Books like 'Starting Back'
Readers who enjoyed Starting Back by Stephanie Rose also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary friends to lovers single-mother office men in uniform
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No More Spies by Lexi Blake
Rated: 4.66 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsKala Taggart has known she was in love with Cooper McKay since she was a young girl. But her wild-child ways sometimes clashed with Coop’s apple pie, all-American persona. After the worst night of Kala’s life, she decided to give up on having any kind of normalcy. She focused on her future and let the idea of Cooper go... -
The Long Way Home by Harper Sloan
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThere’s a price to pay for a life with a greater purpose. The healing of time is a damn liar when you’re living a life as a dead man with no true home, and the silence couldn’t be more deafening. Counting the days, good and bad, I exist as the world keeps spinning. I can never look back. All I can do is hope I took enough out of that life to carry me forward on those dead legs... -
Fumble. Pass. Repeat. by T'Lyn
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsKyce Jefferson understood change. His life had been a continuous reminder that nothing last for ever. However, his one constant had always been football. Women come and go but the Chicago Bears was his team, his home and his life. Being traded was the last thing he expected or wanted.Iyoni Nixon lived and breathed for her son. He was her reason... -
Scenes from the Hallway by Penny Reid
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsYou know who I am. I swear too much, I crack too many jokes, and I got a thing for Kat Tanner; a messy thing, a distracting thing, a getting-in-the-way-of-everything thing; a thing that makes being in the same room with the woman torture. Sometimes it's the good kind. Mostly, it's not. What you don't know is how it all started...Categorized as:
office men in uniform friends to lovers humor contemporary new adult sassy heroine alpha male -
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Hart Attack by Cristin Harber
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsOutside of Titan Group, there are few people that Roman Hart would die for. He’s a soldier, a protector, and he’s haunted that one of the people he should’ve been able to protect didn’t let him. That was years ago, and now a hardened heart and a cocky attitude are his impenetrable shields, until one woman—one challenge—drives him to distraction. On the outside, Beth Tourne has it all...Categorized as:
men in uniform friends to lovers contemporary military suspense alpha male length-medium audiobook -
A Whole New Ball Game by Stephanie Rose
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom bestselling author Stephanie Rose comes a swoon-worthy sports romance filled with sizzling chemistry, a heart-stealing hero who falls first, and an age-gap love story worth rooting for. Rachel Manning has her hands full working a demanding job at a PR firm and raising her teenage sister. The only time she makes for romance is in the hours she carves out writing steamy novels... -
A Whole New Ball Game by Stephanie Rose
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom bestselling author Stephanie Rose comes a swoon-worthy sports romance filled with sizzling chemistry, a heart-stealing hero who falls first, and an age-gap love story worth rooting for. Rachel Manning has her hands full working a demanding job at a PR firm and raising her teenage sister. The only time she makes for romance is in the hours she carves out writing steamy novels...Categorized as:
office friends to lovers single-mother sports baseball forced proximity contemporary age difference -
Searching for Elsie by Susan Stoker
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsOnce upon a time, Elsie Ireland thought she’d found the man of her dreams, only to learn her fairytale romance was just another cautionary tale. Beyond a perfect family image, her husband had little interest in Elsie, and even less in their son. Years later, she and nine-year-old Tony have landed in Fallport, Virginia... -
Can't Help Falling by Courtney Walsh
All it takes to start a fire is one single match. . . Owen Larrabee is not my soulmate. He wasn't when I confessed my love to him on his wedding day, and he isn't now. I should probably say that I wasn't the bride when that happened. I don't have the best timing. He’s got a temper, he's moody, and he has a history of being misunderstood and making big mistakes... -
Captivating Anika by Freya Barker
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsAnika Jones has her future carefully plotted out and is checking the boxes, one by one, despite the bumps thrown in her path. This last one is a challenge, but she manages to stay on track; her salon is thriving, and she just bought a house. Unfortunately, when one of her employees runs into trouble, she inevitably gets sucked in, throwing her carefully paced life off-balance... -
Come Fly With Me by Helen Rolfe
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsTake to the skies in this gorgeous and gripping new series, perfect for fans of Jo Bartlett and Cathy Bramley.A Second Chance…For Maya, serving as a pilot in the Whistlestop River air ambulance team is a dream come true. And now, with her divorce from her overbearing husband finally complete, flying over the fields of Dorset, and saving lives with the Skylarks, is the centre of her world...Categorized as:
office friends to lovers men in uniform contemporary small town length-medium m-f single-father -
The Past: A Blackburn Novel by Sawyer Bennett
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBefore ascending the throne of the Blackburn Empire in Kentucky horse country, they were just Tommy and Fiona, two teenagers from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Young love bloomed during an Irish summer set amidst the rolling green hills and lush pastures of Tipperary County. Fiona Conlan grew up sheltered by her overbearing parents and vibrating with the need for something more...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office new adult contemporary sassy heroine angst length-medium audiobook -
Owen North by Nina Levine
A steamy forbidden office romance from USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nina Levine.My one-night stand is my new boss.I met him at the society wedding of the year.The man every woman in New York wants.He's rich.Devastatingly good looking.Charming.Mr. I-Could-Blow-Your-Mind.And yes, he did blow my mind.It was just supposed to be one night.I told him I don't date...Categorized as:
office friends to lovers contemporary humor super rich hero alpha male sassy heroine m-f -
The Bodyguard and the Bombshell by Lexi Blake
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake comes a new story in her Masters and Mercenaries series…The Bodyguard…Nate Carter left Australia’s elite SASR unit after a tragic accident. Shattered by the experience, he thought taking a job in the States might be a good way to start over. His father’s former employer, McKay-Taggart, has a position for him in the bodyguard unit...Categorized as:
friends to lovers men in uniform bdsm found-family contemporary length-short audiobook -
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Scars & Silver Linings by Kelsey Kingsley
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTwo little, pink lines should have been a good thing, but for Kendall Wright, it felt like the end of the world. Especially when her career as a successful romance novelist had only just begun to take off. But with the acceptance of her flaky boyfriend, and the help of a friendly bartender, she begins to see how those two little, pink lines could actually be a blessing... -
Kickstart My Heart by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWalkerThere’s nothing better than a packed house on a Saturday night, and co-owning the hottest restaurant and bar in town with my best friends, isn’t so bad either. We put everything into Burgers and Brew. My job is to keep the alcohol moving and the patrons coming back for more. I won’t let anyone break my focus.That was until I saw her.As much as I try, I can’t fight it... -
Baby Yours by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsThe worst day of my life happened when Brandon died. We had our entire future mapped out. Careers, marriage, kids—in that order. Then the universe threw a curveball and ended it all. As I come to terms with everything, I learn I’m carrying his baby. Now I’m living with his roommate, the guy who’s made my life a living hell the past two years...Categorized as:
friends to lovers single-mother christian new adult contemporary pregnancy length-medium audiobook -
Pretty Incredible by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBlair Hooking up with my best friend’s brother was a mistake…an unforgettable one. It’s always in the back of mind and having returned to town has brought all those feelings rushing to the surface. This time, I’m only here to cover my dad’s patients and help run the clinic—all work and no play. I haven’t even seen Gabe Rhodes since the steamy night we shared after he rescued me from a snowstorm... -
The One I Love by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA Sexy, Friends to Lovers, Secret Relationship, Small-Town Romance by bestselling author Chelle Sloan.I can’t remember a time when I haven’t loved my childhood best friend, Amelia.Her big brown eyes and beautiful smile have had a hold on me since we were teenagers.Hell, I even love her kids as if they were my own.Now, she’s divorced, and after twenty years, it’s time to make my move... -
Never Too Close by Chelle Bliss
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsVito Bianchi had given up on love years ago after his wife walked out the door. He immersed himself in his work, letting one day pass into the next so he didn’t dwell on what was missing in his life. But when he’s called out to a fire at the home of Star Falls newest resident, he couldn’t stop himself from being sucked in to her world... -
Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsDanielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny. And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office contemporary dual-pov forced proximity new adult length-short -
Marry Your Best Friend by Hope Ford
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI love all the foster boys I was raised with. But there’s always been something special about Gabriel Gray.For years I’ve tried to hide my attraction to him, because I know it’s one-sided.Gabe is fiercely protective of me, but that’s as far as his affections go.He’s older than me–something he reminds me of often - and he takes his role of caring for me seriously...Categorized as:
men in uniform friends to lovers contemporary possessive hero length-short audiobook -
Swan Song by Katy Regnery
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Katy Regnery comes a beloved collection of breathtaking romances based on the world's most well-known fairytales!** SWAN SONG (The Ugly Duckling) **Once upon a time, a swan egg rolled into a duck nest…While visiting Washington, D.C...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office contemporary second chances military found-family athletes length-long -
Too Young To Fall In Love by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsKellenI love my job. Bartending is more than just serving drinks to customers at the hottest bar and restaurant in Stewart Grove. It’s the people I work with and those I meet along the way. I know how to have a good time. Just one flirty little grin and the ladies are like putty in my hands. But they know the score: I’m a one and done guy, not looking to ever fall into the trap of love... -
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The Bargain by Jocelynn Drake
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe’s a golden retriever with a billion-dollar bank account. Sebastian is a brilliant, thoughtful boss who’s also too sexy for words.And for some crazy reason he has set his sights on me—his lowly, boring, always-proper assistant.I should say NO.I need to say NO.But YES is so much more delicious and fun... -
Irresistible Revenge by Amanda Bentley
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsYou’re going to think I’m a shitty person, and I can’t say I’d even blame you. But before you make a snap judgment, let me help you understand.You see, I slept with my coworker.Now, I know what you’re thinking. Okay…and?Well, I slept with my coworker, but I still had a boyfriend.“How could you?”“That is WRONG.”“(insert choice expletives here)!”I know.You’re right.It is... -
Love You Again by Julia Kent
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAn unexpected rescue rekindles an old romance between a single dad widower and a woman caught in a small town scandal that made her flee the one place where she belongs. Can a second chance at first love end in a happily ever after?Luke Luview has given up on love... -
Don't Go Faking My Heart by Kate Watson
My manipulative ex is back in my life, and my hot best friend has offered to be my fake boyfriend. No big deal … except I’m not sure I’m faking. I, Ashley Jane Moore, am a glorious disaster. Listen, I like myself, but the men in my life typically don’t. Not my dad and certainly not my manipulative ex. The one exception is my best friend, Rusty...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office found-family contemporary length-medium m-f glimpses-kisses -
Loved by You by N.L. Amore
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThey say the hardest boy to get over is the one you never had, and sadly I know that to be true. Ria I had the picture perfect life, the husband the kids and the white picket fence and then it all came crashing down. In the wake of trying to navigate my new life as a single mom I never expected him, my brothers best friend, the boy I never had to pick up all our broken pieces...Categorized as:
single-mother friends to lovers siblings-bff military found-family contemporary length-medium -
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:
friends to lovers single-mother contemporary second chances humor length-long audiobook -
After All by Heidi McLaughlin
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin comes a heartfelt story about overcoming great loss and forgiving past sins to find happiness again. Brooklyn Hewett hasn’t set foot in Cape Harbor for fifteen years—not since an accident claimed the love of her life, Austin Woods. Desperate to move forward, Brooklyn has focused on raising her daughter for the past fourteen years... -
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... -
Code Name: Ghost by Sawyer Bennett
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsI knew the risks of this job when I signed on with Jameson Force Security. Knew my time as a marine would prepare me for the danger I would face. But no amount of training could have ever prepared me for the helplessness of watching my teammates die, the agonizing mental and physical pain of torture, or the despair of captivity... -
Wrapped in Love by Lexi Ryan
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsA one-night stand with the boss was never in her plans. Neither was falling in love . . . The rumors are true. I am a hot mess with an awful track record at love. Single mom. Down on her luck. Yeah, I’m bad news. So if the hardest part of moving back home to Jackson Harbor was going to be people talking? I’d be fine. I’ve kept my chin up through worse than their decade-old gossip...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office single-mother contemporary christmas length-short m-f dual-pov -
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Dangerous Proximity by Jemma Westbrook, Janice Whiteaker
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsTyson is ready to settle down. Has been for as long as he can remember.But bringing someone close is a risk he’s not willing to take.When he crosses paths with a familiar face, Tyson knows he should steer clear of the stunning nurse he’s never forgotten. Let her go on with her life, safely away from Alaskan Security and the never-ending string of men willing to do anything to take it down...Categorized as:
friends to lovers single-mother suspense military tortured heroine contemporary length-medium -
Seeking Shadows by K.E. Osborn
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat if the woman I fell for was in love with someone else? The man who claimed her heart is my VP, the same man I need to respect and follow his orders. But now that I'm no longer a prospect, it's difficult to find my place... -
Tripped by Love: A Friends-to-lovers, Military Romance by LJ Evans
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s a broody bodyguard with secrets he can’t share.She’s a busy single mom with a restaurant to run.They’re just friends until a little white lie changes everything.Marco Hernandez is the somber trainer here only to bend my body into shape, but when the perfectly sculpted man holds my son in his arms and smiles, I’m a goner. Weak legs. Pounding veins... -
Dylan by Apryl Baker
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDylan ~Six years ago, Dylan Jenkins lost his daughter in a tragic car accident, and his wife took her own life because she couldn’t live with the guilt of surviving. The loss of his family turned him into a hard, cold man. He quit his job as an LAPD detective and moved to New York where he took a position with Kincaid Security & Investigations. Viktor Kincaid and his company saved his life... -
Cabin Fever with My First Flame by Madison Love
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI'm a chef who can handle the heat. He's a firefighter that can douse a flame. But when sparks reignite between us and old fires begin to burn, dialing 9-1-1 is the last thing on my mind.After my divorce, I got the better end of the deal with three sassy daughters, my food truck, and what was left in the bank account...Categorized as:
single-mother friends to lovers men in uniform christmas christian humor betrayal single-father -
Where Forever Ends by K. Street
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings𝑴𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔—𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘. Then: I was a wife. Married to a man who was my world and the father of my child. Then, one day, half of my heart was ripped out of my chest. Now: I’m a widow. A single mom who has spent the last nine months trying like hell not to drown in an ocean of grief... -
Deadly Protector by Katie Reus
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsReturn to the USA Today bestselling Red Stone Security series with Deadly Protector!He’s a former thief.Dimitri’s world is turned upside down when he meets Zamira. The sweet single mom knows nothing about who he used to be. He should stay away, because he’s the last thing she needs in her life. But when she’s targeted by a threat from her past, he can’t keep his distance any longer...Categorized as:
friends to lovers single-mother military suspense super rich hero contemporary length-short -
Ten Firemen's Ignition by Nicole Casey
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThey say playing with fire is dangerous, but with ten men like these, I’m ready to ignite. Back in my hometown to investigate an arson case, I never expected the sparks to fly in more ways than one. It's my first time back since my mom's death tore my life apart, a past I vowed to leave behind... -
The Barista's Guide to the Perfect Steam by Valerie Pepper
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJodi Bristol knows three things for bad things happen to good people; college girls order the most complicated coffee drinks; and Price Joseph will never see her as anything other than the barista who makes his vanilla oat-milk lattes... -
Engage by June Gray
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsPART FIVE OF JUNE GRAY'S DISARM SERIES The past has a way of catching up... A long time has passed since Elsie's heart was broken, since the person who always shielded her from pain broke her heart. Just when she begins to rebuild, Henry returns and upends everything all over again... -
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Just This Once by Sophie Andrews
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m a single mom trying to keep my head above water. He’s the one night stand I was never supposed to see again.As a divorced parent of two teenagers and the manager of a bed and breakfast about to undergo a major renovation, I don’t have time for a relationship.But when a charming, younger guy approaches me during a night out, I give in to the desire to relieve some stress and invite him home... -
Waiting for Willa by Kristen Proby
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsWaiting for Willa From New York Times Bestselling Author Kristen Proby comes the newest installment in her beloved Big Sky Series… Max Hull left Cunningham Falls a long time ago. Thanks to his killer instincts and business smarts, he’s come back to town richer than anyone’s wildest imagination... -
Retreat by June Gray
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsReturn to the place where it all began… Elsie surprises Henry in California in the sexiest way possible, and inadvertently reveals the secret of their relationship to their families. But just when she thinks everything is finally falling back into place, a revelation changes everything… ~ RETREAT is a 13,000 word erotic romance novelette. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY PLEASE...Categorized as:
friends to lovers men in uniform contemporary tortured hero military m-f length-novella -
The Henry Sessions by June Gray
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsPART FOUR OF JUNE GRAY'S DISARM SERIESIn eighteen days, a life can change... Henry talks about the past during his therapy sessions but one night puts everything into question, including his relationship with the woman he's loved all his life...Categorized as:
friends to lovers men in uniform contemporary tortured hero military m-f length-novella -
Hot Chicken by L.M. Fox
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHot Chicken A Man of the Club Christmas in July Series Novella You’re invited to a Candy Cane Key Christmas in July festival with The Man of the Month Club.Matt Returning to my hometown to help care for my ailing mother wasn’t on my radar at age twenty-six.But neither was Ellie Albright.This small seaside town and its obsession with Christmas had me packed and ready to leave at a moment’s notice... -
Come Away With Me by Erika Kelly
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCan the handsome loner win the heart of the single mom? He's about to find out on their Vegas road trip.Single mom Skylar James is absolutely not interested in the broody, inked artist who works in her brother’s motorcycle repair shop. She’s focused on her four-year-old son and her thriving business as an image consultant...
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