Books like 'Play Hardest'

Readers who enjoyed Play Hardest by J.T. Fox also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.

contemporary  romance  mystery  mlm  sports  lgbtq  athlete  friends-to-lovers  steamy  suspense 

  • Far from Bliss by Lexi Blake, Sophie Oak

    Far from Bliss by Lexi Blake, Sophie Oak

    Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Shattered by the pastMichael Novak was a US Marshal with his whole life figured out. Right up until the woman he called partner betrayed him. He’s been hiding in Bliss, CO, trying to pull himself out of the darkness. The only bright light is Lucy Carson. Something about Trio’s favorite waitress calls to him, but he can’t trust his instincts anymore...
  • Beautifully Loyal by Nicole Edwards

    Beautifully Loyal by Nicole Edwards

    Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars
    · 12 ratings
    Sometimes love isn’t enough… Sometimes you’re required to be beautifully loyal. If you think you know her… You’re wrong. If you think you know her family… Wrong again. If you think you know her story… You don’t. Ashlynn Adorite is no stranger to the cruel and unusual world she was born into. In fact, she accepts it, understands it, embraces it...
  • Tied Over by Mary Calmes

    Tied Over by Mary Calmes

    Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars
    · 12 ratings
    Josiah Redeker has been tied up, tied down, and just plain tied to Bodhi Callahan since the younger marshal was paired with him five years ago. It was an easy slide from partners to best friends, and though Bodhi wanted more, Josiah thought Bodhi could do far better than him...
  • A True Fit by Michele Notaro

    A True Fit by Michele Notaro

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Trent~ 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...
    Categorized as:
    friends-to-lovers  lgbtq  mlm  steamy  suspense  adult  angst  book
  • The Return by Tiffany Reisz

    The Return by Tiffany Reisz

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Former lieutenant Kingsley Boissonneault returns to The Chateau in this sequel novella to Tiffany Reisz’s bestselling romantic suspense novel.The cult’s holy book is Story of O, the infamous French novel of extreme sado-masochism. Their château is a looking-glass world where women reign and men are their willing slaves...
    Categorized as:
    steamy  mlm  lgbtq  suspense  romance  contemporary  fiction  bdsm
  • Puzzle by Nora Phoenix

    Puzzle by Nora Phoenix

    Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Branson loves his job as an analyst for the CIA. Working on the investigation into the assassination of the president is fascinating, and even more so when Ryder, a geeky forensic accountant without a filter, joins the team.But Ryder doesn’t seem to like Branson. At all. And when he explains to Branson why, Branson is forced to face an uncomfortable truth in the mirror Ryder holds up...
    Categorized as:
    friends-to-lovers  lgbtq  mlm  steamy  suspense  adult  audiobook  book
  • Siren in Waiting by Sophie Oak, Lexi Blake

    Siren in Waiting by Sophie Oak, Lexi Blake

    Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    Re-released in a second edition with new content. Bethany “Mouse” Hobbes spent her entire life waiting, especially for the love of Bo O’Malley. But for the first time in her life, she is ready to start living, with or without him. She has found her dream, restoring a rustic farmhouse on the outskirts of town...
  • Bending the Rules by Mariah Dietz

    Bending the Rules by Mariah Dietz

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 16 ratings
    It started with a crush.The best stories always do.Our story sounds predictable.Short-lived.Destined for failure.Lincoln Beckett is the star wide receiver of Brighton University—smart, funny, and like many would guess,heartbreak shines in his dark brown eyes and is etched across his steel jaw.He's popular, a guaranteed draft pick, and worst of all:My brother's best friend...
  • Jem and Tean: Guys Gone Wild by Gregory Ashe

    Jem and Tean: Guys Gone Wild by Gregory Ashe

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Jem and Tean: Guys Gone Wild is a collection of short stories. It includes the following:“First Dates”A prequel to The Lamb and the Lion books, this short story shows Jem and Tean as they are set up on blind dates—with disastrous results.“Cheap Seats”Jem and Tean go to the movies. Jem insists it’s an epic bromance date. Tean insists they’re just casual acquaintances...
  • Snowed In: Hunter's Story by Adira August

    Snowed In: Hunter's Story by Adira August

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Trapped by the blizzard outside... HunterDane & Camden Snow contend with the storm raging inside. In the pre-dawn darkness, Hunt moaned and thrashed under the comforter. Finally, the nightmare receded. He settled, breathed deeply several times, and opened his eyes."You okay?" Cam asked.“Sure," Hunter smiled, half-awake, not remembering. "I'm here with you. Safe inside the storm. Away from .
    Categorized as:
    lgbtq  mlm  sports  steamy  suspense  abuse  adult  age-gap
  • Rebel by Reese Knightley

    Rebel by Reese Knightley

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    One man on a journey of redemption and the other out to prove himself.Cohen “Ace” Gray – Pegasus Commander.He’d buried one lover; he wasn’t going to take the chance of that ever happening again. Ace had his own demons to work on, but working closely with Jacob and having his friendship— despite their twenty-year age difference—had made life a bit easier...
  • Stryke First by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

    Stryke First by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

    Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    This book is part of a series. It contains homosexual relations, violence and coarse language. It is preceded by Falcon's Fox. Rebel Stryker has had to fight to survive from the moment he was born to a heroin-addicted mother. Raised by his grandparents, his only mission in life was to succeed where his mother had failed...
    Categorized as:
    friends-to-lovers  lgbtq  mlm  suspense  abuse  adult  angst  book
  • Dear Cassius by Alice Winters

    Dear Cassius by Alice Winters

    Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Dear Cassius,Do you feel me watching you? When Cassius starts his junior year of college, he has no idea how different it will be. The only thing he’s worried about is getting through college and his unrequited love for his best friend.Initially, Cassius thinks nothing of the picture with a strange note slipped under the windshield wiper of his car, but it ends up changing his entire life...
  • Dax by Silvia Violet

    Dax by Silvia Violet

    Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Travis is my friend's little brother.I'm supposed to keep him safe. To be a man he can trust. But I haven't seen him in years.When he turns up hurt and needing a place to stay, protection is only one of the things I want to offer him.Because Travis isn’t a kid anymore. He’s all grown up now. And the way he looks at me tells me he feels the heat rising between us...
  • Presidential Chaos by Saxon James

    Presidential Chaos by Saxon James

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 18 ratings
    Two houses. Two Presidents. One hell of a happy ending. Zeke Being President of a frat house means everything is on my shoulders.Idiot brothers, epic pranks, a list of organizational duties long enough to make my eyes bleed.None of it fazes me.But senior year is almost over, and I’m ready to take a step back.Until the hazing rumors start...
  • The Progress of Sherlock Holmes by Ivy Blossom

    The Progress of Sherlock Holmes by Ivy Blossom

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Author's summary: Sherlock is head over heels for John, but you wouldn't know it by looking at him. First-person present-tense series of short scenes from Sherlock's point of view, borrowing heavily from Arthur Conan Doyle's stories...
    Categorized as:
    friends-to-lovers  lgbtq  mlm  steamy  adult  angst  book  contemporary
  • Heart Beats by Davidson King

    Heart Beats by Davidson King

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Every night Ledger stands on the stage of Joker’s Sin, the most popular gay nightclub in Haven Hart, mixing music. Many of the people who come through the doors want his attention, but lately he’s only had eyes for the red-headed bartender, Shane. When Ledger is invited to be on a panel at DJ Con, he asks for support from his friends at Joker’s Sin. To his surprise, Shane shows up...
  • Their Reason by Jessie G, Andrew Reyna

    Their Reason by Jessie G, Andrew Reyna

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    You are cordially invited to the wedding of Jon Connor and Ian Jones! When I think about my guys and who I think marriage would mean the most to, I always think about Red. Growing up in foster care and spending his first twenty-five years just trying to survive, the concept of family is a dream he never thought would become a reality...
  • A Thief in the Night by K. Sterling

    A Thief in the Night by K. Sterling

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Long ago, Romance was ruled by rakes. The time of the ton came to an end and rakes gave way to new, more modern heroes. What if there were still some rakes left in the world? What if they were every bit as devastating and irresistible as the rakes we’ve loved and longed for but modern? K. Sterling believes there are still some rakes out there and their time has come. The rakes have returned...
    Categorized as:
    lgbtq  mlm  steamy  suspense  adult  age-gap  book  contemporary
  • Smoking Gunn by Tatum West

    Smoking Gunn by Tatum West

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Jamie:I only have two rules: I don’t tangle with anyone who wants a relationship. And I’m the one who decides when it’s over.The guys I see are quick and dirty—that’s what I want. I keep my head down and my heart to myself. The only person who sees the real me is my daughter, and I need it to stay that way.My life is small, and the guys at my new job hate me—and they’ve got plenty of good reasons...
    Categorized as:
    mlm  lgbtq  suspense  contemporary  fiction  crime  mystery  small-town
  • Let Me Remind You by Gianni Holmes

    Let Me Remind You by Gianni Holmes

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    What happens when a man you can't remember has more memories of you than you have of yourself?Clay's football career is brought to a halt after losing his memory in an accident. When he moves back to San Diego, he hopes familiar surroundings will bring back his memory. He doesn’t expect to be slapped in the street by the most interesting guy he's never met before...
  • The Fairest Show by Gregory Ashe

    The Fairest Show by Gregory Ashe

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    A murdered coach. His missing daughter. A sadistic killer.After a summer apart, Theo and Auggie reunite at the beginning of another school year, determined to make a relationship work in spite of their age difference—and other obstacles...
  • The Rogue by Jennifer Bernard

    The Rogue by Jennifer Bernard

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Griffin Rockwell has returned to Rocky Peak Lodge with a secret. Not even his family knows why he left his beloved sport of motocross at the top of his game. Locals still consider him a hero, but these days the best he can do is play bodyguard to the fascinating new employee at his brother’s pub. As for their intense attraction, he can handle that. Right? Serena Riggs has a secret of her own...
  • The Wrath of Leander Welles by Ashlyn Drewek

    The Wrath of Leander Welles by Ashlyn Drewek

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Wrath — strong vengeful anger or indignation; retributory punishment for an offense or a crime. They say love makes you do crazy things. In Bennett Reeve’s case that is the understatement of a century. Reunited with the love of his life, he will stop at nothing to ensure all of Leander’s dreams come true. There’s just one little problem — Dr. Lorelei Clayton...
  • Breaking News by Susan Hawke

    Breaking News by Susan Hawke

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Neil is supposed to report the news… not star in a featured story.It’s Neil and Brody’s second anniversary and they should be celebrating or doing something amazing, right? Except, Neil’s been too distracted to organize anything. Luckily, his “Daddy” already has a plan.A plan involving a sparkly platinum band and a promise of forever...
    Categorized as:
    mlm  lgbtq  steamy  suspense  romance  contemporary  humor  bodyguard
  • Homo Action Love Story! A tall tale by Ben Monopoli

    Homo Action Love Story! A tall tale by Ben Monopoli

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Boots McHenry and his boyfriend Ryan are young superstars in the North American Paintball League, a high-stakes sport where losers face exile -- five full years of it, on an island so secret no one can be sure it even exists. After Ryan has a tragic collision with an opposing team's paintball, the rules of the game force the boyfriends apart...
  • Picking Up the Pieces by Annabella Michaels

    Picking Up the Pieces by Annabella Michaels

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Two Shattered Hearts Brody Murphy feels as if he’s lost everything when his best friend and partner, Paul, dies in the line of duty. Partners on the force for years, Paul Donovan was all Brody had. Paul accepted Brody as he was—standoffish from a childhood in the foster system, bisexual in a police force that wasn’t entirely welcoming, Brody is now adrift...
  • Dangerous Love by E.B. Walters, Ednah Walters

    Dangerous Love by E.B. Walters, Ednah Walters

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    She has her emotions on a tight leash... Born to a Las Vegas showgirl, fashion designer Faith Fitzgerald's childhood was not easy, until her father found her and whisked her off to L.A. to join his wealthy family. The rejection by some of her family members hurt, but Faith has moved on. Or so she thinks...
  • A Wicked Kiss: An Erotic Thriller by M. S. Parker

    A Wicked Kiss: An Erotic Thriller by M. S. Parker

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    A Wicked Kiss is the second installment in the Wicked series. You should read "A Wicked Lie" before reading this There were three men in this world I thought I could trust and two of them had just betrayed me. Everything I'd thought I'd known about my life, about the people I loved, all of it was gone. I found myself staring at a pack of lies with no idea just how deep they went...
  • Finally by Annabella Michaels

    Finally by Annabella Michaels

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Between his time in the Marines and the years he’s spent working at Hamilton Security, there’s not much that takes Greg Wright by surprise anymore. That is until he gets assigned to guard a promising new candidate in the upcoming election; a man from Greg’s past and the one person he’d hoped to never see again. Christopher Brooks has made a name for himself as an honest, hardworking, and fair man...
  • Hidden Devotion by Lila Dubois, Mari Carr

    Hidden Devotion by Lila Dubois, Mari Carr

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Juliette Adams has spent her life running...from her father, from her arranged marriage, from her Trinity Masters legacy. Until the day everything changed and she became Grand Master--a position she was never meant to hold.  Devon Asher has more than a few secrets, the least of which is his desperate love for Juliette, which shouldn't be a problem since they were betrothed as children...
    Categorized as:
    mlm  steamy  suspense  adult  book  contemporary  fiction  mystery
  • Blindfold Fantasy by D.L. Roan

    Blindfold Fantasy by D.L. Roan

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    What happens when fantasy becomes reality? A gigolo? To celebrate landing the job of her dreams, architect Jayne Simon’s best friend hired a golden-tanned, tattooed sex god to fulfill her blindfold fantasy...
  • What Lies Between Us by Felice Stevens

    What Lies Between Us by Felice Stevens

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Now that he’s living with Sam Stein, Zach Cohen is finally ready to move on from his unhappy past. His days are filled with wedding preparations, yet he still finds time to make plans and decisions without consulting Sam and his mother, firmly believing he knows best. Sam is ready to settle in for the perfect life with Zach but years of bad habits have come back to haunt him...
    Categorized as:
    lgbtq  mlm  steamy  adult  age-gap  book  contemporary  fiction
  • The Exposé 3 by Roxy Sloane

    The Exposé 3 by Roxy Sloane

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    My secret is out — and the stakes are higher than ever. One night with Dax Ryan and my cover is blown, but I can’t walk away. It’s not just the incredible, filthy things he does to my body; I’ve betrayed his trust, and I need to make it right. But each new question only gets me in deeper. And every sexy encounter with Dax makes me want him even more. This is dangerous. Thrilling...
    Categorized as:
    sports  steamy  suspense  adult  book  contemporary  fiction  mystery
  • One Lucky Bride by Krista Wolf

    One Lucky Bride by Krista Wolf

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    One ripped, gorgeous groom. Two sizzling hot best men. Addison is about to embark upon one legendary honeymoon...When a pre-wedding fantasy becomes reality the very night before her nuptials, Addison is hotly shared by groom and best man alike. Their sizzling romp invokes such a secret, insatiable hunger, that before they know it everyone is ravenous for more...
  • Snowed by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Snowed by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    A second chance at love is all Kyle wants for Christmas, but a dark menace from his past wants him dead, and love is second to staying alive.Kyle Lourenco has carved out a comfortable life and career for himself in Boston. With the holidays quickly approaching, he’s heading home for the first time in several years. Home to his loving parents and the small Canadian town where he was raised...
  • Any Means Necessary: Book 7 of the Fated Hearts Series by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Any Means Necessary: Book 7 of the Fated Hearts Series by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 12 ratings
    Mitchell Heston… I wasn’t proud of the man I’d become – selfish, spoiled, and cynical. Mark Bradley’s reappearance in my life made me want to be a better man. It had been more than two decades since we’d last seen each other and neither of us resembled the kids we used to be...
  • Cask Strength by Layla Reyne

    Cask Strength by Layla Reyne

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    Professionally, the FBI team of Aidan "Irish" Talley and Jameson "Whiskey" Walker is as good as it gets, closing cases faster than any team at the Bureau. Personally, it’s a different story. Aidan’s feelings for Jamie scare the hell out of him: he won’t risk losing another love no matter how heart-tripping the intimacy between them...
  • Talk Dirty to Me by Jessie G.

    Talk Dirty to Me by Jessie G.

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    As a secret agent for the DEA, Snake’s gone deep into Devils Pride MC with the hope of bringing down the head of Miami’s lucrative drug trade and finds himself saddled with the club’s volatile and secretive SA instead. Unfortunately, after years as partners doing shit neither of them wanted to do for reasons neither of them felt comfortable sharing, Snake considers Trick his best friend...
    Categorized as:
    friends-to-lovers  lgbtq  mlm  steamy  suspense  adult  biker  book
  • Changes Going On by Kaje Harper

    Changes Going On by Kaje Harper

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Three men, one summer of media, mentorship, and murder.There's a reason Scott Edison came out as gay and poly on national TV— now no one can try to push him back into the closet. But as his men and his hockey team deal with the fallout from fans and paparazzi, moving forward isn't as easy as he'd hoped...
    Categorized as:
    athlete  lgbtq  mlm  sports  steamy  suspense  action-adventure  adult
  • Hold Close: a second chance/reverse age play/daddy gay romance by Sue Brown

    Hold Close: a second chance/reverse age play/daddy gay romance by Sue Brown

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    A second chance/reverse age play/daddy gay romance “You walked away from me once. I won’t let you do it a second time.” The moment Craig heard Louis begging for his help, he knew he would protect his former boy, no matter how much time they’d been apart. Louis’s life was in danger. He didn’t know who or why. But was only one person he could trust to have his back...
  • Oceans Apart by Laura Harner

    Oceans Apart by Laura Harner

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    It’s been two years since Lord Jamie Mainwaring and Detective Remy Remington worked and loved their way through their one and only case before going their separate ways. Now Jamie is once again mixing agency business with pleasure as he and his partner, Agent Ryan Whiteside, are assigned to a case involving piracy in the Caribbean...
  • Officer in Pursuit by Ranae Rose

    Officer in Pursuit by Ranae Rose

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Secrets are what Kerry has lived and breathed for the past three years, and those secrets may kill her, if she's not careful. Her new life in a coastal North Carolina paradise is haunted by her past and ruled by her number one goal: to not be noticed. Even if that means denying her attraction to Officer Grey Morgan, who's set his sights on her beyond any doubts and despite all odds...
  • Safety In Numbers by Jessie G., Andrew Reyna

    Safety In Numbers by Jessie G., Andrew Reyna

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    “Bro’s stick together no matter what.” When Chris and Liam made that promise, they had no idea how important it would become or how it would be tested in the most brutal way. Nine years later, their bond cemented in blood, that relationship is all they have to hold onto. Or is it? “No matter what happens, this friendship will be the one constant we can count on...
    Categorized as:
    friends-to-lovers  lgbtq  mlm  steamy  suspense  abuse  adult  angst
  • Make Me Feel by Beth Kery

    Make Me Feel by Beth Kery

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    As their relationship grows more intense, so do Harper’s concerns and Jacob’s secrets, as the next chapter of New York Times bestselling author Beth Kery’s sexy serial novel continues...   Haunted by the prospect of possessing Harper whenever he can, Jacob deepens his risk, indulging in a passionate escape with her at his Sea Cliff mansion...
  • Rough Draft by Mari Carr

    Rough Draft by Mari Carr

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Capture, bondage and fantasies fulfilled. It’s all fun and games until someone gets killed. Bestselling crime novelist Jett Lewis is stumbling over a wicked case of writer’s block, his fast-flowing words having run dry. His publisher’s screaming “deadline”, the fans are ready to riot, and Jett just wants to disappear. His friend Carissa suggests he get away, clear his head…get laid...
  • Resisting Alexandre by Carole Mortimer

    Resisting Alexandre by Carole Mortimer

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5) is the introductory novella to USA Today Bestselling author, Carole Mortimer’s, new Knight Security series. (This novella was previously published as Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5) in Royals and Rogues, a 5 bestselling author anthology...
    Categorized as:
    suspense  mlm  steamy  romance  contemporary  mystery  fiction  urban
  • Deacon's Law by R.J. Scott

    Deacon's Law by R.J. Scott

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    How can you trust the man who tried to kill you? Undercover cop Deacon Shepherd lost everything trying to maintain his cover - the man he loved and the future he craved. He walked away and never looked back because it was the only way to keep Rafael alive. The last thing he needs is to be dragged back in that world, but an attempt on Rafael's life is enough to make him risk his heart again...
  • Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott

    Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    “How long have you been in love with your best friend?” Godric I accepted long ago that I couldn’t have all of the things I wanted in life. Growing up in the way I did, I would be a fool to get my hopes up. But even with that knowledge, I couldn’t resist. I was helpless not to fall into the orbit that was my best friend...
  • Wicked Waters by Becca Steele

    Wicked Waters by Becca Steele

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Becca Steele, comes an all-new standalone M/F academy romance.Roman Cavendish. The bad boy of Hatherley Hall. Once we were friends. Once I thought I meant something more to him. Once I was the person who knew him best.Until I left without an explanation, ruining everything between us...
Fantastic book recommendations by book lovers for book lovers.
Find out more about thebooknaut.com.



Looking for more inspiration? Enter another book title to get more suggestions on what to read next.


Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.