Books like 'Delay of Game'
Readers who enjoyed Delay of Game by Stef C.R. also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary sports multicultural hockey hurt-comfort angst friends to lovers age difference found-family
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The Long and Winding Road by T.J. Klune
Sequel to The Art of Breathing. Family is not always defined by blood. It’s defined by those who make us whole—those who make us who we are. And here, at the end, Bear and Otter will be tested like they’ve never been before. There’s a knock at the door from a little girl who has nowhere else to go. There’s a phone ringing, bringing news they do not expect...Categorized as:
angst age difference found-family friends to lovers hurt-comfort m-m contemporary new adult -
Ask Your Mom If I'm Real by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.77 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDixie + Mary. Dixie met Mary in a bar in the middle of nowhere. He knew the moment she served him “whatever the hell she wanted to” that she was the one. That day, he takes her from her abusive life and gives her everything she’s ever wanted. For thirty-one years, they’re married. For thirty-one years, he worships the ground she walks on...Categorized as:
sports age difference friends to lovers found-family hockey christmas military virgin hero -
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Pretty It Up by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsDescription. Sometimes love just isn’t enough, or is it? Lana Gold, one of the Donovan triplets, found her one true love in college but lost him when the life he’d dreamed of became reality. Being an outsider looking in and so far away from her family and hometown took its toll on Lana and her marriage until she’d finally had enough and left it all behind...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers multicultural contemporary alpha male second chances length-short -
Assist by Alexandria House
The Center for the St. Louis Sires has lived an undeniably good life, but something has always been missing, something he desperately craves—a family. The alluring rapper is at the top of her game, talented and adored by her fans, including the Center for the St. Louis Sires, but what she desires most is a real connection—a friend... -
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All Is Bright (Water, Air, Earth, Fire) by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA 10,000 word mini-novella featuring everyone's favorite couples from the Water, Air, Earth, Fire series as they celebrate Christmas. When six very different men and their families meet at a Wyoming lodge to celebrate the holidays, things are bound to get sweet, steamy, chaotic, and a little bit heartwarming. -
Alfie: Part II by Cara Dee
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMM Romance • Part 2 of 2 • Second Chances • Irish Mafia • Family • Hurt/Comfort • Age Gap • Revenge • Opposites Attract. When two broken hearts have reached their limits, it’s time for a mobster to play dirty in order to let the healing begin. Don’t worry, Alfie has a plan. That very second, the moment West said those words…I almost shattered. Again. I’d put myself out there...Categorized as:
angst hurt-comfort found-family age difference mafia m-m contemporary class difference -
Heart2Heart: A Contemporary Charity Anthology (Collection), Volume 7 by Annabeth Albert, Avril Ashton
Once upon a time SIX YEARS AGO, the Heart2Heart app made its first batch of incredibly unlikely (but oh-so-perfect) love matches... -
Tight Hold by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe pro football player I’m faking a relationship with has the perfect solution to my career woes. He’s encouraging me to lean into the pseudo-celebrity life I was born into instead of trying to outrun it, and for the first time in my life, someone sees me for me. I feel like he’s falling for me, too. And then my ex shows up...Categorized as:
sports age difference friends to lovers contemporary humor length-short m-f audiobook -
Hot Shot by Kat Baxter
coming in June! -
Careless Storm by Katherine Jay
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m not his to protect, but the NFL's bad boy has never been one to follow the rules. Six years ago, I was living my dream life. Supportive family, amazing friends, admission into my dream college. .. And a secret relationship with my brother’s best friend. Zane and I had it all worked out until one horrific moment tore our worlds apart, sending us spiraling in different directions...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers angst found-family football siblings-bff forbidden love from hate to love -
Puck the Holidays by K.D. Miller
A holiday hockey romance that will make you laugh, swoon, clutch your pearls, and believe in holiday magic. Hattie McNamara, a southern girl born and bred, has never seen a hockey game in her life, but when the offer to become the Seattle Vipers’ new Assistant Director of Media and Marketing lands in her lap, she can’t possibly say no... -
Cage by Tia Louise
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsSometimes fate sends a sign, and sometimes it sends a bloodhound with a hot hockey player holding its leash, dragging it off you. Owen Stone is not your usual hockey player. He’s a six-foot-two single dad with dark hair, ocean eyes, and muscles for days. He’s also a last-minute trade trying to find a home for his seven-year-old daughter, his psychic sister, and his adoring bloodhound... -
Caught from Behind by Elise Faber
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIt's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for. I’ve had a crush on my brother’s teammate and friend for a long time…. Long enough to know that my interest isn’t reciprocated. I’m destined to be his teammate’s little sister—untouchable and completely off-limits no matter how hard I try to convince him otherwise. But then…everything changes...Categorized as:
sports hockey friends to lovers angst found-family sassy heroine siblings-bff grumpy sunshine -
Quake by Giuliana Victoria
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLark Hughes is the kind, sweet, and outgoing veterinarian who owns Toute la Famille, a non-profit veterinary clinic on the outskirts of Philadelphia. It's a typical night for Lark, working a late shift at the clinic, when one of the players from the Divine Flyers soccer team arrives with his golden retriever rescue, Pickles. He clearly takes them both by surprise when he asks her out...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers found-family soccer friends-benefits contemporary length-long -
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Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s okay to admit I’m scared. Outside forces are working hard to tear us apart, but we’ve teamed up against them. It’s the internal struggles we’re battling that could spell the ultimate end. When Ben makes a public show to prove how committed we are, I’m left confused as I struggle to figure out whether his feelings for me are real or if they’re part of the act...Categorized as:
age difference sports friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary length-short m-f audiobook -
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... -
On the Line by Julia Connors
My marriage wasn’t perfect, but my husband’s unexpected death yanks away my sense of security and leaves me floundering. Enter Jameson Flynn, former NHL star and my late husband’s sports agent, who’s back in my life as the executor of the will... -
Time for Change by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsStevie. There’s nothing more liberating than picking up your life and relocating. I needed a fresh start, desperately looking to get away from my past. Stewart Grove is such a cute small town and seems like the perfect place to settle. Add in the fact I got a job serving at the popular Burgers and Brew restaurant, and everything seems to be clicking into place...Categorized as:
found-family friends to lovers age difference contemporary new adult suspense office length-medium -
Worth the Shots by Heather M. Orgeron
HE’S COUNTRY MUSIC’S BAD BOY… COULD SHE BE THE GIRL TO FINALLY TAME HIM? Born into a life of wealth and privilege, Veronica Vanderbilt has never wanted for anything. Aside from a man, that is…. Thanks to her overprotective father, Ronnie’s lovelife is non-existent. Attending a prestigious music school in Nashville seems like the perfect solution...Categorized as:
found-family angst hurt-comfort contemporary from hate to love virgin heroine humor audiobook -
It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff comes a fierce, emotional romance about surviving the spotlight, outrunning your past, and choosing love when everything says you shouldn’t. They call her the Black Widow. A pop star. A tabloid tragedy. A girl who set the world on fire—and got burned in return. But Sloane Walker doesn’t care what they say. Not anymore...Categorized as:
found-family friends to lovers sports football contemporary humor length-long audiobook -
As You Ice It: An Appies Hockey Romance by Emma St. Clair, Emily Ellet
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsIf at first you don't succeed,. do not. try, try again. At least not when it comes to dating a hockey player. When Naomi met Camden Cole on Oakley Island, she assumed he would be gone in a week or two like any other tourist passing through. Perfect for a fun summer relationship. A temporary one... -
Foul Play by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Phantoms are back with a vengeance… and the City of Angels will never be the same. When the world's top supermodel’s friend zones you, what's a determined hockey player supposed to do? Change her mind. But it’ll take more than a trick play to convince her. Cheyenne is more than a stunning beauty; she's a part of my life, my bed, and now my heart... -
Van by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsTemptation could destroy everything he’d spent his career building…. Professional hockey player Jean-Michel Vander is living the dream…. And the Las Vegas strip is a long way from the small town in Quebec where he grew up. He works hard but he plays harder, especially in the off-season. The sexy redhead he spots doing a striptease in a Paris nightclub is all kinds of fun...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers hockey friends-benefits contemporary new adult length-medium -
Hot Shot by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome to Fort Lauderdale—where the days are hot and the Knights are hotter. Wolf:. I’ve been in love with the same girl since we were seventeen. Back before our careers took off and pulled us away from one another. No amount of fame, money, or puck bunnies could ever replace Scarlett. But she has a mind of her own, and dreams that don’t include me...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers hockey contemporary pregnancy alpha male athletes length-medium -
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To Mend a Broken Wing by Fearne Hill
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“I think,” Lucien began, “that we accept the love we believe we deserve. And unfortunately, Noah doesn’t believe he deserves any. ”. For twenty-two-year-old Noah, the revelation that his biological father is an ex-professional footballer is like tearing the wrapper from a cheap chocolate bar and discovering he’s won the elusive golden ticket. Every homeless young man’s dream, right? Wrong...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports angst multicultural found-family m-m grumpy sunshine lgbtqia hate -
Starts With a Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new. Dominic isn’t looking for love or salvation at the Thirsty Cowboy. He needs a temporary escape from the drudgery his life has become, and the universe provides him with the sexiest distraction he’s ever seen. Sven is a sucker for sad eyes, thick thighs, and a Royal Cosmopolitan...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort found-family age difference m-m contemporary queer humor -
Wild In The Windy City: The Anthology Volume 3 by Rachel Brookes, Audrey Carlan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew Year's Eve on Navy Pier. A sexy, breathless night. Eighteen authors bring magic, steam, and romance to the Resolution Gala on Navy Pier this New Year’s Eve. Don’t miss the fireworks. All proceeds from this anthology benefit Bernie's Book Bank (https://www. berniesbookbank. org/). RELEASE DATE December 10, 2019. Look for a pre-order link later this Fall! ANTHOLOGY AUTHORS:. Rachel Brookes... -
Shattered by Sophia Belle
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA BROKEN CAPTAIN. THE SECRET THAT BINDS THEM. Savi. Knox Stone is the one man I hate to want. He’s moody. .. Controlling. .. Goes out of his way to make my life miserable when we’re together. He also saved me that night. He’s the only one who knows my darkest secret. The one person my body feels safe with and craves. The only one who can set me free from the monster who still haunts me. Knox... -
Smokeshow by Raine Miller
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBe "just friends" with a smokeshow like her? That's pretty much a p#cking impossible ask. —Tyler Lockhardt, VEGAS CRUSH. I'm just over here minding my business playing hockey for the Crush when the. SMOKESHOW. of my dreams turns up and seriously rocks my world. For real. Beautiful, smart, and so incredibly sweet I cannot help myself from wanting to get to know her a whole lot better... -
Hard Ink by Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI don’t have the best history with older men. When Mateo saw my last relationship implode, he was there to help. He saved me. Hopefully self-defense lessons will keep me from getting hit again. I can’t ask for more of my friend. Even dreaming of keeping him is wrong. But when my ex makes things difficult, Mateo steps up again. I don’t want a protector, but maybe it’s time to accept a little help...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers found-family m-m contemporary queer length-short audiobook -
Winning Whitney by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHot shot hockey player Jake Curruthers has a plan – focus on his game and avoid distractions. He's succeeding at the first. The Alaska Blizzard has been on the upswing lately, but his focus shifts when the heart-stopping blonde from his past shows up in Anchorage. Yeah, his head is definitely not in the game anymore... -
Assisted by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFoolish is judging a book by its cover… or a hockey coach by his suit. As assistant coach of the Nashville Grizzlies, Imil Bouchard has everything he needs, except maybe a Daddy. On the wrong side of forty and not looking for a traditional Dom, he knows there’s no point wishing for what he can’t have... -
Breakaway by Emily Silver
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFinding out my fiancé is cheating on me? Not how I imagined my wedding day…. Gorgeous white dress. Champagne. Husband. All of that goes out the window when I overhear a call between my fiancé and another woman. Hurt and angry, I turn to the only person I can trust—my fiancé’s brother. Dax. Otherwise known as my best friend. I run. And take him with me... -
Chasing The Goal by Emily Campbell
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA tender slow burn, friends to lovers romance with depth, laughs, and a pinch of spice. Chasing the Goal is a story of showing up, stepping in, and falling hard—when only love plays for keeps. Mallory Quince has her hands full, balancing a demanding career as the Hellblades’ newest athletic trainer, keeping her messy dating life in check, while avoiding any and all complications...Categorized as:
hockey sports friends to lovers found-family single-mother pregnancy m-f contemporary -
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Only Ever You by Haley Warren
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHe still loves her. She’d do anything to forget him. Once upon a time, Bohdan Novotnak had it all—the kind of friends you’d only find in a movie, legs that made him one of the fastest skaters on the planet, and a record-breaking collegiate hockey career that paved the way for what should have been an outstanding professional one. But most importantly, he had her...Categorized as:
sports hockey found-family forced proximity contemporary dual-pov length-medium audiobook -
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... -
Saints Like Him by Aimee Nicole Walker
From ex-con to self-made millionaire, there’s no challenge too tough for Cash Sweeney to conquer. So why has he spent twelve years pining for his best friend instead of doing something about it? Because losing Nick would be like existing with half of his heart...Categorized as:
friends to lovers age difference hurt-comfort found-family angst m-m contemporary queer -
A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA second chance with his brother’s best friend also comes with a deadline. Three years after inheriting his family farm, an accident forces Stefan Luxton to rethink his future. Turning his farm into a five-star wedding venue is one goal. Another is to reconnect with Marc, who Stefan loved but let slip away to the city...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers hurt-comfort found-family m-m forced proximity contemporary queer -
Aftersome by Remi Rose
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsTen years ago, I lost the love of my life. In a blink of an eye, he was gone and to this day, I still seem to be picking up the pieces of my broken heart. But in losing Hayes, we had also lost Mal. The misunderstood hockey player who wished more than anything that he could turn back time and trade places with his best friend. So, in his grief and guilt, he left. Without a goodbye... -
Perfect Pairing by Amanda Chaperon
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLife has been good for Ezra Wendt and his son, Hansen, since he accepted the head chef position at the Chateau Delatou winery. Well, mostly good—except for that time he pushed away Brie, the girl of his dreams, in a moment of cowardice. Bakery owner Brie Delatou has everything a girl could an amazing family, a thriving business, and the perfect small town to call home... -
A Game Of Two Hearts by Iona Kane
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsTess Kennedy isn’t where she thought she’d be at forty-six. She’s focusing on keeping things together as a single parent as she returns to a town that holds mixed memories. As she tries to build a new life for her family, she’s relieved that she’s finally in control of her own destiny. The last thing she’s looking for is a relationship. Rowan Russell is living her regular, predictable life... -
Game Changer: A Wynn Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsJackson Wynn. I don’t want anything to do with my crazy family’s drama, which I’ve been watching unfold from a distance over the last year, but now my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and I feel I need to at least make a quick visit to see him. My hockey season’s over, all I have to do is get through my teammate Steve’s wedding, and then I’m on a plane to Los Angeles to do my family duty...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers hockey contemporary m-f siblings-bff length-medium audiobook -
Free Agent by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novel in the emotional Portland Storm hockey romance series. Can you fall in love when you’ve never loved yourself? Universally misjudged, Blake Kozlow doesn’t let society get under his skin. After all, those misunderstandings have never affected his career... -
Rookie’s Regret by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLioness. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I see the brilliant redhead selling cupcakes at the hockey arena. With the soul of an artist and the spirit of a nomad, Bea Turner is gorgeous, quirky, and refreshing. She’s also my teammate’s little sister. As the Tennessee Thunderbolts' Rookie, I should steer clear... -
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Two for Charging by Lasairiona E. McMaster
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDedicated. Driven. Divorced. Coach Elliott Swift is under pressure from all sides. His players are counting on him to return the team to championship success despite his recently graduated star players. His toxic ex-wife dogs his every move, and his sickly, aging parents require constant care... -
Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLynn Brooks is officially over it. With four overprotective brothers, the youngest Brooks sibling has had enough with bossy alphas. So, when professional baseball star Joey Martel makes a play for her, she's determined to steer clear of him and his toxic circle of jocks. Being the latest conquest for another overbearing caveman? No thanks...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports age difference contemporary grumpy sunshine athletes humor length-medium -
Full Throttle by Brittany Ann
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDominique. He was the boy next door, my escape from my splintered home. I fell in love with him too early, thought about him too much, and hoped for something he could never give me–a fairytale. He pushed me away, but I followed. I chased the ghost of Cain Donovan across the country, heart racing for him and him alone. Eventually, I did find him–right where he told me to look...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers found-family angst from hate to love mafia contemporary suspense -
One Knight's Stand by Tanvier Peart
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThree years ago, I decided to have my first one-night stand. The plan was simple: research how to do it and meet a man at the bar before nerves playing with my guts got the best of me. I wanted to ring in the new year between a stranger’s legs. Someone with good hygiene and exceptional tensile strength to take the edge off of studying mechanical engineering. Then he walked in... -
Two for Roughing by Lasairiona E. McMaster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt’s a simple rule: don’t bang your teammates’ siblings. Finn O’Brien didn’t just break the rule, he annihilated it. Falling in love with his best friend’s younger sister when they were teens was an accident. He fought it for years, hiding behind a list of one-night stands a mile long, anything to convince himself Molly Morrison wasn’t the woman for him...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers hockey new adult humor contemporary siblings-bff length-medium -
Puck Proposal by Delancey Stewart
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy hockey career is on fire, so when my best friend from high school (and the girl I'd always want) shows up on my doorstep in trouble, I have a turn her away (not likely! ) or propose. Back then, Josephine Baxter was the unattainable debutante who took pity on the kid from the wrong side of town. We were unlikely best friends. And she was the girl I’d never have. At least not like that...
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