Books like 'Contempt'
Readers who enjoyed Contempt by A. Zavarelli also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance forced proximity grumpy sunshine angst from hate to love military super rich hero suspense friends to lovers
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Sancte Diaboli: Part Two by Amo Jones
He held a darkness that could never be touched. She carried a light that could never be seen. Not by anyone. Only by each other. Simply two halves of the same soul, Brantley and Saint were fused together with equal parts wrath and peace. Nothing could break through their bond. Nothing. Until now... -
![Scandalous Prince by Rachel Van Dyken]()
Scandalous Prince by Rachel Van Dyken
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsA mafia romance about secrets and soulmates by Rachel Van Dyken, the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series.The Woods are Lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go, before I sleep —Robert FrostI was born under fire and swore to protect her until my dying day, I just never knew that one day, I'd be the very monster I was protecting her from...Categorized as:
suspense angst virgin heroine friends to lovers super rich hero from hate to love m-f mafia -
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![Dirty Truths by Jaymin Eve, Tate James]()
Dirty Truths by Jaymin Eve, Tate James
You know that saying, things can’t possibly get worse? They always can. I thought I’d reached a whole new low the day I ran from Bellerose. The day I was snatched by mafia goons, beaten half to death, and left wishing they’d finish the job. But then an Angel saved me. His kind of salvation wasn’t the freedom I’d been hoping for, though... -
![Extreme Risk by Jane Blythe]()
Extreme Risk by Jane Blythe
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsCan she accept an offer of help from a patient she’s attracted to?Dr. Piper Hamilton is used to keeping on the fringes. She knows what it's like to be responsible for the death of someone you love and she'd do anything to protect herself from feeling that pain again... -
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![Firefly by Molly McAdams]()
Firefly by Molly McAdams
The next captivating installment in New York Times bestselling author Molly McAdams’s Redemption series. As the Princess of the Irish-American Mob, there’s no shortage of men ready to help guard and protect me. To slowly suffocate me to the point of seeking freedom—a place where I can breathe. Kieran Hayes has been saving me for as long as I can remember... -
![Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann]()
Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThe summer before fourth grade, Colten Mosley moved into the house across the street from mine, and we became inseparable.He played the piano and baseball.I had a penchant for dead things while at the same time imagining what it would be like to kiss Colten.We were filled with curiosity and overly active imaginations.We were also forbidden to be more than friends.But that didn’t stop us...Categorized as:
mystery suspense friends to lovers angst grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love m-f -
![Code Name: Pisces by Janie Crouch]()
Code Name: Pisces by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMy code name is Pisces. The stars say I’m independent, wise, and intuitive.Still waters run deep. I’m the leader of Zodiac Tactical’s guardian unit. We’re the bodyguards—the ones who stand toe to toe with danger and refuse to give any ground. We protect people who need it most.But what if who needs it most is a spoiled diva?I don’t normally take on movie stars... -
![But I Need You by W. Winters]()
But I Need You by W. Winters
Some love stories are a slow burn. Others are quick to ignite, scorching and branding your very soul before you’ve taken that first breath. You’re never given a chance to run from it. That’s how I’d describe what happened to us.Everything around me blurred and all that existed were his lips, his touch… The chase and the heat between us became addictive... -
![Away from the Dark by Aleatha Romig]()
Away from the Dark by Aleatha Romig
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsNine months ago, Sara Adams awoke with no memory. The man holding her hand told her she’s a member of The Light, a tight-knit religious group led by the terrifying and charismatic Father Gabriel. As a woman in the community of The Light, her duty is to be unquestionably obedient and to submit to the will of her husband... -
![If We Disappear Here by Mindy Hayes]()
If We Disappear Here by Mindy Hayes
They are marionettes under a concrete sky.Pain shoots through Maeve Campbell’s body when she wakes cold and disoriented, locked in a neglected cement room.Her drowsy eyes sweep the cell and land on a masculine, limp body across the room. Gripping his shoulder, she rolls him to his back, face angling toward her. Only it’s not who she thinks.It’s not her husband.And they aren’t alone...Categorized as:
mystery suspense forced proximity angst cheating friends to lovers abduction forbidden love -
![Sawyer by Kelly Hartigan (Xterra Web), Siobhan Davis]()
Sawyer by Kelly Hartigan (Xterra Web), Siobhan Davis
Torn between duty and desire... Sawyer Hunt has always been confident with his place in the world. He knows what he wants, conceals his painful truths behind a mask of cool indifference and keeps his circle small. The only person who has ever come close to smashing through his inner walls is the one person his parents will never accept.Xavier Daniels is sick of being Hunt’s dirty little secret... -
![Bed of Roses by D.V. Fischer]()
Bed of Roses by D.V. Fischer
I never thought I'd fall for a murderer. As an old employee at a funeral home, Tegan's life had been full of corpses. When her parents died, she couldn't take being surrounded by death anymore. She had to get away, and to do that, she moved to a small, sleepy town in Utah. When Tegan rented a house sight-unseen, she had been told it would need a lot of work... -
![Savage: The Awakening of Lizzie Danton by L.A. Fiore]()
Savage: The Awakening of Lizzie Danton by L.A. Fiore
They call him a monster. Pale blue eyes as cold as ice that see right through you. He’s hard. He’s damaged. He’s dangerous. He lives in a castle fit for a fairy tale, but he’s no prince. He’s savage. He’s brutal. He’s a killer. By an act of fate, our worlds collide. They call him a monster, but he is my salvation...Categorized as:
suspense mystery super rich hero pregnancy grumpy sunshine height-difference m-f contemporary -
![Hellfire by Cathleen Cole, Frank Jensen]()
Hellfire by Cathleen Cole, Frank Jensen
She’s his best friend’s little sister, but he’d risk everything to have her…HellfireSmoke would kill me if he knew all the dirty, depraved things I want to do to his little sister. For years, I’ve been forced to look and not touch.She’s been mine since the first time I saw her, even if she doesn’t know it.But when yet another threat to the club comes out of the woodwork, I decide I’ve had enough... -
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![Path to Retaliation by TheFeveredBookaholic]()
Path to Retaliation by TheFeveredBookaholic
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsUnder-the-radar boxer Cameron West loves to get through life in a series of humor and mischief. He'll be there to charm your panties off and give you a good laugh about it right after. But it's true when they say that the happiest people often hold the darkest secrets... -
![The Demon by Stella Andrews]()
The Demon by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThey call me The Demon for a reason and Eliza Ortega is about to find out why.A runaway mafia princess who stumbled from one nightmare to an even bigger one.She has something I want and I intend on collecting.I will stop at nothing to deliver my promise and if there are casualties I will consider it a good day at the office.My hobby is testing limits... -
![Pearl by Freya Barker]()
Pearl by Freya Barker
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsa privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary.____Operator Pearl; layered, mysterious, a protector. She masks as delicate, analyzes, and moves stealthily...Categorized as:
suspense from hate to love forced proximity mystery abuse dark multicultural contemporary -
![Erik's Salvation by Nyssa Kathryn]()
Erik's Salvation by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsShe’ll mend his broken heart. He’ll shatter anew to protect her.Hannah Jacobs is intimately familiar with pain. Growing up in foster care, she experienced all of its varying shades, in ways that still impact her as an adult... -
![A Divided Heart by Alessandra Torre]()
A Divided Heart by Alessandra Torre
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsCan you love two men at once? Is there any future in that?Brant loves me fiercely.A brilliant billionaire who has owned my heart for four years, he keeps proposing, and I keep turning him down.I can’t marry him, not with all of the secrets between us.Lee uses me wildly.As grouchy as he is cocky, he's interested in getting me into his bed and little more...Categorized as:
angst love triangle cheating super rich hero mystery contemporary age difference dual-pov -
![Erik's Refuge by Nyssa Kathryn]()
Erik's Refuge by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe choice is simple…surrender or perish.In the blink of an eye, he became her everything. Her hero. Her savior. Her whole world. Hannah and Erik are finally building the future she’s longed for…but it doesn’t include a family. Erik’s already felt the pain of losing a child before he even experienced the joy of holding them in his arms. It’s not something he’ll risk again...Categorized as:
suspense military pregnancy super rich hero mystery forced proximity age difference dual-pov -
![The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Four by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor]()
The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Four by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume FourWhat would you do for three million dollars?Four young women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidders. For no less than a million dollars a year, for three years, each woman will do what it takes to secure her future... -
![Fixate by K.E. Osborn]()
Fixate by K.E. Osborn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe’s a part of me.Even though I don’t know her name.The woman I’ve been exchanging letters with and developed feelings for over the past five years. But I can’t help feeling torn in two when I’m suddenly pulled toward another. Maxxy, the club’s horticulturalist, is strong, sassy, and she gives me so much lip the aggravation is exasperating.She infuriates me. She ignites me...Categorized as:
suspense mystery friends to lovers angst forced proximity from hate to love alpha male bikers -
![Texas Bodyguard: Chance by Janie Crouch]()
Texas Bodyguard: Chance by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe has secrets she prefers to keep hidden.Too bad he’s so good at getting to the truth.When a violent attack puts Maci Ford in the hospital, security expert Chance Patterson learns that she’s carrying his baby. Even though she ended their relationship, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to protect her and their child... -
![Last Resort by Janie Crouch]()
Last Resort by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA TODAY Bestselling Author Janie Crouch. Previously published as Texas ChanceShe has secrets she prefers to keep hidden.Too bad he’s so good at getting to the truth.When a violent attack puts Maci Ford in the hospital, security expert Chance Patterson learns that she’s carrying his baby... -
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![A Day of Ruin by Steph Macca]()
A Day of Ruin by Steph Macca
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhat do my high school sweetheart, roommate and work associate have in common?They all loved me and now they hate me.My family used to run this town. Until that fateful night when my mother died, and an innocent man went to prison…And it was apparently all my fault.Not only did the entire town now hate me, but I was left with my mother’s secret crippling debt. And I had to face everything alone...Categorized as:
from hate to love suspense mystery tortured heroine angst poor heroine reverse harem dark -
![Queen of Vengeance by Jessica Jude]()
Queen of Vengeance by Jessica Jude
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 13 ratings“What are you going to do when you find him?”I pause, unsure what my answer should be. But there’s only ever been one option. “Kill him,” I say.SlateLife’s taught me not to expect much. Handouts, fair treatment, a decent parking spot downtown. But dead last on that list? Lux Colombia-Clarke showing up at my door, looking like a damn fairytale with a score to settle...Categorized as:
from hate to love angst super rich hero mystery suspense contemporary found-family slow burn -
![Naked Truth by Lisa Renee Jones]()
Naked Truth by Lisa Renee Jones
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsJax North. He's handsome, brutally so, and wealthy. Our first encounter is intense and sex is my escape. I go with it. I go with him and what a ride it is. And then, I say goodbye. Only you don't say goodbye to a man like Jax if he doesn't want you to. I've challenged him without meaning to. He wants me. I don't want to want him, and yet, I crave him. And he tears me down, my resistance, my walls...Categorized as:
mystery suspense super rich hero from hate to love contemporary dark dual-pov length-epic -
![Secret Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart]()
Secret Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart
LUNABaptized in blood, I’m marked for death.Each time it comes, he appears. My masked protector.Saving me for reasons only known to him.But the Vigilante is playing a deadly game.One I must stop before he claims another soul.My new boyfriend, Hunter, vows to keep me safe.But what if we become the final casualties in the Vigilante's secret vendetta?VIGILANTEI’m the most dangerous man in the city... -
![The Rogue by Kimberly Kincaid]()
The Rogue by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe scars that cut deepest are the ones beneath the surface…Detective Addison Hale is a survivor. The armor she uses to hide her scars keeps her safe on the job, and holding people at arm’s length is a small price to pay when there’s a stalker on the loose.Especially since he’s after the sister of impulsive firefighter Ryan Dempsey, who she had a scorching-hot fling with two months ago...Categorized as:
friends to lovers mystery suspense military contemporary dark firefighter length-medium -
![Guarded from Sabotage by Gia Cobie, Operation Alpha]()
Guarded from Sabotage by Gia Cobie, Operation Alpha
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI never imagined my life could fall apart so quickly.It all started when my credit card was stolen.I chalked it up to bad luck. A minor annoyance. Until more things started happening—fraudulent loans taken out in my name, my bank accounts drained, and I was even accused of a crime I couldn’t possibly have committed.And it became terrifyingly clear this wasn’t just bad luck. This was intentional... -
![Live for Me by Ember Nicole]()
Live for Me by Ember Nicole
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s hell bent on settling the score.He’ll do anything she asks.This is the third book in The Broken Bounty Series. It is not a standalone. The building blocks for this story begin with Break for Me by Ember Nicole.This is a dual perspective, dark romance and is intended for readers over 18 years of age. There are trigger/content warnings listed within the first pages of the book... -
![Damaged Kingdom by MJ Crouch]()
Damaged Kingdom by MJ Crouch
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsMari Marcosa always knew she would die young, so being left to bleed out on a warehouse floor is no shock to her. But as the blood seeps from her body, her thoughts aren’t of the Marcosa empire she's ruled for years, or the city she's given everything to protect. It's on the three men who’ve stood by her Greyson: her soul, her foundation. So hard and reserved, showing emotion only to Mari... -
![Consumed by Truths by Ella Miles]()
Consumed by Truths by Ella Miles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEnzo is my heart. My soul. My breath. I never thought I could be so dark. Never knew love meant losing myself and getting reborn. The lies and truths have finally caught up with us. We may have stolen an empire, but we aren’t ready to give it up. It’s ours. He’s mine. And our love will find a way to the truth. Consumed by Truths is book 6 and the final book in Enzo and Kai's story... -
![The Night Blossoms by Leylah Attar]()
The Night Blossoms by Leylah Attar
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Leylah Attar returns with a page-turning romantic suspense/thriller that careens down an emotional highway toward a chilling finale. Dark, thrilling, and ingeniously unpredictable...Categorized as:
suspense mystery pregnancy friends to lovers dark contemporary multicultural length-medium -
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![The Saint by Kimberly Kincaid]()
The Saint by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis partner’s most trusted informant is his only hope…and his only weakness.When Detective Liam Hollister is assigned to an assault-turned-murder, he brings his signature three “C”s: control, calm, and composure. The “C” he wasn’t counting on? His partner’s informant, Carmen Desoto, who’s not only the key to unlocking his case... -
![Gabby's Protector by Janie Crouch, Regan Black]()
Gabby's Protector by Janie Crouch, Regan Black
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter a heart-shattering tragedy, Tony Marino bottled up his emotions and gave more than twenty hard years to the SEAL teams. Now, he’s enjoying a later in life career in paradise in the Ellington Cove special security office.The best part? Working with their research expert, Gabby Ladd... -
![The Three Week Deal by Hannah Shield]()
The Three Week Deal by Hannah Shield
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s a smoking-hot firefighter with a wild side.And now, my obnoxious new roommate. When my apartment catches fire, I know I’m in for a hell of a day. It only gets worse when I meet my temporary new roommate—the same grouchy firefighter who just yelled at me. Matteo De Luca is a tattooed, loud-mouthed, alpha hunk of a man...Categorized as:
suspense military mystery forced proximity from hate to love friends to lovers humor dark -
![Born Evil by Stella Andrews]()
Born Evil by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSome devils come dressed in sharp suits with eyes that seduce and a check box beside every wish you ever had. Some victims come dressed in innocence and ignorance, disguising a soul of pure fire. I am Troy Remington. Ruthless billionaire with a heart of steel. I offered Laura Kincaid the job of a lifetime for a very important reason... -
![Brother's Best Friend: A Bratva Romance by K.C. Crowne]()
Brother's Best Friend: A Bratva Romance by K.C. Crowne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy brother's best friend is a fierce underground fighter...And I'm his eager new understudy.Samuil Nicolaevich haunted my fantasies as a teen.And based on the way his gaze lingers on my lush curves..He clearly appreciates how much I've blossomed.In the dark world of underground fights,Women like me are rare victorious warriors...Categorized as:
forbidden love forced proximity super rich hero suspense mafia contemporary fighters dark -
![How Much for a Broken Heart? by R.J. Scott]()
How Much for a Broken Heart? by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen the game turns deadly for a SEAL and his Ranger, love becomes the most dangerous mission of all.In a single devastating morning, August's life crumbles. His covert assignment derails disastrously as the family he's meant to safeguard falls prey to the ruthless Cooper River cartel... -
![Ghost : The Perished Riders MC - Book 4 by Nicola Jane]()
Ghost : The Perished Riders MC - Book 4 by Nicola Jane
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsNellyIt started as a favour. I needed him to pretend to be my boyfriend for a few family dates. Despite having worked the bar at The Perished Riders MC for a couple of years, I’d hardly ever spoken with Ghost, so he was less than pleased when the club’s President forced him into helping me.But he shows up for me, something I’m not used to when it comes to relying on men... -
![Because of Me by Katie Pearson]()
Because of Me by Katie Pearson
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShe aspires to be the girl he deserves.Becca Mills is desperate to give her son a better life. To do that, she heads to a new town where nobody knows her, except her mother and her mother’s dealer. When Becca meets Dereck, a tatted mechanic who enjoys making her blush and earning her smile, things get complicated...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers suspense dark contemporary cruel hero length-epic -
![Word to the Wise by Eva Simmons]()
Word to the Wise by Eva Simmons
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAs the daughter of a biker, I’ve been toe-to-toe with brutal men. I grew up surrounded by violence, so I thought I could survive anything.Until I learned what it really means to be at the mercy of a monster. One I loved. One I trusted.Now that I’ve escaped, I refuse to go back.But when I show up on my brother’s doorstep looking for help, I find myself face to face with Mason Zane.My protector... -
![A Reckless Note by Lisa Renee Jones]()
A Reckless Note by Lisa Renee Jones
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 22 ratings“I can chase you, and I can catch you, but there is nothing I can do to make you mine.” ― Morrissey It all started with a note, just a simple note hand written by a woman I didn't know, never even met. But in that note is perhaps every answer to every question I've ever had in my life. And because of that note, I travel thousands of miles. I look for her, but find him... -
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![Talk Dirty To Me by Imogen Keeper]()
Talk Dirty To Me by Imogen Keeper
"Warning may cause injury from side-effects related to wet panties." "Must read!" "Tension is out of this world! Mia and Stranger are perfectly unsuitable, and there are crazy twists and delicious turns." "I loved every minute of it!" The girl with everything… Mia Reed has a perfect life. A perfect fiancé. A perfect family. A perfect everything... -
![Let Me Love You by Brittney Sahin]()
Let Me Love You by Brittney Sahin
Love is a risk for a woman in danger and a mercenary sworn to protect in a blistering novel of vengeance and redemption by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brittney Sahin. Six years ago, Maria Romano got her birthday wish―a kiss from Enzo Costa. A man she could never take her eyes off, but who seemed as haunted as her favorite book boyfriends and strictly off-limits...Categorized as:
friends to lovers suspense military forced proximity grumpy sunshine mystery m-f age difference -
![The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Three by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor]()
The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Three by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume ThreeWhat would you do for three million dollars?Four young women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidders. For no less than a million dollars a year, for three years, each woman will do what it takes to secure her future... -
![Sapphire Scars by Nicole Fox]()
Sapphire Scars by Nicole Fox
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsHe’s my ex’s brother.A terrifying mob boss with a past too dark to share.And when he finds out I’m pregnant, he becomes something else, too:The husband I never asked for.Kolya Uvarov crashed into my life at a funeral and saved me from a mega-creep.Classic meet-cute, right?Not exactly—because it was his brother we were burying.A.k.a., my ex-boyfriend.A.k.a...Categorized as:
pregnancy suspense forbidden love love triangle forced proximity angst from hate to love abduction -
![Love Me Harder by Nikki Ash]()
Love Me Harder by Nikki Ash
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLive hard. Love harder. Up until this point, I’ve been living my life for everyone but me. Trapped under my controlling mother’s expectations and rules. My only escape—a carefully guarded list of things I can only dream of doing. One by one, I slowly find the courage to start living... -
![False Hope by Meli Raine]()
False Hope by Meli Raine
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsShe thinks she’s fooled me. But I’ve known all along.Almost.Lily is hiding something, a secret so big, she came out of a year-long coma and her first instinct was to lie.Who does that? Someone who is afraid. No—not afraid.Terrified. And it’s my job to take that fear away.My partner and I have spent countless man-hours hunting down the cold-blooded killer who did this to her...
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