Books like 'The Defending Goal'
Readers who enjoyed The Defending Goal by Crea Reitan also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance found-family queer-awakening caretaking slow burn sweet-hero hockey sports friends to lovers
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Seth by Carly Marie
Be yourself because everyone else is taken. But what if that risks everything you know? Seth Johnson has worked his entire career to be remembered more for his skill than as an openly gay NHL player. Finding a boyfriend has been pushed to the back burner. As for exposing his softer side, the side that loves lace and lingerie? It’s not happening... -
![A Touch of Maple by Amy Aislin]()
A Touch of Maple by Amy Aislin
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter being traded numerous times over the course of his pro hockey career, all Bellamy Jordan wants is a place where he belongs. Burlington, Vermont, home of the Vermont Trailblazers, his newest team, might just be that place. The bonus: he’s within spitting distance of the grandparents who raised him... -
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![Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe Montgomery Ink saga continues in a seductive romance where a runaway bride and two best friends might just take the chance of a lifetime. Ethan Montgomery thought he had his life figured out until the moment he and his best friend met a woman in a wedding dress drinking wine out of a paper bag. He might work too many hours and always seems to put his family and friends first... -
![The Contractor by Raleigh Ruebins]()
The Contractor by Raleigh Ruebins
He’s my best friend, my best worker, and it was just a silly crush. Then he kissed me. Now it feels like he's mine…. I’ve shown my best friend Tristan everything: how to use a circular saw, how to lay grout, and how to do a kitchen renovation right. On the job, we became close friends—then even closer as we learned to share a camping tent. It was all harmless. Just like my crush on him...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer found-family queer-awakening m-m contemporary office length-short -
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![Hard Knox by Riley Hart]()
Hard Knox by Riley Hart
Callum. A gay guy walks into a straight bar and notices the hottest man he’s ever seen. Why am I not surprised my life sounds like the beginning of a bad joke? First, my ex cheated on me, and I went running to Havenwood and the mom I have a complicated relationship with. Then, there’s Knox, the gorgeous lumberjack I don’t stand a chance with...Categorized as:
friends to lovers bisexual queer queer-awakening slow burn anal sex sweet-hero found-family -
![Brace and Chase by Hinsel Meyer]()
Brace and Chase by Hinsel Meyer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat happens when rivals have to work together to earn their spot on the team back? SANTA. Charlie Heart is many things:. An annoyingly good hockey player. The man who the media has pitted me against our whole careers. My rival. The only person I truly hate in the world. And now apparently, my newest teammate... -
![Rising Tide by E.M. Lindsey]()
Rising Tide by E.M. Lindsey
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOnce upon a time, Ghost was the best enforcer the Reapers MC had ever known—until the Hydra appeared and destroyed everything he’d worked for. After witnessing corruption down to the very core of their club, his only option was to take off his cut and leave...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity praise-kink bisexual queer found-family m-m age difference -
![Red Lined by Crea Reitan]()
Red Lined by Crea Reitan
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsMaybe you can order love online…. Julian. I’ve spent a short lifetime learning that what people say they want is rarely what they actually want. What I hope for is a relationship where both of us feel comfortable together. I think I finally find what I’m looking for in a mail order bride. Then he shows up... -
![Second Shot by Con Riley]()
Second Shot by Con Riley
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSecond Shot (Second Chance School #2). Welcome back to Glynn Harber School for another steamy, swoony romance between two bruised souls. Passion always leads to heartbreak for Hayden Novac. Nice guys always get picked last. That’s what my coach at a soccer academy once promised... -
![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 -
![Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers]()
Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAsher Williams is obsessed with love. His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own. After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help... -
![Scoring Chance by A.J. Truman]()
Scoring Chance by A.J. Truman
A totally fake marriage… with very real feelings. I'm a carefree bachelor who never wanted kids. But it seems life has other plans. When my best friend and hockey teammate Tanner Chance finds himself jobless with four kids to support, I suggest a wild marriage. My health insurance can cover Tanner’s family, but to keep nosy coworkers from sniffing out the scheme, the whole Chance clan moves in... -
![Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFamily comes first in all things. Whatever the cost. Ten had always heard the saying ‘Out of the mouth of babes,’ but he’d not expected it to hit home as it had. After a comment from their daughter, Ten and Jared find themselves pondering an addition to the family. Moving into the adoption process is nerve-wracking and riddled with anxiety—kind of like how the Railers have been playing of late... -
![Winning Big by Athena Steller]()
Winning Big by Athena Steller
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWelcome to Sin City! Home to the newest Daddy/ little collection from author Athena Steller. Dom. I’m sick. I don’t want to be, but my stupid body betrayed me and now I’m forced to have weekly dialysis treatments as I wait to see if I will ever get a new kidney. I’ve been managing. Poorly but that doesn’t mean I needed the hot bossy cop to take over... -
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![Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper]()
Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper
Jerry Candelario, known as Potts to almost everyone, has spent his entire adult life focused on raising his siblings and his young niece. But the home he fought hard to make is starting to feel empty now that everyone has grown up and moved out and his precious baby niece has suddenly become a teen with a life of her own...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer slow burn sweet-hero queer-awakening m-m contemporary multicultural -
![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... -
![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 suit. As 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... -
![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. Tyler. I 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 sports friends to lovers exhibitionism queer m-m contemporary -
![Love and History by Lane Hayes]()
Love and History by Lane Hayes
The sporty roommate, the professor, and a history lesson…. Holden-. Ezra might be the most annoying roommate ever. He’s loud, obnoxious, and full of himself. So what if he’s a tall, muscular, tattooed jock? His tendency to strip to his boxers in the kitchen while helping himself to my food isn’t endearing in the slightest. Nope. Ezra has to go...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity friends to lovers bisexual queer found-family queer-awakening m-m -
![Save The Date by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Save The Date by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEver since he first set foot in Harrisburg, Tennant’s life has been a rollercoaster. Ups and downs too numerous to mention, hard knocks and championship rings. Through all of those monumental moments, one thing has been a constant for him, Jared Madsen. Now that their wedding day is drawing nearer, Ten is seriously considering eloping... -
![Wrapped Up In You by Kate Meader]()
Wrapped Up In You by Kate Meader
Get wrapped up in a Rebel this holiday season . .. The holidays are coming and hockey player, Cade “Alamo” Burnett knows exactly what he wants for Christmas: an assurance that his happily-ever-after with Chicago Rebels general manager, Dante Moretti, stays that way. But festive gremlins are conspiring to throw a wrench in the forever Cade and Dante fought so hard for... -
![The Idiot by Dianna Roman]()
The Idiot by Dianna Roman
You can't pick who you love. .. nor can you run from them. Murphy Malone loves his orchard, his mother, and his dog. Life is great until he can't stop thinking about what he's missing—someone to share it all with. When he realizes that his love for his best friend, Jesse Carver, runs deeper than the bonds of friendship, it just makes things worse...Categorized as:
queer-awakening friends to lovers forced proximity queer bisexual m-m grumpy sunshine contemporary -
![Christmas Lights by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Christmas Lights by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsUnder the Christmas lights strung outside a snowy Minnesota cabin, Ryker and Jacob face a future where nothing will be the same again. Fortunate timing means that Ryker and Jacob can spend a few days together over Christmas in a cabin on the family farm. What's better is that Scott and Ben are coming as well, with Hayne and Ethan in tow... -
![Love Directions by A.F. Zoelle]()
Love Directions by A.F. Zoelle
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsElias Forthwright. Horoscopes 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 -
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![Free Me by Mia Monroe]()
Free Me by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 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...Categorized as:
friends to lovers bdsm queer queer-awakening contemporary m-m length-short audiobook -
![The Rivals of Copper County by May Archer]()
The Rivals of Copper County by May Archer
My childhood friend. My biggest rival. The only man I’ve ever wanted. If there were a prize for the most contented man in Copper County, I’d win it every time. I’ve got my business. My son. My family. My friends… and no romantic prospects, sure, but only because I don’t need any. My life’s great as it is. Seriously. Could not be better. I’m practically bleeding serenity over here... -
![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 found-family m-m age difference contemporary -
![Gin & Sin by Mia Monroe]()
Gin & Sin by Mia Monroe
Helping him explore his attraction to men was supposed to be no strings fun, not turn me into a whipped puppy dog, but here we are. The college twink scene is wearing on me. Sure, it works out for a no-commitment guy like myself, but the constant drama and faceless rotation of pretty boys in and out of my bed isn’t as exciting as it once was...Categorized as:
found-family queer-awakening queer hurt-comfort m-m contemporary length-short audiobook -
![Fancy Free by Mia Monroe]()
Fancy Free by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe last thing I need is a curious straight guy sniffing around me. So why is he so hard to resist? My life is everything I ever wanted - by design. Being one of the nation’s most sought after wedding planners has led to a life of traveling to glamorous locations, bumping elbows with the rich and famous, and sampling every handsome hunk the world has to offer... -
![Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land]()
Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs a young single dad, my life’s all about raising my sweet baby boy. But every Saturday night while my family babysits, I get to go out, cut loose, and act my age. Hey, we all need a break from time to time. And every Saturday night, I keep winding up in bed with a gorgeous, Cuban-American motorcycle mechanic named Lucky... -
![Huddle!, Vol. 3: A "Check, Please!" Sketch Zine by Ngozi Ukazu]()
Huddle!, Vol. 3: A "Check, Please!" Sketch Zine by Ngozi Ukazu
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome to. Huddle! Vol. 3. . If you're brand new here, Huddle zines are 18+ fan Service booklets that feature characters from the webcomic. Check Please. . And for a sketch zine that started on a goddamn whim, the Huddle series continues a strong legacy of spiciness and smut. How did we even get her, folks? .. -
![Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy]()
Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsJesse Ainsley’s life running his busy veterinary practice in the sleepy Cornwall bay he grew up in leaves no time for a serious relationship… at least, that’s what he tells himself, but the simple truth is much more cliché... -
![ChrisMyths by Amy Lane]()
ChrisMyths by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAfter courtship, cohabitation, and learning about love and each other, Andy and Eli face the ultimate test: being separated at Christmas. Eli’s seen the propaganda—the country boy goes home from the city and realizes his heart is back among the snow, trees, and chickens. A big happy family is something Eli, with his demanding job running a shelter for LGBTQ youth, can’t provide... -
![Somehow Finding Us (Second Chance Sinners) by Claudia Y. Burgoa]()
Somehow Finding Us (Second Chance Sinners) by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsUSA Today Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa brings you a MM romance full of angst and tragedy that might turn to hope in a redemption love story that’ll break your heart and mend it all over again. Emotional, endearing, and full of romance. People think they know me. They only know what I allow them to see. I’ve learned to control the narrative. I have secrets...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer found-family queer-awakening contemporary christian m-m -
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![Charisma Check by Katherine McIntyre]()
Charisma Check by Katherine McIntyre
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNever fall for the straight guy—Jasper knows better. At least until his straight guy crush starts crushing back…. Jasper Tanaka has made an art form out of avoiding commitment. Which is why his crush on a nearby café owner, Matt, has been perfect—the guy is straight, vanilla, and far too sweet—everything that puts him out of Jasper’s reach...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers bisexual bdsm queer-awakening m-m contemporary length-medium -
![When Stars Align by Denver Shaw]()
When Stars Align by Denver Shaw
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsScarred by the past. Terrified to love again. Savion. Once upon a time, my life was a fairytale. Engaged to a beautiful woman, we were planning our perfect future. Then, the sick act of an obsessed man ruined everything. Alone, disfigured, and betrayed, I fled to LA to focus on my work as a paleontologist. It was there I met Declan... -
![Bear's Best Friend by Raleigh Ruebins]()
Bear's Best Friend by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a ray of sunshine. I’m a loner lumberjack. We don’t make sense……But my straight best friend keeps ending up in my bed. Sawyer Hendricks is the best friend I’ve ever had—the Goose to my Moose, and the shoulder I’ve cried on even though I’m not the crying type. The difference between us? Sawyer brightens any room in an instant, and I’m the gruff guy wearing flannel who’d rather be alone...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening bisexual found-family m-m contemporary humor -
![Black by Quin, Perin.]()
Black by Quin, Perin.
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 14 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... -
![Margins by Landry Brennan]()
Margins by Landry Brennan
“Didn’t know you were gonna sell me a love story. ”“Is that what I did? ”Restless and full of doubt amid a divorce from his high school sweetheart, single father Alex Ramos goes for an early morning walk and stumbles upon a garage sale held by Elijah Caplinger, who’s been tasked with clearing out his late grandfather’s home... -
![Snowed by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Snowed by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA second chance at love is all Kyle wants for Christmas, but a dark menace from his past wants him dead, and love is second to staying alive. Kyle Lourenco has carved out a comfortable life and career for himself in Boston. With the holidays quickly approaching, he's heading home for the first time in several years. Home to his loving parents and the small Canadian town where he was raised...Categorized as:
hockey sports queer friends to lovers hurt-comfort forced proximity m-m contemporary -
![No Secrets: No Regrets, Book 3 by Nora Phoenix]()
No Secrets: No Regrets, Book 3 by Nora Phoenix
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsRoman Dwyer was a successful district attorney—until he went after the wrong people. His reputation is in ruins, and worse, there's a price on his head. Ashamed and scared for his life, he accepts his brothers offer to move in with him and his security team. But when Roman discovers the shenanigans happening in the house, he gets a lot more than he bargained for. Like Caleb... -
![Poke Check by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Poke Check by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsOne scorching summer in each other’s arms could never be enough. Stanislav “Stan” Lyamin is happy playing for the Railers. The towering goalie is well-loved, respected, and making a home for himself even though that home only contains him, his cat, and his growing Pokemon trading card collection. Stan prefers it that way... -
![Neutral Zone by Catherine Gayle]()
Neutral Zone by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novella in the emotional Portland Storm hockey romance series. Being stuck in the Neutral Zone is no way to live…. Portland Storm defenseman Cole Paxton never intended to be the poster boy for gay hockey players... -
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![Playing the Player by Beth Bolden]()
Playing the Player by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCenter Logan Banks didn’t come to Miami looking for a best friend. He came for football and for a chance at freedom—the freedom to live out of the closet. But after a water main break, he lands an unexpected roommate, the new Piranhas kicker, Dylan Leonard. Between practices, games, and too many late nights on the couch, a best friend is exactly what he gets... -
![Impact Zone Special Edition by Courtney W. Dixon]()
Impact Zone Special Edition by Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSpecial Edition Book Art - Paperback only. Two desperate encounters led to a dating arrangement. One for money. The other for sexual exploration. Kel. I tried to save Ohana Surfing Club, a surf shop my father and I owned... -
![Pacies and Photographs by Della Cain]()
Pacies and Photographs by Della Cain
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsStepping out from behind the camera isn’t as easy as it seems. Dax needs cash, and he needs it now since his roommate has moved away without notice. Dax has a week to either make up the difference or break his lease. Both options are out of his price range... -
![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... -
![Skating to Him by Christie Gordon]()
Skating to Him by Christie Gordon
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI’m skating to the NHL while he’s running from his past. When we collide, am I brave enough to take the shot? Tyler. Hockey is my life. My ticket to the NHL is in sight, and I can’t afford distractions. Then Coach pairs me with Rowan, the new guy from Boston. He’s talented, sharp, and annoyingly irresistible. When he asks to hit the gay bar with me and my friends, I chalk it up to curiosity... -
![It's a Setup by Youcouldmakealife]()
It's a Setup by Youcouldmakealife
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Don’t remember there being a rule that only women could bid,” Scratch says. “Maybe you’ll meet a nice boy. ”. “Oh, fuck off, Scratch,” Joey says when he waggles his eyebrows. Words: 72,532.
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