Book picks similar to
The Exception by Mickey Miller


sports-romance
romance
contemporary-romance
arcs

The Player and the Bet


Liv Reid - 2021
    (Doesn’t it always?)The star quarterback. The school loser. You know the rest… But our story is anything but typical.Mace Law is the bad boy football player all the girls want—except me.I’ve hated him since the day we met, all those years ago.Now, we are both at Winterford University, and the school is forcing me to keep him out of trouble if I don’t want to get expelled.It’s an almost impossible task, and I’m about to learn he has secrets darker than I could have ever imagined.But I’m not going to let some obnoxious, hard-partying player destroy everything I’ve worked so hard for. I’m not going to let him bully me.Sorry—not sorry—Mace, this is one game you aren’t going to win.The Player and the Bet is an enemies-to-lovers college sports romance. It’s a standalone story with a HEA. It’s filled with smoking-hot bad boys, sarcastic heroines, twists, and banter for days. It contains scenes that may be offensive or triggering for some readers.

Out of the Blue


Kathryn Nolan - 2021
    Until a security job goes bad, and he suddenly finds his career on thin ice. Cope’s newest assignment comes with serious consequences - he’ll keep his job as long as he makes no mistakes.Cope isn’t worried…until his new client turns out to be a beautiful blast from his past.Big wave surfer Serena Swift loves the adrenaline of her sport. And the elite athlete hates being told what to do. That goes double when the orders are coming from the sexy bodyguard-in-a-suit who broke her heart.But she doesn’t have a choice when a mysterious threat materializes and Serena’s sponsor saddles her with the last man she’d want guarding her body. She’d rather focus on her next surf competition, not on some shadowy danger or the arrogant ex who dared to get even hotter since their breakup.Cope can’t stop butting heads with his new client. Just like old times, Serena refuses to play it safe, even when it’s clear she’s in peril. Now the intimacy of spending every second of the day by her side is wearing away at his self-control. He can’t afford to lose focus, but everything about the woman is a constant distraction. Including the fact that their divorce was never finalized…Author’s Note: One-click this scorching-hot bodyguard romance if you’re a fan of second-chance angst, sizzling sexual tension, thrilling action and mysterious danger set on the warm, sunny beaches of San Diego.

Inked


Sarah Darlington - 2020
    A parting gift to myself from myself. Because when your girlfriend dumps you for a famous rockstar, you leave. You move on. You get the hell out of town and forget all about her. But I never counted on Amanda. Or the night we shared. Or the mark she left when she put her ink on my skin. I have to go back. For her.AMANDAThere are three things I know about Nick: he’s cocky, he’s amazing in bed, and he’s the father of my unborn baby. When he walked into the shop, smelling like heaven, wanting his first tattoo, I should have refused his business. Because I knew the moment I set eyes on him, I didn’t stand a chance. Still, I fell down the rabbit-hole with him.Now he’s back in town. With no clue I’m pregnant. When I’m forced to tell him, I tell him it isn’t his. Because he left once, he could easily leave again. And guys like Nick, they don’t stick around for girls like me.

Not So Fake (The Billionaire's Secret #7)


R.S. Elliot - 2021
    

The Penalty Box (The King Brothers)


Teagan Kade - 2020
    

All In With Me


Mary A. Wasowski - 2020
    However, all that everyone is talking about and wants to know is if this will be the year he retires and says goodbye to the game he loves.But as he contemplates his future, he’s dealt with another upset involving his longtime on-again, off-again girlfriend who will no longer compete with football. When he receives a letter alerting him of her imminent departure, he is forced to reexamine his life and the choices he has made.He’s about to play in the biggest and possibly last game of his life, but first, he has two weeks to try and stop his one true love from leaving him forever and prove to her that she is the one that has his true heart.

Her SEAL


Tara Wylde - 2017
    But since I left the SEALs, I've been drifting. So when some record exec offers me a hundred grand to protect some innocent pop star? I say f*ck yeah! The catch? I've gotta pretend to be her boyfriend. Xander was the only boy I've ever loved. But I blinked and he was gone. Now I've made it to the top. I'm going on a breakout record tour. So StarPower Records tells me I need close protection. And then they go hire the boy I loved. The boy I saved myself for. But he's not a boy any more. He's a man. They're saying I need to keep him close. To pretend to be in love. He's offering to stay close, all right. But it's not his protection he's got me begging for. Her SEAL is a hot, fast standalone romance with extra steamy bonus content included! Holly Hart always gives you a Happy Ever After, she hates cheating with a passion, and cliffhangers just as much as you do! And Tara Wylde couldn't agree more...!

Mr. Surprise Daddy (Love, Accidentally)


Annabelle Love - 2021
    Football Super-Star, you’re gonna be a daddy,But we can’t talk about this until next week.I will not steal the thunder from my sister’s wedding.Especially when I’m the one organizing it.But the eye-candy linebacker won’t stay out of my way,And this island is far too small.I don’t care that he turns on the charm and offers to help.He can stick his rock-hard abs and good intentions somewhere else.Preferably somewhere that doesn’t complicate, or create, anything.But when this island wedding sends me up a creek without a paddle…he’s there.Saving my behind. Stealing my senses once again.And every time his big blue eyes meet mine, I turn into a walking bundle of hormones.I thought seeing those two pink lines was the scariest thing ever…Until I realized that I could be falling for my baby’s father.This surprise pregnancy romance will sweep you off your feet and make you fall head-over-heels. Get ready to swoon your way to the HEA! No cheating or cliffhanger. This is Book 3 in the Love, Accidentally series, but each book is a stand-alone and can be read in any order.

Distracted


Michelle Fernandez - 2021
    Our childhood was carefree and full of daring adventures. Then we grew up, pursued our careers, and moved on with our lives. She's the girl I've loved since I was fifteen. The thing is, she doesn't know it, and I never plan on telling her.The death of her parents brought us back to our hometown of Sunnyville six years ago. We reminisced and I was her shoulder to cry on. One thing led to another, giving each other a night I will never forget, and the bond that ended our friendship.Now, another funeral brings me back home, and there she is, with her daughter. Sabrina is everything I want but can't have. I want to talk to her about our awkward night and rectify what we once had.But just when things get right with us, complications arise, and outside forces threaten our lives.Distracted will be written within K. Bromberg’s bestselling Everyday Hero world and the sexy Malone Brothers will definitely make their appearance. It’s an epic crossover from The Broken Hero Series that you’re sure to enjoy!

Silver Heart


Victoria Green - 2013
    Since then, she's done her best to forget the past, put her dreams on hold, and play the role of the perfect, dutiful daughter. When her best friend coaxes her into a winter getaway to a mountain resort, she sees it as a chance to forget about her suffocating responsibilities and the future she doesn’t want—med-school and a fake fiancé.But then the past catches up to her. Sexy Olympic snowboarder Sawyer Carter is the last person she expected to encounter on the slopes after all these years. Being around him again is intoxicating, and as bittersweet memories mix with dark desires, she starts to wonder if maybe they really are meant to be.But Dylan doesn't believe in fate, and a future with Sawyer no longer factors into her risk-free plans. As he dares her to be the person she has always wanted to be, can she find it within herself to abandon her fears and seize this opportunity for a second chance? One thing is certain: after a week in Whistler, Dylan’s life will never be the same.

One More Time


Laurelin Paige - 2018
    A feature film starring the hottest man in Hollywood—and me. It wasn’t just the chance of a lifetime; it was the first time I’d landed the leading role. But Tanner James isn’t just any actor, aka “Sex God”. He’s the man who took my virginity then shattered my dreams. If I can use this part to launch a new career, it will be worth it. If I can stop myself from falling back into bed with Tanner, it will be a miracle. And my heart?There’s no way he’s taking that from me.He’s always been the one who owned it.2nd Blurb:Ten years ago, we were the toast of the town.Tanner's acting career had just begun. He was hotter than the stage lights, and twice as captivating. The gorgeous Australian A-lister was everyone's teenage dream. And he'd picked me. Or so I thought, until he proved to be as false as everything else about Hollywood. Now I've finally scored the perfect opportunity to star in a major film. The kicker? Tanner will be my co- star. I don't know if I can do this one more time….Right now, we're the talk of the town.Jenna's even more beautiful than she was the last time we were together. And just like before, I can't keep my hands off her. She still doesn't know the truth. The secret of what really happened back then. Now I have the length of this shoot to convince her to rewrite our script. But if I have her one more time, will once ever be enough?

She Likes Piña Coladas


Brittanee Nicole - 2021
    After dumping my apartment-stealing boyfriend and rooming with my best friend’s dog, the promise of fruity drinks, dancing in the rain, and maybe even a midnight romp, leaves me singing a familiar tune, excited to travel to the Azores with the stranger who answered my wanted ad.When Jack, aka Mr. Perfect, aka the one who got away, shows up at the airport, I’m left to wonder if this is just another one of life’s dirty pranks.Jack isn’t only hot, he’s a fighter pilot with a sense of humor and blue eyes that make my butterflies dance. He’s saying all the right things and sending sparks in every direction he looks, asking me to take all sorts of risks—like swimming in hot springs, jumping in mysterious pools, and giving him a second chance. But he still hasn’t told me why he disappeared in the first place.After a sip, or twenty, of sangria, I’ll happily explore the cafés and the beaches and possibly even Jack’s calves, but what I absolutely, positively will not do is fall for Jack—again.Authors Note: She Likes Pina Coladas is a full-length, standalone, steamy and humorous contemporary read featuring a second chance at romance.

Touching Down


Nicole Williams - 2016
    But all he’s ever loved is her.Grant Turner’s name is synonymous with football. The fans and media can’t get enough of the player known as The Invincible Man, a nickname he earned while growing up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the country and the nickname he’s kept by being one of the best players in professional football today. No one can take him down. He’s unstoppable.But even a suit of armor has its weak point, and Grant’s has always been Ryan Hale.They were a couple of kids when they fell in love, and just when it looked like the happy ending neither expected was within reach, Ryan disappeared. No explanations. No good-byes.Grant coped by throwing himself into the game for seven years, and he’s finally moved on. Or so he thinks.When she walks back into his life, all of those feelings come crashing back, despite the warnings in his head that tell him she’ll leave him again. Grant can withstand the league’s toughest defensive line, but he’s always been weak where she’s concerned.No man can take Grant Turner down.But one woman certainly can.One woman will.

Nothing Personal


Karina Halle - 2018
    Her latest relationship ended while on her much-needed vacation, then upon her first day back at work, she learns that her beloved boss has quit – and despite having worked so hard for it, she’s not being considered for his position. Who is being considered for the position is none other than Kessler Rocha. Her ex-coworker and ex-lover, Kessler’s the man who broke her heart five years earlier and the reason she moved thousands of miles away, switched jobs, and created numerous voodoo dolls in Kessler’s (very burly, very handsome) liking. Yup. Worst week ever. New in town and on her turf, Kessler promises he’s not the same man he was – and considering he’s now a single father to a precocious toddler, he’s telling the truth. But he’s still an arrogant and devilishly charming man who’s taking over the position Nova feels she deserves. The fact that he’s gotten even more sexy over the years doesn’t help either. Now Nova and Kessler have the choice to let bygones be bygones, or fight with each other every chance they get, with unresolved sexual tension only adding fuel to the flames, creating a fire that might just burn down the whole office. In the corporate world they say it’s just business, nothing personal. Nova and Kessler are about to show just how personal things can get.

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.