping the Phoenix heat and her dreary job. Then, along comes a miracle. Luck crash-lands in her lap. With a new, improved To Do List, and a heart filled with hope, she heads for a ranch in the cool hills of Colorado. At last, she’s loving life. Shortly after arriving, her luck runs out. A tragic accident occurs, and a troubling reality sets her reeling. She’s alone. There is no Dairy Queen, no Circle K, not even a hospital along the winding mountain road that links the remote ranch to the nearest town. The seclusion of her new world is frightening. Reluctantly, she teams up with Trace McAllister, a wise, local cowboy, who helps her learn the ropes around the ranch and in the bedroom. Love is in the Rocky Mountain air. A brilliant cattle dog and an intuitive palomino horse add fun and excitement to their days. But their fast-blooming chemistry is fraught with conflict, secrets, and a relentless, unidentified evil. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING … “The descriptions of Hannah’s interactions with Oatie, the dog, and Lewissa, the horse, were delightful and satisfying.” “There was a bit of Bonanza in the story that appealed to my TV past, especially in the scenes that took place at the Lucky Seven.” “An excellent, believable account of one character’s claustrophobia.” “Loved the main characters, Trace and Hannah, and the supporting characters were fascinating and unusual, adding twists and turns.”
This Side of Midnight (Tildas Islands #4)
Tamsen Schultz - 2021
But when tourists start dying under suspicious circumstances, she never imagines that the biggest battle she’d have to fight is within her own department. That is, until her friend, Dominic Burel, and the FBI Task Force he’s a part of, prove she’s right to be concerned.As an FBI agent and former PJ with the elite Air Force Pararescue Unit, Dominic Burel has been happy to move through life solely focused on work. But when a family visit leaves him shaken, he realizes his friendship with Anika could, and should, be so much more. Now he has to change her mind about them and he’s not above using his investigative skills to finagle his way into her case—and life—to do it.As Anika and Dominic hunt a killer, they quickly realize they’ve uncovered something much more sinister. The simple murders aren’t so simple and there’s a much grander plan at play. And when they find they aren’t the only ones hunting, it will take everything they have to stay out of the true killer’s crosshairs.If you revel in escaping into a story, this friends-to-lovers romantic suspense will keep you turning the pages.
Logan's Redemption
Cara Marsi - 2007
Someone is stalking her and sabotaging her father's company, her teenage son is rebelling, and Logan Tanner is back in town. For sixteen years, she's kept an explosive secret from Logan, a secret he soon discovers. Logan never belonged in Doriana's world, but a long time ago he allowed himself to dream of a future with her, until the awful night he was forced to run. Now he's back and he needs her forgiveness, but first he must forgive himself. Despite the fact that Doriana kept the existence of his son from him, Logan vows to protect her. He races against time to stop the culprit threatening Doriana and works to forge a bond with his son. Can the love and passion that still burn between Doriana and Logan overcome old lies and new dangers?