Books like 'Grit'
Readers who enjoyed Grit by Cheryl McIntyre also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance christian athletes
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Fighting to Forgive by J.B. Salsbury
What do you do when everything you avoid, turns out to be exactly what you need? Easy and predictable, just the way he likes it, Blake Daniels flies through life the way he burns through women: on his terms, no regrets. With his fighting career in full swing, he's on the threshold of title contention. But when his training is compromised by injury, the stakes grow impossibly higher... -
![Jaded by Tijan]()
Jaded by Tijan
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 48 ratingsSheldon doesn't care about anyone except Corrigan and Bryce. The three of them rule their school, but it seems someone else wants in on the action or that someone else just wants Sheldon. How many bodies is enough to prove their love to her? This book is dark and edgy with sexual situations, drinking, swearing, murder, and screwed-up parents. -
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![Warrior Blue by Kelsey Kingsley]()
Warrior Blue by Kelsey Kingsley
Blake Carson can't afford to have a life. Between working full-time as a tattoo artist and caring for his disabled twin brother Jacob, his plate is more than full - and he prefers it that way. But his meticulous planning is turned on its head when he meets the upbeat and beautiful Audrey Wright and her butterfly tattoo... -
![Mine by Katy Evans]()
Mine by Katy Evans
He's mine, and I'm his. Our love is all-consuming, powerful,. imperfect, and real. .. In the international bestseller REAL , the unstoppable bad boy of the Underground fighting circuit finally met his match. Hired to keep him in prime condition, Brooke Dumas unleashed a primal desire in Remington "Riptide" Tate as vital as the air he breathes. .. and now he can't live without her... -
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![Bitter When He Begs by Avery Collins]()
Bitter When He Begs by Avery Collins
Luca. I’ve built my life on control. On the field, in my reputation, and in keeping my demons buried where no one can see. Sage Blackwell was never supposed to be a part of that. The nerdy prodigy overheard something that could ruin my entire career, so I do the only logical thing. I don’t threaten him. I don’t scare him off. I claim him... -
![Sweet Addiction by Bella Matthews]()
Sweet Addiction by Bella Matthews
From #1 Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sports romance. Rome Beneventi is a walking, talking bad decision—six feet, five inches of tattoos, temptation, and trouble wrapped in a smirk and dipped in sin. This MMA champion should come with a warning label . . . or at the very least a disclaimer. I sell books, and he breaks bones... -
![The Aftermath by R.J. Prescott]()
The Aftermath by R.J. Prescott
When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. But what happens when you have everything you ever wanted? You fight to keep it. Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell’s star is on the rise. Billed as the most promising young boxer of his generation, his new career is taking him to places he never dreamed. But O’Connell only needs one thing in life: his wife... -
![Special Kind of Twisted by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Special Kind of Twisted by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsHe had a way of pulling everyone into his darkness. Then, to make matters worse, he convinced you that you liked it there. Kyle Davis—ex professional baseball player and current felon—loved Sara, his best friend. Strictly platonically, of course. He’d do absolutely anything for her, even put up with Greer, Sara’s other best friend. What she was not was Kyle’s best friend... -
![Out of the Ashes by R.C. Boldt]()
Out of the Ashes by R.C. Boldt
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsPhoenix /fēniks/: (in classical mythology) a unique bird inhabiting the Arabian Desert that burned itself on a funeral pyre before rising from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle. This isn’t mythology, it’s war, and Hendy is left in the hands of Hell’s cruelest gatekeepers... -
![The Hockey Situation by Lyra Parish]()
The Hockey Situation by Lyra Parish
Hating Patterson Cross is easy. Keeping my hands off him? Not so much. He's my ex-fiancé's identical twin brother, my father's star hockey player, and the man I've despised for years. That's three very good reasons I shouldn't ask Pattycakes to be my hookup for the season. But I recklessly do it anyway. To my surprise, my biggest hater says yes. We agree to keep it secret...Categorized as:
athletes super rich hero from hate to love sports new adult hockey dark contemporary -
![WTF by Cambria Hebert]()
WTF by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsI don’t do commitment. And though I swing both ways, I don’t do men either. It’s too messy, too stressful, and just asking for trouble. I’d rather shine bright like the sun than drown in the rain, so I adopt a pounce-and-bounce lifestyle for which my sparkling charm keeps me from being hated. When I show up in Sweden for a semester abroad, I expect a roomie. What I don’t expect is Lars... -
![Sick Hate by J.A. Huss]()
Sick Hate by J.A. Huss
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIrina van Breda escaped the hopeless life she was born into and started a brand new one in America all by herself. She has everything she needs—a condo in South Beach, a new accent that doesn’t betray her dark origins, a brilliant best friend, and an easy life of walking the beach and feeding the gulls. But she is merely existing—until Dead-Eyes Eason Malone appears, asking questions... -
![Fallen Son by Giana Darling]()
Fallen Son by Giana Darling
I had my Lou, my family, and a group'a men more loyal than any other. Life was good. No, better than that. Life was a fuckin' dream. Didn't know somethin' was missin' until we found it crouched in the forest like tossed rubbish and claimed it for our own. *A Fallen Men Christmas Story. These events take place between Welcome to the Dark Side and Good Gone Bad. *. -
![Unlawful Justice by K.C. Lynn, K. Langston]()
Unlawful Justice by K.C. Lynn, K. Langston
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsSeek the truth and you will find justice. The peaceful town of Harmony Falls, Texas, has been rocked to its core by an unspeakable crime. One that harbors revenge and injustice. Schoolteacher Olivia Bradshaw can’t remember what happened that horrific night, but it’s easy to see the effect it’s had on those around her...Categorized as:
christian suspense contemporary alpha male dark length-medium standalone standalone-first -
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![Fighting Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre]()
Fighting Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsI wake up to a warm body draped along my side. I smile as the foreign feeling of happiness radiates in my chest. Everything comes rushing back as Rocky’s scent fills my senses. Not Olivia’s. My happiness bursts like a broken dam. Not because Olivia isn’t here. But because as I realized it was Rocky’s body against me, I still felt satisfied. Because I didn’t feel the misery of Livie’s loss... -
![A Different Blue by Amy Harmon]()
A Different Blue by Amy Harmon
Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school... -
![Matchstick Men by Adira August]()
Matchstick Men by Adira August
Sometimes it's the cop who needs to hit the floor. .. Haunted by the worst case of my career, I knew only one way to exorcise the images from my mind, the victim from my soul . .. Inside the club, I scanned the room. He was here—Camden Snow—a sex god in the guise of unpretentious youth... -
![Staying Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre]()
Staying Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 30 ratings“What I did today… I don’t want to be that person anymore. I don’t know how you can stand to touch me. ". “I’ll never stop wanting to touch you, Link. I’m pretty sure you’re the only one I want to touch for the rest of my life. ”. Link and Rocky's story concludes in this fifth and final installment of the Dirty series. *This is part five in a five-part novella series... -
![Lincoln by V.H. Nicolson]()
Lincoln by V.H. Nicolson
A strangers to lovers, secret billionaire, working together romance from VH Nicolson. Perfect for fans of Ana Huang, Catharina Maura and Meghan Quinn. 'VH Nicolson’s characters will touch your heart and her storytelling will always leave you wanting more. '. Sadie Kincaid. "A fan-yourself billionaire romance you'll think about long after the last page. ". Elle Nicoll. Readers LOVE VH Nicolson’s...Categorized as:
christian contemporary new adult dark humor friends to lovers super rich hero office -
![A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch]()
A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDeep in the Kentucky hills, three women have been found brutalized and murdered. But the folks in Night Holler have their own ways and their own laws. And they’re not talking…. Led to an isolated Appalachian Mountain town by a trail of disturbing murders, FBI special agent Violet Rainwater’s determined to catch a serial killer with a twisted agenda... -
![Your Sharpest Edge by Vee Taylor]()
Your Sharpest Edge by Vee Taylor
Sending him away broke my heart. I guess fate thought we needed a second chance. Anastasia Ilinya will do anything to keep her Olympic figure skating career alive—even leaving Russia for the US, and marrying a man she knows only by his explosive reputation. So when the abuse starts straight after “I do”, Anatasia knows she must endure...Categorized as:
athletes hockey sports friends to lovers single-mother contemporary pregnancy arranged marriage -
![The Realm of You: A Novel by Amanda Richardson]()
The Realm of You: A Novel by Amanda Richardson
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen Marlin Winters awakens in an alternate universe, living in Vermont and engaged to a man she doesn’t recognize, she’s determined to figure out why she’s here and what sequence of events lead her to this moment. Over the course of one day, she begins to piece together the last week of her real life. What’s more, when the day is over, she doesn’t want to leave...Categorized as:
christian contemporary cruel hero dark new adult second chances length-short standalone -
![The Redemption of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen]()
The Redemption of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden comes an emotional new story about two troubled souls sharing one all-encompassing love . . . The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is finally out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way to clear his name is for Callie to speak up-something he'll never ask her to do... -
![The Witness by A.N. Boyden]()
The Witness by A.N. Boyden
He would spend his days riding his bike up and down residential streets, eager to preach the Gospel and God's love to anyone willing to listen. He was well-dressed, mannerable, and handsome, qualities that easily gained his victim's trust. All he needed them to do was invite him inside. Damian was on the hunt for victim #17 when he stumbled upon Grace working in her garden...Categorized as:
christian suspense multicultural bwwm black-mc animal-abuse animal-death length-novella -
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![The Girl in the Front Row by Kelsey Kingsley]()
The Girl in the Front Row by Kelsey Kingsley
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsLennon Jacobs is nobody. Born with a rare eye condition and living in a world of black and white, she’s unable to drive, find an accommodating job, and have the life she’s always dreamed of. From her viewpoint, she can’t see anything special about herself—but Dylan Pierce disagrees...Categorized as:
christian angst contemporary age difference tearjerkers cheating disabilities and marks dark -
![Sin of Love (Illusions Duet) by L.M. Halloran]()
Sin of Love (Illusions Duet) by L.M. Halloran
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe riveting conclusion to the Illusions Duet. .. GIDEON. She took me with her when she left. A day. A thousand days. It doesn’t matter. She blew out the flame inside me and now. I’m in the dark. DEIRDRE. Suffering is the cloak that shelters. The mask that protects fragile skin. And happiness is something for those. who have suffered less. Happiness doesn’t live here,... -
![Kayne's Fury: A Savage Saints MC by J. Lynn Lombard]()
Kayne's Fury: A Savage Saints MC by J. Lynn Lombard
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKayne. As President of Savage Saints, his lone obligation is to his club. He is fierce in his loyalty to his brothers. He is ruthless. He has bled and killed for his Club. He's determined to go legit. To restore destruction left by his Sister Chapter. To renew the integrity of Savage Saints. His Club is his world. There is no room for anything else. His hard work is in jeopardy... -
![The Road Home by Amy Alves]()
The Road Home by Amy Alves
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsI found the woman of my dreams. And then she introduced me to her boyfriend. Signing up for a yoga class in order to woo the gorgeous instructor could not have gone worse. First, the class I attended was actually for pregnant women, and I looked like an idiot. Second, her boyfriend showed up—the one I didn’t know about. The small town rumor mill had let me down. So I waited...Categorized as:
christian small town contemporary humor friends to lovers forced proximity slow burn abuse -
![The Other Brother by Dyan Layne, Michelle Lancaster]()
The Other Brother by Dyan Layne, Michelle Lancaster
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsThings happen as they’re meant to. There’s no avoiding your destiny…. Dillon Byrne always believed in fate. He would meet someone. Fall in love. Be a family. All in that order. Sometimes fate has other plans…. Life changes in an instant. Love is lost. But how do you let go of the life you once had? To appreciate the magic of a brand new beginning, you have to make peace with the ending first... -
![Talking Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre]()
Talking Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsI had no idea when I met Linken Elliot that he would be capable of doing this to me. I was perfectly unhappy, living my miserable existence before he came along. I was fine humping strange men’s faces in dirty bar bathrooms. I was comfortable living like a hermit and drinking myself into oblivion. I. Was. Fine. Now I want things. I want him... -
![Theo by C.M. Seabrook]()
Theo by C.M. Seabrook
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsMackenzie Brooks is everything I've ever wanted. Three years ago, she walked out of my life. No explanation. Just gone. With the biggest fight of my career only weeks away, she walked back in. I'll do anything to protect her. Destroy anyone who tries to hurt her. When it comes to Mac, there isn't a line I won't cross. I've loved her my entire life, and now that's she's back I won't let her go...Categorized as:
athletes sports contemporary fighters friends to lovers alpha male angst secret child -
![Playing Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre]()
Playing Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsMy need for power came to me by accident. The need was real. It was overwhelming. It was consuming me. So we played a dangerous game of trial and error. What I could handle and what I couldn’t. It became apparent fairly quickly that I couldn’t handle much. But I liked this game because I controlled it. Link and Rocky’s story continues in this second installment of the Dirty series... -
![Knock 'Em Down by Alisha Williams, Amber Nicole]()
Knock 'Em Down by Alisha Williams, Amber Nicole
A Dark Cheerleading Academy Bully RH Romance. One week of hot, mind blowing passion was all it was supposed to be. Well, until a freak accident has the Widows in desperate need of a new flyer. I thought my wishes were coming true. I get to be on the national cheer team and see my guys again. .. Maybe not. I guess it's true what they say. .. be careful what you wish for...Categorized as:
athletes cruel hero reverse harem contemporary sports possessive hero from hate to love dark -
![Perfectly Damaged by E.L. Montes]()
Perfectly Damaged by E.L. Montes
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsSchizoaffective disorder: a mental illness in which a person experiences a combination of mood disorder and schizophrenia symptoms. I know about this illness—very well—because I suffer from it. It’s been four years since my diagnosis, and ever since, I’ve been living in a dark hole. Voices constantly invading my thoughts. Hallucinations... -
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![Shattered Secrets by Kris Butler]()
Shattered Secrets by Kris Butler
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThey had tried to come for me. They thought I was still weak, damaged. Someone had tried to kill me. .. again. I was getting tired of this. They hadn’t been prepared for me to build relationships, to no longer be alone. They continued to underestimate me. I loved proving them wrong... -
![Jagger by M.J. Fields, Chelsea Camaron]()
Jagger by M.J. Fields, Chelsea Camaron
Full of swagger and sensuality, the Caldwell Brothers series—perfect for fans of Katy Evans and Emma Chase—packs an emotional punch as the last bachelor standing fights for a woman who’s worth every ounce of trouble. Jagger Caldwell is no one’s hero. With a reputation busting heads and breaking hearts on the underground MMA circuit, he lives for easy cash and easier women... -
![Dark Side of the Cloth by Brooklyn Cross]()
Dark Side of the Cloth by Brooklyn Cross
Groomed from birth to take over the Cartel, darkness was all Dean knew. Except he had no interest in running a gang, and even less in being the next El Chapo like his abusive father. So, he ran. That’s when the Army found him. He was highly sought after for his unique skill set, and quickly became a valued member. Finally, he found a place where he belonged... -
![Wet by Cambria Hebert]()
Wet by Cambria Hebert
Making decisions I regret is basically a hobby. So I guess it really wasn’t that surprising when I went out on a date with an Elite. And then he tried to assault me. I might be small, but I’m not meek. I fought him off… then went straight to the dean. He didn’t believe me. No one does. And now my date from hell is in revenge mode, and I somehow end up in the campus pool...Categorized as:
athletes sports insta-love contemporary alpha male college height-difference new adult -
![Wicked Scandal by Rachel Leigh]()
Wicked Scandal by Rachel Leigh
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWilder Cromwell is pure temptation in a delicious package. Gorgeous. Smart. Athletic. He’s also my student. The minute I saw him, I should have known better. But falling for him was as inevitable as breathing. He’s more than just a face in my class. He’s the man who came to my rescue on one of my darkest nights. Wilder has become a safe haven against my husband’s monstrous brutality...Categorized as:
athletes age difference secret-relationship suspense cheating contemporary dual-pov high-school -
![Racing for the Sun by Amy Lane]()
Racing for the Sun by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 22 ratings"I'll do anything. ". Staff Sergeant Jasper "Ace" Atchison takes one look at Private Sonny Daye and knows that every word on paper about him is pure, unadulterated bullshit. But Sonny is desperate, and although Ace isn't going to take him up on his offer of "anything," that doesn't mean he isn't tempted... -
![Crimson by Sophie Lark]()
Crimson by Sophie Lark
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsEnemies From Birth…. The Markovs and the Lebedevs have been bloody rivals for generations. Nadia Lebedev is the ultimate forbidden fruit: a mafia princess engaged to another man. From the moment I see her, I want her for myself. Every day that passes, I become more obsessed with her. She’s seeking the answer to a mystery, and so am I…... -
![Very Wicked Beginnings by Ilsa Madden-Mills]()
Very Wicked Beginnings by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsA Prequel Novella. Girls say I’m a walking, talking sex god. Guys call me Hollywood because my life is golden. It’s not. But, ESPN did rank me as a four-star recruit, calling me one of the best defensive players since Briarcrest Academy opened its esteemed doors. So yeah, with football and a stellar GPA, my future seemed good. Then Dovey Beckham shows up in her short skirts and ballet shoes... -
![Twisted Demands by Marlee Wray]()
Twisted Demands by Marlee Wray
They call him the Viking. Cold, blond, brutal. The name suits him. Erik Sorensen, the towering GU football superstar, is a man of few words. Or so most people think. That’s the reason none of our friends realize we’ve been in a bitter conflict for two years. I don’t speak to him. Or look at him. Or acknowledge him. So the last thing I would ever do is move in with him...Categorized as:
athletes multicultural suspense new adult sports height-difference from hate to love college -
![Unleashing Sin (The Revive Series) by A. M. Wilson]()
Unleashing Sin (The Revive Series) by A. M. Wilson
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAlex 'Sin' Sinclair has spent the past two years being haunted by the ghost of his missing--presumably dead--sister. However, chasing monsters has its limits, and he often finds himself at the bottom of a bottle to cope with the pain. But when a woman is left for dead on his doorstep, he has a choice to make. Can he put his sister to rest and focus on saving someone who's still living? --------... -
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![They Will Fall by Rachel Leigh]()
They Will Fall by Rachel Leigh
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsAfter a rocky start to my freshman year at BCU, I was confident the threat was gone. The murders ended, and my name was cleared. All the while, three unsuspecting men took me by surprise…. Ridge, my stalker turned lover. Maddox, prince charming who swept me off my feet... -
![Protector by Shannon Myers]()
Protector by Shannon Myers
He'll never forgive me. .. Jamie swore to keep us safe from evil, but it was at our doorstep the entire time; just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. I led it into our home and once he finds out, I'll have to pay for my sins. This world may have left me beaten and bloody, but it won't break me. .. That's a power only he holds... -
![Take Care, Sara by Lindy Zart]()
Take Care, Sara by Lindy Zart
Rated: 3.97 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsYou breathe in, you breathe out, and everything you know is gone. Sara Walker knows firsthand what it feels like to have your reality ripped away, scrambled, and shoved back at you in an undone puzzle where pieces are missing and nothing fits. She's lost so much and is struggling to live and to find the strength to forgive herself for being human...Categorized as:
christian contemporary forbidden love dark tortured heroine college angst friends to lovers -
![Through the Flames by Sorena Graves]()
Through the Flames by Sorena Graves
The first time I met Hunter Rhodes, I didn’t even know his name, but the moment I touched him, it felt like the world had tilted off its axis. Our worlds keep colliding, and every time, he leaves me breathless. He’s everywhere. And though nothing in my life feels steady anymore, having an innocent crush on a guy so far out of my league doesn’t seem so bad… or so I thought. Turns out, I was wrong... -
![Nets and Lies by Katie Ashley]()
Nets and Lies by Katie Ashley
Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsAlways awkward in her 5’10 frame, Melanie Reeves finds her saving grace through basketball. Not only is she the varsity team captain, she’s the pride of Coach Thompson, who holds the keys to a college scholarship. Melanie has also found 'courtly' love with Will, Coach T's handsome, ball-playing son. When Melanie is on the court, everything is perfect. .. -
![Salvage: Salvage Book One by Tiffany Aleman]()
Salvage: Salvage Book One by Tiffany Aleman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratings***This book contains mature content and touches on the basis of child abuse, bullying, and alcoholism. If the themes listed above bother you and you still choose to read, please proceed with caution. This book is intended for readers 18+ and has a cliffhanger. ***. The first book in the SALVAGE Duet will always be a beloved book to me. It's not a love story with a big red bow at the top...
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