Books like 'Protecting the Nerd'
Readers who enjoyed Protecting the Nerd by Nora Phoenix also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance action / adventure small town mlm suspense lgbtq forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn
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Forever Protected by Kathleen Brooks
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsParker Davies, former rodeo star turned U.S. Marshal, wants something he can’t have—Tilly Bradford. He had met the equestrian, fell for her, and then saw her name on a case that came across his desk. Suddenly he had to step back from the one woman he had wanted...Categorized as:
forced-proximity insta-love law-enforcement slow-burn suspense action-adventure adult book -
Playing with Lies by Riley Edwards
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA no-strings kinda guy and a forever kinda woman…what could go wrong?I had a stalker and I knew just who to ask for help—Detective Dalton Neary. My own personal Prince Charming. The problem was, he turned out not to be so charming, at least not in the forever kind of way I was looking for. He was a good-time guy with a sexy smile and a goat game that should be illegal. But not the man for me...Categorized as:
suspense law-enforcement forced-proximity bodyguard romance mystery grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc -
Leo by Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe had no complaints… Great job, great boss, great co-workers. And a best friend he’d known for years.Okay, almost no complaints… The women he dated paled in comparison to his best friend.She had a lot of complaints… A job she hated, a tyrant for a boss, working with people that got on her last nerve. And no time for love. Plus, the guys she dated couldn’t come close to her best friend...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance military mystery action-adventure small-town -
Broken Harbor by Catherine Cowles
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSince the moment our lives fell apart, the only thing that mattered was making a good life for my son. A life where he was happy and safe. I just never expected to find that safety with a hockey player known for his brutal dominance on the ice and his recklessness off it.But Cope Colson is so much more.The gentle way he makes sure we’re okay. The playful care he shows my son...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity found-family slow-burn friends-to-lovers insta-love romance sports -
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NautiCal by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsI didn’t mean to stow away on the yacht, I swear. My first mistake was going home with the jerk at the bar, but in my defense, Prescott said he owned the Worthington—ninety feet of sleek, yachty perfection—and if I could get the chief mate’s job, I’d have an excuse to stay on board and keep avoiding my family and my future...Categorized as:
age-gap fake-relationship forced-proximity insta-love lgbtq mlm slow-burn action-adventure -
King Me by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFalcon: Three years ago I arrived at the scene of an art heist to find Kingston Wilde tied to a radiator, claiming to be an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was only later I learned he was actually, the elusive art thief I’d been tracking for years. And I was the one who’d let him sweet-talk his way out of my grasp... -
Code Name: Outlaw by Janie Crouch, Josie Jade
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMonths trapped in the clutches of a madman made Jenna Franklin a shell of the woman she once was. All she can do now is use her computer genius from inside the safety of closed doors. Even two years later, going outside = blood-freezing panic. She’s made herself a haven in the only place she’s felt safe since her captivity: Oak Creek, Wyoming—home of her Linear Tactical friends...Categorized as:
forced-proximity friends-to-lovers insta-love suspense action-adventure adult alpha-mc book -
Waiting for Sunrise: Baytown Boys Series by Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBaytown Boys Military duty called them away to war zones, but after tours overseas, the group of friends found their way back home as men, seeking the peaceful little seaside town. Now, the band of brothers, together once more, work to provide a place for less fortunate veterans to call home...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers law-enforcement suspense action-adventure adult book contemporary fiction -
Blaze by Lynn Raye Harris
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDead to their pasts. Ghosts. No family ties. No connections. Six men with a top-secret mission move to a small town where they have to navigate local life, protect their secret, and, above all, stay single. Former Hostile Operations Team soldier Blaze "Shadow" Connolly knows what it’s like to lose everything. He’s got nobody except his job and his team and that’s the way he likes it...Categorized as:
suspense found-family forced-proximity age-gap romance military contemporary small-town -
SWAT Ed.: Fox & Bull by A.E. Via
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA fox can set many traps to catch his target—but this one only needs one to catch his.Dominic “Bull” Walker is used to the simpler things in life. Give him his own land to work, a strong horse, and twelve hours of daylight, and he is a contented man. But when someone threatens to take away the successful ranch that took him two years to rebuild, he’ll accept any help he can get to defend it... -
The Hero She Deserves by Anna Hackett
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen he goes to investigate a blaring smoke alarm, the last thing he expects to find is Hollywood’s hottest actress…naked.Deputy Sheriff Sawyer Lane likes the pace of life on Maui. After years as a Navy SEAL and in Ghost Ops, he likes that no one shoots at him. Coming to the island saved him. He still can’t sleep, but he’ll take the sun, sand, and solitude...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity found-family insta-love bodyguard romance contemporary military -
Tyler by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSometimes, the biggest secrets can bring both salvation and destruction.Emerson Charles grew up luckier than most, going from a difficult life to finding safety and a true home with her stepmother and stepbrother. Years later, when Levi's in trouble, Emerson will do anything for the brother of her heart, her greatest protector...Categorized as:
bodyguard age-gap found-family friends-to-lovers suspense forced-proximity romance military -
A Hero's Chance by Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRyan Coates does it all.Single dad with an ex who needs a reminder to spend time with their kids. Chief of the Baytown Station of the Virginia Marine Police. Sergeant at Arms for the local American Legion. Son. Brother. Coach. Friend.What he’s not doing is looking for a woman to add to his already busy life.Then he met her. Again.She’s the new doctor in town. And she remembers Ryan...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers law-enforcement suspense action-adventure adult audiobook book contemporary -
Ranger by Rebecca Sharp
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSydney Ward woke up on the wrong side of life—that’s what it feels like when cancel culture claims another victim... -
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Worth the Risk by Bella Matthews
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratings**Formerly Published As Changing The Game**Not all love stories have happy endings. Some are destined to crash and burn. Growing up, I was the youngest member of my family. Sheltered and protected by my older brother and his friends. Always on the outside looking in. College was supposed to be my chance for a fresh start. My opportunity to figure out who I am and what I want...Categorized as:
suspense age-gap friends-to-lovers found-family slow-burn romance military contemporary -
Until You Can't by Brittney Sahin
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brittney Sahin comes a thrilling new standalone romance.She was the girl next door. His brother’s ex. And the woman he spent a decade pretending to hate . . .After twenty years of service, the Navy told me it’d be too risky to operate again, forcing me to retire as a Navy SEAL... -
Looking for You by Kelly Elliott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe last person I would ever expect to be waiting on the front porch for me in the middle of the night was Everly Higgins. To say I was both surprised and thrilled to see her would be an understatement. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since we met last fall when my sister, Greer, fell in love with Everly’s brother, Hudson...Categorized as:
expert forced-proximity friends-to-lovers law-enforcement slow-burn suspense abuse action-adventure -
Touch the Lightning by N.R. Walker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWithout a working office, Jeremiah is tasked with repairing the automated weather station on Oxley Island. It’s remote, only accessible by boat, and with there being a good chance of crocodiles, he’s dreading it. Tully, on the other hand, can’t wait. With a boat licence, his dad’s boat, and two days alone with Jeremiah—and with thunderstorms likely—to Tully, it’s another perfect adventure... -
Not So Silent Night by Charlie Cochet
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEscape to a Winter Wonderland with CEO and billionaire Colton Connolly as he embarks on a shenanigan-filled journey in search of the idyllic white Christmas he's always craved. Inspired by the enchantment of his favorite holiday movies, Colton surprises his beloved husband and their found family with a trip to the captivating mountain town of Winterhaven... -
Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn Fiasco, Kentucky, there is one rule: never fall for a Foxx brother. Any woman who did, ended up dead—or so the rumor goes. Townies call it a curse. But I’ve lived it, and I won’t survive it again.I’m not a cop anymore, but I’ve seen enough danger to know that Laney Young, the beautiful stranger who just showed up in my small town, is running from it...Categorized as:
suspense slow-burn found-family forced-proximity age-gap romance western contemporary -
Reckless Fall by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe’s back in town. He needs a nanny. It should be simple. But in the small town of Misty Peak, simple is never easy.Sadie Sandler wouldn’t consider herself a quitter. But then, she did walk out on her own wedding twenty-three minutes before she was supposed to walk down the aisle...Categorized as:
suspense age-gap friends-to-lovers insta-love law-enforcement romance mystery contemporary -
Wolf.e by Paisley Hope
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAlways ride faster than your angel can fly.-Gabriel Wolfe As president of the Hounds of Hell motorcycle club, my life has been infused with darkness and trauma since the day I was born. Chaos is my birthright. I crave it to feel stable. Secure. Whole.The only people I care about are the ones who don my cut. Women are just a tool. Never to covet, only to use, each face blending into the next... -
Zane by Nicole Edwards
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsVanessa Carmichael will never forget that horrible day for as long as she lives. With Zane fully on the mend from the brutal attack he suffered right in her very own yard, she knows she should be grateful, which she is. She also knows that walking away from Zane might be the only way to keep him safe... -
Guarding Leah by Regan Black
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSome battles don’t have a winner--only survivors.Wade Fielding turned tragedy into a career--going up against man and nature as a search and rescue specialist with the 10th Mountain Division. He and his team have saved countless lives through the years, yet the scars on his heart remain...Categorized as:
forced-proximity law-enforcement slow-burn suspense action-adventure adult book contemporary -
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Siren Enslaved by Sophie Oak, Lexi Blake
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsRe-released in a second edition with new scenes. Julian Lodge has everything a man could want. He’s rich, successful and owns the most exclusive club in Dallas. But something is missing. Finn Taylor has worked his way up in the world from humble beginnings in Willow Fork, Texas. The only thing he still loves in his hometown is Danielle Bay... -
Body and Soul by Lucy Lennox, Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsOz: Escaping the international modeling scene to design my own fashion collection is the first step to shucking my bobble-headed supermodel reputation and proving to the world I’m more than just a pretty face. But the minute I have to accept roadside help from the sexy man next door, I feel like the airhead people think I am... -
Davo by N.R. Walker
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen Fergus Galloway takes on a research trip to a tiny mining town in the far Western Australian outback, he’s as far from Sydney as he can get. Which is entirely the point. He arrives in Pannalego totally unprepared for the baking heat, unprepared for the people who call it home, unprepared for the craziness and the laughs... -
Shielding You by Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs one of the few female law enforcers on the Eastern Shore, Hannah Freeman has to be smart, tough, competent, and dedicated.That’s the easy part.Hiding her feelings for Dylan Hunt, a neighboring Police Chief has been challenging, but she has no time for unrequited love.Dylan thought he lost his chance with Hannah but stayed in her life the only way he could… as a professional friend...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers law-enforcement suspense action-adventure adult book contemporary fiction -
Rebel by Renee Rose, Vanessa Vale
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe's the law in town.Holds the handcuffs. The beauty can put them on me. Anytime.One look and I'll do anything for the woman.Even help her break every rule she's vowed to uphold.Because sometimes doing things wrong is the only way to make it right...Categorized as:
suspense insta-love friends-to-lovers law-enforcement romance contemporary military small-town -
Silenced by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMaxwell ‘Maxie’ Oliver wasn’t looking for trouble. She would have rather remained oblivious. Now that she has information she doesn’t want, a missing coworker, and a scandal on the horizon, Maxie doesn’t think she can remain quiet.But being a whistleblower comes at a high price, and Maxie isn’t willing to risk her life... -
Haunted by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHer name might be on the building, but Liv Harper hasn’t ever stepped foot inside the Harper Security Ops headquarters. Until now. When some bad choices land Liv in an unfortunate position, she knows there’s only one man she can trust to teach her how to keep herself safe. Brixton Steele isn’t sure he’s the right man for the job...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers suspense bodyguard romance contemporary action-adventure small-town audiobook -
Mission: Without a Trace by Nicole Edwards
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTheir first official case as a task force doesn’t take Brantley Walker and Reese Tavoularis far from home.Getting right down to business, the Off the Books task force prioritizes a case of a fifteen-year-old girl who went missing nine years earlier from the same small town they grew up in: Coyote Ridge, Texas... -
Heart2Heart: Volume 5 by Lucy Lennox, A.M. Arthur
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsVolume five in the best-selling charity anthology is coming soon! Featuring brand new stories from incredible authors:AM Arthur - Alice Winters - Daryl BannerEM Lindsey - Jodi Payne - K Webster - Kate HawthorneLouisa Masters - Lucy Lennox - Mia Monroe - Neve WilderRiley Hart - SE Harmon - Spencer Spears - Tal... -
Where We Promise by Ashley Munoz
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn a tangled mess of betrayal and chaos, I was moved almost overnight onto rival territory under the protection of the one man I never wanted to be a burden to.Jameson King.In order to keep me safe, he handed me a ring and told me I’d become his wife. It’s a marriage made of convenience, but there’s a thread of truth neither of us want to examine... -
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Jacob by V.H. Nicolson
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOnce upon a time… You know the story… prince meets princess. Evil thwarts their love, and the prince must fight for her heart. Good always wins and there is a stunning wedding at the castle on the hill. I used to dream of having a fairy tale love story of my own, but I don’t think the author of mine got the memo because right now, I’m shackled to a bed, scared for my life...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance workplace small-town friendship forbidden-love -
Off Key (Whispering Key) by May Archer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI’m about to sing you the saddest song in the universe, and it’s called “The Man of My Dreams Married My Sister.” It’s kinda my theme song. And trust me when I tell you, it’s heavy on the violins.Because the man in question? He’s not just any guy, he’s Rafe freakin’ Goodman. My former best friend. The boy who made my summers on Whispering Key magical... -
Sweet Spot by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWho knew four little words and a very public kiss would change so much.Gage Langdon didn’t do relationships. After having his heart shattered years ago, he made a vow to never go down that road again. But when his past waltzes into his town, demanding his attention, he reacts without thinking and makes a very public display of kissing his best friend... -
One Little Heartbreak by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSethI never realized getting adopted at thirty-two years old was a thing, then I met the Westbrooks. They’re a family that grows every time a wayward soul crosses their path, and now I’m an honorary member. A former spy, I was married at twenty-two—a father at twenty-six and a widow by thirty. To say my life is in transition would be an understatement...Categorized as:
age-gap found-family friends-to-lovers forced-proximity suspense romance contemporary small-town -
Reckless Faith by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLetting him go was the hardest thing she’d ever done…until he returns, and letting him back in proves even harder.Elle Marshal has spent most of her life pining for the same boy. A boy she’s known since she was eight. A boy with beautiful blue eyes who’s never been interested in anything more than friendship...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers bodyguard forced-proximity romance military contemporary small-town -
Crossing the Line by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSome lines are meant to be crossed.Trent Montgomery knew all about loyalty and responsibility. Tracking down his friend’s long-lost sister and making sure she was safe was just another job, a favor from someone he cared about. He wasn’t supposed to get attached. But when he started to fall for the woman who had been hiding from the world, things got a lot more complicated than he ever expected...Categorized as:
bodyguard friends-to-lovers insta-love law-enforcement slow-burn suspense action-adventure adult -
The Tragedy of Felix and Jake by J. Daniels
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author, J. Daniels, comes an all-new standalone forbidden romance.They say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.They say the best way to stay sober is to love yourself.I’m great at making bad decisions.Addict? Check. Poor impulse control? Check. Obsessed with the guy I’m sponsoring? Check Check Check... -
Here For The Cake by Jennifer Millikin
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA spicy, sassy, and swoony fake dating romantic comedy from Amazon Charts bestselling author Jennifer Millikin. A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it's a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single...Categorized as:
fake-relationship forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance contemporary fiction journey -
Hitched by Lucy Lennox, May Archer
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsFormer Marine Percy “Champ” Champion has never encountered a problem he can’t handle. Flying bullets? Daring jungle rescues? Building Champion Security from the ground up? Making people seriously regret using his hated first name? No problem. He’s gotten the job done without a hitch each and every time...Categorized as:
bodyguard fake-relationship forced-proximity lgbtq mlm action-adventure adult animals -
Defined By Deceit by A.E. Via
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLife isn't always fair, and that’s something that Llewellyn Gardner knows about first hand. His life was on the fast track until one night of extreme passion changed everything. Now eight years later, he’s still living with the aftershocks of that night. Everywhere he turns or runs, there’s another reminder... -
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Until Willow by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAre you ready for another BOOM?Willow Mayson isn’t ready to just dive head first into love, or at least not with any of the men she’s dated.Then she shares a single unexpected kiss with a complete stranger.Clay Raven doesn’t want the strings of a woman tied to him in any way. His priorities are his family, his job, and finding the people responsible for helping to kill his sister...Categorized as:
found-family friends-to-lovers insta-love slow-burn suspense action-adventure adult alpha-mc -
Until Bax by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBax Mayson thought he had escaped the family curse—until he saw Olivia Gannon again. It’s been eight years since he last laid eyes on his best friend’s little sister, and now, fate has thrown her back into his life. As if their undeniable connection isn’t complicated enough, a mysterious threat looms, determined to tear Olivia away from him...Categorized as:
suspense age-gap friends-to-lovers insta-love forced-proximity slow-burn romance contemporary -
Hot as Heller by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsThe man asked me to valet his damn car. Look, I left LA for a reason. I’ve had my fill of big Hollywood stars and their even bigger egos. I want something genuine. Something real. And it doesn’t get any realer than being the new sheriff of Aster Valley, Colorado. That is, until entitled Finn Heller appears on the scene, handing me the keys to his convertible like I’m his personal servant... -
His Saint by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAugie:I don't need anyone's protection. I'm fine. But to appease my sister after a home invasion, I agree to take self-defense lessons. They just so happen to be with a big, muscled former navy SEAL who may or may not be everything I've always daydreamed about but never thought I could have.And he's dead-set on looking out for me even when things in my life suddenly get complicated... -
Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn Fiasco, Kentucky, there is one rule: never fall for a Foxx brother.Any woman who did, ended up dead. It wasn’t just a rumor. It was my reality. I buried my wife along with too many secrets surrounding the night she died.Now, I’m a single dad with two priorities above everything else: raising my two girls and making great bourbon...Categorized as:
suspense age-gap found-family forced-proximity slow-burn romance enemies-to-lovers contemporary -
Torin by Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Celtic Cock… the family pub Torin Flanigan ran with his sister. It took up all his time and energy, making it easy to fend off the multiple propositions he got from women every night.But there was one woman that caught, and held, his eye. Erin McBride...Categorized as:
suspense law-enforcement friends-to-lovers romance medical small-town contemporary military
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