Books like 'Empty Net'
Readers who enjoyed Empty Net by Avon Gale also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance mlm sports lgbtq enemies-to-lovers athlete angst humor slow-burn
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James—Uncontrollable by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt's time to travel with James and Malcolm through their twenty year history as they battle each other and struggle to hold on to a lifetime of secrets. James Never good enough. Not the real son. I will prove him wrong—prove everyone wrong. I am someone. I will succeed. I don’t need my brother to help me. I don't need anyone. My enemy holds my secret. He teases me. Taunts me... -
A Very Marian Christmas by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 17 ratings12 Marian Men-A-Mating... I mean, A-Meeting11 Blind Dates-A-Blinding 10 Lords-A-Leaping (to conclusions)9 Ladies Dancing (okay, maybe that's Griff)8 Kids-A-Complaining 7 Changes-A-Clothing6 Love Junk Gadgets5 **DRA-AAG QUEENS**4 Calling Neighbors3 Nosy Grannies2 Men Falling In LoveAnd a partridge in a pear tree... -
Priest by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m lonely, but am I ready to move on?I’ve been Ankh’s Old Man for as long as Hell’s Ankhor has existed. But Ankh’s been dead for two years, and I need to live my life for me. I love the guys of HAC, but no one’s keeping me warm at night. No one except Mal, and that’s only in my dreams.He doesn’t do long term, and he’s one of my oldest friends... -
某某 A Certain Someone by Mu Su Li, 木苏里
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratings盛望搬进了白马弄堂的祖屋院子,一并搬进来的还有他爸正在交往的女人。他爸指着那个女人的儿子对他说:叫哥。桀骜不驯吃软不吃硬的制冷机(攻)x自认很金贵的懒蛋小少爷(受)盛望:我笔直。江添:我恐同。校园文,1v1+heSheng Wang moved into his ancestral home at White Horse Lane, along with the woman that his father was presently seeing.His dad pointed at that woman’s son and said to him: Call him ge (older brother)... -
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Limerence: A MM Rivals to Lovers Ballet Romance by Scarlett Drake
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFelixDancing is everything to me. It’s the mother I lost, the father who never sees me. It’s the fiery love of my life, and I’ll defend it to my last breath—that’s what it means to be the lead principal at one of the best ballet companies in the world. Just when I thought I was on top, my greatest rival—my eternal nemesis—waltzes back into my Nicoló Savini... -
Project Hero by Briar Prescott
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsWhat if you accidentally fell in love with the right guy?Andy:If my life was a movie, I would be the sidekick. Not an especially promising start when my plan is to finally let my best friend know I have a crush on him. No worries, though. I have a plan. I just need a complete makeover... -
Line Brawl by Bianca Sommerland
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNot all fights are one on one. In a team, no man should stand alone. ‘You can’t keep me.’ Shawn ‘Easy’ Pischlar has given his speech so often, it should be written on the white board in the Dartmouth Cobra’s locker room. Too many of his own teammates have heard the words. And the games he’s played are finally catching up to him... -
A True Fit by Michele Notaro
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTrent~ My life has been great the past few years and I have zero intention of screwing anything up. I’m certainly not going to let some guy ruin things for me, especially not my boss’s ex. But for some reason, every time I run into Declan, I become more and more intrigued by him... -
Take a Chance on Me by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFree-spirited ballet dancer Quinn is sure he made a terrible mistake by agreeing to be Duke’s roommate. The big cop is the most uptight person Quinn’s ever met, and both men begin driving each other crazy from day one. Before long though, an undeniable spark of attraction ignites between them... -
I've Got You by Becca Seymour
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen a single dad and a newly outed veterinarian meet by chance, it takes red-cheeked conversations, a tentative friendship, and the willingness to put their hearts on the line to show these men they’re made for each other. Single dad Davis Jackson is busy balancing his coffee shop and being the best dad he can be. That doesn’t mean he’s not lonely... -
Seth by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBe yourself because everyone else is taken. But what if that risks everything you know? Seth Johnson has worked his entire career to be remembered more for his skill than as an openly gay NHL player. Finding a boyfriend has been pushed to the back burner. As for exposing his softer side, the side that loves lace and lingerie? It’s not happening... -
The Other Brother by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhat happens when you fall for the one person you can't have?Ryan has had seventeen years of being compared to Cody, part of his toxic fractured family, so you’ll forgive him for some epic eye-rolling when it comes to Mr Perfect. Although not related to him by blood, Cody has always been annoying background noise in Ryan’s life... -
My Dinner with Hayden: A Heated Rivalry Short Story by Rachel Reid
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"This story takes place slightly before the actual epilogue in Heated Rivalry. So it’s an…epilogue prologue? It takes place almost sixteen months after the last chapter of Heated Rivalry, and about three weeks before the epilogue... -
Going Deep by Nikki Ash
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratings*Standalone enemies-to-lover's football romance* Going deep: In football it means running down the field for a long pass. You’re serious. Committed. Unstoppable. As a wide receiver, it’s a term I’m all too familiar with. It’s who I am, at least when it comes to my career. For the past decade, football has been the only thing I’ve allowed myself to commit to... -
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Spencer Cohen, Book One by N.R. Walker, Joel Leslie
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSpencer Cohen is the guy who gets answers to relationship questions. Playing the role of the new lover, his job is to make his client’s ex realise one of two things: he doesn’t want to break up or he really does. Either way, his client gets answers.The ex would either apologize and beg, or turn and walk. But in the end, Spencer’s client won. If he wanted his ex back and got him, it was great... -
Better Than Beginnings: A Better Than Good Short Story Collection by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMatt Sullivan knows he met someone special the night he spots the sexy man on the dance floor. However, he doesn’t know his life is about to change forever. First of all, Matt is straight. Okay, maybe not, but he doesn’t think falling in love and spending the rest of his life with a hotheaded, unapologetically fabulous diva is an option... -
Tigers on the Way by Sean Kennedy
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSequel to Tigers on the Run Documentary producer Simon and ex-footballer Declan are taking some big steps toward a lasting life together. They’ve bought a house, and they’ll need it for the family they plan to start. Their friend, Nyssa, has made the generous offer to be their surrogate, and Declan couldn’t be more excited about the idea of a baby... -
Home Run King by Stella
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy life was what country songs are made of: my Granny died, my girlfriend broke up with me, I knocked up her cousin, and I was inducted into the Major League Hall of Fame. Yup…just like every country song I’ve ever heard. But let me start over… My name is Gage Nix. That’s all you need to know. Actually, there’s a lot more to Gage than meets the eye... -
Levi's Love by K.C. Wells
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsUnrequited love hurts like hell Levi Brown has loved Noah White since he was a teenager, but Noah isn’t looking for a relationship. Every time Levi sees him, his heart aches for what it cannot have. Because dear Lord, he wants Noah, in his life, in his bed.Especially in his bed. The only reason Levi is still a virgin is because he was waiting for Noah. Except Noah doesn’t want him... -
The Rest of Forever by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDoes love stand a chance between two very different long-time friends? Mike Dombruso’s life is anything but glamorous. He’s a shy, nerdy accountant and a widower with three young sons, whose world revolves around his kids. In many ways, Yoshiro Miyazaki is Mike’s polar opposite... -
Left Behind by Michele Notaro
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMy god, if I have to watch one more happy couple get together, I’m going to lose it completely and probably rip out all of my awesomely pink hair... -
The Quarterback by Tal Bauer
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA slow burn, friends to lovers, bi awakening, age gap MM romance. Falling for his friend's straight dad might be the worst mistake Colton Hall has ever made.Colton's best friend is gay. He's not: he's never been attracted to men. So why the hell is he fantasizing about his friend's dad? Besides, Nick Swanscott is straight. A devoted father and the best man Colton's ever known... -
Game On by Riley Hart, Devon McCormack
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCARTER Relationships--who needs 'em? As a personal-assistant-extraordinaire to one of the top PR firms in Los Angeles, I've dedicated most of my life to errand-running and people-pleasing. But when it comes to men, as much as I love to please them in the bedroom, I'm way too busy to give more than that. Fortunately, as far as my options go.. -
Tigerland by Sean Kennedy
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAfter an eventful and sometimes uncomfortably public courtship, Simon Murray and Declan Tyler settled into a comfortable life together. Now retired from the AFL, Declan works as a football commentator; Simon develops programs with queer content for a community television station. Despite their public professional lives, Simon and Declan manage to keep their private life out of the spotlight... -
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Strawberries for Dessert by Marie Sexton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhen Jonathan Kechter agrees to a blind date with Cole Fenton, he expects nothing more than dinner and a one-night stand... but he gets more than he bargained for in Cole. Cole is arrogant, flamboyant, and definitely not Jon’s type. Still, when Cole suggests an arrangement of getting together for casual sex whenever they're both in town, Jon readily agrees... -
When I Grow Up by John Goode
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Tales from Foster High Story After graduation, Kyle Stilleno and Brad Graymark move to California to pursue their dreams. But high school sweethearts are called that for a reason, and their love rarely stands up to the test of time. As money, school, sex, and jealousy test their relationship to the breaking point, Kyle and Brad fight to hold on to the love that brought them together... -
Unbroken by Larry Benjamin
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy parents, unable to change me, had instead, silenced me. When they'd stilled my hands, they'd taken my words, made me lower my voice to a whisper. Later, I remained silent in defense, refusing to acknowledge the hateful words: Brainiac. Sissy. Antiman. Faggot... -
The Shutout by Dianna Roman
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSometimes love is where you least expect it, and sometimes it's right where you left it in this slow burn to steamy friends to lovers tale.Widower, Max Hartwell, is barely keeping it together, being a single-dad, managing his law firm, and navigating life's chaos. Life after loss is too difficult for surprises, which is why Max would be lost without his reliable best friend and neighbor, Jack... -
Suffocate: A Senses Series Novel by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsER Nurse, Luke Hart, is known for his desire to take care of others and his need to be in control at all times. However, Stuart Ducane knows exactly which buttons to push to make sure Luke relinquishes both. When the chance comes for them to take their delicate friendship that's coated in secret desires to the next level, the timing isn't convenient and neither are the circumstances... -
Intermission by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m in love with two men. I’m torn and need to choose which man from my past I want as a permanent part of my future. My heart leads me one way as my brain pushes me toward the other. I want them both, but each of them holds a secret that will change everything... -
Hard Luck: A St. Louis Mavericks Hockey Romance by Brenda Rothert, Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings... -
Trade Deadline by Jodi Oliver
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBLAINEWhen my name is involved in yet another scandal, I’m told to keep my head down and my stats up. The trade deadline is looming, and I don’t want to leave Chicago.But that night, I meet Alex. The guy with the bluest eyes and the kindest smile.My reputation precedes me, and he’s determined to resist me, but the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny the chemistry between us... -
过门 - Guomen by Priest
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” -Matthew 7:14Guomen, 過門/过门, meaning marriage in Chinese. If explained literally, it means going past the gates/door-a reference to the Bible(see above).“Through the Strait Gates”: to me, it’s the best way to explain it.The gate’s narrow, the road small for them... -
Believing Blue by Nicole Colville
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIs there a fated path we follow, or is it simply a series of coincidental events? Police officer Kellan Howard is rumoured to have spent too much time in sub-zero temperatures, leaving him with a block of ice for a heart and women lining up to help thaw it. Mountain climbing is his only love, leaving no time for a relationship, and although meaningless sex satisfies his physical need, it’s empty... -
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Loving Logan by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLogan’s life changed forever six months ago when he lost his best friends and support system. Now it’s up to him to raise the two-year-old son they left behind.Creed’s family teases him for being a serial dater, but that’s because he refuses to settle. He’s searching for the right person to fall in love with, but no one fits—until he meets the tattooed giant behind the bar... -
Chandler: Training Days Book 1 by J.D. Light
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsChandler Bell When my boyfriend breaks up with me because I'm overweight, I go to the one place I feel the most comfortable. Oddly enough, it's the gym I was basically raised in. Things have changed over the years, but the people inside are my family. Some of them literally. Baker reluctantly agrees to help me get in shape, and so begins the torture... -
Escaped by J.P. Barnaby
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFinally together, Brian McAllister and Jamie Mayfield have risked everything in a desperate escape. Jamie is now free of his tormentor, Steven O’Dell... for the moment. But Brian and Jamie know that one wrong choice could lead Steven to their door. With the strength of Brian and his friends to protect him, Jamie hides and finds the one person he is truly afraid of—himself... -
Line Drive by Sloan Johnson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPJ Nolan just has to get through this year. He’d been hoping for a trade to Milwaukee, where he wouldn’t have to hide the fact that he was gay, but that didn’t pan out. He’s close enough to achieving his goal that he can’t walk away, no matter how hostile the Miami clubhouse had become... -
Love & Other Inconveniences by Catherine Cloud
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMorgan Boyle wants two things in life: to play hockey and to be left alone. Noah Andersson is loud, outgoing and probably hasn’t stopped talking since he learned how to say words. When Morgan ends up on a team with Noah at the Olympics, they get closer than either of them expected, and even when they’ve returned home Morgan still finds himself drawn to Noah... -
Always Eli by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat happens when a sassy drag queen falls for his brother’s best friend?Eli Baker needs a job. Drag isn’t paying the bills and the life of a starving artist isn't as fun when he’s the one living it. Taking a temporary office job is meant to be a quick fix... -
Level Up by Kindle Alexander
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDuncan “Ducky” Reigns, metalhead and hardcore gamer, has spent his life railing against the establishment. But now when he looks at himself in the mirror that’s not the person he sees. Though he and his brother have worked hard to create a successful multi-million-dollar company, he’s lost himself and his identity in the process... -
Two for Roughing by Lasairiona E. McMaster
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 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... -
Cloud Nine by Fearne Hill
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBedroom eyes, that’s the name my mom gave them.Before I travelled to the UK, she issued me plenty of warnings: don’t look the wrong way when crossing the road, the first floor was the second floor, and no one would know what I meant if I asked for ranch dressing at a restaurant... -
Concussion Protocol: A Short & Spicy MM Romance by Rebecca Rathe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA sweet and spicy short story by Rebecca RatheHe's a ten, but he's my ex-boyfriend's straight teammate and my patient... -
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The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding date…TommyHelp! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. I’m a busy man, though. I don’t have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them... -
Playing for Keeps by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFalling for your former best friend? Never a good idea.Ethan Lewis is the joker of his rugby team, the guy who’s always up for a good time. The only thing that can wipe the smile from his face is any mention of his former best friend, Luke. He has no idea why Luke has actively avoided him for the past five years... -
Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Author New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author R.G. Alexander, Book 3 in the Finn's Pub Romance series! Ever had a thing for the man next door? My sexy new neighbor is confusing the hell out of me. Elliot Ransom is a baseball player and a single dad, but he doesn’t know his butter beer from a snozzberry... -
Heart Strain by Michele Notaro, Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHolden~ When I get a call that my twin brother’s been shot, I’m in shock as I head back to Baltimore to be with him. Seeing him in a coma is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do; sitting here not knowing whether he’s going to live or die is the worst thing I can imagine. But at least Jameson is with me—he makes it more bearable, and I don’t feel like I’m in this alone... -
Any Given Sunday by Mari Carr
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWild Irish, Book Seven.The child who is born on the Sabbath day, is bonny and blithe and good and gay. Sean Collins is happy working at the family pub and sharing a house with the woman of his dreams. He and Lauren are equals in every way, including in bed, where they burn the sheets. Life is good. Even if he must hide a couple of secrets to keep it that way.Lauren is madly in love with Sean... -
Poke Check by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOne scorching summer in each other’s arms could never be enough. Stanislav “Stan” Lyamin is happy playing for the Railers. The towering goalie is well-loved, respected, and making a home for himself even though that home only contains him, his cat, and his growing Pokemon trading card collection. Stan prefers it that way...
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