Books like 'Hard to Hold'
Readers who enjoyed Hard to Hold by K. Bromberg also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary sports friends to lovers forbidden love forced proximity office friends-benefits
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Sweeper by Amy Daws
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsComing November 4The cocky footballer next door has some serious balls…luckily, Daphney Clarke knows how to play. Zander Williams is the hot new American determined to take European football by storm. His head is so big, it barely fits under his backwards hat. And when he’s recruited to one of the biggest up and coming clubs in London, he’s certain to make his name known... -
Craft by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsThey’re not quite enemies. Not really friends. More like frustrated balls of sexual tension and neither will give in. Lance Gibson drives Mariah Malarkey absolutely crazy. He uses her office like a phone booth, takes cupcakes from the corner of her desk like she baked them just for him. She didn’t...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office friends-benefits christian humor contemporary from hate to love angst -
Hard to Score by K. Bromberg
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI’ve signed numerous players to my family’s agency—I assumed winning over my next client would be just as easy. The last thing I expected was to run into the boy who took my first kiss and broke my heart: only now Drew Bowman is all grown up. Sexy. Scandal-tainted. Second-string. The crush I never got over. I tell myself work is the reason I can’t get him out of my head... -
The Canary Cowards by Jescie Hall
From Author Jescie Hall comes a compelling and angst-filled love story that will pull at your heartstrings and never let go."Occasionally, we all lack the courage to embrace the torture that is love."DylanAs a proud physiotherapist fresh out of school, I never imagined falling for a client. Especially not fallen football star, Lake Decker... -
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Flaunt by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLooking for a Fake FiancéHave 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... -
Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsOne of us will have to give up the future we’ve dreamed of if we’re going to make this work. It’s not going to be me. We can’t both have that same thought if we want to stay together when our contract ends.But the more I see him struggle against the things his mother does to him, the harder I fall. The more his ex tries to get in his way, the more I want to stand up for him... -
Now's The Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 7 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... -
Scoring With Him by Lauren Blakely
An emotional, sexy, forbidden romance! Scoring with Him is the first novel in the utterly addictive Men of Summer Series! Falling for the rookie wasn't part of the plan. As a pro athlete, I have one unbreakable rule when it comes to men -- Don't date another baseball player. Good thing I haven't been tempted once in four years in the majors. Until the day a rising star walks into my locker room... -
Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMy requirements for a man are simple. Must love books. Must NOT love hockey. Which is why I will never be interested in my neighbor, the aloof and mysterious Felix Jamison, no matter how many books I see him hauling into his apartment. Unless he loses his pro hockey skates, I’m out. But then he shows up at my symphony concert. And I catch the sweet strains of Dvorak floating across the hall... -
Neat by Kandi Steiner
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsMy life is over. I swore I would never work at the whiskey distillery with my last name on it, that I would never be a part of my father’s legacy. But when I graduated with my art degree and realized there were no jobs, the devil appeared, and I sold my soul, agreeing to work in the family business if he’d give me the art studio I’d always dreamed of. It can’t be that bad, I thought... -
Love to Tempt You by J. Saman
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOur band's stunning, untouched new assistant was completely off-limits. But that didn't stop me.A car crash. A fake story at the hospital. She warned me when I dragged her from the nightmare that was her life that she could very well destroy mine. I didn't listen. I didn't care.I brought her into my home. Into my life. Gave her a job. My Pandora... -
Restrictions by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLoss. Guilt. Grief.Do you ever truly recover from it?How can you be happy when the person you once looked up to is gone?Sheltered. Ruled. Shamed.Do you ever grow after that?How can you break free from a lifetime of repression?Vivienne and Asher have been through a lot in their young lives... -
Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 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... -
Too Young To Fall In Love by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKellenI love my job. Bartending is more than just serving drinks to customers at the hottest bar and restaurant in Stewart Grove. It’s the people I work with and those I meet along the way. I know how to have a good time. Just one flirty little grin and the ladies are like putty in my hands. But they know the score: I’m a one and done guy, not looking to ever fall into the trap of love... -
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No Feelings Involved by Siobhan Davis
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsCan this skeptical player let down his guard long enough to let love into his life, or is this forbidden romance a train wreck in the making? Ryan James doesn’t believe in love. It’s a truth he learned early in life. A truth he carried with him into adulthood... -
The Problem with Second Chances by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFor Rylan Greene and me, it was simple. Love only got us so far.I’ve known him since we were six, long before he became the professional soccer star he is now. We’ve weaved in and out of one another’s lives as rivals, teammates, friends, and lovers...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity from hate to love athletes angst contemporary humor -
Don't Let Me Down by Kelsie Rae
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHenry Buchanan is cold. Calculating. And rich. He's also the owner of the new Lion's NHL team, and my boss. Oh, and did I mention he's a grumpy sonofabitch who's girlfriend is cheating on him? Not that I'm gonna say anything. It's none of my business anyway. Besides, we aren't friends.And we couldn't be more different if we tried.He was born with a golden spoon in his mouth... -
The Show by Lulu Moore
As any true sports fan will tell you, once you have an allegiance to a team it's set in stone. It's unwavering. It's finite. You never leave.Yet somehow, I’ve been asked to do just that.To set aside my love for The Yankees and take ownership of The New York Lions - the worst team in Major League Baseball.Oh, yes, and turn them into winners...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity friends to lovers office super rich hero humor age difference alpha male -
Mother Maker by Jenni Bara
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsAll I want is one night.One night away from the falling down brownstone filled with my three best friends, a broody billionaire, and our seven children. Oh, and you can’t forget those adorable raccoons.But the universe apparently has other ideas because I get drunk and sleep with the baseball player.Now two little lines turn my escape into a completely new adventure...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity sports pregnancy super rich hero insta-love contemporary humor -
Earn Your Extra Credit by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 25 ratings"She went home with someone else that night?" Hearing the disbelief from my best friend's mouth makes the events of my failed date sting that much more. I would like to make it known, I have a lot more swagger than what it seems. I don't normally ask a girl out, have her fail to recognize it's a date, and then give me a high five--as if I'm her wingman--and take off with someone else. No...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity sports office friends-benefits humor from hate to love new adult -
How to Get Lucky by Lauren Blakely, Joe Arden
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA sexy standalone romance written by #1 NYT Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely and Award-Winning Romance Narrator Joe Arden! Every man knows there are lines you don't cross. Like this one -- don't bang your boss's little sister.Too bad I didn't know sexy, clever, irresistible London is related to the guy who signs my paychecks... -
Jersey Girl: by Rhonda James
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsBrantley Cage is a standout D-man on Great Lakes University hockey team. Now that his dream of signing with the Detroit Red Wings has come true, his goals for senior year are simple: Work hard. Score big. Stay away from love. And then he meets her. There's just one problem...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forbidden love athletes new adult college contemporary siblings-bff -
Rush by Samantha Towle
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsFrom Samantha Towle, New York Times bestselling author of Breaking Hollywood and Ruin, comes a new powerful, passionate and dramatic contemporary romance. “With the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select…” It’s been three years since quarterback Ares Kincaid’s NFL dream came true, and he’s living the high life... -
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Off Limits by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsProfessional football has an actual rulebook, but it’s the unwritten rules that come with the harshest consequences.The biggest one of all: don’t date your teammate’s sister. And if you do, don’t you dare fall in love with her.I never meant to fall, but when it comes to Brenna Donald, I never stood a chance. She’s everything I’m not--a light-hearted wild child who shines brighter than the sun... -
The One I Want by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs a professional football player, I had a playbook for everything on the field. Then I retired and found out there’s no playbook for life—especially when the one you thought was perfect gets flipped upside down. There’s no play for suddenly becoming a divorced, single dad. There’s no plan for moving your family back to the town you grew up in...Categorized as:
sports office forced proximity friends to lovers single-father age difference contemporary humor -
Watch and Learn by Rebel Shaw
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNateAll I wanted to do was be me, for one night. I didn’t want to be the number one quarterback in the league. I just wanted to be Nate. I couldn’t tell you exactly what made me stop at that dive bar on the outskirts of town, but it changed my life.Our connection was instant and undeniable. Our night together was explosive, which led to another, and then another. No strings...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers friends-benefits contemporary second chances humor new adult -
Between Never and Forever by Shain Rose
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor fans of Sara Cate and Lauren Asher, a forbidden, second chance romance about a young woman who is thrust into the world of a past lover when she takes a gig at his family’s casino to pay off her mother’s medical debts.As my best friend’s brother, Dex Hardy has always been my downfall—older, forbidden, and completely irresistible... -
Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDanielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny. And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job... -
Lucky Puck by Raine Miller, Brit DeMille
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsPucks are flying in this forbidden, dating-the-boss, office romance at Vegas Crush headquarters bringing the new GM and the team's nutritionist together after a one-night puck with surprising consequences. But first, they'll have to shoot around that pesky no-fraternization policy in this steamy hockey love story. "Lucky Las Vegas. It’s true I’ve had some major puck luck in this city...Categorized as:
forced proximity forbidden love sports office contemporary insta-love fated-mates new adult -
Wild Thing by Cassie Miller
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen I went back to that dingy motel room with the tempting stranger from the bar, I had no idea that he was my older brother's best friend. And my soon-to-be roommate. I'm Karli Brighton, reigning Queen of Epic Screw-Ups. With twelve med school rejection letters burning a hole in my back pocket, I'm back in my quirky hometown for the summer... -
Whiskey Throttle by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLincoln I’ve done a good job getting over my past. I’m not only proud of who I am, but revel in it. Still, I don’t let myself get too close to people. With closeness comes questions and those pesky feelings, and I’m having none of that. I’ve got a great job, friends, I’m cute and twinky, and my bed’s never empty. What more do I need? Except I can’t stop sleeping with Rush Alexander...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports friends-benefits m-m athletes contemporary praise-kink queer -
Unfair Game by Susan Renee
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSometimes life makes you play an unfair game.As a pro hockey player, I’ve had desperate flirty women throw themselves at me, one after another for years. Today, it took only seconds for someone to walk into my home and have me completely forget about any other woman I’ve ever met.A favor for an old teammate, I opened my penthouse to Charlee Mags, my new short-term roommate...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary alpha male abuse found-family -
Play Maker by Nikki Hall
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFriends without benefits. For now.MacLast year, I only wanted three things out of a good time, a date with Wonder Woman, and a shot at playing and singing in the same Superbowl. This year, I can’t bring myself to care. Until Blue. The quiet girl with the rainbow hair refuses to let me suffer alone, and I’m starting to think losing everything is worth finding her...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity dual-pov college humor contemporary new adult -
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The Rules We Break by Katelyn Taylor
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRules.Some people say they are meant to be broken,but not these ones.These are designed to protect me, to make sure I never feel the pain I did almost ten years ago.The dull but present pain I still feel every time my past taunts me.From the Loyalties that have remained broken, I built my Walls high and tall, creating these Rules to make sure all Hearts,most of all mine, will stay guarded... -
Reckless: by Becca Steele
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWelcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa…An ultimatum from my football team manager landed me here on this far-flung tropical island, where I’m expected to work on my issues in a rehab centre for the elite.But I’m not the only one here to curb their reckless behaviour. My teammate, Theo Lewin, has been banished to the island with me... -
Fling by Adriana Locke
CONTEST: WIN A DATE TO MY HONEYMOONI realize that a social media post isn’t the usual way to secure a date to your honeymoon—for obvious reasons—but here we are.My wedding was canceled. What’s not canceled is the nonrefundable, ten-thousand-dollar all-inclusive vacation at a luxury resort, and I’m not about to let it go to waste.I’m packed and ready to hit the beach... -
The Brickwall and The Bombshell: a fake dating baseball romance by Jiffy Kate
He needs respectability and she needs a safe place to land. It’s a win-win, right? Mack Granger’s reputation is a PR nightmare. As his career winds down, he realizes he needs to clean up his act. One way to secure his post-MLB future is to convince the media he’s in a stable, loving relationship. When fate drops a roomie with benefits into his lap, it’s like hitting a grand slam...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity suspense mystery dual-pov contemporary explicit-open-door -
A Really Bad Idea by Jeannine Colette
Everyone has a best friend. Mine just happens to be Dr. Christian Gallagher— the gorgeous, green-eyed heart surgeon who wants to have a baby with me. Yes, you read that correctly. When my mother approached me on my thirty-third birthday with a brochure for egg freezing, it was a glaring reminder that my biological clock is ticking toward its expiration date... -
Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn
Spending the night in jail isn’t exactly how I planned to spend Christmas, but I’ve had worse holidays… Now that I’m out, it’s time to accept my real punishment. Coaching ten-year-old terrors on the ice, in my non-existent free time. My Coach thinks it’d be good for me. Remind me where I came from. He should know I’ve tried every day of my life for the last ten years to forget... -
Charming as Puck by Pippa Grant
The man could charm the panties off a nun... Nick Murphy. Hockey god. My best friend’s big brother. My friend-with-mindblowing-benefits. The best thing to happen to my nether regions since my subscription to the toy of the month club. The man I’ve been secretly in love with for years. And total ass. I am so done with him. Except there’s one small problem...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers friends-benefits humor contemporary athletes male-pov explicit-open-door -
Camden by Sawyer Bennett
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsCamden Poe is the last of The Lucky Three, the surviving Pittsburgh Titans who weren’t on the team plane the night it went down. By all outward appearances, he’s adjusted to post-crash life well but inside he’s wrestling with the guilt of living. The catastrophe that killed the Pittsburgh Titans changed my entire world. My teammates were more than my friends—they were my brothers... -
Knock Out by Jiffy Kate
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn the blink of an eye, Willow Bernard goes from stocking shelves at the Piggly Wiggly to kicking butt at Viking MMA.Willow Bernard has taken a lot of hits in her twenty-two years but always manages to come back swinging. Hoping to fly under the radar for a change, she relocates to Green Valley...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity fighters contemporary grumpy sunshine humor -
The Younger Man by Karina Halle
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsStarting over was her only option.Forty-years old and still reeling from a public and painful divorce, Thalia Blackwood is looking for a fresh start, somewhere far away from her upside down life. When she’s offered a new job as the sports therapist for a football (soccer) team, she jumps at the chance...Categorized as:
sports forbidden love friends to lovers office contemporary new adult age difference angst -
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Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis
From the New York Times bestselling author of Double Play, Rescue My Heart, The Trouble with Paradise, and the Lucky Harbor novels... After a woman claims she’s pregnant with Wade O’Riley’s love child, Major League Baseball’s most celebrated catcher and ladies’ man is slapped on the wrist by management and ordered to improve his image... -
Only One Forever by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsFrom The Something So Series and the This Is series comes Only One Forever.DylanMy dreams came true when I was adopted at ten.I was the best on the ice. Living the life of what every kid dreams of.We’ve been best friends since then. Even when she was the annoying little sister following us around.I would do anything for her.It is another family vacation; except this time it feels different...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity friends to lovers forbidden love contemporary new adult athletes -
Defending Dani by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsProfessional hockey player Sergei Petrov has had a rough time after the tragic loss of his beloved wife. Playing hockey and taking care of his son are all he has time for; getting traded was not on the agenda. Neither was a sexy, hockey-playing nanny to further complicate things. Star college athlete Danielle Cloutier may dominate the rink, but off the ice, she’s an amateur... -
Just a Batter of Time by Molly O'Hare
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Molly O'Hare comes an older brother's best friend, curvy, teach-me-all-the-things, opposites attract romance.Riley's been crushing on her older brother's best friend, Liam, for years. Sad, right? Oh well, she's living her best life baking her heart out at Pastries & Paws - her bakery that caters to humans and pets... -
Roomies with Benefits by Ali Parker
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRoomies with benefits? No need to ask me twice.My childhood best friend needs a place to crash after a messy breakup.And she’s not a little girl anymore. This woman has me wanting things I shouldn’t.So I give her my guest room.Even with a few walls between us, this good girl makes me feel like a really bad boy.But what could go wrong? Lots…Having her around is driving me insane with need...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity friends-benefits second chances contemporary angst -
Secret Keeper by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat started as a typical night out with my team, became the best night of my life.Picking up a smoking hot blonde, I take her back to the hotel, expecting the evening to go down like any other.But nothing about her is average… she’s sassy, witty and throws me off my game. After one incredible night, I wake up wanting to see her more than I want to go to hockey practice...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity forbidden love office contemporary super rich hero athletes dual-pov
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