Books › Lawless
Lawless
First published 2003 · 437 pages
A rugged, high-stakes romance where a marriage of convenience ignites into fierce devotion under the threat of deadly peril.
What it feels like
This propulsive contemporary romance immerses the reader in a rugged, high-stakes world where duty and desire collide. The atmosphere is thick with simmering sexual tension, anchored by the gritty reality of ranch life and the perilous edge of law enforcement. As the narrative unfolds, the mood shifts from the strained, quiet endurance of a marriage of convenience to a breathless, action-packed fight for survival. The prose is emotionally charged and direct, focusing intensely on the internal battles and unspoken yearnings of two people bound by circumstance but kept apart by their own demons. It is a perfect fit for readers who devour intense, dramatic love stories featuring hardened protectors, fearless heroines coming into their own, and a love that is forged in the fires of extreme danger.
- Mood
- high-stakes
- rugged
- simmering
- perilous
- Tone
- intense
- dramatic
- earnest
- gritty
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- marriage of convenience · simmering sexual tension · protecting loved ones · overcoming dark pasts · coming into one's own
- The writing
- Direct and emotionally charged, leaning heavily into the rugged atmosphere and the palpable tension between its leads.
- The arc
- Moves from a strained, duty-bound arrangement fraught with unspoken tension to a fierce, life-or-death realization of mutual devotion.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave high-stakes contemporary romance featuring rugged lawmen, marriages of convenience, and intense, slow-burn attraction that erupts under pressure.
Content notes
- violence
- parental incarceration
- age gap romance
About the book
Five years ago, Judd Dunn, a hard-edged Texas Ranger, put Christabel Gaines's father behind bars—where he belonged. But Judd's involvement in Crissy's life was far from over. With their jointly owned ranch on the verge of bankruptcy, Judd wed her in name only, vowing to save their land, and vowing to ignore the sexual tension between them. Now, just when 34 year old Judd decides to release 20 year old Crissy from their sham of a marriage, he is blindsided by a bloodthirsty foe who is setting the stage for unspeakable evil by preying upon Judd's greatest weakness—his wife. No longer a starry-eyed schoolgirl, Crissy's a smart, fearless woman with unfulfilled desires. And she will do anything in the name of love—including taking a bullet for her husband.With their very lives at stake, Crissy and Judd must confront their darkest demons, their new rivals and their deepest desires—and face up to a mutual destiny they cannot outrun.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Lawless
See why they match
To Love and CherishDiana PalmerA classic clash of wills under the Texas sun, where stubborn pride meets undeniable attraction.
HardenDiana PalmerA classic, angst-soaked Western romance about melting the heart of a rugged, fiercely guarded cowboy.
Texas ToughJanet DaileyA sun-drenched, suspenseful Western romance where simmering second-chance passion collides with rugged family loyalty.
Duncan's BrideLinda HowardA gritty, high-angst marriage of convenience where harsh landscapes mirror the hero's emotional walls, slowly dismantled by sheer determination and intense chemistry.
Texas weddingKathleen O'BrienA pragmatic marriage of convenience on a sun-baked ranch slowly unravels into a battle of temptation and rekindled desire.
The agreementConstance O'BanyonA sweeping, emotionally charged journey through family secrets and second-chance romance on the rugged Texas plains.