Books like 'The Player and the Pretender'
Readers who enjoyed The Player and the Pretender by Erin McCarthy also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny sports multicultural black-mc curvy heroine athletes
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Luke by Tiffany Patterson, Covers by Combs
From Bestselling Author Tiffany PattersonLukeCall me what you want to call me. Only one thing mattered and that's claiming the NFA heavyweight title once again. I don't trust people, which is why I have my crew, my manager, Lenny, and myself. That's all I need. At least that was until Syd walked into my gym.SydI'm here to train Luke... -
![The Legend by Shey Stahl]()
The Legend by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsIn a lifestyle of speed, adrenaline and desire, one racer has sacrificed everything for the sport he loved. In turn, he will fight for his name, his family and now his life to be the legend he’s been portrayed to be. You can be everything you set out to be if you want it bad enough. You can be that record breaker you said you’d be. You can be that hero you always thought you would be... -
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![Home Run by Jordan Marie, Robin Harper]()
Home Run by Jordan Marie, Robin Harper
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsGreen Lucas doesn't know what's about to hit him. Complete Standalone Romance Wanted A woman with grit and fire who will help me get my son’s head out of his ass. You must be self-sufficient and not looking for a gravy train. Common sense is a plus, book smarts are optional. Cannot have red hair, as my son seems to go for that type and he needs something to shake him up... -
![Just One Look by Rosalind James]()
Just One Look by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLuka Darkovic has some tackling skills. He hadn’t planned on using them to bring down a runaway dog the size of a Shetland pony, though, especially not when his neck is already buggered. At 33, a rugby forward protects his vertebrae.. He’s even less happy when the dog’s incompetent owner turns up in his hospital cubicle the next day with a plan to fix those vertebrae... -
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![Lobsters, Bisques, and Berries by Olivia Gaines]()
Lobsters, Bisques, and Berries by Olivia Gaines
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLakota Simjak is nothing like he looks. A laid-back kind of fella that takes life as it comes, while enjoying the simple beauty of the day to days. However, the lonely nights and eternal mornings tells him it’s time for a change. He wants a wife.Melody Willis’ trophy case displays thirty years of being in the music business and performances all over the world. Yet, she goes to bed alone... -
![Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott]()
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDid you ever see a guy and just know you had to meet him?That was me and Bodhi Merrick. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he donned his wetsuit at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks. I'll never forget that day. Or every time our paths crossed after that. Big wave surfing is a small world. And, as it happens, Bodhi felt the same tug---this irresistible attraction that drew us to one another...Categorized as:
sports multicultural siblings-bff humor forced proximity contemporary m-f length-medium -
![Bargaining with the Librarian: BWWM Enemies to Lovers by A.R. Williams]()
Bargaining with the Librarian: BWWM Enemies to Lovers by A.R. Williams
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJasper Stockton did the unimaginable and slept with his daughter-in-law’s mother, Gayle Turner, whom he dubbed “the red dragon.” From the moment he met her, she drove his blood pressure through the roof, aggravated him repeatedly, and made him want to gag her holier-than-thou mouth on several occasions... -
![Stranded in Arizona by Olivia Gaines]()
Stranded in Arizona by Olivia Gaines
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsKevia Caplan spent her entire life as a caregiver, first to her parents and then to her spoiled baby sister. Working as a database administrator for the FBI, she came across files of the worst in human behavior. When her sister tells her she’s going to become a mail-order bride, Kevia tags along to ensure her sister’s safety...Categorized as:
multicultural black-mc bwwm contemporary historical humor african-american length-short -
![Breakaway (The Rule Book Collection) by A.M. Johnson]()
Breakaway (The Rule Book Collection) by A.M. Johnson
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs Tampa Bay's star center, Mark Carmelo's life was hockey, and after a bitter and public break up, all he wanted to do was focus on the game. Until he saw her. The one that got away. The one he thought he'd never see again. For thirteen years, Stevie West drowned in her lackluster life. Recently divorced from her “roommate” with passionless benefits, she was ready to start over... -
![Savor by Xavier Neal]()
Savor by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLately, Logan "Unbreakable" Kellar's life has been a series of miscommunications with catastrophic consequences. However, this time around, the consequences threaten to not only damage his current relationships but erase a future he only ever dreamed of... -
![Just Say (Hell) No by Rosalind James]()
Just Say (Hell) No by Rosalind James
Need an Escape to New Zealand?Valentine's Day. Even a hard man needs a soft side. Marko Sendoa isn’t a beach man. He’s not an Auckland man. He’s a hard man. Born Basque tough, raised in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and bred on hard work, discipline, and getting the job done... -
![Power Play by C.J. Cartwright]()
Power Play by C.J. Cartwright
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat if the one who got away… comes back? They say you never forget your first love. But does time truly heal all wounds?Levi Fawkes knows hockey, and not much else. As the captain of the Astoria Bay Thunder, his eyes are always locked on the goal... -
![Off Limits by Chelle Sloan]()
Off Limits by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsProfessional football has an actual rulebook, but it’s the unwritten rules that come with the harshest consequences.The biggest one of all: don’t date your teammate’s sister. And if you do, don’t you dare fall in love with her.I never meant to fall, but when it comes to Brenna Donald, I never stood a chance. She’s everything I’m not--a light-hearted wild child who shines brighter than the sun...Categorized as:
sports athletes friends to lovers forbidden love contemporary humor siblings-bff length-medium -
![Bad Boy by Janet Elizabeth Henderson]()
Bad Boy by Janet Elizabeth Henderson
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA Bad Boy trying to be good, a Good Girl driven to be bad and a five year old who wants to rule the world… Being good is so freaking hard. And boring. Flynn Boyle has only been doing it for a couple of hours and already he’s had enough... -
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![T.Y.P.O.: Take Your Pants Off by Frankie Love, C.M. Seabrook]()
T.Y.P.O.: Take Your Pants Off by Frankie Love, C.M. Seabrook
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA typo in a text brought us together.Auto-correct gone wrong? It's never been so right! Aylee is scared of a couple things: Being in the water for one and being with a man for another. Good thing I'm the guy who got the message because I can kill two birds with one stone. Alpha-hole much? Let's call it confident. I know what Aylee needs because I have my own demons to conquer...Categorized as:
sports multicultural black-mc humor virgin heroine alpha male new adult contemporary -
![Love on Display by Dana LeCheminant]()
Love on Display by Dana LeCheminant
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThey’re sworn enemies. They also happen to be incredibly attracted to one another.After bonding at a half-marathon, rival gym owners Cam and Kailani discover the person they thought could be their soulmate turns out to be the reason their respective businesses are failing...Categorized as:
sports multicultural from hate to love contemporary humor friends-benefits length-medium audiobook -
![Tease by Camilla Stevens]()
Tease by Camilla Stevens
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 13 ratings“Hello, neighbor. Going down?” Miss PinkThat’s what I call her.Her “real” name is too ridiculous to repeat.Besides, my nickname for her is more than apt. Everything about her is pink, from the pink champagne she gets delivered by the caseload, to the tiny pink feathers I find randomly breezing down the hallway of our apartment building in her wake.It’s ridiculous…in the most addictive way... -
![Black Light: Worthy by Stella Moore]()
Black Light: Worthy by Stella Moore
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHandling bossy, demanding millionaires is just a regular Tuesday for Katherine Callahan, one of the most in-demand financial planners on the east coast. Austin Barrick may be baseball’s biggest star, but she figures there’s not much difference between him and the rest of her clients. That is, until he walks into her office, flashes his million-dollar smile, and asks her to dinner... -
![The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington]()
The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington
Getting involved with your brother’s best friend is risky enough. But when he's a hockey player? It's a whole new level of bad idea.As a ravenous reader, I’ve got a I’m obsessed with hockey romances.But let me tell you, real life hockey players are nothing like my book boyfriends.So I threw down the gauntlet on BookTok. I challenged any single guy out there to prove me wrong... -
![Shut Up and Kiss Me (Midnight Kisses) by Kat Baxter]()
Shut Up and Kiss Me (Midnight Kisses) by Kat Baxter
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis soccer star has one night to win it all…or risk losing everything.Ben PrescottBy most people’s standards, I’ve got it pretty good. I have a lucrative job playing my favorite game in the world: soccer. I get to live in my favorite city: Austin, Texas. I basically have it all. Except the woman I love. Why, you ask? Because she's my baby sister's best friend... -
![Whiskey Kisses by Lena Hampton]()
Whiskey Kisses by Lena Hampton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCountry music’s bad boy falls for a straight laced plus sized accountant.Wilder Mann is accustomed to sneaking out on groupies before they wake up, not chasing them down the hotel hall barefoot in his boxers to keep them from leaving with a part of his heart. Then again, Serenity is no groupie. She’s not even a fan...Categorized as:
multicultural curvy heroine black-mc humor bwwm african-american contemporary length-short -
![Lunchtime Chronicles: Spice Cake by Keta Kendric]()
Lunchtime Chronicles: Spice Cake by Keta Kendric
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsRenata: My sweet personality is one of my best attributes. At least, that’s what I thought until my friends staged an intervention on my behalf and demanded I attend racial sensitivity training. What? The suggestion filled me with special, individually wrapped curse words for each of them…until I met Rook. Rook: My caring and unselfish ways were often complimented... -
![Trivial Pursuits by Aven Ellis]()
Trivial Pursuits by Aven Ellis
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLandon Holder is exactly the kind of man Livy Adams should stay far away from. The flashy, flirty star defenseman for the Chicago Buffaloes is known for hooking up with women all over Chicago. Livy finds herself attracted to Landy, but his sexy good looks and charm are irrelevant... -
![Royal Engagement by Chance Carter]()
Royal Engagement by Chance Carter
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Prince with one rule. Never marry a princess. I follow my heart. It's the code I live by. And that's saying a lot, since they've been trying to put me in a royal match since the day I was born. I'm not cut out to be a prince. I've always been more of the playboy type. The crown sits a lot more comfortably on my older brother's head... -
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![Going All In by Ali Parker, Weston Parker]()
Going All In by Ali Parker, Weston Parker
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeing the nice guy leaves me open to being a rebound romance.Which I’m not interested in. I’ve got better things to do.Like taking my spot on the NBA draft picks. It’s all that matters to me.Love has never been on the radar. I’m too focused for all that fluff.Then life slows me down. Way down.An injury at the end of the spring semester has me working my way back to full health all summer long... -
![Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart]()
Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLynn Brooks is officially over it.With four overprotective brothers, the youngest Brooks sibling has had enough with bossy alphas. So, when professional baseball star Joey Martel makes a play for her, she's determined to steer clear of him and his toxic circle of jocks. Being the latest conquest for another overbearing caveman? No thanks...Categorized as:
sports athletes contemporary friends to lovers age difference grumpy sunshine humor length-medium -
![Knock Knock by SaRai Savage]()
Knock Knock by SaRai Savage
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSix years – well five years, three months, and eight days since my life was irrevocably changed, and there’s nothing I can do about it. As much as I want to move on…how do I do that? How do I allow myself to feel those butterflies of love again when I know what the consequences could be? Life can change in the blink of the eye... -
![Just Playin' by Shandi Boyes]()
Just Playin' by Shandi Boyes
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsPresley “Elvis” Carlton was at the top of his game. Number one draft pick, engaged to an up-and-coming model, and voted best player of the decade his first year on the field. Things were golden. . . until an accident saw everything important torn from his grasp...Categorized as:
sports athletes curvy heroine new adult humor contemporary secret-relationship length-medium -
![Changing Lanes by Katie Graykowski]()
Changing Lanes by Katie Graykowski
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsProfessional Football Player, Devon Harding found his soul mate at the age of seventeen. Trouble is, he can’t remember her last name. For the last fourteen years, he’s been waiting for The Universe to send her back to him. When that day comes, he nearly falls all over himself to get to her. But he plays it cool and waits for her to come to him. And she walks right past him... -
![Day One by Lauren Runow]()
Day One by Lauren Runow
My thoughts of how I’m going to survive this indefinite amount of time alone are interrupted by a notification from my Tinder app.Yes, we’re on quarantine. Yes, I reactivated my account out of pure boredom. And, yes, Drew’s one profile photo is smoking hot.I hit Reply.Day by day, as the world tries to stay healthy, we find creative ways to pass the time together... -
![Cocky Quarterback: Eric Cocker by Faleena Hopkins]()
Cocky Quarterback: Eric Cocker by Faleena Hopkins
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThis series is 18+ERIC do you capture a girl's heart? Make her laugh. The waitress with the bird tattoo drawn up her middle finger got my attention by not caring if she has it. My team thinks it's hilarious she's not into me. Trouble is she likes musician types.... But hey, I'm a star quarterback and a Cocker which means I don't drop the ball...Categorized as:
sports athletes contemporary new adult from hate to love dual-pov humor length-medium -
![Love So Perfect by Marquita Valentine]()
Love So Perfect by Marquita Valentine
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsLove So Perfect, Book 5 in Marquita’s contemporary romance series about the Lawson Brothers. Star quarterback Austin Lawson’s dating life is fair game to the myriad gossip bloggers. Thanks to his most recent screw up with a social media savvy super model, he’s forced to return home so that his PR team can do damage control...Categorized as:
athletes sports curvy heroine humor contemporary virgin heroine small town length-novella -
![Bender by Colleen Charles]()
Bender by Colleen Charles
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMy second chance is the biggest gamble of my life. I am Marco Rossi, once an Italian nobody, now living the dream as a Vegas Venom player. I thought I was swapping my lonely orphan past for a team-family. But I was wrong. I am on thin ice with everyone, but especially when it comes to Madison McKay...Categorized as:
sports athletes curvy heroine hockey friends to lovers contemporary humor length-medium -
![Dirty Boy by Nichole Rose]()
Dirty Boy by Nichole Rose
Can this dirty boy convince his curvy girl that love is worth any risk?DanteBehind my back, people call me rude.To my face, they call me a star.I never cared what anyone had to say.All that mattered to me was football and my family.The minute I saw Ella Morgan, everything changed.Now all I think about is that sweet smile.She thinks we're just a summer fling. She's wrong...Categorized as:
sports curvy heroine athletes humor virgin hero contemporary virgin heroine possessive hero -
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![Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall]()
Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall
They say love is messy. Turns out friendship is too, especially when you’re stranded in a cabin with your best friend and hearts are on thin ice.TeddyI’ve heard that men and women can’t be friends without it becoming something more. Harlow and I put that theory in the penalty box, thank you very much... -
![Poetry Man by Melanie Schuster]()
Poetry Man by Melanie Schuster
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter trying everything from blind dates to online matchmaking to speed dating, Alexis Sharp has given up finding Mr. Right. Or even Mr. Almost Right. Until the stormy night when the South Carolina spa owner gets a flat…and a hunky stranger comes to her rescue. Sexy, sensitive, supersuccessful Chicago chef Jared Van Buren is everything Alexis could want in a man... -
![Breakout by Aven Ellis]()
Breakout by Aven Ellis
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhile Texas is known for loving football, Lexi Stewart has always been drawn to the ice. Hockey is her passion, and she wants nothing more than to pursue a career in video editing for the home network of the Dallas Demons hockey team. Lexi has an editing job for a corporate account, but it’s not fulfilling... -
![The Gate to Everything by Ava Miles]()
The Gate to Everything by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMillions of readers have fallen in love with Ava’s bestselling Dare series…come join the family. USA Today Bestselling Author Ava Miles presents a heartwarming and romantic second-chance story about love and family. Quarterback Jordan Dean thought he had everything until his long-time girlfriend broke up with him. His football rock star life had become too burdensome to her... -
![Billionaire Baby Blues by Mia Caldwell]()
Billionaire Baby Blues by Mia Caldwell
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew Release Special Price — Complete Novel with HEA. Shattered dreams might become Neesa’s greatest gift. All Neesa ever wanted was a family of her own. After learning she can’t have children, grief-stricken Neesa sells her farm, packs up, and leaves to travel the world. She hopes to find a way to heal, and discover a different destiny than what she’d once planned for herself... -
![Roughneck by Sosie Frost]()
Roughneck by Sosie Frost
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTidus Payne is as smooth as whiskey, as dangerous as a lit match, and sexier than a midnight mistake. He’s the sort of man who’d drink the devil under the table and then stick around Hell for more fun. He’s rough. He’s rude. He’s un-redeemable. And Tidus is the only mechanic within twenty miles... -
![The Art of Falling in Love with Your Fake Fiancé by Anne Kemp]()
The Art of Falling in Love with Your Fake Fiancé by Anne Kemp
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAll’s fair in love and war…until you agree to be your best friend’s fake fiancé.Levi: Life as an NFL player has always been fast-paced, but nothing prepared me for becoming the guardian of my godson, Duncan. With his grandmother contesting custody, I need to prove that I’m a steadfast influence who’s not going anywhere and there’s one sure-fire way to show that: get engaged... -
![Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin]()
Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPlaying hockey in Maple Falls was meant to be just a charity gig, but then my new publicist showed up, melting the ice—and my heart. Cooper I never anticipated being roped into a charity hockey game during the off-season. But here I am, heading to Maple Falls, all because my publicist decided to retire. Change was inevitable, but I didn't foresee it coming so soon... -
![Top Dog by Rye Hart]()
Top Dog by Rye Hart
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy mafia family rejected our love.So I loved him all the more. When I was forced to leave I took my secret with me.Now I'm back. And I'm not alone.This forbidden love affair is about to start a war. Romeo They call me a thug. Vengeful. Fierce. And I don't give a f*ck. I'm here to make things right with Julia. The only woman I've ever wanted. And the only one I could never have... -
![10-99 (Line of Duty) by Xyla Turner]()
10-99 (Line of Duty) by Xyla Turner
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Sometimes, the perfect person for you is that whom you least expected it to be.” ~Unknown Life events have a way of forming your beliefs even when you didn’t notice... -
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![P.S. Not If You Were The Last Man On Earth by J. S. Cooper]()
P.S. Not If You Were The Last Man On Earth by J. S. Cooper
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTo my tent mate,I am only going to say this once. I am not interested in you. I will not be sharing a sleeping bag with you. I will not be asking you tokeep me warm with your 'hot body'. Who calls their own bodyhot by the way? I will not be doing a belly dance for you in the middle of the night and I definitely won’t be making you hot chocolate...Categorized as:
sports athletes contemporary humor super rich hero from hate to love forced proximity length-short -
![No More Mr. Chai Guy (The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection) by J.P. Sterling]()
No More Mr. Chai Guy (The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection) by J.P. Sterling
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWelcome back to The Coffee Loft, where a new round of stories has been brewed especially for you.Those of you stopping by to visit again, we’ve missed you. The feeling of home is the same that you loved before. If it’s your first time, prepare to be swept off your feet.While our menu hasn’t changed, we think you’ll be pleased with the fall favorites we’ve added... -
![Miles Apart by Tanvier Peart]()
Miles Apart by Tanvier Peart
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTest-driving the best friend of my best friend's husband between the sheets is off-limits. I know it, and so does Miles.We're not friends and only tolerate each other in small doses whenever our paths cross. Miles Walker is a pain in my side who challenges me to no end. But he's also my mirror who sees all of me, even the parts I try to hide. Fate seems hell-bent on bringing Miles and me together...Categorized as:
black-mc multicultural from hate to love contemporary humor african-american length-medium -
![Blindfolded by Ellen Lane]()
Blindfolded by Ellen Lane
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsOnce I learned about her innocence.I wanted to corrupt and dominate the hell out of her.Lock her in up in my penthouse.And discover every delicious way to make her scream. I control my life, I control my world.In my high-end billionaire lifestyle; seducing women is a piece of cake.And I just found a new woman to play with, my new publicist Ava Parker... -
![Slap Shot by Maria Luis]()
Slap Shot by Maria Luis
He’ll do anything for his best friend…even marry her. I live by two universal truths: When I step onto the ice, I’m a god. Daisy Hall is the other half of my soul. My teammates joke that I’m too co-dependent with the coach’s daughter, and maybe that’s true. We’ve been thick as thieves since college, and even when I got drafted to the Boston Blades, Daisy followed me across state lines...Categorized as:
sports athletes hockey contemporary friends to lovers queer humor explicit-open-door -
![Christmas Carol by Jordan Marie]()
Christmas Carol by Jordan Marie
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCrude. Surly. Mean.That was the reputation Cyrus Martinez had—especially this time of year.Cyrus hated everything about Christmas.Every. Single. Thing.He didn’t believe in the joy of the season.Life had dealt him blow after blow and now he lived for himself and no one else.The one good thing in his life, was baseball and fate had been trying to mess that up too...
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