Books like 'The Escalation Clause'
Readers who enjoyed The Escalation Clause by Stella Stevenson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance grumpy-sunshine forced-proximity cheerful-mc realistic steamy found-family grumpy-mc humor
-
The Merger by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCrushes are harmless—unless they involve your best friend’s grumpy, off-limits brother.Gannon Brewer is the epitome of my type. He’s at least ten years older than me, emotionally unavailable, and highly disagreeable—a walking red flag in a tailored suit. But do I listen to that? No...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity found-family steamy romance -
![Starting Over Scottish: A Grumpy Sunshine Holiday Romance by Tricia O'Malley]()
Starting Over Scottish: A Grumpy Sunshine Holiday Romance by Tricia O'Malley
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratings...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity found-family grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy adult book -
![Drink It Up: The Donovans by Cee Bowerman]()
Drink It Up: The Donovans by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsQuinn Donovan is a single dad with too much on his plate. He is surrounded by his wild and crazy family at home and at work while raising two little girls who are the light of his life. When a complete stranger swoops in to help him when he needs it most only to then disappear without a word, it seems he’s lost his chance to get to know her... -
![Hauling Ashe by L.B. Dunbar]()
Hauling Ashe by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLife might be a highway but the last thing this grumpy silver fox expected was a cross-country road trip with a ray of sunshine."My sister is driving to California. She could give you a ride.""What?" Tucker Ashe and I say in unison.Mae FoxSurely, my older sister has lost her mind. There is no way I'm driving her insufferable – albeit sexy silver fox – boss two thousand miles...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor steamy action-adventure adult -
-
![Lucky Baby by Taryn Quinn]()
Lucky Baby by Taryn Quinn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe deal: for Tish to help me get my best friend engaged—done! The terms: payback in any form Tish wishes. Hopefully to include hours of favors of the physical persuasion, no reciprocation needed.The reality: rebuilding her old farmhouse practically from the ground up for her family’s upcoming visit on short notice...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor steamy 21st-century adult -
![Dirty Little Midlife (Fake) Date by Lilian Monroe]()
Dirty Little Midlife (Fake) Date by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSingle mom Mia has a problem. Her new landlord Des just raised her rent, and even in her dreams, Mia wouldn’t be able to afford it.Not that she’d want to dream of Des. Ever.To make matters worse, Des is big, grumpy, and apparently his heart is made of granite. He’s not willing to meet Mia in any sort of middle.Suffice it to say, Mia’s forties aren’t off to a good start.Until... -
![Vow Maker by Lily Morton]()
Vow Maker by Lily Morton
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDylan Mitchell wants to get married.However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit.Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour... -
![Colin by Cora Rose]()
Colin by Cora Rose
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsColinI’ve devoted my life to my son, always putting his needs first, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Becoming a father was the best decision I’ve ever made, but hell, single parenting is difficult. I’m so tired of holding everything together. I need a partner, someone to share my life with. I miss intimacy and passion... -
![Awaken My Heart by Kat Baxter]()
Awaken My Heart by Kat Baxter
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAbraham:I already had my happy ending. Childhood sweethearts, my late wife and I made four beautiful kids together who are now grown and married off themselves. I’m content to be their old dad, tending to my ranch and my tomato plants. Until Emily Carson and her tempting curvy body and her smiles that she hands out like candy, crashes into my life making me want things I have no business wanting...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family forced-proximity romance age-gap insta-love -
![Up the Ladder by Ana D'Arcy]()
Up the Ladder by Ana D'Arcy
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Genevieve sets out to conquer her bedroom insecurities, a captivating and tattooed devil challenges her rule of not getting attached.Genevieve has it all-great job, stunning apartment, perfect boyfriend... When the latter dumps her for being terrible in bed, she sets out to prove him wrong...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy romance contemporary womens-fiction -
![Heartache & Playdates by Shawna Renae]()
Heartache & Playdates by Shawna Renae
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“Love isn’t like milk. It has no expiration date.” ~ Nonna Russo Maddox CruzSingle dad. Tech billionaire. Genius. That is what people saw when they looked at me. Those adjectives might all be true, but inside I was still a kid who grew up in the system and was raised by the streets. Which was why I had no plans to attend my 20 year high school reunion...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy humor contemporary billionaire small-town -
![His Christmas List by T.L. Swan]()
His Christmas List by T.L. Swan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsHis Christmas list....The inaugural first year of Christmas short stories by T L Swan.Every year I will add a new short story to this collection and it will be live to download for 28 days only.Merry Christmas my beautiful readers, thank you so much for giving me a chance and reading my books.You really have made all my wishes come true... -
![Written at Randy's by Katherine McIntyre]()
Written at Randy's by Katherine McIntyre
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsAn adorkable author and an outgoing club kid as roommates only results in one thing—shenanigans! And of course, love.Love beyond the binary, serving up low angst trans romances at Randy's DinerWritten at Randy’s is a low angst M/X roommates to lovers romance between a reclusive trans male author and a life of the party bigender club kid that reads as a standalone... -
![Heartbreak & Cupcakes by Shawna Renae]()
Heartbreak & Cupcakes by Shawna Renae
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAlex VaughnThe last thing I wanted was to be named San Francisco’s Most Eligible Bachelor. The title alone was misleading. I wasn’t a bachelor. I was a widower and single father. One who wasn’t available or interested.Well... there was one person who might have piqued my interest. Cupcake Girl. But interest and intent are two very different things...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy adult book contemporary -
-
![Now's the Time by Harlow James]()
Now's the Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 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... -
![Not As Planned by Harlow James]()
Not As Planned by Harlow James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“So you’re single?” “Are you seriously hitting on me right now while I have breastmilk all over my shirt?”When Grant Thomas, the handsome stranger standing in front of me in line at the coffee shop, stripped his uniform shirt off and handed it to me, I could have sworn I was on an episode of Punked...Categorized as:
found-family grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance contemporary fiction -
![Man Splain by Vanessa Vale]()
Man Splain by Vanessa Vale
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt's literally my job to make sure everything goes to plan. I'm really f-ing good at it. But when the beautiful coffee shop owner refuses a corporate loan to keep her business afloat solely because we had a slightly-drunk quickie, it makes me crazy. Insane. Frustrated. Turned on. Especially when I discover the stubborn woman chooses instead to be a cam girl to pay her bills...Categorized as:
forced-proximity steamy grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance contemporary -
![Under Your Spell by Laura Wood]()
Under Your Spell by Laura Wood
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe only wants three things. He isn't one of them... Dumped by her cheating ex, fired from her dream job, about to lose her flat: Clementine Monroe is not having a good day. So when her sisters get her drunk and suggest reviving a childhood ritual called the breakup spell, she doesn’t see the harm in it...Categorized as:
forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family humor romance contemporary -
![Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce]()
Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMaren and Locke both exist in the same world of professional golf—he's the number one player in the world while she just takes his picture.Never mind that Locke unintentionally leads the press to believe that he and Maren are dating, because when she confronts him, he couldn't care less... -
![Easy Tiger by Ali K. Mulford]()
Easy Tiger by Ali K. Mulford
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s trying to keep his livelihood afloat. She threatens to destroy it. Will two wild hearts finally be tamed?Hawk Lachlan will do anything to save his family’s zoo. With only a year to prove that he and his siblings can handle the responsibility, the gruff eldest brother is determined to fulfill his father’s legacy... -
![The Brazen One by Daisy Jane]()
-
![Dating For December by Lyndsey Gallagher]()
Dating For December by Lyndsey Gallagher
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe's an expert at breakups... but this Christmas, can he master a love that lasts?⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Lyndsey Gallagher is THE QUEEN page turners!"My perpetually single status hardly serves as a shining advertisement for HeartSync, the dating agency I own. Nor is it likely to convince my incredibly successful movie star brother, Nate, to invest in my business...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity humor romance contemporary secrets -
![Naughty or Nice by Sophie Snow]()
Naughty or Nice by Sophie Snow
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRora Stanley hates Christmas.But when her best friend needs a Santa photographer for her family’s toy store, Rora is forced to return to her Christmas-obsessed hometown for the holidays.Henry Whitten loves Christmas.And a few weeks in Wintermore, Wyoming playing Santa is exactly what he needs as he stands at a career crossroads...Categorized as:
forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family humor romance contemporary -
![The Has-Been and the Hot Mess by Isabel Jordan]()
The Has-Been and the Hot Mess by Isabel Jordan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHer job is to resurrect his image. Falling for him is not part of the plan...Kendall Quinn is a PR goddess. Meanwhile, her love life is a complete mess. So, when her latest romantic disaster leaves her jobless and homeless, it's time to take drastic measures. And that means dragging a grumpy, has-been rock star kicking and screaming back into the limelight. The job will be easy...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy romance contemporary friends-to-lovers -
-
![Defensive Hearts by Alley Ciz]()
Defensive Hearts by Alley Ciz
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsChance The day I saw Gemma Steele’s delicious body wearing nothing but a few scraps of lace, I knew being traded was the least of my problems. Her sexy text may not have been meant for me, but that image is not something a warm-blooded man could ever forget—no matter how badly he wants to. I’ve tried to resist her, but I can’t seem to escape Little Miss Suzy Sunshine... -
![Slow Dancing by Noelle N., hepburnettes]()
Slow Dancing by Noelle N., hepburnettes
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings#1.3│Isla Moore is the fake girlfriend of billionaire Kaden Bretton. But Kaden is suffering from temporary blindness and still thinks he's dating his real girlfriend, Evangeline, who's actually buried six-feet underground... -
![Whiskey Sour by Addison Beck]()
Whiskey Sour by Addison Beck
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKnoxWhat do you do when the love of your life chooses someone else?Easy, you find a nice rebound. If it just so happens to be his hot, dumb hunk of a brother, even better.Elton Hill is everything wrong with people. He’s loud, annoying, way too intense, and pushes too hard. But he’s available and our secret friends-with-benefits relationship turns out to be exactly what I need... -
![Anger Banger by S.M. Shade]()
Anger Banger by S.M. Shade
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe residents of Happy Haven Trailer park have been waiting for this for a long time. The slumlord who abandoned this place and let our homes deteriorate has been court ordered to live here while making repairs. Imagine our surprise when the guy who shows up to move in to the dilapidated trailer across the street isn't the sixty year old man we expected, but his son...Categorized as:
humor forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy found-family romance -
![Hard by Donna Alam]()
Hard by Donna Alam
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA man walks into a coffee shop and gets offered a job in the movies. Sounds like the start of a joke, right? Or every man’s fantasy. Until I remember I’m trying to be a good man. A single father. One who doesn’t do casual relationships, Let alone get paid for s*x. But for those curves and that mouth? Any man might be tempted . . . ~*~ It was an honest mistake . . -
![Never Have I Ever: Submitted to My Enemy by Willow Dixon]()
Never Have I Ever: Submitted to My Enemy by Willow Dixon
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHow could I not have realized the guy I’ve been chatting with online is the one person I hate?Kai, the bad boy I broke my rules for. Who stomped all over my heart. Twice. He’s arrogant and annoying, and worse, he doesn’t even remember what he did to me.He’s also my new presentation partner...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity found-family grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine lgbtq steamy adult -
![Taming the Street Racer by Kenzie Myers]()
Taming the Street Racer by Kenzie Myers
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHe tips my head toward his with his index finger, keeping my eyes trained on him and driving me crazy with the primal look on his face.His grey eyes look heavy, filled with dark desire, and a shock runs up through my core. Everything around us disappears and all I can sense is him and the hardness pressing between my legs... -
![Nailed by K.M. Neuhold]()
Nailed by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMy new neighbor is a total tool.He hated me from the second he laid eyes on me, and I don’t have the first clue why… But, if he wants to hate me, I’m happy to give him a few reasons: mowing the lawn at dawn on the weekend, leaving garbage cans in front of his driveway, renting a petting zoo for my backyard...making a list of ways to drive him crazy is half the fun...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity found-family grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor lgbtq steamy -
![Never Kiss the Bad Boy by Lauren Landish]()
Never Kiss the Bad Boy by Lauren Landish
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA full plate? More like an overflowing platter.The last thing I have time for is the bad boy next door.Even if he’s hot, sweaty, muscled, pierced, and makes sexy promises that keep me on edge.Survival Mode is how I live. My ghost kitchen is the place to be for every work crew in the city, and I bust my butt from sunup to sun down, while rubbing every nickel and dime together to scrape by...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy found-family humor romance contemporary -
![Glove Save by Teagan Hunter]()
Glove Save by Teagan Hunter
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI’ve been told I’m the grumpiest goalie in the league, and that may be the case, but who cares when I’m also killing it this season? The Carolina Comets are currently on a record-breaking run, and I intend to keep it that way.This means the last thing I need is distractions, but my mother didn’t get that memo... -
-
![Poetry On Ice by Jesse H. Reign]()
Poetry On Ice by Jesse H. Reign
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI can’t tell if we’re fighting…or flirting?Being traded to the Seattle Vipers has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they’re my team, the team I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid, but on the other hand, he’s here. Him. Ant Decker. Infamous NHL bad boy. Right wing to my left. A man who’s made it his sole purpose in life to be better than me...Categorized as:
lgbtq forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor found-family steamy -
![Yo también no es te quiero by Violeta Reed]()
Yo también no es te quiero by Violeta Reed
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsEscribir romance nunca fue tan complicado.William Anderson es el escritor de fantasía más exitoso de la década, con millones de lectores enganchados a su pluma. Es exigente, ambicioso… y tremendamente atractivo. Y también es un bocazas. Raquel García es una joven española que llegó a Nueva York persiguiendo su sueñ trabajar en una de las editoriales más importantes del país...Categorized as:
forced-proximity steamy humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance enemies-to-lovers -
![Mr. Not Quite Perfect by J.S. Cooper]()
-
![Legend by Isla Olsen, Willow Thomas]()
Legend by Isla Olsen, Willow Thomas
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTomLegend of the Game. That’s me, apparently. I suppose it’s meant to be a compliment, but to me it just sounds like one of those labels people slap on you when you’re on your way out. Legend. Stalwart. Dinosaur. It all sounds the same to me.I’ve been in the Premier League for over twenty years and I’m not ready to leave...Categorized as:
lgbtq grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family forced-proximity steamy humor -
![Needing the Next-Door Neighbor by Kristin Canary]()
Needing the Next-Door Neighbor by Kristin Canary
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy next-door neighbor, Ryan Rosche, is pretty much the perfect guy.He’s a freaking doctor, for one.Humble…Mature (Did I mention he’s eleven years older than me?) …And flat-out gorgeous.If only he wasn’t also … my boss.Look, if I wasn’t the nanny to his nieces, I’d be all. over. that...Categorized as:
found-family forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance contemporary -
![Bar Re’s Redemption by STESLARA]()
Bar Re’s Redemption by STESLARA
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings...Categorized as:
lgbtq grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance young-adult contemporary fiction -
![UnConVentional Kiss by Katherine McIntyre, K.C. Carmine]()
UnConVentional Kiss by Katherine McIntyre, K.C. Carmine
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne Comic-Con. One chance encounter. One kiss that changes everything.BeckI never claimed to be easy to love. My steady stream of ex-girlfriends is proof positive, and my anxiety pretty much confirms I’ll be alone for the rest of my life. No matter who I date, I can’t ever feel completely myself.At least until I met Cay, who’s bright, charming, and captures my attention from the start... -
![The Write Off by K.M. Gillis]()
The Write Off by K.M. Gillis
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThere’s a fine line between love and loathe.Rilla Pine is ready for her main character moment, but first her debut fantasy novel must pass inspection by her uptight editor. Easy on her eyes but hard on her head, he seems determined to dissect her life’s work.Logan Carmichael turns manuscripts into bestsellers...Categorized as:
steamy realistic forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance -
![Love MD by Devon Atwood]()
Love MD by Devon Atwood
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Dr. Brady saw my bra.And then I set him on fire.All in all, the whole debacle had been his fault, and after I got over my embarrassment, I was going to make him pay. "Being a young, semi-talented artist with big dreams is hard enough for June Matthews, but to make matters worse, her boss is a total dick. Dr...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity steamy romance contemporary -
![The Reno by Maggie Grant]()
The Reno by Maggie Grant
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Reno is a grumpy-sunshine romcom for fans of Tessa Bailey and Talia Hibbert, with the quirky characters of Gilmore Girls. Love wasn’t in the plan…When self-proclaimed flop Kat Williams moves miles north to Everly Heath to refurbish her late father’s childhood home, she thinks it will be a quick fixer-upper...Categorized as:
forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family humor romance contemporary -
-
![Her Filthy Grump by Alexia Chase]()
Her Filthy Grump by Alexia Chase
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat happens when Ms. Pollyanna meets Mr. Grumpalicious?LaylaI’m looking for Mr. Right, but instead, I find a man who thinks I’m a nuisance and a do-gooder. So, what if I like to help people? It’s my life. Not his.So why do I want to climb him like a tree every time I'm with him? The man is too gorgeous for his own good.KameronI’m not looking for anyone. I’ve had my fill of women who let me down... -
![Grump and Grumpier by Stephanie Brother]()
Grump and Grumpier by Stephanie Brother
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy job interview started with two scowls and ended with a bang. Yeah … that kind of bang!There’s absolutely no way I can accept the position after the jaw-droppingly amazing and completely unprofessional things I did with the two gorgeous but grouchy men who own the buzz-worthy coffee company, Community Bean... -
![The Gentleman by Dianna Roman]()
The Gentleman by Dianna Roman
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsCameron Fairway has a secret. Before he shares it with the world, he’s determined to build the confidence he wants to live life as a gay man and the experience he’ll need to snag Mr. Right. For that, he requires a mentor—someone experienced. Someone with manners. Someone discreet enough to be able to mix business with pleasure under the watchful eye of his father’s empire—a gentleman... -
![Bad Ideas by Alexa Land]()
Bad Ideas by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDoctor Theo Koenig is the most annoying man I’ve ever met, and hooking up with him was a terrible idea. So, why can’t I stop myself from coming back for seconds? And thirds?Maybe there’s more to this man than meets the eye... -
![Flowers and Financiers by Alina Jacobs]()
Flowers and Financiers by Alina Jacobs
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn my defense, I never claimed to be professional...At least that’s my excuse for why I mistook a billionaire for a waiter, made off-color comments and accidentally dumped a plate of food all over him.Embarrassing myself is a daily occurrence, just like my unpaid bill notices.But being in a wedding instead of planning one is not... -
![The Suit by Lulu Moore]()
The Suit by Lulu Moore
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHave you ever met someone who makes your blood boil simply by existing? Or turn your notorious, ice-cool demeanor volcanic in a nanosecond? Perhaps smother your usual air of indifference with a lightning-charged thundercloud, threatening to strike at any moment?Because that’s what she does.It’s been seven peaceful years since I last saw Beulah Holmes...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity found-family grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor steamy adult
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
