Books like 'The Real Thing'
Readers who enjoyed The Real Thing by Elle Keaton also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance suspense mystery small town friends to lovers boss & employee queer age difference christmas
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Snow Fairy by Tomo Serizawa, 芹澤知
When Hokkaido-born Haruki meets animal photographer Akihito and finds out his accommodations have fallen through, he offers his home as a shelter for the winter. A city slicker, Akihito is smart, charming, and a smooth conversationalist; the polar opposite of country boy Haruki. Despite their differences, Akihito wants to close the gap between the two of them, before the snow thaws in the spring. -
![On or Off, Volume 3 (On or Off (Paperback Ed.) #3) by A1]()
On or Off, Volume 3 (On or Off (Paperback Ed.) #3) by A1
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWinner of the Ridibooks 2019 BL Awards. Ahn Yiyoung is hard at work building a startup with his college friends, knowing that a successful product could change all of their lives... -
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![The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 3 by 945]()
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 3 by 945
This hit Boys’ Love webtoon/manhwa (comic) is coming to print in English for the first a full-color and Mature-rated romantic comedy about a convenience store part-timer and a handsome gangster! College student Yeo Eui-joon works the graveyard shift at a convenience store to pay his bills...Categorized as:
queer age difference grumpy sunshine working class hero cold hero sunny hero contemporary mafia -
![My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama]()
My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama
Living under the same roof as the man he’s had a crush on for a solid decade has Shin’s libido in overdrive, and even his rampant awkwardness can’t get in the way of him getting some! Meanwhile, Seiji is swamped with self-doubt. Does an old man with a bleak romantic history have what it takes to satisfy his hot, young partner? -
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![The Spoil of Beasts by Gregory Ashe]()
The Spoil of Beasts by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA jailhouse slaughter. A relentless killer. And way too much jackassing around. When word comes that two key witnesses in an investigation are dead, North and Shaw are surprised—and pleased—to learn that their friend, John-Henry Somerset, is interested in hiring them as freelance contractors for the Wahredua police department... -
![The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses by Alice Winters]()
The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses by Alice Winters
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLeland. Life is normal… suspiciously normal. During my long, lonely years as a hitman, I never realized that one day, I would have a family to call my own... -
![All Is Bright (Water, Air, Earth, Fire) by Riley Nash]()
All Is Bright (Water, Air, Earth, Fire) by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA 10,000 word mini-novella featuring everyone's favorite couples from the Water, Air, Earth, Fire series as they celebrate Christmas. When six very different men and their families meet at a Wyoming lodge to celebrate the holidays, things are bound to get sweet, steamy, chaotic, and a little bit heartwarming. -
![Forever by Tinnean]()
Forever by Tinnean
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsLately, life is both sweet and sour for intelligence operatives Mark Vincent and Quinton Mann. The sweet is they’re settling into a relationship; Mark has found a condo in Alexandria with the help of Quinn’s mother, Portia; and Mark and Quinn are looking forward to spending the holidays in the Caribbean. As for the sour, something shadier than usual is going on at Langley... -
![Sweet as Honey by Lucy Lennox]()
Sweet as Honey by Lucy Lennox
When I rode my bike into Aster Valley, it was supposed to be temporary. A quick, relaxing visit with friends. No entanglements. Zero drama. But then I saw the bumblebee being harassed on the side of the highway. More specifically, I saw Truman Sweet, Aster Valley’s resident botanist, spice merchant, and bee-costume enthusiast, being harassed...Categorized as:
mystery age difference suspense grumpy sunshine nerdy-hero queer found-family small town -
![My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama]()
My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsThe seasons have shifted, and Shin and Seiji are starting their new life together. Living under the same roof as the man he’s had a crush on for a solid decade has Shin’s libido in overdrive, and even his rampant awkwardness can’t get in the way of him getting some! Meanwhile, Seiji is swamped with self-doubt... -
![Shut Up and Drive by L.M. Krier]()
Shut Up and Drive by L.M. Krier
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA serial sex attacker is spreading fear in Stockport and DI Ted Darling and his team are on the case. The man randomly targets young women and abducts them from busy supermarket car parks. He's armed with a knife and is clearly highly trained in how to handle it. Ever-dwindling police resources make the manhunt harder, even though the attacker clearly doesn't care whether or not he's caught... -
![Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand]()
Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand
Realising your new boss is the adult star you fancied as a teenager? Awkward. In the snow-kissed Swiss Alps, Adrian’s world is a high-wire act of old-world charm and new-world problems at the Gletscherhaus Hotel. Enter Eric, an undercover London songwriter, seeking a mental break in a place where the Wi-Fi is as patchy as his past relationships...Categorized as:
boss & employee small town forced proximity queer contemporary m-m length-medium explicit-open-door -
![Rialto by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott]()
Rialto by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott
Someone has it out for Rialto. Ian Banner is loving his hectic life. He’s newly married, ready to start a family, and opening a new restaurant. All his dreams are coming true. The last thing he needs is a problem with his restaurant. But when one attack after another comes, he grows convinced he has another enemy... -
![MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert]()
MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratings‘Tis the season for twinkling lights, cookies, joy, and a little sprinkle of mom guilt on the side. Did I say little? I mean an entire sleigh full. Which is exactly why I’m on my way home to Winterbury for the holidays, something my parents have been pleading for since I left the small-town life for a view of the city nearly ten years ago. It’s not that I don’t come home to visit. I do...Categorized as:
christmas forced proximity grumpy sunshine queer m-m from hate to love second chances contemporary -
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![Castiel by Annabella Stone]()
Castiel by Annabella Stone
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat once was strong is broken. Can what was broken be repaired? Former SEAL and Operative for the US Government’s elite Red Squadron, Castiel Cunningham Clark has defied the odds more times than he can count. He learned the hard way how fickle fate can be and he’s made it his business to live his life at one speed and one speed only… full steam ahead. Except when it comes to one person... -
![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 queer m-m contemporary hurt-comfort length-medium -
![Rebel by Reese Knightley]()
Rebel by Reese Knightley
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsOne man on a journey of redemption and the other out to prove himself. Cohen “Ace” Gray – Pegasus Commander. He’d buried one lover; he wasn’t going to take the chance of that ever happening again. Ace had his own demons to work on, but working closely with Jacob and having his friendship— despite their twenty-year age difference—had made life a bit easier... -
![Short Stack 2 by Lily Morton]()
Short Stack 2 by Lily Morton
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhat happens after the happy ending? Drawn together for the first time, this is a collection of Lily’s short stories about some of the much-loved men from her books. Follow them through wet and windy marriage proposals, surprise workplace visits, and a very entertaining ghost tour... -
![When I'm Old and Grey by L.M. Krier]()
When I'm Old and Grey by L.M. Krier
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDI Ted Darling doesn't like coincidences. There are too many for comfort surrounding his latest case. They're spilling over into his private life, too, when some toxic family secrets are uncovered. A serial killer appears to be targeting vulnerable elderly people in care homes and despatching them in the most cynical way. Ted and his team are struggling to get a lead on who the killer really is... -
![A Daddy In Cameron by Sammi Cee]()
A Daddy In Cameron by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIndie’s determined to navigate this world alone, but he’s never come up against a determined Daddy before. Normally, everyone likes Cameron. As the General Manager of The Tap Tavern, he’s protective, empathetic, and considerate of his employees and their needs. Especially those who’ve come in through the Takoda Career Center. Indie knows betrayal. He’s lived with the consequences and survived...Categorized as:
age difference boss & employee friends to lovers queer found-family m-m age play hurt-comfort -
![Two Little Boys by L.M. Krier]()
Two Little Boys by L.M. Krier
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsIn his darkest and most complex case to date, DI Ted Darling has to confront demons from his own past when investigating the brutal murder of a young boy. As more deaths follow, he realises he is up against powerful people who believe themselves to be above the law, and starts to feel out of his depth... -
![A Phoenix Christmas by Reese Knightley]()
A Phoenix Christmas by Reese Knightley
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsIt's a dog gone Christmas! The plan was to gather at Noah and Mac’s place for a holiday celebration, but when the couple’s nine-year-old Labrador Retriever goes missing, the men and women of Phoenix descend on the city of Alameda. The neighbors and local cops get involved in a search that stretches from the streets of downtown to the rocky beaches... -
![Ghost of Christmas Present by Pandora Pine]()
Ghost of Christmas Present by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWith only a week until Christmas, Detective Jude Byrne is wrapping up final preparations for his family’s celebration. He’s made a list and checked it twice, bought presents, planned the neighborhood cookie exchange, and hung mistletoe. Jude’s got a handle on everything, that is, until his son asks if his grandfather is coming to celebrate with them—a man Jude hasn’t seen in six years... -
![Resonance by Lily James]()
Resonance by Lily James
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo addicts meet in rehab, finding friendship, connection, and something dangerously close to hope, only to part ways in the end. Fate had other ideas. Bodhi Hart has everything he once dreamed sold-out arenas, worldwide fame, and a voice that moves millions. Somewhere along the way, though, the music stopped feeling like his... -
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![A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes]()
A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsZeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas... -
![Thuggiana by Gregory Ashe]()
Thuggiana by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsPics, or it didn’t happen. Thuggiana is a collection of short stories connected to The First Quarto. It includes the following:. “The Slightest Folly”. This prequel provides a glimpse into Auggie’s and Theo’s lives in high school. It takes place before They Told Me I Was Everything. “As School-Boys from Their Books”... -
![The Road to Hell by M.J. May]()
The Road to Hell by M.J. May
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsPerry Atherton is ready to put the previous year’s trauma in his rearview mirror. A New Year’s Eve party at a swanky downtown hotel thrown by his employer, Maverick Insurance Company, Inc. , seems like the perfect opportunity to start the new year off right. Seeing his boyfriend, Detective Nathaniel Harmon, in a tux is the icing on his New Year’s cake... -
![Perfect Match by Pandora Pine]()
Perfect Match by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBrando Lombardi has successfully matched all three of his brothers with their soulmates, gifting them each with a lifetime of love and happiness. The problem is, Brando himself is always the bridesmaid and never the bride… er, groom. But then he meets a broken-hearted man in uniform who takes his breath away and changes everything... -
![Daddy Detectives Episode 1: A Tyler and Ian Jamison Story by April Wilson]()
Daddy Detectives Episode 1: A Tyler and Ian Jamison Story by April Wilson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis is the first installment in a new series for private investigators Tyler and Ian Jamison. Our heroes are adjusting to life as a married couple and are now parents of newborn twins. While the guys are enjoying paternity leave, their administrative assistant, Kimi, comes to them with a personal emergency... -
![Interwoven by Ripley Hayes]()
Interwoven by Ripley Hayes
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDaniel Owen has spent the best part of ten years renovating his house when he finds the cellar. By falling into it. The mysterious cellar has a mysterious door, and behind the mysterious door is a mysterious box … and in the box … there are clues to the shocking history of Daniel’s beloved home town. A cold case is occupying Mal Kent’s time. A notorious car thief is released from prison... -
![What's Santa Got to Do with It? by Bix Barrow]()
What's Santa Got to Do with It? by Bix Barrow
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA late-awakened bi guy and his secret crush try to play Santa for some kids. But there’s a hitman blocking the chimney. .. Have you ever been locked out of your apartment shirtless, holding a wet rabbit and getting served with legal papers right when your super-hot neighbor walks by? Maybe it’s just me... -
![Murder in Shades of Wood and Stone by Ripley Hayes]()
Murder in Shades of Wood and Stone by Ripley Hayes
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAn early morning phone call. A dead teenager. A bunch of hostile witnesses with a wedding to attend. Charlie Rees was enjoying the calm after the storm in Llanfair. He thought he and Tom Pennant might get some peaceful time together. Maybe even fall in love. Not a chance. As Charlie battles to get justice for a murdered boy, Tom has his own battle to save the art college and his career... -
![Like a Lion by Cole McCade]()
Like a Lion by Cole McCade
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA new homicide case raises a question with no clear answer:. Who is the victim? When a charred body is recovered inside a burned-out car, before Malcolm and Seong-Jae can solve the case they must first trace the victim's identity. False plates. ID missing. Teeth pulled from the skull... -
![Head Over Feels by Bix Barrow]()
Head Over Feels by Bix Barrow
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWell, this puts the “ex” in “explosive”. .. Felix: What would happen if everyone you’d ever dated got together and plotted against you? For me, it’s glitter bombs. Lots and lots of glitter bombs. Okay, maybe I deserved the first one or two. Or three...Categorized as:
age difference queer forced proximity suspense mystery contemporary m-m hurt-comfort -
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![Life on Mars by Patricia Logan]()
Life on Mars by Patricia Logan
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThings aren’t always what they seem. Special agent, Max Prince, and his boyfriend, Dr. Leo Reeves, are back to work after their first case together. When a prominent Department of Defense scientist kills himself in a mysterious way, their entire FBI team is tasked to figure out if the weapon he was working on was somehow the cause of his death...Categorized as:
mystery queer suspense friends to lovers forced proximity m-m contemporary length-long -
![Hard Ink by Ali Lyda]()
Hard Ink by Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI don’t have the best history with older men. When Mateo saw my last relationship implode, he was there to help. He saved me. Hopefully self-defense lessons will keep me from getting hit again. I can’t ask for more of my friend. Even dreaming of keeping him is wrong. But when my ex makes things difficult, Mateo steps up again. I don’t want a protector, but maybe it’s time to accept a little help...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers queer found-family m-m contemporary length-short audiobook -
![How Not to Break by Susan Hawke]()
How Not to Break by Susan Hawke
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsTake one former SEAL with a healthy dose of regret…. Nick St. Cloud is living with shame from the one time he let his lust override his sense of honor. He’s haunted by the memory of when he made love to his best friend’s eighteen-year-old son. The tragic accident that happened that same night has only compounded his guilt... -
![The Law of Miracles by K.C. Wells]()
The Law of Miracles by K.C. Wells
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sequel to A Christmas Promise… Joshua Trant is doing his best to support his son Micah and Micah’s partner Greg as they approach the trial of Greg’s attackers. This was never going to be easy, especially as Greg wants them prosecuted for a hate crime, but County Attorney Alexander Rycliffe assures them he’ll do his utmost to make sure the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions... -
![Roman by Annabella Stone]()
Roman by Annabella Stone
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFact: Six years ago, former Force Recon Marine Roman Walsh made the biggest mistake of his life and chose duty to his country over love. Fact: He was an idiot. Now the one he loves is missing, and Roman has only one thing on his mind. Get him back alive... -
![The Fortunate Son by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
The Fortunate Son by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIvan Gallagher’s first and only attempt at love nearly cost him everything—his reputation, family, and even his freedom. Needing an outlet for his pent-up passion, the gruff foreman turns his beekeeping hobby into a successful business. Just when he’s on the verge of taking his liquid gold to the next level, a granted favor transforms his orderly life into a sticky mess...Categorized as:
suspense age difference grumpy sunshine forced proximity queer found-family m-m hurt-comfort -
![Hitorijime My Hero, Vol. 6 by Memeco Arii]()
Hitorijime My Hero, Vol. 6 by Memeco Arii
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLove Is a Battlefield. During their couple's getaway, Masahiro and Kousuke grow closer and closer. On the flip side, Hasekura and Kensuke's usually happy-go-lucky relationship seems to be reaching a new low. So when Hasekura unexpectedly gets some alone time with Masahiro, he decides to use it to his advantage. .. ! Meanwhile, a familiar friend becomes a source of much-needed support for Kensuke. -
![With This Bling by L.B. Gregg]()
With This Bling by L.B. Gregg
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsCaesar Romano’s catering career is doing better than he’d ever dreamed. And so is his love life—even if his boyfriend’s house in Staten Island is way too far from civilization for his liking... -
![A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley]()
A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA second chance with his brother’s best friend also comes with a deadline. Three years after inheriting his family farm, an accident forces Stefan Luxton to rethink his future. Turning his farm into a five-star wedding venue is one goal. Another is to reconnect with Marc, who Stefan loved but let slip away to the city...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers forced proximity queer found-family m-m hurt-comfort contemporary -
![Zenith by Eli Easton, R.J. Scott]()
Zenith by Eli Easton, R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA killer haunts Prophet, and this time it’s personalThe discovery of a body at the Thompson Cabins sets off a chain of events that hits too close to home for Sheriff Gabriel Thompson. When his brother Sam becomes a prime suspect in the murder investigation, Gabriel is forced to keep secrets from Tiber and call in outside help as he fights to prove Sam’s innocence... -
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![Silent Knight by Layla Reyne]()
Silent Knight by Layla Reyne
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI won’t let anything happen to you. Fourteen years ago, Braxton Kane’s feelings were forbidden. As an officer, he couldn’t fall for an enlisted… no matter how much he longed for Holt Madigan. Now—as a police chief in love with a digital assassin—his promise to always protect Holt is becoming harder to keep. I’ll protect you... -
![Spencer by M. Tasia]()
Spencer by M. Tasia
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDIVINE RETRIBUTION. Everyone has secrets. Especially a Navy SEAL. But Spencer has found the one man who seems to be hiding more than him. And that just doesn’t fly. Rick reinvented his life fifteen years ago, and has no intention of revealing why. But, in the back of his mind he’s been waiting for the other shoe to fall, and now it has... -
![Blue Skies by Nic Starr]()
Blue Skies by Nic Starr
Coming to Collier’s Creek is the best decision they’ll ever make. When Kit arrives in the small town of Collier’s Creek, he's searching for a change of scenery and the solitude to help him overcome his writer's block. All he wants is to be left alone to finish his novel. Felix was born in Collier's Creek, with no plans to return...Categorized as:
age difference grumpy sunshine friends to lovers suspense queer hurt-comfort m-m contemporary -
![Christmas Wishes by Lee Blair]()
Christmas Wishes by Lee Blair
Say it ain’t snow! After my bestie and I got laid off during the holidays, we drunkenly decide to plan a surprise vacation for each other. Knowing how much I hate snow, he sends me to sunny Arizona with my swim briefs and a dare. I’m supposed to finally start the beauty influencer accounts I’ve been talking about for years. Did you know there are parts of Arizona where it snows? I didn’t...Categorized as:
christmas queer forced proximity grumpy sunshine suspense m-m contemporary height-difference -
![Santa: A Cultural Hegemony by Gregory Ashe]()
Santa: A Cultural Hegemony by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHazard & Somerset deal with Santa. -
![A Nashville Spicy Christmas by Casey Morales]()
A Nashville Spicy Christmas by Casey Morales
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe boys are back . . . and this time they're all together! Across five novels, the men of the Nashville Spicy series formed a unique found family whose bonds of love and laughter delighted readers well beyond the borders of Music City. Now, thanks to the newly wealthy Cooper Hawk, the gang is headed on a luxurious, fun-filed holiday adventure...
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