Books like 'Behind the Bench'
Readers who enjoyed Behind the Bench by Jillian Arly also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny from hate to love office sports hockey forced proximity friends-benefits secret-relationship m-f
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Made For You by Natasha Madison
From Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comes. A brand new stand-alone enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine sports romance. A spin-off from the Only One series. Vivienne. I 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...Categorized as:
sports athletes forced proximity from hate to love hockey m-f independent heroine contemporary -
When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor
Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off. When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again. Number Alec is her best friend’s much older brother... -
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One More Made Up Love Song by Jenny Proctor
Rule #1: Do not fall in love with your very famous boss. Rule #2: See Rule #1. As the personal assistant of rockstar Freddie Ridgefield, Ivy Conway knows most women would love to have her job. It definitely has its perks. She gets to travel, the pay is great, and she’s among the first to hear Freddie’s new music...Categorized as:
office boss & employee m-f forced proximity competent heroine strong heroine contemporary humor -
The Last to Leave by Erica Lee
Courtney Fields and Nicole Dawson were high school rivals who thought they would never have to deal with each other again. Eight years after graduating, the two are thrown back together on a trip to Cabo with their two best friends. Throughout the trip, they quickly learn they get under each other’s skin in more ways than one... -
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Vixen's Guide to Christmas by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 5.00 of 5 stars · 1 ratingsGUIDE TO LOVE (& CHRISTMAS) RULE #27: Make your list. Check it twice. Because Santa knows how naughty you've been. I haven't written a letter to Santa since I was eight years old, but maybe this year I need to. Dear Santa,. I promise, no matter what "he" told you, I've been good this year. I didn't know he was my business rival when I slept with him. I didn't know he hated me...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love office christmas contemporary humor length-medium -
The Deal by R.L. Mathewson
Some people marry for love. Some marry for money. Quinn and Dylan married for revenge. From New York Times Bestseller author R. L. Mathewson comes a new twist in the Neighbor from Hell series, where ultimatums, fake marriages, and revenge turn into something they never saw coming. Quinn Bradford needed to make a choice:. Get married or lose everything... -
Kiss My Giraffe by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsEnemies to friends to almost lovers then back to enemies…to lovers. She's got a lot of baggage. .. literally and figuratively. And an entourage. And a freaking giraffe. For real. For a guy who wants to keep things simple, this is anything but. So why can't he stay away? Knox and Fiona's story! Finally! -
Flaunt by Adriana Locke
Looking for a Fake Fiancé. Have you ever wanted to prove someone wrong so badly that you could taste it? It doesn’t matter if they’re right. The fact that they had the audacity to go there is what counts. Hi. It’s me. I’m that person. The man I’ve been casually seeing told me I’m not “wife material” and I should “lower my expectations... -
Now's The Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Let me experience all of you tonight, Penelope…since this is all that we get. ”. That was the agreement between me and Maddox Taylor, the NFL’s most notorious playboy and mega-talented quarterback who happened to be out in California for one night—one night in which I broke all of my rules and gave in to the undeniable attraction I felt for the man... -
Hawaii Can Suck It by MéLisa Ryun
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsI’m supposed to film him. Not fall for him. I’m Camila Morales—cargo pants-wearing, scrunchie-collecting, videographer to Reece Dare—a growly, tattooed YouTube adrenaline junkie. He’s hot, sure, when he’s not judging me for smiling (calls it a sign of weakness)... -
The Fear of Falling by Dana LeCheminant
What happens in Italy…follows you home. Avery was supposed to be married by now—not stuck working alongside her ex-fiancé, pretending their failed relationship never happened. So when a solo trip to Italy introduces her to a charming stranger with a devastating smile, a no-strings-attached fling feels like the perfect way to remember there’s more to life than work and heartbreak... -
Goalie Interrupted by Anne Kemp
Coaching him was never part of the plan. Falling for her should NOT happen. But in hockey––and love––sometimes the best plays come when you break the rules. Elle: Coaching the River City Renegades is exactly where I want to be—hockey, small-town charm, and zero drama…but there’s him. Dixon Andrews. The team’s broody, infuriating, gorgeous goalie...Categorized as:
sports office hockey m-f from hate to love forced proximity secret-relationship second chances -
Cooper Bailey Is A Cinnamon Roll by Jen Atkinson
I’ve hated Cooper Bailey since high school. So why would a few years, a set of swoon-worthy forearms, and one shiny new law degree change anything? Leah Bradford’s never been a fan of the spotlight—not years ago at her high school prom and definitely not now with the drama her ex-boyfriend is causing. Running her cinnamon roll shop is all she needs, thank you very much...Categorized as:
from hate to love m-f competent heroine sassy heroine contemporary humor audiobook glimpses-kisses -
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... -
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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... -
A Smoky Mountain Hockey Holiday by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsOne chalet in the Smokies. Four loving families. While all the grandbabies are on Santa’s Nice List, a few of the adults are getting coal in their stockings. But no matter their status with the man in the red suit, Elli Adler will spoil each and every one of her favorite people with love and holiday cheer... -
Puck Performance by Alley Ciz
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAll's fair in love and potatoes. Melody Brightly. Broadway Star. Pink hair. A smile that hits me harder than a slap shot. Terrible taste in hockey teams. Full of secrets. The one woman I fail to defend my heart against. Jase Donnelly. Defenseman. Charming. Sexy as puck. Makes my hormones give a standing ovation. The one guy I can never be with, but can't stay away from... -
Bleacher Report by Kenna King
“All’s fair in love, hockey, and podcast syndication. ”. All I wanted was a tiny interview to secure my podcast syndication deal. What I didn’t expect? That my big break would hinge on Hunter Reed—the NHL’s newest golden boy, full-time playboy, and the guy who mistook me for a puck bunny at Oakley’s bar. Hunter Reed is six-foot-two of attitude, muscle, and maddening charm...Categorized as:
hockey sports m-f forced proximity friends-benefits office competent heroine independent heroine -
Enticing Her Love: Sutton Steele by Melissa Foster
Pro: Stuck sharing a bed with my hot, broody boss. Con: He’s trying to get me fired. Discovery Hour reporter Sutton Steele spends her days trying to keep her job, while her insanely hot, infuriating boss, Flynn Braden, would love nothing more than to see her gone... -
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m sarcasm with a messy bun. He’s a sweetheart with a slapshot. Sparks were one thing—those fireworks, though? Yeah…no one warned me about those. Mabel. Returning to Maple Falls wasn’t part of my five-year plan—or my backup plan. Or any plan, really. But here I am, back in my quirky hometown, dodging my mother’s judgment and trying not to cringe every time someone mentions the viral moment... -
Over & Out by Claire Wilder
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIntroducing a brand new enemies to lovers romance from USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claire Wilder! Three months ago, a dirt bike accident stole my confidence, my beloved ride, and the one thing that made me feel alive. Now I’m going through the motions in my coastal tourist town, totally adrift… and trying not to think about the stranger who pulled me from the wreckage... -
Be Still My Racing Heart by Madison Love
This is a dual POV, kisses only, sports romance in the Sweet Sports Kisses Series. A reformed bad boy, an heiress with a secret, and a forbidden love. Blake. Groomed to run my father’s company, I dream of flying down the speedway. Not "flying" a desk. Forbidden from chasing my dream, I spend my free time helping kids chase theirs while waiting for fate to claim me... -
This Is Love by Natasha Madison
From the best selling series, Something So comes the spin-off series This is. .. Vivienne. Never fall in love. That was my motto, and I was sticking to it. Having my heart broken once was enough, and I never wanted to do it again. He was supposed to be a one-night stand, the only thing I do. One rule shouldn’t be so hard to follow, but then I went back for seconds, then thirds... -
Not That Impressed by Ranee S. Clark
I’m totally fine if America wants to cast me as the villain. So why do I care if brooding football player Will Pemberton believes it too? But honestly? It stings more than it should when Will—grumpy football star and walking scowl—judges me based on a five-second video from Being the Bennets, my family’s reality TV show. Maybe it’s because his best friend is dating my sister...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love m-f competent heroine sassy heroine athletes football humor -
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Fore-Ever Yours by Bella Greene
A viral photo, a fake relationship, and one big problem. Matthew. All I wanted was a quiet few days. Instead, I get coffee poured on me, a gossip scandal, and a fake girlfriend. My agent insists this PR stunt will boost my career. Fake dating her for a few months? Fine. No problem. Except it’s definitely a problem. The more we fake this, the more I forget it’s not real. Beth...Categorized as:
sports m-f forced proximity office competent heroine sassy heroine athletes insta-love -
Perfectly Grumpy by Grace Worthington
A grumpy hockey player. A sunshine PR queen. One fake relationship to survive the off-season—and one summer that changes everything. The first rule of hockey PR? Never. Date. A. Player. Which shouldn’t be a problem—Tate Foster is the least dateable guy on the team. Logical. Bookish. Allergic to chaos. He hates attention almost as much as he dislikes me, the team’s PR rep...Categorized as:
from hate to love hockey sports office m-f forced proximity strong heroine sassy heroine -
This Is Love by Melissa Foster
Fall in love in Harmony Pointe, where hearts are lost, found, and sometimes misplaced…and everyone get a happy ever after. If a woman can’t find love in the quaint town of Harmony Pointe, it’s sure to find them—whether they’re looking for it or not. Here, the remaining single Dalton siblings are about to discover that they’re next in line to get swept away by love...Categorized as:
sassy heroine strong heroine tortured hero forced proximity boss & employee office m-f humor -
Fallen King by Bella Matthews
𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜. Growing up as the oldest Kingston sibling, I knew what was expected of me. King Corp. was my legacy, and my siblings were my responsibility. The world was ours for the taking. For the living. But I neglected to live it for myself . . . until her. Daphne Brenner wasn’t meant to be part of the deal... -
Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance by Grace Worthington
He's allergic to Christmas. She practically bleeds tinsel. Their holiday collision is about to get complicated. Single mom Janie Bennett has one pull off the perfect Christmas pageant for her kindergarten class. What she doesn't need is the world's grumpiest hockey player ruining her holly-jolly plans. Enter Rourke Riley, Mr...Categorized as:
hockey sports m-f from hate to love forced proximity teacher-heroine athletes christmas -
Mood Swings and Hockey Flings by Marika Ray, Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIn the cutthroat world of professional sports, I’m the agent who always calls the shots. Until a decade-old feud with hockey superstar Banks Bennet resurfaces, and I’m forced to play nice. When his agent drops him and rumors of a trade swirl through the league faster than a puck on a breakaway, I find myself in the dreaded role of Banks’s new agent...Categorized as:
hockey sports from hate to love office forced proximity contemporary mature couple humor -
Second Dive by Jasmin Miller
Noah Winters was my heart’s desire, the boy I loved desperately and had hoped to spend my future with. Until our plans were derailed and life took us in completely different directions. When our fate changed, and our paths crossed again, nothing prepared me for the punch straight to the heart when I saw him . . . or his anger and bitterness... -
Tomboy by Avery Flynn
How exactly has one good deed landed me in the penalty box? Ice Knights defenseman Zach Blackburn has come down with the flu, and my BFF—his PR manager—begs me to put my nursing degree to use and get him back to health. Of course she would call in a favor for the most hated man in Harbor City. But when he’s finally on the mend and I’m sneaking out of his place, everything goes sideways... -
She Loves Me by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWhat are two besties willing to risk for something more? The New York Times bestselling author of This Is Love has the answer in this fun, sexy, and emotional romance about friendship, family, and giving love a chance. Something is off in Piper Dalton’s life, and she has a feeling it might just be her. All her siblings are blissfully settled with their forever loves...Categorized as:
independent heroine sassy heroine strong heroine m-f humor contemporary friends to lovers audiobook -
Breakaway (The Rule Book Collection) by A.M. Johnson
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs Tampa Bay's star center, Mark Carmelo's life was hockey, and after a bitter and public break up, all he wanted to do was focus on the game. Until he saw her. The one that got away. The one he thought he'd never see again. For thirteen years, Stevie West drowned in her lackluster life. Recently divorced from her “roommate” with passionless benefits, she was ready to start over. On her own... -
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Falling for My Enemy by Claire Kingsley
“I thought if I could crack the code to falling in love, maybe someday it would work for me. ”. Corban Nash is a self-proclaimed data nerd with a sexy half smile and a set of abs that leave girls drooling. He developed a theory he claims will make two people fall in love. And after numerous tests on friends and family, it’s been successful for everyone who’s tried it... -
The Problem with Players by Brittainy C. Cherry
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsAs a female coach, I’ve always lived by a simple mantra: throw hard, swing for the fences, and never, ever look back--especially when it comes to past flames. So when my ex-boyfriend somehow manages to land the job as my new assistant coach, my life is flipped upside down. The game I thought I'd mastered is now being played with a whole new set of rules. My ex is baseball's all-star Nathan Pierce...Categorized as:
forced proximity sports from hate to love office second chances m-f baseball friends to lovers -
Sure Shot by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWelcome to Fort Lauderdale. .. where the days are hot and the Knights are hotter! I gave up everything for hockey… even my chance at love. But relocating to Florida to be the starting goalie for the Lauderdale Knights is still the best decision I’d ever made. I have everything… except someone to share it with... -
The Wedding Jinx by Becky Monson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA a person or thing that brings bad luck. I'm Mila Banks, the ultimate jinx. Not just in theory—I've got a track record. Seven weddings, seven disasters. Everything from a groom with a concussion to an attack of red ants (a long story) has happened because of me. So, when my bestie, Nadia, insists on making me her maid of honor, I can't help but try to find a way out of it... -
The Mistake You Crave by Piper Hale
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat do you get when you combine one drunken night in Vegas, your brother’s best friend, and a twenty-four-hour chapel? One giant, hot hockey player mistake. Growing up with a hockey hot-shot for a brother, I’ve spent my life surrounded by cocky men. I know the ins and outs of the games they play both on and off the ice. Which is why I’d never date one of them. And marriage? Absolutely not... -
Playboy’s Reward by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 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... -
Love on Display by Dana LeCheminant
They’re sworn enemies. They also happen to be incredibly attracted to one another. After bonding at a half-marathon, rival gym owners Cam and Kailani discover the person they thought could be their soulmate turns out to be the reason their respective businesses are failing... -
Offside with #55 by Piper Rayne
The last thing any professional hockey player wants is to be the old man in the game. The guy who doesn’t know when it’s time to retire. Still, I can’t bear the thought of leaving the game. This past year I’ve reflected on all my regrets, and I told myself that once I retire it’ll be the time to find the right woman. But this is where it gets tricky... -
A Business Proposal, Vol. 7 by Haehwa, Perilla
Ha-ri made a deal—go on one blind date for her BFF and pretend to be a super-vixen to end all of her unwanted marriage set-ups! Unfortunately, instead of easy money, Ha-ri’s got a headache. Her date is Taemu, her company’s hot new CEO, and he’s got his own plans to get his family to back off by marrying whoever shows up on the date...Categorized as:
office from hate to love m-f boss & employee contemporary humor super rich hero length-medium -
Dirty Flirt by Mira Lyn Kelly
Bad ideas are kind of my superpower. .. I’m Ben Boerboom, the NHL’s favorite puck boy, and Lara's my slamming hot, former bestie. She's also the friend who got away and my dirty, dirty accomplice from those two insane weeks that weren't supposed to change anything. .. but did. I wanted it all. Would have wrapped my forever around her finger if she'd let me...Categorized as:
sports hockey m-f forced proximity second chances competent heroine independent heroine athletes -
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Hate You, Maybe by Julie Christianson
When the stakes are win, lose, or fall … and love is not in their lesson plan. Sayla Kroft has only two goals this year:. Score the big district grant to rebuild her high school’s dilapidated theater. Avoid Dexter Michaels, the flirty-flirt athletic director who wants those same funds for the gym. Losing to her workplace enemy—again—is not on Sayla's never-ending to-do list... -
The Ex Puck Bunny by Ellie Hall
Life Rule #1: Never date your brother’s best friend, especially if he’s a hockey player. He’ll break your heart. Life Rule #2: Never fall for your brother’s other best friend who’s also a hockey player. I’m a former hockey hype girl, aka a puck bunny. After a big win, I fell for the center who happened to be one of my brother’s best friends... -
The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington
Getting involved with your brother’s best friend is risky enough. But when he's a hockey player? It's a whole new level of bad idea. As a ravenous reader, I’ve got a I’m obsessed with hockey romances. But let me tell you, real life hockey players are nothing like my book boyfriends. So I threw down the gauntlet on BookTok. I challenged any single guy out there to prove me wrong... -
You First by Caitlin Moss
He's her brother's best friend. .. . .. she's his biggest regret. Genevieve Michaels didn’t realize how much emotional preparation she needed to do for her brother’s wedding. But when Leo Bishop walks into the bar five days before the big day, she’s reminded of exactly why she can’t stand her brother’s best friend. .. and exactly why she plans to steer clear of him all week... -
A Christmas Court(ship) by Tiffany Noelle Chacon
A best friend’s brother, a high-stakes holiday pickleball game, and a spark they can’t ignore. Sadie:. I’ve had a crush on Beckett Dawson forever—my best friend’s older brother, the hometown golden boy turned pro pickleball player. He’s been gone for years, but when he walks into my early-morning practice, I finally have a chance for him to notice me. .Categorized as:
sports m-f forced proximity sassy heroine athletes humor length-novella glimpses-kisses -
Empty Net by Teagan Hunter
I have two goals this season:. 1. Stop enough pucks to get the Seattle Serpents to the playoffs. 2. Don’t fall for my fake fiancée. When Lilah Maddison’s mother keeps trying to set her up on dates she’s not interested in, she blurts out that she’s already seeing someone. The problem? She’s single. So, I step in to help and agree to pretend to be her boyfriend for an event...Categorized as:
hockey sports m-f competent heroine sassy heroine independent heroine athletes forced proximity
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