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
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 47 ratingsWhat 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: 4.25 of 5 stars · 46 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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![This Is Forever (Special Edition) by Natasha Madison]()
This Is Forever (Special Edition) by Natasha Madison
From Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author comes the fourth book in the This Is Series.CarolineBecoming a teen mom at sixteen was not what I expected, but then again, neither was being a single parent. Still, I wouldn’t change my past because that boy is my world.Hockey is the only thing my son seems to care about, so I work two jobs to make sure he can play...Categorized as:
athletes sports new adult contemporary insta-love super rich hero forced proximity dark -
![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... -
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![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... -
![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... -
![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... -
![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... -
![WTF: Special Edition Paperback by Cambria Hebert]()
WTF: Special Edition Paperback 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... -
![Fallen Son by Giana Darling]()
Fallen Son by Giana Darling
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsI 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... -
![They Will Fall by Rachel Leigh]()
They Will Fall by Rachel Leigh
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 22 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... -
![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... -
![When We Lied by Claire Contreras]()
When We Lied by Claire Contreras
A brand new hockey romance from New York Times Bestselling Author Claire Contreras set in the same world as Until I Get You...Finneas Alexander Barlow is a walking thirst trap. Tall, hot, and broody. Tousled brown hair, chiseled jaw, alluring green eyes, perfect teeth, well-groomed beard, broad shoulders, and lips good enough to bite... -
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![Matchstick Men by Adira August]()
Matchstick Men by Adira August
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsSometimes 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... -
![Toxic Obsession by J.A. Owenby]()
Toxic Obsession by J.A. Owenby
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHe’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.I need a fresh start where no one knows me, and Whitmore University seems like my chance — if I can keep my secrets hidden. But everything I've built is shattered by Quinn Astor, a powerful football god, and he sees me as his next target.Quinn has a relentless drive and a cruel streak. He’s toxic. He's not the prince I thought he was, but a devil I can't resist... -
![Perfectly Damaged by E.L. Montes]()
Perfectly Damaged by E.L. Montes
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 28 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... -
![Fighting Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre]()
Fighting Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 28 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 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... -
![Staying Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre]()
Staying Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 29 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... -
![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... -
![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... -
![The Girl in the Front Row by Kelsey Kingsley]()
The Girl in the Front Row by Kelsey Kingsley
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 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 -
![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 ratingsKayneAs 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... -
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![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 · 33 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... -
![Shattered Secrets by Kris Butler]()
Shattered Secrets by Kris Butler
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 13 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. Secrets threaten to shake me, to break me and as I uncover more of my past, each step leads me closer to the Council... -
![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... -
![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 -
![Playing Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre]()
Playing Dirty by Cheryl McIntyre
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 33 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... -
![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 -
![Very Wicked Beginnings by Ilsa Madden-Mills]()
Very Wicked Beginnings by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 28 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... -
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![Wicked Scandal by Rachel Leigh]()
Wicked Scandal by Rachel Leigh
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 11 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 -
![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... -
![Take Care, Sara by Lindy Zart]()
Take Care, Sara by Lindy Zart
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 23 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 -
![Just One Song by Stacey Lynn]()
Just One Song by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsNicole Parsons had the perfect life, made complete with the suburban home and the proverbial white picket fence. When tragedy struck and she lost the most important people in her life, she turned away from everything she loved before; shutting out every reminder of the perfect life she lost... -
![Fall into Savagery by V.T. Do]()
Fall into Savagery by V.T. Do
And so the Mute Princess becomes the Queen.War is coming, and everyone is out for blood.Time is running out, and any hope I have of peaceful living is out of my reach.I fail to see how this won't end in bloodshed.I can only pray my men will come out of this intact.With the help of an unlikely ally, perhaps we might win... -
![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... -
![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... -
![Racing for the Sun by Amy Lane]()
Racing for the Sun by Amy Lane
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 21 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... -
![Love & Hockey by Monty Jay]()
Love & Hockey by Monty Jay
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsNHL’s golden boy, Bishop Maverick, knows all too well how a haunting past can taint your future. It seems his entire life all people have done is leave. So what does a man do when he has so little? He pours everything into the only thing that he has left. Hockey... -
![Nets and Lies by Katie Ashley]()
Nets and Lies by Katie Ashley
Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars · 24 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... -
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![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... -
![Hush: I'm Yours Book One: A Contemporary New Adult Romance by Mica Rae]()
Hush: I'm Yours Book One: A Contemporary New Adult Romance by Mica Rae
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Edie Potter goes to Homecoming with the school’s golden boy, she expects a night she’ll never forget. What she doesn’t anticipate is for him to ignore her when she says no. She never imagined she would be the villain in the story of her rape. Dean Franklin has been in love his best friend, Edie, since the fourth grade. He’s also the one person at school who believes her... -
![Breakdown by Aly Zigada]()
Breakdown by Aly Zigada
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAtticus Creed saved my life. His voice talked me down. His lyrics stripped me bare. His tattoos against my hidden scars made me feel beautiful. In turn, I wrecked him with a love that exposed his soul and lies that called to his vilest demons. We were innocent then. I’m not a broken girl anymore...Categorized as:
christian super rich hero new adult contemporary dark cheating from hate to love alpha male -
![Heinous by Yolanda Olson, Pretty In Ink Creations]()
Heinous by Yolanda Olson, Pretty In Ink Creations
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSomeone once said that if you talk about the devil, he’s bound to appear.Most would keep silent, hoping that they’d never be found by such a monster, but I prayed for his touch every night.I knew the devil when I was a child and fell in love with him the first time he taught me that I wasn’t as damaged as I was led to believe that I was...Categorized as:
christian dark mystery mental illness age difference virgin hero self harm mature couple -
![Tempt Me by Nina West, K.A. Tucker]()
Tempt Me by Nina West, K.A. Tucker
Tempt Me is the first book in the highly addictive forbidden romance The Wolf Hotel series I ran from home to escape heartbreak, only to deliver myself into the hands of a wolf. Henry Wolf, that is. Heir to a luxury hotel chain. Infamous playboy. Arrogant bastard. And my new boss... -
![Maybe This Time by Chantal Fernando]()
Maybe This Time by Chantal Fernando
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 49 ratingsMoving in with my half-brother Xander, I had no idea what to expect. But nothing could have prepared me for this. My brother’s friends are wild, protective, secretive, always around. And drop dead gorgeous. Out of all of them, there's something about Reid Knox. Brooding, temperamental, guarded… And I want him more than anything I have ever wanted in my life...
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