Book picks similar to
One Last Summer by Jo Noelle


romance
contemporary
novella
clean-romance

Accidental Bride and Groom


Iris Abbott - 2012
    Here the weather is hot and the cowboys and ranchers are even hotter! Something must be in the water, because a rash of weddings is about to hit the good folks of Rancher's Bend!Emma hasn’t had the easiest life. An abusive and alcoholic father taught Emma to guard her heart. She doesn’t do relationships. She doesn’t believe in commitment. And she doesn’t give her trust easily. One of the very few people to earn her trust and friendship is Lynn James.Now Emma’s best friend is getting married in two weeks. Emma returns to the James family ranch to assist with last minute wedding details. The first sign that things might not go as planned occurs when the bride meets Emma at the airport. The bride and groom are going to Mexico City as part of an earthquake search and rescue mission. That leaves Emma, and Lynn’s older brother to handle any wedding issues.Well-laid plans quickly deteriorate. Lynn and Bruce are incommunicado. Emma and Landon are forced to spend more and more time together as they try to salvage Lynn's wedding plans. Now thanks to fate and a series of small disasters, the wedding is becoming custom made for Emma and Landon.The chemistry between Emma and Landon is explosive, and they fight the rising attraction. Both have avoided serious relationships for very different reasons. That's about to change. The more time they spend together, the closer they become. Will they be able to overcome their insecurities and lack of trust? Do they love each other enough to become the accidental bride and groom?

Unraveled


Lisa-Marie Cabrelli - 2017
     When Claire's creepy new boss Nick promotes her to a job she doesn't understand; it's obvious to everyone but her that he wants something in return. To make matter worse, she accidentally upsets the very man that Nick told her to avoid, the unbearably sexy Vice-President, Satish Bhatt. Things get even stickier for Claire when her "friends" decide that sabotage is the answer, her roommate Sally drops a bombshell and Claire starts to want a lot more of the man she supposed to avoid. A man who seems to have secrets of his own. Unraveled is the first book in the Jersey Girls series. If you like fast-paced, breezy, funny chick-lit with characters you fall in love with and a dash of intrigue and suspense that will keep you turning pages, you will love Unraveled. Pick up Unraveled today to find out the secrets that rock Claire's world!

While You Were Speaking (Harvest Ranch Romance, #11)


Maria Hoagland - 2021
    ♥ ♥Lucy Morrowitz has two dreams. First, to reopen the Starlight Drive-In Theater left to her by her parents. And second, to marry her celebrity crush—renowned motivational speaker Carter Hughes. Neither goal is remotely attainable, and she’s fine with that—they’d never been more than a lark—until her co-worker, WHHR’s morning drive DJ Crew Keller, convinces the Harvest Ranch community to rally around Lucy in saving the small-town landmark. Then, when Carter Hughes accepts her Hail Mary of an invitation to give the kickoff speech at the Harvest Ranch spring cleanup, suddenly, neither of her dreams feels quite as far out of reach.Zachary Hughes, on the other hand, has never been much of a dreamer. He doesn’t have glamorous a job as his brother, but it’s steady and reliable, even if he doesn’t love it. He’s not as well-known, either, but he’s never been one to seek attention. In fact, there’s nothing Carter has that Zach envies—until he meets his fiancée. Because of her, Zach finds himself reaching for more: A job he looks forward to every day, rather than settling for the family business. A town where he’s known, and not just as Carter’s little brother. And the perfect person to spend his life with—someone who laughs with him, challenges him, accepts him, loves him. Someone like Lucy.And yet, are these the kind of dreams that will bring either one of them happiness? Perhaps the motivational speakers are right—Lucy and Zach can reach your dreams. They just have to make sure they’re reaching for the right ones.♥ ♥ Enjoy this fresh take on a classic '80s rom-com. A small-town, sweet forbidden romance that has you dreaming of an evening spent at the drive-in with your sweetheart. ♥ ♥

Ruby Slips and Poker Chips: A Modern Day Wizard of Oz Romantic Comedy


Heather Kindt - 2017
    . . until Dottie’s given a free trip to Las Vegas. Second-grade teacher Dottie Gale lives in the tiny town of Quandary, Kansas, which is pretty much smack dab in the middle of nowhere. No mountains. No ocean. No life. Her ex-boyfriend and current school board member, Corbin Lane, cheated on her, making school functions more than a little awkward. But worst of all, a tornado named Maxine Westward rips through Dottie’s school as the new principal and has made her life at work a living hell. When Dottie is chosen to go to a teacher’s conference in Las Vegas, she knows her life is going to change. Driving from Quandary to Vegas, three strangers enter her life. Through a string of situations involving poppies, flying monkeys, and a life-size sculpture of an iconic rock star the four soon become inseparable. So, when Westward arrives on her broom in Vegas, Dottie is ready for battle. Her boss black mails her with stories of incarceration, thievery, and a steamy relationship with her travel companion, but Dottie knows that those who hurl insults shouldn’t hold secrets of their own. Editorial Reviews "I had so much fun reading this and spotting all the clever twists, it was very entertaining. In fact I’m tempted to re-read it, to find more of the subtle hints. I’ve also been to a few of the places mentioned in the book which meant an extra thumbs up for me. I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a modern take on a good original oldie." Roses are Amber

The Abalone Shell


Suzie O'Connell - 2017
    Cloud is struggling with her guilt over leaving her daughter’s father. She needs a fresh perspective, and she knows exactly how to find it—by spending the summer at her family’s cottage in Sea Glass Cove. Surrounded by abundant peace and fond childhood memories, Hope and her daughter will be able to find a new rhythm with just the two of them. Nothing could’ve prepared her for the immediate and tantalizing attraction to local gallery owner Owen McKinney. Or for his instant connection with her shy daughter. It’s been three years since the accident that stole everything Owen held dear. That’s more than enough time to mourn and move on, but he can’t seem to let go… until Hope and her adorable daughter stroll into his gallery. In them, he finds everything he lost—all the joy and adventure that comes with being a family. But Hope’s divorce is still fresh, and he’s afraid she might’ve made a mistake divorcing her husband. Then a sign straight from his past makes it clear that Hope and her daughter are his future, and he can’t let them walk away.

Kiss Me Not


Emma Hart - 2019
    Not a lick. Not at all. Nuh-uh-freakin’-uh.I do care that he’s doing it six feet away from me behind a gaudy velvet curtain—making him my competition in this year’s kissing contest.Why do I care, you ask? Because I’ve had an unfortunate crush on the insufferable idiot since I was sixteen years old, but I also know it’s never going to happen.He’s the Creek Falls bachelor to die for, and I’m the Creek Falls racoon lady who puts peanut butter sandwiches out for them every night.I’m not going to let him break my four-year-long reign—no matter how many times he breaks the rules and slides the curtain across to do the one thing he’s not allowed to:Kiss me.

A Fake Marriage Boxset: 5 Sweet Fake Marriage Romances


Anne-Marie Meyer - 2019
     Marrying a Cowboy When a fake marriage turns real. Emma seems destined to be the perpetual bridesmaid. Especially when her one potential groom dumped her on her birthday a year ago. Austin must fulfill his grandmother’s marriage stipulation in order to inherit his grandfather’s ranch. After a broken heart, he decided that love isn’t going to be a requirement for marriage anymore. Both are at the mercy of every do-gooder matchmaker, so they concoct a plan. A fake marriage between the two of them would be beneficial for both. What could go wrong? When they fly to Austin’s Montana ranch, they’re optimistic that they’ve come up with the greatest arrangement. When the relationship is fake, no feelings get hurt. Until it’s no longer fake. Marrying an Athlete Kissing was a mistake. Anna’s life has been in a slump ever since her boss and boyfriend—who happened to be the same person—dumped her. Michael’s running from a stupid mistake. When Michael’s little sister, McKenna, who happens to be Anna’s best friend asks for a favor, they both agree. It was simple. Fake a marriage and join McKenna and her husband at a marriage counseling resort. Besides, the drunken kiss they shared two years ago was definitely a one-time mistake. If they can only leave their feelings in the past, they just might survive this island getaway. Marrying a Billionaire The contract said it all, feelings were forbidden. Lillian is desperate for a job. Six months pregnant and recently divorced, she needs health insurance. Now. Reed is trying to get over his broken heart and to make matters worse, he discovers that he needs to be married to inherit his family’s billion-dollar investment company. But marriage isn’t in his future anymore, so it doesn't matter. Out of desperation, Reed’s mom puts in a call to an elite matchmaking agency to find him a contract wife. After an episode of mistaken identity, Lillian finds herself contractually obligated to marry Reed. Which is the ideal relationship for the both of them. When a contract is involved, no one gets hurt. Until feelings begin to change. Marrying a Prince To save the prince, she must agree to marry him. Marianna has sworn off men. After all, they only hurt you the moment they have the chance. Prince Leonardo is in America with one mission: propose to the woman he doesn’t love because his parents think it will be the best thing for their country. When he hits his head, he fakes amnesia with the hopes that his parents will let him off the hook. After all, they wouldn’t force him to marry someone he doesn’t remember, right? Wrong. Desperate to get away, Leo “accidentally” proposes to Marianna. The plan is perfect.

Small Town Hero


Kim Koby - 2018
    Rebecca is saving herself for marriage. After a crushing betrayal, she spins out of control when she catches her fiancé and best friend in bed together. Grief-stricken and desperate, she finds herself stranded in Tennessee and forced to rely on the kindness of a stranger.Ryan knows heartache. The only woman he loved walked away the day he proposed to her. He knew in that instant he'd never trust his heart to another. At least he has his dog to keep him company and a good job as a local firefighter.When Rebecca ends up in Ryan’s path, they blend like oil and water. While he’s content with what life gives him, she escapes by seeking her identity in expensive things. Can two broken souls find salvation with their complete opposite?

Mistletoe Kiss (Sweet Tea Holiday Collection)


Andrea Boyd - 2018
    Help us set a record! On December 10 at 5:00 pm, we need your help setting a Guinness World Record for the most couples kissing under the mistletoe! Chase Spencer had been firmly planted in the friend-zone ever since he first met Rachel Anthony back when they were in grade school and it looks like that’s where he’s destined to remain. And her latest scheme is bound to be torture. She wants them to help break the Guinness World Record for the most couples kissing under the mistletoe at one time. How should he handle this? Should the kiss be a chaste, friendly kiss like she envisions? Or should he do it in a way that leaves Rachel without a doubt that he wants to be more than friends? It had always been Rachel’s dream to break a world record, and who better to do it with than her best friend Chase? And it wasn’t as if they hadn’t kissed before—sixth grade, spin-the-bottle at Iona Puckett’s party—a peck of the lips and it’d be over. Except she missed the part where they had to hold the kiss for ten seconds. And no one warned her of how she would feel afterwards—confused and longing for more. How can she convince Chase to change her status from friend to girlfriend?

Once In A Big Dream


Alexa Bloom - 2017
     Find out where it all began....In this gripping prequel to The Harrisons, Joe and Rose's story will have your fingers flipping the pages like lightning as their passionate story unfolds. BOOK DESCRIPTION: After 5 long years inside, Joe Harrison is finally about to taste the freedom he's been dreaming about for so long, except that the outside world doesn't exactly look kindly on ex-cons. In fact if it wasn't for his childhood friend, Buddy, he'd probably be sleeping on the streets by now. Instead, he's working at famous track Keeneland, shovelling hay from dawn to dusk and just trying to stay out of trouble. But when a student photography group shows up at the track one day, trouble finds him in the form of gorgeous budding photographer, Rose Parmenter. The chance encounter sends his life skittering in a new direction that neither one of them could have imagined, but even as they dream of what could be, the shadows of Joe's violent childhood are about to explode into their lives with savage fury. Rose Parmenter's perfectly ordered life is bubbling along very nicely. Except for the fact that she hates her mother's endless snobby society lunches, she'd rather be a photographer than an accountant and she doesn't love her successful businessman fiancé, Geoffrey. In fact, if it hadn't been for the death-bed promise she'd made his sister Beccy, she probably wouldn't even be in this situation. But despite it all, she's determined to make it work and see through the promise she made to her beloved best friend. If only Joe Harrison hadn't turned up on her horizon and turned her whole world upside down. Joe's exciting and romantic in every way that Geoffrey isn't, and for the first time in her cosseted little life, Rose is really living. Her growing awakening convinces her that Joe might just be worth risking everything for, but when he confesses that he doesn't love her, his heart-crushing revelation seals her fate with Geoffrey. That is, until the final explosive climax where Rose is forced to confront the ultimate dilemma between love and duty. Once In A Big Dream is the gripping prequel to The Harrisons. While it can be read as a stand-alone story, you'll likely enjoy the other books of The Harrison series: The Harrisons Series: Book 0: Once In A Big Dream (Prequel) Book 1: Once In A Blue Kentucky Moon Book 2: Once In A New York Minute

His Christmas Wish


Melissa McClone - 2008
    But now, six years later, her family needs her. Carly returns home to face her past and give her niece and nephew the best Christmas ever.Burdened with guilt, Jake Porter believes he could have saved his two friends on that fateful day and kept Carly from experiencing such a heart-wrenching loss. When she arrives in town, Jake wants to make amends so they can both finally move forward with their lives.As Jake helps Carly experience the magic of Christmas so she'll embrace the holiday again, will he also be able to open her heart to something else she’d given up on…love?Previously published as Rescued by the Magic of Christmas.Mountain Rescue Romance seriesBook 1: His Christmas WishBook 2: Her Christmas SecretBook 3: Her Christmas KissBook 4: His Second ChanceBook 5: His Christmas Family

Love, Austen


Britney M. Mills - 2018
     Matchmaker Meg Austen is focused on one thing—finding the financial backing to create the app for her company, Love, Austen. When the investment firm tells her she needs a boyfriend to prove her faith in the process, she agrees to a fake relationship with a divorce attorney. Parker Matthews is determined to get the partnership left vacant by his father’s death. But when a colleague suggests having a girlfriend will increase his chances to get the partnership, he lucks out by finding the one girl who doesn’t expect a future with him. As they spend time together, their feelings change. But when their fears about commitment resurface, can they find a way to make it work?

Stone Silence


Taylor Dean - 2017
    They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.”I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me.I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly.Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help.That’s when I meet Stony by chance.He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it.That’s when I stay with Stony by choice.But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past.I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.My only hope is . . . he does.

Seaside Surprises


Stacy Claflin - 2015
    Play often. Love unconditionally. Tiffany Saunders is on the run. When she winds up stranded in a seaside town, she wants nothing more than to forget her horrific past and kept moving. But a chance meeting with a handsome local changes everything. Jake Hunter has some deep emotional scars and is trying to cope with running the family business. The last thing he wants is a relationship—until a mysterious brunette walks into his store and complicates it all. Tiffany prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong—in her rear view mirror. But dark secrets cannot stay hidden forever. Just as the walls around Tiffany’s heart start to come down, the past catches up with her. Will true love be able to conquer all? Seaside Surprises is the first book in the Seaside Hunters collection, a series of sweet contemporary romances featuring the Hunter brothers set in the beach town of Kittle Falls. If you like entertaining and heartwarming romances, then you'll love this entry in a light, romantic series. Budding romance and great chemistry abound with fully-developed characters that you'll fall for over and over again. **While each book in this series is a standalone, you'll also enjoy reading about the other Hunter brothers of Kittle Falls: Seaside Heartbeats: Brayden, the successful cardiologist Seaside Dances: Zachary, the struggling writer Seaside Kisses: Rafael, the disillusioned fashion designer Seaside Christmas: Cruz, the wild tattoo artist

The Man of Her Dreams


Marcia Lynn McClure - 2013
    It was all so exciting—the renovation, the hope of finding something hidden in the house that no one had ever found before, the fact that the handsome contractor would be in and out of her shop and her life for weeks to come. All of a sudden, Libby felt a surge of rejuvenation course through her limbs, for she loved when life brought unexpected pleasures. And seeing the likes of him every day certainly would be a pleasure.