Books like 'Desperate (A Contemporary Romance)'
Readers who enjoyed Desperate (A Contemporary Romance) by Katerina Winters also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary from hate to love cruel hero cold hero
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Mr. Jerk by Leslie North
The first time I met Noah Parker, he asked if I was an escort.Apparently when you’re a billionaire sports agent, finding strange half-naked women in your hotel room is…normal?That didn’t stop me launching a stiletto at him.He’s fine—good reflexes.Still, he walked into my hotel room—claiming it's his—and has no plans on leaving.Neither do I.Which is how I end up sharing a bed with Mr. Jerk... -
![Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown]()
Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown
New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a tale of corruption and betrayal, revenge and reversal - where friends become foes, and heroes become criminals in the ultimate abuse of power. When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there..Categorized as:
cold hero from hate to love contemporary suspense mystery length-long open-door audiobook -
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![Brutal Days by Isla Vaughn]()
Brutal Days by Isla Vaughn
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNo sacrifice is too big.No secret too small.I’m out to win, and I don’t even know the game.My opponents? They’re the Academy’s football stars, gods among their peers, and I want nothing to do with them. But I’m stuck on a mission to help out a friend, and keeping my distance shouldn’t be too hard... -
![Unexpected Love Story by Natasha Madison]()
Unexpected Love Story by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsWhen one man’s death exposes a complex web of lies, three couples discover the true meaning of love, loss and redemption.CrystalI was the strong one, they said, until two words brought me to my knees. It was a secret I didn't share with anyone. A secret that made me promise I’d never fall in love. I no longer wanted that white picket fence of every woman’s dreams. Until the unthinkable happened...Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero contemporary pregnancy alpha male angst office length-short -
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![Collateral Damage by Kaylea Cross]()
Collateral Damage by Kaylea Cross
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsPride tore them apart… Warrant Officer Honor Girard made the worst mistake of her life in walking away from the man she promised to marry—and she knows it. An attack on base unexpectedly pushes them together and in the aftermath she realizes she can’t let him go a second time. Only he’s not willing to let her back in...Categorized as:
cruel hero cold hero military suspense contemporary men in uniform m-f length-medium -
![The Start of Something Good by Jennifer Probst]()
The Start of Something Good by Jennifer Probst
An enriching story of family ties, broken hearts, and second chances from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst. When Ethan Bishop returns to the Hudson Valley, his body and spirit are a little worse for wear. As a former Special Forces paratrooper, he saw his fair share of conflict, and he came home with wounds, inside and out...Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero military contemporary strong heroine open-door audiobook -
![Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones]()
Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones
When 26 year old Reese accepts a position as a grad assistant, she has no idea an unpleasant encounter with a student will lead to the discovery of what she calls “the trifecta”: fine, intellectual, and a little bit rude – three qualities she finds irresistible in a man. She has no intention of doing anything with that discovery – nothing long term, at least...Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero new adult contemporary grumpy sunshine open-door length-short audiobook -
![Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two by Caitlyn Dare]()
Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two by Caitlyn Dare
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBestselling author Caitlyn Dare brings you a new dark high school romance story in the Heirs of All Hallows' series. Savage Vicious Heir is a dark high school bully romance...Categorized as:
cruel hero from hate to love secret-relationship found-family sports contemporary angst new adult -
![Brightly Burning Bridges by Ivy Wild]()
Brightly Burning Bridges by Ivy Wild
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFrom the author of Infamous and The Estate comes a bully romance unlike anything you've ever readSilasHe wasn’t my friend until he became my enemy.His center is freezing cold,and his edges burn me when I get too close.He is everything I want and nothing I am.They say not to burn bridges,but he burned ours to the ground.SkylerShe is the girl who wants to be seen,but hates being noticed... -
![Wicked Games by Isla Vaughn]()
Wicked Games by Isla Vaughn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m back where it all began—and I mean all.Where my dad died.Where my sister was murdered.Where my life changed forever.I’m at Thane University for a reason—to work my way through the memories I can barely grasp in my nightmares. Then he walks in and our souls collide when our eyes meet. He’s a part of this, but I can’t place him...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero suspense vengeance mystery angst new adult contemporary -
![An Armored Heart by R.C. Boldt]()
An Armored Heart by R.C. Boldt
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author RC Boldt brings us a banter-filled fake-dating, grumpy-sunshine, small-town romance with the hottest slow burn in An Armored Heart...RULE #1: Do not catch feelings for the man who doesn't believe in love.Four months. That's how long I have to pretend to be Steele Cunningham's doting girlfriend.I agreed to this insanity only to save my restaurant... -
![A Risk on Forever by N.S. Perkins]()
A Risk on Forever by N.S. Perkins
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhen Matthias Phillips imagined the new caretaker for his mother with ALS, the last thing he had in mind was a gorgeous twenty-something who didn’t look like she had a day of experience in the field. However, his mother has always been stubborn, and despite his objections, she’s insistent: it’s Adelaide Samson she wants him to hire... -
![Trick or Treat by L.A. Cotton]()
Trick or Treat by L.A. Cotton
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsCalliope James would rather live life through a lens than in the spotlight. So when she reluctantly agrees to go with her best friend to a party, she doesn’t expect to find herself on the other side of the camera.Zachary Messiah left Bay View High School without so much as a word.Now he’s back. He’s not the boy she remembers, but she’s exactly the girl he’s tried so hard to forget... -
![Sinners by Cassie James]()
Sinners by Cassie James
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA lost heiress finds her way home. She’s about to wish she hadn’t. The town of Patience is home to the privileged, the elite, and the ruthless. Everything Juliet is not. After spending the first sixteen years of her life in a dead-end town, she’s thrust into the spotlight of a legacy she never knew she had. With it comes a decades long mystery about a hidden family fortune... -
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![Lick of Fire by Clara Elroy]()
Lick of Fire by Clara Elroy
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsYou can’t escape fate, no matter how fast you run. That was a lesson hard learned for me.I spent years trying to bury my past, but my future held skeletons bleaker than the ones I'd left behind.Darkness follows me everywhere I go, hanging over my shoulders like a scythe. A byproduct of my bad karma.For so long, I refused to even look at my hometown on a postcard...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero contemporary mystery suspense friends to lovers angst forbidden love -
![Hard Place by Emily Goodwin]()
Hard Place by Emily Goodwin
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsCold. Callous. Cocky.A total playboy with abs for days, a panty-melting smirk, and a face the gods themselves would be jealous of.And he’s my new boss.None of that matters, because as a single mom, men like Alexander Harding are the last thing I need. What I do need is this job, so I’m going to keep my head down, work hard, and avoid that asshole as much as humanly possible... -
![Warning Track by Carrie Aarons]()
Warning Track by Carrie Aarons
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsColleen Callahan is exactly where she’s always dreamt of being.From a young age, she’s been groomed to take over as general manager of the Packton Pistons, her family’s professional baseball dynasty. Except she never expected her father would have to go to prison for the role to become hers.The public, and even her own family, are counting on the first female to wear the title to fail... -
![The Lying Game: A sweet grumpy/sunshine, small town romcom by Sara Jane Woodley]()
The Lying Game: A sweet grumpy/sunshine, small town romcom by Sara Jane Woodley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGetting trapped in a rundown motel with a grumpy stranger wasn’t how this night was supposed to end, but at least I’ll never have to see him again. Until he becomes my new roommate…When a dating disaster leaves me heartbroken, muddy, and stranded on the side of the road in the pouring rain, the last thing I expect is for an impossibly hot (and impossibly grouchy) man to offer me a ride home... -
![Promise Me by Jami Rogers]()
Promise Me by Jami Rogers
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHudson Asher is my brother’s best friend and my number one enemy—I think.One accident later, and I can’t remember the last three years or the exact reason why my childhood nemesis and I still refuse to hold a civil conversation.Heck, I didn’t even know he had moved back to our small town of Lovers until I woke up in the hospital and he was the only one sitting next to my bed... -
![Her Reluctant Husband by Erica Marselas]()
Her Reluctant Husband by Erica Marselas
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsI would do anything for my family, including marrying a man who hates me. Not like I had a choice when the person who helped raise me tells me who I must marry in order to save my home.When I came face to face with Alex Wilks again, the man who despises me and wishes I never stepped foot back into Kinder Falls after the day I left, I didn’t know what I was in for...Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero contemporary suspense slut-shaming siblings-bff betrayal length-medium -
![Pembroke Prep by Becker Gray]()
Pembroke Prep by Becker Gray
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsThe rich boy with a powerful family…The new girl with her head down…A scorching hot bully romance!PEMBROKE PREP contains 3 full-length novels. Walk the halls of the most exclusive prep school alongside the band of friends called the Hellfire Club...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero contemporary dual-pov virgin heroine new adult length-epic -
![First Touch by Loni Ree]()
First Touch by Loni Ree
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsZander BurtonNever trust a woman and make sure you’re never stupid enough to give your heart to one. I’ve always lived by these words, then Rachel Marsh crashed into my life. It only took one night, one touch for the gorgeous blonde to make me ignore the rule I’d followed my whole life... -
![Guilt At St Joseph's Academy by M.V. Ellis]()
Guilt At St Joseph's Academy by M.V. Ellis
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe FallenBeautiful. Broken. Loyal as hell.Five guys with the power of ten.All determined to uncover secrets and expose lies.All laser focused with their eyes on the prize.They’ll go to great lengths to stop me in my tracks.They’ll cross lines that mean we can never go back.Our story is one of betrayal and deceit.Our connection is destined, our bond runs deep... -
![Beauty & the Quarterback by Ava Woods]()
Beauty & the Quarterback by Ava Woods
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsIt’d take a Hail Mary for love to score between these two …Prescott Reeves. Just his name throws me back to my less fortunate years of high school where “Doughy Zoe” was the only name I was known by.Fast forward fifteen years and people now know me as Zoe Peters, Sports Caster, the take-no-shit on-camera dynamite – a name I’m beyond proud of...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero sports humor alpha male contemporary single-father length-short -
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![Lethal Empress by Eva Chance, Harlow King]()
Lethal Empress by Eva Chance, Harlow King
Bury the hatchet... in your enemy's heart.I've reclaimed my throne, and Wylder Noble has demanded his. But war still rages all through Paradise Bend.It turns out this war involves powers from far beyond our little county. Powers determined to bring the fighting to an end, even if that means painting the streets with blood on both sides... -
![Love You Now by M Robinson]()
Love You Now by M Robinson
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsFrom Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author M. Robinson I should have told her everything. How much I loved her. How much I’ve always loved her. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I just wasn’t made that way. Instead... I claimed her. Teased her. Taunted her. Worshipped her. Until... I broke her. My best friend. My savior. My girl...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero new adult contemporary angst alpha male bad boys sports -
![Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, Vol. 1 by Asuka Konishi]()
Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, Vol. 1 by Asuka Konishi
Yoshino grew up the sheltered yakuza princess of the largest crime family in Osaka, the Somei. Due to her resting bitch face and dangerous family, no man has ever approached her. When her grandfather signs a truce with the Tokyo-based Miyama crime family, he offers her up as a truce bride to the Miyama leader’s grandson! Kirishima Miyama is popular, charming, and seems totally normal...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero contemporary mafia new adult mystery length-short independent heroine -
![Cold and Broken by Nichole Greene]()
Cold and Broken by Nichole Greene
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 15 ratings“No one touches the new girl. No one befriends her. Otherwise they risk the wrath of the Titans.”Moving her senior year of high school was not Lilith’s idea of a great plan. She would have much rather stayed with her best friend Zion for their final year of school. Her dad had different plans though; this new job was too good to pass up, and she knew she needed to go with him... -
![Ruthless Queen by Eva Chance, Harlow King]()
Ruthless Queen by Eva Chance, Harlow King
Heavy lies the crown…I thought getting my revenge would give me some kind of peace. Instead it seems to have brought an even worse villain to my doorstep.Or rather, to the Nobles’ doorstep, which the big boss of Paradise Bend’s most powerful gang is not at all happy about. I may have won over Wylder Noble and his men, but his father is another story entirely.A brutally murderous story...Categorized as:
cold hero from hate to love cruel hero contemporary suspense reverse harem poly length-short -
![Fight Me by Lacey Black]()
Fight Me by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJake Stevens has it made. A local police officer with an open invitation to any number of beds around town, Jake has no desire to settle down with any of the ladies he entertains by night. After watching his best friend fall in love with his little sister, Jake is certain that love and marriage just aren’t in his cards. Heck, he’s not even playing with the same deck...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero contemporary alpha male new adult teacher-heroine length-short -
![Miss Martha Mary Crawford by Catherine Marchant, Catherine Cookson]()
Miss Martha Mary Crawford by Catherine Marchant, Catherine Cookson
At the Habitation, a large and decaying riverside house in wild country twenty miles from Newcastle, the Crawford family eked out an existence. Miss Martha Mary Crawford, the eldest daughter, acted as unpaid servant to her sisters, snobbish Mildred and giddy Nancy, her schoolboy brother and her charming, unreliable father... -
![Mistress to a Monster by Sam Crescent]()
Mistress to a Monster by Sam Crescent
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFor decades, war has raged between the Russo and De Luca families.When Damon De Luca finally brings the head of Russos to his knees, he demands to have Milah Russo at his beck and call. Not as his wife, but as his mistress.Milah will never go to Damon willingly. Caged up in his home, she fights him, but her days are numbered... -
![Hidden Secrets by Carmen Rosales]()
Hidden Secrets by Carmen Rosales
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHidden Secrets (Hillside Kings Book 3) Colton and Linda's StoryThe death of her boyfriend almost destroyed her, but Linda Ramirez is now determined to move on with her life. Attending the exclusive Hillside University is her first step at taking back her life. Hanging up her dreary khakis and humdrum lifestyle, Linda's ready for something new... -
![Flirting with the Scrooge by Gia Stevens]()
Flirting with the Scrooge by Gia Stevens
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA spicy holiday grumpy sunshine standalone novel by romantic comedy author Gia Stevens… ‘Twas a month before Christmas, and all through the town,Everyone was ready to celebrate, except my hot and grumpy new neighbor.Christmas is my favorite time of year with the festive parties and holiday cheer...Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero christmas contemporary grumpy sunshine new adult humor length-medium -
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![Spiteful Lies by Nora Cobb]()
Spiteful Lies by Nora Cobb
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI CAME FROM NOTHING.NOW I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO LOSEThe stakes have never been higher.And backing down now means paying an unthinkable price.I thought I could never be broken.I thought I could handle whatever came my way.The Kings of Stonehaven taught me how wrong I was.They used me. They humiliated me. They broke me.But there was something they couldn’t do... -
![The Blind Date by Lauren Landish]()
The Blind Date by Lauren Landish
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsA Blind Date? It could be a match made in heaven. Or a total disaster.I’m Riley Watson, bringing a dash of sunshine here and a drop of positivity there. That’s how I live my life, focusing on the good that’s all around us if we look for it. There’s just one thing missing—Mr. Right.So I agree to try a new dating app and find my perfect match. The catch? No pictures.Fun times..Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero humor contemporary new adult grumpy sunshine siblings-bff length-long -
![Taste by Sophia Soames]()
Taste by Sophia Soames
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFinn Christensen doesn’t do feelings. He doesn’t do relationships. When he has an itch to scratch, there are always clubs and hook-ups. Quick, dirty encounters in dark places that feed the need that brews in the pit in his stomach. He works every hour of the day as the front office manager for the Clouds Westminster Hotel in central London. He’s a good boss, and he knows his shit...Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero m-m contemporary mental illness forced proximity queer length-medium -
![Semper Mine by Lizzy Ford]()
Semper Mine by Lizzy Ford
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“A freak accident landed both of the Khavalov twins under my command, just before a routine mission turned into a nightmare. I brought home one twin in a coffin and the other in a coma missing his leg. I did everything right – and still people died. I can’t forget that night or how many lives it changed, including mine. It’s natural for their sister, Katya, to blame me...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero military contemporary men in uniform length-short audiobook -
![All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins]()
All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair... and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol' Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company's new Miss Perfect... -
![Brazen Bossman (Cocky Hero Club) by Emma Nichole]()
Brazen Bossman (Cocky Hero Club) by Emma Nichole
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsDear Ida, My boss is an egotistical, arrogant, cuff link wearing jerk.I wanted nothing more than to throw my badge at his face and walk out the door. But the heat of the moment took over... We went too far... and I liked it. Maybe I should just leave the city and change my name to spare myself the embarrassment. Stop me now before I do it. Please... -
![Kissing a Gentleman by Maria Luis]()
Kissing a Gentleman by Maria Luis
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsNovella in Holiday Ever...Categorized as:
from hate to love cold hero christmas office friends to lovers contemporary humor length-novella -
![King of Nothing by Jacie Lennon]()
King of Nothing by Jacie Lennon
Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsShe’s the one thing he wants nothing—and everything—to do with.CorbinI’m one of the kings at Almadale Prep.I act the part, put on the mask, do my duty.But lies and betrayal aren’t a game to me, no matter how well my fellow kings play.So, when Landry arrives, invading my life and my thoughts, I try to forget her...Categorized as:
cruel hero from hate to love contemporary new adult stepsibling betrayal length-medium -
![To Have and Hate by Donna Alam]()
To Have and Hate by Donna Alam
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 28 ratings‘Everyone has their price, Olivia.’ ‘There isn’t enough money in the world to persuade me to marry you.’ Beckett. Let me count the ways I loathe him. 1. He’s the bane of my existence. 2. A thorn in my side. 3. I’m pretty sure he’s the devil in disguise Or he at least has him on speed-dial... -
![Hate So Bad by Nina Lincoln]()
Hate So Bad by Nina Lincoln
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsYou’ll never survive here, Princess. You’re weak. You can’t fight. You…don’t…belong.I thought the hardest part of moving would be grieving my greatest loss. I thought wrong. Dropped into a savage school with no rules where violence was king, I stood out like a sore thumb...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero contemporary new adult high-school alpha male length-medium -
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![A Lost Love by Carole Mortimer]()
A Lost Love by Carole Mortimer
Rated: 3.91 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsShe didn't have to guess how Rafe felt about his wife... Brooke Adamson knew the whole bitter story. Because she was Rafe Charlwood's wife, or rather she had been, before the terrible car accident Rafe believed had claimed her life... -
![If Only in My Dreams by Carrie Aarons]()
If Only in My Dreams by Carrie Aarons
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 16 ratings'Tis the season to … be freshly divorced at twenty-six and moving back into your parents' house?Because that’s my reality this Christmas... -
![In Enemy Territory by M.E. Clayton]()
In Enemy Territory by M.E. Clayton
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhat do you do when the devil isn't done playing with you?Fiona Eldstead endured years and years of torment at the hands of Damien Graystone, but created a life of happiness and success in spite of all of Damien's bullying. She put herself through college and became the proud owner of Fiona's First Cup, a small café, but a big accomplishment. Life was great.. -
![Love, Hate & Manhattan by Marcia D.M.]()
Love, Hate & Manhattan by Marcia D.M.
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLanding a job at Property Group, one of New York’s top real estate firms, was no small feat. After years of sacrifice and hard work, I made it. I’m the CEO’s secretary. This is my shot—my chance to change everything.What I wasn’t prepared for? The CEO is him.Silas Walker. The boy who made my high school years a living nightmare...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero boss & employee neurodivergent contemporary office length-medium -
![After The Music by Diana Palmer]()
After The Music by Diana Palmer
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsIt all started as a joke. Sabina was only pretending to be engaged to her best friend, millionaire Al Thordon. Al had talked her into this scheme as a way to trick his older brother, Thorn. Al had no choice but to lie. And to make Sabina his accomplice.Sabina thought that it would be for just one night. When Thorn accused her of being a gold digger, Sabina just laughed it off...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero contemporary bad boys virgin heroine tycoon grovel betrayal -
![All for You by Marquita Valentine]()
All for You by Marquita Valentine
Rated: 3.87 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, comes the next book in her bestselling new adult series, Boys of the South! Bully. Tormentor. Lover. West Diaz has been all of these things to me. After being gone for two years, he's back, begging for my forgiveness. And not just my forgiveness... He wants more. He wants... Me...
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