Books like 'Play the Game'
Readers who enjoyed Play the Game by S.J. Sylvis also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary sports hockey m-f from hate to love marriage of convenience athletes super rich hero possessive hero forced proximity
-
Made For You by Natasha Madison
From Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comesA brand new stand-alone enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine sports romance.A spin-off from the Only One seriesVivienneI 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.Only thing I was looking forward to was the calm being on the water brought me...Categorized as:
sports athletes forced proximity grumpy sunshine from hate to love cold hero hockey m-f -
![Billionaire Unreachable ~ Wyatt by J.S. Scott]()
Billionaire Unreachable ~ Wyatt by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhat happens when the man you think you despise turns out to be a completely different guy beneath the surface? I didn't like Wyatt Durand. He might be my friend's older brother, but he was unpleasant, sarcastic, and the grumpiest guy on the planet. It didn't matter to me that he was a breathtakingly gorgeous, ultra-wealthy billionaire with the very prestigious Durand last name... -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links -
![Power Play by Toni Aleo]()
Power Play by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsPosey Adler is coming home. After a devastating journey for what she mistakenly thought was true love, she is saying to hell with men and love forever. As the Nashville Assassins’s new assistant coach for special teams, Posey is ready to focus on her job and have the attention on her for a change... -
![Twelve of a Kind by Sandi Lynn]()
Twelve of a Kind by Sandi Lynn
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCarter: I was grateful for my second chance at life and discovering a family I never knew existed. Relocating my company and myself from South Carolina to Los Angeles brought me closer to them. They were all happily married, except my brother Gabriel, who was engaged to the love of his life. I didn’t trust women, and for good reason... -
-
![Hart to Heart by M.E. Carter, Jacob Morgan]()
Hart to Heart by M.E. Carter, Jacob Morgan
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsListening Length: 5 hours, 6 minutesWe’re the Harts. Between an engagement, a wedding and an adoption, we’ve had the best year of our lives. Things have never looked better for any of us.But just because you say “I do” doesn’t mean you get a happily ever after. And sometimes, you get tackled more in life than you ever did on the football field... -
![Path To Resolution by TheFeveredBookaholic]()
Path To Resolution by TheFeveredBookaholic
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWolfe Emerson is notorious for two things: being an absolute beast in a boxing ring and being a voluntary mute. His story remains unspoken and he prefers to live his life in silence. That is, until, his world is turned upside down when he meets someone who is louder than life... -
![Ice Cold Rival by Nikki Hall]()
Ice Cold Rival by Nikki Hall
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOne night, one chance, one hundred percent a lie…ReeceHookups are my jam, but I’ve never had a girl shuddering with one breath then running away the next. And I can’t stop thinking about her. Probably for the best I’m trading in party games for extra practices. I can lead us back to the Frozen Four, but I need a sign of my dedication to persuade Coach... -
![Down To You by Jayne Frost]()
Down To You by Jayne Frost
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEvery story deserves a soundtrack. And ours is epic. She started from perfect. A star who shone brighter than the rest. But then fate took it all away. Now she's broken. A beautiful song with a fractured beat. But I'm still on the rise. Chasing a dream that she's already left behind. If I'm lucky, I can find my redemption in the spotlight. Destiny brought us together. Put her in my path... -
![Owen North by Nina Levine]()
Owen North by Nina Levine
A steamy forbidden office romance from USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nina Levine.My one-night stand is my new boss.I met him at the society wedding of the year.The man every woman in New York wants.He's rich.Devastatingly good looking.Charming.Mr. I-Could-Blow-Your-Mind.And yes, he did blow my mind.It was just supposed to be one night.I told him I don't date...Categorized as:
office super rich hero alpha male sassy heroine m-f contemporary humor friends to lovers -
![Damaged! by J.S. Scott]()
Damaged! by J.S. Scott
The final book of the Walker Brothers Trilogy!!! What happens when your entire future is destroyed in moments? Dane My name is Dane Walker, and I'm entirely, irrevocably damaged. I lost my whole life in the plane crash that killed my father and left me scarred, both physically and emotionally, barely clinging to life in a hospital as the sole survivor of the accident. -
![Changing Lines by Toni Aleo]()
Changing Lines by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsClaire and Jude Sinclair have been living the perfect life for the last ten years. Blissfully in love, professionally successful, happily married… They have everything they want—except a baby to make their family complete... -
![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... -
![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... -
![Sinful Corruption by Emilia Finn]()
Sinful Corruption by Emilia Finn
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSinful Corruption is the 14th standalone Mayet Justice novel.Full blurb coming soon... -
-
![Hot Heir by Pippa Grant]()
Hot Heir by Pippa Grant
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsIf I had to pick a bride of convenience, my first choice would NOT be Peach Maloney.My fiftieth choice would NOT be Peach.Top spot on my list of occupational hazards? Yes. Royal pain in the crumpets? Yes.A bride of convenience? No.But I’ve unexpectedly gone from royal bodyguard to monarch, having inherited a crown that was stolen from my family long before my birth... -
![The Billionaire's Salvation ~ Max by J.S. Scott]()
The Billionaire's Salvation ~ Max by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsBillionaire Max Hamilton thought he was finally starting to find contentment, more than two years after losing his wife Mia in a tragic drowning accident. He'd been reunited with a sister he hadn’t realized existed. Finally he had family again, a reprieve from the pain and loneliness that had haunted him since his devastating loss...Categorized as:
alpha male super rich hero possessive hero sweet heroine m-f contemporary cruel hero length-short -
![Wild Heart by Beth Ehemann]()
Wild Heart by Beth Ehemann
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFor Lawrence “Viper” Finkle, hockey isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life. Since the first time he stepped onto the ice at just eight years old, he knew what he was meant to do, and he does it well. When his career takes an unexpected hit, and his relationship is pushed to the breaking point, he’s left sidelined and wondering what his future holds... -
![Anger Banger by S.M. Shade]()
Anger Banger by S.M. Shade
The residents of Happy Haven Trailer park have been waiting for this for a long time. The slumlord who abandoned this place and let our homes deteriorate has been court ordered to live here while making repairs. Imagine our surprise when the guy who shows up to move in to the dilapidated trailer across the street isn't the sixty year old man we expected, but his son... -
![I Need You To Love Me by Genicious]()
I Need You To Love Me by Genicious
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsTogether they are nothing more than madness,but they say there’s always some madness in loveSix years elapsed since he shattered her life. Four years since she’s brought him to his knees.Now, Ace is the youngest boxing champion in the world – a force to be reckoned with. He’s dangerous, heartless, and always gets his way.Calla moved to New York to chase her career... -
![That First Date by Jenn McMahon]()
That First Date by Jenn McMahon
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsMy new boss has lost his mind.Marc Ford is everything that I’m not. He wants a long term relationship that leads to marriage and a house full of kids, but I want nothing to do with being tied down to someone. In fact, I have never been in a relationship in my life... -
![Power Play Pursuit by Marion De Ré]()
Power Play Pursuit by Marion De Ré
In the game of love, can she learn to trust again? After a disastrous relationship, my heart is closed to men—especially smoldering hot hockey players.Only problem? James Adler, star player of the New York Raptors, hasn’t received the memo. He flirts with me like it’s a full-time job, but I’m not about to fall for his charm—no matter how many abs he sports...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine from hate to love caretaking forced proximity slow burn found-family sports -
![The Fake Husband Play by Lili Valente]()
The Fake Husband Play by Lili Valente
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat’s a girl to do when her longtime hockey crush offers her a marriage of convenience?Say YES. Obviously.I’ve spent three years lusting after Grammercy Graves on my (supposedly anonymous) hockey romance podcast—breaking down his stats, his plays, that panty-melting Cajun accent...The entire internet knows he’s my dream guy...Categorized as:
hockey marriage of convenience sports new adult m-f contemporary humor length-medium -
![Levi by Lexi James]()
Levi by Lexi James
Fake dating my ex-fiancée’s sister? What could possibly go wrong?Quinn Sullivan is the one I’ve always wanted but could only have behind closed doors—and she’s definitely the last person I should be tangled up with now. She’s off limits, untouchable...and also happens to be my coach’s niece.After one steamy night and a very bad idea, we’re suddenly fake dating. For appearances, we say...Categorized as:
hockey found-family sports from hate to love fake relationship athletes office praise-kink -
![Making Room For You by M.A. Clarke Scott, MaryAnn Clarke]()
Making Room For You by M.A. Clarke Scott, MaryAnn Clarke
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom the award-winning author of The Art of Enchantment, comes Making Room for You, an inspiring, heart-warming enemies-to-lovers romantic women’s fiction tale... -
-
![The Plan by Karla Sorensen]()
The Plan by Karla Sorensen
Have you ever fake dated your bodyguard? I don't recommend it. Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump. To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I can’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love forced proximity new adult grumpy sunshine cold hero m-f contemporary -
![Hopelessly Devoted to Violet: Hopelessly Devoted Novella by Terri Anne Browning]()
Hopelessly Devoted to Violet: Hopelessly Devoted Novella by Terri Anne Browning
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEvery time someone mentions planning their wedding, Violet finds a reason why they should wait.Luca is her soulmate and Love Bug’s favorite person.They are already a family, but they need to make it official.Luca is getting tired of calling her his fiancée and not his wife.But Vi is torn.Saying “I do” to Luca will mean releasing the last hold Remington had on her heart... -
![On Thin Ice by L.A. Cotton]()
On Thin Ice by L.A. Cotton
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAn emotional and angsty grumpy x sunshine hockey romance from USA Today and WSJ bestselling author L A Cotton. Are you ready to fall in love with a Laker?When Harper Dixon discovers her father is the Lakeshore U Lakers new assistant coach, she wonders if her life can get any worse.Enter Mason Steele.Arrogant. Cold. With enough ice around his heart to freeze anyone who gets too close...Categorized as:
sports new adult forced proximity from hate to love angst grumpy sunshine m-f dual-pov -
![Kiss Me Forever by Layla Hagen]()
Kiss Me Forever by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsLast night, he was a sexy stranger I couldn't get enough of.Today, he's my new boss, who I can't seem to please.Bad luck seems to follow me. Last night, I grabbed a drink at the bar near my new workplace.I met the most sophisticated man when he “stole” my table. We bantered and danced, and I went home with a stranger for the first time in my life... -
![A Callahan Wedding by Monica Murphy]()
A Callahan Wedding by Monica Murphy
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sweet and sexy conclusion to New York Times bestselling author, Monica Murphy’s standalone Callahan series, bringing readers along for the ride as fan favorites, Jake and Hannah get married! Hannah Walsh. Gorgeous. Intelligent. My first love. My high school sweetheart. My everything. And now my fiancée...Categorized as:
alpha male athletes sports new adult found-family m-f contemporary friends to lovers -
![Losing Princeton Charming by Frankie Love, C.M. Seabrook]()
Losing Princeton Charming by Frankie Love, C.M. Seabrook
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAll is fair in love and war ... but is this love? Spencer Beckett may have fallen hard for Charlotte Hayes, but one lie has their relationship crashing to the ground. Their glass castle is about to shatter. Breaking Spencer's heart in the process. When tragedy strikes, Charlie needs a man who won't let let her down. Even Princes need second chances .. -
![In Hate With My Boss by Lexi Calder]()
In Hate With My Boss by Lexi Calder
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThere are three things I know about Owen Bennett: He’s worth billions. He’s smoking hot. He’s a total asshole.Oh, and he’s my new boss. Which, I guess is technically four things. But who’s counting? Not Owen. Because all he can do is stare at my chest and make rude comments. He’s unprofessional, lazy, and the single most infuriatingly sexy man I’ve ever met in my life...Categorized as:
from hate to love office super rich hero sassy heroine angst alpha male contemporary humor -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Vaughn 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...Categorized as:
sports athletes from hate to love independent heroine m-f contemporary explicit-plentiful audiobook -
![Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce]()
Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce
Maren and Locke both exist in the same world of professional golf—he's the number one player in the world while she just takes his picture.Never mind that Locke unintentionally leads the press to believe that he and Maren are dating, because when she confronts him, he couldn't care less...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity grumpy sunshine praise-kink found-family m-f office sweet heroine -
![Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell]()
Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhat’s a brokenhearted romance novelist to do when an interview accidentally turns her into the villain? I’ll tell you one thing—the plan definitely wasn’t to turn to the man who taught me that happily ever afters exist only on the page...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love m-f contemporary friends to lovers -
-
![Broken Bridge by Nana Malone]()
Broken Bridge by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne miscalculation.One misstep had cost me everything. I lost my sister and my wife.I will burn down the world to get them back. Even if I have to become someone they fear.Forget vows, forget brotherhood. All I have left is rage. I have made promises I intend to keep.I will right the wrongs of The Elite, ensure vengeance for Emma, even if it cost me my soul... -
![Playboy’s Reward by Gina Azzi]()
Playboy’s Reward by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt was supposed to be a favor between neighbors…When sexy-as-sin Harper Henderson launches profanities into the night sky from the balcony below mine, I intervene. I volunteer to be her date to her ten-year high school reunion. I may be a professional hockey player with a playboy reputation, but I’m also a good guy and I make an exceptional plus-one.Being Harper's fake date is easy... -
![Icebreaker by Kat Mizera, Elise Faber]()
Icebreaker by Kat Mizera, Elise Faber
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe hates me…I’m going to make her fall in love with me anyway.As captain of the SoCal Vipers, the last couple of seasons haven’t been going well. My stats are slipping, and I’m at risk of being traded.So, I’m not in the mood for a case of mistaken identity with the woman playing bouncer at the arena door... -
![Asher by Alex Wolf]()
Asher by Alex Wolf
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAsher Grayson is a billionaire, a publishing powerhouse.He crushes the competition and absorbs them into his empire.Mara Monroe is a small-town journalist whose company verges on bankruptcy.Destroying the little newspaper should be less than a day’s work. A speck on Asher’s radar. But, there’s something about her.She makes him weak—peels back layers he didn’t know existed... -
![Fumbled by Lisa Suzanne]()
Fumbled by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsAs a pro football player, I’m known for scoring both on and off the field. But all that changes when a tragic accident leaves me as a single dad to a little girl. With both our lives flipped upside down, I’m scrambling to balance my career while supporting the needs of a girl who just had her life torn apart...Categorized as:
sports athletes forced proximity from hate to love super rich hero m-f contemporary dual-pov -
![Marriage by Law by N.K. Pockett]()
Marriage by Law by N.K. Pockett
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWhat happens when an unsuspecting girl and guy are thrown into a marriage they don’t want? That’s exactly the case of Ivory and Darius, born into different families whose marriage serves to prevent competition between their businesses... -
![The Potter by Kristy Marie]()
The Potter by Kristy Marie
From bestselling author Kristy Marie comes a brand new witty standalone about a grumpy doctor and his hopeful patient who find love in the unlikeliest of places... the exam room. A brilliant surgeon.A master sculptor.The media touted Dr. Potter as a savior dressed in a crisp suit.I think he’s a vicious madman of jerk-sized proportions.But fate is a wicked tease.Only Dr... -
![The Exception: A Marriage of Convenience Romance by Jenna Hartley]()
The Exception: A Marriage of Convenience Romance by Jenna Hartley
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen my former boss—a man known as a cold, heartless, billionaire—proposes to me, I think he must be joking. Except I know Graham Mackenzie well enough to know he doesn't joke.He's brooding, keenly intelligent, and fifteen years older than me. And the deal he's offering...is no laughing matter.I need money to save a château and fulfill a promise to my great-aunt, and he needs a wife... -
![Bouncer by Kim Jones]()
Bouncer by Kim Jones
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsI was born a 1%ER. I earned the right to be a King.For the past ten years, I’ve dedicated my life upholding the legacy that is Kings of Carnage Motorcycle Club. My job as a Nomad is to ensure that King Nation thrives as a whole. And that the poor decisions of one charter doesn’t determine the fate of the patch...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love sassy heroine strong heroine alpha male contemporary bikers -
![By His Vow by Tracy Lorraine]()
By His Vow by Tracy Lorraine
An all-new steamy and angsty billionaire arranged marriage romance from the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Tracy Lorraine. As the daughter of a powerful businessman, I wasn’t expecting to inherit much when my father suddenly passed. There was only one thing I truly wanted. The cottage— the only place that ever felt like home...Categorized as:
from hate to love arranged marriage super rich hero sports new adult office m-f sassy heroine -
-
![Ghost Dance by Catherine Gayle]()
Ghost Dance by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novel in the sexy Tulsa Thunderbirds hockey romance series. He had it all. And lost it in an instant. The night Dmitri Nazarenko won hockey’s Holy Grail, he lost more than he ever bargained for. With a world of guilt weighing him down, Dima can never forgive himself for his tragic misjudgment... -
![Shattered by Tracy Wolff]()
Shattered by Tracy Wolff
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsThe Extreme Risk series—Tracy Wolff’s edgy, emotional take on the New Adult genre—continues with the story of a lost soul and the fearless beauty who inspires him to take a flying leap back into life. Ash Lewis has poured every last ounce of his blood, sweat, and tears into reaching the very top of the professional snowboarding world—until the unthinkable happens...Categorized as:
athletes bad boys alpha male new adult sports sassy heroine disabilities and marks contemporary -
![Dear Stranger by Winter Renshaw]()
Dear Stranger by Winter Renshaw
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsOnline lovers … offline rivals. Ambitious and career-driven, I have zero time for dating until Blind Love—an app designed for those seeking genuine romantic connections without the hassle of awkward first dates—hooks me in. The only catch? Ninety days of anonymous messaging are required before identities are revealed...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male super rich hero slow burn new adult contemporary dual-pov audiobook -
![Tabitha in the Moonlight by Betty Neels]()
Tabitha in the Moonlight by Betty Neels
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHer Prince Charming? Sister Tabitha was an efficient nurse, but when it came to matters of the heart she was less sure of herself. So when she fell in love, she had no idea how to deal with her feelings. Was that why the Dutch surgeon Marius van Beek called her Cinderella? If only Marius would ride up on a white horse and ask for her hand in marriage... -
![Borrowed by Victoria Ashley]()
Borrowed by Victoria Ashley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI was never supposed to want to keep her.She was meant to be borrowed.Mine for six days and not a day longer.She doesn’t belong to me.She belongs to someone else.My brother…The closest person I have outside of the screaming fans and paparazzi—a constant in my new life— other than the whiskey I drown myself in to numb the pain left by someone else...Categorized as:
from hate to love super rich hero forced proximity angst new adult m-f contemporary suspense -
![Game Day by Piper Lawson]()
Game Day by Piper Lawson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn the heat of victory, I asked her to be mine forever. We’d both triumphed in our own way:Nova broke free from her past.I led my team to a championship and discovered life beyond the court. Our journey to "I do" was supposed to be easy. Except…The hottest resort in Aspen is only available is on short notice.A new season with the Denver Kodiaks looms on the horizon...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
