Books like 'Ruthless Rival'
Readers who enjoyed Ruthless Rival by L.J. Shen also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny dark romance super rich hero from hate to love vengeance forbidden love angst alpha male second chances
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Demon's Dream by Elle Kayson
Demon Clawing my way from the depths of hell to haunt the nightmares and steal the lives of many, I earned the name “Demon. ” Hardened by a life that no one should live, I had rules that governed my existence. No caring. No intimacy. No love. And then I saw her… Dream. Beautiful. Brave. Bold. And for thirty days, she was mine. I would follow my have her body, ignore her heart... -
![Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One by T.M. Frazier]()
Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One by T.M. Frazier
Bowtie. .. 'till I DIE. Samuel Clearwater, A. K. A Preppy, likes bowties, pancakes, suspenders, good friends, good times, good drugs, and a good f*ck. He’s worked his way out from beneath a hellish childhood and is living the life he’s always imagined for himself...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love angst cruel hero new adult strong heroine sassy heroine slow burn -
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![Rock Chick Reawakening: A Rock Chick Novella by Kristen Ashley]()
Rock Chick Reawakening: A Rock Chick Novella by Kristen Ashley
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author, Kristen Ashley, comes the long-awaited story of Daisy and Marcus, Rock Chick Reawakening...Categorized as:
alpha male strong heroine m-f super rich hero new adult angst friends to lovers second chances -
![Rex by Lola Wright, Pam Clinton]()
Rex by Lola Wright, Pam Clinton
Aria. Leaving Chicago and my mafia family ties behind, I plant new roots in Denver. The move accomplished a couple of very important things. It put me closer to my brother and got me away from an arranged marriage within Chicago’s toughest crime family. My much-loved brother is a member of a motorcycle club, The Devil’s Angels, and they welcomed me and my family with open arms... -
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![Beautiful Beast by Neva Altaj]()
Beautiful Beast by Neva Altaj
Nobody touches what's mine without fatal consequences,. But when the most beautiful woman is brought to face my fury,. My dead heart suddenly begins to beat again. There are no fairy tales in this life. Beauty will never fall for the beast. But this monster doesn't intend to let her go. Everybody has a price. It's just a question of currency. My sweet little hacker can't be swayed by money,... -
![Silent Lies by Neva Altaj]()
Silent Lies by Neva Altaj
DRAGO. There is only one punishment for spies and liars,. A slow and painful death. And my sweet, angelic wife,. Who bewitched everyone in my home,. From my men - even to my dogs,. Is the worst traitor of all. But it seems I have fallen under her spell as well,. With every smile, every ridiculous outfit,. I'm struggling,. And failing. I want to hate her,. But instead, I'm yearning to hear,... -
![Unchosen Ruler by Maggie Cole]()
Unchosen Ruler by Maggie Cole
He’s the future unchosen ruler of the O’Malleys. Locked away for too many years. Underestimated and pissed off. Protective beyond all rationale. Possessive unlike any man I’ve ever known. I should run. Except Liam O'Malley isn't a choice. He's the air I breathe. Still, I wonder if I can really be queen of the O’Malleys—especially when I discover the truth about who I am...Categorized as:
sassy heroine independent heroine career professional alpha male m-f suspense mafia possessive hero -
![Menace by J.M. Darhower]()
Menace by J.M. Darhower
Once upon a time, there was a guy who got so fed up with life that he resorted to murder and mayhem just to feel alive. Lorenzo Gambini is bored. So fucking bored. Most people either annoy him or avoid him, afraid to face him. Figuratively. Literally. With his face partially disfigured, scarred, he looks every bit the monster the stories make him out to be: the notorious menace they call Scar...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love strong heroine vengeance cold hero competent heroine angst new adult -
![Twisted Pride by Cora Reilly]()
Twisted Pride by Cora Reilly
Remo Falcone is beyond redemption. As Capo of the Camorra he rules with a brutal hand over his territory – a territory the Chicago Outfit breached. Now Remo is out for retribution. A wedding is sacred, stealing a bride sacrilegious...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male angst strong heroine vengeance forbidden love tortured hero new adult -
![Born into Chaos by Sonja Grey]()
Born into Chaos by Sonja Grey
She saved my life…and she’s never going to let me forget it. If I ever lay my hands on Svetlana Melnikov,. her dad has made it abundantly clear what will happen to me. It involves a dull blade and the loss of my favorite body part. Even with that threat hanging over me,. I want her. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything,. and now I’m in a mess and need her help... -
![Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann]()
Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe summer before fourth grade, Colten Mosley moved into the house across the street from mine, and we became inseparable. He played the piano and baseball. I had a penchant for dead things while at the same time imagining what it would be like to kiss Colten. We were filled with curiosity and overly active imaginations. We were also forbidden to be more than friends. But that didn’t stop us...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst forced proximity alpha male from hate to love second chances betrayal m-f -
![Loyal by Default: Legacy of Carter Reed by K.C. Mills]()
Loyal by Default: Legacy of Carter Reed by K.C. Mills
Carter Reed is an assassin with a heart that only beats for one person, McKenna Smith. In a perfect world she would be the light to his darkness. Carter’s world, however, is far from perfect. Which means McKenna cannot exist in it without a target on her back. While he’s away, Carter’s enemies get close and McKenna’s life is threatened...Categorized as:
angst m-f forbidden love forced proximity second chances found-family betrayal vengeance -
![Massimo by Olivia Thorn]()
Massimo by Olivia Thorn
Lucia:. I hated him from the second he opened his mouth. Sure, he was gorgeous – 6’7” with more muscles than Henry Cavill. And those warm brown eyes… and the deep, deep voice…. But he was a mafioso, and he tried to tell me what to do. I’ve had enough of THAT to last me five lifetimes. See, I was born into the most powerful Cosa Nostra family in Venice, Italy…... -
![Lock by Lilly Atlas]()
Lock by Lilly Atlas
Lock is a man haunted by past mistakes, struggling to rebuild his life. Devastated by the loss of his twin sister to a drug overdose, he now bears the weight of raising her infant son. Overwhelmed by grief and the responsibility thrust upon him, Lock seeks solace in the very substances that stole his only sibling... -
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![Distortion by Kyra Alessy]()
Distortion by Kyra Alessy
DAISY. They called me broken. Dangerous. At thirteen, I was sent to a facility; their perfect patient. Now? I'm back after ten years, and the notes appearing in my room suggest my mother's death wasn't the accident everyone claims. Living under my stepbrother's roof should be simple. Keep my head down. Start fresh...Categorized as:
angst betrayal cruel hero new adult from hate to love forbidden love forced proximity cold hero -
![Handsome Devil by L.J. Shen]()
Handsome Devil by L.J. Shen
I made a deal with the devil to save my mother…. But is it really hell if I love the way it burns? Gia. The monster from my nightmares crawled into my reality, masquerading as my boss. Tatum Blackthorn is Lucifer, personified. When he discovers my weakness, he makes me an offer I cannot refuse, and I become his wife... -
![Wildest Dreams by L.J. Shen]()
Wildest Dreams by L.J. Shen
He’ll protect his best friend’s baby sister from anything…other than himself. Rhyland. Dylan Casablancas is a forbidden fruit,. Undeniably delicious, but one bite just might kill you. She’s my best friend’s baby sister, a single mom, and a royal pain in the ass... -
![Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires]()
Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires
He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance. Now he's back, but he’s no longer after my secrets. The man who stars in my nightmares wants me. -
![Adoration by Jane Henry]()
Adoration by Jane Henry
In a world shrouded in secrets and desire, Quinn's life takes a treacherous turn when she witnesses Adriano, a dominant and possessive billionaire, commit an act of ruthless vengeance. Quinn faces a choice: give up her life, or become Adriano's wife. Caught between her past and a dangerous present, Quinn discovers an unlikely sanctuary in the arms of a man trained to kill...Categorized as:
from hate to love super rich hero new adult vengeance angst betrayal alpha male independent heroine -
![Mac by Jane Henry]()
Mac by Jane Henry
Bryn Aitkens is the daughter of my enemy. And my enemies must pay. Vengeance for the wrong done my family has driven me. Consumed me. And collateral damage means nothing. So I’ll charm the innocent girl. Seduce her. Win her over, heart and body. Ruin her for anyone but me. And then strike the Aitkens family when they least suspect it. For no enemy of the Cowen Clan goes unpunished…. Including her. -
![The Return by Amelia Shea]()
The Return by Amelia Shea
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsBorn and raised a Ghosttown girl, Trista Anderson has nothing but love for her hometown. After her recent graduation from college, she is eager to return and start the next chapter of her life. However, things don’t go according to plan when her homecoming is derailed by a biker club, an altercation, and a sexy new neighbor who grates on her last nerve...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male friends to lovers angst betrayal contemporary bikers dark -
![Notorious by K.E. Osborn]()
Notorious by K.E. Osborn
Nothing but death surrounds me. For years, I’ve lived with the ghosts of the people who have died because of me. I hear their screams, I see their bodies. Like a never-ending circle, the vision replays in my mind. Hiding, locking myself away when the voices in my head get too loud, is my only saving grace. That is until one wild night, I meet Haven at a bar... -
![Cash by Ruby Vincent]()
Cash by Ruby Vincent
They ripped me from my safe, perfect world and bound me in chains. Now it's Cash's turn. The cold, hard, analytical leader has a problem he needs me to solve, and he's not asking. I'm driven deep into the world of cons and corruption. I can't tell if anything around me is real. Least of all the smiling, pleasant people. Someone is playing us for a fool, and it might be me...Categorized as:
from hate to love new adult vengeance cruel hero cold hero m-f angst forced proximity -
![Remy by Eden Summers]()
Remy by Eden Summers
“Ollie, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you not to scream. ”. HER. We met by chance at a random dive bar. Him - a striking figure in a tailored suit who radiates dominance. Me - an awkward introvert, innocently stalking my father. He seduced me. Worshipped me. Then, in a blink, he vanished, leaving no trace—not even a name or number. HIM. I wasn’t supposed to see her again... -
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![Good Trouble by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Good Trouble by Lani Lynn Vale
Bain met Diana, a. k. a. Luce, the night before he was set to deploy to Afghanistan. It’s not every day that you take your brother’s girlfriend to prom because he refuses to put out the effort. That night was one of the best nights of his life and the next day, he leaves and doesn’t see her again. But there are letters. Not many, but enough for them to form a connection... -
![Andrey by LeAnn Ashers]()
Andrey by LeAnn Ashers
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsNicole. Since I was a little girl, raising my younger sister had always been my main priority. I never imagined, however, that taking care of her would put me in danger. Men came for her, but kidnapped me instead by mistake. Then he rescued me, and on that day, he claimed me. Andrey is mine just as much as I am his. Andrey. The second her eyes met mine I saw the fear in them... -
![Diamond In The Rough by Emilia Finn]()
Diamond In The Rough by Emilia Finn
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe’s New York’s deadliest enforcer. But I’m the villain in this story. Micah Malone is the son of a notoriously cruel, and thankfully dead, mafia boss. Now he’s the organization’s enforcer, and right hand to his brother’s reign. He’s the broadest of five boys. The quietest. And the deadliest. Yet, even with his blade pressed to my throat, he’s still the only man who makes me feel alive...Categorized as:
from hate to love tortured hero strong heroine m-f forbidden love mafia multicultural contemporary -
![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... -
![Cake by J. Bengtsson]()
Cake by J. Bengtsson
Jake McKallister may have been a rockstar but he was no ordinary one. Surviving an unspeakable crime as a young teen had shaped him into the guarded, workaholic he was today. He lived his life trying to forget. If it hadn’t been for music, and the redemption he found through it, he might not have survived. Career success came easily for him. Personal connections did not... -
![Bratva Knight by T.J. Maguire]()
Bratva Knight by T.J. Maguire
Nikolai Volkov. The funny thing about trust is it’s so hard to gain but so easy to lose. One stupid mistake cost me the only woman I’ve ever loved. Cost me her. Tatiana Andreeva. My fierce, golden-haired goddess with the face of an angel and the attitude of the fucking devil... -
![Fixate by K.E. Osborn]()
Fixate by K.E. Osborn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe’s a part of me. Even though I don’t know her name. The woman I’ve been exchanging letters with and developed feelings for over the past five years. But I can’t help feeling torn in two when I’m suddenly pulled toward another. Maxxy, the club’s horticulturalist, is strong, sassy, and she gives me so much lip the aggravation is exasperating. She infuriates me. She ignites me... -
![Stolen Touches by Neva Altaj]()
Stolen Touches by Neva Altaj
Milene. Rules,. I know them,. But I didn’t follow them. I moved into his city, his domain without approval. And now, it’s time for me to pay the price. Marry the cold, calculating Don of La Cosa Nostra,. The man who many have never seen-or could recognize,. And be bound to the mafia forever. But when he comes to collect me,. I realize that this isn’t the first time we’ve met. Salvatore... -
![The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori]()
The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
She’s a romantic at heart, living in the most unromantic of worlds . . . Nicknamed Sweet Abelli for her docile nature, Elena smiles on cue and has a charming response for everything. She’s the favored daughter, the perfect mafia principessa . . . or was. Now, all she can see in the mirror’s reflection is blood staining her hands like crimson paint. They say first impressions are everything .Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love super rich hero angst forbidden love slow burn new adult cold hero -
![Scorned Obsession by Victoria Paige]()
Scorned Obsession by Victoria Paige
It’s when her obsession for him vanishes that he becomes desperate to have it back. Bianca De Lucci has always been obsessed with Sandro Rossi. He was the hero of her girlish dreams. And the dream man of her adolescence. But no matter how much she showed him she wanted more,. he always treated her like a younger sister... -
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![Cashmere Cruelty by Nicole Fox]()
Cashmere Cruelty by Nicole Fox
When is the worst time to tell someone he’s going to be a father? Probably the day of the wedding…. When he is getting married to someone else. Well, that is exactly what I did. But my hands were tied. Literally. Matvey Groza is a dangerous man. And nine months ago, he strolled into my shop looking for a custom suit. But when I accidentally walked in on him in the changing room,...Categorized as:
m-f from hate to love found-family angst sassy heroine cold hero super rich hero strong heroine -
![Undulate by Elodie Hart]()
Undulate by Elodie Hart
MADDY. I cultivate my shamelessness. I wore it as a badge of honour at my convent school, and I’ve been turning it into an art form at Alchemy, the club whose social media I manage. My boss, though? He’s the most proper person I’ve ever met. No one would peg him as the Finance Director of a sex club. (I mean, no one’s pegging him at all, which is probably his problem. #justsayin). I get it... -
![Bright Lights and Summer Nights by Kat Singleton]()
Bright Lights and Summer Nights by Kat Singleton
Summer nights can be full of surprises. As a single, unemployed, and unapologetic twenty-five year old mess, I came to the Hamptons this summer for one reason—to focus on myself and work out my quarter-life crisis. I didn’t come here planning to sneak into a private party and meet a handsome stranger... -
![Inked Adonis by Nicole Fox]()
Inked Adonis by Nicole Fox
My BFF sent the hot stranger a voice note. .. Of me saying I want to climb him like a tree. And he just. Texted. Back. It's the dog's fault, really. If this untrained Great Dane I'm walking had any manners at all, I never would've ended up. With my leash wrapped around the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. Lucky for me, the guy is a good sport about it...Categorized as:
super rich hero found-family from hate to love m-f friends to lovers alpha male new adult betrayal -
![Mad Max by S.J. Rowe]()
Mad Max by S.J. Rowe
Cheyanne —I don’t have friends. And I’m not crazy, my mother had me tested. I have my uncle, but he’s in prison. While I’m not great with social cues, I do know it’s not a good dinner topic to bring up I’m related to someone charged for treason. But that doesn’t seem to bother him. A beast of a man who takes me for what I am and doesn’t question. Or at least not till his club thinks I’m the enemy... -
![Devil You Know by L.A. Fiore]()
Devil You Know by L.A. Fiore
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsDamian Tate. One look into his sad green eyes and I was hooked. I wanted to be the one to make him laugh, to make him smile. I hadn't expected him to be the one to make me blush, to make me hot. .. to make me fall in love. He was my first kiss, my first love, my first everything. I wanted forever with him, but life got in the way... -
![Stolen by J.M. Johnson]()
Stolen by J.M. Johnson
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDante wasn't looking for a woman. He was content with being a single dad, and slowly but surely taking his place as leader of his club, Devil's Disciples. His life was busy, and he didn't need women complicating things. Fuck them, leave them. Don't catch feelings. But Dante had never met a woman like Rachel. Rachel has a past. One she has worked hard at erasing...Categorized as:
from hate to love forced proximity betrayal new adult dark single-father insta-love contemporary -
![Charity's Torment by Ann-Marie Davis]()
Charity's Torment by Ann-Marie Davis
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAll I wanted was to find my brother after he disappeared. I didn't plan on somebody trying to make me disappear, too. All in a day's work for the Moreno Family's feistiest enforcer. When the twists begin to fly and I'm turned in new directions, I realize there's more to my brother's sudden disappearance than meets the eye. Thankfully, I've got plenty of knowledge, and muscle, in my corner:... -
![Fair Game by Amelia Wilde]()
Fair Game by Amelia Wilde
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGabriel Hill has always been too charming for his own good. Women. Money. Information. Sex got him everything he ever wanted, until it almost killed him. A price he was willing to pay, before he met Elise. Before he fell for her. Now revenge isn't enough for him. He wants it all. The most beautiful woman. The most dangerous game. And a happily ever after, if it's not too late to save them both. -
![Filthy Deal by Lisa Renee Jones]()
Filthy Deal by Lisa Renee Jones
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA standalone dark romance from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lisa Renee Jones. They say my father is ruthless, CEO of the Kingston empire, while I remain the illegitimate backup heir, son to his mistress. He sent me to Harvard where he no doubt expected me to fail but I don't fail anymore than I take charity... -
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![Too Safe by Abby Millsaps]()
Too Safe by Abby Millsaps
Never let them get you to the second location. Even if that location happens to be a lakeside mansion home to four hot-as-sin men. After years of living in survival mode, I’m finally hitting rewind on the story of my life. There’s nothing standing in the way of my bright future at Lake Chapel University. Or so I thought...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love forced proximity alpha male strong heroine cold hero m-f found-family -
![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... -
![Ruthless Villain by Faith Summers, Khardine Gray]()
Ruthless Villain by Faith Summers, Khardine Gray
My Knight. My Rebel. My Forbidden Villain …. In the dazzling lights of Vegas, I indulged in a passionate one-night stand with a man who looked like a Greek god in the flesh. We agreed: no names, no strings attached, just an unforgettable night of fun. The plan was simple—say goodbye and move on. Little did I know fate had other ideas for me. I never expected to run into Mr... -
![Spotless by Camilla Monk]()
Spotless by Camilla Monk
Island Chaptal—nerdy IT engineer by day, romance novel junkie by night—just walked into her messy New York apartment to find Mr. Right waiting for her. No, wait… Mr. Clean . A gentleman professional killer with a bad case of OCD and zero tolerance for unsorted laundry, March isn’t there to kill her…yet. He wants the diamond her late mother stole for a sinister criminal organization...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love cold hero m-f rich heroine alpha male slow burn strong heroine -
![Comeback Hero by Jackie Walker]()
Comeback Hero by Jackie Walker
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBeing one of the only female bodyguards at the elite Redleg Security, you’d think I would thrive in difficult situations. But not even my past experience as an Army operative has taught me how to handle the frustration of living with my scorching hot coworker and not being able to ride his face to pleasuretown every night... -
![Waiting on Forever by Claudia Connor]()
Waiting on Forever by Claudia Connor
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDallas Walker is haunted. He won’t ever forget the horrors he witnessed while working undercover to bust a human trafficking ring, but he has a plan to start a new life. Coming home to his family is step one. Getting to know his alluring new neighbor could be step two. If only she’d give him a chance…. Maggie Ellis just wants to be left alone...Categorized as:
friends to lovers tortured hero forced proximity contemporary humor dark length-medium audiobook
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