Book picks similar to
One Good Thing by Arden Steele


m-m
contemporary
got-it
fake-boyfriend

Feeling Santamental


M.J. O'Shea - 2021
    So when Ellery's best friend puts his name in the Secret Santa pool she's in charge of, he thinks he might hate her forever... or at the very least for a couple of hours. But then something magical happens. Ellery's own Secret Santa leaves him a series of the sweetest, most thoughtful gifts... and notes.It's starting to look like Ellery's not the only one with an undercover crush.

Ten Inches


A.J. Hardcourt - 2011
    Nick would do anything for him…to him. Too bad Ian’s straight.When a snowstorm strands them at the ski lodge, Nick and Ian choose to get a room. Can a cold day of snowboarding lead to a hot night between the sheets?

One More Night


Charlie Novak - 2020
    As his resolve crumbles, he finds himself agreeing to Harry's proposition: Be his boyfriend for three days.With his sister getting married, the pressure’s on Harry to turn up with a suitable partner. Someone rich. Someone from society. Someone who isn't an ex-hookup named Jack…But Jack’s not afraid of a little Spencer family frostiness if it means protecting Harry. After all, you can't fall in love with someone in just three days.Unless you never stopped loving them to begin with.

Mr. Harcourt and the Hurricane


K. Sterling - 2017
    Harcourt And The Hurricane is a spin-off from the Lavender Series but is thoroughly enjoyable on its own.** After a scrape with the authorities, Reginald finds himself trapped in his own hell by a hurricane. He's stranded without a computer, a decent cocktail and the only other man alive who finds him resistible. A corpse and a mystery transforms a peaceful holiday into just the sort of puzzle Reginald can't resist. Can he solve the mystery without creating more chaos or putting his life in danger? Hayes held up his bottle and winked before he took another drink. He sighed contentedly as he leaned back on his elbow and Reginald damned his eyes for drifting down his chest and washboard stomach. He coughed softly as he looked around then nodded when his eyes settled on the ocean. “I think I’ll go for a swim,” Reginald announced as he turned and got his knees beneath him. He crawled until he was out of the halo of light surrounding the fire then scrambled to his feet. He swatted at his hard-on, trying to coax it into a more discreet configuration as he stumbled down the beach. “That’s not a good idea,” Hayes warned as he rolled onto his stomach then pushed himself off the ground. He teetered as he straightened then staggered after Reginald. “The water’s really cold and the current’s still too strong,” he called and Reginald flailed his arms dismissively. He was still holding his bottle and rum splashed on his chest and arm. He winced and mumbled at the bottle apologetically before he licked his wrist clean. He attempted to run his tongue along his forearm to his elbow but it wasn’t long enough. “I can’t lick my elbow!” Reginald complained and there was a snorting giggle from Hayes. “You’re not supposed to. Humans can’t lick their own elbows,” he explained and Reginald squeezed an eye shut so he could see his elbow. “Nonsense,” he argued then tossed the bottle aside. “I’m sure I’ve licked my elbow at least a hundred times,” he said as his neck, chin and tongue stretched toward his elbow as he turned in a circle like a dog chasing its own tail. Ice cold water washed over his feet and he gasped as the sand sunk beneath him before a wave knocked his legs out from under him. “I told you!” Hayes howled as he hugged his bottle to his chest and stomped into the water after Reginald. It was frigid, frothy and salty and Reginald shut his eyes and mouth as he relaxed and let the water carry him back. He could practically feel the steam coming off his body. “Get up!” Hayes ordered as his hand locked around Reginald’s wrist. “I needed that,” Reginald said as he was pulled to his feet. A larger waved rolled toward them and Hayes braced himself. Reginald reached for Hayes’ shoulder just as he was thrown against him. He groaned as he crashed into Hayes’ hard, lean frame. “I did not need that,” he muttered and Hayes swore as he steadied Reginald. “Can we go back now?” He asked and Reginald nodded as he let Hayes turn him toward the fire. Hayes locked an arm around Reginald’s chest and tugged him out of the water. Reginald hummed happily and draped his arm over Hayes’ shoulder as they danced up the beach. “You know, I don’t think I can lick my elbow,” Reginald decided and Hayes snorted before he took another drink. “I know I can lick yours,” he said and Hayes groaned. “Do you ever shut up?”

The Prince's Blind Date


Jena Wade - 2020
    Due to an antiquated law, he must be married by his thirtieth birthday, but the prince wants to marry for love, not convenience. And he doesn't want to be rushed either, but with a ticking clock, he needs to find an omega and fast. So, he does what any alpha in his position would, goes undercover.An omega open to love...Omega Wendell wants what his fathers had, a love that lasted until his omega dad's passing. He doesn't need anything big and flashy, nothing over the top, just a nice alpha to settle down and have babies with.But just when Wendell believes he's found what he's looking for, after one blind date no less, he leaps at the opportunity--and the man. He's found his peaceful ever after, so why is he suddenly being hounded by reporters? And why are people telling him his sweet, quiet alpha is actually a prince?The Prince’s Blind Date is book one in a five book series featuring the Royals of Swena. Four Alpha brothers and one Omega on their quest to find love in a royal world. This is a short, 16K novella featuring mpreg, heat, and a royal happily ever after.

Green's Thumb


Alexander Elliott - 2016
     Mitch Graham and Karl Hartman are meant for each other - they just don’t know it yet. They’re both gay, middle aged, single, and open to meeting that special someone. Problem is, they never get out of the house! With Karl working from home, and Mitch’s non-existent social life, it seems unlikely the two will ever meet. When Mitch decides on a whim to visit a new dog park, Karl’s greyhound takes a shine to him and the game is on. In a sneaky bid to spend more time together, Karl hires Mitch to do some landscaping work on his front yard. It doesn’t take long for something special to grow along with the flowers. Notice: Recommended for readers 18+. This book contains adult themes and sexuality, including M/M romance, and is suitable for mature readers only!

A (Fake) Boyfriend for Christmas


Sean Ashcroft - 2019
    But when he gets busted making out with Harper at the office Christmas party—by the guy's mom, no less—well... it's his best chance at a Merry Christmas this year. Not least of all because he's had a reindeer-sized crush on Harper since the day they met. Faking it only lasts until the searing sexual tension that's been building for months between them boils over, and they come to an arrangement: the full boyfriend experience for the few days they have together, then back to being colleagues at the end. Should be easy, right? But baby, it's cold outside and it's warm in bed... A (Fake) Boyfriend For Christmas is a steamy novella-length gay romance with a HEA and all the holiday feels. It contains: office party makeouts, tree lopping shenanigans, explicit scenes, a snowball fight, oodles of holiday spirit, and true love conquering all.

Dragon Hearts


Cree Storm - 2017
    They were created centuries ago, by the great Heck, to find and destroy serialists by any means necessary. Each member was gifted with a dragon that was connected to their soul. If one died, so did the other. The men didn't shift into the dragon, but they would call out and the maharishi would join them in the fight against evil. Not wanting their secret discovered, D.O.A. lived in a town called Drago, just outside Poconos Boulevard, and they hid behind their image as a badass motorcycle club Children were being murdered and Rene, otherwise known as Pit, along with his men were out to find out who was behind the copycat murders of a long time serial killer known as the Alphabet Killer. While questioning a victim's mother, Rene discovered his sentience, his mate. Now all he had to do was figure out how to tell the man he was not exactly human, and he better do it fast because his dragon heat was already kicking in. Bren was the local town veterinarian. He figured something was off about SI Rene Telkin. If not from the leather jacket with a large D.O.A. patch on the back, then maybe because he drove a navy Blue Harley Davidson CVO Street glider instead of a tan sedan. Bren was not the type to get mixed up with a biker club, even if the man was a cop. However, something kept drawing him to the sexy man and it seemed that nothing would break the bond they were forming. Not even when he discovered the secret all D.O.A. agents held. A large dragon for a partner. Now Rene needs to do his best to claim his mate and also track down a serial killer, because on the last body was a note threatening the good doctor of Poconos Boulevard.

Hold the Door


Vinni George - 2021
    When Sam finds out an older, hotter, and amazingly talented Max Martino is part of the acquisition, he knows the only way to keep his sanity is to avoid Max—and their history—at any cost.Max never planned to settle down, but recently he’s been pining for roots. A new job, a new city, and a second chance with Sam makes the thought of staying in one place exciting for the first time ever.But the harder Max pushes, the farther Sam runs, sometimes literally, and Max begins to wonder if Sam can ever let go of the biggest mistake Max ever made—leaving.But maybe a second chance at forever is as simple as holding the door open for love.Hold the Door is an 80,000-word contemporary romance that features friends to lovers and a second chance at love, a sassy work husband, and surfing lessons that often lead to more. Hold the Door is the first book in the Open Doors series and can be read as a standalone.

Where You Hurt the Most


Anne Brooke - 2012
    When his boss and dear friend asks him to entertain his nephew, Adrian readily agrees, but meeting Dan challenges him in ways he'd never imagined.Dan is scarred inside and out from an accident that destroyed a promising future. Despite Adrian's loveless lifestyle and Dan's withdrawal and anger, the two men forge a deep--if unnerving--connection. Soon they find themselves questioning the choices they've made and the futures they've mapped out for themselves.Yet even bright young men like Adrian and Dan fear the unknown and take comfort in the familiar. Neither may be strong enough to step away from the life they know and toward the one they dare not hope for. But while it's true that love can't heal all wounds, it is the surest balm for where you hurt the most."(This title is part of the 2012 Rentboy Collection.)"

Everything Changes


Megan Hart - 2010
    Now it’s time for Alex’s side of the story…When Jamie tells Alex he wants him to sleep with his wife, Alex thinks it will only lead to trouble. Sure, Alex thinks Anne is hot and they’ve talked about sharing a woman before, but that was a long time ago. Before Jamie knew what Alex really wanted.Still, Alex can’t resist the pleasure of being with Anne– and with Jamie….

Curved


Ki Brightly - 2020
    He loves his person, Private Investigator Evan Slater, his job as a defense attorney, and he doesn’t mind living in Evan’s small house, even though he comes from an old-money family on Vert Island. Evan is everything Madden wants out of bed, and in it, except he’s missing one thing: gentleness. Evan knows he’s been letting Madden down, or at least that Madden wants more from him. The learning curve to give Madden what he wants might be sharp, but not impossible to handle. Can Evan find some courage and take the plunge? With Madden at his side, anything’s possible.

Bubbly


Shea Balik - 2017
     There was no doubt about it, Macalister Whitmore was as straight-laced as they came. He worked all the time, never did anything that would be considered fun, and almost always wore a suit and tie, even in the laid back southern town of Dahlonia, where the dress code tended to be jeans and t-shirts. It was how his parents raised him and Macalister was sure even a tanning salon couldn’t change that. David Wilson wanted to throttle his best friend for sending Mac to his tanning salon to try and loosen up the uptight lawyer. He had never met anyone that had actually worn a suit to a tanning salon before. What Mac needed was a doctor to remove that stick from his ass. Then again, if Mac continued to look down his nose at David, he would remove it himself. Still, it seemed that opposites do attract, so they decide to give each other a chance. Happily ever after may sound like a dream come true, but no one ever said it didn’t come with pain and heartache. Will they walk away from each other, or walk through hell for the chance to pop some Bubbly and celebrate finding their happy ending? Male/Male romance and sexual situations.

The Dating Game


Jay Northcote - 2014
    But Nathan was apparently straight, and Owen was too busy with other guys to take his crush seriously. When Nathan moves back to Bristol after a year away, Owen hears that Nathan has come out of the closet, and he propositions him. Nathan doesn’t want to be just another notch on Owen’s bedpost, though, so he challenges Owen to prove he can be serious: five dates before they have sex.Owen doesn’t think that sounds too difficult. He’s expecting Nathan to find his charms irresistible anyway. But as they grow closer, Owen begins to care more about proving himself to Nathan than he does about getting him into bed.Word count: 31,000 approx

Caleb


Kate Tilney - 2020
    For the first time in my life, I impulsively book a ticket to Alaska to find out what happens.But I never imagined I'd be sharing a cabin with someone so sexy, or as gruff, as Caleb. He's like a fantasy. But after we get off on the wrong foot, I suggest we bury the hatchet and make the best of the situation. And I have an idea . . .CALEBAt first, I'm not so sure about sharing a cabin with a woman. Especially not someone as voluptuous and beautiful as Abbie. I spend two weeks in Alaska every year to unwind from the pressures of my job as a firefighter.Still, when she proposes we spend our two-week stay holding a competition, I can't say no. But as we go through a series of activities and challenges I find my eye straying from the prize. All I can think about it Abbie, and how she feels in my arms.Camp Mountain Man: Bunkmates is a series of standalone short romances about what happens when a BBW and a mountain man share close quarters and find romance on their Alaskan vacation. Read CALEB if you like action and adventure, enemies to lovers, and putting it all on the line for a happily ever after. No cliffhangers. No cheating!