Here are 45 books that Protecting Piper fans have personally recommended if you like Protecting Piper. Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Sweep of the Blade

Laura Hunsaker Author Of Dark Past

From my list on books where the hero falls in love first.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always been a reader, and with Irish and Scottish families, I’ve grown up hearing beautiful stories of magic and the fair folk. When I discovered romance novels, I was able to combine my love of happily ever afters and the myth and legend of my childhood. I even took classes on the Mythology of Ireland and Britain while I was obtaining my degrees. With a specialty in British Literature, I have been able to ensure my stories, while full of myth and magic, are also steeped in historical accuracy. The lush and vivid descriptions in my stories are paired with magic and time travel, with every story leaving the reader satisfied with the happily ever after the characters have earned.

Laura's book list on books where the hero falls in love first

Laura Hunsaker Why Laura loves this book

I love this graphic audiobook so much because not only is the story itself amazing and definitely one of my comfort reads, but the actors do such a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.

The world-building is top tier, the characters are relatable, even though they live in a world with magic, and the actors doing the voices give this audio book that much more depth. Hearing the hero fall in love with the heroine is delightful.

By Ilona Andrews ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sweep of the Blade as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

MP3 CD Format

Maud Demille is a daughter of Innkeepers--a special group who provide "lodging" to other-planetary visitors--so she knows that a simple life isn't in the cards. But even Maud could never have anticipated what Fate would throw at her.

Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her young daughter, Helen, were exiled with him for his treachery to the desolate, savage planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud--completely abandoned by his family--has spent over a year avenging his debts. Rescued by her sister Dina, she's sworn off all things vampire.

Except ... In…


If you love Protecting Piper...

Book cover of The Rosewood Penny

The Rosewood Penny by J.S. Fields,

2023 Queer Indie Award Nominee!

The dragons of Yuro have been hunted to extinction.

On a small, isolated island, in a reclusive forest, lives bandit leader Marani and her brother Jacks. With their outlaw band they rob from the rich to feed themselves, raiding carriages and dodging the occasional vindictive…

Book cover of Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

Laura Hunsaker Author Of Dark Past

From my list on books where the hero falls in love first.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always been a reader, and with Irish and Scottish families, I’ve grown up hearing beautiful stories of magic and the fair folk. When I discovered romance novels, I was able to combine my love of happily ever afters and the myth and legend of my childhood. I even took classes on the Mythology of Ireland and Britain while I was obtaining my degrees. With a specialty in British Literature, I have been able to ensure my stories, while full of myth and magic, are also steeped in historical accuracy. The lush and vivid descriptions in my stories are paired with magic and time travel, with every story leaving the reader satisfied with the happily ever after the characters have earned.

Laura's book list on books where the hero falls in love first

Laura Hunsaker Why Laura loves this book

I love this story because even though the hero falls for the heroine, and he falls hard, by the way, he fights it. 

He really doesn’t believe it could happen to him, so when that Black Moment comes, and he’s lost everything he’s worked for, his appreciation of the heroine is so vivid, so real, that the reader can’t help but fall in love with him too. 

By Kresley Cole ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Considering his history with Mariketa the Awaited, Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan should be pleased when dark forces unite against her. Yet when he discovers how vulnerable the beautiful, wee witch truly is, Bowen, a ruthless warrior, finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive. Mari can't control the awesome power she possesses and recognizes the need for a temporary Protector - even one as cold as Bowen. Though it's rumoured that no one can touch his hardened heart, soon passion begins to burn between them. Once Bowen realizes he wants Mari for his own,…


Book cover of Dangerous Witness

Laura Hunsaker Author Of Dark Past

From my list on books where the hero falls in love first.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always been a reader, and with Irish and Scottish families, I’ve grown up hearing beautiful stories of magic and the fair folk. When I discovered romance novels, I was able to combine my love of happily ever afters and the myth and legend of my childhood. I even took classes on the Mythology of Ireland and Britain while I was obtaining my degrees. With a specialty in British Literature, I have been able to ensure my stories, while full of myth and magic, are also steeped in historical accuracy. The lush and vivid descriptions in my stories are paired with magic and time travel, with every story leaving the reader satisfied with the happily ever after the characters have earned.

Laura's book list on books where the hero falls in love first

Laura Hunsaker Why Laura loves this book

I love this story, especially because the hero, Brooks, not only falls in love first but also believes the heroine betrays him, so he breaks things off with her. But Brooks never stops loving her.

I love the apologies, I love the way actions speak louder than words in this book, and I love the way they get back together for a well-deserved HEA (happily ever after).

By Katie Reus ,

Why should I read it?

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


If you love Cynthia Eden...

Book cover of Chilled to the Bone

Chilled to the Bone by B.D. Lawrence,

Jake Sledge, a rugged ex-cop turned private eye, teams up with his colossal partner Bobo to navigate the gritty streets of River City.

A murdered lawyer drags them into a web of political intrigue, neo-Nazi thugs, and bloody showdowns. With sharp wit and hard-hitting action, Jake tackles scumbags the only…

Book cover of The Wrath

Laura Hunsaker Author Of Dark Past

From my list on books where the hero falls in love first.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always been a reader, and with Irish and Scottish families, I’ve grown up hearing beautiful stories of magic and the fair folk. When I discovered romance novels, I was able to combine my love of happily ever afters and the myth and legend of my childhood. I even took classes on the Mythology of Ireland and Britain while I was obtaining my degrees. With a specialty in British Literature, I have been able to ensure my stories, while full of myth and magic, are also steeped in historical accuracy. The lush and vivid descriptions in my stories are paired with magic and time travel, with every story leaving the reader satisfied with the happily ever after the characters have earned.

Laura's book list on books where the hero falls in love first

Laura Hunsaker Why Laura loves this book

I am recommending this book as one of the best books where the hero falls in love first because it’s not your typical love at first sight, or the hero falls first trope.

When Rathbone realizes he’s in love with Neeka, it’s a turning point in the book. So many things fall into place for him with that realization. And in that moment, he knows he needs her to love him back. 

By Gena Showalter ,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with a new book in the tantalizing Rise of the Warlords series, featuring a brutal Hell king and the irresistible beauty who upends his world.


For centuries, Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one purpose: recovering the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He's never been closer to success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she…


Book cover of All This Could Be Yours

Liz Alterman Author Of A Different Type of Poison

From my list on writers in peril.

Why am I passionate about this?

As an author, I love reading books that feature writers and explore their daily ups and downs as well as their larger successes and failures. Working on a novel or an article is already a harrowing task, but throw in other complications like writer’s block, dangerous fans, and sources who won’t give you the information you need, and life gets a lot more challenging. These twisty tomes explore what happens when these writers find their own stories taking some perilous turns.

Liz's book list on writers in peril

Liz Alterman Why Liz loves this book

An author knocks it out of the park with her debut and embarks on a book tour that should unfold like a dream come true. A stalker, however, is determined to destroy not just Tess Calloway’s newfound fame but also her entire life. Tess begins to question her sanity when no one believes she might be in danger.

Ryan does a fantastic job letting readers in and outlining just how vulnerable an author becomes when so much information about their tour is put on display. This will make writers and readers look at book signings in a whole new light.

Another aspect I enjoyed as a mother and an author is the way Tess feels torn between promoting her work and keeping up with her parenting responsibilities. I think writers who are parents often experience that tug-of-war between worlds, and Hank Phillippi Ryan does a stellar job of showing us…

By Hank Phillippi Ryan ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked All This Could Be Yours as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

"Engrossing―with a twist that left me reeling!"
―Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid

Is a debut author's blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller by "master of suspense" (Publishers Weekly) and instant USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Debut sensation Tessa Calloway is on a whirlwind book tour for her instant bestseller, All This Could Be Yours. In a different city every night, Tessa receives standing ovations from adoring fans while her husband Henry and…


Book cover of Five Total Strangers

Keely Parrack Author Of Don't Let In the Cold

From my list on YA set in the cold and that leave you with chills.

Why am I passionate about this?

There is something about books set in the cold, you know immediately bad things are going to happen! It may be my early childhood in Scotland, or my English upbringing, but I have always been drawn to the dark side of stories, the things under the bed, the monsters in the closet. I still love to be scared by the twists and chills but also am a sucker for a happy ending. In my novels, I always strive to entertain, to scare, and surprise, but ultimately there needs to be an emotional truth beneath everything. And this is true of the books I read as well. 

Keely's book list on YA set in the cold and that leave you with chills

Keely Parrack Why Keely loves this book

Five total strangers trapped in a car together, during a blizzard trying to get home against mounting impossible odds – what’s not to like? I love believable situations which you know as a reader have so much potential to take a deadly turn! 

When a storm strands Mira at the airport with no way to get home, she welcomes the kind offer of sharing a rental car with a woman from her flight. But when this also involves another three people, who all seem to have their own personal baggage and agendas, you know this is not going to be a smooth ride. As if driving in a storm isn’t enough of a problem, personal items keep going missing, and it soon becomes obvious that one of the five is trying to make sure they don’t all make it back alive! This is a fast-paced fun, twisty read, a perfect…

By Natalie D. Richards ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Five Total Strangers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A New York Times Bestseller
A "page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end" (School Library Journal) about a road trip in a snowstorm that turns into bone-chilling disaster, from New York Times bestselling mystery author and "master of tension" (BCCB) Natalie D. Richards.
She thought being stranded was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong.
Mira needs to get home for the holidays. Badly. But when an incoming blizzard results in a canceled connecting flight, it looks like she might get stuck at the airport indefinitely.
And then Harper, Mira's glamorous seatmate from her…


If you love Protecting Piper...

Book cover of The Woman and Her Stars

The Woman and Her Stars by Penny Haw,

Caroline Herschel has always lived in the shadows. Beholden to her wildly popular older brother, William, who rescued her from servitude, she's worked hard to build a life for herself – one where she can go unnoticed and repay the debt she believes she owes him. But when her brother…

Book cover of Never Let You Go

Heather Gudenkauf Author Of Not a Sound

From my list on thrillers and mysteries about dogs.

Why am I passionate about this?

Some of my fondest memories have been of curling up with the family dog and reading a good book. This started as a child with our golden retriever OJ, and continues today with Lolo, our sweet but spoiled German shorthaired pointer. Dogs are such wonderful companions, always up for anything: hiking, exploring, car rides, sitting on the couch, and lounging. It’s no surprise, then, that not only do I love reading books featuring dogs I’ve also included a canine sidekick in each of the nine thrillers that I’ve written. I hope you enjoy this dogged list of mysteries and thrillers as much as I have. 

Heather's book list on thrillers and mysteries about dogs

Heather Gudenkauf Why Heather loves this book

Chevy Stevens is one of my favorite go-to authors and Never Let You Go, the story of a woman and her child who escape an abusive relationship and eleven years later the threat returns, is a book that has lingered with me for years. In the very first chapter Stevens manages to capture such intense fear and helplessness in Lindsey and her daughter Sophie as well as a sense of determination and a will to survive. But Lindsey can’t do it alone. At her side is Angus – a lug of a German shepherd mix, whom Lindsey found at the local animal shelter. Angus doesn’t make an appearance until about halfway in the novel, but what an appearance he makes. He instantly becomes a beloved family member, providing a sense of comfort and security to Lindsey and Sophie. As Lindsey’s ruthless ex-husband draws ever closer, Lindsey, Sophie, and Angus…

By Chevy Stevens ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Never Let You Go as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In Never Let You Go, Chevy Stevens delivers a chilling, twisting thriller that crackles with suspense as it explores the darkest heart of love and obsession.

"Stevens's taut writing and chilling depiction of love twisted beyond recognition make this a compelling read." ―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Disturbing, suspenseful, and just a little nerve-wracking." ―Library Journal

Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail and Lindsey started over with a new life.

Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with her own business and a…


Book cover of The Night Whistler

Sherryl Clark Author Of Mad, Bad and Dead

From my list on Australian crime to have you on the edge of your seat.

Why am I passionate about this?

I started reading crime fiction as a teenager, so maybe it was inevitable that one day I would start writing it. I began with short stories, but then found an idea for a novel that wouldn’t let me go. One small paragraph about a tape recording left by a dead man. The books I love reading now are often set in small towns and communities, like the one I grew up in, where normal people tend to hide the worst secrets! Hidden motivations and seeing how the past plays out in the present are two elements I love in crime fiction—they help to work out who the killer is.

Sherryl's book list on Australian crime to have you on the edge of your seat

Sherryl Clark Why Sherryl loves this book

I love a good historical crime novel that’s set within a time I almost remember. It’s 1966 and Mick Goodenough arrives in Moorabool, demoted and depressed to be back. We all know killers often start by killing animals, so a dead, tortured dog raises Mick’s alert level, even though it’s dismissed by the other cops. A lone woman starts receiving weird, whistling phone calls and from there, the tension gradually racks up. Mick Goodenough has all the qualities I enjoy in a detective—intelligence, good hunches, and he loves his dogs.

By Greg Woodland ,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

The summer of 1966–7. Hal and his little brother have just come to live in Moorabool. They’re exploring the creek near their new home when they find the body of a dog.

Not just dead, but killed.

Not just killed, but horribly maimed.

Constable Mick Goodenough, recently demoted from his big-city job as a detective, is also new in town—and one of his dogs has gone missing. Like other pets around the town.

He knows what it means when someone tortures animals to death. They’re practising. So when Hal’s mother starts getting late-night phone calls—a man whistling, then hanging up—Goodenough,…


If you love Cynthia Eden...

Book cover of Murder, Lies and Chocolate

Murder, Lies and Chocolate by Sally Berneathy,

Book 2, Death by Chocolate series.

Rodney Bradford comes into Lindsay's restaurant, offers to buy her small house for double its value, eats her brownies, and drops dead on the sidewalk in front. Next, her almost-ex-husband offers to sign the divorce papers, but only if she'll give him her small,…

Book cover of People Like Her

Jane Lo Author Of A Summer Like That

From my list on moms trying their very, very best.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a writer and a secondary school English teacher, but of all my roles, the one I cherish most is being a mom. I love being a mom! And I have found that reading books about motherhood has helped keep me sane and broadened my view of what trying my best as a mom can look like. I have found that wisdom and inspiration can be found in all kinds of places, from a memoir to a thriller to a middle-grade novel. I very much hope you enjoy the books on this list as much as I have! 

Jane's book list on moms trying their very, very best

Jane Lo Why Jane loves this book

I loved how conflicted I felt about Emmy and her life choices as a highly successful influencer mom of two little ones! I couldn’t help but root for her even as I struggled to make sense of the crazy things she was putting her family through.

The story gripped me from beginning to end. 

By Ellery Lloyd ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked People Like Her as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Brilliantly original' - Clare Mackintosh, author of After the End
'Deliciously dark and devious' - Red
'Highly recommended' - Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange
'Gone Girl-esque' - The Times
'I couldn't turn the pages fast enough' - Abigail Dean, author of Girl A

People like Emmy Jackson. They always have. Especially online, where she is Instagram sensation Mamabare, famous for telling the unvarnished truth about modern parenthood.

But Emmy isn't as honest as she'd like the fans to believe. She may think she has her followers fooled, but someone out there knows the truth and plans to make her…


Book cover of Sweep of the Blade
Book cover of Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Book cover of Dangerous Witness

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