Book picks similar to
Football and Ballet by Jason Collins
mm
contemporary
m-m
romance
Bet on Me
Saxon James - 2020
With only a few years left to play, I decide to throw my full focus into the game. Then I meet Elliot. The flirty texts are immediate, trusting him comes easily, and when we’re together, I’ve never experienced something so explosive. Until he drops a real bomb on me. He’s a bookie. And suddenly, being closeted is the least of my worries. Elliot I have a plan. Make a large amount of money in a short amount of time, set myself up for life, and then get the hell out of bookmaking. Good at it or not, it’s illegal, and that’s a very gray line I’d prefer not to keep crossing. Especially when I meet Taryn. He’s the first guy who’s been able to steal my focus away from my goal, and I’ll do anything to deserve him. Even quit. But the thing about illegal jobs is, they’re not always so easy to walk away from.
Rip Cord: The Complete Trilogy
Jeanne St. James - 2016
Ever the geek, he has no intentions of attending his 10th year class reunion. The last thing he wants is to relive the taunting and teasing he received during his teenage years. However, there is one thing he misses from high school: the star Varsity football player. The one he had a crush on from the first day he laid eyes on him. But the last thing he expects is the now pro football player to come back to their home town to attend a lame high school reunion. Known as the Bad Boy of the NFL, Ripley "Rip" Cord, not only shows up, but shows up without a date and an eye for Gil.The Weekend:Geek Gil Davis hasn't heard a word from NFL player, Rip Cord, since hooking up at their class reunion. Then Rip calls him unexpectedly, he's taking Gil to his cabin for a weekend of exploration.The Ever After:When Rip Cord is kicked out of the NFL, he shows up unexpectedly at Gil Davis' front door. With his career over, Rip's finally ready for a future with Gil, if Gil's willing to give him another chance.NOTE: The Rip Cord trilogy was previously published as three separate novellas. It has now been combined into one edition. This is a gay second chance romance with a guaranteed HEA.
King Consort
J.R. Gray - 2018
As the future King of England I couldn’t be caught sleeping with men. My whole life played out in front of the paparazzi, and they didn’t miss a thing. I had a carefully crafted womanizing persona to maintain. My life came with rules, all of which I broke when I couldn’t resist a one night stand with the enemy: A beautiful paparazzo with a heart of gold. He may be the only person who doesn’t want me for my title, and he can never be anything more than my secret. But secrets have a way of coming out and not only will they scare him away, but they’ll lose me the crown.
Following the Rules
Lane Hayes - 2021
Problem…jocks are my weakness. Seriously. I lose my ability to speak coherently around muscle-bound hotties. Oh yeah, I lose my inhibitions too—not a good look for a guy with a genius IQ. So what am I going to do about Simon? Simon-Finishing college isn’t high on my list of priorities, but my future in professional football is looking bleak. I need a plan B or C, and I could use some help navigating life as an undergrad. Topher is perfect. He’s also a little strange…but in a good way. And I like the way I feel when I’m around him—as though anything is possible. Maybe if we follow our hearts, we’ll find what we’re looking for. But that means changing the rules…Following the Rules is a MM, bisexual awakening romance starring a lovable nerd, a cool jock, and some extracurricular fun.
Outing the Quarterback
Tara Lain - 2014
He meets his wealthy father’s goals as both the quarterback for the famous SCU football team and a business major, but secretly he attends art school and longs to live as a painter. And he's gay. But if he can win the coveted Milton Scholarship for art, he’ll be able to break from his father at the end of his senior year.In a painting master class, Will meets his divergent opposite, Noah Zajack. A scarred orphan who’s slept on park benches and eaten from trash cans, Noah carefully plans his life and multiple jobs so he has money and time to go to art school. Will's problems seem like nothing compared to Noah's. Noah wants the scholarship too and may have a way to get it since the teacher of his class has designs on him, a plan Will isn't happy about.When a gossipmonger with a popular YouTube channel finds evidence that Will is gay, the quarterback’s closet doors begin to crumble. Hounded by the press and harassed by other players, Will has to choose. Stay in the closet and keep his family’s wealth, or let the doors fall off and walk out with nothing. Nothing but Noah.
An Unexpected Kind of Love
Hayden Stone - 2021
His shop may be struggling, his only employee is a menace, and his plumbing is one creaky pipe away from disaster, but he can handle it. Maybe. He cannot, however, handle the film company that’s thrown his Soho street into chaos. And he definitely can’t handle the charismatic American actor Blake Sinclair. Which is why he’s extremely reluctant to lease out his shop as a set for Blake's film, but it’s his one opportunity to save his business. Now he can’t get away from the distractingly hot actor. Then Aubrey finds himself alone with Blake in a trailer, and what happens next turns London’s heat wave into an inferno that leaves him breathless.Aubrey is not cut out for the high-profile life of dating a celebrity, especially an American actor who’s not even out yet. Good thing their tryst is absolutely not going anywhere. Of course, when you expect nothing, that’s exactly when it starts to mean everything.
Finally Falling
Raleigh Ruebins - 2017
He’s just my best friend. At least, he used to be….Devin: From day one, our friendship never made sense. I was happy in the studio with a canvas and a paintbrush, and Russ was the gorgeous star quarterback that everyone loved… including me. But I could never tell him. He was straight. I should have been happy that I got to see a side of him that nobody else did: Russ was sensitive, thoughtful, and affectionate when it was just the two of us. Our friendship didn’t make sense, but it was ours. That’s all that mattered. But after college, Russ left Rose Falls without even saying goodbye. I was ripped apart, and everyone could see it. But that was eight years ago. Ancient history. It was all in the past… Until suddenly, it wasn’t.Russ: I’m done running. Eight years ago, I was terrified of losing everything because of feelings toward Devin I couldn’t shake. It shouldn’t have been possible—I was straight! So why couldn’t I keep my eyes off my best friend’s lips, his smooth skin, his body after a shower? I thought that leaving would make the confusion go away. But it never did. Now that I’m back home, I feel like myself for the first time in my life. I need to make things right with Devin.But I hadn’t anticipated falling into bed with him. And even after one scorching night, can Devin ever forgive me for leaving without a trace? Or have I missed my chance?Finally Falling is a 68,000-word gay romance about two best friends falling in love. It features a kitten named Pepper, plenty of crunchy fall leaves, and hot 'n' steamy scenes next to a waterfall. It’s the first book set in the small, quirky town of Rose Falls, but can absolutely be read as a standalone novel.
On the Ice
Amy Aislin - 2018
A busy schedule of practices, games, classes, homework, two part-time jobs—and now, working with a tutor to help him pass the class he’s failing so that he can keep his scholarship—shouldn’t leave him with enough time to flirt with the NHL player in town. But that doesn’t stop him. Placed on the injured reserve list until his broken arm heals, NHL defenseman Alex Dean is using the time off to be with his ailing grandfather and get a head start on the book he’s been commissioned to write. He doesn’t expect to get roped into a tutoring gig, especially not for cocky, smart-ass Mitch. But Alex soon discovers that there’s more to Mitch than meets the eye...and he really likes what he sees. Only Alex doesn’t dare risk his NHL career by coming out, and a relationship between them would jeopardize Mitch’s chances with the organization too. It looks impossible. Then again, the best things usually do...On the Ice is an m/m contemporary romance featuring a flirty college hockey player who meets his match in a demisexual NHL player.
Given the Circumstances
Brad Vance - 2013
Both men are hungry for connection – Brian needs the acceptance, encouragement and support he never had growing up, and when he finds out his new best friend is gay, it brings his own identity into question. Roger needs a big brother, a best friend, but that will never be enough, especially not when he’s this close to big, strong, handsome Brian. And both men want something more – careers as professional athletes. For Roger, the demands of the closet, the need to reject the love of a man to fulfill his love of the game, will be a crushing burden. For Brian, his downfall will be the substances he uses to get an edge over the competition, and to suppress his gnawing self-doubt and guilt.One set of desires will bring them together, the other will force them apart…
Let Me Love You
Gianni Holmes - 2021
A five feet four, one-hundred-and-twenty-pound guy who reeks of a damsel in distress. In other words, Tate’s kryptonite.When a sprained ankle leaves him trapped in the woods, Bryan has no option but to accept help from the only man within miles around. But there’s just so much to do in a cabin before boredom kicks in. With only one bed, one brooding inexperienced hunk, and a few days for his injury to heal, it's only a matter of time before things heat up.Just when Tate starts opening up to Bryan, an unexpected turn of events throws Bryan in the face of danger. To rescue him this time, Tate must leave his fortress in the woods to return to society. Will their brief encounter be enough for them to survive what lurks in the city?Full of playful banter, lingerie, heels, a slight age gap, devious friends, stubborn exes, mystery, and intrigue, this book will give you a thrilling and swoony experience.Please note, this approximately 100k word book was previously published as Falling for Mr. Corporate and My Dear Mr. Corporate. Over 20k words have been added to the story for a dual POV of the section which was formerly Falling for Mr. Corporate. Also newly edited.
Bigger Than Us
Jodi Payne - 2021
He never expects that Adam will be gone before he gets there, or that he will suddenly be in charge of Adam’s two small children. He’s a loner, an artist, and a wanderer. What’s he supposed to do now?Mitchell Brown is a white-collar kind of guy. Organized. Careful. He has a plan in place for Adam’s kids long before Daniel arrives, and is shocked when Daniel is given custody. But for Vicky and Emory, he’s willing to put his hurt and confusion aside to help Daniel figure things out, to make the whole situation work.Daniel and Mitch have to deal with a tidal wave of grief while getting one kid started in school, and keeping up with their work. But they’re going to have to figure out their unexpected attraction to each other if they’re going to build something together that’s bigger than either one of them alone.
Fall for You
A.J. Truman - 2020
He especially has no interest in his kinda-odd-but-kinda-cute neighbor Patrick, a guy who owns enough pumpkin-scented candles to start a wildfire.For Patrick, the feeling is very much mutual. He’d rather watch wax melt than share air with his kinda-rude-but-kinda-hot jock neighbor. Newly single from a painful breakup, he just wants to enjoy his first fall back in Chicago.But Patrick’s plan and Spencer’s perfect summer both come to a crashing halt after Spencer eats it on the court and winds up in a cast. Stuck having to help his neighbor get around, Patrick begins to break through the bumps and spikes of Spencer’s personality. As the two of them experience all the glory fall has to offer, they soon find themselves lost in a corn maze of emotions. But will their newfound closeness fall apart once Spencer’s cast comes off?FALL FOR YOU is a story for everyone who believes in the magic of love, the beauty of autumn, and the power of scented candles.
Lake Steamy
R. Cayden - 2021
I don’t have time to swoon over men or any other distractions.I’m here to launch my vlog, a sex-positive, body-positive, and very personal video series, and my new career requires all my focus.I can’t imagine a reserved mountain man like Chase would be into a guy who overshares for a living, anyway.Plus, I’ll be moving back to the city soon, and he fully intends to spend the rest of his life in these mountains, caring for his family and friends.Not to mention the pesky little fact that he’s straight.Basically, Chase is my total opposite, and a bad idea too.A rugged, sexy, bad idea with a surprisingly gentle smile.A bad idea with the light of the campfire flickering across his beard and a look in his brown eyes like he’s about to kiss me…Lake Steamy is a small-town M/M romance with a flirty city boy and an earnest mountain man who finds his world turned upside down. It features a pink paddleboat, s’more-play, and lots of steamy discovery on the way to a guaranteed HEA. Enjoy!
Blindside Hit
Michaela Grey - 2020
A brand-new contract with an NHL team, a nice apartment, the life he’s dreamed about since he was a little boy. He has everything, except the name of the man he shared a drunken, blistering hot night with. Etienne Brideau can’t stop thinking about the night he spent with Adam, but he knows better than to think Adam will want him sober. People don’t fall in love with gawky, rawboned, awkward Etienne, especially not men like Adam Caron, rising hockey star, with his stunning good looks and charismatic personality. When Adam gets back in contact with him, Etienne doesn't let himself hope that they'll ever be more than friends. But the more entangled he becomes in Adam's life, the more he can't imagine letting him go, and when an injury threatens Adam’s career, Etienne knows he’s in too deep to walk away. But Adam has secrets of his own, and more than just their life as a couple may be at stake.
Schooling the Jock
Eli Easton - 2021
Then one disastrous prank proves to be the final straw, and the college dean blows his cork!Work together or lose both your houses.Question - -How can Dobbs win his coveted Quiz Bowl championship when he’s forced to put a dumb jock on his team?Answer -- Lots of personal schooling.But when personal becomes very personal, Jesse risks causing his overtaxed family one more huge worry and the running back starts running.Will Dobbs give up on the shocked jock, or show him that the answer to the big question is, Yes?SCHOOLING THE JOCK is an enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, campus romance – with one hell of a lightning round.