Books like 'Tough Guy'
Readers who enjoyed Tough Guy by Rachel Reid also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance sports athletes friends to lovers second chances height-difference angst hockey sweet-hero
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Valentine's Hearts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWill broken hearts replace the wedding they dreamed of? Ryker's heart has space for three things—his family, hockey, and Jacob. As their wedding grows closer, it seems that nothing can stand in the way of an idyllic celebration, surrounded by friends and loved ones... -
![Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers]()
Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 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... -
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![Heartstring by Ana Ashley]()
Heartstring by Ana Ashley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMikIf I had a dollar for every mistake I made… But there’s only one mistake I regret.Breaking my promise to the only person who ever understood my need to get away from a future I didn’t want…Tyler.I’ve reached many hearts through my music, but the only one I’ve ever wanted might be lost to me forever.TylerFool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…Mik broke a promise a long time ago...Categorized as:
second chances angst friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary single-father -
![Play Dead by Avery Cockburn]()
Play Dead by Avery Cockburn
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe popular Scottish gay-romance series returns with this must-read novella! Colin’s wounds have finally healed. He’s ready for his big comeback on the football pitch and can’t wait to return to a normal life—especially the rampaging sex he and his boyfriend, Lord Andrew, once indulged in. But Andrew has his own invisible wounds... -
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![Grinding by Sean Ashcroft]()
Grinding by Sean Ashcroft
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTwo childhood best friends. One accidental fake engagement. One Labrador puppy. One week to fall in love.When Harvey runs into his childhood best friend—literally—on the way into Otter Bay for his cousin's wedding, he doesn't plan to end up playing the part of the guy's fiancé... -
![Second Wind by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
Second Wind by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSecond wind: a new strength or energy to continue something that is an effort. After an amicable divorce, Lincoln Huxley is ready to embrace the sexuality he repressed for more than two decades. Rush Holden is no longer willing to settle for closeted men or those who don’t share his dreams of marriage and fatherhood. A chance encounter on a lakeside pier is the second wind they both need... -
![Next Season by Lane Hayes]()
Next Season by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe injured hockey player and the grumpy chef…RileyMy time playing pro hockey will be up soon. I can feel it. And I’ve heard the he’s too old, he’s had too many injuries, he’s lost his edge. I don’t want to admit it, but they could be right. Next season might be my last.Or this season. Because of course, this is when the universe decides I need another concussion... -
![The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes]()
The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes
The professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding date…TommyHelp! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. I’m a busy man, though. I don’t have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them... -
![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... -
![Change of Heart by K.M. Neuhold]()
Change of Heart by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDoes my husband's heart still miss me now that it beats in the chest of another man? Lub-dub A heartbeat more familiar than Easton’s own Lub-dub He vowed to love his husband until death do they part. And then the worst happened. Lub-dub His heart kept another man alive. River. A stranger in the world with Easton's husband's heart pumping the blood that warms his skin... -
![Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins]()
Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis fall, I have one simple rule: don't fall in love with my fake boyfriend.I’m awful at following the rules.One minute I was a nobody in a small Colorado town, getting by on contract work, home renovations, and a dumpster fire of a dating life—and then suddenly, my life was on TV...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort athletes sports queer m-m age difference contemporary -
![The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox]()
The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Fox comes a Wild Heart Ranch Christmas novella. I’ve loved Gael Hernandez from the moment I laid eyes on him. We had a moment back in the summer, but he needed time to recover from the traumatic events that reshaped his family.It’s now Christmas, and I think my talented shoemaker is finally ready to let me love him for the rest of his life... -
![Waking Up Filthy by R. Cayden]()
Waking Up Filthy by R. Cayden
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhy in the hell is there a naked, tattooed man in my bed?I’m a closeted tennis pro, and I’m certainly not accustomed to waking up with strange men.Never mind that Gabriel is a notoriously flirty rock star and, according to the marriage certificate we find in our Vegas hotel room, my new husband.Last night is a drunken blur, but there’s no doubt in my mind what needs to happen this morning...Categorized as:
sports grumpy sunshine friends to lovers athletes queer m-m contemporary lgbtqia hate -
![Game On by Amy Aislin]()
Game On by Amy Aislin
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen he broke off his engagement to his team captain's brother the day before their wedding, Jamie Jamieson swore he'd never get involved with anyone associated with a teammate again. Getting traded to the Orcas is a chance at a fresh start, but one glance at his new housemate, and Jamie knows he's in way over his head.Dorian is his new coach's cousin. And his team's social media coordinator...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers hurt-comfort height-difference grumpy sunshine angst queer m-m -
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![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?.. -
![Hit the Brakes by Beth Bolden]()
Hit the Brakes by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsCan they fake it til Tate makes it?Tate Ward is in a bind. His food truck hasn’t been the runaway success he’d always dreamt it would be. When he tries to join a new food truck collective to gain a larger following, his sales aren’t even high enough to win a spot. What he needs is a high profile endorsement—and he knows just the guy.Tate hasn’t seen Chase Riley since high school... -
![Rebound by V.L. Locey]()
Rebound by V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsIf there’s one thing that’s a certainty in life, it’s change. It’s taken Victor Kalinski years to settle into the kind of happiness that he thought he’d never find. The small town of Cayuga, New York, has welcomed him warmly. It’s given him a championship team to coach, a tightly-knit group of friends, a father who he has reconciled with, and a safe place to raise the son he adores... -
![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... -
![Sweet as Pie by Beth Bolden]()
Sweet as Pie by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLuca Moretti is grumpy—and he wouldn't have it any other way.Wrangling six—Italian—siblings and the family's restaurants would make anyone cranky. But when his mother requests that he save his aunt’s struggling Italian deli in charming, picturesque Indigo Bay, he has no idea that he's about to get an overdose of sweetness...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine height-difference hurt-comfort queer m-m insta-love contemporary length-medium -
![Nice Guys & First Times by K.M. Neuhold]()
Nice Guys & First Times by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsYou Always Remember Your First…Come along for a sweet, steamy compilation of 4 MM romance novellas by the queen of swoon herself: K.M. Neuhold... -
![Between the Teeth by Taylor Fitzpatrick]()
Between the Teeth by Taylor Fitzpatrick
In the final installment of the Between the Teeth trilogy, David has the fresh start he’s always wanted. He’s on a better team, one that doesn’t depend on him for their wins and blame him for their losses. In a better room, with teammates David might even consider friends. It doesn’t make any sense for David to feel more out of his depth than ever... -
![The BAHs by Saxon James]()
The BAHs by Saxon James
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA short featuring Kole and Asher from Line Mates & Study Dates book four of the CU Hockey by Saxon James & Eden... -
![Whiskey Throttle by Riley Hart]()
Whiskey Throttle by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsLincoln I’ve done a good job getting over my past. I’m not only proud of who I am, but revel in it. Still, I don’t let myself get too close to people. With closeness comes questions and those pesky feelings, and I’m having none of that. I’ve got a great job, friends, I’m cute and twinky, and my bed’s never empty. What more do I need? Except I can’t stop sleeping with Rush Alexander...Categorized as:
friends to lovers athletes sports praise-kink queer m-m contemporary friends-benefits -
![School and Rock by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
School and Rock by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhen Colorado Penn finds an unexpected package on his front step, his life will be changed forever.Colorado Penn is living the dream. Starting goalie for the Arizona Raptors when in season, lead singer for a hard rock band when summer rolls around. He’s the quintessential free spirit who’s making sure he enjoys all the carnal blessings of his athleticism, and gritty singing voice... -
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![Yesterday by Sarina Bowen]()
Yesterday by Sarina Bowen
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s been seven years since John Rikker left his childhood home in Michigan. Surely that’s long enough to scar over the wounds he received there... -
![Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes]()
Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsGrant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept that he’s gay... -
![A King in Wonderland by Nash Summers]()
A King in Wonderland by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAsher Williams is obsessed with love. Or at least he was, until it all came crashing down. He made a mistake. And even Asher himself, arranger of marriages and aider of lovesick hearts, doesn’t know how to fix it. And like every heroic quest, there are a few bumps in the road and dragons to slay... -
![Dear Mona Lisa... by Claire Davis, Al Stewart]()
Dear Mona Lisa... by Claire Davis, Al Stewart
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsTom; shy office clerk by day and drawer of foxes by night, wakes up one Monday knowing the most extraordinary week of his life is about to begin. In five days, a lifelong ‘secret’ will be made gloriously public—but will it mean losing the person he loves most?Getting married… It seems only yesterday Tom changed nappies and sang nursery rhymes to a laughing baby... -
![A Fool and His Manny by Amy Lane]()
A Fool and His Manny by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSeeing the truth and falling in love. Dustin Robbins-Grayson was a surly adolescent when Quinlan Gregory started the nanny gig. After a rocky start, he grew into Quinlan’s friend and confidant—and a damned sexy man. At twenty-one, Dusty sees how Quinlan sacrificed his own life and desires to care for Dusty’s family... -
![The Pro vs The Fan by Nicole Dykes]()
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![Holiday Crush by Lane Hayes]()
Holiday Crush by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe hockey has-been, the barista, and some holiday magic… Court Cut from the team, fired my agent…now what? This can’t be it for me. Unfortunately, the phone isn’t ringing. My best bet is to head home for the holidays and regroup. Problem: I don’t know what to do with myself. Helping out at the rink might be my ticket out of here, but nothing is happening fast enough. And then there’s Ivan... -
![Queried Sick by Dallas Smith]()
Queried Sick by Dallas Smith
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor fans of Casey McQuiston and Always Only You, Queried Sick is a slow-burn romance about two bisexual disasters finding love while working at a publishing company during the pandemic—complete with grumpy/sunshine vibes, found family, and an attention-seeking cat...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult grumpy sunshine queer contemporary m-m office length-medium -
![Bouquets & Belonging by Duckie Mack]()
Bouquets & Belonging by Duckie Mack
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMarley is a hopeless romantic who loves his job. Flowers make him happy, and he gets great joy out of the delight they bring to others. He has a standing flower shop as well as a regular booth at the Heartcraft Market.Derek is an overworked businessman. His work consumes his life, both in the office and at home... -
![Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga]()
Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLost Boy is an opposites attract, smaller top, size difference romance featuring a strong but gentle veterinarian and a police dog trainer with a fiery temper. Veterinarian Leo Aetos adores animals, has a great apartment in Brooklyn, and even has a favorite bar. The only thing he doesn’t have is someone to share it all with...Categorized as:
height-difference hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine queer bdsm m-m contemporary length-short -
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![Break Down by Rebecca Norinne]()
Break Down by Rebecca Norinne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHis heart says no, but his body says yes Liam Donnelly's honed, athletic body craves something he can't have. Not when the last time ended in disaster. Now, the Dublin Rugby player is seeking redemption with a new team in Edinburgh. His fresh start is going strong, but one look at Chef Lachlan MacLeod's inked forearms and whiskey-colored eyes and he's tempted by far more than what's on the menu... -
![Playing With Fire by Avery Cockburn]()
Playing With Fire by Avery Cockburn
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 15 ratings“I don’t want options. I just want you.” Robert McKenzie has a secret. As the only straight player on an all-LGBT soccer team, he’s known to fans as “McWhatAWaste.” No one would guess Robert’s actually bisexual. At twenty-one, on the verge of a brilliant career in video game design, he’s finally ready to be his true self... -
![Caught off Guard by Catherine Cloud]()
Caught off Guard by Catherine Cloud
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMatthias Brandl always knew he wouldn’t spend his entire career with the same team. He does have two tiny problems with getting traded to Las Vegas, though. Number one: Matthias hooked up with their starting goalie Casey Wallace last summer. Number two: Casey totally hates his guts.Now that Matthias has to be Casey’s backup whether he likes it or not, they have to find a way to work together... -
![Three Is the Luckiest Number by Catherine Cloud]()
Three Is the Luckiest Number by Catherine Cloud
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsElliot Cowell spent his entire life training to become a superstar.A prodigy on the ice, likely the future captain of his team, there’s no room for mistakes when it comes to Elliot’s career, but knowing all that didn’t keep him from falling in love with Blake Samuels...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers new adult queer hockey m-m contemporary secret-relationship -
![Bad Pucking Timing by Michele Lenard]()
Bad Pucking Timing by Michele Lenard
The ice is my happy place. My sanctuary. The source of my happiest memories, and the promise of my future. It’s also the reason I’m living a lie.There’s no better feeling than holding another man in your hand while he comes undone.Smooth skin wrapped around rigid muscle, a tantalizing mixture of soft and hard that pulses like a heartbeat within your fist... -
![Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward]()
Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsNo one expected the loudmouth of the team to be hiding in the biggest closet of them all. When he’s paired with someone who just wants to keep his head down and play the game, sparks are going to fly.Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief... -
![The Game by Beth Bolden]()
The Game by Beth Bolden
Micah Rose is ready for a clean slate. He might’ve messed up his rookie year with the Miami Piranhas, but being traded to the Condors is the best way to put all that behind him.The Condors are rebuilding, too. New owner. New coach. New players. New rules.But one rule hasn’t changed: don’t marry your ex-best friend in Vegas.Beckett West isn't looking forward to seeing Micah again...Categorized as:
sports athletes second chances friends to lovers angst hurt-comfort queer contemporary -
![Royal Lines by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Royal Lines by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThey're setting fire to the sheets, but a romance between an out and proud hockey star and a reformed playboy prince could end up burning them both. Marquis Miller might be one of the NHL's best players, single, wealthy, and open about his sexuality, but he knows his future lies in taking over the reins of the family's multimillion-dollar company after retirement... -
![Mourning Heaven by Amy Lane]()
Mourning Heaven by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHeroes fall. Peter first came to the tiny backwater of Daisy, California, as a child, and he was sure of one thing: his cousin Michael would take care of him. When Michael started a friendship with the fragile, haunted Bodi Kovacs, Peter's consolation in losing any claim to Bodi was that Michael would care for him too...Categorized as:
second chances friends to lovers angst hurt-comfort queer contemporary m-m length-short -
![Change Up by Sloan Johnson]()
Change Up by Sloan Johnson
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief. With so many of his teammates coming out of the closet and living healthy lives, it’s getting harder for him to keep the secret only one other person knows: that he’s not as straight as everyone assumes when they see him out with his hot girlfriend... -
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![Trusting Tanner by Nicky James]()
Trusting Tanner by Nicky James
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMaybe tomorrow it will be better… Zander Baker has spent years forcing a smile onto his face to make the world believe he is a happy man. In reality, it’s a façade for the battered person he truly is. Living a life imprisoned in an abusive relationship, Zander doesn’t know how to break free. Ordinary enjoyments are not within his reach... -
![You Could Make a Life by Taylor Fitzpatrick]()
You Could Make a Life by Taylor Fitzpatrick
The first thing Dan says to him is, “we’re in the NHL!”, because that’s how he’s been greeting anyone wearing a jersey, and Marc Lapointe, 'the future of the franchise', is wearing Dan's colours.“I think you’re my new best friend,” Dan says, his excitement beating out common sense, social filters, the need to play it cool.“It is nice to meet you, new best friend," Marc says, his mouth twitching... -
![Home Ice Disadvantage by Hannah Henry]()
Home Ice Disadvantage by Hannah Henry
Felix Becker is trying to figure out where he belongs in New Jersey. After spending nearly a decade in Texas in a codependent, though platonic, relationship with his best friend, recent Stanley Cup winner Rowan Foley, it’s time to move on. His new condo is fine, but things finally start to look up when he meets his cute neighbor, Will. Will Knight’s third book is destroying him... -
![Shadow and Light by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Shadow and Light by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIs it easier to fall into the shadows than hold onto the light? Injured in a horrific car accident by a man who made him feel like nothing, Henry was left with life threatening injuries, crippling self doubt, and his career as a hockey player destroyed... -
![Ryker by RJ Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Ryker by RJ Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMeet the men of Owatonna University's hockey team in this captivating romance! Hockey is in wealthy Ryker's blood — while country boy Jacob is just trying to make it through college. Yet these polar opposites soon have a hard time thinking about anything but each other… Ryker is hockey royalty, Jacob is a poor country boy... -
![Biscuit in the Basket by Kit Oliver]()
Biscuit in the Basket by Kit Oliver
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsEvery love story needs its happily ever after - and then even more.Biscuit in the Basket follows Sebastian and Gil through the week after their first story ends in Light Up the Lamp.In this novella, they settle into their new lives, get their feet under themselves, and start to build their future...Categorized as:
hockey sports queer friends to lovers second chances contemporary m-m length-novella
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