Books like 'Not Quite by the Book'
Readers who enjoyed Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny m-f small town independent heroine cold hero office forced proximity second chances slow burn
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Where It All Began by Lucy Score
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsAvailable only through Lucy's newsletter, this free book is the prequel to the popular Blue Moon series and is set in 1985. John Pierce has plans for these two hundred rundown acres. He sees a farm, a family, a future. He’s not about to drag someone in on the ground floor, not before he’s put in the work to turn rubble into home... -
![Spring Tides at The Starfish Café by Jessica Redland]()
Spring Tides at The Starfish Café by Jessica Redland
Welcome back to the Starfish Café - where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships. A new season. .. As winter turns to spring, Hollie - owner of The Starfish Café - is feeling content as she settles into her new life with her loving boyfriend, Jake, and their adorable dog Pickle... -
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![Lavender's Blue by Jennifer Crusie, Bob Mayer]()
Lavender's Blue by Jennifer Crusie, Bob Mayer
From the NY Times Bestselling duo that wrote Agnes and the Hitman, the first book in a new trilogy... -
![A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge by Jessica Redland]()
A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsCould one chance meeting change your life forever? Zara is at a crossroads in life. While she adores her job as a producer's assistant working on hit TV shows, travelling around the country means she doesn't truly feel that she has a home. With a fractured relationship with her family and unrequited love weighing heavily on her heart, she is torn about what her next step in life should be. . -
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![Heller's Punishment by J.D. Nixon]()
Heller's Punishment by J.D. Nixon
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsIn her latest adventure, rookie security officer Tilly Chalmers has three new assignments to cope with - chaperoning a devious addict to a rehabilitation clinic; live-in security for a strange and isolated religious cult; and protecting a national TV host in a damaging court case... -
![The Start of Something Wonderful by Jessica Redland]()
The Start of Something Wonderful by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsAutumn Laine has lost her creative sparkle. After losing her grandad and her job as an illustrator in quick succession, she is at a crossroads in life and needs a break. Spending time with her parents in Paris, even in the artistic community of Montmartre, doesn't appear to be the answer...Categorized as:
small town second chances m-f humor contemporary pregnancy audiobook first-in-series -
![The Mistletoe Kisser by Lucy Score]()
The Mistletoe Kisser by Lucy Score
Ryan Sosa, grumpy former corporate accountant, has had it up to here with surprises. He didn’t see getting fired coming. And he certainly didn’t anticipate flying across the country to the world’s hippie-est, happiest, most annoying town to save his great-uncle from some mysterious emergency...Categorized as:
cold hero small town m-f strong heroine office independent heroine christmas from hate to love -
![A Breath of Fresh Air by Jessica Redland]()
A Breath of Fresh Air by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsThe BRAND NEW uplifting novel from MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER Jessica Redland Rosie feels like there's something missing in her life. She loves her job as the manager of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, caring for the horses and teaching children to ride, and she loves the home she shares with her mother in the beautiful Lake District... -
![The Wild Card by Carolyn Brown]()
The Wild Card by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWhen Lady Luck deals her a roadside diner in small-town Texas, a professional poker player discovers home may be the best win of all in this heartfelt romance by. New York Times. bestselling author Carolyn Brown... -
![The Potter's House by Hannah Ellis]()
The Potter's House by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.66 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSometimes facing up to the past is the only way to create a better future…. Since the tragic death of his father, Lowen Treneary has kept to himself in his pottery studio on the remote island of Bryher. His quiet life is just the way he likes it. Until Pippa comes along. The local café owner plunges his peaceful existence into chaos and brightens his days while she’s at it... -
![The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown]()
The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsFamily, wounded hearts, and a Texas bed-and-breakfast are in need of repair in New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s inviting novel about down-home comfort and second chances. Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae are due for a change...Categorized as:
small town forced proximity m-f friends to lovers contemporary humor christian audiobook -
![Riverbend Reunion by Carolyn Brown]()
Riverbend Reunion by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsBack home is the best place to start over in a heart-stirring Texas romance about friendship, second chances, and small-town scandals by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown. Riverbend, Texas, doesn’t look like the crossroads of anywhere. But for four high school besties reuniting after twenty years, it’s a place to unpack a lot of baggage... -
![The Village of Lost and Found by Alison Sherlock]()
The Village of Lost and Found by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsScandal hit party girl Lucy Conway needs to leave London fast, so she packs her bags and escapes to the sleepy village of Cranbridge to take care of her beloved Uncle Frank. But the country village isn’t quite as idyllic as she remembers. To make matters worse, her Uncle’s pride and joy, The Cranbridge Times, is close to going out of business... -
![Nothing But It All by Adriana Locke]()
Nothing But It All by Adriana Locke
From USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a warm and romantic novel about a marriage in trouble, two conspiring kids, and the meaning of long-lasting love. After twenty years, the cracks in Lauren Reed’s marriage are showing. She and her husband, Jack, feel more like roommates than a loving couple...Categorized as:
forced proximity second chances small town humor mature couple contemporary length-medium audiobook -
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![The Busiest Place You Know by Allison DeRosia]()
The Busiest Place You Know by Allison DeRosia
Grab a cup of coffee, find a spot by the fire, and come along with debut author Allison DeRosia as she takes you to Northern Michigan for this atmospheric small-town romance. A second chance romance between an author and her editor. Oh, and she just unknowingly moved in next door... -
![The Busiest Place You Know by Allison DeRosia]()
The Busiest Place You Know by Allison DeRosia
Grab a cup of coffee, find a spot by the fire, and come along with debut author Allison DeRosia as she takes you to Northern Michigan for this atmospheric small-town romance. A second chance romance between an author and her editor. Oh, and she just unknowingly moved in next door...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity second chances slow burn small town contemporary humor length-medium -
![Camp Love by Ellie Belmont, Lacey Cole]()
Camp Love by Ellie Belmont, Lacey Cole
A workaholic lawyer embarks on an adventure to a whimsical summer camp for adults. Lawyer Jamie Davis has one goal: to become a partner at his firm. He thinks he’s on track to living a successful life, but he struggles when it comes to relationships. When a friend forces Jamie to join him on a vacation, he finds himself at an adult summer camp smack dab in the Oregon wilderness...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity second chances small town contemporary dual-pov humor length-medium -
![Hawaii Can Suck It by MéLisa Ryun]()
Hawaii Can Suck It by MéLisa Ryun
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsI’m supposed to film him. Not fall for him. I’m Camila Morales—cargo pants-wearing, scrunchie-collecting, videographer to Reece Dare—a growly, tattooed YouTube adrenaline junkie. He’s hot, sure, when he’s not judging me for smiling (calls it a sign of weakness)... -
![The Fear of Falling by Dana LeCheminant]()
The Fear of Falling by Dana LeCheminant
What happens in Italy…follows you home. Avery was supposed to be married by now—not stuck working alongside her ex-fiancé, pretending their failed relationship never happened. So when a solo trip to Italy introduces her to a charming stranger with a devastating smile, a no-strings-attached fling feels like the perfect way to remember there’s more to life than work and heartbreak...Categorized as:
office m-f forced proximity second chances slow burn independent heroine strong heroine humor -
![Goalie Interrupted by Anne Kemp]()
Goalie Interrupted by Anne Kemp
Coaching him was never part of the plan. Falling for her should NOT happen. But in hockey––and love––sometimes the best plays come when you break the rules. Elle: Coaching the River City Renegades is exactly where I want to be—hockey, small-town charm, and zero drama…but there’s him. Dixon Andrews. The team’s broody, infuriating, gorgeous goalie...Categorized as:
office m-f forced proximity second chances strong heroine independent heroine cold hero sports -
![Catch a Kiwi by Rosalind James]()
Catch a Kiwi by Rosalind James
Breathe, smile, and move on. When you’re writing the next chapter in your rags-to-riches-to-rags story, you need about a million quotes like that. I might be short on inspiration, but I had determination. That was it, except for a very young cousin and a very old campervan, but I was all about starting over...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity strong heroine independent heroine slow burn contemporary humor poor heroine -
![The Village of Happy Ever Afters by Alison Sherlock]()
The Village of Happy Ever Afters by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsMolly Hopkins has happily watched all of her friends’ dreams come true on Riverside Lane. Deciding to follow her passion for baking, Molly with the help of her friends takes the plunge and opens a Tea Garden in the village hoping to make it a summer to remember! Meanwhile, after a rather public end of his marriage, Logan Armstrong trusts no one but his beloved Grandad... -
![Knockout by Jessica Prince]()
Knockout by Jessica Prince
It wasn’t fair that the man I hated with a passion was so freaking gorgeous. Things in Layla Fox’s life were going great. She had a fantastic job, amazing friends, and a killer apartment. There was just one tiny glitch in all that perfect. Her upstairs neighbor was the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome . . . and she hated the man with every cell in her body... -
![A Summer Wedding at the Cotswolds Candy Store by Hannah M. Lynn]()
A Summer Wedding at the Cotswolds Candy Store by Hannah M. Lynn
Going to the chapel, but will they get married? After the holiday romance to beat all other holiday romances, it’s back to regular life for Holly Berry, and the sweet shop is busier than ever. With Jamie and Fin’s wedding coming up, Holly is rushed off her feet, making sure their big day is perfect. So when her handsome boyfriend comes to visit, she is both elated to see him and overwhelmed... -
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![Never The Bride by Kortney Keisel]()
Never The Bride by Kortney Keisel
No rings. No vows. No ‘til death do us part. As a top divorce attorney who’s built her career—and her walls—on the belief that marriage doesn’t last, Camila swears she’ll never walk down the aisle. After years of watching relationships crumble, she’s made it her personal mission to convince her little sister to avoid getting married at all costs. The problem? Camila’s already married. Secretly... -
![Fiona and the Fixer by Vanessa Vale]()
Fiona and the Fixer by Vanessa Vale
A bad boy fixer and a bombshell detective can work together on opposite sides of the law. .. or so I hear. I’m an overworked fixer who needs a break. When I’m asked to cat-sit in Coal Springs, I’m all for a few boring days. Except there is no break, and there’s no chance to be bored... -
![The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow]()
The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPreorder the next book in the heartwarming and bestselling Love Heart Lane series. Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what. All’s fair in love and…medicine? Dr Katie O’Neil has only been in Heartcross a few hours when she finds herself already ruffling feathers – not least with medical school nemesis and new colleague Ben Sanders...Categorized as:
small town forced proximity m-f humor suspense contemporary from hate to love length-medium -
![Doughn't Let Me Go by Teagan Hunter]()
Doughn't Let Me Go by Teagan Hunter
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsIt was just supposed to be one night. No kissing. No feelings. A wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am tangle in the sheets and we go our own ways. Only it’s a small town, and I was bound to run into the irresistible Porter Jones again. I just didn’t expect it to be at my job interview…which he’s conducting... -
![Home on a Yorkshire Farm by Jane Lovering]()
Home on a Yorkshire Farm by Jane Lovering
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsNeeding an escape, Dora swapped city living for life as a shepherdess on her grandad’s Yorkshire farm. More than a decade later Dora is still there, now farming the fifty acres and caring for the one hundred rare sheep by herself. She never hears the call of the city, but instead relishes the peace and simplicity of life on the Moors... -
![Beachside Kisses With My Enemy: A Sweet Romantic Comedy by Kristin Canary]()
Beachside Kisses With My Enemy: A Sweet Romantic Comedy by Kristin Canary
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn the charming town of Hallmark Beach, love’s a food fight when old flames ignite and rivalries simmer. Things were sailing smoothly in my little slice of paradise until Blake “the Flake” Moffitt waltzed back into town, looking far too handsome for his own good—and mine. Once upon a time, I was hopelessly in love with my best friend's brother, but that fairytale is history... -
![Over & Out by Claire Wilder]()
Over & Out by Claire Wilder
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIntroducing a brand new enemies to lovers romance from USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claire Wilder! Three months ago, a dirt bike accident stole my confidence, my beloved ride, and the one thing that made me feel alive. Now I’m going through the motions in my coastal tourist town, totally adrift… and trying not to think about the stranger who pulled me from the wreckage...Categorized as:
office forced proximity m-f small town from hate to love humor length-medium contemporary -
![The Maverick of the Mountain by Tessa Klein]()
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... -
![Book and Ladder by Savannah Scott]()
Book and Ladder by Savannah Scott
My nemesis is about to ruin my life. Is Patrick O’Connell gorgeous? Unfortunately, yes. Jet-black hair, smoldering eyes, and those muscles I accidentally saw when my friends dragged me to spy on the fireman calendar photo shoot. Is Patrick O’Connell also the bane of my existence? Absolutely. He wrecked my dream years ago, and I’ll never forget what he—and his family—took from me...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity slow burn small town humor length-medium glimpses-kisses contemporary -
![Betting on the Best Friend by Melanie Jacobson]()
Betting on the Best Friend by Melanie Jacobson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI helped all my roommates find love. Now they want revenge. When my besties present me with a plan to find the man of my dreams, I pass. Easily. Until my recent ex of five years very publicly announces his engagement to someone he just met. If dating shows him I’m happy and thriving, I’m all in. But after half a dozen nightmare dates, I’m having doubts... -
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![Mine To Cherish by Natasha Madison]()
Mine To Cherish by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThings are supposed to go smoothly on your wedding day. Aren't they? Clarabella. Did I want to get married today? It's hard to say when he proposed in front of over a hundred people. Everything happened so fast, and I thought it was just nerves. It was not. The knock on the door showed me that what I was feeling was more than just cold feet. I was a runaway bride. Luke...Categorized as:
forced proximity office small town m-f friends to lovers contemporary from hate to love dual-pov -
![Second Chance Fate by Melanie Shawn]()
Second Chance Fate by Melanie Shawn
“First there was Hot Priest…then Hot Rabbi…now meet Hot Pastor—@calebharrison AKA Hope Falls’ Most Eligible Bachelor! ” 🔥🙏 #HolySmokeShow – karinablack 🎤. Liked by kyleaustenreed and 11,597,858 others. Charismatic, easy-going Caleb Harrison lived his entire life under a microscope. Growing up as the pastor’s kid, he was used to having all eyes on him... -
![Undeniable Temptation by Eden Summers]()
Undeniable Temptation by Eden Summers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHaunted by a kiss. With his destructive marriage behind him, Ryan Bennett can no longer deny his insatiable attraction to the one woman in control of his future. He needs her. Craves her. She’s the only glimpse of happiness through the building drama in his life and yet one drunken kiss has pushed her further away. Tormented by what’s at stake... -
![This Is Love by Melissa Foster]()
This Is Love by Melissa Foster
Fall in love in Harmony Pointe, where hearts are lost, found, and sometimes misplaced…and everyone get a happy ever after. If a woman can’t find love in the quaint town of Harmony Pointe, it’s sure to find them—whether they’re looking for it or not. Here, the remaining single Dalton siblings are about to discover that they’re next in line to get swept away by love...Categorized as:
strong heroine forced proximity office m-f humor contemporary sassy heroine alpha male -
![The Gossip and the Grump by Pippa Grant]()
The Gossip and the Grump by Pippa Grant
He's the last man I should've picked for a one night stand. .. See that guy over there? The insanely tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired, scowling, “I don’t drink coffee” suit? Surprise! He’s the new owner of my family’s mountain café. The café that has been my life purpose since I was born in the kitchen there almost thirty years ago...Categorized as:
forced proximity office cold hero m-f humor contemporary super rich hero grumpy sunshine -
![Before and After by Anna Hackett]()
Before and After by Anna Hackett
I never expected to become a single mom. Back in my Colorado hometown, all I have time for is work and raising my grieving nephew. I don’t have time for a man. Especially a tall, dark, and broody one. Allie. I’ve swapped city life for small town. Designer suits for a housekeeping uniform. And don’t get me started on my lack of sleep... -
![That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn]()
That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn brings more humor and heart with the third novel of her Getting Lucky series: a story about breaking curses and laying your heart on the line... -
![Home Is Where You Park It by Marika Ray]()
Home Is Where You Park It by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a giant of a man who grunts for words and barks out orders, yet circumstances require I be his fake girlfriend and spend the weekend with him in an isolated cabin. And of course there’s only one bed. Just my luck…But I need this commission check that only Boston can guarantee me...Categorized as:
forced proximity small town m-f grumpy sunshine contemporary from hate to love humor military -
![Suddenly Engaged by Julia London]()
Suddenly Engaged by Julia London
Single mother Kyra Kokinos spends her days waiting tables, her nights working on her real estate license, and every spare moment with her precocious six-year-old daughter, Ruby—especially when Ruby won’t stop pestering their grumpy next-door neighbor. At first glance, Dax Bishop seems like the kind of gruff, solitary guy who’d be unlikely to offer a cup of sugar, let alone a marriage proposal...Categorized as:
cold hero m-f independent heroine working class heroine humor contemporary shy-hero single-mother -
![Controlled Burn by Marie James]()
Controlled Burn by Marie James
As the mechanic for Blackbridge Security, when I make a mistake things don’t work properly. Correcting that mistake is the only way to get things operational. I meet issues in my personal life with the same mindset. How was I to know the woman I’ve been flirting with at the gym is the same woman I called a noise complaint on? I got her kicked out of her condo. My first response: Move in with me... -
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![Can't Take The Heat? by Hailey Shore]()
Can't Take The Heat? by Hailey Shore
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOMG. It's him! TV celebrity chef Antony Renard! And he wants my food truck falafels? Hard pass. I've spent my whole life being judged by my dad. I don't need another bossy/grumpy chef meddling in my food. What's he doing in Calico Cove anyway? Oh, I bet he's hiding out because of that viral video of him losing his cool at his fancy Michelin-starred restaurant. Talk about needing a timeout... -
![She Loves Me by Melissa Foster]()
She Loves Me by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWhat are two besties willing to risk for something more? The New York Times bestselling author of This Is Love has the answer in this fun, sexy, and emotional romance about friendship, family, and giving love a chance. Something is off in Piper Dalton’s life, and she has a feeling it might just be her. All her siblings are blissfully settled with their forever loves...Categorized as:
independent heroine strong heroine m-f humor contemporary friends to lovers sassy heroine audiobook -
![Body Check by Maria Luis]()
Body Check by Maria Luis
They call me the Bad*ss of Hockey. The Beast of the Northeast. And I’m not just referring to my stick play on the ice. As Captain for the Boston Blades, I’ve spent years working toward bringing home the Stanley Cup. But when the owners sell us out to Hollywood, suddenly we’re not just playing for thousands of fans, we’re cracking open our lives on a new reality show, Getting Pucked... -
![Matcha Made in Heaven, Vol. 9 by Umebachi Yamanaka]()
Matcha Made in Heaven, Vol. 9 by Umebachi Yamanaka
Roa invited Chako and Isshin to her parents' house as a thank-you to Isshin for protecting her from an attacker at the tea festival in Fukuoka. While there, Chako gets drunk and sneaks into Isshin's room, wearing pajamas borrowed from Roa... -
![The Secret Ingredient by Nancy Naigle]()
The Secret Ingredient by Nancy Naigle
Now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie! From the USA Today bestselling author of The Shell Collector comes a delightfully festive Valentine's treat, perfect for fans of Carolyn Brown, Susan Mallery, and Viola Shipman. Years ago, Kelly McIntyre couldn’t see her life getting any sweeter. She was engaged and dreaming of opening a restaurant with her fiancé, Andrew York... -
![Espresso Your Love (The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection) by Bella Greene]()
Espresso Your Love (The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection) by Bella Greene
Welcome back to The Coffee Loft, where a new round of stories has been brewed especially for you. Those of you stopping by to visit again, we’ve missed you. The feeling of home is the same that you loved before. If it’s your first time, prepare to be swept off your feet. While our menu hasn’t changed, we think you’ll be pleased with the fall favorites we’ve added...
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