Books like 'Raising The Bar'
Readers who enjoyed Raising The Bar by Stephanie Rose also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary grumpy sunshine possessive hero age difference mature couple forced proximity m-f multicultural fake relationship east-asian-mc
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New Beginnings on Railway Lane by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsWhen high flying, workaholic Katy Smith is suddenly made redundant, she needs to find a job fast!After mistakenly answering an advert online, she quickly realises that the rundown railway station in sleepy Cranfield isn’t the 5-star London hotels she’s used to working in!But a job’s a job. Right?Chef Ryan Connelly is having a crisis of confidence after his Italian dream turns sour... -
Ashes by Chelle Bliss
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 17 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... -
The Billionaire's Secrets by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFormer rock star Xander Sinclair may be out of rehab, but he’s not out of the woods. Still haunted by his parents’ murders, he has secluded himself in his Amesport mansion and dodges any attempted contact from his two brothers. Struggling not to fall into relapse, he believes he’s battling his demons alone. That is, until Samantha arrives to work as his live-in housekeeper...Categorized as:
independent heroine sweet heroine m-f contemporary super rich hero length-medium audiobook -
Fire and Icing by Savannah Scott
Talk about making a bad first impression.The rookie at Waterford’s fire station literally hauled me out of my own home—over his shoulder. Was my kitchen on fire? Yes. Did I have it nearly contained? Also yes.And now he’s been tasked with making up for his overzealous rescue attempts by showing up to my bakery to grovel daily. And beg for my donuts... -
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On or Off, Volume 3 (On or Off (Paperback Ed.) #3) by A1
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWinner of the Ridibooks 2019 BL Awards Ahn Yiyoung is hard at work building a startup with his college friends, knowing that a successful product could change all of their lives... -
Revealing Annie by Freya Barker, Operation Alpha
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAs the fire department’s joker, Kyle (Sumo) Matsumoto, loves nothing better than ribbing the guys at the station. However, he’s all business when he’s on a call, and when he tries to snag the attention of a cute little baker. Then life takes a more serious turn when he’s plunged headfirst into fatherhood—of a teenage boy—giving his teammates the last laugh...Categorized as:
multicultural east-asian-mc men in uniform contemporary suspense single-father length-medium -
Raid by Kristen Ashley
Hanna Boudreaux has lived in the small town of Willow all her life. She’s sweet, cute and quiet. Hanna has a moment of epiphany when she realizes her crush for forever, Raiden Ulysses Miller, is not ever going to be hers. She sees her life as narrow and decides to do something about it. Raiden Miller is the town’s local hero... -
Dangerous Devotion by Em Petrova
Their Mission is Explosive. So is Their Chemistry.Special Operative for SEAL Team Blackout AJ Henner is given a new go undercover to locate a bomb linked to a terrorist orchestrating attacks on US soil. The op leaves no room for mistakes—or survival guarantees either... -
Barefoot at Sunset by Roxanne St. Claire
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIntroducing Barefoot Bay Timeless…a new trilogy celebrating the sexy silver fox hero! Set on the sun-washed sands of Barefoot Bay, these contemporary novels tell stories of second chances and redemption... -
Flipping Love You by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHe’s the tattooed bad boy her mama warned her about. She’s his hot mess — but mostly hot — next door neighbor. Until a two-night-stand gives them the surprise of a lifetime... Jillian Morris is a workaholic who forgets to watch the time. And to eat. And to change her shoes. And to keep even a house-plant alive. And to have any kind of a personal life...Categorized as:
small town age difference independent heroine possessive hero m-f contemporary humor insta-love -
I Think I Might Love You by Christina C. Jones
Jaclyn Love is a magnet for trouble - it seems to follow her wherever she goes. Unfortunately for Kadan Davenport, she also seems to be a magnet for him - even after a disastrous first impression that leaves him - literally - black and blue. Jaclyn is busy trying to find some sort of balance, and Kadan is just trying not to get swept up in the chaos... -
The Billionaire's Salvation ~ Max by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsBillionaire Max Hamilton thought he was finally starting to find contentment, more than two years after losing his wife Mia in a tragic drowning accident. He'd been reunited with a sister he hadn’t realized existed. Finally he had family again, a reprieve from the pain and loneliness that had haunted him since his devastating loss...Categorized as:
alpha male possessive hero sweet heroine m-f contemporary super rich hero cruel hero length-short -
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... -
Burned by Kaylea Cross
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA woman with a dark past... Forced into hiding after her NSA-sanctioned task force lands on a terrorist cell’s hit list, cryptologist Zahra Gill must rely on the skill and experience of her ex-Special Ops Titanium Security teammates to keep her safe—including former Force Recon Marine Sean Dunphy... -
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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.JuniperThe 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 -
The Scandal by Kristen Proby
THE SCANDAL is an all-new marriage of convenience, age-gap novel from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby, set in her Single in Seattle Series, featuring Stella McKenna!Who knew that weddings in Vegas were the real deal? I certainly didn’t when I agreed to marry my co-worker while on a bender in Sin City. Now, I need a quick annulment, which means I need an attorney, STAT... -
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 alpha male age difference m-f contemporary super rich hero length-long -
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 -
When Hearts Surrender by Victoria Lum
A cold, reclusive billionaire, a dark family curse, and an arranged marriage with the one woman he’s forbidden to love.All my life, restlessness has haunted me, as if a piece of my soul were missing. Then, I met him.A mysterious, charismatic bad boy in a leather jacket who whisked me away on the ride of a lifetime.For the first time, I felt truly alive... -
Kiss Me Forever by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsLast night, he was a sexy stranger I couldn't get enough of.Today, he's my new boss, who I can't seem to please.Bad luck seems to follow me. Last night, I grabbed a drink at the bar near my new workplace.I met the most sophisticated man when he “stole” my table. We bantered and danced, and I went home with a stranger for the first time in my life...Categorized as:
forced proximity age difference alpha male possessive hero m-f contemporary humor super rich hero -
Confessions of a Litigation God by Sawyer Bennett
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWARNING, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK from Matt Connover, Litigation God: Please do not attempt to read my story in public, as my sexual proclivities have been known to cause squirming in your seat, squeezing of your legs together and unintentional moaning, sometimes with spontaneous bursts of laughter at random moments... -
Capture by June Gray
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsThe future beckons... Elsie has given Henry three chances to win back her trust, but before he is able to complete the challenge, she finds herself faced with a life-changing decision. Elsie must ask herself an important question: is Henry just a thing of the past or does he have a place in her future? The conclusion to the story of Henry and Elsie... -
Walkout by Lila Rose
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsIn Living Without, Melissa and Dallas’s chemistry skyrocketed. It’s finally time to get up close and personal with this hot couple in their very own novella, Walkout. Get ready to discover what happens when Dallas chases Melissa all the way to Sydney to claim her back. From her one visit to Melbourne and the Hawks MC compound, Melissa Stevenson knows Dallas is who she wants... -
Danger Close by Kaylea Cross
The most dangerous threats of all… Partway through her third deployment to Bagram, Army nurse Lt. Erin Kelly is burned out and headed for a well-deserved leave back home in Montana. But when a mysterious stranger shows up and unintentionally drags her into harm’s way with him, she suddenly finds herself an unwitting target of the U.S... -
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Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis
He’ll help unleash the new woman in her… Special Ops soldier Griffin Reid doesn’t exactly have happy memories of growing up in Sunshine, Idaho. He’s only come back to recover from a war injury, and while he refuses to admit he’s in a weakened state, he finds comfort in the last person he’d expect. Kate Evans teaches fourth grade science in Sunshine, the place she’s always called home... -
Falling Hard by Pamela Clare
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA Gold Star wife alone… Ellie Meeks promised her pilot husband that if he was killed in combat, she would live her life to the fullest. Three years later, she is still alone, raising the twins he never met. She has no interest in dating or meeting men—until one snowy night when a stranger helps her get her sick kids safely home...Categorized as:
men in uniform tortured hero alpha male independent heroine m-f sports military contemporary -
Auctioned to the Mountain Man by Kali Hart
AlidaI would never have agreed to this auction if I wasn’t desperate.One night in exchange for some financial freedom seems like a small price to pay.But on my way, I end up stranded on the side of the road.And that man who finds me is the last man I ever wanted to see again.FoxWhen I caught wind that my late buddy’s sister was putting herself up for auction, I had to intervene... -
Favorite Mistake by Jessica Prince
He was the town’s golden boy, their all-American hero. But there was a side of him he’d only shown her.When Lyric Jackson stopped for gas in Redemption, Tennessee, she wasn’t sure what to think of the small town nestled in the middle of the Smoky Mountains. Then she got one look at Holton Clarke, saw that charming smile, and fell instantly... -
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...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity m-f contemporary friends to lovers from hate to love -
Twisted by Laura Griffin
Motive, opportunity, and no alibi - it seems close to a slam-dunk. But while rookie detective Allison Doyle’s department has ID’d a suspect in a young woman’s vicious murder, she is uneasy. Then legendary FBI profiler Mark Wolfe shows up with a startling theory: if he’s right, the real murderer is an elusive psychopath just days away from another kill...Categorized as:
men in uniform cheerful heroine age difference m-f contemporary suspense mystery heroine sleuth -
Falter by Carrie Aarons
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRyan Shea has sworn off men. After her last relationship imploded in front of her eyes, she decides to take a break from swimming in the dating pool … possibly forever. The brilliant computer whiz loses her brain when it comes to love, and jumping feet first burns her every time... -
Mollify by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsDean "Mr. O" Kellar has been following closely in the footsteps of his famous adopted father for years, but when Megan Davis pops back into his life suddenly he starts following him in a new light. She was the girl who saved Dean when they were children and the girl he needs to save now... -
SEAL Out of Water by Abbie Zanders, Suspense Sisters
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsRetired US Navy SEAL Commander Gabriel Michaels has finally found peace after decades of active duty and two failed marriages. No tangoes, no red tape, no women — just his rifle, his fishing pole, and his loyal coon hound on a pristine piece of lakefront heaven. But when the Assistant Director of Homeland Security asks for his help, he can’t say no...Categorized as:
mature couple sassy heroine men in uniform alpha male m-f military suspense contemporary -
Guarding Teagan by Kaylea Cross
She’s out for justice.Teagan Kim is on a mission to find her cousin’s murderer, the same one she suspects nearly killed her. She’s used to operating on her own, but the DEA assigns her a bodyguard for a job she’s handling—and he turns out to be the man she had a one-night stand with the last time she was in town. Now they’re forced to work together as she hunts down a murderer...Categorized as:
m-f multicultural east-asian-mc competent heroine forced proximity contemporary suspense military -
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My Rebel by Sapna Bhog
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShe was just the means to an end…until she started to become more.Faced with her parents insistent matchmaking, TIYA SOOD claims to be in a steady relationship. To her bad luck, she blurts out the name of Vihaan Rajpoot—bad boy and serial heartbreaker—as her boyfriend... -
No Turning Back by Kaylea Cross
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsCIA communications expert Samarra Wallace is on the run from a faceless enemy when she learns terrorists have kidnapped and threatened to execute her cousin. She will do whatever it takes to free her, including breaking cover to contact the former teammate she is dangerously attracted to. Now all she has to do is convince him she's not working for the bad guys... -
Hard and Fast by Mari Carr
Penny is tired of being seen as the gamer, the crazy cat lady, the mom-jeans-wearing, YouTube-bingeing, quirky IT girl. She’s barreling toward 29 and ready to make some changes…in her appearance and her nonexistent love life. But she’s smart enough to know she needs help—and who she needs it from. Her billionaire playboy boss, Gage Russo... -
Big Grumpy Fireman by Cassi Hart
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCamilla: All I wanted was a traditional Thanksgiving celebration with my family. What I got was a near-death experience. But I can’t say I regret what happened, not when it reunited me with the only man I ever loved . . . and lost. After Damian disappeared without a word seven years ago, my naïve heart never stopped hoping I’d someday find him again... -
Sterling Clay by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsLove doesn’t break us; it makes us whole, my nana used to say. However, one minute, my world is set on fire, literally. The next, I am raising a six-year-old as a single mom without a clear path ahead of us. No place to live. No job. No money... -
The Midwife By The Sea by Jo Bartlett
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe last thing Ella Mehenick wants is the fifteen minutes of fame she’s found herself landed with. After all, who wants to star in a viral video of the very public ending of their relationship?Newly single, and desperate to get as far away from her former fiancé as possible, Ella heads back to the Cornish seaside town of Port Agnes, where she grew up... -
Inked By My Sister's Ex by Flora Ferrari
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMy sister is all I’ve got.Kelly basically raised me after we lost our parents in a plane crash. When a douche made a joke about it, when life went bad, and when I needed her…She was there. Always.But I can’t stop crushing on her ex-boyfriend.Jamie Jensen is six and a half feet of pure muscle, his arms tattooed and strong, his hair silver…his aura brooding. Aura sounds so cheesy, but he has one...Categorized as:
age difference alpha male multicultural m-f contemporary insta-love new adult length-short -
Play Pretend by Claire Brooks
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA year ago, I told a lie...now, it's haunting me. Ronan Caldwell is my grumpy, too-handsome-for-his-own-good neighbor. He’s the town’s brooding sheriff...and my fake boyfriend.I’ve been lying to my family about dating him for the past year, convinced no one would ever know. But then they dropped a bomb—they’re coming to visit. Desperate to keep my story straight, I beg Ronan to play along... -
The Rumble and the Glory by J.A. Huss
Collin Creed is a killer. But he's Lowyn's killer. And after a twelve-year separation, she wants him back.Deep in the hills of West Virginia, three small towns have found a way to flourish in the face of extreme poverty. Disciple runs a side-show tent revival that brings in millions of dollars a year... -
Make Mine Sweet: A Grumpy-Sunshine Small Town Romantic Comedy by Genny Carrick
My heart's had a No Trespassing sign on it for years, but my next-door neighbor is tempting me to lay out a welcome matWhen I took my friend’s offer of cheap rent for me and my five-year-old son, I knew it came with a reclusive neighbor attached. I just didn’t realize he’s the same guy I adored from afar fifteen years ago... -
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Cozy by the Fire(man) by Lindsay Rochester
A woman in need, a man who doesn’t realize all he has to offer, and a... bear in a hot tub? Welcome to Christmas in Crescent Cove.CleoAs my brother’s guardian, he’s my top priority. If it’s not helpful to Cameron, I’m not doing it. Dating is off the table for me.But when we take cookies to the fire station, I’m intrigued by the lieutenant... -
Motorhead by Lauren Landish
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsJerk. Angry bastard. That’s how people describe me. Everyone in this small town knows to steer clear of me. Thing is, they don’t know me. They don’t know what I’ve seen, what I’ve done. So I’ve learned to put up a shield to protect both me and them. When everything gets to be too much, I escape on my beloved Harley, the wind in my face calming my soul...Categorized as:
small town sassy heroine alpha male tortured hero possessive hero men in uniform humor new adult -
Never Too Hot by Bella Andre
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsA TOUCH IGNITES. A FIRE BURNS. AND THE HEAT HAS JUST BEGUN. Deep in the cool green mountains of the Adirondacks, wounded firefighter Connor MacKenzie has come to rebuild the 100-year-old MacKenzie family cabin - and to be alone...Categorized as:
alpha male men in uniform forced proximity m-f suspense contemporary curvy heroine length-medium -
Promise to Keep by Priscilla Poole Rainwater
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsJenny Riley has always been able to depend on her dearest friend Aisha, but will her friend be able to keep a promise that could change her carefree lifestyle? Connell Riley loves his wife, Jenny, and now that they are facing a life changing event that makes him wonder if he can be strong enough to help them through the painful nightmare they are about to face, he has to deal with the woman he... -
My Retibution: Second Chance Series by S.K. Lessly
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey say people come into your life either for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I had to agree.I married a wonderful woman. She enriched my life. She showed me the meaning of love and how to love. She became my lifetime, my forever. However, the love of my life was taken from me too soon and we never had a chance to see what life had in store for us.Losing her crushed my soul. I was lost... -
My Ex's Dad is Coming to Town by Eve London
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSometimes, love finds you in the most unexpected places... like in the arms of your ex’s dad.WinterThis Christmas was supposed to be about getting away from the mess I left behind, not cozying up to the grumpiest man I’ve ever met—who also happens to be my ex’s father. But Cole’s steady presence and the way he sees past my defenses make me feel safe in a way I never thought possible...Categorized as:
age difference grumpy sunshine forced proximity christmas contemporary length-novella
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