100 books like Always With Me

By Barbara Freethy,

Here are 100 books that Always With Me fans have personally recommended if you like Always With Me. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Bet Your Bottom Dollar

Cheryel Hutton Author Of The Ugly Truth

From my list on getting you lost in small town life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was raised in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it town in southeast Tennessee. I was embarrassed by where I came from for a long time, and worked on getting rid of my tell-tale accent. Then, as the years went on,  I figured out who I am as a person was shaped by being a small-town Southern girl. So I embraced my Southerness. When I started writing fiction, it never occurred to me to set my books anywhere but small towns, and every one of them is. I’m fact, with the exception of one, all my books are set in Tennessee. At this point, I can't imagine not writing small-town stories.

Cheryel's book list on getting you lost in small town life

Cheryel Hutton Why did Cheryel love this book?

This is one of my all-time favorite novels.

It's a very funny take on a small Southern town. The characters could be people I know or grew up with, and that made me laugh all the harder. Not that you can't enjoy the book if you aren't Southern. The story is one about community and friendship. And it'll also give you a taste of being Southern.

It's a book I definitely recommend.

By Karin Gillespie,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bet Your Bottom Dollar as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

WARM AND WITTY, A FEAST FOR THE HEART ... "Use your very last bottom dollar, if you have to. Just BUY THIS BOOK. You will laugh yourself sick and love every minute of it." - Jill Conner Browne, The Sweet Potato Queen Welcome to the Bottom Dollar Emporium in Cayboo Creek, South Carolina, where everything from coconut mallow cookies to Clabber Girl Baking Powder costs a dollar but the coffee and gossip are free. For the Bottom Dollar gals, work time is sisterhood time. When news gets out that a corporate dollar store is coming to town, the women are…


Book cover of Moonshine and Magnolias

Cheryel Hutton Author Of The Ugly Truth

From my list on getting you lost in small town life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was raised in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it town in southeast Tennessee. I was embarrassed by where I came from for a long time, and worked on getting rid of my tell-tale accent. Then, as the years went on,  I figured out who I am as a person was shaped by being a small-town Southern girl. So I embraced my Southerness. When I started writing fiction, it never occurred to me to set my books anywhere but small towns, and every one of them is. I’m fact, with the exception of one, all my books are set in Tennessee. At this point, I can't imagine not writing small-town stories.

Cheryel's book list on getting you lost in small town life

Cheryel Hutton Why did Cheryel love this book?

The title made me curious about this book but I wasn't sure what to expect.

What I found was an interesting cast of characters. The strong-willed heroine tried to use lists and logic to control her emotions (something I might have done a time or two). The hero was swoon-worthy in both physical and personality terms. There was a mystery that reached deep into the past.

The story played out with humor, emotion, and a strong sense of the Southern. All things I love in a novel.

By Abigail Sharpe,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Moonshine and Magnolias as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Hotel executive Wendy Marsh puts her career on hold when she inherits half of her family’s inn. Her to-do list? It’s simple: teach her spoiled cousin how to manage Fountenoy Hall, then hightail it back to her structured, careful life in Atlanta. Romance has never been part of Wendy's plan – so what is it about the sexy history professor researching the inn that she finds so tempting?Rob Upshaw would be enjoying his time at the Inn at Fountenoy Hall if he wasn’t secretly hunting for a family treasure lost during Prohibition. Only a few minor inconveniences stand in his…


Book cover of When You Got A Good Thing

Cheryel Hutton Author Of The Ugly Truth

From my list on getting you lost in small town life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was raised in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it town in southeast Tennessee. I was embarrassed by where I came from for a long time, and worked on getting rid of my tell-tale accent. Then, as the years went on,  I figured out who I am as a person was shaped by being a small-town Southern girl. So I embraced my Southerness. When I started writing fiction, it never occurred to me to set my books anywhere but small towns, and every one of them is. I’m fact, with the exception of one, all my books are set in Tennessee. At this point, I can't imagine not writing small-town stories.

Cheryel's book list on getting you lost in small town life

Cheryel Hutton Why did Cheryel love this book?

I first heard about this author when she was interviewed on the Self Publishing Author podcast.

During the interview, she said her books were set in small towns in the South, which caught my attention. Then she shared that she'd gotten comments from readers pointing out grammatical errors in the dialogue of characters in her books. As soon as I heard this, I knew I had to read one of her books.

You see, my characters don't always speak proper English either. So I read this book, loved it, and quickly read more. Set in my home state of Tennessee, When You Got a Good Thing was exactly what I hoped it would be, and more. The characters were well written and realistic and their story touched my heart. 

By Kait Nolan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked When You Got A Good Thing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

She thought she could never go home again. Kennedy Reynolds has spent the past decade traveling the world as a free spirit. She never looks back at the past, the place, or the love she left behind--until her adopted mother's unexpected death forces her home to Eden's Ridge, Tennessee.

Deputy Xander Kincaid has never forgotten his first love. He's spent ten long years waiting for the chance to make up for one bone-headed mistake that sent her running. Now that she's finally home, he wants to give her so much more than just an apology.

Kennedy finds an unexpected ally…


Book cover of Just One Thing

Cheryel Hutton Author Of The Ugly Truth

From my list on getting you lost in small town life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was raised in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it town in southeast Tennessee. I was embarrassed by where I came from for a long time, and worked on getting rid of my tell-tale accent. Then, as the years went on,  I figured out who I am as a person was shaped by being a small-town Southern girl. So I embraced my Southerness. When I started writing fiction, it never occurred to me to set my books anywhere but small towns, and every one of them is. I’m fact, with the exception of one, all my books are set in Tennessee. At this point, I can't imagine not writing small-town stories.

Cheryel's book list on getting you lost in small town life

Cheryel Hutton Why did Cheryel love this book?

This book took me on a journey that was both heart-wrenching and heart-warming.

Once I started reading, I was hooked. This romance is not what I expected. Both the heroine and hero had faced tragedy, and the book took me back in time as they remembered the things that completely changed the course of their lives.

By each asking the other just one thing at a time, the story took shape. Slowly, painfully, together they took the road forward and found comfort in each other. As comfort turned into love it was a gift neither ever expected. This small-town novel is absolutely unforgettable.

By Holly Jacobs,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Just One Thing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Sometimes, you find yourself inadvertently in the dark. But I'd discovered that if you stopped fighting against it and just stood still, sometimes something marvelous comes along."

Artist Lexie McCain spends her days literally weaving the story of her life into a gorgeous tapestry. But on Monday nights, she walks to the Corner Bar, drinks a Killian's, and answers the same question every week from Sam the bartender: "One thing?" She starts with her name, then her cottage, slowly moving on to the devastating tragedies that tore her life apart.

Sam Corner's smile doesn't seem to hide any pain. One…


Book cover of Flirting With The Beast

Susan Cochran Author Of The Interview

From my list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading romance novels since I was a teenager. Love is a universal feeling, and there is no better emotion in the world than falling in love. While I read a variety of novels in different genres, I always come back to read romance. I write romance as I believe we all deal with different things in our daily lives, but an emotional connection and love bring us all together and make the world a better place to live in.

Susan's book list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance

Susan Cochran Why did Susan love this book?

I loved this "later in life" romance with the main characters being in their fifties and early sixties.

A novel filled with plenty of steam, humor, and passion. Widow Andi McDermott retreats to her mountain cabin at Christmas and runs into her grumpy neighbor, Wolf Enders. An instant attraction sparks between them neither can ignore.

Wolf is a military veteran who is intimidating and has a soft spot for the widowed Andy, as well as an aversion to committing to a woman. Intensely emotional, this novel focuses on family issues, love, and learning to trust again. A well-written novel I recommend.

By Jane Porter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Flirting With The Beast as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A woman expecting to spend the holidays alone finds warmth in the iciest man she knows in this steamy and charming later-in-life romance by New York Times bestselling author Jane Porter.
 
It’s been five years since Andi McDermott lost her husband, and she's finally starting to feel like herself again, ready to live fully—she’s even started dating again. But when her holiday plans with her stepson and his fiancée fall through, she refuses to spend another Christmas alone while everyone is celebrating with their families. Impulsively, she decides to go up to her cabin in Lake Arrowhead, a place she…


Book cover of What a Bride Wants

Susan Cochran Author Of The Interview

From my list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading romance novels since I was a teenager. Love is a universal feeling, and there is no better emotion in the world than falling in love. While I read a variety of novels in different genres, I always come back to read romance. I write romance as I believe we all deal with different things in our daily lives, but an emotional connection and love bring us all together and make the world a better place to live in.

Susan's book list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance

Susan Cochran Why did Susan love this book?

A great beach-read story about a father who keeps trying to marry off his daughter.

Ella is spunky, with a mind of her own, and determined to find her own husband. She posts an ad of her own looking for a perfect lover, not a husband. What she gets is a bad boy who has lots of experience but is running from his past. The man is hot and utterly perfect. When these two get together, the sparks ignite!

It’s witty, funny, and a great read. I loved it!

By Kelly Hunter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked What a Bride Wants as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Second Act

Susan Cochran Author Of The Interview

From my list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading romance novels since I was a teenager. Love is a universal feeling, and there is no better emotion in the world than falling in love. While I read a variety of novels in different genres, I always come back to read romance. I write romance as I believe we all deal with different things in our daily lives, but an emotional connection and love bring us all together and make the world a better place to live in.

Susan's book list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance

Susan Cochran Why did Susan love this book?

Making life choices is difficult for all of us, as it is for the hero in this book. Andy thinks the job he holds defines him and finds out that because of his job, he has no life. He’s living a hollow existence, and when he least expects it, he meets the love of his life.

The heroine has her own problems to deal with when she meets Andy. They are opposites drawn together, as many of us are in real life. A twist at the end has him having to choose between love and his career. Another beautiful second-chance love story I enjoyed reading and recommend to pull at the heartstrings.

By Danielle Steel,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Second Act as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

FAME. POWER. SUCCESS. HAPPINESS.

In Second Act, the compelling novel from billion copy bestseller Danielle Steel, a top Hollywood movie mogul seeks a new beginning in England when his career takes an unplanned turn . . .

As the head of a prestigious movie studio, Andy Westfield has every professional luxury: a stunning office, a loyal assistant, access to a private jet and company cars. Andy has always put his career before anything else, and now, besides his daughter and young grandchildren, it's the only thing he truly loves.

But then Andy's world is upended. The studio is sold, and…


Book cover of A Doctor for the Cowboy

Susan Cochran Author Of The Interview

From my list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been reading romance novels since I was a teenager. Love is a universal feeling, and there is no better emotion in the world than falling in love. While I read a variety of novels in different genres, I always come back to read romance. I write romance as I believe we all deal with different things in our daily lives, but an emotional connection and love bring us all together and make the world a better place to live in.

Susan's book list on books that capture the feeling of love and romance

Susan Cochran Why did Susan love this book?

What a fun read about a doctor and a rodeo cowboy who find love on the side of the road when she gets a flat tire. Of course, life is never simple. She’s older than him and has reservations about getting involved with a younger man.

Love me an age-gap romance! I love this author’s writing and will read anything of hers. The steam factor is off the charts in this spicy love story. The characters are likable and engaging, and they have great chemistry. I would recommend this novel to those who love humor and steamy romance.

By Amy Andrews,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Doctor for the Cowboy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of The Player

Rose Thorgaard Author Of Treasured

From my list on action packed romance makes you feel larger than life.

Why am I passionate about this?

From the first time I snagged a romance book off my mother's shelf as a teenager, I've always been a hopeless romantic. I'm fascinated by love stories that feel like real life, entwined with the good, bad, and sometimes ugly. This is why I enjoy exploring the duality of life and love in my own novels as a romantic suspense author.

Rose's book list on action packed romance makes you feel larger than life

Rose Thorgaard Why did Rose love this book?

This book kept me hooked from the very beginning. From the brooding and pining male protagonist to the secrets and tension between the main characters, I couldn't put it down until the end. Regardless of their flaws, I still wanted to root for them.

The combination of action, spice, and the fast-paced criminal life in a big city made this book a thrill to read.

By Kresley Cole,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Player as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 New York Timesbestselling author Kresley Cole brings readers the third book of the erotic Game Maker Series, a searing tale of a man racked with dark desires and the beautiful young woman who could sate him at last.

A madman with a shadowed past . . .

In Las Vegas, Sin City, Dmitri Sevastyan finds her, Victoria Valentine--sexy, vulnerable, and in need of a protector. Obsession takes root deep inside him. Despite a history tainted with violation and betrayal, he will stop at nothing to possess her.

A grifter with nothing to lose . . .

Descended from a…


Book cover of Safe Haven

R.K. Scott Author Of Choosing Season

From my list on characters displaying inner strength.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up in a large family and was often forgotten since I wasn’t the loud and rebellious child, but I was often pushed over because I wouldn’t stand up for myself in fear of anger. My only escape was walking the seven blocks to my local library and reading about heroic deeds, beautiful ladies falling in love with the dashing prince, and wishing I could be brave like the characters in my books. In my late teens, I realized there’s more to a person than physical strength. 

R.K.'s book list on characters displaying inner strength

R.K. Scott Why did R.K. love this book?

Nicholas Sparks is one of those romance writers whose work I mostly like, but I’m not a die-hard fan. However, I love this book. Not every sweet, sappy romance makes me cry, but this one did. I really cared for the main character, Katie. She’s quiet and keeps to herself, but beneath the reserved smile, she’s hiding from an abusive marriage.

It takes courage to run from a bad situation and strength to face your demons finally. I also liked that the romance was believable and took its time. Romances that make me fall in love with the characters are among my favorite kinds of love stories.

By Nicholas Sparks,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Safe Haven as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In a small North Carolina town, a mysterious and beautiful woman running from her past slowly falls for a kind-hearted store owner . . . until dark secrets begin to threaten her new life.

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken…


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