Book picks similar to
Abel by L.B. Dunbar
new-adult
sports
romance
arc
The Moment We Fell (Mystic Shores series Book 1)
Kelli Warner - 2019
Paige Bryant’s dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer died along with her mother. Drowning in grief and plagued by guilt, Paige is blindsided by a provision in her mother’s will that sends her to live with the father she never knew. Forced to start over in a new town, and at a new school where she's now the principal's daughter, Paige is convinced that her life can’t possibly get more complicated—until fate throws her into the path of the only boy her guardian tells her is off-limits. Despite two years on the straight and narrow, Cade Matthews can’t escape his time as a juvenile delinquent. With his dad behind bars, Cade’s feelings of anger and betrayal are as relentless as the rumors he’s trying to outrun. The only person not listening to the gossip is the new girl with her own set of troubles, including a father who will never give Cade a fair shake. As Paige tries to adjust to her new life and an uncertain future, a set of unopened journals reveals a dark family secret. When tensions rise to a boiling point, can Paige and Cade make peace with the past before it destroys them?
She's All Mine
Ella Goode - 2019
She wasn't smart enough for her dad and she wasn't a good enough dancer for her mom. At college, she's retreated into a shell—dancing at night and avoiding people. The one person she can't escape is a local boxer named Tank. He's determined to show her that everything she's dreamed of can be hers if she would only see herself through his eyes. Tank believed boxing and babes didn't mix until he met Erika. He can't get enough of the shy girl who rules his every thought, but she's wary of relationships. This is one fight he can't lose.
Unlikely Hero
Kemmie Michaels - 2013
Never. Not with her past, and not with her fear. She never dated; she didn't even allow herself friendships. She didn't trust her judge-of-character skills enough to allow anyone close...until Marcus. With him, a deep connection happened in spite of the walls she'd so carefully constructed around herself. His self-confessed rage fueled much of his life, with the exception of her. For Erin, Marcus dares to make the step toward love…one with the potential to heal them both.This is the first book in the Play for Keeps Series by Kemmie Michaels.
Bad Neighbor
Molly O'Keefe - 2016
He's dangerous... He's right next door. I gave up everything to save my sister from a monster, and now I’m lying low in this rundown apartment so I can stay out of danger. Hiding from everyone.Except for the guy in apartment 1A.He’s rude. Silent. Muscled, mysterious, and hot as hell. I don’t know if he likes me or hates me, but the more time I spend with him, the less it matters.I want him.And for the first time in my life I'm going to go after what I want.She doesn’t belong in my world.From the second 1B moves in, I know she’s keeping secrets. She doesn’t belong here, much less with a street fighter like me.But that doesn’t stop me from craving her. Her softness and sweetness. She’s a drug, and suddenly I’m addicted.I know someone is going to try and hurt her and I can’t let that happen. But unless I push her away and get her out of my world, that someone could be me…
Punching and Kissing
Helena Newbury - 2015
Standalone romance: no cliffhanger!She has no choice. She must fight. She's going to need a badass to train her...When an illegal underground fight leaves my brother in the hospital, I make a desperate deal to save his life: I volunteer to fight in his place. To survive, I need a fighter who can teach me to be as tough as him. I need Aedan O'Harra, the blue-eyed, Irish beast of a man who everyone fears.But training together means getting close. Every touch of his hands makes it harder to control my feelings. I begin to see the man inside him, the one no one else can. Can I help him break free of the dark secrets that haunt him and can we save each other, or will we both be defeated? Because neither of us is ready for how dark and desperate this fight will become.
Make Me Yours
Alla Kar - 2013
This best describes Layla’s life. Ever since her father passed, she has stuck to his rules: Never get caught. Never get too close. Layla’s game plan is simple, make all the extra cash she can, to make a living during college, hustling people at pool. If that means, flirting, and dressing sleazy, then so be it. It isn’t until she catches Taylor Jack’s eye that her shield is in terrible trouble of crumbling. The tattooed, bad boy, campus Fight Night champion, has his sights set on Layla, and isn’t about to give up. After a weak moment, Layla leaves Taylor on top of his pool table half-naked and wanting her. Now it seems like she can’t shake him, he is everywhere she turns. But, when Layla hustles the wrong guy, her safety is threatened. She might have to take down her shield so Taylor can rescue her from herself.Make Me Yours is the first in the sexy new adult FOREVER series from best-selling author Alla Kar.
Deeper We Fall
Chelsea M. Cameron - 2013
Ready to move on. Ready to start forgetting the night that ripped her life apart. Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again. Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face. Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. He loves To Kill a Mockingbird as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen. The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. Now she must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache.
Campus Player
Jennifer Sucevic - 2020
His fanbase is legendary. The guy is a major player.Both on and off the field.Girls fall all over themselves to be with him. They fill the stands at football practice, show up at parties he’s rumored to be at, and basically stalk him around campus. It’s a little nauseating.Don’t these girls have any self-respect when it comes to a hot guy?Fine...I’ll admit it, he’s good looking. If you’re into that kind of thing. Which I’m not. I’ve got school and soccer to keep me busy which is exactly why I avoid him like an unfortunate clap diagnosis.Too bad for me that Rowan is my father’s star quarterback. He’s practically part of the family, attending Wednesday night dinners with us. To make matters worse, we’re in the same major and get stuck together in classes every semester. It’s like the universe is trying to play a cosmic joke on me. The one guy I’d like to steer clear of is the very same one I can’t seem to get away from.But what if Rowan isn’t the manwhore I pegged him to be?What if one little secret has the capability to change everything between us?*This is a mature New Adult novel with strong language and sexual situations intended for readers over the age of 18*
Undefeated
Charity Parkerson - 2011
"The men are a little broken and the women are strong-willed. The characters complemented each other, making perfect pairings." -- Lorena Sanqui for Readers' Favorite
Flip Trick
Amo Jones - 2018
I had a one-night stand. Then in true me fashion, I left my phone at his house during my desperate venture to escape. I tried hard to ignore the texts sent to my best friend’s phone... Amethyst: Sup, these selfies are cute as shit, but your lips looked better wrapped around my… I did NOT text him back. I DID vow to never speak of him, or that night again... I’m Amethyst Lily Tatum, and up until this point, I’d managed to maintain a fairly low-key life. I’m what you would call a socially unacceptable hot mess. Instead of partying, I’m skating, flipping ollie’s over guys who loved to underestimate me. Then I started college, met a wild girl who I would soon call my best-friend, had my first drunk one-night stand, left my phone at his house, and then, when I finally managed to meet my mom’s new boyfriend, I found out that my one-night stand, was now my new stepbrother. *this is a standalone novel*
Bad Dad
Sloane Howell - 2017
Nothing on earth matters but him.Soon, I’ll have to send him out into society. The cruel machine that gnashes innocence and spits out the hollowed remains of a child’s imagination. It’s a place I know all too well, considering my past. I’ve worked hard to separate myself from it, but it looms in the back of my mind—waiting for the perfect moment to strike.My son, Logan, wants to have birthday parties, make friends, play at the park—all the normal things that seven-year olds want to do. All the things I want to do with him.I’ve put up walls around our life to shield us from danger. Giant barriers to ward off possible threats.Cora Chapman crashes through them like a wrecking ball. She’s intelligent and hilarious with soft curves and a spark that ignites a flame deep inside of me.There’s only one problem—she’s Logan’s teacher.When my past wraps its tentacles around my throat and threatens to strangle the breath from my lungs, I’m given an option—fight for my family’s freedom, or die as they’re stripped away from me.I can’t lose. I won’t lose.My name is Landon Lane and I am a warrior.
Doomsday Love
Shanora Williams - 2016
It also features the first three chapters of Shanora Williams' #1 bestselling taboo standalone novel, Tainted Black.**
Secrets of an Alpha Male
J.D. Hawkins - 2016
Pound for pound I'm the best MMA fighter in America, and I've got the brains, balls, and brawn to back it up - 230 pounds of pure muscle, infinite charm, and the stamina to last all night long. But with the biggest fight of my career coming up, I've got to keep my pants zipped and get my head in the game.That's when Frankie Jones comes in. An amazingly hot yoga teacher, she drives me crazy with those booty shorts and sports bras. I'll hold downward dog as long as she wants so I can show her my cobra. She's a total bombshell, feisty, and challenges me every step of the way. She doesn't fall for my alpha game, and that only turns me on more. But how can I get myself into her skin-tight leggings, with the pressure of this title match coming up and my trainer's orders to keep it in my pants?Before I met Frankie, all I wanted was to win this fight. But now? All I want is her.
Caged
Brittany Crowley - 2017
Then Zander ‘The Hitman’ Cage walked into my bar with those hypnotizing blue eyes and everything I ever thought I wanted flew out the window. Giving him a chance was the easiest decision I ever made. He ripped apart my safe little existence and took me along for the ride of my life. He was a fighter, a hero and every woman’s fantasy. Zander- I didn’t need any distractions coming up on the biggest fight of my career, but fate had other plans. Savannah was a breath of fresh air and the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I never planned on meeting her, I also don't plan on letting her go. I'll do whatever it takes to show her that I'm more than just the name, and will stop at nothing to make her mine.
Under the Orange Moon
Adrienne Frances - 2013
However, with her four protective older brothers, they never stood a chance.Except for one.Dylan knew she loved Ben McKenna from the first time she laid eyes on him. When he started sneaking in her room, she thought he felt the same way. But just as their passion ignited, he left for college and never came back.Until now.Returning home after 5 years, Ben realizes Dylan has always been the one for him. Can he win back her heart and finally find love under the orange moon?