Books like 'Desire or Defense'
Readers who enjoyed Desire or Defense by Leah Brunner also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny sports athletes height-difference teacher-hero single-mother grumpy sunshine cheerful heroine cold hero
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Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 3 by Fujita
A tall, quiet gamer boy and a geeky girl whose life revolves around yaoi manga are old friends, but when they start working in the same office, they decide to date. It's a relationship of convenience at first, but could it become something more? This manga comedy is now a hit streaming anime! Extra-long book includes 2 Japanese volumes! SUMMER ROMANCE FOR NERDS... -
![Full House by Emilia Finn]()
Full House by Emilia Finn
Rated: 4.79 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsMiles “Iowa” Walker is a fighter on a mission. He’s determined to win this year’s Stacked Deck tournament. He plans to get his six-year-old daughter out of a bad situation. And if there’s any time and money leftover, he’d love to take her out for ice cream without worrying about the cost or deadly consequences. Miles and his daughter have known only what it’s like to struggle...Categorized as:
sports m-f caretaking found-family cheerful heroine strong heroine athletes new adult -
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![No Easy Dare by Samantha Christy]()
No Easy Dare by Samantha Christy
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsSecret heir. Pompous womanizer. King of lies. And my protector. Hunter McQuaid is definitely a fish out of water. Or maybe a shark out of the tank. He's a cocky, arrogant, playboy. Something he shouldn't be considering he can barely scrape together the rent for his craptastic apartment. After an ill-advised one-nighter with him, I end up pregnant. Which puts me in a precarious position... -
![Made For You by Natasha Madison]()
Made For You by Natasha Madison
From Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comes. A brand new stand-alone enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine sports romance. A spin-off from the Only One series. Vivienne. I did the last thing I ever expected to do. I bought a boat. A beautiful boat that was all mine to spend the summer on...Categorized as:
sports athletes grumpy sunshine from hate to love cold hero hockey m-f independent heroine -
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![When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor]()
When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor
Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off. When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again. Number Alec is her best friend’s much older brother... -
![Dynamite by Emilia Finn]()
Dynamite by Emilia Finn
Rated: 4.74 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsThey call us the devil twins - a fallacy and unfair assumption on everyone’s part. Well. .. mostly. My name is Luke Hart, and I’m the oldest of identical twin boys. Although I may be responsible for the ‘devil’ in our name, I have no urge to set the record straight and exonerate the innocent half of our pairing. There’s no point letting the truth get in the way of a good story. Right? Not so...Categorized as:
sports m-f found-family competent heroine independent heroine new adult humor length-medium -
![The Best of All by Karla Sorensen]()
The Best of All by Karla Sorensen
He’s commitment phobic. She believes in happy endings. The twist of fate that binds them is a surprise they never saw coming in a bittersweet romance about instant family—and not-so-instant love. A decade-old animosity is the only thing Liam Davies and Zoe Valentine have in common... -
![Caught by Love by Melissa Foster]()
Caught by Love by Melissa Foster
He’s set on pleasure, but she’s all business. Sizzling chemistry and a surprising connection set this sexy love story in motion. But is it enough to last forever? Find out and fall in love on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles. Archer Steele is one of the leading vintners on the East Coast... -
![Twenty-four Three by K.C. Mills]()
Twenty-four Three by K.C. Mills
A shot in the dark. A mistaken identity. A undeniable attraction. An injured hitman finds himself depending on a stranger and for Carter Reed trust is not something he’s willing to extend. Unfortunately when it comes to McKenna Smith, Carter can either allow her to be his saving grace or risk loosing something more precious than trust…his life. Stakes are high... -
![My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh]()
My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh
A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger. What could possibly go wrong? It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . . So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in. I have to be...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine sports hockey m-f cheerful heroine cold hero athletes height-difference -
![Kiss My Giraffe by Erin Nicholas]()
Kiss My Giraffe by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsEnemies to friends to almost lovers then back to enemies…to lovers. She's got a lot of baggage. .. literally and figuratively. And an entourage. And a freaking giraffe. For real. For a guy who wants to keep things simple, this is anything but. So why can't he stay away? Knox and Fiona's story! Finally! -
![The Legend by Shey Stahl]()
The Legend by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsIn a lifestyle of speed, adrenaline and desire, one racer has sacrificed everything for the sport he loved. In turn, he will fight for his name, his family and now his life to be the legend he’s been portrayed to be. You can be everything you set out to be if you want it bad enough. You can be that record breaker you said you’d be. You can be that hero you always thought you would be... -
![Black Flag by Shey Stahl]()
Black Flag by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsWhen the taste you thought you never needed becomes a thirst you cannot quench, then what? Jameson Riley, a NASCAR rookie driver, and Sway Reins, his pregnant girlfriend, are put to the test. They have love; they have lust, and a bond that proves to be vital. But do they have what it takes to make it through his lifestyle. When tested, it’s either fight, or give in... -
![Jameson Fox by Nina Levine]()
Jameson Fox by Nina Levine
Rule number one if you’re going to fake marry a billionaire: only marry him if you like him and he likes you. Everything is too hard if you hate each other. Jameson Fox is the most infuriating, arrogant, frustrating, presumptuous, self-important alphahole I have ever met. He stole my company from me five years ago. Now, he’s made me an offer I can’t refuse: fake marry him, and he’ll give it back... -
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![Mr. Playboy by Cala Riley]()
Mr. Playboy by Cala Riley
A bad decision. An irresistible temptation. Chloe Madison has a talent for chaos—and lately, her life’s been proof of that. Between a flooded apartment and a sudden job loss, she’s hit rock bottom. The last thing she expects is help from Brantley Gibson, the owner of the Boston Foxes and notorious heartbreaker. He's the one man she swore to avoid, but desperation has a way of rewriting rules...Categorized as:
from hate to love m-f sports hockey sassy heroine working class heroine alpha male bad boys -
![Rosie and the Beast Next Door by Kaylee Baldwin]()
Rosie and the Beast Next Door by Kaylee Baldwin
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt is a truth universally acknowledged that a hockey player in possession of a bad reputation must be in want of a fake girlfriend. Rosie Forrester is in desperate need of cash after an embarrassing run-in with the law. Enter Dylan Savage, a disgraced hockey player who needs a place to hide out for a few months while he figures out how to get back on his team... -
![Your Christmas Love by Layla Hagen]()
Your Christmas Love by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsSienna Hensley-Bennett loves everything about the Christmas season, from hanging decorations to the cozy get-togethers with her family. Despite being part of the well-known Bennett family, Sienna is determined to first gather experience before joining their business. Her job at Statham department store is perfect for that. But her new boss, Winston Statham, is going to be a slight problem... -
![Goalie Interrupted by Anne Kemp]()
Goalie Interrupted by Anne Kemp
Coaching him was never part of the plan. Falling for her should NOT happen. But in hockey––and love––sometimes the best plays come when you break the rules. Elle: Coaching the River City Renegades is exactly where I want to be—hockey, small-town charm, and zero drama…but there’s him. Dixon Andrews. The team’s broody, infuriating, gorgeous goalie...Categorized as:
sports hockey m-f from hate to love competent heroine strong heroine independent heroine cold hero -
![Just One Look by Rosalind James]()
Just One Look by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLuka Darkovic has some tackling skills. He hadn’t planned on using them to bring down a runaway dog the size of a Shetland pony, though, especially not when his neck is already buggered. At 33, a rugby forward protects his vertebrae. . He’s even less happy when the dog’s incompetent owner turns up in his hospital cubicle the next day with a plan to fix those vertebrae... -
![Brogan by Samantha Whiskey]()
Brogan by Samantha Whiskey
They call me Demon for a reason—I’m the most ruthless Reaper on the ice. I’m not the person who finds a baby on their doorstep. Except, after a morning run, I am. And the note accompanying the little bundle says she’s mine. Looks like I'm the newest single dad in the NHL. I was nothing but a burden on my aunt and uncle after my parents died, and I’d decided I’d never have children...Categorized as:
sports athletes m-f caretaking found-family hockey cheerful heroine independent heroine -
![Time to Bounce by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Time to Bounce by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLoneliness is overwhelming in its intensity. There are times you think you can cope, that you can make it despite the hollow feeling in your chest. Then there are the times when you realize you can’t breathe through the pain of loss. When Gable Buchanan Carter walks into Athena’s life, it’s like a light is switched on inside her chest. Suddenly she can breathe... -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsVaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self. Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders... -
![A Smoky Mountain Hockey Holiday by Toni Aleo]()
A Smoky Mountain Hockey Holiday by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsOne chalet in the Smokies. Four loving families. While all the grandbabies are on Santa’s Nice List, a few of the adults are getting coal in their stockings. But no matter their status with the man in the red suit, Elli Adler will spoil each and every one of her favorite people with love and holiday cheer... -
![Knockout by Jessica Prince]()
Knockout by Jessica Prince
It wasn’t fair that the man I hated with a passion was so freaking gorgeous. Things in Layla Fox’s life were going great. She had a fantastic job, amazing friends, and a killer apartment. There was just one tiny glitch in all that perfect. Her upstairs neighbor was the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome . . . and she hated the man with every cell in her body... -
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![The Champion by Shey Stahl]()
The Champion by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA powerful love story of tragedy, love, and commitment. The fourth book in the Racing on the Edge series submerges you in the lifestyle of a champion of a sport that dominates America. Through smoke and methanol, you learn the good, the bad, and the secrets no one wants you to know... -
![Faking Cinderella by Pippa Grant]()
Faking Cinderella by Pippa Grant
A grumpy former bodyguard, an heiress in disguise, and an accidental roommate situation…. If I’d known a tall, broad mountain of a man would crash the one-bedroom cabin I’m borrowing, I might have handled things differently. I still would’ve lied to him. He doesn’t need to know all of my reasons for wanting to meet my surprise triplet half brothers while undercover as a housekeeper... -
![A Ticking Time Boss by Olivia Hayle]()
A Ticking Time Boss by Olivia Hayle
The golden angel who swooped in to save me from a nightmare first date turns out to be a billionaire vulture circling the company I work for. Carter Kingsley: My savior and ruthless corporate raider hell bent on destroying the newspaper I love. Oh, and my new boss. His first order of business? Cut half the staff. I should hate him. Easy, right? Wrong... -
![Jock Blocked by Pippa Grant]()
Jock Blocked by Pippa Grant
She can't let him score…. Call it superstition, but when a guy bats as hot as Brooks Elliott, you don't mess with what's working. And what's working is him keeping his pants zipped and doing all of his scoring on the field... -
![The Tenacious Act by Marion De Ré]()
The Tenacious Act by Marion De Ré
Our contractor declared bankruptcy and we now have to leave our bookstore opening into the hands of a professional hockey team. Thankfully, the guys are also skilled off the ice and dedicated to help us make our dream come true. Particularly, Maxime, my friend’s brother who’s a relentless flirt with a goofy personality. And as hot as he might be, I don’t do boyfriends... -
![Mine To Love by Natasha Madison]()
Mine To Love by Natasha Madison
Presley. After my sisters’ disastrous weddings, I’m never going to get married. I’ll just stay single forever. It doesn’t matter that I’m in love with my brother’s best friend. Or that Bennett and I shouldn’t even be friends with benefits. Until the positive sign tells me I’m pregnant. Bennett. I fell in love with Presley when she was eighteen and asked me for a favor...Categorized as:
sassy heroine friends to lovers strong heroine m-f contemporary humor pregnancy explicit-open-door -
![One Bossy Date by Nicole Snow]()
One Bossy Date by Nicole Snow
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsAn accidental date brings together two instant enemies in this hilarious and steamy grumpy boss romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow. Never sweat the small stuff, they say. How about when you wake up with a giant stranger showering in your hotel room? There's nothing tiny about Brock Winthrope. He even roars like a lion when he sees me. I scream back...Categorized as:
super rich hero grumpy sunshine bad boys from hate to love alpha male cold hero humor contemporary -
![Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp]()
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m sarcasm with a messy bun. He’s a sweetheart with a slapshot. Sparks were one thing—those fireworks, though? Yeah…no one warned me about those. Mabel. Returning to Maple Falls wasn’t part of my five-year plan—or my backup plan. Or any plan, really. But here I am, back in my quirky hometown, dodging my mother’s judgment and trying not to cringe every time someone mentions the viral moment... -
![As You Ice It by Emma St. Clair]()
As You Ice It by Emma St. Clair
If at first you don’t succeed, DO NOT try, try again. At least not when it comes to dating a hockey player. When Naomi met Camden Cole on Oakley Island, she assumed he would be gone in a week or two like any other tourist passing through. Perfect for a fun summer relationship. A temporary one...Categorized as:
sports hockey found-family single-mother athletes m-f independent heroine super rich hero -
![Wrong Number, Right Grump by Piper Cook]()
Wrong Number, Right Grump by Piper Cook
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWrong number. Right timing. I left my ex the world’s most unhinged breakup voicemail—complete with colorful language, a few creative threats, and a playlist he could shove where the sun doesn’t shine. Only…I vented to the wrong number. Worse? The stranger listened to my rambling rant and had the nerve to respond...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine cheerful heroine sassy heroine cold hero m-f contemporary humor length-novella -
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![This Is Love by Natasha Madison]()
This Is Love by Natasha Madison
From the best selling series, Something So comes the spin-off series This is. .. Vivienne. Never fall in love. That was my motto, and I was sticking to it. Having my heart broken once was enough, and I never wanted to do it again. He was supposed to be a one-night stand, the only thing I do. One rule shouldn’t be so hard to follow, but then I went back for seconds, then thirds...Categorized as:
sports alpha male friends to lovers hockey m-f sassy heroine independent heroine athletes -
![Not That Impressed by Ranee S. Clark]()
Not That Impressed by Ranee S. Clark
I’m totally fine if America wants to cast me as the villain. So why do I care if brooding football player Will Pemberton believes it too? But honestly? It stings more than it should when Will—grumpy football star and walking scowl—judges me based on a five-second video from Being the Bennets, my family’s reality TV show. Maybe it’s because his best friend is dating my sister...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love m-f competent heroine sassy heroine cold hero athletes football -
![Hockey Player Seeking Fan by J.S. Cooper]()
Hockey Player Seeking Fan by J.S. Cooper
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s the hottest hockey player in the league and she hates him. She’s his best friend's little sister and he knows to stay away. Neither one of them fully understands how he became her secret relationship coach. Hockey superstar Tyler Kane knew that Erica Carrington was going to be trouble the very first moment he met her...Categorized as:
sports hockey from hate to love super rich hero alpha male siblings-bff age difference contemporary -
![Charity Case: The Complete Series by Piper Rayne]()
Charity Case: The Complete Series by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThese three women are the toughest juries they’ll ever have to plead their case to. THIS BOX SET INCLUDES…. Clean Slate (Charity Case #0. 5). Moving two thousand miles away wasn’t my plan, but when family needs you, you come. Before I can head back to my hometown of Chicago though, I have two men to say good-bye to. Neither one of them will be happy to hear the news... -
![Perfectly You by Claudia Y. Burgoa]()
Perfectly You by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa brings us a light-hearted small-town romantic comedy full of a swoon-worthy billionaire, single dad romance, and big laughs. I need a massive break. So long to my cheating boyfriend and betraying roommate. Goodbye hectic emergency room and long hours... -
![Ice Ice Maybe by Rich Amooi]()
Ice Ice Maybe by Rich Amooi
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratings“I want you to date my daughter. ”. Those seven words hit Nolan Reid like a puck to the head. Once destined for NHL stardom, a skiing accident left Nolan driving the Zamboni for the San Diego Sea Lions. But his humble life of maintaining the ice is about to get complicated. The billionaire owner’s insane plan? Nolan fake-dates his daughter Zena to ignite her ex’s jealousy... -
![Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance by Grace Worthington]()
Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance by Grace Worthington
He's allergic to Christmas. She practically bleeds tinsel. Their holiday collision is about to get complicated. Single mom Janie Bennett has one pull off the perfect Christmas pageant for her kindergarten class. What she doesn't need is the world's grumpiest hockey player ruining her holly-jolly plans. Enter Rourke Riley, Mr...Categorized as:
hockey sports m-f grumpy sunshine from hate to love single-mother athletes cold hero -
![Made For Me by Natasha Madison]()
Made For Me by Natasha Madison
From Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comes a brand new stand-alone friends to lovers sports romance. A spin-off from the Only One series. Chase. Everyone expected me to play hockey. I was good at it, but I was better at being a doctor. So I hung up the skates and joined Doctors without Borders. But there is no place like home, so now I’m back... -
![The Grumpiest Billionaire by Pippa Grant]()
The Grumpiest Billionaire by Pippa Grant
From USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Pippa Grant comes a witty road trip romcom about a billionaire on the run and the last woman on earth he wants in his passenger seat. .. That didn't turn out the way I planned it. All I wanted was five minutes with Oliver Cumberland to explain to him that proposing to my sister — again — is a bad idea... -
![Connell by Samantha Whiskey]()
Connell by Samantha Whiskey
I’m famous for two things—being one of the best defensemen in the NHL and my classic pranks. My teammates always said one of my jokes would bite me in my Scottish arse one day, and they were right. After a prank goes wrong, I’m sentenced to six weeks community service under none other than the sexy, rule-abiding, smart-mouthed city clerk of Sweet Water—Annabelle Clarke... -
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![Can't Take The Heat? by Hailey Shore]()
Can't Take The Heat? by Hailey Shore
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOMG. It's him! TV celebrity chef Antony Renard! And he wants my food truck falafels? Hard pass. I've spent my whole life being judged by my dad. I don't need another bossy/grumpy chef meddling in my food. What's he doing in Calico Cove anyway? Oh, I bet he's hiding out because of that viral video of him losing his cool at his fancy Michelin-starred restaurant. Talk about needing a timeout... -
![Beautiful Thing by Cassie-Ann L. Miller]()
Beautiful Thing by Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Fake-dating my best friend’s brother should be easy. He’s grumpy. He’s guarded. He’s older. And he’d never fall for a complicated single mother like me. Or that’s what I need to tell myself…so I don’t fall in love with him. Archer Brighton needs a girlfriend. If the broody lumberjack shows up at his younger brother’s wedding without a date, his meddling family will drive him insane... -
![Stop Ghosting Me by Tara Sivec]()
Stop Ghosting Me by Tara Sivec
Harvest Grove News:. Another Halloween season is upon us! As usual, please be mindful of the movie fans traveling from Vine Street to Cinnamon Way. Favorite bar owner, Ford Prescott, is back in town for his yearly stay, making this his sixth October in Harvest Grove! Be sure to welcome him warmly when you see him at the Wicked Pub and Grub... -
![On the Shore by Laura Pavlov]()
On the Shore by Laura Pavlov
He's the GOAT of the NFL. She's a hot-headed reporter who despises him. They're in the same small town for the summer. What could possibly go wrong? I'm more than aware of the responsibilities that come with being a quarterback in the NFL. The upside—I get to do what I love every day, which is play football. And I make more money than I know what to do with... -
![She Loves Me by Melissa Foster]()
She Loves Me by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWhat are two besties willing to risk for something more? The New York Times bestselling author of This Is Love has the answer in this fun, sexy, and emotional romance about friendship, family, and giving love a chance. Something is off in Piper Dalton’s life, and she has a feeling it might just be her. All her siblings are blissfully settled with their forever loves...Categorized as:
friends to lovers independent heroine sassy heroine strong heroine m-f humor contemporary audiobook -
![Breakaway (The Rule Book Collection) by A.M. Johnson]()
Breakaway (The Rule Book Collection) by A.M. Johnson
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs Tampa Bay's star center, Mark Carmelo's life was hockey, and after a bitter and public break up, all he wanted to do was focus on the game. Until he saw her. The one that got away. The one he thought he'd never see again. For thirteen years, Stevie West drowned in her lackluster life. Recently divorced from her “roommate” with passionless benefits, she was ready to start over. On her own...
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