Staff Picks
Get to First Base: Sports Romances
- Sara M.
- Friday, August 09, 2019
Collection
Already love sports romances, or ready to dip your toe in the pool? To play doubles, you'll need to really get your head (and heart) in the game. Are you ready to make a forward pass? Be careful - you might get thrown a curve ball, but you definitely miss 100% of the shots you don't take!
Sugar's Twice As Sweet
Published in 2014
"Marina Adair writes with heart and sizzling heat. SUGAR'S TWICE AS SWEET will charm you!" —Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author "A can't miss read with small town sweetness, endearing characters and a unique quirky flair." —Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author on SUGAR'S TWICE AS SWEET He's trouble she doesn't need . . . Thanks to a cheating fiancé, Josephina Harrington's perfect life just crashed and burned. Moving in with her overbearing parents is definitely not an option. No, she needs to prove she can make it on her own. And she will-by turning her great-aunt's old plantation house into a destination getaway. She's just not expecting her contractor to be so hands-on-and so totally irresistible. . . . but everything she wants Bad-boy golf champion Brett McGraw figured his hometown of Sugar, Georgia was the perfect place to lay low and get his life back up to par. The leggy blonde with a pint-sized pup is the kind of sweet 'n sassy trouble he never saw coming. She doesn't know a nut from a bolt and before long, he's renovating her house . . . as she steals his heart. Can he convince Josephina that his womanizing ways are in the past and he's ready for forever?
Alex
Published in 2015
Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the ice. Pushed into the sport by his alcoholic father, Alex isn't afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn't so amused. Now Alex has a choice, fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves. As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people like Alex, who's been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the Fury's effort to clean up his image. What she doesn't expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips stirring her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn't one to cross professional boundaries-and besides, Alex doesn't do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex's bad-boy facade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.
All of Me
Published in 2015
After a meltdown during a major league game, pitcher Caleb Hart is sent back home, and, with the help of the beautiful mayor's assistant, must improve his town's team's image while trying to keep his family together and his ex-con father out of trouble.
The Hook Up
Published in 2014
The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all...No falling in love. Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right? Too bad he's committed to making her break every rule... Football has been good to Drew. It's given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there's one problem: she's shut him down. Completely. That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it's up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she's truly hooked. It's a good thing Drew knows all about winning. All's fair in love and football...Game on.
Resisting Roots
Published in 2016
Yoga instructor Genevieve Harper is a blond bombshell loaded down with responsibility and sacrifice. She makes the most out of raising her two siblings in the wake of their parents' tragic accident. At twenty-four, she doesn't have time to devote to a man...especially not the devastatingly handsome Trent Fox, who's known for being a "player" on and off the baseball field. Trent has the best hitting average in the league. Recently, he suffered a torn hamstring that takes him to the Lotus House Yoga Center for recuperation. There he meets the curvy, petite blonde with soulful black eyes and candy-coated glossy lips he'd like to do more to than kiss. He secures the flexible hottie for daily private lessons that ultimately show him how sensual the art of yoga can be. Can love grow between a woman who's rooted in her life and a man who resists any notion of staying in one place?
All Lined Up A Rusk University Novel
Published in 2014
Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football-star ex wasn't bad enough, her father, a phenom in Texas's world of high school coaching, has decided to make the jump to college ball . . . as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting lineup. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead -- falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.And neither of them knows how to walk away from the attraction they feel.
One More Shot
Published in 2016
Drafted by the NHL at eighteen, Jordan Garrison was headed for fame, and there was only one person he wanted to share it with-Jessie Caplan. He was crazy in love with her, and had finally told her so. They shared an amazing night . . . and then everything fell apart. Jessie tries not to think about the night she gave herself to Jordan-or how he broke her heart. She tries not to think about it, but she does. Especially now, when she's staring into his sky-blue eyes for the first time in six years. After so much time and torment, she can't tell if she loves him or hates him. But Jordan has learned enough to know a connection like theirs is rare. He was lucky to find Jessie once. No way will he lose her again. Contains mature themes.
The Ex Games
Published in 2010
When Hayden wins the girls' division of a local snowboarding competition, her ex-boyfriend Nick claims she wouldn't have a chance against a guy, prompting a battle of the sexes.
Can't Stand the Heat
Published in 2013
"Over three generations, the Gibbons women of Chesterton, Virginia, have built their reputation as a family of shameless--but refined--gold diggers. They even have a strict set of rules by which they operate. But the rebellious, youngest Gibbons is about to break them all ... Lauren Gibbons is committing the ultimate family betrayal: abandoning the tradition of seducing men for money. Nothing is worth the abuse she's endured from her sugar daddy. Now a sous chef, Lauren is hoping to break from the past for good. And when she meets hot former NFL player Crisanto Weaver, she even lets herself imagine a future. But the small-town rumor mill--and her own sisters--aren't ready for a new Lauren. Between her conniving relatives, her vengeful ex, a mountain of debt, and a whole lot of haters, can she escape her old life, and create something new?"--Page 4 of cover.
Jagger
A Caldwell Brothers Novel
Published in 2016
Jagger Caldwell is no one's hero. With a reputation for busting heads and breaking hearts on the underground MMA circuit, he lives for easy cash and easier women. But when he stumbles upon an all-too-familiar scene, painful memories awaken Jagger's sensitive side and compel him to act. As a kid, he stood by helplessly as his old man beat his mom. Now, Jagger won't let seventeen-year-old Tatiana Rand suffer the same fate. Nothing matters except saving her. Tatiana is a prisoner in her own home, at the mercy of her violent father-until an unlikely savior bursts through her door and into her life. Six-feet-plus of tattooed muscle and raw power, Jagger is no prince charming, but Tatiana stopped believing in fairy tales long ago. Despite their differences in age and, well, everything else, the sexy bad boy sparks a fire that Tatiana never knew she had-and desires that only Jagger can quench. Contains mature themes.
Blindsided
Published in 2015
As the daughter of Hollywood's sweetheart, Leah Veronica can't even buy a coffee without finding her face on a magazine stand, so it's no wonder she's launching her first fashion line in secret. With it debuting at New York Fashion Week in just under a month, extra time in the spotlight is the last thing she needs. The son of the best quarterback the league has ever seen, filling legendary shoes as the L.A. Vipers' quarterback was inevitable for Corey Jackson. So was meeting Leah Veronica-the first girl to hand him his ass without putting a hair out of place. Getting the sexy, prickly blonde into his bed becomes his number one goal. But getting the handsome, over-confident footballer the hell away from her becomes Leah's-at least until she realizes the best way to do that is to give him what he wants. When secrets are exposed and hearts are shattered, they have to figure out if they've been blindsided by love or reality, and if it's worth running the extra yard to win the game they never meant to play. Contains mature themes.
Fast Break
Published in 2011
"He's a two-time MVP and three-time championship winner. He lives to be the best. And now that he's a first-time coach, DeMarcus Guinn will lead the NBA's worst team to the top his way--or no way at all. But the team's fiery franchise owner, Jaclyn Jones, is fighting him at every turn. And their unexpectedly seductive one-on-one is the kind of game time he can't resist..."--P. [4] of cover.
Catching Jordan
Published in 2011
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though. She leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position ...suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.
Knowing the Score
Published in 2013
Rugby player Spencer Bailey is determined to win a spot on England's World Cup team. But with a month break before the selectors start watching him, he's eager to have fun with a woman who knows the score: the relationship will end when rugby season begins. The lovely American Caitlyn Sweeney seems perfect for the role of temporary lover, since her visa will run out soon anyway. Caitlyn works for an international disaster relief organization and can handle the world's worst crises, but she flinches from her own. Her past has left her with a fear of intimacy so deep that she has trouble getting close to anyone-until she meets sexy Spencer. His hot body and easygoing nature are too much for even her to resist. Neither Caitlyn nor Spencer expects to fall hard for each other. But with their relationship deadline approaching, the old rules of the game seem less important than before...until past secrets surface, challenging everything they thought they knew about each other.
The Trouble with Love
Published in 2018
As Stiletto magazine's authority on all things breakup-and-heartache, Emma Sinclair writes from personal experience. Five years ago, Emma was Charlotte, North Carolina's darling debutante and a blushing bride-to-be. Now she's the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene. Emma left her sultry Southern drawl behind, but not even her closest friends know that with it she left her heart. Now Emma's latest article forces her to face her demons-namely, the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar. After giving up everything for a pro-soccer career, Alex Cassidy watches his dreams crumble as a knee injury sidelines him for good. Now he's hanging up his cleats and giving journalism a shot. It's just a coincidence that he happens to pick a job in the same field, and the same city, as his former fiancee... right? But when Emma moves in next door, it's no accident. It's research. And Alex can't help wondering what might have been. Unlike the innocent girl he remembers, this Emma is chic, sophisticated, and assertive-and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. The trouble is, Alex has never wanted her more. Contains mature themes.
The Magic Broom
Published in 2013
With the winter Olympics on the horizon, Cody Mikkelson's editor assigns him several stories about athletes in the area with gold medal aspirations. But there's a catch: Cody has to try all the sports when he interviews the athletes-and he is so not an athlete. The day before his torment begins, four new guys move into the apartment down the hall, including the handsome Shane Spicer. Cody is immediately desperate to figure out if Shane is gay, but both men have busy schedules, leaving little time to socialize. So Cody heads back to work and goes to interview the local curling team, where among brooms, laughter, a sore backside, and an unexpected meeting, Cody finds he just might get his chance after all.
Fumbled
Published in 2019
"A second chance doesn't guarantee a touchdown in this new contemporary romance from the author of Intercepted. Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person. T.K. Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he's moved on. When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship"-- Provided by publisher.
Maybe This Christmas
Published in 2014
"Uplifting, sexy and warm, Sarah Morgan's O'Neil Brothers series is perfection."—Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author This winter, ex-skiing champion, reformed heartbreaker and single dad Tyler O'Neil has only one mission—making sure his daughter, Jess, has the best Christmas ever. The fact that his best friend, Brenna, is also temporarily moving into his chalet at the overbooked Snow Crystal resort is a delicious distraction he's simply going to have to ignore. Theirs is the one relationship he's never ruined, and he's not about to start now. Ski pro Brenna Daniels knows all about the perils of unrequited love—she's been in love with Tyler for years. But living with him is absolute torture… How can she concentrate on being his friend when he's sleeping in the room next door? Then when Tyler kisses Brenna, suddenly the relationship she's always dreamed of feels so close she could almost touch it. Could this be the Christmas her dreams of a happy-ever-after finally come true?
One Night with a Quarterback
Published in 2016
Cassie Wainwright thought that her father-head coach of the Santa Fe Bobcats-ignored her purposefully. Come to find out, he had no clue that she'd ever been born. Now Cassie is determined to meet the man who's always been missing from her life. Her mother warns her that being the long-lost daughter of a well-known NFL coach won't be easy, but Cassie's determined to stick it out-and before her life turns upside down, she wants one more night of fun. Starting quarterback for the Santa Fe Bobcats Trey Owens is tired of being in the limelight. Lucky for him, the beautiful brunette he meets at the club isn't a local. She has no idea who he is, and she's down to party. Tomorrow, Cassie will think about her father. Tomorrow, she'll think about her future-but tonight is for herself and the hottie she found on the dance floor. It's a match made in heaven, if only for a night . . .Contains mature themes.
It Had to Be You
Published in 2009
The Windy City isn't quite ready for Phoebe Somerville--the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not ready for the Stars' head coach, former gridiron legend Dan Calebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Calebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises--a meddling bimbo who doesn't know a pigskin from a pitcher's mound. So why is Dan drawn to the shameless sexpot like a heat-seeking missile? And why does the coach's good ol' boy charm leave cosmopolitan Phoebe feeling awkward, tongue-tied...and ready to fight? The sexy, heartwarming, and hilarious "prequel" to This Heart of Mine --Susan Elizabeth Phillips's New York Times bestselling blockbuster-- It Had To Be You is an enchanting story of two stubborn people who believe in playing for keeps.
The Hooker and the Hermit
Published in 2015
Annie Catrel, social media expert extraordinaire at Davidson & Croft Media and clandestine celebrity blogger, can make anyone shine in the court of public opinion. She is the Socialmedialite, anonymous creator of New York's Finest and the internet's darling. Virtual reality is Annie's forte, but actual reality? Not so much. Ronan Fitzpatrick, AKA the best hooker the world of rugby has seen in decades, despises the media-social or otherwise. The press has spun a web of lies depicting him as rugby's wild and reckless bad boy. Suspended from his team, Ronan has come to Manhattan to escape the drama.When Ronan is sent to Davidson & Croft Media to reshape his public image, he never expects to cross paths with shy but beautiful Annie, nor does he expect his fierce attraction to her. What lengths will Annie take to keep her virtual identity concealed? And what happens when Ronan discovers who she really is? Contains mature themes.
For the Win
Published in 2016
Lainey Lukas has sacrificed everything-sleep, family, carbs, a life-to earn her spot as the top player and captain of the Seattle Falcons women's soccer team. She's determined to lead her team to a national championship and finally earn the sport the respect it deserves, and nothing will throw her off her game. When Lainey's hero Gabe Havelak, star of the Seattle Surge, crashes her team's first press conference-making the Falcons look like a joke to the local media and humiliating Lainey in the process-she's hell-bent on revenge. Charming, confident Gabe is practically a god to Seattle soccer fans, but he doesn't mind a little friendly competition from tough-as-nails Lainey, with her top-notch athletic skills, her mile-long legs, and her girl-next-door freckles. But when he learns the Falcons are booting the Surge from their coveted practice space to the notoriously cursed Cricket Field, those warm feelings give way to crippling superstition. With his contract up for renewal and his thirty-fourth birthday just weeks away, Gabe will risk anything to protect his position with the Surge. Contains mature themes.
Opposites Attract
Published in 2015
They were like night and day. Ty Starbuck was a man known for his devastating good looks and volatile passions. Asher Wolfe was infamous for both her beauty and icy control. Together they had set the tennis world ablaze. Now, even after years apart, Asher realizes that she still loves Ty, deeply. But she knows if she reveals her secret, she could lose it all again, including Ty.
Becoming a Legend
Published in 2016
Kane Kavanagh has always had one goal: being the best mixed martial arts fighter alive. With the MMA National Championships in Las Vegas fast approaching, the man they call "Killer" has no intention of letting anyone or anything get in his way. Somehow, though, a feisty opponent has slipped beneath his guard-and stolen his heart. Fiery and passionate, Nora Hannigan is harder to pin down than any rival Kane has faced in the ring. And she isn't afraid to tell Kane that she wants nothing to do with him. With her best friend about to marry into the Kavanagh family, Nora has been resisting Kane's shameless attempts at flirting for months. But after their undeniable chemistry finally takes over, leading to the hottest night of Nora's life, she's running scared. There's a lot about her life Kane doesn't know, and she won't be responsible for ending his career. Now Kane's out to prove that he's ready for a commitment by winning her heart-and he's never lost a fight.
Field of Pleasure
Published in 2011
Life is one endless touchdown for Jared Dawson, the star cornerback for the New York Sabers. Or it is until he discovers his girlfriend in bed with another man. So Jared returns to flings-with-no-strings until he meets choreographer Chyna McCrea. Can they find a way to make love work?
A Gentleman's Game
Published in 2016
Talented by troubled, the Chandler family seems cursed by bad luck -- and so Nathaniel Chandler has learned to trade on his charm. He can broker a deal with anyone from a turf-mad English noble to an Irish horse breeder. But Nathaniel's skills are tested when his stable of trained Thoroughbreds becomes suspiciously ill just before the Epsom Derby, and he begins to suspect his father's new secretary is not as innocent as she seems. Nathaniel would be very surprised if he knew why Rosalind Agate was really helping his family in their quest for a Derby victory. But for the sake of both their livelihoods, Rosalind and Nathaniel must set aside their suspicions. As Derby Day draws near, her wit and his charm make for a successful investigative team...and light the fires of growing desire. But Rosalind's life is built on secrets and Nathaniel's on charisma, and neither defense will serve them once they lose their hearts.
The Devil in Denim
Published in 2014
When her father sells the Chicago Saints baseball team to Alex Winters, Maggie Jameson, who always thought her father would pass on his position as franchise owner to her, agrees to stay on and work with Alex while fighting her growing attraction to this man rumored to be a soulless businessman.
Rock Hard
Published in 2015
In New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh's newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past... Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he'll go after it no-holds-barred. And what he wants is Charlotte Baird. Charlotte knows she's a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom. If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.
A Fighting Chance
Published in 2015
All work and no play makes Adeline Kendrick a dull girl, so when she heads to a casino resort for a friend's bachelorette weekend, she's ready to have a good time. Until she runs into Brendan Quinn, professional fighter and the one who got away-the one her family drove away-and things take a turn for the interesting. Running into his ex won't shake Brendan. Even if it brings up the old pain of loving her when she was only slumming. Even if she looks really good. In fact, what better way to get over the past than to take advantage of the still-sizzling chemistry running hot between them? He's there to win an MMA fight, but he won't say no to a little physical relief of a different kind. But when the weekend is over, Adeline isn't ready to give up her second chance that easily. Brendan is still the one for her, no matter what her family thinks. Now, if only she can convince him of that...
Nacho Figueras Presents
High Season
Published in 2016
World-renowned polo player and global face of Ralph Lauren, Nacho Figueras dives into the world of scandal and seduction with a new fiction series set in the glamorous, treacherous world of high-stakes polo competition.
Back in the Game
A Stardust, Texas Novel
Published in 2015
Convinced there's more to Rowdy than a good fastball, a wicked smile, and a tight pair of pants, Breeanne can't help but be tempted. After all, it's boring always being the good girl, and Rowdy dares her to be just a little bad. The stakes are high, but win or lose, this time Breeanne's breaking all the rules playing the game of love.
On the Surface
Published in 2014
NHL player Tim Hollander lost his temper one time and threw a water bottle at an abusive fan. After "Bottlegate," he's traded to the San Diego Barracudas, where he'll need to keep the bad publicity to a minimum while proving he can still compete with the younger guys on the ice. Erin Collier is a pediatric nurse who's never seen a hockey game, but gets in line for Tim's autograph at a PR event in hopes of impressing the doctor she has a crush on. When an obnoxious fan gets pushy toward Erin, Tim rushes to defend the pretty stranger, throwing a punch in the process. Grateful for the rescue, Erin agrees to stand by Tim during the resulting press conference and host him at a hospital charity event. Their chemistry is palpable, and soon their lives are intertwined. But Erin doubts a hockey player is capable of anything resembling a real relationship. And if Tim can't get her to see beyond what's on the surface, they'll never last longer than a single season...
Kulti
Published in 2015
'Trust me, I've wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.' When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it's supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to. It didn't take a week for twenty-seven-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she'd seen in the international soccer icon-why she'd ever had his posters on her wall, or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies. Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man that hadn't known she'd existed. So she isn't prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team's season: a quiet, reclusive shadow of the explosive, passionate man he'd once been.