If You Like Nora Roberts...

Smokescreen by Sandra Brown
Charleston, S.C., TV reporter Britt Shelley wakes up in bed next to the dead body of police detective Jay Burgess. Jay's former best friend, ex-fireman Raley Gannon, suffered a similar shock five years earlier, waking up next to party girl Suzi Monroe's naked corpse after a party at Jay's home. Raley had been investigating a fire at a local police station that took seven lives, despite the heroic efforts of Jay and several other cops, one of whom is now South Carolina's attorney general. Cleared of Suzi's death, Raley eventually teams with Britt to look into a nasty arson coverup. Many titles by this author.

Cypress Nights by Stella Cameron
When murder and mayhem plague St. Cecil's Church, Roche Savage, a renowned psychiatrist with a dark secret, and widow Bleu Labeau, a reticent teacher who has come to Toussaint to start a new school, join forces and uncover the deadly truth about their town.

Double Take by Catherine Coulter
Violently attacked by a stranger six months after the brutal killing of her beloved husband, Julia Ransom is narrowly rescued by special agent Cheney Stone, who reopens the case of Julia's husband's death when he suspects a connection.

Heartstopper by Joy Fielding
The small, close-knit community of Torrance, Florida, is torn asunder by a cold-blooded killer targeting teenage girls, and with gossip and fear gripping its citizens, high school teacher Sandy Crosbie vows to protect her family and find the attacker. Many suspenseful books by this writer of mysterious novels that center on relationships.

Pawley’s Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
Hoping to sell some of her watercolors, Becca Sims wanders into the seaside Gallery Valentine, never expecting that her life will be transformed by the gallery owner and his best friend, in a novel set in small-town South Carolina. Also, Shem Creek, Sullivan’s Island, and other titles by this author who is queen of South Carolina beach settings. Her newest book, The Land of Mango Sunsets, is a masterpiece.

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
Having worked for six years in the hotels of exotic resort towns, Adrienne Dealey relocates to Nantucket in the hopes of recouping her finances and gets a crash course in restaurant management at a popular locale that is preparing to close, an endeavor that is compromised by her budding relationship with her boss.

Up Close and Dangerous by Linda Howard
Wealthy young widow Bailey Wingate nearly dies when her small plane crashes, leaving Bailey and her pilot, Cam Justice, stranded in the wilderness, and it is only after their return to civilization that Bailey and Cam suspect that the crash was no accident.

After All These Years by Susan Isaacs
Soon after her wealthy husband of twenty-five years leaves her for a younger woman, Rosie Meyers finds herself the prime suspect in his murder and goes underground in Manhattan to find the killer.

Deep Waters by Jayne Ann Krentz
As Charity Truitt, a former executive with the Truitt department store chain, and notorious deal-maker Elias Winters face mutual career and emotional crises, they take up new lives in a small Oregon town and find themselves drawn together by passion and by an investigation into two shocking murders.

Amber Beach by Elizabeth Lowell
When her favorite brother, Kyle, vanishes along with a fortune in stolen amber, Honor Donovanventures to the San Juan Islands to find him, accompanied by Jake Mallory, a secret amber broker for her powerful family, and together they find danger, long-lost treasure, and love.

Suspicious Origin by Patricia MacDonald
When her estranged sister Greta dies in a mysterious house fire, Britt Andersen heads for Vermont to find out what happened, meeting her brother-in-law and young niece for the first time and discovering that Greta had been hiding dark family secrets. Many great books by this author.

Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught
A single night of passion with enigmatic billionaire Mitchell Wyatt draws Kate Donovan into a perilous criminal case when police suspect that Mitchell may have been responsible for the disappearance and possible murder of his own brother.

The Real Mother by Judith Michael
Forced to leave medical school in order to care for her young siblings after their mother is placed in a nursing home, Sara Elliott finds her situation challenged by a love in interest with questionable family ties and the reappearance of her long-lost brother.

Swimming Lessons by Mary Alice Monroe
Sequel to The Beach House. Toy Sooner, a single mother and marine biologist opening a turtle rehab facility with the help of a director at the South Carolina Aquarium, must find a way to deal with the return of her daughter's vindictive father, who has just been released from prison.

First to Die by James Patterson
Four women friends--a homicide detective, a medical examiner, an assistant DA, and a crime desk reporter--form a Women's Murder Club to stop a killer who has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco.

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
Cassie Barrett, an anthropologist, marries handsome, talented, and rich movie star Alex Rivers. They enter upon a picture-perfect life until Alex get a bit reckless. He becomes a Mr. Hyde in all his ugliness and directs his rage toward Cassie with fist and foot. Typical of abusive husbands, he apologizes profusely afterward. Cassie soon finds that she is pregnant-against her husband's wishes-and realizes that she must find a way to protect the unborn child. One of her rescuers is William Flying Horse, a policeman from South Dakota with demons of his own.

Sandcastles by Luann Rice
Painter and art instructor Honor Sullivan has made a peaceful life for herself with her three daughters, until the wedding of her eldest daughter, Regis, brings her former love--and Regis's father--John back into her life from his self-imposed exile. Several titles by this author.

Prospect Street by Emilie Richards
Moving into her family's dilapidated Georgetown row house with her two children to start a new life, Faith Bronson begins to restore the house to its former glory and unexpectedly uncovers dark secrets that unlock the mysteries of her family's past. Also try Parting Glass and The Wedding Ring.

Superstition by Karen Robards
A story on a series of fifteen-year-old unsolved crimes and a television show featuring a renowned psychic draw reporter Nicole Sullivan and police chief Joe Franconi into a perilous search for a murderer when the killer returns. Many romantic suspense titles by this author.

Island Justice by Elizabeth Winthrop
Inheriting a Victorian house on a small New England island, Maggie Hammond finds herself drawn ever deeper into the odd world of the island's winter community as she is attracted to a local naturalist, a body washes up on her beach, and the erosive impact of secrecy threatens to divide neighbors.