Books like 'Lust Is the Thorn'
Readers who enjoyed Lust Is the Thorn by Jen McLaughlin also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary friends to lovers alpha male strong heroine new adult forbidden love
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The Right of Love by Love Belvin
“After the hot sex comes the real world.” “What was that?” “My therapist once said, ‘after the hot sex comes the real world. Or in wayward love, the drama is sprinkled in between passionate lovemaking’.” “That sounds more like one of them novels you like to read.” “No. Ours is too hilly to be a traditional romance story.” And it is...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male new adult african-american angst black-mc contemporary length-long -
SUIT by B.B. Easton
Rated: 4.69 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBecause BB Easton had so much fun writing her bestselling, award-winning memoir, 44 CHAPTERS ABOUT 4 MEN, she decided to give each of her four men his own steamy standalone. SUIT is Ken's book—the hilarious, heartwarming tale of how BB finally got over her bad boy phase and found happily ever after with…gasp…a guy in a tie... -
Chasing You by Kelly Elliott
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI chased, you pushedI chased, you friend zonedI chased, you fellNow I chase to protect you.You chased, I resistedYou chased, I acceptedYou chased, I fell Now I pray you’re not too late.After finally winning the heart of the woman I loved, there was no way in hell he was taking her from me... -
Rason & Eliza by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRason Harper is all about family and tradition. Raised by two loving parents, he’s not willing to sacrifice his future for the wrong woman. After a dating catastrophe makes him decide to give up on love, his mind is changed in an instant when a quick conversation with his favorite bookworm gives him the chance to get to know her better... -
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The Consolation Duet Books 1-2 by Corinne Michaels
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLiam wasn't supposed to be my happily ever after. He wasn't even on my radar. He was my husband's best friend-forbidden. But my husband died and I fell in love with Liam only to be left shattered into a million pieces. Again. I want him. I need him. I yearn for him, but he's gone. Now I have to decide if it's him I love or if he was just the consolation prize all along... -
Assured: Soul Serenade 2 by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsI’ve always been the guy who plays the field. I like variety and my career ensures that I can have my pick of women. Until her… I’ve always been the girl who wants more. I want the white picket fence, the two point five kids and the dog. That’s what all little girls grow up dreaming about... -
The Wrong Bones by Melinda Leigh
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA frantic chase to catch a grave robber reveals a startling discovery in this tenth installment of the Widow’s Island novella series by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.Deputy Tessa Black spots a man disturbing a grave in the local cemetery and gives chase. But when Tessa catches him, she learns that the ghoulish trespasser wasn’t robbing graves; he was burying a box of bones... -
Unexpected Fall by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsLife is full of ups and downs. Events that shape who you are, even those that are filled with heartbreak and tragedy. What do you do when actions bring devastation? How do you pick up the pieces and keep moving forward? One breath. One second. One minute. One hour. One day at a time, you learn to live with your unexpected fall... -
Scenes from the City by Penny Reid
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsNo longer for sale. aka... the Festivus Surprise 100% of proceeds go to Toys for Tots. This book cannot be read as a standalone. It is a collection of short scenes following the ladies from the 'Knitting in the City' series and will only be available in eBook format from December 1 - December 15, 2014... -
Stay Tonight by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSterling It’s always been her, and I just never realized. Now that I’m looking at her that way, I can’t unsee it… and I don’t want to. Alyssa has been my best friend since kindergarten, and these intense new feelings could cost me our friendship. She’s the one I share everything with, good or bad. It makes sense to share my life with her... -
Fall On Me by Chloe Walsh
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 19 ratings"Kyle Carter knew every inch of my body. Every fraction of my soul. He was the first man I'd ever been with intimately. The first to break my heart. The first to put it back together again. He was my first, my last and my everything that came in between." In the aftermath of Rachel's vicious attack, Lee and Kyle must once again pick up the pieces of their broken world and move forward... -
Hey, Whiskey by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNew standalone from NYT Bestselling Author Kaylee Ryan I’m over this year, and I’m over relationships. I’ve learned that the only person you can count on in life is yourself. Moving forward, I’m living for me. Working toward standing on my own two feet, that’s my goal. Funny how meeting him changed my path... -
Fighting for Honor by J.B. Salsbury
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author JB Salsbury brings her Fighting series to Harper Sloan’s Hope Town in Fighting for Honor. UFL fighter Caleb hasn’t been to Hope Town since he was eighteen. His next big fight takes place in Atlanta and the serene lakefront home from his childhood is the perfect place to train without distractions... -
Unstable by S.E. Hall
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsAfter eight years, Henley Calvert is headed home. Back to the family farm and small town she left behind, never to be thought of again. Too much regret and shame to bear. But she’s the only one left to see to her family’s legacy, so she must return to Ashfall and face all the ghosts that haunt her... -
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Choose Me by R.C. Boldt
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIn Choose Me, RC Boldt brings us an unforgettable, heart-wrenching coming-of-age romance... Wearing the nicest suit I own, I stand in the very back with a flask full of whiskey in my inner pocket. I put on a brave face as I watch her walk down the aisle. Because it’s too late. I refuse to be the bastard who makes her cry on her wedding day, but I’m dying to tell her what I’ve always known... -
Hushed Torment by Bella Jewel
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsFrom USA Today, and international bestseller, comes the second book in the Iron Fury MC! One accident changed my life. One single second changed everything for me. In one terrifying moment, everything I knew was gone. Music is the only thing that keeps me holding on. When the opportunity arises for me to tour with country music star, Scarlett Belle, I take it. An escape. A chance... -
Endeared by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAfter finishing a hard-won medical residency, Owen Sinclair now lives his dream as a family physician. The windfall that brought him newfound wealth has also made handsome Dr. Sinclair the town’s most eligible bachelor... -
Prodigal Son by Jay Crownover
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen she was a little girl, Remy Archer fell in love with Hyde Fuller at first sight. In fact, he was the only thing she could see for a very long time. For Remy, it never mattered to her that Hyde was always too serious and always seemed so sad. To her, he was the very best, and the center of her entire world. She never dreamed he would let her down when she needed him the most... -
Needing You Close by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI never expected to see my first love again after he left me twelve years ago. Though I’ve moved on, working with Tyler is no easy task—especially when he focuses his bedroom eyes on me. Flirting with the past is like playing with fire, and considering I’m engaged, I’m bound to get burned... -
She Writes Love by Sandi Lynn
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsTwo lives, two losses, and one meeting that changed their lives forever. Learning to move and learning to love again isn’t always easy. The circle of life. It’s something we all know about but are never truly prepared for the unexpected. The unexpected that comes out of nowhere. No warning, no heads up, nothing... -
Sweetest Sorrow by J.M. Darhower
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsDante Galante has evaded death a few times in his life, but held captive in a sweltering basement, he's certain that death has finally caught up to him. Bloody and barely breathing, he tries to stay strong, but there's only so much a man can endure before darkness takes over. As a critical care nurse, Gabriella Russo witnesses suffering often...Categorized as:
new adult alpha male forbidden love strong heroine suspense mafia pregnancy contemporary -
Tastes Like Candy by Lauren Gilley
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRaised by a widower and a pack of uncles, Michelle Calloway has known only one way of life, that of the Lean Dogs MC, London chapter. When circumstances force her to flee to America, she fears her days of working alongside the club are over. But Derek Snow isn't the sort of man to let talent go to waste...Categorized as:
alpha male strong heroine forbidden love contemporary bikers age difference angst suspense -
Craving Lucy by Terri Anne Browning
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsUSA Today Bestselling Author Terri Anne Browning’s New Adult series. One kiss can change everything… I wished I’d known that before I’d kissed my best friend. Things are different now. We can’t go back. I’m not even sure I want to go back. I guess the question is…... -
Loving Storm by Carian Cole
(This is a sequel novella to Storm, book one - which must be read first!) Evie I met him in a snowstorm... We spent forty-eight hours trapped in the back of his pickup truck. We fought. We touched. We fell. Hard. Storm She literally crashed into my life... The last thing I wanted was a relationship. Especially with a quirky chick who drove me insane... -
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Assured by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsI’ve always been the guy who plays the field. I like variety and my career ensures that I can have my pick of women. Until her… I’ve always been the girl who wants more. I want the white picket fence, the two point five kids and the dog. That’s what all little girls grow up dreaming about... -
Stay Together by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsRushtonFrom the moment I see her, I’m hooked. There’s just something about Crosby that has me eager to know her. One thing’s for sure, I can’t stay away from the new kindergarten teacher with the kind smile and secrets in her brown eyes.There’s no hiding in a small town, and she’s suddenly everywhere...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult alpha male insta-love contemporary found-family length-medium m-f -
Kissing the Rival by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 10 ratings**Kissing the Rival is part of a multi-author series following a group of friends. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel.Charlotte I’m not just kissing the rival… I’m falling for him. Spencer Pennington has always been a shameless flirt, but when it came to being the best in our MBA program, all bets were off, and the competition was on... -
Fallout by Lila Rose
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsPoppy Torian has been in love with Jerimiah since she moved to Caroline Springs. Only he didn’t know she existed until her dad joined his father’s MC club, the Venom’s. Friends. It’s what’s she been assigned to, but Poppy wants more. Biding her time, a few years to be exact, she goes to make her move. But when she overhears Jerimiah saying things that crack her heart, she runs... -
Manacle by Bella Jewel
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsI’ve loved Danny since I was five. He’s loved me longer. It seemed destined that we would be together, it seemed like the stars had aligned. Then we grew up and life got in the way. He’s stepping up to be president of the Motorcycle club we grew up in. And I want no part in it. I want to be free, to travel the world and experience life without violence...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male forbidden love new adult contemporary suspense pregnancy bad boys -
Finding Ivy by Claire Kingsley
After putting her life on hold to care for her dying father, Ivy Nichols feels stuck. Alone and disconnected, she’s struggling to pick up the pieces and move forward. The mysterious William Cole walks into her life, like a beacon of light in a fog. He’s sensual and captivating—awakening Ivy in ways she’s never experienced before... -
A Callahan Wedding by Monica Murphy
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe sweet and sexy conclusion to New York Times bestselling author, Monica Murphy’s standalone Callahan series, bringing readers along for the ride as fan favorites, Jake and Hannah get married! Hannah Walsh. Gorgeous. Intelligent. My first love. My high school sweetheart. My everything. And now my fiancée...Categorized as:
alpha male friends to lovers new adult athletes contemporary sports found-family length-short -
Kissing My Brother's Bride by Molly McLain
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMy brother’s fiancée should have been mine. Now, I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. Linc was running late for their first date and he begged me to stand in until he could get there.I only went to tell the girl to run. To warn her about my brother’s selfish ways and promise she wanted no part of it.But then I saw her...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forbidden love strong heroine new adult contemporary dual-pov length-medium -
Refrain by Kennedy Ryan
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsPeople dream of a love that runs deep. So deep it feels like it's always been with you, just waiting for the person who'll own your heart and soul forever. So few ever find it, but for Rhyson Gray and Kai Pearson, happily ever after was only the beginning... One of the biggest rock stars in the world and one of the brightest rising stars make a life together...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers alpha male contemporary dual-pov angst east-asian-mc length-short -
Missing Hart by Ella Fox
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsMy life has been built on a mountain of secrets, lies and half truths. For a long time I wasn't able to let anyone get close to me. But then I met my Prince Charming. The man who saved me from myself, who showed me what true love was. If only I'd been honest. If only I'd been stronger. If only I could forget...Categorized as:
forbidden love alpha male friends to lovers contemporary pregnancy abuse cruel hero length-medium -
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This is Dangerous by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsLogan Knight is a real life knight in shining armor. A detective godsend in a sleek black suit has me thinking less than secretive thoughts. Brooding and mysterious, he’s the kind of guy every girl instantly notices. Between his seductive smirk and charming good looks, it’s no wonder I can’t help the way he makes me feel whenever I’m near him. Too bad he’s unavailable—or so he says... -
Our Unscripted Story by L.A. Fiore
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsGreyson Ratcliffe. I met him at sixteen, the hot new guy sitting on my jetty, an aspiring artist just passing through. He was my first kiss and my first love. I wanted forever with him. I didn’t even get a year. Five years later, I’m a budding writer who scripts stories of love and struggle, the good and the bad and the ups and the downs... -
Needing Her by Molly McAdams
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsShe’s the Girl Next Door. Maci Price isn’t really into relationships. Having four very protective older brothers has always made having a boyfriend very difficult, anyway. But her friend is set on finding her the perfect guy – and thinks the mysterious Connor Green is the perfect pick. He’s Her Brother’s Best Friend. Connor Green is trying to find himself again...Categorized as:
forbidden love alpha male friends to lovers new adult contemporary abuse college men in uniform -
This is Beautiful: Logan & Kayla, #2 by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsKayla Sinclair is a saint and real life Angel. She wears her heart on her sleeve and inspires me to be a better person. Rescuing dogs, feeding the homeless, volunteering at the local food pantry are just a few of the ways she gives back to others, although no one has ever been there for her. Falling for her was inevitable, losing her will destroy me...Categorized as:
new adult alpha male friends to lovers humor contemporary single-father length-short -
Hollywood Playboy by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsBehind the "lights, camera, action" of Hollywood lies a world of deception, love, and seduction. Are you ready for Hollywood Royalty? Jessica An entertainment journalist was the last thing I thought I would be doing. I thought once I got my degree, I would be reporting on stories that made a difference, but now all I do is report on who broke up with who and who is dating who...Categorized as:
alpha male forbidden love new adult contemporary from hate to love angst actors length-medium -
Fearless at Heart by Zoe York
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor twenty years, Seth Kincaid has kept his visits to his home town brief. He’s not avoiding January Hill, exactly—he’s giving his high school girlfriend space. But that distance evaporates when she takes over her family’s marina for the summer... -
Locked Up One Night by Chasity Bowlin, Laramie Briscoe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI shouldn't want my ex-wife's little sister, but I do. And turns out, she wants me, too...TroyThere’s one person who pushes all my buttons… Lizzie. My former sister in law. My ex wife’s baby sister. Who was a freaking kid when Emma and I were married. But she’s not a kid anymore and my feelings for her aren’t brotherly. At all... -
Face the Music by J.B. Salsbury
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPastor Ben Langley is irresistible. His wife died giving birth to their daughter five years ago. His tragic past doesn’t keep me from wanting to unravel him, strip away his buttoned-up goodness, and discover what kind of man lies beneath. If that makes me evil, so be it. I’m far beyond redemption anyway. Ashleigh Kendrick is freedom personified, an unpredictable wind I want to grasp hold of... -
Hating Piper by Terri Anne Browning, Sara Eirew
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy favorite charity asked for my help. It sounded so simple—twelve dates in twelve different cities during my summer tour. All I had to do was show up, take a few pictures with the highest bidder, pretend to have a good time, and move on. Pretty easy, right?Wrong.The highest bidder for the first date was my childhood bully... -
Texas by Lila Rose
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGrowing up around the Hawks Motorcycle Club, Maya and Texas have been in each other’s lives seemingly forever. Maya’s crush on her brother’s best friend has lasted almost as long.Older and somewhat wiser, she knows the man who’s always had her heart will never see her as anything other than his friend’s sister. But try as she might, she can’t escape him...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers alpha male contemporary age difference bikers m-f length-medium -
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A Bridge Between Us by K.K. Allen
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI had always known he wasn’t mine to keep, but that didn’t change the way I loved him—quietly, gently, and from afar. As the seasons changed, the corn stalks grew strong, and the grapevines flourished with hope. But none of it mattered, not when the soil at our feet bound us in a century-old rivalry. We’d never even had a chance...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers forbidden love contemporary suspense mystery angst from hate to love -
Dangerous Stranger by E.L. Todd
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsStandalone. No cliffhanger. HEA. Other books in the series can be read in any order.Jett takes his job as an escort seriously. He's not just playing a part, and he tries to help people as much as he can. When a guy asks him to pose as his boyfriend, Jett doesn't hesitate. Following the rules has always been easy, but with a dude, it will be a walk in the park... -
Misconception (Coming Home) by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHudson I didn’t plan on kissing my best friend’s twin sister… or falling for her. But it happened all the same. It’s always been Riley, but after I finally get the chance to taste her lips, she ghosts me. Not exactly the response I was hoping for. Getting out of town for a while, and giving her space, seemed like the best thing for us both...Categorized as:
new adult alpha male friends to lovers forbidden love contemporary pregnancy secret child angst -
The Younger Man by Karina Halle
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsStarting over was her only option.Forty-years old and still reeling from a public and painful divorce, Thalia Blackwood is looking for a fresh start, somewhere far away from her upside down life. When she’s offered a new job as the sports therapist for a football (soccer) team, she jumps at the chance...Categorized as:
new adult forbidden love alpha male friends to lovers sports contemporary age difference angst -
Solo by Lauren E. Rico
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsWhen graduate student Katherine Brenner walked into my class, I couldn't stand her -- all perfect skin and big, blue eyes -- just like the woman who broke my heart. If it wasn't for that blizzard, if her car hadn't broken down outside my house, if she hadn't looked amazing by the firelight, I never would have kissed her. No matter how hard I try, every excuse I make not to see her comes up flat... -
Rain After Fire by Amber Kelly
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIf you play with fire, expect to get burned.I learned at a young age to trust no one, protect myself, and guard my heart. All lessons my mother burned into me. She may not have had a lot to offer in way of help but she poured all she had into me and made me the independent woman I am today. So after laying her to rest, I packed my belongings and moved to the place that she talked about often...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers alpha male strong heroine contemporary angst firefighter length-short
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