Books like 'Damaged Defender'
Readers who enjoyed Damaged Defender by Anne Martin also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
marriage of convenience secret child siblings-bff from hate to love sports forced proximity hockey
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Dillon by Siobhan Davis
A companion novel to Say I'm the One, Let Me Love You, and Hold Me Close. Growing up in Ireland, I always felt like something was missing. I had an idyllic childhood, yet I was never happy.After Mum explained about the adoption, I constantly questioned my existence. Despite being surrounded by love, I struggle to accept it or reciprocate... -
![Meant for Her by Natasha Madison]()
Meant for Her by Natasha Madison
From Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Bestselling Author Natasha Madison comes new enemies to lovers, forbidden, single mom, hockey romance. Christopher I came from the biggest hockey family in the NHL. Records were set by my grandfather, my father, and now my brother. I was taught to love the game, but more than that, I learned early the men you play with are your family...Categorized as:
sports hockey from hate to love contemporary suspense length-medium explicit-open-door m-f -
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![All Hail the Underdogs by E.L. Massey]()
All Hail the Underdogs by E.L. Massey
When seventeen-year-old Patrick Roman is offered a scholarship to a top hockey preparatory school, he thinks maybe his notorious bad luck has finally ended. With a hearing for his legal emancipation on the horizon, he dreams of getting scouted and securing a place on a D1 college team. There’s only one Roman has serious beef with his new winger on the team, Damien Bordeaux... -
![Hard to Love by K. Bromberg]()
Hard to Love by K. Bromberg
New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg, is back with a heartfelt, enemies to lovers romance and a hero who redeems himself to steal your heart . . .He was the one-night stand that didn’t exactly go as planned. Now he’s standing before me as if he’s never seen me naked, telling my manager he’ll take the job. Reluctantly.Finn Sanderson.Sports agent extraordinaire. Handsome as hell...Categorized as:
from hate to love sports forced proximity contemporary heroine athlete open-door length-short -
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![One Night Valentine by Hope Ford]()
One Night Valentine by Hope Ford
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt’s not a question of IF this football star can resist the curvy florist but rather WHEN he’ll give in…Cruz It is said that you only want what you cannot have. I hate to be a cliche, but that statement rings true for me.In my case it’s not what I want, but rather who. Tara Brooks. Sweet, funny, and my little sister’s best friend... -
![Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne]()
Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOne of us will have to give up the future we’ve dreamed of if we’re going to make this work. It’s not going to be me. We can’t both have that same thought if we want to stay together when our contract ends.But the more I see him struggle against the things his mother does to him, the harder I fall. The more his ex tries to get in his way, the more I want to stand up for him...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity siblings-bff age difference friends to lovers contemporary length-short m-f -
![The Last Guy On Earth by Sarina Bowen]()
The Last Guy On Earth by Sarina Bowen
One cold December day, two men are blindsided by a hockey trade; one is the most decorated goalie in the league, while the other one is the youngest coach in the majors.Jethro Hale is the last player Coach Clay Powers wants to see on his roster, but the G.M. pulls a fast one. And it's not like he can even explain why. Nobody knows about their love affair fifteen years ago... -
![The Day I Stopped Falling for Jerks by Max Monroe]()
The Day I Stopped Falling for Jerks by Max Monroe
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsI’m Luciana Wright. Everyone calls me Lucky, but when it comes to love, I’m anything but. I have a long history of dating the wrong men. You know the ones I’m talking about. The beautiful, charming guys who are quite literally too good to be true. The ones who are impulsive in love and prefer short flings over long-term relationships. I’m talking about the jerks...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love forced proximity siblings-bff humor contemporary new adult length-medium -
![Duke with a Reputation by Scarlett Scott]()
Duke with a Reputation by Scarlett Scott
From USA Today bestselling author Scarlett Scott comes a scorching-hot enemies-to-lovers romance between a single dad duke and the fiercely independent countess who has vowed to guard her heart at all costs...The Duke of Brandon is London’s most infamous rake... -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 27 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... -
![Bonus Game by Susan Renee]()
Bonus Game by Susan Renee
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsI was the first one on the team to get married.I was the first one of us to have a kid.I was also the first one of us whose marriage went up in flames, making me the team's first single dad.Yeah, not one of my better saves.Not that I'm complaining. My daughter is my life... -
![Can't Help but Want You by Tay Mo'Nae]()
Can't Help but Want You by Tay Mo'Nae
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJust when things seem to be going well a curve ball is thrown at Tae causing Brenna to take a step back from their situation. Now becoming a father, Tae puts all his attention on his son, ignoring the yearning inside of him.Brenna thinks moving on is the key to her problems, but what she soon learns is the heart wants what the heart wants... -
![Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott]()
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDid you ever see a guy and just know you had to meet him?That was me and Bodhi Merrick. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he donned his wetsuit at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks. I'll never forget that day. Or every time our paths crossed after that. Big wave surfing is a small world. And, as it happens, Bodhi felt the same tug---this irresistible attraction that drew us to one another... -
![The Day the Jerk Started Falling by Max Monroe]()
The Day the Jerk Started Falling by Max Monroe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsMy name is Oliver Arsen, but my mates call me Ollie. I live hard and love harder, and it’s love that usually gets me in the most trouble. According to the greater population, I’m the ultimate jerk. My affection tends to be short-lived—a quality I’ve been assured multiple times by the fairer sex isn’t becoming—and the leaving part of loving and leaving has always come natural... -
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![Leave Me Breathless by Carrie Elks]()
Leave Me Breathless by Carrie Elks
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe’s his best friend’s little sister. Completely off-limits. And now she’s moving in with him…When Gabe Winter’s best friend calls with an unusual request – give his broken-hearted little sister a roof over her head for a few months – he readily accepts.But he doesn’t expect Nicole to be quite so enticing. Or for her to bring out all the feelings in him... -
![Storm by Abbi Glines]()
Storm by Abbi Glines
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsBriar Falling in love with a man you can’t fully trust isn’t just unwise, it's a constant battle. Storm Kingston had busted into my life, shattering my well-maintained walls. He claimed I was his, promising to fulfill all my dreams. But I had already caught him in a lie that I couldn’t confront him about. To do so would mean the death of an innocent person... -
![Unadulterated Something by M.J. Duncan]()
Unadulterated Something by M.J. Duncan
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEmma Beauchamp and Campbell Jordan’s rivalry on the ice was legendary. Retirement should have closed that chapter of their lives, but when Campbell joins the faculty at Stonebridge—the prestigious Berkshires boarding school where Emma now teaches—it takes on a brand new life... -
![My Unexpected Vow: California Billionaires Book 2 by Harlow James]()
My Unexpected Vow: California Billionaires Book 2 by Harlow James
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHave you ever thought there was a spider crawling on you only to discover it was a piece of hair?But it’s not your hair—it’s your wife’s—a woman who just happens to be your best friend’s little sister that hates your guts as well... -
![The Deeper I Fall by Erika Kelly]()
The Deeper I Fall by Erika Kelly
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe's a rough and rugged hockey player. She's a posh British princess. To win an enormous inheritance, they’re forced to live together.This is not going to go well.When his former hockey coach passes away, Declan Cadell is shocked to learn the man left him a cattle ranch. Well, not exactly. He’s got one little hurdle to jump first... -
![Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner]()
Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner
A 6'5 NHL goalie walks into a bar and meets the love of his life...no, this isn't the start of a bad joke.I had a chance encounter in a dimly lit bar that led to an earth-shattering kiss with a beautiful stranger.But then the next morning my world is rocked again--when I walk inside my team captain's house and see her... -
![Accidentally In Love with my Best Friend's Brother by Abby Greyson]()
Accidentally In Love with my Best Friend's Brother by Abby Greyson
This is a kisses only, sweet romance.My best friend’s annoying brother, some spilled tea, and a crazy proposition.Josh Owen’s is the top receiver in the NFL, with a bad boy reputation. He’s click bait fodder for any, and all, gossip columns.A released video shows us “kissing”, and the news is spreading like wildfire.Now me, "good girl" Brie, is in the rumor mills with him... -
![Hit 'em Hard by Kat Mizera]()
Hit 'em Hard by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe Phantoms are back with a vengeance… and the City of Angels will never be the same. JENSEN: Chasing my pro hockey dreams in the City of Angels has been a relentless battle. Each season feels like starting over, and being miles away from my family only adds to the struggle. I don’t know what I would do without my online gaming friends. Especially @Empress... -
![The Duke and the Dressmaker by Eva Devon]()
The Duke and the Dressmaker by Eva Devon
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA duke becomes unraveled by love in this delightful historical romance from USA Today bestselling author Eva Devon…Dressmaker Miss Lily Martin knows too well the sordid dealings of London’s corrupt underbelly. She should have known borrowing from one of the city’s most reviled moneylenders was risky. Horribly so... -
![Hooked by Jacob Chance]()
Hooked by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAvoiding bad boy hockey player Marshall Winters has been one of my goals since he did me wrong four years ago.However, with both of us attending Boston University and his younger sister being my best friend, it’s damn near impossible.Then he saves me from a dangerous situation, whisking me away to his family’s cabin, changing everything... -
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![Worth Every Game by Rae Ryder]()
Worth Every Game by Rae Ryder
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHe's only looking for fun, but she's playing to win.Elly CarterI’ve never been interested in Jack Lansen. Sure, we’ve flirted over the years, and I can’t deny he’s gorgeous, but he’s my best friend’s older brother, and a reputed womanizer.I’d never go near him.On top of that, I’m a musician, and he’s a businessman.We have nothing in common...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love siblings-bff super rich hero contemporary new adult -
![Off the Ice by Tierney Rose]()
Off the Ice by Tierney Rose
How do you forgive the person who crushed your dreams and left you a crippled wreck? Ethan Russell doesn’t know, and he doesn’t want to find out. He’s too busy trying to rebuild something resembling a life from the ruins of what remains after defenseman Tanner McCoy shattered his hip and ended his career as the most promising goalie for the Miami Spirit in twenty years... -
![Hard Fall by Brenda Rothert, Kat Mizera]()
Hard Fall by Brenda Rothert, Kat Mizera
The St. Louis Mavericks are having the best season in team history. On pace for a pro hockey record, the unexpected death of their captain and star player knocks them off course in ways they never expected.WestonMy world was turned upside down the day Ben Whitmer died. Best friends since junior hockey, Ben was like a brother to me. My voice of reason and a grounding force on and off the ice...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love hockey contemporary sweet heroine single-mother behind-doors length-medium -
![Switch and Score by Dulcie Dameron]()
Switch and Score by Dulcie Dameron
When a sibling switch goes awry, blackmail is the only way out.Professional figure skater, Jude Forshtay, would do anything for his twin brother, Joel.But when Joel hurts himself, incurring an injury that could affect his future career plans, he asks the impossible of his twin: replace him on the Denver Dragons until Joel is able to play again...Categorized as:
hockey sports from hate to love contemporary neurodivergent length-medium glimpses-kisses -
![Feuding with the Fashion Princess by Siena Trap]()
Feuding with the Fashion Princess by Siena Trap
I love the way I hate her.Pushing Lucy Remington’s buttons is my favorite pastime and has been since we were kids. Watching as her brilliant blue eyes darken in anger when I mockingly call her Princess—even though she is one—fills me with immense satisfaction.She’s the last woman on Earth I would want to take as my wife, yet that’s exactly what her grandfather—my King—asks of me... -
![Keeping You by Alex Taylor]()
Keeping You by Alex Taylor
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHannah:I learned two years ago to never date a coworker or a playboy.Waking up married to Dr. Grayson Maxwell was not how I thought this work trip in Vegas would end. I want an annulment, but he surprises me with a request: ninety days to show me we can make this marriage work.With planned dates, thoughtful gestures, and beautiful words, he starts to chip away at my resolve... -
![Game Changer: A Wynn Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson]()
Game Changer: A Wynn Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsJackson Wynn I don’t want anything to do with my crazy family’s drama, which I’ve been watching unfold from a distance over the last year, but now my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and I feel I need to at least make a quick visit to see him. My hockey season’s over, all I have to do is get through my teammate Steve’s wedding, and then I’m on a plane to Los Angeles to do my family duty... -
![Resisting the Rookie by Jacob Chance]()
Resisting the Rookie by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBodhi Shine, my brother’s best friend, is the closest thing I have to an enemy. Tall, with irritatingly good looks, this cocky jerk has been a thorn in my backside for as long as I can remember.We’re like oil and water—we just don’t mix. I do my best to avoid him, but now that he’s the new running back for the Charleston Pirates and staying with my twin, that’s damn near impossible...Categorized as:
forced proximity sports from hate to love siblings-bff humor sassy heroine alpha male contemporary -
![Two for Charging by Lasairiona E. McMaster]()
Two for Charging by Lasairiona E. McMaster
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDedicated. Driven. Divorced.Coach Elliott Swift is under pressure from all sides. His players are counting on him to return the team to championship success despite his recently graduated star players. His toxic ex-wife dogs his every move, and his sickly, aging parents require constant care... -
![My Favorite Mistake by Claudia Y. Burgoa]()
My Favorite Mistake by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsUSA TODAY BestsellingAuthor Claudia Burgoa brings us a brand new hockey romance about missed opportunities, accidental weddings, and found family. What happens in Vegas might go viral!The first time I met Caspian Spearman, we had the perfect night.The second time, I was on the arm of his biggest rival.The third night… was a string of mistakes... -
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![Waiting to Score by Evey Lyon]()
Waiting to Score by Evey Lyon
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsFormer hockey star Declan Dash loves to play the game, and the one with his friend’s little sister, Violet Spears? He plans to win…Running into your brother’s billionaire ex-hockey-playing best friend at a special kind of party should have been a red flag. Pulling one another’s names from a bowl at said party was a coincidence... -
![Waiting to Win by Evey Lyon]()
Waiting to Win by Evey Lyon
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsConnor Spears is hockey royalty who most definitely never planned to accidentally marry his childhood irritation Hadley Crews. Connor is smug, grew up destined for his hockey career, and he’s irritatingly good-looking. He was also my next-door neighbor growing up... -
![Ice, Love, & Other Penalties by Claudia Y. Burgoa]()
Ice, Love, & Other Penalties by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa comes an enthralling single dad, hockey romance that skates through the challenges of forbidden love, healing after trauma, and found family.They say never mix business with pleasure.As a single father, and the captain of the Seattle Sasquatches, I’m adamant to keep every corner of my life separate and running perfectly... -
![Enemies in Paradise by Brittany Larsen]()
Enemies in Paradise by Brittany Larsen
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsParadise is supposed to be my escape from burnout and bad guys, but I’ve already burned bridges with the hottest guy in town.Bear Thomsen and I both want the same thing—his grandpa’s old auto shop. My dream is to rehab it into a bookstore. Bear’s is to tear it down to build a hockey rink... -
![Undeniable Love by Samantha Chase]()
Undeniable Love by Samantha Chase
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Sports Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase She’s a small town girl looking to escape her monotonous life. He’s the NFL superstar looking to return to his roots. Twelve years ago, he nearly destroyed her family. Now they’re working together and the attraction she feels is…completely undeniable. Lucy Dawson dreamed of leaving South Creek... -
![Perfectly Faked by Grace Worthington]()
Perfectly Faked by Grace Worthington
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s a hot-headed hockey star. A grump with a broody glare. Hater of playing by the rules. Bigger hater of figure skaters like me. And now, my new fake boyfriend.I’ve spent my entire life working for a shot at Nationals, but when my figure skating partner gets an injury right before the biggest season of my career, my chances of making a comeback vanish overnight...Categorized as:
sports hockey forced proximity from hate to love contemporary second chances humor length-medium -
![Red Flag by Evelyne Sperring]()
Red Flag by Evelyne Sperring
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsOlivia Quinn After the controversial death of my last client, my dream of being a sports publicist is left hanging by a thread. The sole opportunity for redemption is a role no one else wants because the client is the infamous Nixon Armas. I should be grateful to work with the motorbike racing champion. The rugged model. The stubborn, arrogant fool on the brink of losing his job...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity from hate to love friends to lovers office super rich hero length-long -
![The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume One by Audrey Carlan]()
The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume One by Audrey Carlan
What would you do for three million dollars? Four young women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidders. For no less than a million dollars a year, for three years, each woman will do what it takes to secure her future. Entangled in a high-stakes game of money, lust, power, and the hope for absolution, this group of women becomes a sisterhood unlike any other... -
![Two for Roughing by Lasairiona E. McMaster]()
Two for Roughing by Lasairiona E. McMaster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt’s a simple rule: don’t bang your teammates’ siblings.Finn O’Brien didn’t just break the rule, he annihilated it. Falling in love with his best friend’s younger sister when they were teens was an accident. He fought it for years, hiding behind a list of one-night stands a mile long, anything to convince himself Molly Morrison wasn’t the woman for him...Categorized as:
sports siblings-bff hockey new adult humor friends to lovers contemporary length-medium -
![Fallen Crown by W. Million]()
Fallen Crown by W. Million
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMaren Tucker is done with men who check in for the good times and check out for the bad. As a member of one of the oldest families in Bellerive, she doesn't have to play nice with the Summerset Royals. Especially not the youngest who represents everything she detests... -
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![Wrecked Love by Kate Crew]()
Wrecked Love by Kate Crew
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAshton is trying to start fresh by leaving her old life behind. After a racing accident left her shattered in more ways than one, she's forced to leave her lavish life behind and find a new path. But a single encounter with Fox interupts her moping and thrusts her right back into the world of racing...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love forced proximity suspense new adult friends to lovers length-long -
![Icing the Enemy by Kristin Lee]()
Icing the Enemy by Kristin Lee
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsUSA Today Bestselling Author, Kristin Lee brings you a hockey romance full of sass, swoon and spice. I’m not your typical jock—no endless string of hookups or partying until dawn. I’ll wait for the real thing.Until a chance encounter at a truck stop with a defiant, blue-eyed bombshell with a broken down car and a dog sends my heart racing... -
![Make My Heart Malt by Gia Stevens]()
Make My Heart Malt by Gia Stevens
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA sizzling hate to lovers, unrequited crush, standalone sports romance by romantic comedy author Gia Stevens… Dessa should have been mine... until my brother kissed her first. Ten years is a long time to be infatuated with your former best friend, especially when she’s dating your brother... -
![Want You to Want Me by Lorelei James]()
Want You to Want Me by Lorelei James
The new sexy contemporary romance in New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James's Want You series, set in Minneapolis-St. Paul.Hockey player Gabriella "Gabi" Welk spent her life in pursuit of championships, but she has little to show for it besides dusty trophies and second-place medals. Now her career consists of several part-time jobs to make ends meet... -
![Just Say When by Elizabeth Bright]()
Just Say When by Elizabeth Bright
I promised my best friend I’d take care of his hellion of a sister. A sham marriage probably wasn’t what he had in mind.Growing up, the three of us were inseparable. Now the only time she speaks to me is to tell me to get lost. Fair enough. Maybe I do go out of my way to make her mad, but I’d take her hate over her indifference any day... -
![Lucky Score by Kenna King]()
Lucky Score by Kenna King
***Stuck-together, stranger-to-lovers, Steamy Hockey Romance***Seven and BrynnAs the last line of defense for the Hawkeyes hockey team, I've mastered the art of keeping my guard up, both on and off the ice...
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