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 Patterson. Luke. Call 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. Syd. I'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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![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... -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsVaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self. Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders... -
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![Sealed With A Kiss by Erin Nicholas]()
Sealed With A Kiss by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhat’s a girl to do when her celebrity crush needs her to be his fake girlfriend? Keep her damned feelings to herself, of course. Child TV star turned adult wallflower Naomi LeClaire has vowed never to return to the spotlight. But when she’s stuck in a storm with Donovan Foster, the hot, charming, wild-life rescuing internet sensation, and she finally gives in and kisses him. .Categorized as:
multicultural black-mc contemporary humor friends to lovers secret-relationship bwwm m-f -
![Slow Burn by Blue Saffire]()
Slow Burn by Blue Saffire
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsHush 2: Slow Burn Book 2 in Series. Shannon’s whole world changed seven months ago. She has never felt more lost. All the insecurities she has grown up with and tried to hide are roaring to the forefront as she feels like her identity has been rubbed from her. Luca knows he is making a mistake. He is running from his future because of his past... -
![Home Run by Jordan Marie, Robin Harper]()
Home Run by Jordan Marie, Robin Harper
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 24 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... -
![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...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... -
![The False Flat by Melissa Collings]()
The False Flat by Melissa Collings
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsIn this uplifting story about friendship, love, and growth, one woman must untangle herself from a past that’s holding her back in order to move forward into the life that will set her free. Penelope Auberge is at her breaking point...Categorized as:
black-mc multicultural cheating contemporary humor african-american other-man-woman length-medium -
![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. On her own... -
![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... -
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![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... -
![The Gutshot: A Small Town Romance by Giulia Lagomarsino]()
The Gutshot: A Small Town Romance by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Gutshot is the final book in the series A Good Run Of Bad Luck and should be read in order. It was just another day in the life of being a small town cop. I’m a protector at heart, and always have been. Which is why I stepped up immediately after finding out I had a kid. Well…to be honest, I didn’t believe it at first...Categorized as:
multicultural black-mc contemporary humor suspense friends to lovers bad boys from hate to love -
![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... -
![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 -
![The Forward Must Cry by Xavier Neal]()
The Forward Must Cry by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsOnce upon a time, the Vlasta Vipers hockey team was so incredible — on and off the ice — they were almost mythical. Rightfully, labeled as legends. Affectionately, worshiped in the sheets like rock stars. However, when their glorious reign came crashing to an end, the idols lost much more than their treasured titles. They became the laughingstock of locker rooms... -
![Ghosts of Christmas (Steamy Bwwm Holiday Romance) by Kenya Wright]()
Ghosts of Christmas (Steamy Bwwm Holiday Romance) by Kenya Wright
This is A Christmas Carol with an erotic romantic twist. Bestselling author Kenya Wright is heating the holidays up with a steamy standalone novel full of magic. _______________. Leaning forward, Saint put his mouth close to mine. “Your kisses are my favorite part of Christmas. My favorite part of you. ”. “Why? ” I whispered. “Because they’re the first door to your body...Categorized as:
multicultural black-mc curvy heroine humor contemporary bwwm sassy heroine alpha male -
![Lunchtime Chronicles: Spice Cake by Keta Kendric]()
Lunchtime Chronicles: Spice Cake by Keta Kendric
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 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... -
![Tease by Camilla Stevens]()
Tease by Camilla Stevens
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 13 ratings“Hello, neighbor. Going down? ”. Miss Pink. That’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... -
![Big Girl Panties by Michaela Sawyer]()
Big Girl Panties by Michaela Sawyer
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThis romantic comedy will break your heart. .. and then make you laugh so hard it'll put the pieces back together! One man's trash is another man's treasure. When my ex-husband, Chris, left me shattered, I thought I'd never recover. Then Matt, a famous wrestler, came into my life. He patiently put me back together, making me feel beautiful again even when I couldn't see it myself... -
![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... -
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![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... -
![Curve Ball: An Older Man/Younger Woman Curvy Girl Romance (Curvy Soulmates ) by Kat Baxter]()
Curve Ball: An Older Man/Younger Woman Curvy Girl Romance (Curvy Soulmates ) by Kat Baxter
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsNanny…or soulmate? Maddox. I may be a quarterback, not a baseball player, but that didn’t keep life from throwing me a curve ball. I'm contracted to play my final season in the NFL, my career is on a high and I want to go out on top. Complication? Six months ago, I gained custody of my sister’s young kids. They are my priority, but I need help in the form of live-in nanny extraordinaire, Finley...Categorized as:
sports athletes contemporary humor age difference boss & employee virgin heroine single-father -
![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 Prescott. By 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... -
![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. Teddy. I’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... -
![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 -
![Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin]()
Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 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... -
![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... -
![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... -
![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 -
![Eat Slay Love by Kenya Wright]()
Eat Slay Love by Kenya Wright
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsOne night of indulgence. As a sought-after film intimacy coordinator, Rae has spent years choreographing passion on screen while her own love life has faded into the background. This year, she’s planning to change things... -
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![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... -
![Changing Lanes by Katie Graykowski]()
Changing Lanes by Katie Graykowski
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 21 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...Categorized as:
athletes sports humor contemporary length-medium audiobook standalone standalone-first -
![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? Dante. Behind 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 -
![Breakout by Aven Ellis]()
Breakout by Aven Ellis
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 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... -
![Royal Engagement by Chance Carter]()
Royal Engagement by Chance Carter
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 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... -
![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... -
![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... -
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![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... -
![All Your Reasons Why by Kenzie Reed]()
All Your Reasons Why by Kenzie Reed
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom Bestselling author Kenzie Reed comes a hilarious, standalone, billionaire, enemies-to-lovers, hockey romance. I got pucked . . . Never in a million years did I think that I’d have to become a babysitter in order to secure my place as the publicist for the local NHL team, the Rovers. Yet here I am, organizing events to help rebuild the public image of their MVP, Mason Raker...Categorized as:
sports athletes hockey contemporary from hate to love super rich hero humor length-medium -
![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... -
![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 to. keep me warm with your 'hot body'. Who calls their own body. hot 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...
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