A great Rec League subject for the upcoming 2018 Olympics, we want to say thanks to Reader Eve for emailing us this request:
I love your Rec League, and am hoping the Bitchery can help me discover more of my favorite theme: athlete heroines.
Sports romances (understandably, given what is watched) almost exclusively feature superrich!Athlete wooing a professional female (PR, sports therapist, events manager, team owner’s daughter…). These can be hit-and-miss for me. However, something magical happens when the heroine is (also) an athlete.
Mariana Zapata’s “Kulti” is a great example of a story that sucked me in, and so was the sadly-cancelled “Pitch” on Fox. I loved these stories because of the heroine’s hard work, dedication, and perseverance in the face all the challenges that come their way, like injury, misogyny, and battling their own minds and bodies to achieve their professional goals. Better still, we get heroes that are on the same playing field (pardon the pun) and so not only understand and support her primary goal, but are challenged by her, too.
Hopefully, you all have some ideas. With real-life titans like Serena Williams, Katie Ledecky, Danielle Kang, and Maya Moore as inspiration, there must be some great stories out there already!
Sarah: The F/F guest review, with snowboarder and skier!
That book stuck with me except the title because my brain.
Amanda: Edge of Glory! ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
Sarah: Tamsen Parker too
Redheadedgirl: Oh the skating ones!
Elizabeth Harmon’s Pairing Off ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
Amanda There was an Immortals After Dark with a soccer playing heroine, but the sports aspect isn’t a huge thing. MacRieve was the title. There was also a hockey romance I read with a heroine who played women’s hockey.
Keeping Score by Sara Rider has a heroine who is a professional soccer player.
I also put a great list in a recent Links post on athlete heroines. Thanks to Lacy Literacy for putting the list together!
Which romances that feature athlete heroines would you recommend?
Below the Belt by Sarah Mayberry is one of my favorites by her. The heroine is a boxer.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2724348-below-the-belt
A Man Like Mac by Fay Robinson is a classic. The heroine is an Olympic runner. The hero is a paraplegic. It’s available on the Open Library.
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL15123523W/A_Man_Like_Mac
Kathleen Gilles Seidel – Summer’s End. The heroine is an Olympic figure skater, now turned professional. The story has more to do with family dynamics and how they all have to adapt when two sets of adult children are thrown together following their parents’ marriage.
Does ballet count? FIRST POSITION, an F/F romance by Melissa Brayden is very good. It features two rival ballerinas and the physicality/amount of work it takes to remain in shape is integral to the plot.
What Price Glory, by Marianne Shock, is a Silhouette Special Edition with an equestrian heroine. I remember it enjoying it but it’s been a long time.
The book seems to be long out of print, but there’s some used copies on Abebooks.
The heroine of Sarena Bowen’s SHOOTING FOR THE STARS is a professional snowboarder. Although the book features one of my least favorite romance novel tropes (the object of desire is forbidden because he is a sibling’s best friend), I really liked some of the other elements of the book: how hard it is for a female athlete in a sport that doesn’t get a tremendous amount of coverage and/or endorsement deals for female participants, how much dedication (and money) it takes just to follow a sport’s “season”, how a small setback (physical, financial, even missing a plane) can affect an athlete’s entire season, and how sometimes athletes are forced to take incredible risks just to keep their name and sport relevant. I liked the book for all those things—it’s just that the romance element was a little “meh” imho.
There’s an upcoming series (Feb 20, I think) called Women of War. The 3 authors are Amy Andrews, Nicola Marsh, and Catherine Evans. EAch book is about a different woman on a newly formed professional soccer (or maybe its rugby?) team. It looks awesome. http://www.escapepublishing.com.au/products/miniseries/Women%20of%20WAR
The Thrill of Victory by Sandra Brown is an older romance about a tennis player and a journalist. I enjoyed it back in the day – not sure how well it holds up.
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneanlly – ya mf contemporary about a female quarterback. I thought it was a great coming of age story about a young woman who wants to play football and was meh about the romance – there’s a love triangle and she does end up with the better guy.
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen – na mf contemp between two college hockey players.
Ice Games by Jessica Clare has a heroine who is a former Olympic ice skater and a hero who is an MMA fighter trying to repair his image: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18270671-ice-games
If you don’t mind YA novels, Sherwood Smith’s Crown Duel is set in a fantasy, vaguely pseudo-16th-century world, but it occurred to me for this rec because the heroine’s training in swordplay is, as I recall, integral to the plot (and I fell in love with the strong-jawed, bruised young woman on the cover… sigh.) In a similar vein is Robin McKinley’s Blue Sword; lots of sword-fighting and horse-riding montages. I really enjoyed Hari, the androgynous, take-no-nonsense protagonist, and her love interest, the suitably mysterious, sometimes broody, incredibly intelligent Corlath. Also the use of magic to punch the fantasy version of the British Empire in the face is fun.
Seconding The Year We Fell Down rec.
Anne Calhoun’s novella, The SEAL’s Second Chance, features a basketball player turned coach as the heroine.
There is an historical with a ballet dancing heroine. She doesn’t dance in public so I remember it being more about the physicality of dance as opposed to preforming. Her workouts, I believe feature prominently in the book. The hero is a boxer so you get a double dose of sports. I can’t renember the name but if there is any interest I’ll see if I can find it.
Derby Girl- Tamara Morgan (Roller Derby)
Summer is for Lover- Jennifer McQuiston (Historical- Swimming)
Santa Olivia- Jacqueline Carey (Prnml & FF- Boxing& other)
Lose Me- Frank (NA- stunt woman/ surfing)
Settle the Score/Hustle Play- Frejas (Basketball)
Winning Ruby Heart- Lohmann (Olympic Runner)
Sweet Filthy Boy- Lauren (Ballet)
Right of First Refusal- Adler (Lacrosse)
Amorous Liaisons- Mayberry (Ballet)
Love in the Tracks- Parker (Luge)
I was also going to recommend Ice Games by Jessica Clare/Jill Myles!
Shelly Laurenston has several books where the heroines are derby players. The only one (I think) where it’s a major focus is Beast Behaving Badly, where the hero is a hockey player and tries to help the heroine become more cutthroat at derby. Of course those books are also paranormal shifter books.
Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox (which I discovered on this website!) isn’t about professional athletes, but the heroine and hero are both cyclists looking to do a TransAmerica cycle, so they are athletic.
Oh and Anne McCaffrey (before the Dragons of Pern days, I think) wrote several romance novels that have equestrian heroines. My mother lent them to me recently and they are very OldSkool but the horse elements were interesting.
Thrown – Colette Auclair (equestrian)
So Over You – Kate Meader (hockey)
Slashed – Tracy Wolff (snowboarding)
Love in Straight Sets – Rebecca Crowley (tennis)
A second vote for Thrown.
The heroine in One Wish from Robyn Carr’s “Thunder Point” series is a former champion figure skater. The story gives a glimpse of the training life and adjusting back to “regular” life.
Seconding the rec for Winning Ruby Heart. The heroine is a former Olympic runner disgraced in a doping scandal. The hero is a former athlete turned reporter after he was paralyzed in a football accident; he’s the one who broke the story that brought the heroine down. Now she races in ultramarathons or other races beyond Olympic length.
Jen–sounds like Erin Satie’s The Secret Heart.
Which reminds me that Julie Anne Long also has a ballet-dancer heroine in Ways to Be Wicked. The hero manages a theater. It’s one of my favorites by JAL.
I’ll follow up on Cleo’s recommendation and note that Catching Jordan is the first of Miranda Kenneally’s Hundred Oaks books, almost all of which have athletic heroines. They’re only loosely connected, so it’s possible to jump in at any time.
Another vote for Ride With Me, too.
I don’t know if this really counts, but given Ying Ying/Catherine’s martial arts expertise I figured I’d mention The Hidden Blade and My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas.
Lisa B Kamps has a new series about women’s Hockey. The first book is Winning Hard. The second book is releasing soon, Loving Hard.
Sarina Bowen has a few. They are in the NA subgroup, though.
Skye Jordan’s THE RISK – the heroine is a former Olympian turned physical therapist
Sarah Castille’s YIELD TO ME – the heroine is MMA fighter. I’m not a huge Sarah Castille fan.
Shelly Laurenston’s BEAR MEETS GIRL – the heroine is a roller derby player
Shelly Laurenston’s BEAST BEHAVING BADLY & THE MANE SQUEEZE- the heroine is a roller derby player
Lorelei James’ WHEN I NEED YOU – the heroine is an athletic director & football cheerleader
Sarina Bowen’s ROOKIE MOVE – the heroine was a college athlete, but I can’t remember if it was ice skating or gymnastics
I thought of another one: Juliana Stone’s COLLIDE about a female hockey player who joins a men’s league and has to deal with sexist players and spectators while falling in love with a teammate. The angst and conflict (sports-related and otherwise) is fairly intense in this one.
Also Eve Dangerfield’s ACT YOUR AGE features a heroine who participates in a Roller Derby league. However, there’s so much going on the the book (including “Daddy” role-play), it’s not really a “sports-themed” romance despite several long sections about derby matches and friendship among the various players.
Arena by Holly Jennings is not technically a Romance, but it read like a sports romance to me. Heroine is the first female captain of a professional VR gaming team.
Oh, someone mentioned Roller Derby…I loved, loved, loved Roller Girl by Vanessa North.
I love this list and RedheadedGirl, thanks for the shout-out to Pairing Off! I hope its okay to mention that my new release, Shining Through, also features a figure skater heroine (and hero!) who are vying for places on their nations’ Olympic teams.
I second the mention of Summer’s End. It’s not a sports romance, but gives a good portrayal of a professional skater’s life and career. Jennifer Commeax also has a couple of good figure skating series’, more at the YA/sweet end of the romance spectrum.
As for dancing, I recommend Katherine Locke’s First Position series (ballet) and Alexis Daria’s Take The Lead and Dance With Me.
I loved Sara Rider’s Keeping Score. It’s the second book in the series, and the first book, For The Win, also has a female soccer player. These are great if you’re looking for a series that tackles the misogyny in women’s sports and has lots of fun, female bonding.
Also recommending Lynda Aicher’s Game Play. Former women’s national team hockey player who comes back to be a skating coach for a pro-men’s player. I can’t remember the details, but I think she’s older than him, too.
Home to Hellas by Stephanie Beck has both Basketball and a greek Tycoon (what could be better?)
From the NA area – both the Song of the Lioness and First Knight series by Tamora Pierce are all about training girls to be, well, knights.
I’m currently reading Completely by Ruthie Knox. The heroine is part of a team of women climbers who intend to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents (at the start of the book they’re ascending Everest). She’s a former housewife who realized she was in a rut, decided to fulfill her youthful dream of climbing Everest, divorced her husband, and began training fanatically. I’m enjoying it so far.
R.S Grey’s Summer Games duet Two books set at the Rip Olympics.
1st book, she’s a USMLS player, he’s a british swimmer
2nd book, she’s a US Gymnast, he’s her coach (almost enemies to lovers).
For something old school, Love is a Distant Shore is a Harlequin Presents whose heroine is a marathon swimmer.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1313459.Love_Is_A_Distant_Shore
Meg Maguire’s Driving Her Wild. She’s an MMA fighter, he’s not. Also wonderful about this book- no one is a billionaire, they are blue collar people with real world problems.
@NT
Was coming here to rec Winning Ruby Heart also, but surprised to see A Man Like Mac has similar characters. Need to check it out!
I also liked Ride With Me so will definitely look up Completely. Are Ruthie Knox and Robin York the same person???
Sarina Bowen has athlete heroines in her first two Ivy Years novels (New Adult; it’s the best NA series I’ve ever read). Neither is actually playing at the time, but the sport (hockey) plays a significant enough role.
@Kate–yes, Robin York is Ruthie Knox’s alter ego for New Adult romances. 🙂
In The Year We Fell Down The heroine has an injury which means she’ll never play hockey (or most other sports) again. She does find a sport she can do, though, and I’m not going to spoil which, because that part of the book is awesome.
Lots of great recs already! So female athlete paired with another athlete.
MF
Blocked by L.P. Dover (Hockey)
Settling the Score by R.S. Grey (Soccer and Swimmer)
Overtime by Toni Aleo (Hockey)
Clipped by Love by Toni Aleo (Hockey)
The End Game by Kate McCarthy (Football and Soccer)
She’s a Sinner by Lynn Shurr (Football)
Rivals by Doug Solter (Racing)
Slashed by Tracy Wolff (Snowboarding)
Delayed Penalty by Sophia Henry (Soccer and Hockey)
Rodeo Dreams by Sarah M. Anderson (Rodeo)
Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan (Sking)
This one is female athlete only but really interesting in the trainings impact on her body: One Night in the Spa by Kathy Lyons
FF
Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler (Snowboard and Skier)
Heart of the Game by Rachel Spangler (Baseball Reporter and Fan)
Full Court Pressure by Lynn Galli (Basketball and Volleyball)
Reluctant Partnership by Elizabeth Ashton is an old Harlequin that features ice skating.
“Waking Olivia” by Elizabeth O’Roark – Heroine is highly talented cross-country runner on scholarship in college. She has a troubled history that impacts her running career. Alone in world, prickly, rude, etc. The angst is higher on the scale in this one but at least it makes sense. Her running career isn’t just a seldom-mentioned character description. Her running is prominent throughout the book. It’s also free on Unlimited.
I would echo “My Beautiful Enemy” by Sherry Thomas. An historical story about a female martial arts expert with a sword…how can you say “no”?
Speaking of older books upon which ymmv, Elizabeth Lowell had a couple category romances that I remember enjoying: Too Hot To Handle, in which she’s an Olympic diver, and Summer Games Olympic equestrian.
THE GAMES by Patricia McLinn is set at the Winter Olympics and has two romances going on… one women competes in the biathlon and the other is a skiier.