Books like 'Playing by the Rules'
Readers who enjoyed Playing by the Rules by Beth Bolden also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance mlm sports lgbtq friends-to-lovers athlete slow-burn forbidden-love age-gap
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Free from Falling by E.L. Massey
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJustin “Matts” Matthews is good at a lot of things: Rubik’s Cubes, playing guitar, herding cattle, and most importantly for his career in the NHL, hockey. He’s not good at human interactions or social cues, especially when it comes to women. This deficiency is an annoyance rather than a problem, right up until he meets Sydney Warren. If it’s not love at first sight, it’s sure something close... -
![Splintered by Isabel Lucero]()
Splintered by Isabel Lucero
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWelcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa —the best place to go when all you want to do is disappear and not have anyone expect anything of you.Overwhelmed with work and feeling like I’m being pulled in multiple directions at once, I crave the serenity a private island holds for me... -
![Winning With Him by Lauren Blakely]()
Winning With Him by Lauren Blakely
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsResisting the shortstop has never been my strong suit. I failed at it during my first spring training. It sure as hell looks like I'm about to fail at it again. The sport I love playing with my very soul hangs in the balance. But everything my heart craves lies with the guy I've got to resist. A guy who's asking me to make the toughest choice ever. But how do I become the man I want to be.. -
![Submission by Carly Marie]()
Submission by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEverything Dean knows about himself is about to change. Dean’s friends see him as a genius who’s confident, successful, and Dominant. What they don’t see are insecurities that he’s hidden for years. An accident nearly took his life and left him scarred and in pain. His walls keep his secrets safe, but also prevent him from being the Daddy he once was... -
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![Seth by Carly Marie]()
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... -
![Loving the Legend by Kit Grey]()
Loving the Legend by Kit Grey
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSince Pro basketball player Ty “Pretty Boy” Washington picked up a basketball, he’s only ever wanted one to make it to the pro league and win championships. As the number one pick in the draft, he defies the odds in his rookie year by beating the record of one of the greatest players in the league, Sid “The Wonder Kid” King... -
![Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFamily comes first in all things. Whatever the cost.Ten had always heard the saying ‘Out of the mouth of babes,’ but he’d not expected it to hit home as it had. After a comment from their daughter, Ten and Jared find themselves pondering an addition to the family. Moving into the adoption process is nerve-wracking and riddled with anxiety—kind of like how the Railers have been playing of late... -
![Desert Dreams by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Desert Dreams by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen danger stalks their new home, it’s only their strength as a couple that keeps them safe.Ryker misses Jacob every day he’s away. At the start of a new Raptors season with everything to play for, Jacob, the desert ranch, and their small menagerie of animals have become an oasis of peace in a turbulent world... -
![Rules of Engagement by Brigham Vaughn]()
Rules of Engagement by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRule #1: Don't fall in love with your best friend's brotherAfter Anders Lindholm lost his wife and baby daughter in a car accident, he knew he’d never find love like that again.Hockey, routines, and his team are all that have kept him going since.But as he approaches forty, an injury makes him consider what life after retirement will be like... -
![Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins]()
Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis fall, I have one simple rule: don't fall in love with my fake boyfriend.I’m awful at following the rules.One minute I was a nobody in a small Colorado town, getting by on contract work, home renovations, and a dumpster fire of a dating life—and then suddenly, my life was on TV... -
![Gravity: Written in the Stars Book 2 by Mia Monroe]()
Gravity: Written in the Stars Book 2 by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe was only meant to be a hookup. Until he became my coworker.Only I could ruin the hottest potential hookup ever. One look at the gorgeous ginger, and I was done for. I summoned every bit of courage I had, then panicked. As is my way. I managed to put it behind me until he became my new coworker. Now, every day is a reminder of my insecurities and what might have been... -
![Winning the Season by Beth Bolden]()
Winning the Season by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCoach Asa Dawson has fallen wildly in love only twice in his life.First with football.Then with Scott Callaway.But Scott isn’t just the one who got away.He’s the one person—the one man—Asa hoped might finally show him how all-consuming passion could be.Instead, fate (and football) intervened and they never got the chance to explore their attraction... -
![The Game by Anna Bloom]()
The Game by Anna Bloom
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen Alyssa Rivers accepts the coveted trainer's position with England’s top cricket team, The Red Cats, she knows it's going to be nothing short of hard work. A woman in a man’s world, Lyssa not only has to prove she is the right person for the job, but she must earn the respect of cricket’s most elite players, including the surly team captain, Jase Willis... -
![Catcher Interference by Haven Hadley]()
Catcher Interference by Haven Hadley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMarcus Warnes. The catcher at the top of his game.A knack for smack talking, a master play caller, and the quickest pop time in the league. The world saw the team playboy when all he wanted was to settle down with someone. To find the one. Marcus longed for holidays at home and a family to spend them with. His time in the spotlight didn’t make it easy to find... -
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![Playboy Playmaker by Maren Moore]()
Playboy Playmaker by Maren Moore
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI had the best sex of my life with a man whose name I didn’t even know.No names, no strings, and…. no panties.Long story. Don’t ask.So imagine my surprise when I walk into my dad’s office a week later and see none other than the man who has my panties, but not my name.Turns out, he’s the Avalanche’s hotshot goalie, twelve years older and my father is his coach...Categorized as:
sports age-gap forbidden-love friends-to-lovers romance forced-proximity contemporary fiction -
![Easy by Kiki Clark]()
Easy by Kiki Clark
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWho knew a chipped tooth could lead to love?Simon is ready for the real deal when it comes to relationships—unfortunately, his libido hasn’t gotten the message. After string of disastrous hookups, he finds himself frustrated, annoyed, and missing part of a tooth.Enter Dr. Jackson Allbrook.Simon is pretty sure dentists aren’t supposed to be as good-looking as Jackson is... -
![Trade Deadline by Jodi Oliver]()
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... -
![Stitch Me by K.C. Carmine]()
Stitch Me by K.C. Carmine
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen a bad-boy immigrant wants to explore his kinky side, Rod is willing to give him much more than his firm hand.His career a mess and his sex life a string of meaningless hookups, Rod is ready for a change. He needs someone who can fit into his world as a true partner, but also feed his dominant and sadistic sides. Impossible? Maybe, but he needs to try... -
![A Daddy In Cameron by Sammi Cee]()
A Daddy In Cameron by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIndie’s determined to navigate this world alone, but he’s never come up against a determined Daddy before. Normally, everyone likes Cameron. As the General Manager of The Tap Tavern, he’s protective, empathetic, and considerate of his employees and their needs. Especially those who’ve come in through the Takoda Career Center. Indie knows betrayal. He’s lived with the consequences and survived... -
![Dirty Daddies Pride 2023 by Siobhan Smile, Maggie Ryan]()
Dirty Daddies Pride 2023 by Siobhan Smile, Maggie Ryan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThese Daddies take Pride in being dirtier than ever. Love has no limits or restrictions in this collection of stories from some of the hottest authors in the Daddy genre.No matter how these Daddies or their little ones identify, they'll find their happily ever afters inside these pages... -
![Lovely Allergen by Zhichu, 稚楚]()
Lovely Allergen by Zhichu, 稚楚
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSong Yu has three requirements for Yue Zhishi:– You cannot call me gege in public.– We won’t do anything together in public.– You cannot let other people know you live with me.Yue Zhishi has always been obediently following these rules. They were practically strangers at school. At the opening ceremony, he suddenly collapsed due to an allergy-related asthma attack, sending everything into chaos... -
![Neutral Zone by Catherine Gayle]()
Neutral Zone by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novella in the emotional Portland Storm hockey romance series. Being stuck in the Neutral Zone is no way to live… Portland Storm defenseman Cole Paxton never intended to be the poster boy for gay hockey players... -
![Love & Other Inconveniences by Catherine Cloud]()
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... -
![Baby Makes Three by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Baby Makes Three by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen baby makes three, Christmas will never be the same for Ten and Jared.There's not much that Tennant Rowe hasn't accomplished, and all before reaching thirty. Hoisting the Cup, marrying the man of his dreams, and becoming a spokesman for LGBTQ2+ athletes' rights have filled his world with great joy... -
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![Exploring Daddy by Mia Monroe]()
Exploring Daddy by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’ve never had a Daddy. Can he teach me how to be the perfect boy?I have three problems.No jobNo direction No clue what I’m doing next.Following my best friend to LA is the only thing that makes sense. I’ll start a new life, figure out a career, and learn how to be an adult. Meeting Matteo is intimidating but exciting. I know he wants a boy. I also know I’m far from what he’s looking for... -
![Back to Center by Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood]()
Back to Center by Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEckieThere are ways to get ahead in college hockey, but having a meltdown, trying to get rid of your coach, and stalking his boyfriend isn’t one of them... -
![Concussion Protocol: A Short & Spicy MM Romance by Rebecca Rathe]()
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... -
![Resonance by Neve Wilder]()
Resonance by Neve Wilder
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI gave the rumor mill fodder for a lifetime the day I walked away from a lucrative music career without explanation. People can talk all they like; my record stores are my lifeblood now, and I’m devoted solely to keeping them afloat in the digital age. There’s just one little thing distracting me: an earth-dwelling sunbeam named Owen Harper. I don’t know what I was thinking when I hired him... -
![Traded by Carly Marie]()
Traded by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDangerous is moving the new trade in when you have secrets to hide Trevor Cane’s built a name for himself in the NHL. At 5’4” he’s one of the shortest players to ever play professional hockey. He also has a secret. A secret that he’s kept from everyone. But a surprise phone call from a friend leaves Trevor risking it all... -
![Risking the Shot by Amy Aislin]()
Risking the Shot by Amy Aislin
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTime for distractions? Hardly. A chance at making the playoffs? It’s a dream for NHL forward Taylor Cunningham that just might come true. If he can keep his eyes on the ball—ahem, puck. And study for midterms. Dakota Cotton, eleven years his senior, isn’t just a distraction, though—he’s everything Tay’s ever wanted... -
![Two Best Men, Only One Bed! by Romeo Alexander]()
Two Best Men, Only One Bed! by Romeo Alexander
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBlake: Planning my twin brother’s wedding seemed like a feat on its own. But I’m the only family he’s got left, and really, I couldn’t be happier for him. Turns out, planning a wedding isn’t so hard, especially when the other best man is such a big help. Of course, I wasn’t expecting to have to share a bed with the man or to discover he’s a cuddler and a little handsy... -
![A Pancakes Kind of Morning by M.A. Innes]()
A Pancakes Kind of Morning by M.A. Innes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSometimes losing your job is the best thing that can happen.When Elliot’s left without a job or a plan for what should come next, he thinks the universe might be trying to tell him something. Luckily, his best friend’s father is right there with advice and whipped cream-topped pancakes to make everything better... -
![Assisted by Carly Marie]()
Assisted by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFoolish is judging a book by its cover… or a hockey coach by his suitAs 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. And of course, he’s drawn to the extra-anxious director who exudes the need for a Daddy not a boy... -
![Turn Me On by Lauren Blakely]()
Turn Me On by Lauren Blakely
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe first rule of being an attorney is don’t sleep with your clients. The second rule is–see the first rule.Those guidelines don’t account for a man like Zane Archer though. The major leaguer is all confidence and big D energy as he swaggers into my life one night at a hotel bar, determined to spend the night with “the sexy suit,” as he calls me... -
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![Playing at Home by Jax Calder]()
Playing at Home by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFalling for your kids' nanny? Never a good idea.Jacob Browne comes from rugby royalty but try as he might, he’s never been the same heroic idol his father was on the rugby field. And now he’s failed off the field with the breakdown of his relationship to New Zealand’s favorite ‘It Girl’ Matilda Neilson... -
![The Waiting Game by Brigham Vaughn]()
The Waiting Game by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFans Have Mixed Reactions to Engagement of Fisher Cats’ Hale and BrewerOn the eve of their first playoff game this post-season, the Toronto Fisher Cats organization sent out a press release announcing the engagement of their top d-pair.The release insinuates the childhood friends may have been involved as far back as college and makes it clear the front office supports the relationship... -
![Una maldita confusión by América Rodas]()
Una maldita confusión by América Rodas
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJean intenta confesar su atracción hacia Olivia en una fiesta, pero por culpa del alcohol termina declarándose a su mejor amigo, Oliver. ***Cuando invitaron a Jean a la fiesta de una desconocida sabía que debía decir que sí, sobre todo porque necesitaba liberar el estrés de la escuela, de su casa, de su equipo de básquetbol y de él mismo... -
![What He Learns by E.M. Denning]()
What He Learns by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA new dominantA jaded submissiveWhat could possibly go right?Sterling's plan is simple. Learn how to be dominant, woo his crush. The only problem is he doesn't know how to do either of those things. Getting a job at the local kink club seems like a good place to start. Meeting a kind and older submissive on his first night on the job throws a wrench into his plans... -
![Enforce by Charity Parkerson]()
Enforce by Charity Parkerson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThey were supposed to be a one-night stand, and then a weekend fling… a just-for-this-season affair… soulmates. When Chip met Jai during All-Stars weekend, their hookup should’ve ended there. At the time, it was no big deal. As the assistant coach for the Phoenix Ice Rays, Chip can’t be in a relationship with a player from his team. Lucky for him, Jai plays for the Red Zones... -
![Rough Contact by Beth Bolden]()
Rough Contact by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTheir romance is forbidden. Their love is a secret. Neal Fisher knows heartbreak. It's the clock ticking down in the Super Bowl. It's missing the most important field goal of his life. It's losing everything: his thirteen year career as an NFL kicker, his future, and his pride.Jamie Wright knows love. It's everything on the line as the crowd holds their breath... -
![Spiced Kisses by Charlie Novak]()
Spiced Kisses by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne broken collarbone, two stubborn men, three interfering chefs, four weeks to go, five chewed garlands, and The Pear Tree covered in snow…Ben’s Christmas Plans:1. Finish the staff schedules, get the orders done, and make sure the next month runs smoothly because December is hell.2. Break collarbone at rugby.3. Scrap all plans. Drag Ianto in to help.4... -
![Changing the Rules by Brigham Vaughn]()
Changing the Rules by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRule #1: Don’t fall in love with the coach.Gabriel Theriault’s been skating on thin ice for the past two seasons with Toronto but his arrest following an off-ice fight is the final straw.His only shot at redemption is to start over in Evanston and prove that he still has what it takes to be a pro player.No more fights. No more drinking. No more random hookups. Rule #2: The team always comes first... -
![No Wrong Moves by Becca Seymour]()
No Wrong Moves by Becca Seymour
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPining for your best friend sucks ass—and not the good kind of sucking. But I can’t back away, and I definitely can’t let go. Eddie Phelps is too damn important to me. He has my heart and soul. Well, he and his daughter, a ten-year-old who one day will run the world.It’s not like I can even blame Eddie for mixed signals or anything. He’s done everything right. He always does... -
![Down in Flames by Parker St. John]()
Down in Flames by Parker St. John
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOld enough to know better. Straight enough to know better. But this rugged cowboy can’t rein it in around his innocent young ranch hand…Michael Whittaker survived two military tours and more tragedy than any man could bear, but it was his wife’s death that broke him. The rugged widower has sworn off relationships. Celibacy might make him cranky, but it keeps everyone safe... -
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![Flipping the Switch by Brigham Vaughn]()
Flipping the Switch by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA silver fox Dom, a sweet sub, and a feisty switch: could three be the perfect number?Logan Shaw is a divorced dominant with a bag full of toys and no one to play with. He loves the construction company he built from the ground up, but he’s been longing for a submissive to make his life complete... -
![Part-Time Daddy by B. Harmony]()
Part-Time Daddy by B. Harmony
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsExhausted, overworked, underpaid, and for damn sure underappreciated.Struggling to find a balance between the career I’ve always wanted and the desire to have someone to take care of me, I agree to join an exclusive event at The Garden.A couple of hours to let go with Dean Nash, the Daddy of my dreams, then it’s back to the grind.As head of security at The Garden, I’m content with my single life... -
![Accidentally August by E.M. Denning]()
Accidentally August by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAugustI’m not supposed to have a crush on Crispin Tate. He’s my brother’s best friend, and he’s also gorgeous and perfect in every way... except for his horrible taste in men. And the fact he’s ten years too old for me. Falling for Crispin at sixteen was a surefire way to break my own heart, but I convinced myself one day I’ll get over my unrequited crush. Only, I don’t... -
![Suddenly, Last Summer by Michael Robert]()
Suddenly, Last Summer by Michael Robert
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTREY BARNESI professed my love for Jordy when I was seventeen. He was leaving for his last year of medical school after working another summer at my family’s Banks Lake resort in the Pacific Northwest... -
![A Daddy for Christmas: Hermie by Della Cain]()
A Daddy for Christmas: Hermie by Della Cain
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBeing a little without a daddy is fine.Really it is.It’s not like I need a daddy. Sure it’s fun to get cuddles and to be treated like I’m special and to give all my worries to someone else for a bit, but that’s not the same as needing a daddy... -
![Touch & Go by Brigham Vaughn]()
Touch & Go by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA cocky minor league pitcher and a laid-back physical therapist … a dream team or a disaster? Micah Warner is an asshole. Everyone knows it, hell, he knows it, but he’s focused on getting to the big leagues and earning the kind of paychecks that’ll help him take care of his struggling family. He can’t afford to get outed.Justin Lamb is a romantic...
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