Book picks similar to
Playing With Attraction by Melanie Shawn
sports
single-parent
contemporary
romance
The Curve
Leslie Pike - 2018
He’s got timing and a natural rhythm in life that serves him well. The sexy Memphis Mavericks catcher is passionate about his career. Everything else requires little effort from him. For the Swift dynasty, baseball runs in their blood. It practically gallops. Sidelined by an injury, he spots a woman across the room at a signing. And she’s paying him no attention. Her focus is on a shy teenage girl. Charlotte Bay is dedicated to her responsibilities. And even though she dreams of romance and love, no man has gotten close enough to figure that out. Because above all, Charlotte’s a single mother whose goal is to raise a happy, confident child. Daughter Mallory has scars, emotional and physical. Both mother and child are a little broken, but even personal trials have an expiration date. And maybe their time has arrived.
Defenseless
Amy Jarecki - 2021
Help his team win a bowl game, 2. Ace his exams and, most importantly, 3. Women are completely, utterly, and irrevocably off-limits.Strait-laced accounting major, Vivian Ellis, hasn't watched a complete game of football in her life. And when she receives her tutoring assignment, the last student she expects is Cade. Not only has the football star earned a reputation as the best looking heart-breaker on campus, his recent trial has made him notorious.But Cade is done with his past and he wants to prove it. When his teammates invite him to a celebration in his honor, he asks Vi to come along to keep the party-girls at bay. Except when Vi shows up without her glasses, she's as sexy-hot as a runway model. Worse, his tutor is as off-limits as any woman can get. As the season continues, sparks fly while their chemistry darts from simmering to scorching. Until everything is blown to hell. Challenged by hateful rumors and a devastating injury, will these star-crossed lovers find the mettle to get back in the game?
Mister Manhattan
Alexandria Sure - 2021
Imagine my surprise when a drenched, flustered brunette slipped into the booth across from me, acting like she was supposed to be there.When she slipped back out with a snappy goodbye, I never thought I’d see her again.Until I walked into my Friday morning meeting.At first, I didn’t recognize her—she was dry this time. But from the look on her face, she recognized me.When she gave the worst pitch I’ve ever sat through, I thought my boss, and mentor, was going to show her the door—except he accepts the proposal and tells me we have to work together.I didn’t anticipate I would like her, let alone be interested in her. Sure, she was hot and sassy.But something about her rubbed me the wrong way.And yet I couldn’t stop thinking about her.So, when she leaves the room and her phone chimes with a new text, I knew I wasn’t supposed to look.I also knew I wasn’t supposed to cancel her date for later that evening.And I definitely knew I wasn’t supposed to delete the entire exchange, so she had no idea what I’d done.But I did. And then I showed up at the restaurant, pretending like this was all a big coincidence.When the date is over, I want more. I need more.We start pretend-dating because she needs practice, and I tell myself, New York’s most eligible billionaire bachelor, that this is just a bit of fun.What could possibly go wrong?
The Enforcer
Nikki Worrell - 2013
Her best friend, Dr. Zoe Millis, has been begging her to make the move from Maine to California. Taking a leap of faith, Lacey does just that. Living in San Diego definitely has its perks, such as, sunshine and beaches. The best part of moving to the west coast, however, is that Steven is still on the east coast. Catching your almost husband having sex with one of your bridesmaids on your wedding day would make even the strongest woman jaded. Therefore, Lacey has sworn off men for a while, especially men who travel a lot that have easy access to loose women.When Lacey meets the new enforcer for the San Diego Scorpions, she thinks she might be in trouble. But she is determined to fight her attraction to the sexy NHL hunk. And she is successful...for about a day.
My Forbidden Date
Tara Brent - 2021
Like a coward, I pack up and run.But some secrets can’t be hidden forever.
The Right Way
Katie Ashley - 2020
No matter how hard he tries keeping his head above water, he’s drowning in a sea of grief. Compounding his inability to get his head on straight is Presley—the girl who had a complicated relationship with his brother, Jake, and who is pregnant with his child. At first, Jonathan only harbors resentment and animosity to Presley when she moves in with his parents. But the more the two are thrown together, the more his feelings for her begin to change, and the more confusing Jake’s loss becomes.Presley Patterson never imagined finding out she was pregnant just a month before graduating high school. She also never fathomed losing the baby’s father to a tragic accident. Needing support for her and her unborn child, she seeks solace by moving in with Jake’s parents. She isn’t too surprised to find an adversary in Jonathan, but she isn’t about to let him ruin the first stability she’s ever experienced. Surprisingly, the animosity towards Jonathan begins to fade and is replaced by more amorous feelings. Taking a chance on Jonathan means risking the perfect world she's built for herself and her daughter.Can the two move on from the specter of Jake in order to find a future together, or will their wounded hearts remain unhealed?
Fake Plus One (Wedding Season)
Arlo Arrow - 2019
I never expected it to lead to a perfect night of passion, or to be accepted by his amazing family as his girlfriend.But when the evening ends, will I be able to go back to living paycheck to paycheck, or will my very own Prince Charming change my life Forever?
Pretend Daddy
Lulu Pratt - 2019
To my country, my best buddy and now my little boy. I’m a single dad to a little boy I never knew existed until I got home. I don’t know anything about raising babies, the only thing I know is that I need a nanny. That’s when Ashley walks into my life. Her sweet curves and soft lips threaten to distract me, but I am duty-bound, I won’t cross the line. At least until I can’t resist the way she looks at me any longer. It’s more than the way she feels in my arms, it’s the way she’s making this house a home. And then the rug is ripped out from underneath us. Our pretend family is no more. But I've never backed down from a fight. I’m going to make us a forever family. ***Sizzling hot alpha romance full length novel with no cliffhangers, no cheating, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after***
Offsides
Kristen Hope Mazzola - 2019
Or is it just lust? Yea, it's probably just lust. Ari & Logan don't know each other. Yet. They're thrown together at the singles table by the sheer misfortune of not having a plus one and quickly discover that champagne and tequila shots are just the excuse they needed to find themselves on the brink of the best – or worst – idea ever. Logan's a running back for the North Carolina Hogs and isn't looking for a relationship. Ari totally agrees as she doesn't have time to integrate his busy schedule with her own. F*ck buddies it is. Simple and easy – no strings. Sounds perfect, right? Or is it too good to be true?
Edge of Glory
Magan Vernon - 2016
I'm Lia and I'll nguhhhhhhhhhhhhh". I froze. Directly facing me was Olympic swimmer, Jay Morningstar… and I just made an idiot of myself. The rest of the table looked up to see me standing there with my mouth practically gaping. His coach, who I recognized from TV interviews, and even two other swimmers from the Olympic team... they didn't say anything, they didn't even blink. "Uh… I mean…" I couldn't even put together my words and Jay Morningstar was just staring at me with that Wheaties box smile and those icy blue eyes. What was I supposed to say? "Sorry I just made a weird noise, it's just that I have a poster of you on my wall where you are wearing nothing more than your gold medals, a smile, and a pair of man panties?"
Dare
Allie Juliette Mousseau - 2015
But for Sophie it’s a risk that could cost a lot more than just her heart – if she’s found, it could cost her her life.
Should she dare?
Josh wants to break through Sophie’s fortified walls, but is unwilling to put the jackhammer to his own and reveal his secrets and the side of him few have ever known or seen. To do that, he’ll have to confront the darkness of his past.
Will he dare?
*-*Note: "Dare" contains no cheating, a guaranteed HEA, angst, violence and mature themes. It is intended for 18+ readers, and can be read as a standalone (but the overall story arc is strengthened by reading each book in the series order). Enjoy!!
A Lie for a Lie
Helena Hunting - 2019
I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.
Looking to Score
Carrie Gray - 2020
Oakley Davis is the star running back at our University, and the reason I’ve broken my vow to avoid the college party scene. Thanks to a mixup with my advisor, I’m now serving my Public Relations internship as a glorified babysitter to the party-hard football players.Specifically, Oakley.He’s impossible to manage. His Instagram is full of half-naked, drunk photos and he’d rather attend parties than practice. His brand needs some serious work, and when he’s not driving me insane, he’s sleeping his way through the entire female population. But I’m determined. I have plans to graduate a semester early and nothing or no one will get in my way. I’m a Virgo, after all. Oakley Davis might be a privileged, cocky, football star, but I’m Amanda Matthews; and I’ll do whatever it takes to get my A. I have to make sure I don’t end up falling in love with the idiot, first.
Defying the Odds
Kele Moon - 2011
The stranger ends up being Clay Powers, a famous UFC heavyweight fighter. Clay’s large build and dangerous fists have always intimidated. People in his hometown keep their distance and Clay is fine with that. Everything changes when a new waitress at the local diner buys him a piece of pie on Thanksgiving. Touched by the gesture when it’s obvious she can barely afford to survive, her warm smile and lush body churn up powerful feelings that leave Clay wanting more from her than pie. Melody is running from her past and the small, country town of Garnet is the perfect hiding place. With an ex-husband after her and scars from her abusive marriage etched deep, the last thing she expects is to fall for a man who makes a living with his fists, but she can’t resist Clay or the tender connection they share. Finding love in the most unlikely of places, the passion is undeniable, but Clay and Melody know their haunted pasts and unpredictable futures leave the odds stacked against them.