Recommendations based on "Stand and Defend"

In the third unforgettable book by New York Times bestselling author Emma Chase, Matthew Fisher—the best friend of Drew Evans from Tangled and Twisted—wants to settle down, but he’ll have to overcome the mistrust of the vividly unique Dee Dee Warren. Includes a bonus short story, Holy Frigging Matrimony!Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: girl meets player, they fall in love, player changes his ways. It’s a good story. But it’s not our story. Ours is a lot more colorful. When I met Dee, I knew right away that she was special. When she met me, she thought I was anything but special—I was exactly like every other guy who’d screwed her over and let her down. It took some time to convince her otherwise, but it turns out I can make a convincing argument when sex is at stake. You might know where this story’s headed. But the best part isn't where we ended up. It’s how we got there.

ASHLYN It was supposed to be a vacation. Five whole days on the beach with my best friend before we made the move from Seattle to New York. I never expected to meet a man who would make me change the way I saw love and sex. I've always believed you can have one without the other. So, when I hooked up with a one-night stand while on vacation, I never expected him to be standing in the middle of my hotel room hours later. Proclaiming to be my best friend's brother. RYDER I'm married to my job. I'm twenty-nine and help run a fortune 500 company. I hadn't seen my sister in four years, and I wanted to surprise her. What better way than on her vacation? What I ended up getting was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted. And for that one night, I was it. I knew that I wanted more. You don't spend a night with someone like her and let her walk away that easily. It took me two seconds to decide I wanted him for one night. It took me a day to understand that he was gonna want more. I've always had the means to buy anything I want. Too bad, she is priceless. I've always believed in love. But I'm selfish. I want more ... But can he give it to me? Or when this gets hard, does he walk away?

My best friend's little sister has been getting under my skin for decades. She's my lifelong nemesis and now-apparently-my wife.When Willa Jameson stumbled into my bar drunk, heartbroken, and desperate to save her family farm, I offered to marry her. For "convenience."Which is hilarious, because nothing about my attraction to this hurricane with hips has ever been convenient.Now we're sharing a roof, a bed, and a potential felony thanks to our fake marriage.It's supposed to be a favor between not-quite-friends-but-not-quite-enemies. Then our late-night arguments turn into practice make out sessions.But according to her, that changes absolutely nothing between us.No matter how many lines we draw, we keep crossing them-in the kitchen, on the porch, in the tiny bed that's become both heaven and hell.And the woman who swears she hates me starts looking at me like I might be exactly what she needs.She calls me her temporary husband. I call her my daily torture, because every day we play house, it feels less like pretending and more like home.When this ends, I don't know how I'm going to forget what it felt like to call her mine. So either I walk away with her, or I don't walk away at all.

Neighbors to lovers can be a risky proposition in this funny, sexy, and swoony romantic comedy between a single mother and the grumpy man next door by USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke. When Gabrielle Solomon falls, she falls hard. Even if that means literally toppling over a porch railing in nothing but a flimsy towel--right in front of her sexy new neighbor. Jay Stetson is 100 percent hero material with those arms, that chest, and his deliciously oh-so-sexy smirk. The chiseled hunk in flannel has an irresistible off-limits attitude while plucking Gabrielle out of the bushes and saving her from a snake. Unfortunately, he's not indulging in what Gabrielle is offering--not with his emotional train wreck of a past. Just neighbors. Just friends. Or so he says. Secretly, he's smitten with the single, fierce mama bear of two who plays Miss Fix-It at the house next door. He doesn't even really mind the noise or the chaos her young sons cause. What he does mind is how his lonely heart races when looking into her emerald-colored eyes. Can Jay let his painful memories go, or will he let the woman of his dreams slip between his fingers?

Now that he's opened his eyes to love, he's flying high...and losing her could be his greatest crash and burn.For three years, Laryn Hardy has been a Night Stalker mechanic. Tirelessly working on their choppers, keeping the pilots safe with her skills...and falling ever deeper in love with Tate Davis. But the hotshot airman sees her as nothing more than a sparring partner, and it's too painful to be overlooked by the man she's wanted forever, which is why she's been exploring contract options elsewhere. But when one interested party gets a little too pushy, she decides to lay off the job search. Just in time, too-because out of nowhere, Tate suddenly seems to have realized she exists.After a recent mission went FUBAR, ending in the necessary destruction of his chopper, Tate "Casper" Davis got the berating of a lifetime from his spunky mechanic. But not before he saw the emotional toll Laryn suffered over his ordeal. In that moment, he saw the feelings she'd been hiding...and the beautiful, talented woman who's been right under his nose. As if tending to his chopper on the job isn't enough, Laryn also proves she's his safe space at home, when Casper finds himself in a vulnerable position he never imagined. Yeah. She's it for him. Now he just has to convince her.Unfortunately, the couple are just days into exploring their new connection when they're deployed halfway around the world-bringing Laryn that much closer to a person determined to learn US military secrets, force her to use her skills against her government...and steal her away from Tate forever.**Keeping Laryn is the 1st book in the Rescue Angels Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, by Donna Marie Rogers: Used to the finer things in life, heiress Melinda Spalding is thrown for a loop when her brother relocates to the Midwest. Her parents even expand their business to the small town and put her in charge of the project. Discovering she likes "Mayberry" and its quirky inhabitants is almost as shocking as her growing attraction to the local auto mechanic. But LA is where she belongs-or is home truly where the heart is? Drew Porter learned early on how treacherous women can be-and when snooty "Lindy" Spalding skids into his life and nearly hits his dog, she seems worse than most. An unlikely bond between their pets gives him an intriguing glimpse behind her pretentious exterior. While his heart wonders if there more to her than meets the eye, his head tells him to run as fast as he can in the opposite direction. THE HEART OF THE MATTER, by Stacey Joy Netzel: All Allie Daniels ever wanted was a family of her own-until her doctor informs her she'll never be able to have children. She hides her desolation, refusing to let any man close enough to see her broken heart. Most certainly not the town veterinarian, whose cute three-year-old son reminds her of what she'll never have. Rick Wilde had a serious crush on Allie back in high school, but life took them in different directions. Now a single parent, he returns to Redemption several years later to raise his son, Lukas. His interest in Allie is renewed, but her shoulder is colder than the bitter winter wind. Brought together by an orphaned kitten, Allie finds herself helpless to resist Lukas's impish innocence?not to mention Rick's warm charm and sexy good looks. Does she dare take a chance on an impossible dream, or will Rick's desire for more kids devastate their future? HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Excerpt: "All done, Hot Stuff. Enjoy your soak. Come on, Matt, let's go." "See you tomorrow, Sis." Matt gave her a kiss on the cheek. Feeling impish, Lindy asked Drew, "Can I give you a tip this time?" He held her gaze for several heartbeats, and Lindy suddenly wished she hadn't poked the proverbial tiger. "Matt, would you give us a minute, please?" Lindy's heart tripped when Matt shrugged. He gave Drew a thump on the back, tossed her a smile, and whistled his way downstairs. Lindy bit the inside of her cheek as she lifted her gaze to meet Drew's. "I was only kidding, geez. I mean-" Quick as a whip, Drew hauled her against the solid expanse of his chest and slanted his mouth across hers with near punishing force. Stunned, Lindy simply settled her hands against his chest. Then her senses returned, and she shoved with all her might. He broke off the kiss with a muttered curse, but didn't let her go. Lindy's pulse kicked into overdrive as she looked up and met his gaze. Hypnotic blue eyes stared down at her, holding her gaze captive as if by physical force. Deft hands traveled a scorching path from the curve of her shoulders to the flare of her hips, leaving every inch of her body tingling in their wake. The need to feel his lips on hers again, to taste him, nearly overwhelmed her. A real kiss, though, not in anger, not as punishment. Before she lost her nerve, Lindy twined her arms around his neck and pulled him down for the real thing. With a deep growl, Drew crushed her in his arms. He coaxed her mouth open as his tongue slid inside with skillful ease, exploring, seeking hers. Shivering under his touch, Lindy grew dizzy with yearning. Her heart thumped as his spicy masculine scent wrapped her in sensual bliss. The man was certainly no slouch in the toe-curling kiss department. As quick as it started, he broke the kiss and tore free from her embrace, surprising her off balance. He grabbed her upper arms to steady her, stared at her lips as if he wanted to kiss her again, cursed, and...strode out the door. She flinched as the bedroom door slammed behind him. What the hell?

Secrets have a way of coming out...Amy Cartwright isn't sure who she's supposed to be anymore. Her family thinks she's flighty, her ex believes she's a walkover (the bastard) and her friends think she's plain crazy. But there's a different side to her that nobody sees, nobody but the cool, sexy Scotsman who just happens to be her boss.Callum Ferguson isn't looking for excitement; he's had that and it almost ruined him. He likes things calm and predictable - everything that his new PA turns out not to be. But from the moment she walks through his office door it's as though the light has come back into his life, and he can't get her out of his mind.Fighting against the inevitable, they both try to ignore the attraction, but the flame of desire is too bright. They're soon drawn into a steamy love affair that they have to hide from everybody, knowing the revelation could cost them everything they've worked so hard for, including each other.

THE PRICE OF PLEASUREIn relationships, Calisa Harper has clear rules: no expectations, no commitments, no one gets hurt. She doesn't need a diamond ring to bring her happiness. She just needs Jared. Fine, fit, and ferocious in bed, Jared is Calisa's ideal combination of friend and lover. But the no-strings status they've shared for years is about to get very tangled.Jared Williams is the kind of man most women long for: sexy, successful, and ready to settle down. He knows convincing the commitment-phobic Calisa that forever is nothing to fear won't be easy-especially when his ex turns up with a daughter she never told him about. In a heartbeat, Jared and Calisa's passion goes from fiery to fragile. He wants to hold on to the love they share but is terrified that their next night together could be their last . . .

How do you love when love is what you fear most? Jessica Owens is done. Done with throwing her life away over a promise she made to her deceased father. Done with love. Done. Moving to Florida was meant to be a fresh start, a chance to pursue her love of music and make her dreams a reality. Instead, she finds herself swept up in a world of underground cage fights, crime syndicates, and cocky, intense bad boys with names like Killshot. Nothing screams shady like a man with a sniper name-sexy as he is. Still, there's something about him that has her hooked. When it comes to Harrington Lovelly, though, nothing is ever what it seems. And as the danger around them mounts, Jessica starts to wonder: will giving her heart to this questionable white knight be her salvation, or her undoing? Scroll up and one click today to see why fans of Beautiful Disaster and Warrior Fight Club will fall in love with this gritty, action-packed romance.

Blaise Knight is content. She owns a trendy, in-demand flower boutique, has great friends, and an obsession with red velvet cake. After a string of disappointing dates, Blaise decides to give up dating, and focus on the things that are most important to her. Greyson Steele is the "family stud". After his stint in the Delta Force, he is coerced into the family business. And, his manipulative mother is planning a wedding for him to a woman he can't stand. But Greyson has other plans. At thirty-nine, Greyson is ready to settle down, but only with a woman he chooses. After meeting the fiery owner of Knight in Bloom, Greyson finds his match. Sparks fly when Blaise and Greyson meet. Can he convince her to take a chance on him? Or will Blaise's past ruin their chances for a future? Their romance forces Greyson on a chase halfway around the world to solve a mystery, and find his love.