Books like 'The Darkest Corner of the Heart'
Readers who enjoyed The Darkest Corner of the Heart by Lisina Coney also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary age difference grumpy sunshine forced proximity forbidden love cold hero height-difference friends-benefits caretaking sweet-hero
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American Hellhound by Lauren Gilley
Black dogs. Demons. Hellhounds. Damned souls that haunt crossroads, taking the forms of hulking dogs with glowing red eyes. Legends of the Old World, but just stories meant to scare lonely wanderers. Mostly. Knoxville, Tennessee boasts black dogs of its own: the mother chapter of the Lean Dogs Motorcycle Club...Categorized as:
age difference forbidden love cold hero m-f bikers alpha male contemporary strong heroine -
Beginning of Forever by Catherine Bybee
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the story of two wine enthusiasts who ride the ups and downs of love in the vineyards of Tuscany. Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D’Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he’s always deferred his dreams—a vineyard to run, a woman to marry...Categorized as:
forced proximity sweet-hero m-f contemporary beta-hero super rich hero dual-pov length-medium -
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Ashes by Chelle Bliss
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsDylan Walsh left his small town behind and vowed to never return. But when his brother needs help, Dylan steps back into the memories he tried so hard to forget. He thought there was nothing there for him anymore until a woman he knew as a little girl catches more than Dylan’s eye. Rosie Gallo is known for her kind spirit, good-girl vibes, and her loyalty to the ones she loves... -
Myles by Riley Edwards
Former Delta Operator Myles Simms doesn’t know when to quit. The concept so foreign to him he can’t give up on Delilah Watts. A woman he’s never met—a woman who might be the enemy yet he’s compelled to save her. Intel Specialist Delilah Watts never imagined sending an email would be deadly. Kidnapped and left to die, yet she regrets nothing...Categorized as:
m-f caretaking forced proximity hurt-comfort sweet-hero contemporary suspense military -
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Smith by Riley Edwards
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsShe’s the last woman in the world he’s allowed to fall for. And the only woman he wants. There I was minding my own business, building my real estate empire, and loving life. So the last thing I needed was a series of threatening letters as I worked on my latest fix and flip sending my loving, protective dad into over-the-top-protective dad mode from the other side of the world...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine forced proximity suspense military contemporary found-family length-medium -
Billionaire Unreachable ~ Wyatt by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhat happens when the man you think you despise turns out to be a completely different guy beneath the surface? I didn't like Wyatt Durand. He might be my friend's older brother, but he was unpleasant, sarcastic, and the grumpiest guy on the planet. It didn't matter to me that he was a breathtakingly gorgeous, ultra-wealthy billionaire with the very prestigious Durand last name... -
Planes, Reins, and Automobiles by Kate Watson
She's sunshine. He's frostbite. They've got 1,600 miles to go before Christmas—and he's about to discover his new enemy might be his anonymous online soulmate. Oliver Fletcher has one goal, and he's not happy about it: get home for his brother's wedding...Categorized as:
forced proximity grumpy sunshine m-f height-difference cold hero sweet-hero christmas dual-pov -
Dangerous Affair by Riley Edwards
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsDangerous Affair is a one-night-stand-turned-friends to lovers, age gap, alpha protector romantic suspense novel with a tortured hero and a take-no-sh! t heroine who has a feisty, opinionated grandmother who likes to butt into other people's relationships. It was supposed to be a fantasy-fueled, one-night stand, something to make me shed my good girl inhibitions...Categorized as:
age difference grumpy sunshine m-f contemporary suspense military silver-fox length-medium -
How to Kiss on Christmas Morning by Jenny Proctor
She’s merry and bright. He’s…. not. But something between them is warming up. Megan Sheridan just landed the perfect holiday a quiet week in the mountains house-sitting an event venue while the owners are away. Check the mail, answer the phone, keep the pipes from freezing—easy. The only trouble? No one told Megan she’d be sharing the farmhouse with a very grouchy, very handsome farmhand...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine caretaking forced proximity cold hero sweet-hero humor contemporary -
Vow Maker by Lily Morton
Dylan Mitchell wants to get married. However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit. Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour...Categorized as:
age difference hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine m-m contemporary humor queer explicit-open-door -
Beast Comes Home by Jordan Marie
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsChristmas is over, but Skull and the guys with the Devil Blaze MC want to celebrate one of their own’s birthday. Beast has visited the clubhouse, but he hasn’t stayed one night inside the walls since walking away. Now, he is back with his Beauty... -
The High Notes by Danielle Steel
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsIris Cooper has been singing ever since she can remember, hitting the high notes like no one else. When she is twelve, her father convinces the owner of a bar in Lake City, Texas, to let her perform, and she stuns the audience... -
Alexander: Alexander's Story by E.L. Stevens
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAlexander Palomino is a man defined by the ghosts of his past, of which there are his parents, his daughter, his wife…, and Jess. He’s a man defined by the promises he’s made. To never be like his abusive father, to never love again, never trust again, and to sever their ties for good. In the wake of their heart-wrenching end, Alex’s rash decision throws lives into chaos, including his own... -
Dr. Beckett by Grace Maxwell
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWe were childhood enemies. Now I’m sleeping in his guest room… and I’m not sure I want to leave. Beckett. Sadie Calloway showing up on my doorstep in the middle of a storm wasn’t on my bingo card. She’s my best friend’s little sister, the girl I used to torment for fun, and now she’s standing in my living room, dripping wet and out of options... -
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Something Nice by Tiffany Reisz
It's July, a couple months after Nora returns to Søren at the end of THE SIREN, and while in bed, Søren makes a trade with Nora. He'll do something nice for her and she'll do something nice for him. Of course Nora picks something sexual. But Søren surprises her with his "something nice" request. Read the excerpt below to find out what it is. This story if for mailing list subscribers only...Categorized as:
age difference forbidden love m-f bdsm contemporary alpha male length-novella explicit-plentiful -
Out of Love by Ruth Cardello
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsLaughter and sparks set the stage for a fun romance from New York Times bestselling author Ruth Cardello about a farmer who switches places with his business-savvy twin brother and falls in love with the daughter of his brother’s biggest client. I just found out I have an identical twin... -
Alexander: Alexander's Story by E.L. Stevens
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsAlexander Palomino is a man defined by the ghosts of his past, of which there are his parents, his daughter, his wife…, and Jess. He’s a man defined by the promises he’s made. To never be like his abusive father, to never love again, never trust again, and to sever their ties for good. In the wake of their heart-wrenching end, Alex’s rash decision throws lives into chaos, including his own... -
Dangerous Fling by Crystal Kaswell
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsHe's her rock star crush, her go-to fantasy, and he's offering to make all her dreams come true. .. Rock star Malcolm Strong is used to being in control. Of the band. Of his feelings. Of the woman he has tied to his bed. He never gets close enough to get hurt. He never wants to. Until Lacey. The sassy brunette is working on the band's latest music video... -
One Night Valentine by Hope Ford
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt’s not a question of IF this football star can resist the curvy florist but rather WHEN he’ll give in…. Cruz. It is said that you only want what you cannot have. I hate to be a cliche, but that statement rings true for me. In my case it’s not what I want, but rather who. Tara Brooks. Sweet, funny, and my little sister’s best friend... -
Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOne of us will have to give up the future we’ve dreamed of if we’re going to make this work. It’s not going to be me. We can’t both have that same thought if we want to stay together when our contract ends. But the more I see him struggle against the things his mother does to him, the harder I fall. The more his ex tries to get in his way, the more I want to stand up for him...Categorized as:
age difference forced proximity m-f sports friends to lovers contemporary siblings-bff length-short -
Bride for the Rancher : Small Town Heroes Book 8 by Cassi Hart
Cherry. Reeling with the sudden knowledge that not only was my adoption twenty years ago illegal, but I’m not even a legal US citizen, I’m desperate for help after an ICE agent threatens me with deportation if I don’t tell her where my suddenly MIA parents are. But they’ve disappeared, leaving me to face the consequences of their actions... -
Pretty Wild by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsRyan. Some might say I’m running away. I prefer to look at it as an extended vacation, from social media, the paparazzi, and my very public life back in Los Angeles. That’s why I rented a small cabin in the woods in Nowhere, Wisconsin. I needed an escape and time to lick my wounds from a breakup... -
The Mysterious One by Marni Mann
A spicy grumpy-sunshine, age-gap, close-proximity romance from USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann …. I’m the mysterious one. The angriest alphahole who never bends. And she’s the woman who will bring me to my knees. As the executive chef and face of my family’s billion-dollar empire, time is the one luxury I don't have... -
Seducing the Doctor by J.A. Low
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHe wasn't supposed to be forever. One night of passion with Miles Hartford was all it took to turn my world upside down and change it forever. He was supposed to be nothing more than a good time and a great memory. Except now, those two pink lines say otherwise. She wasn't who I thought she was. That night she lied to me. She pretended to be someone else... -
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Love in Tuscany by Maya Jean, J.J. Mulder
Spend the summer in Italy for charity! Everyone deserves a second chance, including wedding photographers. They may even catch a picture of a doctor finding his opposite, yet somehow perfect, match. Fall in love in Tuscany, before hitting the road on an adventure with a stranger...Categorized as:
age difference height-difference forced proximity sweet-hero queer contemporary m-m insta-love -
To Have and To Hold: Arranged marriage stand-alone by Aleatha Romig
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsArranged marriage, age-gap, forbidden love, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, Romeo and Juliet vibes, family saga, Mafia/cartel romance, Slow burn, Redemption, Morally gray hero, dangerous romance. The Roríguez cartel is spinning out of control, tragedy putting the alliance and our future in question... -
Protector of Misty Mountain: An ex-military, age gap, mountain man romance by Eve London
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe walked into my world like she belongs here… but I don’t let people stay. Juniper. The mountains were supposed to be my escape—a place to rebuild, to breathe, to prove to myself that I could make it on my own. But from the moment I set foot in Misty Mountain, one mountain man has made it his mission to send me packing. Griffin Calloway...Categorized as:
age difference grumpy sunshine forced proximity contemporary military length-novella -
Atlas by Becca Jameson
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“Baby girl, I’m going to count to three…”. Carlee is doing just fine on her own. She doesn’t need a man in her life. They never treat her right anyway. She certainly doesn’t need her best friend’s brother to swoop into town and take over like he never left her. It takes him less than one day to cause her to lose her car, her job, and her apartment. Now she’s furious... -
The Maverick of the Mountain by Tessa Klein
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHe’s big. He’s bearded. AND HE HAS A CHAINSAW! ? You Only Live Once. .. My temporary tattoo feels more like a prescient warning than a gentle reminder after I nearly careen off an old mountain road during the worst storm I’ve ever encountered. I should’ve stayed in town. I should’ve thrown out the hand-drawn map the local gave me... -
Troubled Waters by Zee Reneé
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTroubled, Beset by problems or conflict. Kylo Lewis. A boss. A menace. Directly beside his name in the dictionary, you’ll find the word unhinged. Under the layers is a sweet little boy that longs for healing. Kylo craves what he never had, Joy. Innocent, not guilty of a crime or offense; not responsible for or directly involved in an event yet suffering its consequences...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine height-difference caretaking forced proximity hurt-comfort spanking black-mc -
March's Ride with Priest by Eve London
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsIn the heat of danger, a solemn vow sparks a forbidden love that rides on the edge of rebellion. Rae:. On the cusp of my dream of becoming a teacher, Priest crashes into my life like a storm I never saw coming. He's my father's best friend, the brooding biker sworn to protect me, a guardian whose world of danger and desire is leagues from the life I've planned... -
Bodyguard by Night by Taryn Quinn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsProtecting my best friend's new sister-in-law Willow from a fan who wants to get a little too close is a no-brainer. Just requires me to do some checking around, to act as her shadow for a while, maybe even give her a place to stay so I can keep an eye on her—all so my best friend's small-town wedding to Willow's sister goes off without a hitch...Categorized as:
forced proximity age difference m-f contemporary super rich hero alpha male length-long -
Gabriel by Becca Jameson
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“Ladybug, you’re about to become intimately acquainted with my palm…”. Eden’s life is falling apart. Her boss is a condescending womanizer, her apartment is flooded, and her estranged sister is in town. The only good thing is her reliable car. Life is wearing on her last nerve, and then her boss makes a pass at her…. Gabriel is known among MC members as the wise one...Categorized as:
spanking caretaking m-f age play contemporary length-short daddy-kink childfree-couple -
Measure of a Man by Molly McLain
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWe found ourselves by finding each other…. Rachel. Left blindsided and hurt by my ex, I'm slowly making my way back to me, discovering what I want and how to be more than "just a mom". When Jinx comes into my life, I’m sure he's exactly the reckless distraction I need. Only, he insists on being just friends…. Friends with a few benefits. Jinx. Reputations are hard to change... -
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Charity Case: The Complete Series by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThese three women are the toughest juries they’ll ever have to plead their case to. THIS BOX SET INCLUDES…. Clean Slate (Charity Case #0. 5). Moving two thousand miles away wasn’t my plan, but when family needs you, you come. Before I can head back to my hometown of Chicago though, I have two men to say good-bye to. Neither one of them will be happy to hear the news... -
A Christmas Auction: A Marriage Auction Novella by Audrey Carlan
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Audrey Carlan comes a new story in her Marriage Auction series…. “’Tis the Season,” some people say, as if the month of December could somehow magically make the world a better place. Fat chance of that happening in Sin City. In my world, nothing is merry and bright. More like dark and dank...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love contemporary length-short audiobook -
Driving Maisie Crazy by Deborah M. Hathaway
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“What happens on an Irish bus tour stays on an Irish bus tour…”. This is the second book in the clean and sweet romcom Men of the Isles series by Deborah M. Hathaway. Although this clean, road trip, forbidden romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order. Don't miss the other novels in this series! Book 1: Winning Winnie's Hand. Book 2: Driving Maisie Crazy - 2025...Categorized as:
forced proximity forbidden love contemporary secret-relationship humor length-medium -
Protector in a Kilt by Kait Nolan
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA captive who dreams of her freedom. In public, violinist Elizabeth Duncan is the toast of the entertainment world. A prodigy who's been wowing audiences with her music since she was only twelve years old. But behind closed doors, she's desperate to escape the man who's turned her passion into a prison. When the specter of violence becomes more than a threat, she sacrifices everything to run...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity age difference m-f contemporary military abuse friends to lovers -
She Likes It, Hey Micah by Dana LeCheminant
Micah Taylor is an eternal optimist, but with every first date that fails, her faith in true love weakens. When offered the chance to help reopen the lodge where her parents were married, Micah is determined to prove her worth and show her boss that she has what it takes to be a great event planner...Categorized as:
forced proximity grumpy sunshine age difference m-f contemporary humor office glimpses-kisses -
The Plan by Karla Sorensen
Have you ever fake dated your bodyguard? I don't recommend it. Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump. To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I can’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be...Categorized as:
age difference forced proximity grumpy sunshine cold hero m-f contemporary humor sports -
Daimon by Jessica Ames
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDaimon. As Treasurer of the Untamed Sons MC, I don't have time to deal with a bratty kid. Briella is nineteen. I'm thirty-one. I'm too old for her tantrums, but I'm sure there's something more to her acting out than a late teenage rebellion. When I look in her eyes, I see her demons glaring back at me, and I want to know who put them there... -
Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s okay to admit I’m scared. Outside forces are working hard to tear us apart, but we’ve teamed up against them. It’s the internal struggles we’re battling that could spell the ultimate end. When Ben makes a public show to prove how committed we are, I’m left confused as I struggle to figure out whether his feelings for me are real or if they’re part of the act...Categorized as:
age difference forced proximity m-f sports friends to lovers contemporary length-short audiobook -
Sweet Tooth by Pepper North, Paige Michaels
Welcome to Little Cakes, the bakery that plays Daddy matchmaker! Mix one handsome farmer with a handful of a rebellious chef to create a sizzling hot combination for one lucky Daddy. Elizabeth Annalise Milford's family doesn't understand her dedication to organic foods or her desire to provide the community with healthy, delicious meals... -
faire l'amour by Jessica Gadziala
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsShe’s a woman who has never done anything like this before…. Disaster had her world uprooted, her plans for her life going in a direction she could have never seen coming. Shackled with a debt she has no way to pay off, she makes a decision she never could have seen herself making. One contract. Three months. Complete financial freedom. But at what cost? He’s a man who has never been in love…... -
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Defying Our Forever by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa delivers a funny, heartfelt, sometimes angsty romantic comedy where love begins anew. Fresh out of Vet school, I married Pierce Aldridge. Gorgeous, sexy, and smart. He’s a philanthropist with a heart of gold, or so I thought. After a while he became distant, self-centered, and callous. The man I married disappeared before my eyes... -
Wild Child by Sadie King
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsShe's the Prez's daughter, off-limits and half my age. .. Wild Child is a forbidden love, steamy short romance featuring a ex-military biker and the curvy younger woman who's off limits. -
Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhat’s a brokenhearted romance novelist to do when an interview accidentally turns her into the villain? I’ll tell you one thing—the plan definitely wasn’t to turn to the man who taught me that happily ever afters exist only on the page... -
Sass by Jay Hogan
For two years I’ve kept Leon Steadman at a safe distance, ever since the night he turned me down flatter than a pancake with a side order of syrupy disapproval. His loss. The world is full of sexy men. One and done is simply good math and efficient use of my time. Or it would be if I hadn’t been lusting after the irritating, judgemental, gorgeous, mountain of a man, ever since... -
No Bad Deed by Emma Cole
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsEden is called back after the Carlotti heirs are taken into police custody, framed for a crime they didn't commit. It's up to her and Vinnie to get the situation under control. .. no matter what it takes. With the help of an unexpected ally, Eden and the guys may get their happily ever after yet. Or at least their version of it... -
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, Vol. 1 by Jinushi
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsAn overworked salaryman and a mischievous cashier with a dual personality form an unexpected bond in this sweet-and-sour comedy! At age forty-five, office worker Sasaki has had enough of the corporate grind. His only solace is smoking—and the friendly smile of supermarket cashier Yamada. When Sasaki can't find Yamada after a particularly trying day, a striking woman invites him to smoke with her...
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