Books like 'Playing for Keeps'
Readers who enjoyed Playing for Keeps by Beth Bolden also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance mlm sports lgbtq age-gap athlete enemies-to-lovers forbidden-love family
-
Iced Out by C.E. Ricci
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsAll's fair in hate and hockey.My path to success never included an enemy as a teammate, especially one as infuriating as Quinton de Haas.Clawing under my skin is his favorite pastime, only feeding the animosity between us as the years pass.We’re as completely opposite as two people can be; the golden boy and the black sheep.Constantly at odds or at each other’s throats... -
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... -
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... -
All In With Him by Lauren Blakely
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOnce upon a time all I needed was baseball, friends and extracurricular activities. Then everything changed when Declan Steele stormed into my life and upended all my priorities with his heart, his love, his passion.So my next five-year plan will include this new ground rule—Love big... -
-
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... -
Breaking the Rules by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRule #1: Don't fall in love with your agent. Trevor Underhill is a bottom D-pair grinder. A pest. The kind of player who makes it possible for the talent to score. Off the ice, he looks out for himself and never trusts anyone but his sister to have his back... -
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... -
Caldwell Brothers: The Complete Series Bundle by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNico is it for me...too bad he’s my brother’s best friend. Friends and brothers are off limits. That’s always been the rule in our house. In a big family it’s the only way to keep the peace. That doesn’t stop my heart from belonging to Nico, my older brother’s best friend... -
-
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... -
Hat Trick by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsStan Lyamin has seen many of his dreams come true. He’s found his soulmate, loves Noah like his own, hoisted the Cup, and has his Mama living with him in his new country. But his fantasies of a loud, loving, madcap home overflowing with childish laughter linger... -
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... -
Home Game by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s pro football’s hottest wide receiver…But for me he’s pure, red-hot trouble.Storm Rosling is cocky. Charming. A bad boy football player who can’t keep his name out of headlines and scandals.In my life, he’s one big red flag.I’m working with Fixer Brothers Construction to take their home renovation TV show to the stratosphere. I’m all business, and I’m damn good at it... -
Blitzed by S.E. Harmon
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNFL tight end Andrew McAdams isn’t thrilled to be sidelined with an injury. He’s even less thrilled about his legal troubles. Community service is the only thing standing between him and jail so...yeah. That’s a no-brainer. It's not all bad news, though. He gets to work with Jesse Fox, who is as gorgeous as he is guarded. And there's no rule saying he can't do his hours and have a little fun... -
-
Goaltender Interference by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe last thing Connor O’Shea needs is more complications … After too much celebrating at his brother’s wedding, Connor wakes up next to cocky Toronto goaltender Jesse Webber—pro hockey’s reigning f*ckboy. With three kids and a failed marriage under his belt, Connor might be ready to admit he’s attracted to men, but that doesn’t mean his life has to change... -
The Freshman Year by Adam Van Dyck
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsHey guys! It’s Tyler here, and this is the newest chapter of my life. Y’all are not going to believe this, but…I just joined the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s Men’s Soccer team! No, seriously, I actually did! I’m officially a Panther now! I did well on my youth soccer team, and I destroyed the opposing team in high school lacrosse, so I should be ready for college soccer, right?I wish... -
Playing by the Rules by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEx-quarterback Davis Abernathy knows he’s on his last chance.If he strikes out as Paxton Kelly’s coach, nobody else is going to call him. Not to get back on the field, and not to stand on the sidelines.He’s got a lot to teach Pax, and as a second-year quarterback, Pax has a lot to learn. But Davis doesn’t anticipate the irresistible way they’ll be drawn together from their first meeting... -
The Red Zone by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSpencer’s deep in the Red Zone and it’s time to even the score. Nine years ago Spencer Evans became the first player out of the closet to be drafted into the NFL. Everyone believed he had aspirations to change the world but all Spencer ever wanted to do was play football for a team that accepted him wholeheartedly... -
Until Now by Kate Hawthorne
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWyatt and Grant still aren't allowed to want each other.In the midst of a divorce he should have seen coming from the start, Wyatt finds himself back in North Edgewood, back at his dad's house, back next door to Grant Harding... -
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... -
C Is for Comfort by Colette Davison
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA single dad, a doctor, and a one-night-stand. Is there room in their lives and hearts for one another? Corey Stress is my middle name. I'm a single dad and a newly qualified teacher, so it’s hard to find time for myself. What I didn't expect from an adult party is a man who allows me to relax fully... -
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... -
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... -
Wanted: Hot Daddy by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHayden thinks he’s unlovable. I think he’s feisty and fun. Hayden knows he isn’t special enough to find love. He’s been through an abundance of men and no one’s stuck. When The Tap Tavern has their first Daddy/boy night, he makes an appearance with low expectations and an even worse attitude. Waylan is a Daddy who’s given up on searching for a boy of his own... -
-
Colby's Lost Binky by Della Cain, Kaytea Kat
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsColby lost his binky and found his new daddy.Once upon a time, I had it all—a daddy who loved me, a nursery filled with all the toys I could ever want, and a job that made a difference. Only my daddy didn’t love me—not really.When I catch him with another man who happens to be my boss, I leave without a second’s thought. I’m worth more than that. So is my rent... -
Save The Date by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEver since he first set foot in Harrisburg, Tennant’s life has been a rollercoaster. Ups and downs too numerous to mention, hard knocks and championship rings. Through all of those monumental moments, one thing has been a constant for him, Jared Madsen. Now that their wedding day is drawing nearer, Ten is seriously considering eloping... -
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... -
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... -
Once Burned by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCameron Doyle is an arson investigator who’s learned he can’t trust anyone. Ignacio Mondelvano is an artist with a secret that could tear them apart. A year ago, shy, quiet Cameron had his trust shattered by a sociopath who used him to gain information on an arson case... -
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... -
Fourth Down by Heidi McLaughlin
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAutumn LaRosa has been playing defense since the moment she met Julius Cunningham. After accepting a position as a meteorologist in Portland, she strives to make a good first impression. Then she meets the arrogant wide receiver who belittles her in front of her new friends. She could have walked off the sting of his bitter words, but he keeps showing up in her social circle... -
Unwritten Rules by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRule #1: Don't fall in love with your family's sworn enemyTaylor Hollis brought home gold at the Olympics, then quit competitive skating at the height of his career.Four years later, he lives a quiet life teaching figuring skating classes and looking for the perfect guy to settle down and build a family with... -
Be My Endgame by Zarah Detand
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSometimes the endgame is only the beginning. In the heated world of the Premier League, Earl Alex Beaufort, a charming Liverpool midfielder, collides on-pitch with Lee Taylor, Manchester United’s top striker. But when England’s World Cup dream brings them to sunny Spain, the real game sharing a room... -
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... -
-
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... -
Legendary Daddy by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI knew he would be my Daddy one day. Now I have to convince him.My vision board has three things on it:Move to LABecome a popular directorMeet my idol and make him fall for meWhat can I say, I’m a dreamer. My chances of making that last one happen were slim to none, until one day, fate shined upon me and I was standing face to face with the man himself, Legend... -
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... -
Straight Dad by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsStraight dads don’t get crushes on 22-year-old star quarterbacks. Right? Kace Tomlin is the nation’s hottest, youngest pro quarterback at age 22, and he’s out and proud. When Kace hired my little construction company to work on his multi-million dollar mansion, it was the quickest hell yes of my life. Usually I’m in Dad Mode, 24/7—boring, predictable, and dependable... -
Heart2Heart Anthology, Volume 7 by Annabeth Albert, Avril Ashton
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOnce upon a time SIX YEARS AGO, the Heart2Heart app made its first batch of incredibly unlikely (but oh-so-perfect) love matches... -
An Unrivaled Off Season by Ashlyn Kane
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAny other year, hockey player Grady Armstrong would be licking his wounds after a disappointing playoffs exit. Somehow, this year, he’s in the stands as his rival-turned-boyfriend Max Lockhart competes for the Stanley Cup… and there’s nowhere he’d rather be. Well, except maybe lifting the Cup himself... -
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... -
Head in the Game by Rebecca Rathe
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsPart of the Groveton College shared world series.Bryant Nicks is the head football coach for the Groveton College Jackals, determined to do anything to push his team toward a championship season. When scouting out new players, Nicks comes across a rookie running back that impresses him both on and off the field. His attraction to his student runs deep, but Nicks knows better... -
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... -
KRANE by Nicole Colville
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPrepare to be ruined for every other man who comes after Krane At the age of thirty-seven, local giant and semi-professional rugby player Krane Buchannan had spent his life hiding behind a tightly locked closet door with a wife as a shield and a gut full of regrets. Coming out may not have been his choice, but ending his marriage was... -
-
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... -
Hair Balls by Tara Lain
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat happens when a blue-collar dude who hides behind his Sasquatch hair gets sheared by a toppy femme in pink lace bikini panties?Contractor, Rick Ronconi can’t admit what he really wants because it’ll lose him his job, his father, his few friends, and maybe even the one thing he really cares about—his sister, Alice... -
Choosing Fate: A Love in Eden Novella by Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsZanderThe quick stopover in the small ranching town of Eden, Wyoming was supposed to be the chance to close the door on a piece of my past. Unfortunately, my temperamental car has other ideas. The thing is, with my tattoos and piercings, a guy like me doesn't exactly fit in a town like Eden.Then I meet her.Sweet, innocent, single mom Jolene who does fit in Eden.At least on the outside... -
Rearranged by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRowan McAllister is an obedient son. He went to the schools his parents wanted. He walked the path they set him on with no complaints. Then he even agreed to marry the son of a long time family friend. When he marries a complete stranger after his bachelor party in Las Vegas, it’s the craziest, yet somehow also the sanest thing he’s ever done... -
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... -
Royal Lines by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThey’re setting fire to the sheets, but a romance between an out and proud hockey star and a closeted playboy prince could end up burning them both.Marquis Miller might be one of the NHL’s best players, single, wealthy, and open about his sexuality, but he knows his future lies in taking over the reins of the family’s multimillion-dollar company after retirement...
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.