Book picks similar to
FRIENDZONE by Michelle C. Hillstrom


sports-romance
indieauthors
new-adult
open-ending-or-standalone-in-series

Hooking Up With Her Neighbor


Amanda Martinez - 2018
    They had been together for a few months, but it wasn’t working out. They got along good, had fun together, but the sex left something to be desired. She dealt with it because he was such a nice guy. But then she got an anonymous note from a neighbor. One that heard their antics and offered to help her. Kate was in need of some good lovings and the note promised just that. She wasn’t sure who it was that offered such things, but she was intrigued. When she found out who it was, Kate was ready to take on his offer and once she got a taste, she was never going to look back.

A Very Keatyn Christmas (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 13)


Jillian Dodd - 2021
    And at fifteen, Aubrey Lane Arrington is optimistically hoping that her first kiss will not only happen over the holidays, but that it will also be with her best friend and crush, Branson Johnson. They’ve been friends since they were kids and next fall, she’ll be joining him at Eastbrooke Academy. He’s hinted at their friendship turning into more, but as the holiday season progresses, she’s still stuck in the friend zone. His cousin Beckham Johnson, on the other hand, doesn’t believe in the friend zone. His cocky personality and charisma make him the ultimate flirt, so she’s never taken him seriously. But when he changes his plans to spend New Year’s Eve with her, Lane will have to make a decision. Will her first kiss be with her longtime crush, or will someone new sweep her off her feet?Find out when the clock strikes midnight!

Sugar Bright


Ali Dean - 2021
    Too bad he's not who she thinks he is. Complete with unforgettable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a dash of Dean's signature sports writing, this small-town romance delivers an uplifting vibe that will make your heart happy.Mia’s plans implode when, on their three-year anniversary, her boyfriend announces that he’s moving to the other side of the country instead of proposing like he was supposed to. She had a vision of small-town bliss that included marriage and children and now she’s fallen off her timeline. Fortunately, Mia’s friends have a tried-and-true breakup recovery process that will get her back on track. Unfortunately for Mia, training for a marathon relay is part of this process. She’s used to being the clumsy nerd amongst super athletes, but if it means the hot new guy in town is going to coach them, Mia is willing to subject herself to the torture of training.When Jamie escapes big city corporate life to take over as the P.E. teacher in rural Vermont, he isn’t sure he’ll fit in. To his surprise, the locals welcome him with open arms, and he starts to think this might not be a temporary hiatus after all. Once he meets Mia, Jamie can even see himself in Sugarville for the long haul, with her at his side. However, Jamie is hiding a secret that not only threatens to make him an outcast in town, but will destroy any chances of a future with Mia. What happens when Mia finds out Jamie isn’t who she thinks he is?

One Kiss to Win


Romi Hart - 2017
    Strong. Rugged. Three words that perfectly describe EVERYTHING about me. I’m the Captain of the wrestling team at my college. There’s one girl on campus who unleashes the fu@king animal out of me. I can't wait to grapple Laney, put her into submission and make her tap the f out! I want to hear her scream my name. She makes go WILD. I’ll make a move on her and lift her off the ground. She is mine! JETT I’m the star quarterback of my college. I can tackle through anything. No chance of competing with me. I do wonders on and OFF the field! Women call me a BEAST because I am! Now, I'm here to take what's mine - Miss Laney. Her curves make me go crazy! She's making me the beast very hungry. I know she'll love it when I show her what I'm packing. Nobody can stand in the way of me and Laney. I’m here to WIN! And I know it’s only going to take my One Kiss to Win! One Kiss To Win is a Romance Collection of 3 sports romance novellas in the same series - (One Kiss to Win, One Chance to Win and One Cheer to Win) all with a guaranteed HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger. Additional bonus book included in this collection is Big Slide.

Coached


Hunter Rose - 2021
    Rugged. Playmaker. Casanova…All those names apply to Darren Walters. Yes, he’s cocky too.How can you not be when you look and play like him?The beginning of college should be the start of something new.Yet, here I am still stuck crushing on the star quarterback of the college team,and my older brother’s best friend - Darren.I’m sure he’s always seen me as the nerdy younger sister type.Oh, and did I forget to mention that I’m still a virgin and have no idea about guys?I know… I'm hopeless.Darren promised my brother that he’d look out for me and protect me.The best thing I can come up with is to have him coach me how to date.Coach me to say all the right things,kiss the right way,and when we’re alone…Sigh, if only our love story was that simple.

Behind the Glass


Kristen Morgen - 2014
    Then she meets a handsome stranger/secret admirer named Michael Vale one fateful late night at a bookstore café. As a focused but struggling photographer with a passion for art, her outwardly happy world is turned upside down during this life-changing encounter when she quickly realizes she has met her soul mate. The undeniable attraction between them and their intense, immediate connection seem picture perfect as they discuss the shop’s local artwork, until Rebecca abruptly ends the chance meeting with no explanation.Betraying Brett, her loyal, loving boyfriend, is something Rebecca can never bring herself to do. Driven by a strong moral code and molded by divorced parents and a tumultuous childhood, she struggles to stay away from Michael, but fate and circumstance intervene, bringing them back together time and time again. As much as she resists, there is no denying her true feelings for him and the simple fact that Michael understands her in a way Brett never has. Michael proves to be everything she’s ever wanted, but remains just out of her reach.Behind the Glass tells the story of Michael and Rebecca’s extraordinary love and the many unconventional stages their relationship must go through. Their morals and their faith in true love and in each other will be put to the test as they learn that meeting one’s soul mate does not come without obstacles.

Reckless Attraction


J.J. Knight - 2018
    Pounding. Sweating. And winning.Then I meet Chloe.She picks me up in her funny yellow Beetle and instead of heading to my fight, we race to the beach.It's the perfect beginning.That night in the cage, I fight with her in mind.Until I see her there, lurking in the corner.She spots me, too. But she's not there to watch the match.This isn't the perfect beginning at all.She's just called the cops on my fight.This is the beginning of the perfect revenge.___Reckless Attraction is an enemies-to-lovers trilogy. This series is complete.

STRIPPED (The Slate Brothers, Book Three)


Harper James - 2017
    Each One A Football Star. Each One Sexy, Rough And Completely Untamed. A standalone romance with a guaranteed HEA I can’t believe I want to f**k a football star. I’m so not that girl. I’ve always been a nerdy loner, my head in a book. And that’s how I prefer it… But Tyson Slate is different, and for some reason he keeps teasing me, toying with me, touching me and making me melt. I try to resist him but he’s so undeniably sexy, with muscles that I want to run my fingers over and gray-blue eyes. I try to pretend to be calm when Tyson is near, not wanting him to see how he’s flustered me with his words and his looks and that hard stare. I can’t understand why he seems to want me, out of all the hot girls lining up to be with him. But maybe it’s because I’m different, because I don’t come from his world. Maybe that’s why he can be himself around me, let his walls down for just a little while, and then…touch me. God, the way he touches me. The way he looks at me. I’m falling for him and he’s only going to trample my heart. But Tyson Slate always gets exactly what he wants. And he wants me. Hard. Deep. Stripped of my defenses. And he won’t stop until he gets it…

Draft Day


Toya King - 2016
    A successful college football career means I’m about to sign with the NFL―and I have all the women I want. When Deja shows up at my football practice, I’m shocked at the changes in her. When we were in foster care as kids, I always protected her, and she needs me more than ever. I’m determined to take care of her―but will I be forced to choose between her and my career? Deja Tyler was the only real bright spot in my life growing up. Maybe I don’t deserve to be in his life anymore, but turning to him when I hit rock bottom is the only choice that makes sense. I can’t help wanting more from him than friendship. He has the brightest future imaginable, and if I’m not careful, I could drag him down with me. He’s like a beacon lighting my way to a better path… if I can find the strength to follow it. But will he be waiting for me when I get there? Draft Day is a steamy standalone interracial football sports romance novel. It's only recommended for audiences 18+. No cheating. No cliffhangers. Guaranteed HEA.

Academy for Reapers Year One


M. Guida - 2021
    

Unbroken Truth


Tasha Gwartney - 2013
    Her very being has been transformed into something new and foreign. She tries to fit into this new life, but fate places her on a path fraught with the most difficult trials and tribulations that she has ever faced. Jessa’s nightmares have come to life and are staring her straight in the face. Can she survive this new hell with her soul intact…without losing everything that makes her who she is? Sebastian, a centuries old Vampire Lord that has pledged his very life and soul to Jessa. He has promised her his eternal love, but can she risk trusting again? Is anything worth the risk of losing what is left of the once vulnerable, vivacious girl? Or will she choose to stay broken within the shadows?

Make It Count


Jenee RobinsonCatherine Banks - 2020
    The final inning. Whatever it takes, you have to give it all you’ve got. When that clock is ticking down, remember how hard you’ve trained, how many hours you put in. Strap on your pads, wrap your hands, tie up those cleats. Whether on the field or in a rink, you’ve got this. This is your day, your time to shine. It doesn’t matter what game you play. In the end, all you have to do is Make it Count.Twenty-three authors bring you nineteen stories full of hope and love.This anthology in memory of Josie McIntyre, who was an avid softball player who was tragically lost too young. All proceeds for this anthology will go toward a scholarship fund in her memory.

Rough Tackle


Amber Heart - 2017
    Tall, athletic, drop dead gorgeous. The perfect combination to make a girl swoon. His family however, are a real piece of work. Ungrateful, rude, manipulative - he doesn't have the heart to tell them ‘no’. Why does he have to be such a sweetheart? A disastrous tackle towards the end of the Superbowl final has left him in agonizing pain… And zero feeling in one of his legs! Lucky for him I’m the best physical therapist in the business… And luckily for me I get to spend the next few weeks manhandling him through all his exercises. How on earth will I manage? Problem is I’m not allowed to date patients. How do I stop myself from falling for this smoking hot Superbowl champion? More importantly, how do I help him recover from this life changing injury? Rough Tackle is a football romance with a very HEA. For a limited time, this story comes with two bonus stories at the end: Family First & The Singer.

Wild Jaden


Shayne Ford - 2017
    Rules will be broken, and confession will be made, the answers to a lot of questions barely scraping the surface. A tale of dark love, loyalty, and fragile trust, as well as deeply buried secrets.

In the Grasp


Cadence Keys - 2020
    She's the newest reporter for the LA Chronicle.Paige O'Malley has worked her ass off for her career, and now she's just landed her dream job with the biggest paper on the west coast. They broke each other's hearts nine years ago. Now fate is giving them another chance to get it right.When Paige gets assigned to write an exposé on Jack, she must decide where her loyalties lie: with the career of a lifetime or the love of her life. In the Grasp is the first contemporary sports romance in the LA Wolves series. Jack and Paige's story begins in Intentional Grounding.