Books like 'What it Takes'
Readers who enjoyed What it Takes by Shannon Stacey also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance small town family second-chances humor literary-fiction
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Breaking the Speed Limit by Melanie Moreland
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSingle, but unsettled, Stefano Borelli, spends his days creating masterpieces loved by his clients. Surrounded by family and friends, his loneliness still plagues him.Until she bursts into his life. A stubborn woman with too much baggage, too much to say, and a child in tow.Far too much trouble.Except, he likes her spark. The way she refuses to listen. How beautiful she is with her son... -
![Royal by Cee Bowerman]()
Royal by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA favor for his twin brother put Royal Conner under the spotlight. The highest bidder won and she’s nothing like he thought she’d be. One look and he’s smitten, one conversation and he’s intrigued, one kiss and he’s lost.Paula has too much on her plate to deal with a man... -
![Curl It Up: The Donovans by Cee Bowerman]()
Curl It Up: The Donovans by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA failed marriage and single parenthood are enough to bring the strongest woman down, but Jolie Donovan refuses to let the choices she made when she was younger define her life... -
![The Keeneston Roses by Kathleen Brooks]()
The Keeneston Roses by Kathleen Brooks
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe Bluegrass book everyone has been asking for is finally here. The Rose sisters have survived the lows and enjoyed the highs throughout their lives. See what events shaped Keeneston's most beloved siblings. Lily Rae Rose has been headstrong since she was a child. She was the oldest, after all. Maybe that’s why she fell for the bad boy next door... -
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![Meant for Love by Marie Force]()
Meant for Love by Marie Force
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIt's been twelve years since Jenny Wilks lost her fiancé in the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Since then she's been floundering, trying to find her way. Taking the job as lighthouse keeper on Gansett Island was the best thing she could've done for herself. On the island she's found amazing friends and a wonderful new life. There's only one thing missing and that's romance... -
![My Kinda Player by Lacey Black, Sara Eirew]()
My Kinda Player by Lacey Black, Sara Eirew
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAJ Summer witnessed four of her sisters fall in love and settle down. But not her. She’s stuck in a rut, destined to spend the rest of her life watching from the dugout, kissing frogs. Then one night, she meets a mysterious stranger, who makes her feel alive and realize she’s not as broken as she thought–until she wakes up alone... -
![Leader of the Pack by Roxanne St. Claire]()
Leader of the Pack by Roxanne St. Claire
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe Dogfather is a brand new contemporary romance series from New York Times bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire celebrating what she loves most: hot guys, great dogs, big families...and true love... -
![Dirty Little Midlife Mistake by Lilian Monroe]()
Dirty Little Midlife Mistake by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsHoly heat! Dirty Little Midlife Mistake is packed full of the best kind of bad decisions.Candice Viceroy—widow, mother, business owner—isn’t supposed to kiss anyone.Especially not Hollywood heartthrob and hunky silver fox, Blake Harding.Not in front of half a dozen cameras and a whole movie set’s worth of lights... -
![One Hundred Goodbyes by Kelly Collins]()
One Hundred Goodbyes by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome back to Aspen Cove, the town where a stranger is simply a friend you haven’t met… Eden Webster has always been generous to a fault. The word no isn’t in her vocabulary. That’s how at twenty-eight she finds herself homeless, alone, and pregnant in Aspen Cove... -
![Montana Promises by Kim Law]()
Montana Promises by Kim Law
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s falling for his brother’s ex—as if he needs another reason to go. Nate Wilde is ready to leave Birch Bay. He’s been home too long as it is and extending his visit means risking fantasies of staying for good. Wants and desires never work out for him, though. With good comes bad, and he’s had enough bad to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, his siblings need him... -
![I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force]()
I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThere’s a budding romance on Butler Mountain, but in the hornets’ nest known as the Abbott family, keeping a secret is no easy feat… Colton Abbott and Lucy Mulvaney have a secret... -
![Dirty Little Midlife Secret by Lilian Monroe]()
Dirty Little Midlife Secret by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLily Viceroy arrived in Heart’s Cove with a suitcase by her side and two eensy weensy secrets tucked into the corners of her heart.Well, that’s if “eensy” and “weensy” are code for “terrifying” and “dire.”Clearly, the only thing for Lily to do is to engage in a good ol’ bout of denial... -
![My Forever by Tiffany Patterson]()
My Forever by Tiffany Patterson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSavannahI was only eighteen years old when I thought I had found my happily ever after.After the tragic death of my mother, I married the love of my life, Ace Townsend.Yes, we were young and idealistic, but we had it all figured out. He was going to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force. I would go to medical school to become a doctor for people who couldn’t afford healthcare. People like my mother... -
![Operation Bailey Birthday: A Bailey Novella by Piper Rayne]()
Operation Bailey Birthday: A Bailey Novella by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratings𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐙𝐙 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄: Rumor around town is a certain matriarch of the Bailey family is having a 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘! It’s even spurred a few of the Bailey kids to return home to celebrate with their beloved great-grandmother, Dori... -
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![Home Sweet Love by Ava Miles]()
Home Sweet Love by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMillions of readers have fallen in love with Ava's bestselling books...come join the family. International Bestselling Author Ava Miles shares a powerful tale about the sweetness of home and falling in love for the first time. Chase Parker doesn’t believe in all that gushy home sweet love stuff. Moira Hale sure as heck does... -
![Down Home Comfort by Melanie Shawn]()
Down Home Comfort by Melanie Shawn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJimmy ComfortIn one moment, life can turn inside out....As the youngest Comfort man kickin' around Firefly Island, I'd been born into a legacy and a curse. Literally. Us Comfort men were cursed and, dependin' on who ya asked, we were also legends, known for fighting, flirting, and another f-word. One that ended with k, and you'd need to buy a vowel and a consonant to fill in the middle... -
![A Change of Heart by Hannah Ellis]()
A Change of Heart by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShe was never meant to fall for her best friend’s brother...Seren has had a soft spot for her best friend’s brother for as long as she can remember. But when she starts to see Kit as more than just a friend, she knows she’s on dangerous ground.Avoiding him is probably her best course of action, but that’s easier said than done when you live on a tiny island... -
![Ace Magnets by Giulia Lagomarsino]()
Ace Magnets by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAce Magnets is book 3 in the series A Good Run Of Bad Luck and is best read in order.CorduroyCarter Roy, the man that attracts all the ladies, but never gets them. He's sexy and charming, but hasn't found the woman that can keep his attention.AbbyI just moved to this town six months ago, but I'm already loving it! Granted, I get lost a lot and I tend to stick out like a sore thumb... -
![Dirty Little Midlife Drama by Lilian Monroe]()
Dirty Little Midlife Drama by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGeorgia wants a fresh start, and that doesn't include the handsome cowboy from her past.But Sebastian is in town now, and he has no intention of leaving until he gets what he wants...My high school sweetheart kissed me so naturally, I slapped him.Listen, I’m forty-three years old. I’m divorced. I’m in a new town. I don’t need ghosts from the past haunting me anymore... -
![Can't Fight the Moonlight by Barbara Freethy]()
Can't Fight the Moonlight by Barbara Freethy
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJustin Blackwood can't remember a time when he believed in the magic of anything, least of all love. A cynical businessman, who grew up in a broken home, he guards his heart with every breath he takes. His job has taken him all over the world and roots are the last thing he wants...until he meets a beautiful innkeeper in Whisper Lake... -
![My Twist of Fortune (The Greene Family) by Piper Rayne]()
My Twist of Fortune (The Greene Family) by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTwo aching hearts. A meddling small town. A second chance.It’s not a new story. Wife finds out husband’s been cheating on her and she packs up her four kids and heads back to her hometown, Sunrise Bay, Alaska.Yeah, not a fresh start, but thousands of miles away from my ex will do just fine. I’m prepared for the cold weather, the early snowfalls, and dark days and nights... -
![Dirty Little Midlife Dilemma by Lilian Monroe]()
Dirty Little Midlife Dilemma by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA hot, hilarious fresh start! Nora’s forties begin with a bang…or rather, a crash.What’s worse than bumping into a parked motorcycle and tipping it over?Easy. It’s bumping into a motorcycle, tipping it over, and sending it crashing into an entire row of bikes like horrible, slow-motion dominos.What’s even worse than that?Nora knows the answer... -
![There Goes My Heart by Bella Andre]()
There Goes My Heart by Bella Andre
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRory Sullivan, a renowned artisan woodworker, has no plans to fall in love anytime soon. Especially not with Zara Mirren, who shares a converted warehouse space with him in Bar Harbor, Maine. While she is a brilliant maker—the eyeglass frames she designs are practically works of art—everything else about her drives him bonkers. The way she’s always whistling cheesy pop songs off-key... -
![The Flower Farm by Rachael Lucas]()
The Flower Farm by Rachael Lucas
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBeth Fraser is a single mum of twins with a blooming flower farm business. The last thing she needs is Jack MacDonald landing with a crash in the middle of her precious baby plants - so it’s no surprise that they get off to a rocky start.Beth’s spent the last few years growing her business, turning the overgrown walled garden of Applemore House into a beautiful and productive flower farm... -
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![Ex Best Thing by Marika Ray]()
Ex Best Thing by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFirst rule in the sister’s handbook: don’t date your sister’s ex-boyfriend.Oops.If there was one man on the planet I shouldn’t be looking at twice, it’s Daire Beneventi. Sure, he’s my sister’s ex, but he’s also the leather jacket to my quilt tote bag... -
![Wild Love by Melissa Schroeder]()
Wild Love by Melissa Schroeder
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI'm not the kind of girl who expects happily ever after. In fact, I prefer my partners don't get too clingy. Don't get me wrong. I like a good night of loving, but beyond that, I’m happy to see them leave inthe morning, without my number.Then I met him. Quinn is a big bear of a man, with massive hands and amazing...staying power. Like all night long and the next morning kind of staying power... -
![Sit...Stay...Beg by Roxanne St. Claire]()
Sit...Stay...Beg by Roxanne St. Claire
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsGarrett Kilcannon, a former dot com super-success who now devotes his life to rescuing dogs and finding them homes, prefers to keep his secrets buried as deep as a dog hides his bone. So when he learns his father has invited a journalist to Waterford Farm to write and produce an in-depth profile on him, he doesn’t care that she’s a childhood friend or drop dead gorgeous... -
![Riverbend Reunion by Carolyn Brown]()
Riverbend Reunion by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 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... -
![Just One Wish: A Kingston Family Novella by Carly Phillips]()
Just One Wish: A Kingston Family Novella by Carly Phillips
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carly Phillips returns to her sexy Kingston-Dare world of rich billionaire heroes in her new Kingston Family series.**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do... -
![Cutter by Laramie Briscoe]()
Cutter by Laramie Briscoe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe storm raging in the Gulf isn't the only thing brewing between these two...Cutter ThompsonHurricane Tatum, a category five storm hell-bent on making landfall along the Alabama coast, is my opportunity, to show my friends and family the kind of man I've become.The kid who lost his scholarship and the love is life is ready for a change. A change I'm equal parts scared will and won't come... -
![After You: A Sapphire Falls Novel by Erin Nicholas]()
After You: A Sapphire Falls Novel by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings~ The next great love story from Sapphire Falls ~ Only one thing has not gone according to Kyle Ames’s grand life plan. Hannah McIntire. She was his first love, the woman he planned to marry, the one that got away—all that romantic crap. Two years ago, Hannah broke his heart. Which has been, well, not exactly fine, but he’s handling it because he doesn’t have to see her every day... -
![Tie the Knot in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk]()
Tie the Knot in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLove always finds a way… Lindsay Lohmeier’s life is no bed of roses. After struggling at a job she loved, but ultimately lost, she opened her own florist shop in Good Hope. Her budding business won’t be her only new addition. Lindsay is pregnant. While she’s happy to open her heart to her baby, opening up to the father is another story... -
![One Hundred Choices by Kelly Collins]()
One Hundred Choices by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKelly Collins welcomes you back to Aspen Cove where acceptance is found in the eyes of a stranger, and love is found in his heart... Horse trainer Trinity Mosier never looks for trouble, but it finds her at every turn. After losing her job, she packs up and moves to Aspen Cove, hoping her brother will take her in... -
![Harvest of Love by Melanie Moreland]()
Harvest of Love by Melanie Moreland
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDanica RawlinsShe’s a career woman, constantly busy, under pressure, and in demand. But the job that once seemed like a dream to her now feels more like a nightmare.When the stress gets too much, she escapes the office and drives, discovering beauty in the wide-open spaces that surround her in the country. Leaving the worries behind, if only temporarily... -
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![Lemon Drop Cottage by K.T. Dady]()
Lemon Drop Cottage by K.T. Dady
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome to Pepper Bay. A small close-knit community where you’ll find chocolate box cottages, quaint shops, love, drama, and a happily ever after.Snuggle down with this cosy, feel-good, comfort read that whisks you away to a beautiful bay on the Isle of Wight – Perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Phillipa Ashley, and Holly Martin... -
![Rescue Me by Kelly Collins]()
Rescue Me by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHer company is failing. His plan could save it. Will their partnership move from business to pleasure?Carla “Carl” Stevenson takes a special joy in running the local timber mill. But when the economy takes a downturn, selling the family business may be her only heartbreaking option... -
![Shaken by Bella Matthews]()
Shaken by Bella Matthews
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSawyer Kingston is an A**hole.The thing is, he’s got everyone fooled. To them, he’s the gorgeous billionaire who owns the hottest bar in the city.To me, he’s the cocky jerk whose favorite pastime has always been torturing me.The only thing we’ve ever agreed on is our mutual dislike for each other. But that was before I moved in next-door to him, and we shockingly agreed on something else...Categorized as:
second-chances humor family literary-fiction romance contemporary enemies-to-lovers steamy -
![Know Your Heart by Tracey Alvarez]()
Know Your Heart by Tracey Alvarez
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe is the one she couldn’t remember. She is the one he couldn’t forget… After being unexpectedly kicked off a movie set, her part given to a younger actress, Savannah Payne flees to her holiday house in Bounty Bay. There, in her little hideaway managed for her by her older cousin, she’ll be able to lick her wounds privately, and prepare for an audition of a lifetime in L.A... -
![One Hundred Ways by Kelly Collins]()
One Hundred Ways by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWelcome back to Aspen Cove, the tiny mountain town filled with fresh starts and happily ever afters… After the death of her father, sculptor Riley Black leaves Butte, Montana for Aspen Cove in search of the family she’s never known. There, she will bend steel to her artistic vision… and maybe, just maybe find a place to belong... -
![Love and Landscape by Lacey Black]()
Love and Landscape by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJensen Grayson has truly loved one woman. Even after a short-lived marriage, the ghost of the girl he once knew has plagued his adulthood. Now, a single father, Jensen’s world revolves around his son, Max, and his landscape business. Until one day, he’s contracted for a job at the house he’s always avoided.Rockland Falls was the only place that felt like home... -
![The Weekend Getaway by Hannah Ellis]()
The Weekend Getaway by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA weekend break changes everything…The chemistry between Keira and Noah is instant. It only takes one date for Keira to realise there’s something special between them.When Noah invites her to a family party in his hometown, she eagerly agrees, and by the end of their weekend away she’s absolutely head over heels. Not only for Noah, but for his close-knit family and the stunning Isles of Scilly... -
![Love, Lies, and Whiskey by Melissa Foster]()
Love, Lies, and Whiskey by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGet ready to fall hard for the mysterious Seeley “Doc” Whiskey and the one woman he never thought would walk back into his life, in this sexy and emotional second-chance standalone romance. The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch is a small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance... -
![Seaside Hearts by Melissa Foster]()
Seaside Hearts by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJenna Ward is vivacious, spontaneous, and confident—except when she’s around the man who stole her heart years earlier, strikingly handsome, quiet, and reliable Pete Lacroux. After years of trying to get his attention and overwhelmed from dealing with her mother’s new cougar lifestyle, Jenna’s giving up on Peter—and is ready to explore other men... -
![My Kinda Night by Lacey Black]()
My Kinda Night by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsPayton Summer doesn’t have time for love. Between running her own business in her hometown of Jupiter Bay and her monthly night out with her sisters, Payton has no room for men, dating, or the drama that it entails. Her life is fine just the way it is. Yet, her attraction to the one man she shouldn’t want can’t be ignored. Dean McIntire has one rule: don’t date clients... -
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![The Lost Promise of Ireland by Susanne O'Leary]()
The Lost Promise of Ireland by Susanne O'Leary
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA completely gorgeous story about lost loves and small-town secrets that will sweep you away to the Irish coast. Maggie remembers her summers in the village of Sandy Cove in Ireland like they were yesterday. She and her family would swim in the crystal-clear waters, collect beautiful seashells and relax on the sand... -
![Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon]()
Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratings#1 New York Times–bestselling author Jan Karon returns—with the story readers have been waiting for. Over the course of ten Mitford novels, fans have kept a special place in their hearts for Dooley Kavanagh, first seen in At Home in Mitford as a barefoot, freckle-faced boy in filthy overalls... -
![Hearts on Fire by Julia Gabriel]()
Hearts on Fire by Julia Gabriel
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratings"Julia Gabriel does an amazing job with this devastatingly, heartbreaking love story." — RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars, Top PickReturn to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Julia Gabriel’s new series about love, family, and second chances ... The 300-year-old town of St. Caroline, Maryland, is part fishing village and part summer playground for the wealthy and powerful... -
![Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis]()
Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLove awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . . Simply Irresistible After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs.. -
![Love for Beginners by Jill Shalvis]()
Love for Beginners by Jill Shalvis
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhat would you change if you had to start your life—and love life—over again?When Emma Harris wakes up from a coma she learns that her fiancé and her BFF have fallen in love, she’s lost her job, and the life she knew is gone. Overwhelmed but grateful to be alive she starts over from scratch. Not as easy as it sounds, of course... -
![Cowboy Strong by Stacy Finz]()
Cowboy Strong by Stacy Finz
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThree cousins become cowboys when an unexpected inheritance leaves them with a ranch—and a future as wide open as the California sky . . . Sawyer Dalton may be an investigative journalist, but he has no interest in the story of the sexy stranger who has invaded his barn’s loft apartment on Dry Creek Ranch. After months on the road, he just wants to settle in...
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