Books Tagged With what - topic - sports

Word Count: Click here to reveal130000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Author’s Note: Next Man Up was written before the tragic and senseless deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Out of respect for their memory and for the family, publication was delayed, and the book was revised to minimize some unfortunate and highly coincidental similarities to reality. 30% of the author’s royalties will be donated to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, an organization started by the brothers’ family to support causes that were near and dear to their hearts. ---------- When tragedy strikes the Pittsburgh Whiskey Rebels, winger Avery Caldwell loses more than his longtime linemate. Without warning, his best friend in the world is just… gone. There’s no time for grief, though. The season is starting, and now Avery is captain of his devastated team. He’s determined to be strong for them and lead them by example—putting aside his emotions and focusing on hockey. But he can only pretend he’s okay for so long. Peyton Hall was looking forward to a new start on a new team. He’d expected to land a place on the second line and play among men he’s been admiring for years… including a winger he’s been crushing on since forever. Now he’s suddenly centering the top line and trying to fill the skates of a beloved star who’s gone too soon. Avery is determined to ignore his heartache and carry his devastated team. Peyton is determined to find his place among grieving teammates. But can the new guy stop Avery from self-destructing beneath his grief and the pressure of the captaincy? And is there any room for the crackling chemistry they’re both trying desperately to ignore? Next Man Up is a standalone M/M hockey romance. TW: Off-page death, grief, self-medicating, self-destructive behavior, addiction. Also mentions of pregnancy loss/infertility. If you have questions or would like clarification about any of the potential triggers in this book, please contact the author

Word Count: Click here to reveal77000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: When we’re both needy and tactile AF, it’s no wonder everyone thinks my best friend and I are an item. But that’s so not what’s going on. Cassius Britton, the mouthy basketball player for the Minnesota Eagles, is my soul mate. He has been since he shared his gummy bears and let me have all the red ones. Because that’s the kind of person he is—selfless and sweet. But he’s so much more than that. He’s the man who rescued me from my homophobic parents. He’s the man who brought me and my sister into his family home and wrapped us in love and sunshine. All of that, and so much more, makes us soul mates—which doesn’t mean he’s meant to be mine. And when I become a dad and have to balance being a cop in our small town while dealing with grief, of course he steps up, because that’s who Cassius is. But when I need to get married, when I need a man to step up and be by my side, maybe Cassius is too close. Too much of a risk. Because how can I possibly marry my best friend and not start to fall, especially when the secrets between us are so explosive, they’ll either burn us to the ground or set our hearts free forever?

Word Count: Click here to reveal84000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Some things you can’t take back. If you say those words, get caught glancing at his bulge, or share a heated kiss, it’s game over. The “no take backs” rule strikes, and there’s no way you can backtrack. That’s the way it’s always been with me and Nate Griffin, my old best friend who thought he could change the rules. It doesn’t matter that time and distance have pulled us apart. I’ve finally figured myself out and yanked my head out of my backside. Now, if only I can drag myself out of the closet and be the man I want to be for Nate… But I’m a pro basketball player who has no desire to be a poster boy. Not only that, Nate and I don’t even live in the same country. Nate, big-hearted guy he is, takes it all in his stride, and I can’t help but wonder if just maybe he’s too good for me. But hell if I can resist him. It all boils down to: Do I want to take anything back when it comes to Nate Griffin?

Word Count: Click here to reveal72000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Pining for your best friend sucks ass—and not the good kind of sucking. But I can’t back away, and I definitely can’t let go. Eddie Phelps is too damn important to me. He has my heart and soul. Well, he and his daughter, a ten-year-old who one day will run the world. It’s not like I can even blame Eddie for mixed signals or anything. He’s done everything right. He always does. Honestly, that’s part of his problem. But I won’t put pressure on him. That means it’s down to Eddie to see how freakin’ awesome a catch I am. I just have no idea how exactly I’ll get him to do that. Sure, I’m a professional basketball player. But once upon a time, so was he. It’s going to take something huge to get him to see beyond my age *cough immaturity cough*. But since Eddie isn’t one for making wrong moves, I’m not sure a grand gesture will work. That leads me back to pining, and hoping somehow, someway, he’ll see me as more than a joker. More than his best friend—even though I’m a kick-ass one. Maybe someday, he’ll know I’m exactly the person he needs to make the move on.

Word Count: Click here to reveal31359 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay, Questioning, Transgender (Click here to hide)

Summary: Things are only heating up after Qier’s earth-shattering hit knocked his teammate out. Qier is destined to protect his family at all costs. Qier’s loyalty to his family and friends is unmatched, but will he be loyal enough to reveal his secret to the people he loves the most? In the midst of all the drama in his life, an unexpected character throws Qier a curveball. Is Qier being set up or is someone being shady? What will Qier do? Could Keston’s desire to have relationships like his best friends finally be in his reach? One chance encounter at a bus stop could change everything for him. Could this be the love Keston’s been yearning for? Raheim’s and Izzy’s friendship is taking a turn for the worst. Both are holding on to secrets that could easily destroy lives. What are the two friends hiding from each other? Will they be able to repair what’s broken? Phoenix wants to settle down and he thinks he’s found that dude. The only issue is Phoenix’s current boyfriend. In addition to Phoenix’s love life stressing him, his past is haunting him. What really happened in Mississippi? What is he running from? Why is he really in Orlando? In the second entry of a nine-book short story series, the web of intricate secrets, lies and jealously continue to tangle, but Qier’s unbelievable dark secret is destined to turn your world upside down. Just remember—everything isn’t always as it seems.

Word Count: Click here to reveal29762 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay, Questioning, Transgender (Click here to hide)

Summary: Sexual thoughts are flooding Keston’s mind. He wants to push the situation with Phoenix forward, but he’s still cautious not to hurt himself. In an effort to test things, Keston makes an impromptu, bold decision that could forever change his ongoing courtship with Phoenix. Qier is starting to have second thoughts about his relationship with Kookie. With the NFL draft approaching, he wonders if he can really keep her real identity a secret. He’s also dealing with the unending issues with his position coach, Yusuf. Qier is upset with something that Yusuf did. Can their secret relationship be repaired, or is it over for good? Finally—the big question—what did Phoenix do? What happened in Mississippi? Why is Phoenix in Orlando? Who exactly is Damon Massey? What is his connection to Phoenix? Who are the people in Phoenix’s nightmares? In the fifth entry of a nine-book short story series, all of that is answered as Phoenix’s secret is finally revealed!  

Word Count: Click here to reveal87500 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealDemisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: For college sophomore Mitch Greyson, determination and persistence are the name of the game if he wants to make it as a professional hockey player. A busy schedule of practices, games, classes, homework, two part-time jobs—and now, working with a tutor to help him pass the class he’s failing so that he can keep his scholarship—shouldn’t leave him with enough time to flirt with the NHL player in town. But that doesn’t stop him. Placed on the injured reserve list until his broken arm heals, NHL defenseman Alex Dean is using the time off to be with his ailing grandfather and get a head start on the book he’s been commissioned to write. He doesn’t expect to get roped into a tutoring gig, especially not for cocky, smart-ass Mitch. But Alex soon discovers that there’s more to Mitch than meets the eye...and he really likes what he sees. Only Alex doesn’t dare risk his NHL career by coming out, and a relationship between them would jeopardize Mitch’s chances with the organization too. It looks impossible. Then again, the best things usually do... On the Ice is an m/m contemporary romance featuring a flirty college hockey player who meets his match in a demisexual NHL player.

Word Count: Click here to reveal125000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Eight seasons ago, Jarek Badura made the biggest mistake of his career, earning him the nickname “Joke.” He’s been fighting ever since to prove that season was a fluke, and he’s only just started to leave it behind, finally regaining some respect and securing his place as second line center. But his team just made a new acquisition, and suddenly he’s linemates with the man who was the unknowing catalyst for his fall from grace all those years ago. After seven long seasons, Hunter Michaud is done carrying his disastrously managed team. An unrestricted free agent, he startles the hockey world by accepting an offer elsewhere, signing with a team that works together and builds on each other’s strengths. And it doesn’t hurt that one of Hunter’s longtime idols is on the roster. He just doesn’t realize how much his career is already intertwined with Jarek’s. Or how much resentment is waiting for him in Pittsburgh. Or how much chemistry is hiding under the ice between them. Own Goal is a 125,000-word contemporary hockey romance that isn't currently part of a series, but the author doesn't dare declare it a standalone because that's just asking for it. For fans of slow burns, grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers, and teammates to lovers!

Word Count: Click here to reveal57498 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Golden-haired Udo Holtmann is a big name in soccer. But since transferring to Premier League club Brockton FC three months ago, the star midfielder can’t score a goal. The fans, the players and the CEO are furious. It’s not his playing style or trouble gelling with the team. Udo is hiding a secret.  He wanted a fresh start at this new club yet old problems are still plaguing him. Steven Cox, former player and Brockton’s handsome assistant manager, has to find out what’s blocking Udo. Keen to prove to the world that he could manage his own club, Steven throws himself into the mission. If he doesn’t fix Udo’s problems soon, the team could fall out of the league and Udo will be back on the market. Spending time together, Udo and Steven ignite a passion but acting on it could end both their careers. The world of soccer can be an unforgiving place. With the stakes so high, what will happen if Udo and Steven give in to their feelings?

Word Count: Click here to reveal90000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealLesbian (Click here to hide)

Summary: Lila Hamilton is thrilled to be joining the Pittsburgh Bearcats, the League’s latest expansion team. She’s rehabbed from her knee injury and ready for a fresh start in a new city. But did Pittsburgh have to sign Sabrina McAvoy? Lila’s played with and against Sabrina before. She’s hot and she’s exactly Lila’s type, but she’s also hockey royalty—her father was a generational talent, and her brother is a star in the men’s league. Players, coaches, and sports commentators fawn all over her because of her family name, and Sabrina shamelessly exploits that. Lila doesn’t care how attractive she is—no, thanks. But there’s more to Sabrina’s story than Lila realizes.

Word Count: Click here to reveal66,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Jake Radovitz is finally figuring himself out again. After he accidentally injured a friend so badly during a tournament that it ended the guy’s MMA career, Jake shied away from the mat and their friendship. Now he’s inching back into that world, working alongside his friend and coaching young fighters. Ethan Bernier is trying his level best to prove that he’s ready to move up from the farm team to the NAPH. He’s playing hard, he’s playing well… and he’s playing with some newfound grit. Unfortunately, a humiliating attempt at fighting turns him into the joke of the league. When a teammate suggests fighting lessons, Ethan agrees. Anything to avoid a repeat of that embarrassment. But it’s really, really hard to focus on the instruction when the fighting coach is the hottest man Ethan has ever seen. And now Jake is struggling to teach this cute student who’s making him face the bisexuality he’s tried to ignore. Even as their careers pick up steam, maybe they can have it professional success, strong friendships… and love they won’t have to hide from their fans. The Games We Play - Season 2 is the second season of this multi-author minor league hockey romance series! All titles run concurrently through the same hockey season and the books can be read in any order, so jump in anywhere!

Word Count: Click here to reveal22416 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: The Mating Games gathering has arrived! Finding ones mate is not always easy. Not everyone's mate is always the same species and the Council knows this, so they designed a way for all types of shifters and other paranormals to come together. Have some fun, meet new people, and if you are one of the lucky ones....find your mate. Just being a skunk shifter, isn't easy. Try being a skunk as well as a socially inept genius. For Ricky, that was his life. However, he was now at the Mating Games to try and change who he is. He wanted a mate. He wanted someone that would love him for who he is and not think him strange or boring. Derk had been trying to find his mate for years. With the urging of his best friend, Derk said he would give the Mating Games gathering one last chance. Being the quarterback to the large shifter football team requires lots of practice. However, he didn't expect it to bring him to his adorable mate. The thing is, not only does Derk want him, but so does the Council, and they will do whatever it takes to have Ricky in their possession. Can Derk keep his mate safe, or will the council jump in and intercept his mating.

Word Count: Click here to reveal89000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: A forty-something single dad, a twenty-something hockey star, and a whole lot of baggage. No, this couldn’t possibly blow up in their faces. Officer Geoff Logan has his plate full. His cop’s salary and Marine retirement aren’t enough to make ends meet. He’s got war wounds and demons that are in it for the long haul. His teenagers are, well, teenagers, plus they’re pissed that he left the boyfriend they loved. Can’t a guy catch a break? Seattle Snowhawks center Asher Crowe has it all. A seven figure salary. A literal house on a hill. A stable, loving relationship with an amazing boyfriend. At least, that’s what the world sees. Behind closed doors, he’s been living in a private hell, and when he finally works up the courage to end things, his boyfriend refuses to go quietly. One call to the cops, and suddenly Geoff and Asher’s paths cross. But is the connection between them simple chemistry? Kindred spirits? Or just a pair of lonely hearts looking for a hot distraction? And even if it’s more than physical, is there really a future for two men from such vastly different worlds? Especially when the past comes knocking? This novel is approximately 89,000 words long.

Word Count: Click here to reveal77000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: The Games We Play, Book 1 Theo Mathis doesn’t regret defying the general manager during his brief stint on the Seattle Rainiers last season. The rainbow tape on his stick cost him dearly, but he’d do it again in a heartbeat… even though it means he’ll never get called up from the minors again while that GM is at the helm. Then a flood of injuries leaves Seattle desperate for players, and Theo gets called up after all. But he’s warned: provoke the GM again, and he will regret it. Except stick tape wasn’t the only line Theo skated over, and the temptation to cross it again has nothing to do with spite. Equipment manager Christian Hayes has had that hot minor league player living rent-free in his head ever since they hooked up last year. It wasn’t love, but it was fun, and he wishes they could do it again because they want to—not as an act of rebellion. If Christian’s dad ever finds out, there will be hell to pay. But it’s a non-issue, since his dad—the team’s GM—has vowed to never call up that player again no matter how bad the team needs him… and he doesn’t even know Theo and Christian hooked up. Now Theo’s back in the Rainiers’ locker room. They don’t dare risk a rematch—they both value their careers too much. All they have to do is ride this out for a few games until Theo’s sent back down. Easy enough. Right? But their mutual attraction refuses to be ignored. And it looks like Theo’s going to be staying a while. The Games We Play is a multi-author minor league hockey romance series! All titles run concurrently through the same hockey season and the books can be read in any order, so jump in anywhere!

Word Count: Click here to reveal84000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual (Click here to hide)

Summary: Time for distractions? Hardly. A chance at making the playoffs? It’s a dream for NHL forward Taylor Cunningham that just might come true. If he can keep his eyes on the ball—ahem, puck. And study for midterms. Dakota Cotton, eleven years his senior, isn’t just a distraction, though—he’s everything Tay’s ever wanted. Dakota has no interest in introducing someone who might not stick around to his four-year-old son. Been there, done that, with the divorce to prove it. But there’s something about Tay that hits all of the right buttons and has him wanting to take a chance. As things heat up between them, and the pressure to succeed hits an all-time high, will they risk a shot at happiness or choke?

Word Count: Click here to reveal150000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay, Pansexual (Click here to hide)

Summary: Rookie forward Isaac Rivera is still finding his footing in the big leagues where he’s no longer the best player on the roster. It’s a whole new world, especially now that several of his hockey idols have become teammates. Friends, even. There’s one who’s more than a hockey idol, though… and he might end up being more than a friend. Julien Landry is a powerhouse on the ice. In eight years, he’s become one of the league’s top defensemen and the heartthrob everyone wants to bed. But fallout from a painful mistake as a rookie, followed by years of rough-and-tumble hookups, have him itching for something more. When a connection sparks between him and Isaac, he discovers what he’s been missing: someone he can trust with his body and his heart. As long as Isaac and Julien keep the heat between them off the ice, what could go wrong? But Julien’s past is never far behind him, and when it comes crashing in, he might lose everything—his career, his friends, and the first person he’s ever really loved. CW: discussions of past abuse and sexual assault

Word Count: Click here to reveal60000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: How far would you go to save someone? I can't afford distractions. I've been put on academic probation and I'm one mistake away from being expelled and losing everything I've worked so hard for. All I want is to make my mother proud and honor her memory by getting my degree. My plan this semester is to keep my head down, focus on my studies, and stay out of trouble. But fate is fickle, and it seems like she has other plans when she suddenly dumps him at my feet. Weston Perkins, the university's star football player. He's the worst kind of distraction — beautiful and vicious, arrogant and hot as sin, troubled and vulnerable. I can't bear to be around him, and yet, I can't seem to stay away. But the more time I spend with him, the more I realize that there is something very wrong with West. He's harboring a dark secret and desperately needs a friend. I'm going to help him, even if he doesn't want it, and even if it means putting my future on the line. Because some things in life are worth getting in trouble for.

Word Count: Click here to reveal180000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealAce, Bisexual, Pansexual (Click here to hide)

Summary: At nearly thirty-one years old, Pittsburgh Griffins captain Elias Karlsson’s hockey years are numbered. Everything is changing around him, including his eleven-year friendship with Nikolai Sidorov. Elias would give anything for Nisha to be a permanent part of his life, but their once bedrock-strong bond has broken into a million pieces, and Elias doesn’t know why. More than anything, Elias wants his friend back, but if that isn’t an option, maybe it’s time for him to look outside of hockey for someone to be there with him when hockey isn’t an option anymore. Nisha’s world is splintering apart. He’s been in love with his two best friends for years, but now one of them has someone. The other, Elias, is searching for everything Nisha wishes he could give him… but he’s looking for it in anyone but Nisha. The farther his friends slip away, the deeper the loneliness sinks in and the bleaker his empty future looks. What can he do but numb the pain in the only ways he knows how? On the eve of the season opener, Nisha’s unexplained absence threatens the cohesion of the team and puts him and Elias on a collision course of strong wills, broken hearts, and shattered trust. In the end, they may lose the very thing that matters most to them both: each other. Scoreless Game is approximately 180,000 words, including a bonus short story. This asexual-pansexual romance is book 2 in the On the Board series. CW: on-page struggles with alcoholism and binge-drinking, suicidal ideation, toxic family dynamics, acephobia

Word Count: Click here to reveal40,500 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: It’s Christmas time, so ‘tis the season to be jolly, right? Well, Zach and Dwight beg to differ. As autumn turns into winter, this couple is in for the fight of their lives. This season will challenge them to their core. While Zach is preparing for a major change to his family, Dwight is trying to grasp the severity of his personal situation. As the happy couple travels up to mountains to spend the Christmas holiday, tensions will rise. Quite frankly, all hell breaks loose. Someone is holding on to a secret that can affect the rest of their lives. And once that secret is revealed, bombs will explode. Join us in the twelfth edition to the Life of a College Bandsman series as Jaxon Grant brings two of his top fan-favorite characters back to life as they embark on another unforgettable journey. Old flings will resurface. New life will form. However, when it’s all said and done, will Zach and Dwight stand this new test, or will this union go up in flames?

Word Count: Click here to reveal83,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Reeling from the news that his parents are divorcing, Pete Morgan starts his junior year at college cynical about love and commitment. Although his new openness to one-night stands does wonders for his sex life, fighting his romantic nature proves harder than he’d anticipated. He soon finds himself pining for a glamorous senior, Aidan, who doesn’t mind taking Pete to bed but shows no interest in commitment—at least not with Pete. And Pete’s attempt at a “friends-with-benefits” relationship with sophomore Jed leaves Pete feeling empty. One bright spot in Pete’s year is Matthew, an easygoing graduate student who assists Pete in making his first film. Matthew has some baggage too, and has sworn off relationships and sex altogether, so Pete feels safe to enjoy their friendship. But he falls for Matthew anyway, not able to fight his growing conviction that Matthew is the perfect guy for him. Even if Pete can accept that he made a mistake when he turned his back on relationships, that doesn't mean Matthew will feel the same. With a few life lessons under his belt, Pete’s ready to take a chance on love. As he finds the courage to bare his heart to Matthew, he can only hope that Matthew will take a chance with him.