Category: Closed Doors/ Fade to Black

Dreams and Dark Chocolate by Jeanine Lauren

Posted July 29, 2025 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Connection to another series, Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

A pinch of hope, a dash of romance, and a whole lot of chocolate.

When chocolatier Emma Harris teams up with charming tour guide Drew McDonald to save her struggling shop, sparks fly as they whip up a Valentine’s event that could change both their lives.

But with business challenges and personal doubts lingering, will this partnership be just business—or the start of something far sweeter?

Dreams and Dark Chocolate is a novella in the series Sunshine Bay Shops. Those titles include: Making Sweet Music ~ Christmas Trees and Mistletoe ~ The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow ~ Whisking Love and Building Dreams ~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or only kissing.

Back to Us by Christi Barth

Posted July 28, 2025 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series / 0 Comments

When her ex-boyfriend refuses to sell her his land unless she dates him for a month, an uncompromising winemaker learns that some bargains are worth making for a second chance at love.

Ward Cantrell’s never missed an opportunity to take the long shot. That recklessness cost him his college scholarship, his chance to play pro ball, and, worst of all, the girl next door. The town–and the girl–never forgave him. But now he’s taking one last long shot—opening a boutique distillery on the family farm he inherited.

Piper Morrissey’s high school boyfriend overshadowed her with his golden-boy glory. When his reputation tarnished, she dumped him. And made herself over so that she could shine. Maintaining her spotless image–and that of her family’s winery–is paramount. So it’s a problem when Ward agrees to sell the acres to start her precious port line..if she agrees to date him for one month.

Ward hopes a month is all it’ll take to convince his former sweetheart that he’s changed. Piper sees that the one thing that hasn’t changed is how much he loves her. But the chance arises to thumb his nose at the town that rejected him when a developer offers to buy his land for triple the price Piper offers. Suddenly, he can’t afford not to reject Piper’s offer. Will that make her reject his love–for good?

Titles in the Shore Secrets series include: Up to Me ~ All for You ~ Back to Us ~

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn by Amy Clipston

Posted July 8, 2025 by Marsha in Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, NetGalley / 0 Comments

When Everleigh Hartnett, a cheerful traveling NICU nurse who can’t sit still, inherits half of her godmother’s beloved seaside bed-and-breakfast, she dreams of selling the place to fund the nonprofit she and her godmother always envisioned. But there’s one tiny problem: her new co-owner. Rugged, grumpy, and fiercely loyal to the inn, Cade Witherspoon isn’t about to let his peaceful life–and his new start–be sold off so easily.

Everleigh and Cade are opposites in every way. She’s sunshine and laughter, while he’s all rough edges and quiet brooding. Their clash of wills over the inn soon has them wondering what on earth Everleigh’s godmother was thinking when she left them both in charge.

As Everleigh gets to know Cade’s softer side–and Cade finds himself drawn to Everleigh’s optimism and kindness–their disagreement over the inn becomes something sweeter. But with the arrival of Cade’s long-lost brother and the looming threat of a developer sniffing around the property, they’ll have to make some hard choices–together.

Can Everleigh and Cade let go of their expectations and build something lasting together? Or will the Sunshine Inn be the place they both leave behind?

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or fade to black, or only kissing.

A Montana Fake Marriage by April Murdock

Posted July 1, 2025 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Connection to another series, Contemporary Romance, Modern Western Romance, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Some lies are worth telling. Some hearts are worth risking. Love is always worth fighting for.

A few weeks from college graduation and financially cut off, Sammie faces an impossible choice. She’ll have to submit to her father’s manipulative demands or lose the inheritance her late mother left her.

Caleb is the steadfast cowboy who’s been her anchor through every storm. His solution to her problem? A fake marriage that will satisfy her father’s requirements and give Sammie the freedom she desperately needs.

What starts as a short-term arrangement quickly becomes complicated when the lines between fake vows and true feelings blur. Life in Big Sky, Montana, draws Sammie in, and she discovers a strength she never knew she had. The self-doubt she’d struggled with her whole life was slowly turning into confidence.

As they’re adjusting to their new life—temporary as it might be—Caleb is keeping a secret that threatens her trust in him. Sammie’s father’s accusations add fuel to a fire that seems to be blazing out of control.

With their fake marriage crumbling and her inheritance hanging in the balance, Sammie must decide what matters most. She’ll have to choose between the security of wealth and the risk of loving someone who might break her heart.

Titles in the Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts series include: A Montana Fake Marriage ~ A Montana Perfect Family ~ A Montana Childhood Promise ~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or only kissing.

Yours Truly, The Duke by Amelia Grey

Posted March 20, 2023 by Marsha in Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Historical Romance, NetGalley, Regency Romance, Series, St. Martin's Press / 0 Comments

Fredericka Hale needs a husband and fast. She’s been caring for her deceased sister’s three young children, and now a childless cousin has petitioned the court for custody. Fredericka is powerless to stop her, but having a husband might sway the ruling. The last thing Fredericka wants is a hurried-up marriage to a man she doesn’t know—much less love, but she’ll do it for the children. So when the handsome Duke of Wyatthaven shows up with a proposal, she accepts. He’ll help her, and in return, they’ll lead separate lives. But distance cannot keep them from their powerful attraction.

At the top of his game in London, the Duke of Wyatthaven has no interest in marriage. However, if Wyatt doesn’t marry by week’s end, he’ll lose a sizable inheritance from his grandmother. When Wyatt’s solicitor finds Miss Fredericka Hale, Wyatt considers this little hiccup solved. Miss Hale is lovely and intelligent. Most importantly, she prefers country life to London, so he’s free to continue his life as usual. But when circumstances force Fredericka and the children to show up at the duke’s door, Wyatt can’t deny he’s always been under her spell. Will the duke give up his bachelor lifestyle and give in to the fiery passion growing between them?

Titles in the Say I Do series include — Yours Truly, The Duke —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

NetGalley ARC

No Player Required by JoAnn Sky

Posted January 21, 2022 by Marsha in Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, Entangled Publishing, NetGalley, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments

Billionaire casino magnate Rafael “Rafa” Salord is forced to exchange caviar for cowboy boots when he’s sent to “grow up” and run his father’s newly acquired casino in the middle of nowhere downtown Reno. When he crosses paths with feisty Destiny Morson, he starts to wonder if that nonsense about love-at-first-sight might actually be true. Maybe it’s time to trade in his playboy status and bet on something more.

Social worker Destiny Morson has always had good reason for keeping romance at arm’s length. After finding out that her business partner ran off with the community-raised funds from their non-profit, she’s ready to swear off people completely. So when the sexy casino executive seems interested in helping her with her woes, she can’t help but mistrust his motives, no matter how he makes her burn…

From a night out throwing axes to supporting Destiny’s charity, Rafa stops at nothing to win over the gunshy woman he can’t get out of his head. He’s determined to break through her tough exterior, and Destiny slowly lets her guard down. But after a night of passion in his penthouse suite, things at the casino go sideways for both of them, forcing them to decide if the past is enough to prevent them from a future together.

Titles in the Biggest Little Love Story series include — No Cowboy Required – No Heartbreaker Required – No Player Required –

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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