Books like 'The Buy-In'
Readers who enjoyed The Buy-In by Emma St. Clair also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny second chances marriage of convenience grumpy sunshine single-mother
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Heavy Petting by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsHe's her best friend. A reformed bad boy turned hot teacher. And after one spur-of-the-moment Vegas wedding. .. her husband. Jordan Benoit and Fletcher Landry have been best friends since they were six. He's always been The Guy. When she needed picked up, cheered up, or lifted up--like literally, to see the stage at a concert--Fletcher was the guy... -
Wicked Heart by Ivy Layne
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFinn Sawyer hates everything about being back in Sawyers Bend. He walked away from his family years before, living off his wits and skills in the kitchen, refining his craft as he worked his way across Europe. Then the father who left him for dead is murdered, and the will offers Finn a chance at his dream... -
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Rock Chick Rematch: A Rock Chick Novella by Kristen Ashley
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Ashley brings a new story in her Rock Chick series…. In high school, Malia Clark found the man of her dreams. Darius Tucker. But life hits them full in the face way before it ever should. Darius makes a drastic decision to keep his family safe and Malia leaves town with a secret...Categorized as:
single-mother second chances contemporary alpha male friends to lovers secret child bad boys humor -
The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 24 ratings"The perfect escape for readers wanting to get away. "—Booklist. One woman takes the vacation of a lifetime in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold a family together from #1. New York Times. bestselling author Susan Mallery. Single mom Robyn Caldwell needs a new plan for her future. She has always put her family first... -
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Jingle Bell Hell by Denise Grover Swank, A.R. Casella
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe’s a sexually repressed control freak. He’s a muscular ex-con with heavier baggage than Santa’s toy bag. They’re everything each other never wanted. Mary. I’m usually the first person on my block to decorate for Christmas. This year? Humbug... -
Lead Me Knot by S.L. Scott
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSometimes the temptation is too much to deny. Falling into bed with my best friend’s brother was an accident. What happened right after… not so much. With abs more defined than the Texas Hill Country and a killer smirk I can’t ignore, the “boy next door” is all grown up and too hot for his own good. My heart races for a man who’s forbidden... -
Knocking Boots by Jordan Marie
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsI’ve always heard, don’t fall in love with a cowboy. I just didn't listen. I've sworn off men. They’ve never given me much in life, except a bun in the oven and grief. My kids are my life and all that truly matter. Until him. Jansen Reed is a living fantasy straight from the old west. Sexy drawl, tight jeans and that glint in his eyes that make my knees weak. He promises me the ride of my life... -
Treasured by Thursday by Catherine Bybee
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsThe seventh and final tale in the dazzling, heartwarming, pulse-racing Weekday Brides series. Gabriella Masini: She’s a woman haunted by her past, with the scars to prove it. She believes that fairy tales are for other people... -
Making Whoopie by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThis marriage of convenience is about to get sticky. Getting hitched for the health insurance is not Jocelyn Asher’s idea of romance. But the hospital quote has really frosted her cookies, and suddenly, “I’m rich. We should just get married,” sounds a whole lot more swoony. Especially when the man proposing is this gorgeous. And takes her to parties featuring champagne and petit fours... -
It's Always Sonny by Kate Watson
Sunshine always melts ice eventually. And I’m starting to feel the burn. People may call me an “overachieving ice queen,” but I would do anything for the people I love. So when my friends ask me to host an event at their famous farm, I’m more than happy to help…until I discover I’ve been set up. The “event” is actually a reunion for my ex’s family...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine second chances forced proximity contemporary sports m-f found-family football -
Dirty Little Midlife Secret by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLily Viceroy arrived in Heart’s Cove with a suitcase by her side and two eensy weensy secrets tucked into the corners of her heart. Well, that’s if “eensy” and “weensy” are code for “terrifying” and “dire. ”. Clearly, the only thing for Lily to do is to engage in a good ol’ bout of denial... -
The Grump's Bodyguard by Latisha Sexton
It was love at first sight . . . or at least, love at first bloody nose. Thor. If there’s one thing the Marines taught me, it’s that you don’t quit until you’ve completed your mission. Or you die trying. And by the way Clover Mason keeps shooting fire at me from those violet-colored eyes of hers, it just may be the latter... -
Big, Bossy Problem: An Accidental Baby Romance by Lilian Monroe
Being a dog walker isn’t as glamorous as you might imagine. Unless, of course, you’re walking a tech billionaire’s German shepherd mix... -
The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen an outgoing musical maven meets the enigmatic neuroscientist next door, will their worlds clash in a dramatic showdown of art versus science, or will they discover that love is the ultimate experiment worth conducting? When celebrated Broadway composer Hadley Olivier’s best friend receives a life-threatening diagnosis, Hadley says goodbye to her beloved home in NYC and sets off for the West... -
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Beach Please by Melanie Summers
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA hilarious and heartwarming story that’ll have you snort-laughing, swooning, and sighing with happiness…. Lola Gordon's dreams of a thriving surf shop were shattered when her ex vanished with all the money in their business account, leaving her on the brink of losing everything... -
Without You by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTucker. I spend my days brewing beer for the popular Brew Crüe Beer Company and my nights devoted to being a dad. Raising a young child with special needs can be tough and stressful, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. He’s everything to me, and the reason I keep going. It’s him and me against the world, and I have no intention of changing that. Then, Kinsley McGregor walks back into my life... -
My Wife by Ellie Hall
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s a new Mr. Mom. She’s a jilted bride. When her role as the nanny develops into a marriage of convenience, will playing house become less of a game? Liam. I don’t know what I’m doing. In fact, I have no idea where this kid came from. I mean, I know that part, but when he showed up on my doorstep, not only did I have to put everything on hold, but my hockey coach threw me into the sin bin...Categorized as:
marriage of convenience grumpy sunshine hockey contemporary sports humor length-long audiobook -
Starlight on Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs sweeps readers away to a sun-drenched summer on the shores of Willow Lake in a stunning tale of the delicate ties that bind a family together… and the secrets that tear them apart…... -
Nailed by You by Nikki Mays
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsKellie has had it with men! Especially good for nothing sperm donors who never see their daughter! The only men who don’t get on her nerves are her father, brother and Mason Ross. The first two for obvious reasons and the last one, well. .. he’s just Mason. Sweet, silly and more handsome than any man should ever be. Too bad a man like him can have any woman that he wants... -
Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh
A second chance with your first crush. Doesn’t happen often. For Liam Fisher, that first crush was his next door neighbor, Olive Witherby. Childhood was lazy summers, treehouse stargazing, and endless games of hide and seek at Pine Creek, the Christmas tree farm that’s been in Liam’s family for generations... -
Things I Remember by Kelsey Humphreys
It shouldn’t be a surprise that my marriage is ending, since it was secretly a business arrangement to begin with. It’s time to let it go. I have accepted that. Apparently, my almost-ex-husband has not. Susan Canton loves her family and their business. Typical first-born, she’s an achiever, a leader... -
Second Chance by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsAnother romance for the over 40. Can one sexy silver fox face the woman he once left behind but never let go? Her. A widow at forty-four, her husband left her a letter. Contact Denton. Once upon a time, the three of them had been best friends. Mati Rath isn’t sure she should look back. Her heart isn’t ready, or so she thinks. Him. A pleading phone call forces him to make a decision...Categorized as:
second chances single-mother friends to lovers contemporary humor length-long audiobook standalone -
Hauling Ashe by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsLife might be a highway but the last thing this grumpy silver fox expected was a cross-country road trip with a ray of sunshine. "My sister is driving to California. She could give you a ride. ". "What? " Tucker Ashe and I say in unison. Mae Fox. Surely, my older sister has lost her mind. There is no way I'm driving her insufferable – albeit sexy silver fox – boss two thousand miles... -
A Co-Worker's Crush by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt took me a long time to realize I shouldn’t date the women I work with. It cost me three tattoo guns, a job, five motorcycle tires, and I’m not even counting the t-shirts I never got back. It feels different with Frankie but she comes with a little daughter and a crap load of other baggage. I’m not the guy you take home to your parents, let alone your child... -
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Captivating In Love (The Maverick Billionaires) by Bella Andre, Jennifer Skully
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsGideon Jones came back from war a changed man. Though the Maverick Billionaires claim he’s one of their own, he knows he doesn't deserve to be part of their tightly knit unit. Just like he doesn't deserve Rosie Diaz—an amazing mother…and an utterly captivating woman that he can't stop dreaming about... -
Thinking 'Bout You by Claire Hastings
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsTo the world, he’s Dustin Wild, country star with a megawatt smile and a voice smooth as whiskey. To me, he’ll always be Dustin Wilder, the small-town boy who stole my heart…then broke it. It’s been seven years since Dustin rolled out of our rural Georgia town, chasing his dream, promising he’d be back. Except that never happened... -
Hot for the Handyman by Whitley Cox
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe's got just the right tool to fix her broken heart . .. Welcome to Seattle, the Emerald City and home to The Single Moms of Seattle. Three sexy single ladies who drink a ton of wine every Saturday night, bitch about life, have each other's backs, are the ultimate mama bears, and hope to one day, just maybe find love again. This is Bianca’s story . .. Bianca’s life is insane... -
Playing Along: A Small Town Second Chance Romance by Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen I came back to Sin Valley, the mission was simple—avoid the ex-girlfriend who broke my heart. At all costs. Too bad I just (accidentally) moved in next door to her. And her battery-operated boyfriend(s). Plural. Crap! No matter how hard I try to steer clear of Desiree Grant, fate keeps tossing us together. And, so far? It’s not going too well for me...Categorized as:
single-mother second chances multicultural military humor contemporary length-medium audiobook -
Two Wrongs Made Right by Ali Parker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJust because my brother found love doesn’t mean I have to. I’d rather focus on other things. Like money. It never gives you sleepless nights that drive you insane. But the single mom I hooked up with at my brother’s wedding? She’s got me sweating. I can’t get her out of my head. Those curves. That smart mouth. She’s the right kind of trouble. But I’m the wrong kind of guy. Or not... -
After The Vows by D.E. Haggerty
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe sexy cop next door wants nothing to do with me. Until he asks me to marry him to save his daughter. When Lucas moves in next door, I don’t waste any time trying to get his attention. But the police officer who looks strong enough to throw me over those wide shoulders of his and carry me away isn’t interested in me. Time for desperate measures... -
Run with It by M.L. Nystrom
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe struggle is real. Beverly spends so much of her time juggling her four kids, a dead-beat ex, and two jobs that she never has time for herself or another man in her life. Then Connor moves in next door. Connor is healing from a hard break from his family and is working to find his own identity. He has no interest in joining another one. Then he meets his neighbor... -
Just My Fake Husband by Deb Goodman
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsGabriel Tate was Mr. Perfect…until one bad night got him totally cancelled. He's the Tate family’s Golden Boy, and incredibly sexy to boot. I almost consider helping him when he begs for my public relations expertise to fix the repercussions of his actions. It’s not my fault his own father fired him from the ginormous company he was set to take over... -
Hello Tease by Kelsie Hoss
Men view love as a game. One you can walk away from. At least that’s what the men in my life have taught me. My dad ran off when I was young, and just when I thought I was getting my own happily ever after, my ex left me on my own with two kids. Trying to pick up the pieces, I move to a small town where I can have help from my children’s grandparents...Categorized as:
single-mother grumpy sunshine dual-pov humor contemporary suspense length-medium m-f -
Mischief and the Mechanic by Alina Lane
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJump right into this spicy small town romance by Alina Lane. .. She longs for a family, but all he’s been longing for… is her. When Andy Donovan unexpectedly finds herself fighting for custody of her niece, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her and Piper together. Even if it means marrying her best friend. Jedd Calhoun is the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. Steady... -
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907 For Keeps Way by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsEveryone in town wants the smoldering personal trainer. He has his sights set on a curvy (and newly divorced) single mother. Cherry Falls is filled with returning characters and iconic destinations that will begin to feel like family. When you leave the city, and drive into Cherry Falls, it’s like you’ve finally come home... -
Falling for Meadow by Kels Stone, Denise Stone
Meadow Macrae was the beginning of it all for me. My first kiss. My first time. My first heartbreak. We were two kids with dreams that were too big for our town in the Scottish Highlands. We planned on forever, but when the day arrived, she left me waiting at the airport with just a text message telling me that she wasn't coming...Categorized as:
second chances single-mother contemporary first-person-pov dual-pov m-f siblings-bff scotland -
608 Alpha Avenue by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThings heat up (and take an unexpected turn) when a self-proclaimed romantic requests the help of a broody small-town mechanic. Cherry Falls is filled with returning characters and iconic destinations that will begin to feel like family. When you leave the city, and drive into Cherry Falls, it’s like you’ve finally come home... -
Bayou Tonight by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA prequel to Gotta Be Bayou, book one in the Badges of the Bayou series. She’s so not his type. But he’s been thinking about her for almost a year now. He needs to figure out a way to get over her. Though kissing her at their friends’ wedding probably isn’t it…. FBI agent Spencer Landry is looking for a sweet, bubbly sunshine at home to balance out all the darkness he sees in his work... -
Tempt Me With Forever by Maria Luís
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsNever trust a bad boy. That's what Beauty Influencer Lizzie Danvers tells her YouTube subscribers after getting dumped on Instagram. Lizzie may have the devil's luck in choosing men, but she's determined to prove that the age-old "once a playboy, always a playboy" theory is bulletproof. All she needs is thirty days and one sexy commitment-phobe to do it. . -
Until Lydia by E.M. Shue
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCan a wild mama bear and an orderly Tennessee State Trooper fight the BOOM? There are two sides to Lydia Roark. The wild, fun-loving woman who fights hard to protect bears and other animals. And the strait-laced, doting mother of twins who dresses properly and covers her tattoos so not to embarrass her husband. But when her life blows up in a silicon, Botoxed way, her fiery side is unleashed...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine single-mother contemporary suspense mystery possessive hero abuse humor -
Fret Me Not by Sarah Estep
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThere's a fine line between love and fake. .. . Rockstar Sam Shoop has retreated to his secluded cabin In Crane Cove for some privacy. Unfortunately for him, the residents haven’t gotten the memo and want to set him up with every available person they know... -
Hottie Lumberjack by Tawna Fenske
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Mark Bracelyn lumbers into Chelsea Singer’s cupcake shop with an axe, she’s poised to hit the panic button. But he fixes her door, praises her buttercream, and sends her skittish heart pounding like a hammer on a hollow log, so he can’t be all that scary. Chelsea’s sure there’s a gooey marshmallow center under Mark’s tough outer shell, though admittedly she’s been wrong before... -
Smooth Hoperator (Love on Tap) by Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter tanking my career in politics, I’m looking for new direction. But my GPS must be broken because it keeps leading me to a kooky librarian’s front steps. It’s not easy, but I’m doing my best to let go of my old ambitions and embrace the simple life of slinging beer at my family’s brewery. But some powerful players from my past are determined to cause problems for my family and me... -
Can't Let You Go by Alice Daniels, Saylor Ann
I’ve done everything I can to be the best mom for my daughter, including setting my own desires aside. And that desire is named Jason Cunningham. As a single mom of my seven year old daughter, I’ve gotten used to doing things on my own. I’ve moved on after my husband up and left us on what possibly was the worst day of my life with no way to reach him... -
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Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch: A completely gripping and feel-good second chance romance set in Scotland by Kennedy Kerr
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSitting at the edge of the loch, Tara clutches her heart-shaped pendant as the sunset turns the sky pink. The person who gave it to her once danced with her on the shore. But then he left for good. And now she can never share her secret…. Tara Ballantyne hasn’t been home to Loch Cameron since her childhood sweetheart and fiancé Ramsay Fraser suddenly broke her heart... -
Things I Forgot About by Kelsey Humphreys
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratings"He is off limits. Complicated. Not right for me at all. He's trouble, wrapped up in an expensive navy suit. But I never could stay out of trouble. .. ". Kat Canton is a woman with a plan. Though a rebel at heart, she’s had to stay focused since becoming a single mom at seventeen... -
Fire and Love by Melanie Shawn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsStand-alone Hope Falls romance, complete with HEA--and plenty of heat and heart along the way! Their future was set. He was going to be a firefighter, and she was going to be a filmmaker. They were going to get married and live happily-ever-after with two kids and a dog…She supposed one out five ain’t bad... -
Charmed in Charleston by Kirsten Osbourne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEmma Saxton is a single mother whose life is going nowhere. All her time is spent earning enough money to put food on the table, and she feels as though that will never change. After speaking with a friend, she calls Dr. Lachele at Matchrimony and agrees to meet a man at the altar and marry him immediately. She’s lonely, but her main concern is her daughter, Josie, who is her entire world... -
Entirely Yours by Rachel Lewis
Jules Bardot is ready to change things up. After years of teaching music at the local high school, he’s roped his brothers into opening Bardot Brothers Coffee Co. —a dream that’s been put on the back burner. What he didn’t plan on was an unexpected surprise in the form of Thea Rose: the somehow cute and sexy, single mom who just moved to town… and the woman he never thought he’d see again... -
From Best Friend to Husband by Lucy McConnell
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIf you love fall, you’ll love this romance wrapped in changing leaves, pumpkin decor, hot cocoa, and spicy kisses. Welcome to Harvest Ranch! The Fall Festival is upon us—complete with a giant pumpkin growing contests, craft booths, a corn maze with kissing alcoves and so much more. This is Wynn Westbrook’s first year as a vendor...
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