Books like 'The Play'
Readers who enjoyed The Play by J.H. Croix & Clarise Tan also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary sports new adult athletes strong heroine curvy heroine
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Love By Design: A Blind Date Holiday Novella by Samantha Christy
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 10 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... -
Power Play by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 15 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... -
Hart to Heart by M.E. Carter, Jacob Morgan
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 13 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... -
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 16 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... -
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Saved by Love by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEvan Adler can’t get out of his own head.Worthless.Broken.Failure.Those are just a few of the words he uses to describe himself now. Medically retired from the NHL before he even had a chance to live up to the Adler legacy, Evan has returned to his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, to focus on his mental health... -
Something So Unscripted by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom the International Best Selling Series Something So Zack Finding my teammate in bed with my wife made the decision I had been fighting with for years easier. It’s time to move on. A fresh start and a new NHL team in a big city. Most importantly, it’s my son Jack’s best shot. It would be both of our best shots...Categorized as:
sports strong heroine athletes contemporary friends to lovers alpha male single-father -
Kickin' It by Rachel Van Dyken
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLove breaks the offside rule in New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken’s irresistibly sexy Red Card romance. Successful, high-profile sports agent Matt Kingston thinks he can handle anything. Then soccer player Parker Speedman shows up at his door. She is young and gorgeous, has natural talent, and is looking for a team... -
Just Playin': Romantic Sports Comedy by Shandi Boyes
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsPresley “Elvis” Carlton was at the top of his game. Number one draft pick, engaged to an up-and-coming model, and voted best player of the decade his first year on the field. Things were golden. . . until an accident saw everything important torn from his grasp... -
Sugar and Spice by Kat Baxter
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 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... -
Britches Get Stitches by Elicia Hyder
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsBe brave. Be strong. Be badass. After a two-year struggle to conceive ends with her husband getting another woman pregnant, Grace “Britches Get Stitches” Evans is taking out her frustrations on the roller derby track. Full-contact violence and absolutely no cheating men? Best divorce-support group ever... -
Ignite by Kelly Elliott
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThere were two things Emmit Lewis loved. Racing cars and Adaline Morgan. Time was stolen from the two young lovers and Emmit vowed never again would he allow anything to come between the two of them. Blurred lines both on and off the track have Emmit being tested beyond his limits... -
Home Run by Jordan Marie, Robin Harper
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsGreen Lucas doesn't know what's about to hit him. Complete Standalone Romance Wanted A woman with grit and fire who will help me get my son’s head out of his ass. You must be self-sufficient and not looking for a gravy train. Common sense is a plus, book smarts are optional. Cannot have red hair, as my son seems to go for that type and he needs something to shake him up... -
Blocked by Jami Davenport
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAxel: Playing for the Seattle Sockeyes is a dream come true. Yet in less than twenty-four hours, my life is a hot mess, and my dream has turned into a nightmare. It all starts when I have a one-night stand with my teammate's estranged wife, only I'm not aware she's married, let alone his wife. Now she's stalking me, my teammate hates me, and I'm madly attracted to his sister... -
Playboy’s Reward by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 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... -
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Dump and Chase by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsShelli Adler has known what she wanted since she was eleven years old. Aiden Brooks. But Aiden has always had other ideas. After spending the early years of his life without his dad, hockey legend Lucas Brooks, Aiden is determined not to settle for anything less than true love. When he’s ready. Now he’s living the fast life of an NHL bachelor... -
Love To Love You: A Love/Hate Novella by Isabelle Richards
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAfter a long year of heartache and loss, Chase and Arianna pulled together the shattered pieces of their hearts and rebuilt a relationship that is stronger and more secure than ever before. Letting go of the mistakes of their past, their focus is on the future—their happily ever after... -
Trust Me: The Complete Box Set: Matty and Kayla's Story - Books 1-3 by Christine Bell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTrust Me, the complete box set! All three books in Matty and Kayla's story... Book One: As the oldest McDaniels boy, it’s always been Matty’s job to take care of his brothers, but lately, he’s been doing a crappy job of it... -
Trivial Pursuits by Aven Ellis
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLandon Holder is exactly the kind of man Livy Adams should stay far away from. The flashy, flirty star defenseman for the Chicago Buffaloes is known for hooking up with women all over Chicago. Livy finds herself attracted to Landy, but his sexy good looks and charm are irrelevant... -
The Gate to Everything by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMillions of readers have fallen in love with Ava’s bestselling Dare series…come join the family. USA Today Bestselling Author Ava Miles presents a heartwarming and romantic second-chance story about love and family. Quarterback Jordan Dean thought he had everything until his long-time girlfriend broke up with him. His football rock star life had become too burdensome to her... -
Matters of the Hart by M.E. Carter
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn an instant he became her hero. Then he became her lover and friend. My name is Jaxon Hart. You watched me grow up. You watched me fight for my life. Now, I’m fighting for hers. From the second I laid eyes on Annika, I wanted to help her. Protect her. Vindicate her. But she’s got baggage to get through. Hell, we both do... -
Play Dead by Avery Cockburn
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsThe popular Scottish gay-romance series returns with this must-read novella! Colin’s wounds have finally healed. He’s ready for his big comeback on the football pitch and can’t wait to return to a normal life—especially the rampaging sex he and his boyfriend, Lord Andrew, once indulged in. But Andrew has his own invisible wounds... -
Made to Love You by Megan Smith
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsJaylinn McCormick had finally found the man who makes her life complete. After putting the most terrifying night of her life behind her, she’s moving on. Suddenly, unexpected life altering events have Jaylinn spiraling in an unknown direction. Will she be able to survive? Cooper Cahill finally found a balance in his life... -
Defending Hayden by L.P. Dover
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Carolina Cougars keep fighting for love as the Second Chances series from bestselling author L. P. Dover continues! In Defending Hayden, a damaged football star teams up with the only woman who can take the pain away. No one’s tougher than Carolina Cougars linebacker Derek McLaughlin... -
Until Now by Amy Donnelly
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 10 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... -
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Everything with You by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEvery road, even the broken ones, will eventually lead us to our destination. We hope to find our place in the world, sometimes getting lost and straddled with the fear of never being found. Ultimately it’s that broken road that leads us to the meaning of life, love and happiness. You watched as Allison and Liam fell head over heels... -
Heart Keeper by Annie Dyer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBook 3 in the Manchester Athletic Series... -
Ice Queen by A.J. Wynter
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 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... -
The Playmaker by Dakota Madison
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsKian Kavanagh, Mr. Fire on Ice, has just been called up to play hockey for the NHL's new expansion team in Seattle. Finally playing in the NHL is a dream come true...except for one thing. Kian has to leave Northern Arizona and the love of his life, Taylor Thompson, to pursue his dream. Taylor Thompson thinks she's got life figured out... -
Out in the Field by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsMax Maldonado loves baseball. He knows playing first base at a private college probably won’t get him to the big leagues, but he doesn’t mind. He loves the game and his teammates. If he has to stay in the closet until he graduates, that’s okay. Baseball comes first. Relationships are complicated anyway. And after his recent messy breakup, Max prefers to keep things simple... -
Nixon by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 19 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... -
Icing by Jami Davenport
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSteele:I'm a second-year hockey player for the Seattle Sockeyes. Imagine my shock when I return from a trip to find my former roommate has transferred his lease to my nemesis. She's so annoying I can't stand to be in the same room with her. She pushes all my buttons and is my exact opposite. Despite it all, I want to rip off her clothes and make mad passionate love to her... -
In Your Pucking Dreams by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsCASSIEI made the worst decision of my life when I left Denver three years ago.I broke his heart. I broke my family’s hearts. And then I broke my own.It’s taken three long years, but here I am staring my past in the face.Only everything has changed.He isn’t the boy I once knew. He’s the Captain of the Denver Dragons... -
Catching Summer by L.P. Dover
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHailed by Heidi McLaughlin as a bestselling author who “knows how to create the men who make us swoon,” L. P. Dover returns with an edgy, emotionally gripping Second Chances novel about a beautiful widow who can’t resist a chiseled NFL player. Former nurse Summer Jacobs has seen her fair share of suffering, but she never expected tragedy to hit so close to home... -
Falling for the Backup by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsAfter serving as a dutiful bridesmaid in the wedding from hell, Aynslee Shaw just wants to slink home to Nashville and forget the whole trip. That is, until the hottest guy she’s ever seen is seated next to her on the flight and dazzles her with his easy laugh and killer smile... -
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The Rookie by Kendall Ryan
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA talented rookie who's about to lose it all. A reluctant sports therapist who might be able to help.He has everything a man could want. A lucrative hockey contract. Adoring fans. A family who loves him.But he’s about to throw it all away. Logan Tate’s name is dominating the headlines for all the wrong reasons... -
Bury the Hatchet by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHe was poised to be an elite goalie for a contending team. Hunter Fielding has long since proven himself to be one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. The problem? His former team had another (slightly better) backstop. They left Hunter out to dry, the upstart Tulsa Thunderbirds claimed him in the expansion draft, and he made a few stupid comments about backasswards Oklahomans... -
Campus Cravings by KyAnn Waters, Whitley Gray
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings*****NOMINATED FOR BEST ANTHOLOGY IN GOODREADS M/M ROMANCE GROUP'S MEMBER'S CHOICE AWARDS***** Welcome to Cathia University, where school is in session! Nine of today's hottest gay romance authors have crafted brand-new interrelated novellas celebrating everything wonderful about college, including sophisticated professors, sexy teaching assistants, ambitious grad students, and spirited... -
Perfect Game by Collette West
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor New York Kings' first baseman Scott Harper, scoring women is easy. He's ready to get naked anytime, anywhere. But when a hacker leaks his nude selfies, he's unprepared for the scrutiny his full-frontals receive. Carrie McKenzie has a love-hate relationship with her body. No longer the fat chick guys can ignore, she wins the job as the Kings' clubhouse reporter... -
Breakout by Aven Ellis
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhile Texas is known for loving football, Lexi Stewart has always been drawn to the ice. Hockey is her passion, and she wants nothing more than to pursue a career in video editing for the home network of the Dallas Demons hockey team. Lexi has an editing job for a corporate account, but it’s not fulfilling... -
Paradise Fought: Abel by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI'm not a fighter. I was born into a fighting family. As the middle child, I was overlooked in favor of my older brother. He took the negative attention, too. In comparison, there's nothing special about me. I’m not as big as Cobra. I’m not as strong as Cobra. He's the alpha. I'm a beta. The second son. The lesser one... -
Love's Learning Curve by Felicia Lynn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCollege for most girls comes with a rite of passage to make mistakes, to live fearlessly, and to experience the real world while not under a microscope, having every move made scrutinized, criticized and worst of all, publicized... -
Sugar Rush by Tracey Ward
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 14 ratings$.99 for a Limited Time! Colt Avery is on fire. Dubbed one of the NFL's best kept secrets, he's in the spotlight for the first time in his career. Women want him, coaches are courting him, and his Kansas cornfield good looks are too good not to be shared. His face is everywhere; TV, magazines, billboards. The entire world is in love with him. Everyone wants a piece of him... -
Burn for You by Marquita Valentine
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeau Montgomery is *not* the typical single dad for three reasons: 1. He's rich and famous. 2. He needs a nanny, like yesterday. 3. He has no idea if eight month old, Mia, is actually his daughter. Only, number three doesn't matter to him, because he's determined to give up everything to be a standup dad, including racing, partying, and his favorite vice-women... -
Three and Out by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 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... -
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Bring Me You by Ryleigh Andrews
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPro quarterback, Ethan Christopher thought he had found his home when he met rock musician, Mia Devereux. She was the welcomed distraction in his football-focused life. Things may not have been perfect. Their individual careers made being together difficult. Her touring. His away schedule. As her success grew, they spent more extended periods apart... -
Bennett by Brenda Rothert
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBennett Morse devotes his time to chasing two things: an NHL career and women. He’s the easygoing member of his three-man line on the Fenway Flyers, content to play the game he loves and soak up the female attention it brings – as long as it’s from a different woman each time. He learned the hard way that choosing only one leads to heartache... -
Winning It All by Victoria Denault
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAll's fair in love and hockey. . . As his team's enforcer on the ice, Sebastian Deveau is America's favorite fighting Frenchman. But he's just as likely to get into trouble off the ice--especially when it comes to women. Shayne Beckford is so over hockey. It ruined her parents' marriage. It spoiled her brother's dreams. And let's not even talk about her college boyfriend . . -
Love to Hate You by Isabelle Richards
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSome connections are so powerful they will not be denied. Despite doing everything in their power to fight their feelings, Chase and Arianna decide to give their love a second chance. They hope that the long, painful journey back to each other will have taught them not to make the same mistakes again. This time they’ll get it right. All they need is a little time for the wounds to heal... -
Found by You by Victoria H. Smith
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe’s noticed by everyone… Griffin Chandler. He’s captain of our college’s basketball team. I swear to God I’ve already seen him in a Nike ad, and he’s one of the top picks when he goes pro following our spring graduation. His life is on display for the world. Both his accomplishments and demons there for judgment. I’m a girl who likes to play roller derby from, of all places, Wisconsin...Categorized as:
new adult curvy heroine sports athletes contemporary multicultural college heroine athlete -
Slam: A Colorado Smoke Novel by Andee Michelle, Mischievous Designs
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsBryant “Slam” Nash is known for three things… His intensity on the field, His drive to win the World Series, And scoring on the first date. Gearing up for the biggest season of his career, Slam is determined to focus on his game, calling a time out on anything considered a distraction. Including Layne Scott. Layne Scott doesn’t do complicated...
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