Books like 'Grumpy the Bear'
Readers who enjoyed Grumpy the Bear by Marika Ray also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance small town grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc age-gap in-uniform steamy grumpy-mc enemies-to-lovers
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The Mistletoe Kisser: A Small Town Love Story by Lucy Score
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsRyan 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... -
Show Me Forever (The Maxwell Brothers) by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI moved to Chicago six months ago, determined to finally open my own bakery. My landlady was this sweet woman who treated me like her granddaughter. Then she sold the house. Now the devil himself is my landlord and neighbor since I live in the guesthouse on his property. Declan Maxwell is moody, unreasonable, and takes himself far too seriously. Unfortunately for me, he’s also damn sexy...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor steamy adult billionaire -
What I Should've Said by Max Monroe
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen grumpy, muscled-up artist Bennett Bishop bothers to speak, it’s usually to say something you’re not ready to hear.When he first speaks to Norah Ellis, a rambling runaway bride who hitchhikes a ride from him, it’s to tell her to get out of his truck and walk because she’s a pain in the a-s-s...Categorized as:
humor enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc children age-gap female-mc -
Mending a Malone by Laylah Roberts
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJaret Malone has a problem . . .A five-foot-two curvy, crazy problem. One who doesn’t seem to take no for an answer.After his last relationship ended disastrously, he has had no interest in getting involved with someone else.Especially not some insane woman who seems to think that her grandmother left him to her in her will.Nobody tells a Malone what to do . . -
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Drink It Up: The Donovans by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsQuinn Donovan is a single dad with too much on his plate. He is surrounded by his wild and crazy family at home and at work while raising two little girls who are the light of his life. When a complete stranger swoops in to help him when he needs it most only to then disappear without a word, it seems he’s lost his chance to get to know her... -
Maybe We Won't by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA sexy and soul-stirring novel about love, family, and rediscovering what matters most by Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe We Will.When workaholic Boston attorney Deirdra de Messiéres is passed over for a well-deserved promotion, she takes a two-month hiatus to show her boss just how much he needs her and heads home to Silver Island... -
Killing Booth by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEvery single thing you want is going to require you to be uncomfortable.Those words had been shared with her by the one man she didn’t think she could take a chance on. She just didn’t know that he was right, or that he was going to be the one making her uncomfortable.Nash Wilder Christopherson was the world’s golden boy.For fifteen years, she watched Nash race from the safety of her phone...Categorized as:
sports enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc female-mc humor romance -
Dirty Little Midlife (Fake) Date by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSingle mom Mia has a problem. Her new landlord Des just raised her rent, and even in her dreams, Mia wouldn’t be able to afford it.Not that she’d want to dream of Des. Ever.To make matters worse, Des is big, grumpy, and apparently his heart is made of granite. He’s not willing to meet Mia in any sort of middle.Suffice it to say, Mia’s forties aren’t off to a good start.Until... -
If You Need Me by Helena Hunting
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA standalone enemies to lovers, fake engagement, hockey romance. I’ve been secretly in love with Wilhelmina Reddi-Grinst since the third grade.I should be the one taking her to our small-town high school reunion. The prom king finally gets his chance with the valedictorian.Except she hates me.To the world, I’m a pro hockey player with a million dollar smile... -
Red Hot Rebel by Olivia Hayle
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThere's nothing worse than working with an arrogant blue blood who despises everything about me. Except getting stuck with him in the middle of nowhere. "They’re just models. Air-headed and vain."That’s what Rhys Marchand says the first time we meet, knowing I can overhear him.He’s the last person I want to be paired with for this travel campaign, but unlike him, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc age-gap humor contemporary new-adult -
Matchmaking a Single Dad by Angela Denise, Angela Casella
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey’re all wrong for each other…but sometimes two wrongs do make a right.ColeThe only woman I need in my life is my eight-year-old daughter, Jane. As a widowed brewery owner, I don’t have the time or inclination for anything more serious than a one night stand... -
Cougar From Hell by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI have my fresh start in a new town, this time a widow with a preteen daughter who rolls her eyes enough to make them stay that way. Too bad my past mistake is also here to greet me. Daxon Hellman. Town a-hole. Hot young contractor hired to build my house in the woods.It’s only when I’m face-to-face with him for the first time that I realize he’s the mystery man from two years ago... -
The Gruff Loner's Bargain by Kat Baxter
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBrook:I might be down on my luck, but I’m determined to open the best all-inclusive wedding venue in the U.S. But first, I have to scope out the competition. The only problem is I need a fake fiance to pull it off. Even worse, the only man available to do the job is the annoying handsome Landry Hendricks. Because of course I need the help of the one man in town who hates me...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers steamy grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance contemporary insta-love -
Heartache & Playdates by Shawna Renae
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“Love isn’t like milk. It has no expiration date.” ~ Nonna Russo Maddox CruzSingle dad. Tech billionaire. Genius. That is what people saw when they looked at me. Those adjectives might all be true, but inside I was still a kid who grew up in the system and was raised by the streets. Which was why I had no plans to attend my 20 year high school reunion...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy humor contemporary billionaire small-town -
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Doctorshipped by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m the absolute last remaining single woman in the entire town of Bordeaux.Okay, maybe not the very last.Just the last one with all her teeth, natural hair color, and the ability to remember where I set my keys.I decided years ago that I’m going to remain single until my dying day.I’ll infuse a new, hip meaning into the term “old cat lady.”I don’t need a man...Categorized as:
age-gap cheerful-mc children enemies-to-lovers female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor -
Once Upon A Bet: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance by Penelope Bloom
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAll I ever wanted was the perfect happily ever after.All he ever wanted was to ruin my freaking life.Okay, that’s a smidge dramatic, but hear me out.My new neighbor might as well plant an “unavailable” sign in his front yard.He’s got biceps made for pulling swooning maidens out of danger, eyes built for melting glaciers (and panties), and a smile that makes my knees want to buckle... -
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 -
Handy by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMy new neighbor may be grumpy but he's also hot, and very good with his hands…I definitely overestimated my own handyman skills when I bought this fixer-upper. I have to say, the view from my new place is worth it though. Especially around seven o'clock every morning when my big, furry bear of a neighbor drinks his coffee shirtless on his back porch.He's dedicated to the bear thing too... -
Heartbreak & Cupcakes by Shawna Renae
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAlex VaughnThe last thing I wanted was to be named San Francisco’s Most Eligible Bachelor. The title alone was misleading. I wasn’t a bachelor. I was a widower and single father. One who wasn’t available or interested.Well... there was one person who might have piqued my interest. Cupcake Girl. But interest and intent are two very different things... -
What Hurts Us by Maggie C. Gates
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAsking Layla Mousavi to be my fake fiancé wasn’t the weirdest thing I had done this week. It didn’t even crack the top ten. Not when my days were filled with escaped pigs, radioactive casseroles, and cow-induced car crashes._____________The population of Falls Creek, North Carolina, is a collective menace to society... -
Boone by Laramie Briscoe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m old enough to be her father, and a life-long confirmed bachelor, but after one night together, all that is about to change. Boone Wilson Instead of building my forever with a conventional family, I’ve dedicated my life to being the best father I can to the son I had way too early in life. Now that he’s grown, I’m giving all I can to my job... -
Enforcing the Rules by Nicole James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Nicole James, comes a standalone, enemies-to-lovers, steamy biker romance.Utah—I’m the Enforcer for the RBMC’s Durango Chapter, hunting down the two-bit scumbag who stole from my club.He’s a dead man walking.The problem is a sexy little hellcat named Kate keeps getting in my way.She’s a bounty hunter and after the same trash as me...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy humor romance contemporary -
Set My Heart Bonfire by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe's a dashing millionaire who thinks everything in life is one big joke, probably because he bathes in piles of money each morning. He’s also my new neighbor, and after a humiliating experience in the cemetery that is my backyard, he becomes my shadow, showing up everywhere just to annoy me.I’m not a fan of happy people...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc enemies-to-lovers humor romance contemporary small-town -
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Bro Code Hell by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLiving with my older brother’s best friend wasn’t even my worst idea lately.Keeping it a secret from my brother was on the list too. Oh, and actually falling (literally) for Blaze Hellman—when every frown clearly said to stay away—was most definitely at the top of the list.I was kind of a genius normally...Categorized as:
steamy humor enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc female-mc contemporary -
A Fish Out of Water by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI knew trying to make a fresh start on Marbella Island would mean reinventing myself.I'm only here while I work my way up to my dream role in a major motion picture in Hollywood.Which explains why I took a role playing a mermaid in the island production of In So Deep . What I didn't count on?Ben. The charmer who just took a job as a water sports instructor.Everyone loves Ben.Everyone but me...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc enemies-to-lovers humor female-mc romance contemporary -
Knockout by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt 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...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor adult alpha-mc -
Temptress by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWho knew the grumpy single dad next door would turn out to be The One?As Sloane Chambers stood at her window and creeped on the new guy moving in next door, she was immediately drawn to the tattoos, muscles, and the way his jeans hugged his perfect . . . frame. But when she caught him hacking up her rose bushes with a chain saw, the battle was on...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc enemies-to-lovers age-gap humor romance contemporary -
Fake Around and Find Out by S.M. Shade
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship romantic comedy.The Happy Haven Trailer Park is not where I hoped to be at age twenty-five.Circumstances have left me without a job or a car in a small town where work is scarce. When my insufferable neighbor approached me with a very indecent proposal to co-star in his videos on the Lonely Hands app, I had to resist the impulse to punch him in the mouth...Categorized as:
humor enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy romance contemporary -
Grumpy As Hell by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe town’s hottest firefighter just put out the fire in my pants. Literally.Ace Hellman. Star quarterback. Grumpy-as-hell firefighter. Chief pain in my ass.He’s beyond arrogant, inducing women to fake emergencies just to see his sexy swagger as he comes to save them. Not me though. That fire was a total accident. I swear...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor in-uniform steamy -
Spill the Sweet Tea by Lyra Parish
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSome describe me as a quirky, free-spirited journalist who charges her crystals by moonlight.They’re not wrong.My instincts ensure I know everything that goes on in my small town. And not much surprises me. But when the man who destroyed my heart returns to care for his family’s business, I’m shaken to the core.After our messy breakup, Hayden Shaw swore he’d never come back to Valentine, Texas...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy female-mc humor romance -
Scrooge and the Girls Next Door by Melanie Jacobson
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen the sunniest woman in Creekville buys the house next to the grumpiest man on the street, sparks fly . . . and not just because she keeps blowing his fuses...Twenty-six-year-old Paige Redmond, single mom and go-getter, can’t wait to give her daughter, Evie, the Christmas of her dreams...Categorized as:
age-gap cheerful-mc children enemies-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor adult -
Dirty Talker: A Single Dads Club Romance by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom a secret duo of USA Today Bestselling Authors, comes another COMPLETE STANDALONE in the Single Dads Club set of books. Turn-ons… Party girls. Platinum blondes. Zero expectations. I used to think that if you could combine all three into one female, you’d have the perfect woman. The other guys in the Single Dads Club razz me for wearing the crown of the forever bachelor... -
Latte Darling by S.J. Tilly
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI have a nice life - living in my hometown, owning the coffee shop I’ve worked at since I was 16.It’s comfortable.On paper.But I’m tired of doing everything by myself. Tired of being in charge of every decision in my life.I want someone to lean on. Someone to spend time with. Sit with. Hug.And I really don’t want to go to my best friend’s wedding alone... -
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The Sweetest Obsession by Nicole Snow
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFalling for the best thing that never happened brings sweet mayhem in this steamy, gripping, and heartfelt small-town grumpy-sunshine standalone romance. My brother's best friend owned my heart until the day he drenched it in kerosene and burned it down.Grant flipping Faircross is so not the reason I'm coming home...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc in-uniform age-gap enemies-to-lovers steamy female-mc -
Reckless by Elsie Silver
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsTheo Silva. Rowdy bull rider. Notorious ladies’ man. Scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package.And he’s looking at me like I might be his next meal.But I’m almost free of my toxic marriage and have sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look back is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak.The man is hard to trust—and even harder to resist.Make that impossible...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy age-gap contemporary western small-town -
Falling for the Grinch by Amy Alves
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe kissed the wrong man, and she liked it.No longer content waiting for the love of her life to walk into her bakery, Dani Reed decides this holiday season, she's going to fulfill some long-awaited fantasies. This Christmas will be all about self-discovery. . . and pleasure.But a certain fire chief is getting in the way of her sexy plans...Categorized as:
age-gap cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor in-uniform -
Falling for the Jerk by Amy Alves
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt was an accident, I swear. Jensen Vaughn may be the absolute worst, but I didn’t push him down those stairs. Not intentionally, anyway. It was supposed to be my graceless butt lying in a broken heap at the bottom of the steps. But no, the golden boy firefighter and beloved town hero had to take the fall meant for me. He saved me. And now the whole town thinks I maimed him on purpose...Categorized as:
sports in-uniform enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy female-mc -
Puffin Bay by Annie Dyer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHeartbreak led me to Puffin Bay, searching for peace in a small, coastal town. Four years later, my bar is thriving and my next business is just what the town needs. It doesn’t need Roman Tominey. Arrogant, city-boy, suit-wearing grump - he knows how to push every one of my buttons, and after an evening of bad decisions, he knows how to push that one too...Categorized as:
humor enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc female-mc romance contemporary -
Puck Happens: A Hockey Romance by Hailey Shore
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHockey players and ice skaters do not mix.Tell that to the new bane of my existence, Olivia Tyler-Branch, figure skater turned NHL skating coach. She knows her stuff, but I can't let her past my defenses.I fell hard for her once before...Now I need to be focused on the game not on Olivia’s soft honey blonde hair, her feisty competitive streak, or the heartbreak behind her eyes... -
Things I Forgot About by Kelsey Humphreys
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"He is off limits. Complicated. Not right for me at all. He's trouble, wrapped up in an expensive navy suit. But I never could stay out of trouble..."Kat Canton is a woman with a plan. Though a rebel at heart, she’s had to stay focused since becoming a single mom at seventeen...Categorized as:
age-gap enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor female-mc romance -
Falling For the Grouch by Carolina Jax
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDashWhen my son had to leave our small hometown of Christmas, Texas, I couldn’t wait to leave with him, only to fall into a new fresh hell.Christmas 2.0 a/k/a Candy Cane Key.Everyone is in love down here. They love their town. They love their school.Let me tell you, True Love doesn’t exist. Romantic love is made up.There’s no one who can tell me differently.No matter how gorgeous she is... -
Reeling Him In by Kara Kendrick
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat happens when Little Miss Sunshine wins a night with her archnemesis and the town grump, all in the name of charity?I never participate in Candy Cane Key’s annual Manuary auction for reasons. Mainly, why would anyone spend money to hang out with me? Sure, I’ve been told I’m good-looking—in a rugged kind of way—but people aren’t my jam...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy enemies-to-lovers humor female-mc small-town -
Innocent by Khloe Summers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan this protective older man convince a curvy virgin to save herself for love, or will she auction it off to the highest bidder?JanieI've spent years trying to find love, but all I've found is heartache and debt.With no way to pay my college tuition, I follow a friend's advice.I auction my virginity online.At first, this seems like a great plan. I'm going to make out huge...Categorized as:
age-gap grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy insta-love small-town contemporary -
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Love...It's Wild by Jeannine Colette
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFalling in love has never been this wild… I’m a woman who knows my own worth. And more than anything, I deserve love. Wild, passionate, all-consuming love. What I did not deserve was being forced to hang around my small town to watch the jerk who left me at the alter fawn over his new wife. Instead, I ran. Right into him. Robert Bronson is my friend’s grumpy brother-in-law...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc enemies-to-lovers steamy age-gap humor romance -
The Billionaire's Shrubbery by Danika Bloom
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen Will Power brings his day-long, Come Into Power seminar to my city, I spring on the opportunity to absorb his billionaire tips to grow my shaky business.I feel like I’ve won the lottery when he picks me from the crowd to do on-stage coaching. Until he humiliates me. In front of a thousand people...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers humor steamy grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc female-mc romance -
Her Filthy Grump by Alexia Chase
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat happens when Ms. Pollyanna meets Mr. Grumpalicious?LaylaI’m looking for Mr. Right, but instead, I find a man who thinks I’m a nuisance and a do-gooder. So, what if I like to help people? It’s my life. Not his.So why do I want to climb him like a tree every time I'm with him? The man is too gorgeous for his own good.KameronI’m not looking for anyone. I’ve had my fill of women who let me down... -
Seein' Red by Claire Hastings
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThere’s a thin line between love and hate. Good thing I have excellent balance.If only that was enough.Willa Hayes and I have a long history. We went from friends to enemies to frenemies…with benefits. The benefits part is our secret though.Not how I’d prefer it, but after what I did, I’m lucky she still talks to me at all.Our chemistry is undeniable...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers steamy female-mc grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance -
One Look by Lena Hendrix
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’m a full time single dad. A former NFL player turned coach, tasked with turning around a college team full of kids who either don’t take it seriously or are determined to get injured. I will absolutely not be falling for my new neighbor, despite the number of times my meddling brothers try to set us up.Lark Butler is pure chaos wrapped in gorgeous, infuriating sunshine...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers female-mc grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor sports steamy -
Tempt Me by Samantha Chase
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Small Town, Grumpy/Sunshine, Standalone Romance He hates the holidays. She lives for them. Let the games begin.A small town, grumpy/sunshine romance from NY Times Best Selling Author Samantha ChaseSix months ago, Liam Donovan met the world's cheeriest, most upbeat woman at a wedding.It was the longest two days of his life.Now she’s his next door neighbor.Talk about awkward...
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