Books like 'Rocky Start'
Readers who enjoyed Rocky Start by Annabeth Albert also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance multicultural angst friends to lovers military forced proximity bdsm queer-awakening praise-kink
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Looks Over by Rose Christo
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"There's nothing wrong with trying to get to know my son's boyfriend." Skylar knows he's lucky to have an open-minded father. It's not just that Skylar and Rafael are both boys. Between their families exists a dark and turbulent past: Rafael's father was the first serial killer in the history of the Nettlebush Indian Reserve, and Skylar's mother was his last victim... -
![Surrender by Kelly Fox]()
Surrender by Kelly Fox
Dark cloud, meet seven-foot wall of sunshine.We’ve been friends for almost a year, we both volunteer at my brother-in-law’s gym for combat vets, and the chemistry between us is undeniable. So, getting together should be a no brainer, right?Yeah, not so much...Categorized as:
military friends to lovers bdsm height-difference queer m-m contemporary first-person-pov -
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![Instant Regret by E.M. Lindsey]()
Instant Regret by E.M. Lindsey
There’s nothing like having your sanctuary destroyed.My life has been a series of carefully cultivated, strategic moves to ensure peace and quiet. I’m generally a happy guy but there’s one thing I can’t stand: having my space invaded. After all, that's why I chose this run-down building that no one wants to live in.And then he moved in...Categorized as:
angst disabilities and marks forced proximity hurt-comfort queer m-m from hate to love christmas -
![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 hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary length-medium -
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![Forever by Kindle Alexander]()
Forever by Kindle Alexander
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsDr. Robert Adams grew up with more advantages than most, the son of a former vice president, he had two loving fathers, a twin sister he adores and wonderfully doting grandparents. Life is good until one afternoon when his dreams flat-line. And no scalpel can repair the guilt and grief he carries with him for the first time in his life... -
![Surrender Your Heart by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
Surrender Your Heart by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 23 ratings***Surrender Your Heart was originally published in 2015. This second edition has been completely re-edited but does not contain new material. *** Secrets and fears—everyone has them. Some more than others. A heavy secret brought Liam Connelly to DC, but it isn’t the only reason he stays. Hired to tend bar at Bottoms Up, Liam finds himself drawn to his enigmatic boss like a moth to a flame...Categorized as:
queer military friends to lovers hurt-comfort m-m contemporary age difference length-short -
![Assisted by Carly Marie]()
Assisted by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFoolish is judging a book by its cover… or a hockey coach by his suitAs assistant coach of the Nashville Grizzlies, Imil Bouchard has everything he needs, except maybe a Daddy. On the wrong side of forty and not looking for a traditional Dom, he knows there’s no point wishing for what he can’t have. And of course, he’s drawn to the extra-anxious director who exudes the need for a Daddy not a boy... -
![Relief Pitcher by Lee Blair]()
Relief Pitcher by Lee Blair
I thought I was helping him get his groove back. Turns out he’s helping me fall in love.TylerI have one rule when it comes to matters of my one and done. Consensually, of course. Fun with no complicated romantic feelings. Not that I’m built to experience those, anyway.After my car breaks down on a remote road, I follow a lumbersnack back to his creepy cabin for the cell service...Categorized as:
forced proximity hurt-comfort friends to lovers height-difference queer sports exhibitionism m-m -
![Extended Stay by Mia Monroe]()
Extended Stay by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsI’ve never been interested in a man before. So why do I want to kiss this one?Promising my sick uncle I’d help fix his rundown hotel in San Diego was just the beginning of my problems. I plan to do what I can, convince him to sell, and then take off, returning to my calm and structured existence back east. I double down on that plan when I arrive to find it in worse shape than I expected... -
![Change of Heart by K.M. Neuhold]()
Change of Heart by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDoes my husband's heart still miss me now that it beats in the chest of another man? Lub-dub A heartbeat more familiar than Easton’s own Lub-dub He vowed to love his husband until death do they part. And then the worst happened. Lub-dub His heart kept another man alive. River. A stranger in the world with Easton's husband's heart pumping the blood that warms his skin... -
![Love Directions by A.F. Zoelle]()
Love Directions by A.F. Zoelle
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsElias ForthwrightHoroscopes always seemed a bit woo-woo to me, but I don't know how else to explain why it feels like the cosmic universe is pushing me in the direction of the mysterious North Easton, who miraculously comes into my life at just the right time. We’re nothing alike, but for the first time since my mom passed away, life is finally fun again thanks to him...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort friends to lovers queer-awakening m-m contemporary insta-love humor -
![Free Me by Mia Monroe]()
Free Me by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOnly his ropes can unravel the past. I never thought I’d see him again, but when my former best friend shows up ready to make amends, it becomes clear just how tied to the past I am. He disappeared when I needed him the most, leaving me to navigate my truth alone. Now he’s back.Nixon’s art leaves me vulnerable, defenseless, and I like it... -
![The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox]()
The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Fox comes a Wild Heart Ranch Christmas novella. I’ve loved Gael Hernandez from the moment I laid eyes on him. We had a moment back in the summer, but he needed time to recover from the traumatic events that reshaped his family.It’s now Christmas, and I think my talented shoemaker is finally ready to let me love him for the rest of his life... -
![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:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort forced proximity queer m-m age difference contemporary found-family -
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![Finding Ky by Luna David]()
Finding Ky by Luna David
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPartners in every sense of the word, Sawyer and Jackson have been a unit since they were young teenagers. Growing up together in the same foster home, they learned they could depend only on each other. But when Kyler—a boy barely half their age—arrived heartbroken and scared, the young men took him under their wings, vowing to take care of him and protect him... -
![B is for Beg by Colette Davison]()
B is for Beg by Colette Davison
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA photographer, a rope artist, and a model. Can three create a beautiful romance?B is for Beg is the story of three men discovering that shibari, blindfolds, sexy lingerie, and rules can change everything. It's the second of three steamy, low angst novels, which follow each of the ABC triplets as they find love. You can read Archie and Corey's stories in A is for Aftercare and C is for Comfort... -
![Black by Quin, Perin.]()
Black by Quin, Perin.
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 13 ratings“Meow!”There it was.The sound that made my knees buckle.He purred, neck stretched, eyes half-lidded.With those cat ears, in his hair.And the tail, that he flicked.A ray of sun in the drizzling rain. I’d been a traveler, floating adrift, while he’d stayed in one place. How was I supposed to know he’d become my anchor? My light. My everything... -
![Delicious by Sierra Riley]()
Delicious by Sierra Riley
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 17 ratings“You’re exactly what I never knew I needed.” “I don’t have time for love.” Gavin Campbell has poured everything he has into starting up his bakery, Delicious... -
![The Healer by Courtney W. Dixon]()
The Healer by Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTo heal the body, you must first heal the soul.JoséI lost everything. My parents were murdered, my best friend was sent to prison for a drug deal gone wrong, and eventually, my grandmother, who raised me since I was fifteen, died. I have been living life day to day to make a good life away from gangs and violence. As a nurse, I can finally do something meaningful... -
![Battle It Out by Reese Knightley]()
Battle It Out by Reese Knightley
Master Sergeant Zane Gannon loves nothing more than being a part of his Special Forces unit and kicking ass, but above everything, he values his friendship with Isaac. Sure, they argue and snipe at each other, but it’s all in good fun. Until it isn’t. Now, Isaac is pulling away and something Zane has buried for two decades is resurfacing...Categorized as:
military friends to lovers queer queer-awakening m-m contemporary length-medium explicit-open-door -
![Blindside by N.R. Walker]()
Blindside by N.R. Walker
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsMark Gattison has avoided love and commitment his entire adult life. Not interested in more than a one night stand or a brief encounter in a bathroom stall, he is the epitome of a good time.Will Parkinson is the guy who defends him, the guy who puts up with him, the guy Mark calls his best friend.When Will becomes unsettled and a little distant, Mark takes it upon himself to find Will a boyfriend...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer angst disabilities and marks hurt-comfort m-m contemporary humor -
![Color Blind: An MM Romance by Andrew Grey]()
Color Blind: An MM Romance by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSetting out on your own is tough, but for Mason Fullerton, who was born blind, it’s even more of a challenge. Mase decides that the key to independence and a life of his own is getting a job. His mother, who has always been there for support, isn’t so sure, but Mase is determined. He manages to secure an interview, and one of the men conducting it has a voice that wraps around him like a blanket...Categorized as:
multicultural friends to lovers disabilities and marks queer contemporary m-m length-novella -
![Dear Mona Lisa... by Claire Davis, Al Stewart]()
Dear Mona Lisa... by Claire Davis, Al Stewart
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsTom; shy office clerk by day and drawer of foxes by night, wakes up one Monday knowing the most extraordinary week of his life is about to begin. In five days, a lifelong ‘secret’ will be made gloriously public—but will it mean losing the person he loves most?Getting married… It seems only yesterday Tom changed nappies and sang nursery rhymes to a laughing baby... -
![Beautiful Temptation by Christina Lee]()
Beautiful Temptation by Christina Lee
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBlair Anderson only thinks of Caden Bell as his best friend’s younger brother, a straight-laced jock still dating his high-school sweetheart. They are as different as night and day. Caden has always considered Blair an enigma, the way he lights up every room with his self-confidence and perfectly sculpted cheekbones. But since childhood they’ve drifted worlds apart...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity height-difference queer m-m christmas contemporary siblings-bff -
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![Little by J.M. Dabney]()
Little by J.M. Dabney
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsInsanity was in the eye of the beholder. Harmon Little was a surveillance expert. He lived in the shadows, and he liked it there. There wasn’t a place he couldn’t get in and out of without detection. As usual with his mischievous nature, his current assignment went south, and he ran. He thought he was free and clear until he knocked someone over in a grocery store aisle... -
![Knox by Laura John]()
Knox by Laura John
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKnox Hanes has always kept his feelings for his older brother’s best friend, Gunnar, a secret. When Knox is forced from his home Gunnar invites him to live with him until things are sorted out. Trapped in close quarters, their hidden desires ignite, but the danger around them escalates, forcing them to confront their feelings and protect their newfound love...Categorized as:
queer forced proximity hurt-comfort angst friends to lovers height-difference m-m mystery -
![It's Not You by Becca Seymour]()
It's Not You by Becca Seymour
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen a protective ex-cop helps his gorgeous tenant through his recovery, their complicated history is asking for trouble. Will the fear of the past repeating itself destroy any possibility of happiness?Daredevil drifter Lawrence Crawford is hunting for a place to call home. After ten years of looking, he believes he’s found what he’s been searching for... -
![War Torn by Andria Large]()
War Torn by Andria Large
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMy life has been completely turned around with the help of my boyfriend and best friend, Tucker. My depression is under control. I’m not having nightmares or flashbacks anymore. My sister is having a baby. Life with Tucker is great… Or is it? Everything seems to be going so well, almost too well... -
![Bad Joey by Rhys Everly]()
Bad Joey by Rhys Everly
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJoeyThe whole world is against me.Everyone's turned their back on bad, evil Joey.They all believe the lies.Until him. Santiago.The man I can't stop thinking of.He believes me and in me.He doesn't care a damn what the world thinks.And when he finds himself in danger the only one that can protect him is me.SantiagoHe's what nightmares are made of. He's the stuff crime documentaries warn you about... -
![Heartbreak Honey by Tammy Subia]()
Heartbreak Honey by Tammy Subia
TWO BANDMATESONE SECRET RELATIONSHIPEVERYTHING AT STAKEFive years ago, the global sensation boy band Boys Will Be Bovs broke up in a disastrous fashion while at the height of their fame. Now, Skyler James’ solo career has made him more successful than ever, but he still feels like something is missing...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity angst queer contemporary m-m length-long explicit-plentiful -
![Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga]()
Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLost Boy is an opposites attract, smaller top, size difference romance featuring a strong but gentle veterinarian and a police dog trainer with a fiery temper. Veterinarian Leo Aetos adores animals, has a great apartment in Brooklyn, and even has a favorite bar. The only thing he doesn’t have is someone to share it all with...Categorized as:
bdsm height-difference hurt-comfort queer m-m grumpy sunshine contemporary length-short -
![Stay by K.M. Neuhold]()
Stay by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhat happens to a couple when one of them discovers a new kink that he’s not sure his partner will be into? Dear Art, I’m sure you get messages like this all the time, but I feel like I don’t even know who I am anymore. I suppose I should start from the beginning… Three weeks ago, I saw puppy play for the first time, and now I can’t stop thinking about it... -
![For Real by R.A. Frick]()
For Real by R.A. Frick
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsLiving outside of the cis-het box makes life more challenging, but also more fabulous.Ash is a high-powered San Francisco real estate agent by day, Professional Dom by night. They live their life gender-queer and proud, but sex-work has gotten old...Categorized as:
bdsm military hurt-comfort height-difference disabilities and marks queer multicultural m-m -
![Ollie Always by John Wiltshire]()
Ollie Always by John Wiltshire
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsNamed after the main character in his mother’s infamous Oliver novels, Ollie’s been fighting his fictional namesake his whole life. It’s a battle for identity he is slowly and inevitably losing. Ex-army PTI Tom knows all about battles—the real ones that break soldiers... -
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![Mourning Heaven by Amy Lane]()
Mourning Heaven by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHeroes fall. Peter first came to the tiny backwater of Daisy, California, as a child, and he was sure of one thing: his cousin Michael would take care of him. When Michael started a friendship with the fragile, haunted Bodi Kovacs, Peter's consolation in losing any claim to Bodi was that Michael would care for him too...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst hurt-comfort queer contemporary second chances m-m length-short -
![Don't Leave Me Alone by Jenny Wood]()
Don't Leave Me Alone by Jenny Wood
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAlvin is coming home to bury his family His whole family, all the family that he had left. His mom, dad and twin sisters. The military didn't think he was stable enough to come back but really, he was just worried how he'd get through the days. The first one's at his empty family home especially. Carter is a school teacher going to the funeral of a very well respected family of his community... -
![Living With Him, Vol. 1 by Toworu Miyata, 宮田トヲル]()
Living With Him, Vol. 1 by Toworu Miyata, 宮田トヲル
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsRyota Natsukawa is starting university and he suddenly finds out that his roommate is going to be his childhood friend, Kazuhito Tanaka. Despite Kazuhito's picture-perfect looks, he doesn't have a girlfriend. Ryota is curious about why this is and attempts to point out his faults from a girlfriend's point of view. However, as Ryota gets to know more about Kazuhito, their relationship changes... -
![Don't Leave Me Alone by Jenny Wood]()
Don't Leave Me Alone by Jenny Wood
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAlvin is coming home to bury his family His whole family, all the family that he had left. His mom, dad and twin sisters. The military didn't think he was stable enough to come back but really, he was just worried how he'd get through the days. The first one's at his empty family home especially. Carter is a school teacher going to the funeral of a very well respected family of his community... -
![Love Song by Christina Lee]()
Love Song by Christina Lee
Thirtysomething bandmates, Nolan Metcalf and Ellis Bloom, have been there for each other through thick and thin. So when a life-changing event sends Ellis to the safety of Nolan’s apartment, he’s grateful for the comfort his best friend provides. They’ve never done anything resembling cuddling and sleepovers before, but Ellis finds he needs it just the same...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers queer-awakening hurt-comfort forced proximity m-m contemporary bisexual -
![I’m His First, He’s My Forever by Romeo Alexander]()
I’m His First, He’s My Forever by Romeo Alexander
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTwo best friends, one straight, one gay, fight their own emotional storm in the middle of a raging hurricane.Who will win, heart or hurricane?Ethan: Being in love with my straight best friend? Not the greatest idea. But hey, I’ve kept it a secret from him all these years. Well, until hurricane Ada decided to visit our quiet town... -
![A Kiss for the Holidays by C.S. Autumn]()
A Kiss for the Holidays by C.S. Autumn
AsherI can still remember the very first day I met Dalton McKenzie and the day I fell in love with him, too. But after an awful party game, I realize that no matter how often he kisses my cheek or holds my hand, he will never love me the same way. Putting space between us seems like the best idea, but when we wind up trapped together in a tiny cabin with only one bed, space is not an option... -
![Moment of Silence by Karen Stivali]()
Moment of Silence by Karen Stivali
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Moments In Time Novel Growing up, Jason Stern led a charmed life complete with devoted sisters, a father who was one of Brooklyn’s most respected rabbis, and a mother who made the world's best babka. He headed to NYU ready for anything—except falling for the wrong guy, coming out, and getting disowned by his once-loving family. In spite of that, Jason managed to graduate with honors...Categorized as:
multicultural angst friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary new adult length-medium -
![Moonlight by Evie McGlynn]()
Moonlight by Evie McGlynn
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI was the most sought-after concert pianist in the world. Now I barely leave my apartment. Injury and addiction have taken their toll, and I can't seem to get my life back on track.My best friend wants to send me on a month-long vacation to the Moonlight Inn to get ready to play for his wedding. In New Jersey. The place where I almost died... -
![This Isn't Me by T.A. McKay]()
This Isn't Me by T.A. McKay
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNathan Cooper thought he had everything in life worked out; his own company, a great best friend, and all the women he could want. That is until one night his whole outlook changed. One misunderstanding, a man instead of a woman, and just like that he was looking at guys like he never had before... -
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![Felix by R.J. Scott, Meredith Russell]()
Felix by R.J. Scott, Meredith Russell
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHiring a fake boyfriend for a school reunion seems to be the only solution, but love was never part of the equation.Felix has enough on his plate looking out for his parents, let alone agreeing to being hired for a date with the friend of a friend. His instant attraction to the scatter-brained scientist has him making impulsive decisions he hopes he won’t regret... -
![The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow]()
The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratings"It's not even really a first kiss if you're practicing on a friend." Trapped in a conservative prairie town, Alfie Alder has spent his whole life enduring bullying from his classmates and indifference from his teachers. Only one person has ever seen past Alfie's sarcastic, standoffish exterior—his best friend and the love of his life, Wynn... -
![Two Weeks and a Day by R.G. Alexander]()
Two Weeks and a Day by R.G. Alexander
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt’s either the beginning of a great porno or a disaster waiting to happen. That feeling when you’re a thirty-year-old gay virgin with a little OCD, nosy neighbors and a lot of awkward, secret fantasies revolving around your straight best friend? Yeah, that’s me right now... -
![Breathing Again by Sofia Grey]()
Breathing Again by Sofia Grey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSgt. Travis Cooper is a hot mess. He’s a seething cocktail of PTSD, depression, and anger, with a side-helping of borderline alcoholism. The giant holes in his memory don’t help either. When his partner, Kyle, walks out after ten years together, and takes his beloved dog, Travis hits rock bottom. There’s no kind of future if he can’t face up to his past... -
![What He Finds by E.M. Denning]()
What He Finds by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsToby Harris has a good job, a good life, a real big crush on the handsome and slightly older man who works in his building. After weeks of watching from afar, Toby finally sees a chance to strike up a conversation, meeting Quentin for the first time.On the back of a painful but amicable divorce, Quentin Carruthers finds himself forced to start his whole life over again...Categorized as:
bdsm friends to lovers height-difference hurt-comfort queer age difference m-m contemporary -
![What He Finds (Desires: New Beginnings) by E.M. Denning]()
What He Finds (Desires: New Beginnings) by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsToby Harris has a good job, a good life, a real big crush on the handsome and slightly older man who works in his building. After weeks of watching from afar, Toby finally sees a chance to strike up a conversation, meeting Quentin for the first time.On the back of a painful but amicable divorce, Quentin Carruthers finds himself forced to start his whole life over again...Categorized as:
bdsm hurt-comfort queer friends to lovers height-difference age difference m-m contemporary
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