Hello everyone and welcome back to another Blogger Bits!
Blogger Bits is a feature that takes place twice every month. A few book bloggers and I get together and discuss random bookish topics! As always, I will leave the links to the other bloggers posts at the end of this post! Feel free to check them out! if you are interested in joining blogger bits leave a link to your post in the comments and I’ll be sure to share your link at the bottom of my post!
This segment is all about SPORTS ROMANCES! I love sports themed romances, I especially love when the author takes their time and gives play by-play of the game. I also love the adrenaline that comes with these novels. So let’s get into my favorite sports romance.
~Olympic Hopefuls~
Since the Winter Olympics are underway I decided to start this Blogger Bits off with my favorite Olympic themed novels. You guessed it, Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey is at the top of this list. I love Kinsley and Liam’s story and if you are like me and enjoy a forbidden romance sub-genre, I highly recommend this one. Kinsley Bryant is an olympic hopeful, that is until professional soccer playing bad boy Liam Wilder comes into the picture. Liam is brought on to coach the team and get them ready for the Olympic tryout. He’s completely off-limits and any fraternization could lead to being booted off the team. I am completely addicted to R.S. Grey’s sports/Olympic themed novels. She also has a series out that I freaking devoured! The Summer Games: Settling the Score and The Summer Games: Out of Bounds are also on my ‘Top Olympic Reads’ list.
On the other side of the olympic scale is the Winter Olympics. Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Luge, Skiing…thats only a few of the competitions in the Winter Olympics. My favorite will always be Figure Skating. Ice Games by Jessica Clare is about an Olympic athlete who is now a figure skating teacher. When she gets a call from the producers of ‘Ice Dancing with the stars’. This is her way back to the competitive level she has been dreaming of there is only one obstacle and it comes in the form of a MMA Bad Boy! I read this novel a few years back and I remember loving this story line! An ice princess getting teamed up with a fighter…Hell yeah, that is my type of story! I plan on rereading this one soon and writing up a review on it.
~Baseball Boy toys~
Baseball is america’s favorite pastime..or so that’s what is quoted. I have to agree, I’m a huge fan of baseball. I love watching it in person and on the television, I also love romances that surround around the sport. Some of my all time favorite authors have written exceptional novels revolving around baseball! I can’t help it, I get giddy when I see a baseball romance. My top picks where difficult to select but I’ve managed to select a few series that have unique qualities and story lines.
First is a novel by an author that I absolutely adore. You all may think because I love this author I’m a little biased but let me tell you, that is the complete opposite. If anything I’m more critical when it comes the favorite authors writing about something else that is a favorite for me. I find myself being very nit picky when I’m in this position.
With that being said one of my favorite baseball series is The Boys of Summer by Heidi McLaughlin. Ethan (Third Base), Cooper (Home Run), and Travis (Grand Slam) stole my heart! These novels are completely different but all have one thing in common….BASEBALL These novels are all great but my favorite from the series, by a pinch, is Grand Slam. Travis’s story is scary..especially in today’s world. This playboy is faced with a rape accusation. It was really sad to see this Jokester, lighthearted man, deal with the accusation, the fall of his reputation, and the depression he falls under. But bringing light to the situation this man finds his second chance romance in all of the mess that surrounds him. Even though this novel takes place during the off-season It is my favorite of the three.
Another favorite Baseball romance of mine is….Moonshot by Alessandra Torre! This novel is different from other baseball romances. Moonshot has it all a strong heroine, a strong suspense vibe, and a sexy as sin athlete. I really enjoyed the unique vibe that this novel gave to the baseball world. That is all I’m saying about this one…nobody likes spoilers.
I need to read more from Alessandra Torre….All recommendations are welcomed!
The Perfect Game series by J. Sterling was my first baseball romance series. This was the series that honestly caused my addiction to this sub-genre. This series revolves around a couple of college students, Jack and Cassie. Jack is a baseball star looking at the big leagues, and Cassie is his girlfriend. Their story is heartbreaking and the cause of many tears and yelled F bombs. My heart still breaks when I think about this series. but the ride was worth the angst. I highly recommend this to all that are looking for a little bit of fictional angst in their lives!
~Football Gods~
One thing I love about Football romances, all the hero’s have huge….egos….Yeah, well go with that! These men are egomaniacs a quality i find to be hilarious especially when they are knocked down a notch by the women that are forces to be reckoned with. I also love the angst that comes along with a couple of my selections.
Reed’s Reckoning by Ahren Sanders is one of my favorite Football romances. This story has Second Chance romance, secret baby romance, and angst all rolled into one. This is another novel I read a few years ago. Every time I thing of a football romance, this book comes to mind. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all in one. I wanted to slap Reed one minute and hug him the next.
Believe it or not, this is the only novel I read by Ahren Sanders….if you have any recommendations for books by this author drop them in the comments. I’m really interested in reading more from this author.
The Baller by Vi Keeland is my second favorite. Brody is the definition of Egotistical! This book is hilarious! Delilah is a sportscaster. being a woman in an all man’s career is tough work and she finds it hard to be taken serious in this career. This was an interesting take on the whole ‘football’ genre. I love when an author brings something new to a very popular sub-genre. Vi Keeland did a fabulous job with the back and forth banter, the egos, and the hilarity that comes with this novel.
Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines is a high school (YA) football romance. This novel takes on a more serious role. Maggie witnessed a tragedy two years prior and hasn’t spoken a word since that brutal night she lost everything. West Ashby is known as the schools cocky playboy. He wears his reputation as a suit of armor shielding outsiders from the devastation he is facing at home. Watching the strongest man he’s every known slowly break down due to the cancer is breaking him apart piece by piece. Nobody knows, until Maggie moves in with her cousin who also happens to be West’s best friend. She sees through his armor and he sees through hers. This novel broke my heart over and over again! But the friendship between these two that eventually leads to a romance that trumps all was completely unforgettable! I highly recommend!
~Hockey Hero’s~
Hockey is the sport that is at the bottom of my list. I don’t really care for watching it on television, I’m going to a Red Wings game next weekend so here’s to hoping I enjoy it in person…We’ll see. With that being said, I was really surprised to find that I love reading Hockey Romances. I love the adrenaline that comes along with these story lines. I love feeling like I’m in the game and I especially love the Hockey Hero’s and their alpha tendencies.
The Pucked Series by Helena Hunting is a given when it comes to Hockey Hero lists! This series is full of passion, bad ass hockey players, and alpha tendencies! It’s hard to pick a favorite character in this series I love them all! If I had to pick a favorite though…I’d have to go with Violet and Alex! Violet is so off the wall crazy and Alex is so down to earth. They are the perfect couple, they even out each other. Violet is the crazy to Alex’s calm and vice versa. I also love the fact that Alex is an alpha male but he’s not an alpha asshole. This series is a must read to everyone that loves romances that involve hockey.
Irresistible You by Kate Meader is another great hockey romance. This book involves a ‘Ragin’ Cajun with the heart of an angel and a dirty mouth even the devil would blush with. I really loved Remy and Harper’s story. I also loved the unique vibe this novel brings to the Hockey romance world. Harper is one among three estranged sisters. They are brought together after their father passes away. Harper has always wanted to be in the hockey world and with her father’s will, that’s a possibility. He’s left the Rebel’s hockey team in her hands and her two estranged sisters hands. The only clause being the three of them must work together and lead the worst hockey team in the league to the playoffs. Sounds easy, right? Yeah, not so much.
~Fierce Fighters~
(MMA, Boxing, Illegal Fighting)
I saved the best for last!
My favorite sport to watch is Boxing! I love the fierceness and the fragility that comes with this sport. There is also an admirable quality. My mom’s best friends son is a boxer, so I’ve witnessed first hand the grueling and hard work it takes to be at the top of your game and sometimes your best isn’t enough but its all you can be. I’ve also watched a few fights and I’m telling you, the adrenaline and intensity in the room given off by the spectators alone is something that every person should witness at least once in your life.
As you probably already guessed, novels involving fighters are my first love! I have a strong love for this sport and for the men in these novels I’m about to list. If you follow my blog and read my posts some of these books are a little redundant but what can I say, when you love something you can’t let it go….hehe.
The first book on my list, and an all time favorite of mine, is the Real series by Katy Evans…. No surprise there, but let me give you a little insight to why I love this series so much. Remy Tate is no ordinary character. This man suffers with bipolar disorder and usually when a disorder is talked about in a novel, the disorder itself i looked over and just merely mentioned. Not with Katy Evan’s novel. I love the fact that this author did her research and went into full depth where this disorder is concerned. We witnessed Remy’s unwillingness to take medication to help the disorder and instead he treated it with eating right and hardcore exercise. Of course there are moments where his bipolar gets the best of him and overrules. Those where the hardest parts to read but it adds truth to the novel. I also really enjoy the romance aspect between Remy and Brooke. It’s a sweet but sometimes angsty romance.
The second book on my favorites list is Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Travis Maddox and Abby Abernathy are the epitome of New Adult, This novel is overwhelming and heart wrenching but so is real life. Travis is at the top of the pyramid where fighters are concerned. He rules the Illegal underground fighting ring at his college and he’s not one to mess with. One thing I love about the Fighters mentioned so far is the fragility they show when they give their hearts away. These men are Fighters who show no weakness, it’s an endearing trait to watch as their walls come crashing down and they witness love for the first time.
Fighting For Flight by J.B. Salsbury is another favorite of mine. This is unique in a way that the main female protagonist is the daughter of a Las Vegas pimp. She’s also a mechanic. Raven’s happy living the simple life until Johan (UFL fighter) comes into the picture. Jonah is soon to realize Raven is hiding a huge secret. This novel is one of my favorite novels that involve fighters. I love the suspense aspect and all the twists and turns. It’s an unexpected rush.
Last, but certainly not least is the Consumed series by Skyla Madi! Being completely honest, I remember when I first picked up this series I was at my brother’s house for a get together and I rudely decided to start a book. Well an hour later I found myself still reading and often at times hiding in empty rooms to read….one more chapter. This series is very addicting as is all of the series I just mentioned above! I LOVED this series.
Thanks for swinging by and checking out my portion of Blogger Bits!
What’s your favorite sports romance?
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You have some good ones on here! Loved “Moonshot”, “The Perfect Game” and “Real’.
Thanks! I’m heading over to your post now!
I forgot all about Reed’s Reckoning – that’s a fantastic read! Great list!
Thanks ❤
Great choices! I especially loved the fighters sections! I didn’t even think of Travis Maddox, but hell yeah can that guy fight! xoxo