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
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The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 27 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... -
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... -
Love By Design by Samantha Christy
Rated: 4.65 of 5 stars · 14 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 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...Categorized as:
super rich hero independent heroine m-f contemporary sweet heroine length-medium audiobook -
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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
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... -
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
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... -
Callous Heir by Michelle Heard
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI made the mistake of falling for one of my brother’s friends. As if that wasn’t stupid enough, I then declared my love to him.Yeah, I know. Big mistake. Huge mistake.But here I am with my rejected feelings, and Noah won’t even look at me. Whenever he has to talk to me, his words are blunt. Yet they cut deeper than any knife... -
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... -
Fighting For You by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 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... -
Distance Forever by Luna Mason
It’s their wedding anniversary and this year, it’s Keller's turn to surprise Sienna.In true Keller style, expect an extravagant get away, filled with lots of spice and worshipping of his wife. But when Sienna tells him that she doesn’t feel beautiful after having kids, Keller makes it his mission to spend the entire weekend showing her otherwise… and he won’t stop until she believes him... -
Nixon by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsI’m the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL because I know how to read the field.I control the plays—and my life—with absolute precision.Until Liberty Jones delivers the ultimate hit to my blind side with a story about two pink lines.The beautiful, free-spirited brunette has starred in my dreams since she disappeared after our wild weekend in Vegas, but I’ve been burned before... -
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 audiobook -
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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... -
Cougar From Hell by Marika Ray
I have my fresh start in a new town, this time a widow with a preteen daughter who rolls her eyes enough to make them stay that way. Too bad my past mistake is also here to greet me.Daxon Hellman. Town a-hole. Hot young contractor hired to build my house in the woods.It’s only when I’m face-to-face with him for the first time that I realize he’s the mystery man from two years ago...Categorized as:
m-f independent heroine competent heroine cold heroine sunny hero humor contemporary age difference -
The Baby-whisperer and the Brute by Tru Taylor
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsYou can’t appreciate all the implications of the word “conflicted” until you come face to face with the guy you’ve been secretly lusting after for weeks... and then learn he’ll be signing your paychecks—Angelina RappaportSome people might call me sheltered. That doesn’t begin to cover it. I’ve been practically sequestered my whole life... -
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
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 super rich hero m-f contemporary dual-pov forced proximity single-father -
Game Breaker by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novel in the Portland Storm hockey romance series. He’s becoming a Game Breaker on the ice. With the playoffs right around the corner, Nate “Ghost” Golston is focused on only one thing—getting the Portland Storm to the Finals so he can finally hoist the Cup... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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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... -
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
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... -
The Playboy's Fugitive Bride - Book Three by Ana E. Ross
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Ana E Ross, presents The Playboy's Fugitive Bride, Book Three in the Billionaire Brides of Granite Falls series: Does he have what it takes to tame this wildcat? Deadly threats from a loan shark to pay back a debt her late father incurred sends Nia Sylk on a desperate search for Massimo Andretti, the man she blames for her predicament and her... -
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... -
Warning Track by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratings**SPOILER ALERT**READ BOOKS ONE AND TWO FIRST** Book three of the Hot-Lanta Series. Life is never as it seems and for Molly Meyers, life has been one hell of a roller coaster the past couple of years. When she thinks she finally has a handle on where her future is taking her, she gets a visit from her past which throws her entire life plan up in the air... -
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... -
A Millionaire at Midnight by Naima Simone
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBoston socialite Morgan Lett is having a run of bad luck. Her fiancé just dumped her for her stepsister, the charity foundation she’s given her life to is in danger of folding, and now, the gorgeous man she bid on and won at a masquerade bachelor auction turns out to be a cold-hearted jerk…and her new employer. Millionaire Alexander Bishop needs the best wife money can buy... -
Six Secret Babies by Layla Valentine
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHe tried to keep their fling under wraps,But six adorable babies aren’t going to stay hidden for long…HERThe Wenstown Wolves were in need of a new physical therapist, and apparently I was the only one they were interested in,Now I’m halfway across the country, making twice what I made in Seattle, and the team’s new management is an even more welcome surprise…Jason Munro is the buff, big-headed... -
Going All In by Stephanie Kay
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAll Darcy Collins wants is to focus on finishing her master’s degree. She doesn’t have the time to get involved with anyone. But her meddling mother is persistent in her unwanted matchmaking for Darcy. When her mother tries once again to set her up on a date, Darcy tells her she’s already seeing the San Francisco Strikers' latest handsome hockey star, Jake Northman... -
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Open Door Marriage by Naleighna Kai
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsReunited... A chance encounter lands NBA star Dallas Avery back in the arms of the woman of his dreams. A woman he hasn't seen in years... -
Field of Pleasure by Farrah Rochon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOriginally Published by Harlequin Kimani Romance – September 2011 Jared Dawson is used to taking big hits on the football field, but nothing could have prepared the New York Sabers star cornerback for the blow he experiences when he catches his long-time girlfriend in bed with an ex-teammate. Seeking a balm to soothe his wounded ego, Jared decides a no-strings-attached fling is the way to go... -
Going Hard: Boys of Fall by Cari Quinn
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHe lives on the straight and narrow, but she’s determined to take the curves way too fast… Librarian Hollie Bennett is used to being overshadowed by her older brothers. One’s a country star, one’s a former football star…and she’s just a sedate librarian with a secret thing for high-end lingerie and fast sports cars...Categorized as:
athletes multicultural sports independent heroine anthologies contemporary length-novella -
Penalty Kiss by Annie Dyer
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsClean-living, wholesome, and with a constant smile plastered on her pretty face, Dee Jones is my antithesis...Categorized as:
sports soccer m-f grumpy sunshine athletes contemporary from hate to love length-medium -
Until Now by Amy Donnelly
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsFocus. Dean Goldsmith is Indiana University’s star quarterback, and his dreams are about to come true. His undefeated season means he has a legitimate shot at the NFL. If he stays focused. Football comes first. College senior, Grace Yeates, is determined to defy the odds. She is months away from graduating with a business degree, something no one thought she would be able to pull off... -
The Story of Us by Brittney Sahin
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA football fanatic sports columnist. A sexy Italian soccer player. When in Rome . . . Maggie Lane, a sports columnist and diehard football fan, is not exactly enthused when her editor-in-chief sends her to Rome, Italy, to write a feature story on Italian soccer star Marco Valenti... -
Owned By My Roommate by Imani Jay
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsOne curvy girl, one hot roommate... things are about to get steamy!Asher Lee is a retired professional rugby player, on his way to Europe to discuss a coaching opportunity.Anta Konan is a Silicon Valley working girl, flying to London for a much needed getaway...Categorized as:
multicultural athletes sports contemporary alpha male forced proximity length-novella -
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... -
Curveball by Kate Angell
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsThe bad boys of baseball, they are the top power hitters of the Richmond Rogues, and the team's best hope for a shot at the World Series. But when all three have to be benched for brawling, it's the beginning of a whole new ball game, and the opposing team could win something more than a trophy--these ladies are after their hearts... -
The Chase by Erin McCarthy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsKendall Holbrook is determined to make it to the top, even with the challenge of being a woman on the male-dominated racing circuit. She doesn't have time for romance-especially not with racing rival Evan Monroe, the man who nearly crushed her dream years ago... -
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Catching Hell by Mindy Klasky
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAnna Benson is an eager "May" to Zach Ormond's downright sexy "December." At age thirty-seven, Zach is a veteran catcher in the last years of his contract, grateful for a no-trade clause that will let him retire a star in Raleigh. Twenty-five-year-old Anna has grown up in the Rockets' front office; her grandfather has long groomed her to take over the team... -
Playing the Field by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe gang is back and this time there is a wedding to celebrate, except that is the last thing on Molly Meyers’ mind. After losing her fiancé, Luke, two years ago, the last thing on her mind is helping her best friend, Jane Bradley, plan her wedding and celebrate the annoyingly, obnoxious, lovey-dovey relationship Jane has with Braves first baseman, Brady Matthews... -
Clip by Charity Parkerson
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLuka was nothing more than a job to Brady… until he wasn’t. When the owner of the Phoenix Ice Rays starts receiving death threats, the first thing he does is hire Brady to protect his son, Luka. It’s a move that leaves Luka less than thrilled. Ever since moving out on his own six years earlier, he’s come to embrace the silence of his workaholic ways... -
The Legend by Dylan Allen
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe love of a lifetime deserves a million chances. Remington Wilde had heartbreak written all over him. He was the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen. When I looked into his midnight eyes, I saw a happy ending I’d never dared to dream of. I was seventeen the first time he asked for my heart, I didn’t hesitate to hand it over. In exchange, he gave me the best summer of my life... -
MVP by Rhonda Laurel
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe game has just begun… Morgan Reed-Blake discovers that being the wife of MVP quarterback Seth Blake has its perks…and its challenges. Thrust into Seth’s high-profile world, she must wade through the celebrity, status, and the ghosts of girlfriends past... -
City of Champions by Chloe T. Barlow
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHow do you find the will to try, when you've spent all your life playing on a field strewn with shattered lives and broken rules? Tragedy and betrayal taught Jenna Sutherland early on that her safest bet was to fiercely avoid any risk, whether it is in work, life, or love...
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