Books like 'The Beautiful Game'
Readers who enjoyed The Beautiful Game by Holly Wallace Smith also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary sports multicultural m-f grumpy sunshine fake relationship competent heroine cold heroine independent heroine heroine athlete
-
The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee spins a dazzling tale of long-lost relatives, overnight riches, and unexpected romance in the dramatic second book of The Heirs series.Sarah McNeilly is a rare find in the tabloid industry. She won’t ignite gossip. She finds the truth. And for once, that’s what her boss wants... -
![Wild Open Hearts by Kathryn Nolan]()
Wild Open Hearts by Kathryn Nolan
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 33 ratings“I’ve heard that boys with motorcycles have less-than-noble intentions.” “Not a boy,” Beck said. “And you heard right.” Luna da Rosa is America’s Vegan Best Friend. The self-made billionaire is a flower-crowned hippie whose Instagram feed is as popular as Wild Heart - her vegan makeup company. When she’s not changing the cosmetics industry, she’s dazzling her online fans with kombucha recipes... -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links -
![My Friend the Billionaire by Maggie Cole]()
My Friend the Billionaire by Maggie Cole
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI’m keeping Chase Monroe in the friend zone. He’s doing everything possible to move me out of it. He's the living embodiment of the billionaire playboy—richer than God, sexy as sin, and charming as hell. With a full calendar of friends-with-benefits. His strict no-relationships policy means I’d be another notch on his bedpost. Not happening. But our friendship is hard to keep...Categorized as:
super rich hero m-f dual-pov multicultural contemporary suspense friends to lovers angst -
![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... -
-
![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... -
![The Real Thing by Brenda Jackson]()
The Real Thing by Brenda Jackson
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsWhat happens when a pretend boyfriend wants more than make-believe? Find out in this Westmoreland novel from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson! No red-blooded man turns down the chance to escort gorgeous Trinity Matthews—and Adrian Westmoreland is definitely red-blooded. For her, he'll pretend to be her man. But keeping his hands to himself? That is impossible...Categorized as:
fake relationship multicultural m-f contemporary african-american black-mc length-short -
![The Billionaire's Secrets by J.S. Scott]()
The Billionaire's Secrets by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsFormer rock star Xander Sinclair may be out of rehab, but he’s not out of the woods. Still haunted by his parents’ murders, he has secluded himself in his Amesport mansion and dodges any attempted contact from his two brothers. Struggling not to fall into relapse, he believes he’s battling his demons alone. That is, until Samantha arrives to work as his live-in housekeeper... -
![Power Play by Toni Aleo]()
Power Play by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 22 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... -
![Love By Design: A Blind Date Holiday Novella by Samantha Christy]()
Love By Design: A Blind Date Holiday Novella by Samantha Christy
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA sexy Christmas novella that’s a cross between The Devil Wears Prada and Holidate.Holland McQuaid works for the toughest designer in New York City. It’s a dream job. It’s heaven and hell at the same time. But when she gets her lucky break, and the job turns into something she never expected, it comes with strings... -
![The Grand Ruin: Lance & Scarlet, Part One by J.C. Hawke]()
The Grand Ruin: Lance & Scarlet, Part One by J.C. Hawke
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBeing stood up on your birthday sucks.It sucks even worse when it's your brother's egotistical best friend and CFO who delivers the blow.My first encounter with Lance Sullivan had me crying in an elevator as I clung to a stranger for comfort.On our second, he stormed my dress fitting pretending to be my husband.And by the third... I'd made the bastard smile.I do not have time for a man in my life... -
![Free Agent by Christina C. Jones]()
Free Agent by Christina C. Jones
For Rori Mitchell, delulu is decidedly not the solulu.Getting her lick back is.What starts as chance encounter at a sporting event ends up being a perfect distraction from the chaos of a broken heart. Instead of throwing herself into work, she throws herself - for good or bad - into Tatum Wilder.An offensive tackle for the Connecticut Kings, Tatum is used to high-stakes games and intense scrutiny... -
![Playing Mr. Perfect: Clay Braden by Melissa Foster]()
Playing Mr. Perfect: Clay Braden by Melissa Foster
Quarterback Clay "Mr. Perfect" Braden is determined to show sexy scientist Pepper Montgomery the benefits of hands-on research in PLAYING MR. PERFECT, the first book in the Bradens at Ridgeport series by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melissa Foster. Loaded with heat, humor, and heart, this steamy, small-town, opposites-attract standalone romance is unputdownable... -
![Wishing on a Star by Mandy Baggot]()
Wishing on a Star by Mandy Baggot
A single mum. A superstar athlete. A Christmas like no other.Anna Heath is divorced, a single mum and trying desperately to keep her life in order. Despite her friends' best efforts, Anna has stopped looking for love and is determined to give her daughter, Ruthie, a Christmas to remember.Sam Jackman has just been dealt with life-altering news, and all he could think to do was run... -
![Frozen Heart Face-Off by Siena Trap]()
Frozen Heart Face-Off by Siena Trap
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsMy heart only beats for her.Four years ago, half of my heart walked out the door. The piece left behind has sat frozen in time—a time when our love was alive and thriving.I was luckier than most guys in the league. I met the girl of my dreams before I hit it big, and she stood by my side as my hockey career took off.She was my cheerleader, my best friend, my soulmate... -
-
![Just One Look by Rosalind James]()
Just One Look by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLuka Darkovic has some tackling skills. He hadn’t planned on using them to bring down a runaway dog the size of a Shetland pony, though, especially not when his neck is already buggered. At 33, a rugby forward protects his vertebrae.. He’s even less happy when the dog’s incompetent owner turns up in his hospital cubicle the next day with a plan to fix those vertebrae... -
![Forever by Ivy Smoak]()
Forever by Ivy Smoak
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsBrooklyn I will never take a single day for granted again. Despite everything, I’m still here. I’m still breathing. And I’m not going anywhere.Even though 16 years have passed, my heart still belongs to Matthew Caldwell. And I think it’s about time we start our forever.Matt I waited 16 years for Brooklyn to come back to me... -
![Hart to Heart by ME Carter, Murphy Rae]()
Hart to Heart by ME Carter, Murphy Rae
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWe’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 Jaxon, Addison and myself. 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... -
![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... -
![Southern Heartbreaker by Jessica Peterson]()
Southern Heartbreaker by Jessica Peterson
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsHe was the bad boy I fell for in college. Now he’s a sexy single dad and Charleston’s most successful venture capitalist. Dominant and decisive, Ford Montgomery is used to getting what he wants. And he just set his sights on me... Ford Montgomery was my first everything. First love. First guy I slept with. First heartbreak when he dumped me without explanation... -
![The Fall of East by Nana Malone]()
The Fall of East by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTHE SIZZLING CONCLUSION TO THE HEAR NO EVIL TRILOGYNyla Kincade has stolen my ruthless heart.Now that she owns it I’m not taking it back.I’ve vowed to protect her and all that we love with everything that I have.I will die before I break that oath.Considering the danger we face, that might be a careless promise.But I’ve fought this hard for vengeance, I must see it through... -
![Tame The Player by Hope Ford]()
Tame The Player by Hope Ford
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHolden is a professional baseball player on the injured list. His only goal is getting back on the field… until he meets me.Everyone knows about Holden Gray's reputation.He goes through women faster than most baseball players go through sunflower seeds.When he becomes my next physical therapy patient, I'm determined to keep things professional... -
![Just Say Yes by Rosalind James]()
Just Say Yes by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsSome fires warm you up. And some burn you down. Kevin McNicholl may be a brutal force on the rugby field, but off the field, the star New Zealand All Black is a famously nice guy. His new tenant, though, arouses more than his protective side. She sets him on fire. Pity he’s evicting her. Every woman deserves her dreams. Chloe Donaldson can’t afford dreams, so she's given them up... -
![The All-Star Antes Up by Nancy Herkness]()
The All-Star Antes Up by Nancy Herkness
“No strings, no rings.” That’s Luke Archer’s motto. As the champion quarterback for the New York Empire—not to mention a self-made billionaire—Luke has given up on serious relationships. Women only want him for one thing: the thrill of being with a superstar. And he likes it that way too... -
![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 independent heroine m-f contemporary from hate to love explicit-plentiful -
-
![Brazen Steele by Ali Dean]()
Brazen Steele by Ali Dean
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBeckett Steele knows what he wants and he’s finally going after it. But there’s one thing that might complicate his mission. It was easy to sign the legally-binding contract prohibiting a public relationship when he had no intention of falling in love... -
![Shopping for a Turkey by Julia Kent]()
Shopping for a Turkey by Julia Kent
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI don’t understand Americans. Or, as we say in Scotland, I dinna understand ye eedjits. And I definitely dinna understand the crazy mother-in-law of my cousin Declan... -
![A Christmas Bargain by Ariana Cooper]()
A Christmas Bargain by Ariana Cooper
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis land for my heart? That wasn't part of the deal. I'm Claire Winters, real estate heiress with a deadline.Desperate to save my family's legacy.Until I meet Derek Everett, the stubborn single dad who holds the key.He's a former Wall Street king.Eight years my senior.Devastatingly handsome with those blue eyes.And he's using our fake relationship as leverage...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine fake relationship dual-pov m-f contemporary new adult length-short single-father -
![Fighting For You by Layla Hagen]()
Fighting For You by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSexiest soccer player. Top-scoring athlete. America's favorite party boy. Jace Connor has received many titles in his career, and enjoyed them all. Although, he’s working on changing the last one. There’s more to Jace than the media portrays—a man who loves his tight-knit family, being his nieces’ and nephews’ favorite uncle... -
![Sugar and Spice by Kat Baxter]()
Sugar and Spice by Kat Baxter
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAll she wants is a weekend rendezvous…I love the small town I’m from. I love having so much extended family close by and I love my mail order chocolate company. But what what I don’t love is being everyone’s favorite aunt. It’s like being cock-blocked by the entire town...Categorized as:
multicultural sports athletes m-f contemporary curvy heroine latinx-mc length-novella -
![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 dual-pov athletes super rich hero m-f contemporary forced proximity single-father -
![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... -
![Just Say (Hell) No by Rosalind James]()
Just Say (Hell) No by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsNeed an Escape to New Zealand?Valentine's Day. Even a hard man needs a soft side. Marko Sendoa isn’t a beach man. He’s not an Auckland man. He’s a hard man. Born Basque tough, raised in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and bred on hard work, discipline, and getting the job done... -
![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... -
![Bad Neighbor by Maya Nicole]()
Bad Neighbor by Maya Nicole
Jade Dalton is the successful owner of an adult toy company, my new neighbor, and now my fake girlfriend.She wants nothing to do with me after I return her missing cat who got into my house and wreaked havoc. However, when she finds herself in a dicey situation at a charity gala we’re both attending, I step in and pretend to be her boyfriend...Categorized as:
super rich hero m-f dual-pov fake relationship contemporary humor length-medium explicit-open-door -
-
![The Devoted Groom by Cami Checketts]()
The Devoted Groom by Cami Checketts
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA grieving football player hoping his son will speak again; a speech pathologist with a dark secret; and an unexpected love that sparks danger from the past. After Ryder Quinn’s wife died, his four-year old son stopped speaking. Desperate for a solution, Ryder hires Bree Stevens, a spunky speech pathologist to be his son’s nanny and therapist. Bree moves in, breathing new life into their home... -
![Irreplaceable by Jenna Hartley]()
Irreplaceable by Jenna Hartley
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne impulsive, passionate week changed my life.And I can’t stop thinking about it…or him.The hot Italian with the full lips and inked skin.The passionate man who made me feel incredible until I realized it was all a sham.Because he lied.About his name.About everything.Now, I’m not only pregnant with his child but thrust into the spotlight...Categorized as:
sports multicultural super rich hero soccer contemporary pregnancy secret child grovel -
![Ice Queen by A.J. Wynter]()
Ice Queen by A.J. Wynter
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe Ice Queen has a SecretEvery hockey player knows that the coach's daughter is off-limits.But, what about the owner's daughter?Is she off-limits too?Asking for a friend...To make things even more complicated, she's the general manager of the team.AKA my BOSS.So, yeah. If I want to see the playoffs, we need to keep this relationship a secret... -
![Chicago Blaze Books 1 & 2 by Brenda Rothert]()
Chicago Blaze Books 1 & 2 by Brenda Rothert
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBecause the only thing better than one hot hockey romance is two, the first two books in the Chicago Blaze hockey romance series , Anton and Luca, are bundled together in this collection. Book 1 - Anton He’s known as Father Anton to his teammates—the brooding, sexy captain of the NHL’s Chicago Blaze has a reputation for…not having a reputation... -
![Billionaire Boss's Fake Fiancée: A Forbidden Office Romance by Ariana Cooper]()
Billionaire Boss's Fake Fiancée: A Forbidden Office Romance by Ariana Cooper
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy wallflower assistant became my pretend fiancée.Things got complicated.Let's rewind for a moment...I needed her help to close a crucial deal.As the city's top tycoon, I should've known better.Mixing business with pleasure? Recipe for disaster.But her bubbly charm melted my icy exterior.A destination wedding became our stage.One hotel room. Two racing hearts.My ex stirred up trouble...Categorized as:
super rich hero m-f dual-pov fake relationship office length-short contemporary boss & employee -
![Twisted Assist by Katie Rae]()
Twisted Assist by Katie Rae
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratings“We're all so twisted, we can’t see the good, anymore.” TRIPP:Why did I agree to help an old teammate that I barely even trusted? I wish I could tell you, but I was drunk and don’t remember. Regardless, I kept my word and stood in for Hunter on a date with his ex. But unbeknownst to us all, she was a girl I already knew. Already wanted. So I couldn’t help that sparks flew and things went too far... -
![Three and Out by Meghan Quinn]()
Three and Out by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsPiper was dead to him. The minute she walked out the door on Mason, he was done. D.O.N.E. Now, three months later, he’s still trying to act like he doesn’t care. Like his heart hasn’t been torn into shreds and obliterated beyond recognition. But it’s not working. He’s broken and beyond repair. Then Piper goes missing... -
![Gridiron Bad Boy: A Football Romance by Eddie Cleveland]()
Gridiron Bad Boy: A Football Romance by Eddie Cleveland
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI fought for my country. Now, it's time to fight for my dreams. I traded my combat boots for cleats and the battlefield for the football field. I'd say it worked for me. With scouts from the professional league at my games and more girls lined up outside my locker room than at the door of a club, I'm living every bachelor's American Dream... -
![Should Have Been Me by Jessica Prince]()
Should Have Been Me by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsShe’s a sunny, sassy photographer.Jolie Prescott has always been in love with love. She spent most of her life walking around with hearts in her eyes and immediately jumped at the chance to start a wedding planning company with her two best friends. So when her own fiancé called off their wedding and immediately started dating someone else, it was a major blow she never saw coming... -
![Bossy Mogul by Scarlett Avery]()
Bossy Mogul by Scarlett Avery
So, I tell off the cocky stranger I'm trapped in an elevator with in the dark. Flash forward two weeks. Mr. Elevator is now my new boss… After my good for nothing cousin stole my boyfriend (who was my boss), and I found myself without a home or a job, I swore off men for the rest of my life... -
-
![Shopping for a Highlander by Julia Kent]()
Shopping for a Highlander by Julia Kent
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsI’m a professional chickenblocker.Except “chicken” is a euphemism.I get paid to follow a womanizing troglodyte who thinks rules are for other people and that my pants are the next pair he’s getting into.Dream on.Bet your first professional job didn’t involve babysitting an extremely hot, muscle-bound Scottish Highlander with an ego the size of a kilt and a libido bigger than his…well…Chicken... -
![Just Stop Me by Rosalind James]()
Just Stop Me by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsSometimes you have to run away to find yourself. Lots of young women dream of being a princess. Nina Jones isn't one of them. After escaping from her palace/prison in the back of a gardener's van, she ends up in a beach cottage on New Zealand's South Island. She's meant to be looking after a cantankerous widower. Too bad she doesn't know how to boil an egg...Categorized as:
athletes multicultural sports dual-pov suspense contemporary hurt-comfort tall-heroine -
![Sexy Suit by J.H. Croix]()
Sexy Suit by J.H. Croix
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhen I met Ryan, I might’ve been trying to break into his basement.It was for a good cause. I swear. Also, my dog broke in first.Ryan Blake is jaw-dropping handsome, wealthy & cocky. Not quite my type. By some miracle, he doesn’t call the police on me when he catches me trying to rescue my dog. He even fetches a doctor for me. Don’t ask why.I don’t figure I’ll see him again. Then, I do... -
![Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton]()
Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton
If you want to score, you have to get in the game... The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she's stuck running the family's sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson... -
![Just For You by Rosalind James]()
Just For You by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNo shirt, no shoes, no … problems? Hemi Ranapia isn’t looking for love. Fun, yes. Love, not so much. But a summer fishing holiday to laid-back Russell could turn out to be more adventure than this good-time boy ever bargained for. Reka Harata hasn’t forgotten the disastrously hot rugby star she met a year ago, no matter how much she wishes she could... -
![Take Me Down by Carly Phillips]()
Take Me Down by Carly Phillips
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsAn emotionally broken man, Parker Knight, is living a life he doesn’t recognize. Then he meets sexy, untrusting Emily Stevens at a rundown resort in the middle of nowhere. Parker Knight is merely existing. Emily Stevens is trying to start over. He didn’t plan to meet her. She wasn’t looking for someone like him...
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.
