Books like 'What's It Gonna Take'
Readers who enjoyed What's It Gonna Take by Lacey Black also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary alpha male forced proximity friends to lovers
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Pretty It Up by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsDescriptionSometimes love just isn’t enough, or is it?Lana Gold, one of the Donovan triplets, found her one true love in college but lost him when the life he’d dreamed of became reality. Being an outsider looking in and so far away from her family and hometown took its toll on Lana and her marriage until she’d finally had enough and left it all behind...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male sports contemporary second chances multicultural length-short -
![Tech Billionaires Box Set by Ainsley St. Claire]()
Tech Billionaires Box Set by Ainsley St. Claire
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe entire five-book series together and in order.House of CardsI built my empire for her.After years of planning I was ready.I had the ring in my pocket, I was that sure.But as the words leave her lips, "I'm engaged"... Crushed isn't the right word.Determined?Driven?Crazed?Those are getting close... -
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![Bookmarked by Bella Jay]()
Bookmarked by Bella Jay
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhat if your soon-to-be ex-husband invited you on a divorcemoon, five nights at your bucket list baecation spot for one last hoorah before you go your separate ways? Would you go?Brooklin did... -
![Deja Brew by Jessica Gadziala]()
Deja Brew by Jessica Gadziala
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWithin the struggling cafe Deja Brew, trouble percolates beneath the coffee beans. The shop’s owner, Shale, is forced into a dangerous game by a cartel, and when her shipment vanishes, it's game on.Shale's only hope is an unexpected Junior. Her only regular, and a local hacker with a knack for saving the day... -
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![Kissing the Rival by Kaylee Ryan]()
Kissing the Rival by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 15 ratings**Kissing the Rival is part of a multi-author series following a group of friends. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel.Charlotte I’m not just kissing the rival… I’m falling for him. Spencer Pennington has always been a shameless flirt, but when it came to being the best in our MBA program, all bets were off, and the competition was on... -
![His Wounded Heart: Small Town Romance by Caitlyn O'Leary]()
His Wounded Heart: Small Town Romance by Caitlyn O'Leary
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s my soulmate. But will I be enough to heal his wounded heart?SimonThe Navy’s been my life. Being a SEAL is all I ever wanted, commanding them a dream come true. But I lost sight of everything else and missed the big things—things going on right in front of me. How could I not see how much my sister needed me? I knew her husband was off and should have checked him out...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers military age difference contemporary length-medium -
![Critical Strike by Janie Crouch]()
Critical Strike by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsYou won't want to miss this heart-pounding bodyguard thriller from Janie Crouch. Previously Published as Texas Bodyguard: Luke.She’s seen too muchAnd he’s running out of time to save her…The last person security expert Luke Patterson ever expected to see again is in desperate trouble. Claire Wallace witnessed her boss’s murder…and the killer is tearing her quiet life apart to find her...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity suspense mystery military contemporary length-short -
![Love Songs Suck by Becky Monson]()
Love Songs Suck by Becky Monson
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA reluctant woman, a determined popstar, and the song that started it all.After growing up in Nashville with two musician parents, I promised myself one thing—I would never, ever fall in love with anyone who had anything to do with the music scene. I will take my stable, albeit boring, accountant boyfriend, thank you very much, and live securely ever after. At least that was the plan...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers humor contemporary length-medium rockstars audiobook -
![Play to Win by Ja'Nese Dixon]()
Play to Win by Ja'Nese Dixon
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsKamal’s an ex-football player. Jayda’s a single mother uninterested in another relationship until she sees Kamal with her daughter.Every rejection will only make his victory sweeter. He plans to lick, taste, and devour her like the delicacy she is until the world, her ex, and Jayda recognizes his name tatted on every inch of her curvy body... -
![Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott]()
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
A vintage VW van. Four friends. A cross-country road trip.It will be the best adventure of my life, if only I can shake the feelings I have for Cameron .Cameron Reeves is as gorgeous as his name makes him sound.He’s about six feet tall, which is the height I always wrote in my ideal man list in my journal. Yes. I have a list of qualities I want in a man... -
![Don't Go Faking My Heart by Kate Watson]()
Don't Go Faking My Heart by Kate Watson
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIt should be a match made in heaven, except she’s only attracted to jerks, and he’s a cinnamon roll…with burnt edges.I, Ashley Jane Moore, am a glorious disaster.Listen, I like myself, but the men in my life typically don’t. Not my dad and certainly not my manipulative ex. The one exception is my best friend, Rusty... -
![Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin]()
Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsDanielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny. And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary dual-pov office new adult length-short -
![Too Young To Fall In Love by Lacey Black]()
Too Young To Fall In Love by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsKellenI love my job. Bartending is more than just serving drinks to customers at the hottest bar and restaurant in Stewart Grove. It’s the people I work with and those I meet along the way. I know how to have a good time. Just one flirty little grin and the ladies are like putty in my hands. But they know the score: I’m a one and done guy, not looking to ever fall into the trap of love... -
![Bodyguard by Night by Taryn Quinn]()
Bodyguard by Night by Taryn Quinn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsProtecting my best friend's new sister-in-law Willow from a fan who wants to get a little too close is a no-brainer. Just requires me to do some checking around, to act as her shadow for a while, maybe even give her a place to stay so I can keep an eye on her—all so my best friend's small-town wedding to Willow's sister goes off without a hitch...Categorized as:
forced proximity alpha male contemporary super rich hero age difference length-long m-f -
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![High Country Hero by Elle James]()
High Country Hero by Elle James
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLauded for his daring rescue of a medical team captured by Islamic State terrorists, Navy SEAL Enrico “Rico” Cortez feels like anything but a hero. His friend and fellow teammate lost his life during that rescue. Plagued by PTSD, Rico leaves the Navy. Reluctantly, he accepts his only job offer, joining the Brotherhood Protectors in Colorado... -
![Left-Handed Monkey Wrench by Giulia Lagomarsino]()
Left-Handed Monkey Wrench by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsChase Carter. You’ve read about them in Reed Security. You’ve come to know a little about who the men of OPS are. But everything you thought you knew is a lie—smoke and mirrors. The truth of OPS is hidden deep inside, waiting to be revealed. Owens Protective Services. Defend. Investigate. Secure...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers alpha male contemporary suspense humor military length-medium -
![The Cost of Forgetting You by Hannah Bird]()
The Cost of Forgetting You by Hannah Bird
Falling in love with a Parker must be genetic. It's the only way Delilah Ridgefield can make sense of the mess that is her life. Some other things that are genetic? The hazel eyes she shares with her mom, the need to care for others that she gets from her dad, and her father's dementia diagnosis, which brings him back into her life after years of radio silence...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity cowboys contemporary length-long open-door audiobook -
![Moonstruck by Dana LeCheminant]()
Moonstruck by Dana LeCheminant
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWith his knack for bad luck, Liam isn’t surprised when he’s awarded house arrest after protecting a fan at his last show. What he didn’t expect was the girl of his dreams showing up with his lunch delivery and turning his confinement into an unexpected friendship... -
![Wheels Down by Beth Bolden]()
Wheels Down by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShaw isn’t his friend—until Ross discovers he’s so much more. Ross Stanton is having a bad week—a bad month—really, a bad year . But the last thing he wants, after the betrayal of his friend and business partner, is for anyone else to know just how much he’s fighting for survival...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity m-m contemporary hurt-comfort queer length-medium -
![Presently Perfect by Alison G. Bailey]()
Presently Perfect by Alison G. Bailey
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsPerfection is an illusion fueled by the perception of others. Tweet was my heart, my soul, and my purpose. She was my everything. Neither of us were perfect. We both made mistakes. Looking back, that was okay, because every choice brought us to where we needed to be at the time we needed to be there. The one constant, our love and friendship... -
![Savor You by Kristen Proby]()
Savor You by Kristen Proby
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn the next sizzling romance in Kristen Proby's New York Times bestselling Fusion series, two celebrity chefs compete in a culinary competition, but resisting each other will prove to be the greater challenge. Cooking isn't what Mia Palazzo does, it's who she is. Food is her passion . . . her pride . . . her true love...Categorized as:
alpha male friends to lovers contemporary second chances pregnancy length-medium audiobook -
![The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz]()
The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen an outgoing musical maven meets the enigmatic neuroscientist next door, will their worlds clash in a dramatic showdown of art versus science, or will they discover that love is the ultimate experiment worth conducting?When celebrated Broadway composer Hadley Olivier’s best friend receives a life-threatening diagnosis, Hadley says goodbye to her beloved home in NYC and sets off to the West...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity grumpy sunshine contemporary humor menage length-long -
![Wishing for Champagne Kisses by Brittanee Nicole]()
Wishing for Champagne Kisses by Brittanee Nicole
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBest Friends Don’t Kiss.Ryan Manning has been my best friend since we were kids. He’s my secret keeper. The holder of all my truths and the person I admire most in the world. He’s also a Lumbersnack and the man I’ve secretly pined after for decades.But we don’t talk about that.I’m just here in Lake Tahoe for the next week to play the part of his doting girlfriend...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity alpha male humor contemporary christmas dual-pov angst -
![The Specialist by Melanie Moreland]()
The Specialist by Melanie Moreland
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFinal installment of the Men of Hidden JusticeEgan VulpeTrained explosives expert. Gun for hire. Loner.Until the day he falls in love.He leaves the dangerous world he knows behind. He paints, owns a gym, and co-runs Elite Security.In the past, he has worked with his friends at Hidden Justice, always staying behind the scenes.But not far enough behind...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity alpha male contemporary suspense mystery possessive hero angst -
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![Longtime Crush by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
Longtime Crush by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen my best friend and I fell for the same guy in middle school, I stepped back.I'd always expected to dance at their wedding.Not sit in the back pew of her funeral.I left town for my own reasons, but now that I'm back, it’s clear Sebastian Montgomery isn't the same man I left.He's hard. Broken.And a single father to an adorable little girl... -
![Can't Resist Him by Molly McLain, Sommer Stein]()
Can't Resist Him by Molly McLain, Sommer Stein
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 12 ratings*** SPECIAL PRE-ORDER PRICE OF $2.99!*** Sometimes what you want and what you need are two very different things. Always relegated to the "friends with benefits" corner of small town River Bend, Jenny Riley is done giving the milk for free. Falling hard for a bad boy? Not in the plan, either. Sexy, emotionally-wounded Marine Reservist Brody Nelson just needs someone to lend an ear... -
![Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell]()
Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhat’s a brokenhearted romance novelist to do when an interview accidentally turns her into the villain? I’ll tell you one thing—the plan definitely wasn’t to turn to the man who taught me that happily ever afters exist only on the page...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary grumpy sunshine from hate to love m-f -
![Our Chance by Margaret McHeyzer]()
Our Chance by Margaret McHeyzer
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWe started out as friends.But as time goes by I find myself developing a crush on Jake.I’m fairly certain our attraction is mutual. When we’re together we’re dynamic, our chemistry is undeniable. But something is stopping us from acting on our feelings.Resisting him is nearly impossible.The problem is, I’m running from my past... -
![Kissing A Stranger by Lacey Black]()
Kissing A Stranger by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDeckerIf you ask my family, I’m wasting my life. If you ask me, I’m living it to the fullest. Am I capable of doing more? Absolutely. However, slinging drinks at the resort makes me happy. At least for now. Not that my family would understand.It’s just another night behind the bar, until it isn’t. She’s everything I never knew I wanted wrapped up in one breathtaking package... -
![Pretty Drunk by Lacey Black]()
Pretty Drunk by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHallieNo one pushes my buttons the way Logan Johnson does. I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to ignore him, which isn’t easy when you live in a small town and share the same friends.So, when I have a little too much to drink and need a place to crash after our friends’ wedding, it would figure I find myself at Logan’s house. What I’m not expecting is ending up in his bed. With him. Naked... -
![May's Ride with Thunder by Eve London]()
May's Ride with Thunder by Eve London
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHe’s the protector she didn’t know she needed; she’s the love he never thought he deserved.AshleyWhen the Savage Bones MC targets my family’s ranch, I’m desperate for help. I turn to Thunder, a much older member of the Mustang Mountain Riders, and offer him the only thing I have. When he turns me down, I’m left questioning everything...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity age difference contemporary bikers length-novella -
![Always Destined by Scarlett Avery]()
Always Destined by Scarlett Avery
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsSo I lied about my best friend’s older brother being my boyfriend. I never expected him to find out in this humiliating way…Loki Berkshire… There are some unwritten BFF codes… abiding rules, you might call them.No one has to speak them.You just know.Like coveting my best friend’s older brother. Bad idea.Wanting to kiss him more than I want to take my next breath. Really bad idea...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male siblings-bff super rich hero contemporary length-long m-f -
![Broken Bridge by Nana Malone]()
Broken Bridge by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne miscalculation.One misstep had cost me everything. I lost my sister and my wife.I will burn down the world to get them back. Even if I have to become someone they fear.Forget vows, forget brotherhood. All I have left is rage. I have made promises I intend to keep.I will right the wrongs of The Elite, ensure vengeance for Emma, even if it cost me my soul... -
![Better Day by Karen Deen]()
Better Day by Karen Deen
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA secret romance is one thing ...but living a life of lies takes it to the next level. My assignment is to protect them, then walk away when it's over.Simple!Until she walks through that door, frightened, vulnerable, and overwhelmed.Cassie is becoming my greatest weakness. She's the sacred fruit I shouldn't want, but from that first taste of her lips, turning away is no longer an option... -
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![Deja Brew All Over Again by Sylvie Stewart]()
Deja Brew All Over Again by Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTrouble has always had a way of finding me, but I never expected to be carjacked by a hot girl in a wedding dress.As the official family screw-up, not many people count on me for anything but a good time. But Maisy Romero and her little brother need a knight in shining armor, and they need him yesterday... -
![Caution by A.K. Evans]()
Caution by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLike every hardworking member of Harper Security Ops, Forrest Hickman takes time away from work to relax and recharge. And he often does that while riding his snowboard on the slopes of his favorite ski resort.He wasn’t sure anything would be better than some time alone to clear his head. That is, until he meets someone to spend his break with... -
![Wild In The Windy City: The Anthology Volume 3 by Rachel Brookes, Audrey Carlan]()
Wild In The Windy City: The Anthology Volume 3 by Rachel Brookes, Audrey Carlan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew Year's Eve on Navy Pier.A sexy, breathless night.Eighteen authors bring magic, steam, and romance to the Resolution Gala on Navy Pier this New Year’s Eve. Don’t miss the fireworks.All proceeds from this anthology benefit Bernie's Book Bank (https://www.berniesbookbank.org/)RELEASE DATE December 10, 2019Look for a pre-order link later this Fall!ANTHOLOGY AUTHORS:Rachel BrookesAudrey CarlanL.M... -
![Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente]()
Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSo let me get this straight... For the next few days I’ve got myself a grumpy fake husband who’s also kind of my...bodyguard?I guess that’s a better way to spend the weekend than binge-watching reality television, especially since it’s kind of my fault we’re on the run from the mob and I need a protector.Oops...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers grumpy sunshine contemporary humor length-medium audiobook -
![Jesse's Girl by Hannah Brixton]()
Jesse's Girl by Hannah Brixton
Buckle up, Buttercup…Three nosy relatives, two jobs, one fledgling side hustle, and zero roommate prospects. No wonder Ada Russo is saltier than the rim of a margarita glass. When her brother’s best friend lands in Lennox Valley needing a place to stay for the summer, Ada’s spare room is the logical choice...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers humor contemporary length-long explicit-open-door -
![Can't Bucking Wait by Elle Thorpe]()
Can't Bucking Wait by Elle Thorpe
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’ve wanted to be a big city doctor my entire life. I studied hard. Got into Harvard. Then moved across the other side of the country, leaving my family’s small-town ranch and bull riding school behind. I’ve hated every moment since. My older sister’s wedding is the perfect excuse for an extended trip back home...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity cowboys contemporary angst length-medium audiobook -
![Gamble by Elyse Kelly]()
Gamble by Elyse Kelly
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThis Sinner doesn't play, he only wins...When Gamble finds out his manager hired a new dancer at his strip club, he's eager to get a look at the hottest attraction everyone's been talking about. But one look at the seductive curves sensually swaying on the stage, and he knows immediately whom they belong to; Dove James, the girl he always wanted, but never let himself have...Categorized as:
alpha male friends to lovers bikers contemporary insta-love multicultural length-short -
![Love You From Afar by Morgan Paige]()
Love You From Afar by Morgan Paige
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI always thought a person had to be a ghost to haunt you, but Everett Thompson is very much alive, and to make matters worse, he's my fiancé's brother.For years, I promised myself I would stay away from him. I tried putting as much distance between us as possible, yet here we are on a twelve hour road trip together... -
![Holiday Rogue by Rebecca Zanetti]()
Holiday Rogue by Rebecca Zanetti
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDanger and Mistletoe are a Deadly CombinationBosco Albertini learned the hard way that focusing on his career is a lot safer than investing in love. So when he meets his sweet new neighbor, he puts her firmly in the friend zone, despite her soft hazel eyes, sharp wit, and tempting curves...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary christmas military length-novella audiobook -
![Declan by T.L. Drake]()
Declan by T.L. Drake
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsEmber: My whole life I’ve been a victim. Touched, tormented and eventually, taken. Trust isn’t something I give easily. But I trust Mia, and eventually I found my place within her family. When her cousin, Declan gets hurt by the same men who haunt me, I feel it’s my place to help him through the nightmare. After all, he’s the man who saved me...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male contemporary suspense bikers possessive hero length-medium -
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![Hope After Loss by Amber Kelly]()
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![Better Off Wed by Portia MacIntosh]()
Better Off Wed by Portia MacIntosh
Pre-order the brand new laugh-out-loud friends-to-lovers romantic comedy from international bestseller Portia MacIntosh!Save the date...!Olivia can’t believe it when her boyfriend, Teddy, proposes out of the blue...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary humor behind-doors length-medium audiobook -
![The Bodyguard Next Door by Cynthia Eden]()
The Bodyguard Next Door by Cynthia Eden
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s danger and a wicked, hot grin…Iris Stuart may have a small crush on her neighbor. After all, Pierce Jennings is gorgeous, muscled, and he has a laugh that makes her toes curl. But she is not going down that particular path of temptation with the former Army Ranger and current Wilde agent. Nope. Not happening. They’ll stay in the friend zone because it’s safer that way...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity alpha male suspense military humor super rich hero contemporary -
![One More Time by Aurora Rose Reynolds]()
One More Time by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsBack in her hometown of Ruby Falls, Aria Heart is determined to find herself and the happiness that has always felt just out of reach. Something that would be a lot easier to do if her parents weren’t so close by, reminding her just why she left town as soon as she could, and if the house she just purchased wasn’t already giving her problems...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male contemporary insta-love single-father length-short audiobook -
![Collide by Megan O'Brien]()
Collide by Megan O'Brien
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAfter years working for Talon Security, Sarah Scott has settled into her life in Los Angeles. Her friendships are growing stronger, and that spark with a certain former SEAL... well, it just might be worth exploring. That is, until her ugly past becomes her present and Sarah sees no other choice but to disappear. Letting her go isn't an option...Categorized as:
alpha male friends to lovers military suspense contemporary virgin heroine length-short -
![All The Scars We Cannot See by Sadie King]()
All The Scars We Cannot See by Sadie King
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMan is not meant to live alone. He becomes dangerous, possessive, protective of what’s his. And she is all mine…Since retiring from the military, I don’t like human company.Until I meet Emily, my new neighbor.She’s as damaged as I am and running from her own demons.When they catch up with her, I must fight my own inner darkness to protect the woman I love...Categorized as:
alpha male forced proximity contemporary military virgin heroine length-novella audiobook
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