Books like 'Beyond the Thistles'
Readers who enjoyed Beyond the Thistles by Samantha Young also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance mystery small town action / adventure family suspense age-gap grumpy-sunshine forced-proximity
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Shamrock: A Linear Tactical Romantic Suspense Standalone by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsEvery mission has a price.He never meant for her to pay it. Aiden has never left anyone behind. Not a comrade and certainly not an innocent. But when an undercover mission goes wrong, he's forced to abandon a woman trapped in a human trafficking ring. Violet learned brutally that no one is promised a happy ending... -
![Broken Vow: A Dark Mafia Romance by Sophie Lark]()
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 bodyguard cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine slow-burn suspense -
![Conquered by Riley Edwards]()
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 found-family friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine slow-burn suspense -
![Games of the Heart by Kristen Ashley]()
Games of the Heart by Kristen Ashley
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsFrom the balcony of his house, Mike Haines can see the quiet, commonplace beauty of the Holliday farm. But what he remembers is Dusty, the little sister of his high school girlfriend, who grew up there. As a teen, Dusty had gone off the rails but when she was a kid, she was sweet, she was funny and she had a special bond with Mike. After high school, she took off and Mike never saw her again... -
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![Playing with Lies by Riley Edwards]()
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 bodyguard romance mystery -
![Leo by Maryann Jordan]()
Leo by Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe had no complaints… Great job, great boss, great co-workers. And a best friend he’d known for years.Okay, almost no complaints… The women he dated paled in comparison to his best friend.She had a lot of complaints… A job she hated, a tyrant for a boss, working with people that got on her last nerve. And no time for love. Plus, the guys she dated couldn’t come close to her best friend...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance military mystery action-adventure small-town -
![The Outpost by Devney Perry]()
The Outpost by Devney Perry
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsTrapped in his tiny mountain cabin, she didn't expect to fall for his big heart. Exposing a prominent criminal family with an investigative news report didn’t exactly work out the way Sabrina had hoped. Instead of basking in the glory of her article’s success, she’s on the run from a powerful man who wants her dead. To stay safe, she’s forced to trade one bad situation for another...Categorized as:
alpha-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn suspense action-adventure adult angst -
![Gifts: A Killers Novel, Book 3 by Brynne Asher]()
Gifts: A Killers Novel, Book 3 by Brynne Asher
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNo one would say Keelie Lockhart isn’t determined. Taking on the role of both mom and dad to her two young kids, she’s managing life the best she can... -
![Fractured Sky by Catherine Cowles]()
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... -
![Blaze by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott]()
Blaze by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe rings have been selected. The champagne placed on ice. The cake decorated. And the pre-wedding sex is off the charts... Lucas Vallois and Andrei Hadeon are finally ready to walk down the aisle. There’s just one small problem. A ghost from Lucas’s past shows up days before the wedding, desperate for help... -
![Edge of Nowhere by Freya Barker]()
Edge of Nowhere by Freya Barker
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOpen roads and honor meets poke bowls and self-controlI’m a homesick nomad.A protégé, a mountain man, an ally, and a seeker.My name is Wapi.I’m a work in progress looking to belong, and though my road has been a winding one, my heart has found focus.I’m a straightlaced hellcat.A princess, a fool, a target, and a handle.My name is Lindsey...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers family forced-proximity romance small-town stalking organized-crime -
![Beautifully Broken Spirit by Catherine Cowles]()
Beautifully Broken Spirit by Catherine Cowles
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsShe’s always been his safe place to land.Jensen has shared a special bond with Tuck for as long as she can remember, their friendship a language that never needed words. But as life threw her one curveball after another, that secret language turned to stony silence. He’s always been her protector.Tuck has looked out for Jensen since the day she was born... -
![Breathe by Kristen Ashley]()
Breathe by Kristen Ashley
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThere's nothing like the first time . . . In Carnal, Colorado, Faye Goodknight is the town's quiet, shy librarian. She may also be Carnal's last remaining virgin. For years, Faye has had a crush on Chace Keaton, but the gorgeous cop has always been unattainable. She's resigned to live contentedly with only her books for company-until Faye suddenly meets Chace alone in the woods . . -
![King Me by Lucy Lennox]()
King Me by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFalcon: Three years ago I arrived at the scene of an art heist to find Kingston Wilde tied to a radiator, claiming to be an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was only later I learned he was actually, the elusive art thief I’d been tracking for years. And I was the one who’d let him sweet-talk his way out of my grasp... -
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![Tallowwood by N.R. Walker]()
Tallowwood by N.R. Walker
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsCold cases, murder, lies, and an unimaginable truth.Sydney detective August Shaw has spent the last decade of work solving cold cases. Since the death of his boyfriend eight years ago, August works alone, lives alone, is alone — and that’s exactly how he likes it...Categorized as:
age-gap cheerful-mc family grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine slow-burn suspense action-adventure -
![Marriage and Murder by Penny Reid]()
Marriage and Murder by Penny Reid
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe Devil is in the details . . . Cletus Byron Winston wishes to marry Jennifer Anne Donner-Sylvester (aka The Banana Cake Queen) posthaste! He’s spent the last year wanting nothing more than for the celebrations to be brief, libations flowing, and BYOB (bring your own blueberries)...Categorized as:
age-gap cheerful-mc family friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine suspense action-adventure -
![Delicate Escape by Catherine Cowles]()
Delicate Escape by Catherine Cowles
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsTrust doesn’t come easily when you’ve been running for as long as I have, which is why moving in with a man I barely know is such a bad idea.Shepard Colson is all golden-boy charm and devastating good looks. But I know what it’s like to be taken in by easy smiles and the promise of forever—I have the scars to prove it... -
![Deacon by Kristen Ashley]()
Deacon by Kristen Ashley
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsDeacon has an ugly history, a history that broke him, leaving him a ghost of a man. Out of necessity, he left the normal world to descend into the criminal world and found he fit. So he stayed. Cold as ice and living off the grid, Deacon has no intention to connect, not with anyone. Then he returns to some remote cabins in the Colorado Mountains and finds they have new owners... -
![Siren Unleashed by Sophie Oak, Lexi Blake]()
Siren Unleashed by Sophie Oak, Lexi Blake
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTwin detectives Ben and Chase Dawson have been sent to investigate an unusual murder at a resort owned by Julian Lodge. Julian wants them to protect the prime suspect, a young submissive who was the last person to see the victim alive. The job seems simple until Ben and Chase discover that the beautiful submissive they both desire has a dark past... -
![Gen Pop by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Gen Pop by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHangry: adjective—feeling irritable or irrationally angry as a result of being hungry.Sometimes, Crockett felt that in her soul.And, of course, the one time that she’s being ‘irrationally angry’ would be the time that the hottest guy on the continent walked into her place of business dressed in prison orange.She should’ve been afraid.She should’ve taken one look at him and walked the other way... -
![The Best of Me by Jessica Prince]()
The Best of Me by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt wasn’t hard for Nona Fanning to fall for Trick. He was strong, kind-hearted, loyal, and unbelievably handsome. He was the man of her dreams, and all it took was one night to give her a taste of the beauty he had to offer. But while she’d been opening her heart to him, he’d kept his under lock and key... -
![Tyler by Nyssa Kathryn]()
Tyler by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSometimes, the biggest secrets can bring both salvation and destruction.Emerson Charles grew up luckier than most, going from a difficult life to finding safety and a true home with her stepmother and stepbrother. Years later, when Levi's in trouble, Emerson will do anything for the brother of her heart, her greatest protector...Categorized as:
bodyguard age-gap found-family friends-to-lovers suspense forced-proximity romance military -
![Warrior by Renee Rose, Vanessa Vale]()
Warrior by Renee Rose, Vanessa Vale
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMistake #1: Sleeping with a friendHooking up with Quincy was a no-brainer.The sexy hot-shot Navy pilot wasn’t on my SEAL team.I thought she’d be safe for a one-night stand.Mistake #2: Letting her walk out the doorI realized too late she wasn’t a one-and-done for me.But now she thinks I’m a player. Okay, she knows I’m a player.Which is why she won’t go there with me again... -
![Ranger by Rebecca Sharp]()
Ranger by Rebecca Sharp
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSydney Ward woke up on the wrong side of life—that’s what it feels like when cancel culture claims another victim...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn bodyguard romance contemporary crime -
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![Bang Switch by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Bang Switch by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLachlan Downy was a lover, not a fighter. Okay, he wouldn't lie, he was a fighter, too. But nobody had to know that. Especially not Memphis Tennessee Conner and her stuffy attitude when it came to cops and ‘men like him.’ Memphis knew cops. Her daddy was a cop. He was also the president of a motorcycle club... -
![Double Tap by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Double Tap by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNico met the love of his life when he was seventeen. Immediately, he realizes that the gap in their ages is too significant to make a move on her until she’s legal in the eyes of the law. So he joins the United States Navy, killing time until he can come home to her again... -
![Looking for You by Kelly Elliott]()
Looking for You by Kelly Elliott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe last person I would ever expect to be waiting on the front porch for me in the middle of the night was Everly Higgins. To say I was both surprised and thrilled to see her would be an understatement. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since we met last fall when my sister, Greer, fell in love with Everly’s brother, Hudson...Categorized as:
family forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn suspense abuse action-adventure adult -
![Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder]()
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 slow-burn found-family grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity age-gap -
![Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score]()
Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsNash Morgan was always known as the good Morgan brother, with a smile and a wink for everyone. But now, this chief of police is recovering from being shot and his Southern charm has been overshadowed by panic attacks and nightmares. He feels like a broody shell of the man he once was. Nash isn’t about to let anyone in his life know he’s struggling... -
![Deserted by Cara Dee]()
Deserted by Cara Dee
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDeserted is the third book in the Auctioned Series, following book 1, Auctioned, and book 2, Stranded. Gray Nolan had survived a kidnapping where he was supposed to have been auctioned off to the highest bidder. He had also survived being stranded on an island, under siege from a different set of foes, and throughout the hell they’d all endured, their motto had been “Leave no man behind... -
![Reckless Fall by Nyssa Kathryn]()
Reckless Fall by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe’s back in town. He needs a nanny. It should be simple. But in the small town of Misty Peak, simple is never easy.Sadie Sandler wouldn’t consider herself a quitter. But then, she did walk out on her own wedding twenty-three minutes before she was supposed to walk down the aisle... -
![Montana Storm by Josie Jade, Janie Crouch]()
Montana Storm by Josie Jade, Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsKill first, ask questions later.It’s the instinct former-SEAL Jude Williams must fight every time someone touches him. His six months being tortured in an enemy prison camp may be long over, but he’s got scars—all over his body and mind—keeping that time at the forefront of his psyche... -
![Safe Harbor by Christine Feehan]()
Safe Harbor by Christine Feehan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsOne of seven daughters in a line of extraordinary women, Hannah Drake has been the elusive object of affection for Jonas Harrington for as long as the rugged sheriff can remember. If only the stunning supermodel was driven by a passion other than her career. But Jonas isn t the only one with desires for Hannah... -
![Chasing Bliss by Sophie Oak, Lexi Blake]()
Chasing Bliss by Sophie Oak, Lexi Blake
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRe-released in a second edition with new content. Gemma Wells came to Bliss, Colorado, after a scandal cost her everything. Utterly lost, the disgraced attorney built walls so high that she thinks no one can get through them. She’s given up on love, friendship, and all matters of the heart... -
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![Gunner by Rebecca Sharp]()
Gunner by Rebecca Sharp
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom bestselling romantic suspense author, Dr. Rebecca Sharp, comes a surprise pregnancy romantic suspense...Della Bolden needs an escape—that’s what happens when your billionaire father has shielded your entire life.Growing up under the thumb of personal security—for her own safety—Della wanted one weekend of freedom on a ski trip with her friends... -
![Reckless Trust by Nyssa Kathryn]()
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 grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family romance contemporary -
![Bounty by Kristen Ashley]()
Bounty by Kristen Ashley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsJustice Lonesome has enjoyed a life of bounty. Even so, she’s inherited the curse of the Lonesome. A poet’s soul. Which means she’s still searching for something. Searching for peace. Searching for the less…that’s more. And when the foundation of her life is pulled out from under her, grieving, she goes to the mountains to find her oasis. She hits Carnal, Colorado and decides to stay... -
![Beautifully Broken Control by Catherine Cowles]()
Beautifully Broken Control by Catherine Cowles
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA woman trying to rebuild her life.Kennedy is doing all she can to escape, to prove that she’s not the monster her father was. A simple life of peace and service is all she needs.A man haunted by a past he can’t forget.Cain has buried his demons under layers of control and success. The only thing he needs is his company and his solitude... -
![Smoky Mountain Judge by Ashley A. Quinn]()
Smoky Mountain Judge by Ashley A. Quinn
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDivorced, single mom, Kennedy Davidson, knew the move from Richmond to Asheville would be a rough one for her twin teenagers. What she didn’t count on was the rocky start for herself. A week into her new job as a federal magistrate, danger comes calling when a mid-level cartel boss lands on her court docket... -
![Body and Soul by Lucy Lennox, Sloane Kennedy]()
Body and Soul by Lucy Lennox, Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsOz: Escaping the international modeling scene to design my own fashion collection is the first step to shucking my bobble-headed supermodel reputation and proving to the world I’m more than just a pretty face. But the minute I have to accept roadside help from the sexy man next door, I feel like the airhead people think I am... -
![Perfect by Judith McNaught]()
Perfect by Judith McNaught
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsA rootless foster child, Julie Mathison had blossomed under the love showered upon her by her adoptive family. Now a lovely and vivacious young woman, she was a respected teacher in her small Texas town, and she passionately lived her ideals. Julie was determined to give back all the kindness she'd received; nothing and no one would ever shatter the perfect life she had fashioned... -
![Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh]()
Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFourth in the New York Times bestselling series known for "blistering sexuality and eroticism."(Romance Reviews Today) Since he saw Janey Mackay taking a dip in her bikini, Major Alex Jansen has had to quell the fire she ignites in him. Even touching her would mean death at the hands of the Mackay men...Categorized as:
age-gap alpha-mc friends-to-lovers suspense abuse action-adventure adult anthologies -
![Until April by Aurora Rose Reynolds]()
Until April by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWith happily ever after being something that happens to other people, April Mayson has decided to put all her energy into her career and living her best life, and things are better than ever. Little does she know that her world is about to be turned upside down when she’s asked to help out a family friend, Maxim Kauwe...Categorized as:
alpha-mc family friends-to-lovers suspense action-adventure adult audiobook billionaire -
![Give Me Love by Corinne Michaels]()
Give Me Love by Corinne Michaels
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNew York Times best-selling author Corinne Michaels brings the second book in the Rose Canyon series with this small-town second-chance romance.I am in the most inconvenient marriage of convenience ever. What started out as two friends who wanted to make their military lives easier turned into a mess. Why? Because I stupidly fell in love with my husband...Categorized as:
alpha-mc family forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn suspense action-adventure adult -
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![Fatal Felons by Elle Thorpe]()
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... -
![Outlaw's Promise by Helena Newbury]()
Outlaw's Promise by Helena Newbury
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsShe was just a kid when she found me lying injured beside the road and saved my life. I promised her I'd return if she ever needed me. Twelve years later, I answer the phone and hear her voice: a biker gang's about to sell her to the highest bidder. Like hell they are! I tear the place apart and we roar off on my Harley.. -
![Corruptor's Claim by K. Loraine, Meg Anne]()
Corruptor's Claim by K. Loraine, Meg Anne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’m in love with my brother’s wife.When River came back, I thought I’d gotten a second chance to make her mine. I had Mama’s ring ready and everything. Until the moment I found out she was already married–to Cross.On paper, it’s a good thing, especially since the head of the Russian Bratva has her in his sights...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers age-gap forced-proximity alpha-mc romance western reverse-harem -
![Distracted by A.K. Evans]()
Distracted by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMarriage of convenience? More like marriage of inconvenience. Especially when it turns deadly.Ellery Cross did what she had to do to save her family from ruin. She married a man she wasn’t in love with. Worse, she married a man she knew nothing about.But Ellery eventually learns all she needs to know about her husband. And sticking around is not an option...Categorized as:
suspense family friends-to-lovers forced-proximity romance contemporary small-town multi-pov -
![Crushed by A.K. Evans]()
Crushed by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat’s the price of survival?Sawyer McKinney didn’t want to come back. It wasn’t like anyone wanted to see her ever again anyway.But this was about life or death, and that meant there was only one place she could go.If Jesse Hale never saw Sawyer again, it would be too soon. After all the devastation she left behind years ago, he can’t imagine why she’d ever show her face again...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity bodyguard romance contemporary mystery small-town enemies-to-lovers -
![Silenced by A.K. Evans]()
Silenced by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMaxwell ‘Maxie’ Oliver wasn’t looking for trouble. She would have rather remained oblivious. Now that she has information she doesn’t want, a missing coworker, and a scandal on the horizon, Maxie doesn’t think she can remain quiet.But being a whistleblower comes at a high price, and Maxie isn’t willing to risk her life...Categorized as:
forced-proximity slow-burn bodyguard friends-to-lovers suspense romance contemporary audiobook
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