Book picks similar to
Fighter's Heart by A. Rivers


sports
romance
fighter
sports-romance

Bittersweet


Noelle Adams - 2013
    Widowed at only twenty-six, she’s just trying to get through one lonely day at a time as she grieves her late husband, and finds the energy to take care of her infant son.As Zoe bravely tries to hold herself together, her husband’s cousin and business partner, Adam, offers his support and friendship. Shattered by her loss, Zoe is distant and resentful at first, but Adam gently persists, and Zoe’s reserve soon begins to crumble . . .Adam knows that Zoe needs time to heal but finds himself more and more attracted to her. He knows he must not act on these forbidden feelings, but they just won’t go away . . .Noelle Adams’s Bittersweet is a poignant, fearless exploration of friendship, loss, new beginnings, and the healing power of love.

Going Down on One Knee


Christina Hovland - 2018
    Sure, she's got the lucrative job. She's got the posh apartment. But her sister nabbed Velma's Mr. Right. There has to be a man out there for Velma. Hopefully, one who's hunky, wears pressed suits, and has a diversified financial portfolio. He'll be exactly like, well... her sister's new fiancé.Badass biker Brek Montgomery blazes a trail across the country, managing Dimefront, one of the biggest rock bands of his generation. With the band on hiatus, Brek rolls into Denver to pay a quick visit to his family and friends. But when Brek's sister suddenly gets put on bed rest, she convinces Brek to take over her wedding planning business for the duration of her pregnancy.Staying in Denver and dealing with bridezillas was not what Brek had in mind when he passed through town, but there is one particular maid-of-honor who might make his stay worthwhile.Velma finds herself strangely attracted to the man planning her sister's wedding.Problem is, he ticks none of the boxes on her well-crafted list. Brek is rough around the edges, he cusses, and doesn't even have a 401(k). But trying something crazy might get her out of the rut of her dating life--so long as she lays down boundaries up front and sticks to her plan...Going Down on One Knee is book one of the Mile High Matched series. If you love a hunky, tattooed wedding planner this book is for you.

Fierce


Rosalind James - 2015
     It was true that I had a lousy job. Not to mention a lousy apartment and too much responsibility, although it was a responsibility I wouldn’t have given up for the world. That still didn’t mean I needed rescuing, if that was what you’d call the situation I ended up in. And anyway, I knew that a multimillionaire Maori CEO with too many muscles, a tribal tattoo, and a take-no-prisoners attitude was way, way out of my league. So, no, I didn’t ask him to, but he rescued me anyway. Because Hemi was fierce. But you know what I found out? So was I. Note: This is the “book within a book” that Faith is writing in Just in Time: Escape to New Zealand. Hemi isn’t Will, but you may see some of Faith’s feelings about Will coming out...

Where I Found You


Brooke O'Brien - 2017
    After the childhood I survived, I built a wall and locked it away. I would never let anyone in. Never let anyone close enough to take more than I was willing to give. Starting over in a new town is hard, but running from my past left me no choice. I was desperate to say goodbye to the memories that held me captive. The pain I’ve experienced is more than anyone should have to bear. Then I met him...He takes my breath away. I can’t ignore the way he makes me feel. I know he has the power to destroy me.And that's what scares me the most.Author's Note: This is Book One in the Heart's Compass series. It can be read as a standalone and has a HEA. Due to strong sexual content, coarse language and mature subject matter, this book is not suitable for under the age of 18.

His Sub (The Dom's Submission #1)


Ellis O. Day - 2019
     When he sees something he likes, or more accurately, something his d**k likes, he gets it. His women are hot, successful and experienced in BDSM. Until, he meets Maggie. She’s not at all his usual type. She’s round, lush and a hot-mess of a woman. It’s obvious she doesn’t belong at La Petite Mort Club and he can’t help following her. She needs someone to look out for her. She’s a little rabbit in a club full of predators. When she gets herself into a situation, he has no choice but to rescue her. When he realizes that she’s a natural submissive and innocent of the kinkier side of sex, he’ll stop at nothing to have. He can’t wait to show her how good it’ll feel when she surrenders to his desires. Maggie had no idea that the club she was going to was a “sex” club. She tries not to look, but there are people doing it everywhere. She is not getting turned on by it. Not at all. Really, she isn’t. All she has to do, is find her friend and get out of there. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Not only has she bumped into just about every person in the club, but one of the men—a very handsome and extremely rude stranger—not only follows her, but suggests that they “do it” in the hallway. As if she’d ever do something like that. She’s a recently divorced, mother of three, not some wild, young woman. She tells him, in no uncertain terms, what she thinks of his suggestion but then, she finds herself in a dangerous situation. Will the rude stranger save her, or will he turn out to be even more dangerous than the others?

Sugar & Spice


Phoebe Alexander - 2019
    Enticed by his father's bribe, he dons an apron to serve pastries in Cotton Candy Castle, one of the park's most popular attractions.He's tempted to blow his cover when he meets The Red Velvet Queen. Sure, she's a costumed character and the jewels in her crown are fake, but she's absolutely breathtaking. His desire only grows when he invents a baker's dozen reasons to visit her every day...enough visits to discover her sweetness comes with a side of spice.But they're both in disguise. The Queen is actually single mom Jolie Cox, who relentlessly struggles to make a living for herself and her sons. And Cy is actually her boss, not to mention heir to the corporate empire she despises.What will happen when their identities are finally unmasked?Sugar & Spice is Book 1 of the Spicetopia Series. Though the series can be read in any order, here is the preferred reading order:Book 1: Sugar & Spice (Cy and Jolie's story)Book 2: Virtue & Vice (Moon and Katja's story)Book 3: Fire & Ice (Neve and Enya's story)Book 4: Naughty & Nice (Micah and Natalie's story)

Filthy


Katherine Lace - 2015
    I married her instead.I burned for Jessica from the moment I first locked eyes on her. One look at her body and all I could think about was what I could do to make her melt, how her lips would burn on my skin, the heat of her body. I was ready for her fire to consume me. All I wanted was a one night stand but the fire she lit inside me won't go out.She wants out. Her mafia family is bad news, and I'll do anything to keep her.I should stop playing with fire when her dad is threatening to burn me. The most powerful man in L.A. says I'm a dead man if I don't leave town, but what good is my life without her?He thinks he can take my wife away? Like hell.He'll have to go through me.

The Gifted Groom


Sarah Gay - 2019
    Having refused to sign with the Titans unless they brought on his triplet brothers, Miles and Mason, Max expected to have a few more years with his brothers to raise their 15-year-old twin sisters. Max’s job is to protect the quarterback from his blindside, but Max is unable to protect himself from being blindsided when his brothers are traded and cut from the team. When a striking woman purchases a date with him at a benefit auction, he knows his life is about to change. Rosemary White, a columnist with the popular sports’ tabloid The Daily Sun, is given the assignment to purchase a date with the strapping NFL football star Maximillian Moore with the anticipation of uncovering his dark secrets in a sensational exposé. She needs her job to keep her family from losing their home, but when she finds herself falling in love with the handsome football player, her obligations to her family and employer are put to the test. Will she write the family secrets she’s uncovered, or will she choose to trust that Max’s love will protect her own heart from being blindsided?

Play by Play


Kaylee Ryan - 2020
    but the best kind. Too gorgeous for his own good, the former professional athlete is every woman’s dream, including mine. I need to stay away, but he’s relentless.Most girls want Jase because of who he is, but that’s exactly why I don’t want to get involved. A guy like him and a girl like me are bound to fumble.His panty-melting smile is so hard to resist... until one day, I don’t. I give in and say yes to my boss’s cocky best-friend.His charming determination wears me down, and once I realize what I’ve been missing, there is no going back. Now we’re a team, and thanks to his insatiable drive, our squad is growing.JaseThe minute I lay eyes on her, I know she will be mine. I want her, even though my best-friend warns me to stay away from his assistant.Samantha Wilson is smart, gorgeous, and not afraid to call me out. She’s perfect. A refreshing change from all the women who threw themselves at me when I was in the professional league.Not Samantha. She turns me down. Every. Single. Time. For nearly a year. It makes me want her even more. I’m not giving up, I’ve got plays for days, and I’m not afraid to use them.When she finally says yes. My life is turned upside down in ways I can’t imagine— get ready for the play by play.This is a prequel Novella to the Riggins Brothers Series.

Deep in the Heart


Alexa Padgett - 2019
    He's trying to forget the war with music. Will one broken instrument make their love a smash hit? Jenna Olsen isn't sure she'll ever escape her terrible choices in love. Becoming a skilled guitar craftsperson helped with the anxiety, but she dreams of the day when she can trust someone again. When an up-and-coming country star asks for a custom guitar in an impossible time-frame, Jenna falls for the challenge… and the man. Camden Grace loves his music and adores his fans. His passions help him cope with the physical wounds he sustained in Iraq, but he remains haunted by his fractured family history. After his latest angry outburst leaves an expensive guitar shattered, he doesn't expect to find a strong-willed woman whose struggle echoes his own. As the instrument and their feelings start to come together, an old would-be flame attempts to sabotage their relationship with increasingly aggressive behavior. Will a jealous rival kill more than their careers or will Jenna and Camden rise above the rage to heal their hearts forever? Deep in the Heart is a new adult contemporary romance with a melody of music. If you like sizzling chemistry, raw emotions, and wounded heroes, then you'll love Alexa Padgett's compelling novel.

Tempted: The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale #1


Felicity Brandon - 2019
    She's feisty and tempting.And she doesn't let anything come in the way of her mission.I've dealt with my fair share of rule-breakers.So, Delilah isn't what I need.But I can't stop dreaming about holding her in my arms.She might be hiding a secret.A secret that could destroy me and burn the city to the ground.There's only one question that remains.Is she worth the destruction that she's about to cause?

Power Play


Maria Luis - 2017
    She's a (struggling) sports journalist looking for her big break. Charlie Denton has been handed the most impossible assignment from her stick-in-the-mud boss: get an exclusive interview with the NHL's golden boy, Duke Harrison. The catch? She's got eight days or she’ll be demoted. Fired. Kicked to the curb - No way is she letting her future rest on the broad shoulders of a goalie who is at least three seasons past his prime. She has eight days to convince Duke that the loyal fans of The Cambridge Tribune (annual circulation: 1,000) are dying to know about his life, on and off the ice. Eight days to stand toe to toe with a man who is pure sex on a stick. Eight days to remember that every mind-blowing kiss is nothing but a power play. What could go wrong?

Pucking Parker


Jillian Quinn - 2020
    In the men’s locker room, of all places.As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, Mr. MVP gave me one of his killer smirks, right before dropping his towel in front of me. Just to prove a point. That no woman can resist him. Not even me.Now, he keeps finding ways to see me, touch me. And I find myself wanting to break my dad’s rules about his players. Rules I never break for a reason. Because falling for a player like Parker… was never part of the plan.

Forgiving the Billionaire


Macie St. James - 2020
    When Emily's brother, Jeremy, returns home from an extended business trip, Alyssa has to confront her long-buried feelings. Jeremy was her first crush but to him, she'd always been his little sister's best friend. She's never gotten over her hurt that he stood her up for her senior prom.Jeremy Owens barely recognizes the beautiful woman standing in front of him. He'd always thought of her as his sister's best friend, although he'd long suspected she had a crush on him. She's grown into a woman since the last time he saw her, and suddenly his world has been turned upside down.Alyssa doesn't have time to deal with her unresolved feelings toward Jeremy. She's starting her own marketing firm, which means lining up new clients and promoting her best friend's cafe, which is struggling. As co-owner of that cafe, though, Jeremy has a vested interest in its success. He doesn't miss any opportunity to work alongside Alyssa to try to save it.As her feelings for Jeremy start to deepen, Alyssa knows she has to find it in her heart to forgive Jeremy for hurting her so many years ago. But will it be enough to heal the wounds?

Theo


C.M. Seabrook
    Three years ago, she walked out of my life. No explanation. Just gone. With the biggest fight of my career only weeks away, she walked back in. I'll do anything to protect her. Destroy anyone who tries to hurt her. When it comes to Mac, there isn't a line I won't cross. I've loved her my entire life, and now that's she's back I won't let her go. She refuses to speak about the past, or the secrets I know she's hiding. I know she's planning on running again. But when you love someone, you stay and fight. Even if you're fighting blind.