Books like Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare… Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core. Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached. But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

When Prince Nicholas Pembrook, famed for his charm and arrogance, crosses paths with waitress Olivia Hammond in snowy Manhattan, a pie‑filled disdain sparks an unexpected romance that challenges royalty and heart alike.

Two estranged high‑school rivals, Madoc and Fallon, clash and eventually bond as they navigate sports, love, and family secrets.