Books like 'Rough Lover'
Readers who enjoyed Rough Lover by Deborah Garland also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary small town action / adventure age-gap university steamy forced-proximity workplace alpha-mc cheerful-mc
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Flame by Chelle Bliss
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsGigi Gallo’s childhood was filled with the roar of a motorcycle and the hum of a tattoo gun. Fresh out of college, she was excited to work at her family’s tattoo studio—Inked. What she didn’t plan on was running into someone tall, dark, and totally sexy from her not-so-innocent past on the very first day. Pike Moore was a bossy biker with a cocky attitude and an even bigger ego... -
The Hero I Need by Nicole Snow
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow returns with a hilariously intense small-town love story where two star-crossed hearts and one snarly tiger ignite a romance up-roar.He knew I was trouble the instant I showed up with a stolen Bengal tiger.But Grady McKnight didn't flinch like a sane person—he took us in.Bruce the tiger found shelter. I met a hero grump. And Grady got a hot mess...Categorized as:
age-gap cheerful-mc female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine suspense workplace action-adventure -
Broken Vow: A Dark Mafia Romance by Sophie Lark
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsI’ll Protect Her… Whether She Likes It Or Not. Riona Griffin is gorgeous, intelligent, and iron-willed. My perfect woman, except she hates my guts.She thinks she doesn’t need anybody. But she needs me.She’s being hunted by an assassin who never misses his mark.I’m going to stay by her side, day and night, keeping her safe...Categorized as:
alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy suspense -
Conquered by Riley Edwards
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDylan Welsh was the last man standing…until Sawyer Glasgow brought him to his knees.Dylan wasn’t ready for Sawyer. He wasn’t ready to confront the truth of his past. He wasn’t ready to admit he’s fallen in love with the sweet, sexy woman who captivated him from the moment he saw her. He’s especially not prepared to face the hurt he’s caused Sawyer. But to keep her, he must do all three...Categorized as:
alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine suspense action-adventure adult -
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Playing with Lies by Riley Edwards
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA no-strings kinda guy and a forever kinda woman…what could go wrong?I had a stalker and I knew just who to ask for help—Detective Dalton Neary. My own personal Prince Charming. The problem was, he turned out not to be so charming, at least not in the forever kind of way I was looking for. He was a good-time guy with a sexy smile and a goat game that should be illegal. But not the man for me...Categorized as:
suspense grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity romance mystery law-enforcement -
Only Mine by Laura Pavlov
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsWolf Wayburn is the devil in an Armani suit with the body of a Greek god. He thinks I’m just a small-town girl who he can intimidate—but I never back down from a fight.The first time we met, he cut me off at a gas station.So, I flashed him the bird and mocked his family jewels.The second time we met, he tried to get me fired.He took his shot—and he missed.At least for now...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc boss-employee cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine workplace -
Fractured Sky by Catherine Cowles
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsDamaged. Broken. Destroyed. I’ve heard it all. A single moment of trusting the wrong person shattered my life into pieces, and my family has never looked at me the same. It’s impossible to convince them that I’m anything more than the broken girl they rescued all those years ago.Until I meet him.Ramsey’s grumpy demeanor and menacing scowl scare most of the world away. But not me...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy -
Sebastian: A Mystery Romance by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSebastian is a mystery romance and the fifth book in the series, For The Love Of A Good Woman. Sebastian is a standalone, but the characters from the series appear throughout all the books. A large, metal crash sounded behind me and my gaze swiveled to the fence where Maggie had just crashed through the gate. The SUV swerved wildly in front of me, acting as a barrier for the incoming bullets... -
Wild Wicked Obsession by Layla Frost
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsAn age-gap, praise-filled, wickedly-hot romance where opposites definitely attract“That’s my good girl…”She was a good girl.I wanted to make her my good girl.Joss Lennon was shy. Sweeter than any baked good. Outta my league.Her life was cupcakes, hand turkeys, and working too many hours to pay the mortgage her ex-fiance dumped on her... -
Put Out by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAngie is a survivor. Anything you could throw at her, she could overcome. After her father left her like a pile of unwanted trash, she began fighting. Fighting to build a life. Fighting to keep her child. Fighting to matter. She thought she had it all figured out. Then Bowen Race Tannenbaum walks into her life, turning it into a flurry of confusion, hope, and then ultimately despair... -
Athica Lane by Brynne Asher
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsCam Montgomery is a single full time dad who knows his priorities: his kids, his job, his team, his side business. Dealing with his disaster of an ex-wife is bad enough, not to mention delinquent football players and a meddlesome mother. Cam doesn’t have the luxury of time for anything more, especially a relationship... -
Bear's Beloved by Ciara St. James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBear has lived more than half his life for his club. He’ll gladly do it again. He has never regretted starting this club with Bull and a few others years ago. However, seeing his brothers finding love and settling down to have families when he knows he’ll never have that is taking its toll on him. He takes off to get his head straight... -
Out of the Darkness by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe light had been snuffed out of Xander Caine’s world a long time ago, leaving him to suffer in darkness. After a tremendous loss, he closed himself off from anyone and everyone, content to live alone in the shadows. Then a woman blew into town with the force of a hurricane and shook everything up. Sage Winthrop was looking to start over...Categorized as:
alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy suspense action-adventure -
The Hero She Needs by Anna Hackett, Aaron Shedlock
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe last thing he expects to catch in his river is a billionaire heiress.Loner Boone Hendrix left the military with ghosts that haunt him. He lives with his dog Atlas on a farm in Vermont. Alone. Just the way he likes it. Until he rescues a half-drowned, beautiful brunette from his river...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc alpha-mc romance military -
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Worth the Risk by Bella Matthews
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratings**Formerly Published As Changing The Game**Not all love stories have happy endings. Some are destined to crash and burn. Growing up, I was the youngest member of my family. Sheltered and protected by my older brother and his friends. Always on the outside looking in. College was supposed to be my chance for a fresh start. My opportunity to figure out who I am and what I want... -
Wild Highway by Devney Perry
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsGemma Lane built an empire. Not a small feat, considering her home as a teenager was a makeshift tent in a California junkyard. She’s dedicated her life to turning pennies into millions. She has power, fortune and prestige. And she’s leaving it all behind...Categorized as:
alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine male-mc steamy -
Tempt by Melanie Harlow
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsYou’ve heard the story about the wedding planner who falls for the groom?Well, this is the one where she falls for his father.And that groom? He’s my ex.I didn’t realize who the gruff, gorgeous older man was the night he rescued me from a creep in a Manhattan hotel bar...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy action-adventure -
Taming Hollywood's Baddest Boy by Max Monroe
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDo people say they hate someone’s guts so that they can still fall stupidly, head-over-heels in love with the other parts? Asking for a friend. Okay, fine. I’m not asking for a friend. I’m asking for me—and I’m begging you to tell me that the practice of falling in love with your should-be-enemy is common...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy -
Fang's Enlightenment by Ciara St. James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThings refuse to quiet down around Tenillo for Fang and his club, the Ares Infidels MC. No matter how many bad guys they bring to justice, they find there are more in need of their kind of vigilantism. For Fang, that’s alright by him. He joins the Ares Infidels to be part of a brotherhood that’s bigger than just him and his club brothers. He joins to have a bigger family... -
Loving at 40 by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSexy silver alpha hero returns to his family’s lakeside cottage where there’s a single mother in his bed and her presence just might be the second chance he needs at love and family.Archer McCaryn has been a mystery to his family. At forty-five, he isn’t certain himself who he is anymore. When he returns to the family’s lakeside cottage, he finds there is someone in his garage apartment... -
Fun House by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWelcome to the Circus is a brand-new series that centers around a family that owns a circus, 6 sisters and one brother. This is book 1 featuring Coffey and Simi!Sometimes you need to crash a funeral to experience happiness.At least, Kissimmee Singh, aerial artist for Singh Circus, the most sought-after traveling circus of all time, keeps telling herself that’s why she crashes funerals... -
Home Sweet Home by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLeoEveryone has a past they’re trying to outrun, myself included. My time in the military left me with scars, both physically and emotionally, which is why I keep to myself. Since returning home to Stewart Grove, I work a lot so I have little time to think. To remember. I’m just content to make it through the day.Then I meet Kallie Carpenter...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc female-mc steamy romance military contemporary -
Frostbitten by Rebecca Zanetti
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEnigmatic. With a wildly gifted mind, and an untamed head of hair to match, petite powerhouse Millicent Frost is brilliant when it comes to gadgets and electronics—less so with people. After an attempt to bust a bank scam goes awry, Millie is in hot water with Homeland Security and targeted by lethal enemies... -
The Lightkeeper by Rebecca Sharp
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAurora Cross just got the educational opportunity of a lifetime—to complete her coastal biology thesis at one of Maine’s most iconic lighthouses. She didn’t realize the toughest, most reclusive creature inhabiting the keep was a broody artist with more secrets than the sea.Kit Kinkade has had enough of the world...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity steamy age-gap romance contemporary -
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Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn Fiasco, Kentucky, there is one rule: never fall for a Foxx brother. Any woman who did, ended up dead—or so the rumor goes. Townies call it a curse. But I’ve lived it, and I won’t survive it again.I’m not a cop anymore, but I’ve seen enough danger to know that Laney Young, the beautiful stranger who just showed up in my small town, is running from it...Categorized as:
suspense grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity age-gap romance western -
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsLosing people you love is hard. Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy. Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be. But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart. Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy -
Make Me Your Villain by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBook 2 of the Battle Crows MC with Shine and Iris.Flaws—he has them.Laws? He breaks them.Dues? He’s paid them.Scars? He bares them proudly.Lessons? He’s learned them.Problems? He has one.Her name is Iris, and she’s the one thing in his life that he can’t control...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy suspense action-adventure -
Daddy's Lost Love by Laylah Roberts
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDaisy is a Little fending for herself in a scary world. All her life she’s taken care of everyone else. And she’s completely drained. She needed a change of pace. She never expected that moving forward would bring her straight back to her past. And the boy she’d been forced to leave so many years ago. Only, he’s no longer a boy. He’s hard. Rough. Stern. Dominant. He both arouses and terrifies her... -
Reckless Trust by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt’s a long-awaited homecoming…but not everyone’s happy about her return. Five years ago, Tilly Taylor’s father did something that cost her everything. Her home. Her friends. And all the trust she’d ever earned. Now she’s back, and ready to prove to everyone that she’s nothing like Martin Taylor. Unfortunately, the small town of Misty Peak doesn’t forgive or forget so easily...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity workplace grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance contemporary -
Defending Home by Caitlyn O'Leary
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWill Two Tormented Souls Have The Courage To Reach For Love?The only family Nolan O’Rourke ever claimed were his Navy SEAL brothers, they had never let him down. His childhood wasn’t rough, it wasn’t hard, it was hell, and now any mission that he was assigned to was a cakewalk in comparison... -
The Runaway by Jess Mastorakos
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCould rescuing a runaway bride would be the detour I never knew I needed?I had a plan. But then, my cross-country road trip to my new duty station started with me getting dumped. Two seconds later, I got roped into bringing a family friend’s niece, Nikki, and her teenage daughter on the road with me.To make matters worse, I’m aiding Nikki’s escape from her own wedding...Categorized as:
suspense grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc female-mc contemporary small-town military -
Ignite by Melanie Harlow, Stephen Dexter
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsMy new neighbor is a firefighter—and a scorching hot single dad—but I swear I didn’t set off that smoke alarm on purpose.(And I was beyond mortified when he rushed in and saw me naked.)Nothing happened, of course—because I, Winnie MacAllister, romance junkie and owner of a constantly broken heart, have sworn off men for one solid year...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy action-adventure -
No Damaged Goods by Nicole Snow
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFearless firefighter. Silver tongue. Single dad.My grouchy hero pushes all my freaking buttons...The red hot stranger who just saved my bacon might be the end of me.Blake Silverton could sweet talk an angel into sin.Fierce small-town fire chief. Rough velvet voice. Drop dead gorgeous.Don't even get me started on the tortured single dad thing... -
Fatal Felons by Elle Thorpe
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsPlease note this is the third and final book in a trilogy, and this blurb contains spoilers for books 1 and 2. Start the series with Locked Up Liars, and Solitary Sinners before reading on!When a judge declared Heath guilty and sentenced him to death row, everything we’d been fighting for went up in flames.We have no excuses. No appeals. No freedom.Now, there’s only one way out...Categorized as:
age-gap cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy suspense workplace -
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From Here to Eternity by A.L. Jackson
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI should have known everything was going to change when she walked into my tattoo shop...Timid as hell and gorgeous to the extreme. I knew better than even thinking about touching a woman like that. My life is dangerous.My calling wicked.Willing to cross any line to protect the innocent...Categorized as:
suspense grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity age-gap alpha-mc romance -
Sterling Brick by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLove wasn’t part of the blueprint when high school sweethearts reunite in their small town. But this former military man never forgot the girl he left behind and he’s more determined than ever to rebuild their relationship brick by brick and heart by heart.Getting locked in the men’s restroom during my mother’s funeral wasn’t exactly how I expected to run into my high school sweetheart...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance contemporary military small-town slow-burn -
Reckless Fate by Kate Crew
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDaisy WellsI never planned to kiss Kye that night, but with him being the only one not scared of my ex, it became my only chance to get back at him. But now, I’m pretending to be the girlfriend of the town troublemaker while trying to not let that be known to my father... -
Wait for It by Mariana Zapata
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsIf anyone ever said being an adult was easy, they hadn't been one long enough. Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn't know what the hell she's doing half the time. How she's made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn't supposed to be so hard...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy -
Be Still My Heart by Emily McIntire, Sav R. Miller
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsSkelm Island, Maine has always been known for two things: lobsters and its broken lighthouse.But when corpses start showing up in the water, the isolated town becomes the face of a cryptic investigation.At the heart of which stands Lincoln Porter, a grumpy ex-SEAL whose lobstering business seems to attract more dead bodies than fish...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc cheerful-mc female-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy -
Cap by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCap is the continuation of Sebastian and Maggie's story from the series For The Love Of A Good Woman and the second book in the Reed Security Series. The Reed Security Series must be read in order. “Well, I could try, but with my sciatica flaring up, I wouldn’t get very far. Besides, Harry knows exactly where to touch to get rid of the pain,” she winked at him. “Eww... -
Strange & Unusual by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe moment he divorced his ex-wife, Jeremiah decided two things.One, he would never, ever get into that kind of situation again—i.e., marriage.Two, he would spend more time doing what he loved—baking, riding motorcycles, spending time with the Battle Crows MC, and getting some quiet time for just himself. Pretty much doing the things he enjoyed, that his ex-wife could no longer ruin... -
Savage's Princess: Archangel's Warriors MC Novel by Ciara St. James
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsArchangel’s Warriors MC: Brothers by choice, not blood. Born to ride until they die. All they wanted was to ride free until lightning strikes them without warning. Consumed by desire, surrounded by danger, they find the “one” who will consume, enchant, frustrate and ultimately love them. They only see each other... -
Jaxon by Kate Oliver
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLeahWho knew buying a run-down house would be so much work? It was hers, though, and while it might not be much, to Leah Day, it was perfect because it meant she was free from her cheating ex-husband. What she wasn’t prepared for was the roof to leak into her bedroom… She also wasn’t expecting her hot neighbor to come marching over to scold her for climbing onto the roof...Categorized as:
steamy age-gap grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance contemporary small-town -
One Little Heartbreak by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSethI never realized getting adopted at thirty-two years old was a thing, then I met the Westbrooks. They’re a family that grows every time a wayward soul crosses their path, and now I’m an honorary member. A former spy, I was married at twenty-two—a father at twenty-six and a widow by thirty. To say my life is in transition would be an understatement...Categorized as:
age-gap steamy grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity suspense romance -
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Glass Skulls by L.M. Terry
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhen I was a little girl, I was rescued by the president of the Rebel Skull’s daughter.I’ll never forget the day she brought me to the warehouse. To me, it looked like a castle. I remember thinking how fortunate she was to live in such a magical place, and to have a family … a dad. I got lucky that day, because her father decided to take me in... -
Wild Heart by Ivy Layne
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSometimes you need the dark to protect the lightQuinn Sawyer is a mystery.She’s an heiress. She’s a backcountry guide.She has a suite in a mansion, but she sleeps in the woods.I can’t make sense of her. I shouldn’t care.My job is to keep her safe, not get to know her.She’s my best friend’s little sister. She’s a client.And she can never be mine...Categorized as:
suspense alpha-mc grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity boss-employee romance -
Terror's Temptress by Ciara St. James
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTerror:His name and person strike fear into the hearts of men.He’s the ultra-alpha leader of the Dublin Falls Archangel’s Warriors MC.He’s living the ultimate biker’s dream.He’s content until he sees her.All it took was one look, and he’ll do whatever it takes to have her.Even go up against her father.Or go to war with his club’s enemies and her secret one... -
Where We Ended by Ashley Munoz
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt’s been two years since I was traded to the Stone Riders Motorcycle Club. While it saved my life, I was forced to leave behind the only person that ever mattered to me.Dripping with tattoos, his hair as dark as his soul, the brooding president of the Death Raiders still holds my heart...even if he doesn't seem to know what to do with it...Categorized as:
suspense grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity steamy female-mc romance -
Daddy's Sweet Girl by Laylah Roberts
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsOn the surface Kent Jensen is an easygoing guy. But underneath lies a core of steel. He’s a Dom who is looking for a sub who will give him everything. Total control. What he is not looking for is a Little who is in a world of trouble... Abby’s life is so out of control she doesn’t even know how to begin to fix it. She’s worn out, broke and trying to pay off her brother’s debts... -
Burn the Wild by Ava Hunter
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAs the reigning country-pop princess, I’ve had everything this life has to offer, especially fame and fortune. But not what really matters. A minute to catch my breath and reevaluate my life. So when my world comes crashing down, I run to a place where no one knows me. A small mountain town where I can hide from my past.Only I don’t get far. My first day in town, I’m assigned a babysitter...Categorized as:
suspense workplace age-gap forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy
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