While suspense, ménage and paranormals seem to be the ticket in romance these days, sports romances have been a constant over the years and appear to be going strong. Whether you’re ready for some football or you’d rather be taken out to the ball game, you name a sport and there’s probably been a romance written around it.
Is football your game? Susan Elizabeth Phillips has a highly successful series with a football theme and a couple of books with golfers that are great fun. I’ve recently discovered the football romances of Bella Andre and Marie Force and predict continued success for both of these (new to me) authors. You prefer baseball? LuAnn McLane, Carly Phillips, Kate Angell and Lisa Renee Jones all have books about the boys of summer, and LuAnn’s latest romance has a motorcycle racing hero. If hockey’s your preference, Deirdre Martin has a popular hockey series, and then there’s one of my all-time favorite romances, Rachel Gibson’s SEE JANE SCORE. Lori Foster’s readers are always anxious for the next book in her extreme fighting series, and Harlequin even has an entire line dedicated to car racing.
I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a book centered on a soccer hero, but there could very well be one. Those soccer players seem to enjoy ripping their shirts off when they do well; I’m certain that that alone would be enough to lure some women to the sport.
I’m thinking the most unlikely romance hero would be a jockey. No offense, but I just can’t picture many women fantasizing about 120 pound short men who purge. Now the stable owner is a horse of a different color, so to speak. I think Harlequin has undoubtedly made stable masters proud for many years now.
Personally, I don’t think you have to be a sports fanatic or fully comprehend the terminology to enjoy sports romance. Most of these books have just enough of the subject sport to make the storyline believable. I think the trick for success is recognizing the fine line between too much detail and just enough to keep it real. I have a basic understanding of most sports and am satisfied with that knowledge. I’m not looking for a lesson in rules or stats in my romance reading.
Why is it that women are so attracted to professional athletes? Is it the fame and fortune or those incredibly powerful bodies and physical ability? So many real-life athletes these days don’t really deserve our admiration or respect. They’re often egotistical, unfaithful, and dishonest, and so many turn to steroids in an almost desperate attempt at guaranteed success.
Do you enjoy sports romances? What makes them work for you? Do you follow a particular sport or do you appreciate them all?
I’m a new blog follower. I’m learning a lot, actually. Thanks very much.
Regarding horse-related romantic figures, stable owner, yes. Horse trainer, yes. Jumpers, polo players, eventers, and of course cowboys are all good. There’ve even been plenty written about the lowly groom who’s the illegitimate child of the local Duke.
Jockeys, not so much.
However, there’s a fantastic poster somewhere, I don’t recall where, that shows 5 or 6 different athletes from the back, no shirt, and has them all scaled to be the same size. The jockey looks the best of them all.
by Chris October 15th, 2008 at 6:59 amDick Francis wrote amazing jockey heroes. But they were usually steeple jockeys, so apparently larger, LOL, than the flat course guys. And one of his novels has a woman jockey as the heroine.
by Michelle October 15th, 2008 at 7:18 amAs a former figure skater, I’m a sucker for a good skating romance– unfortunately, not many of them exist, although, in movies, that’s a different story! The Cutting Edge is wonderfully cheesy fun, but it’s a lovely romance too.
by Barbara Caridad Ferrer October 15th, 2008 at 7:20 amI am a big Dodger fan and they are on the verge of being eliminated in the playoffs (sobsob). My nephew is going to the game tonite, so I truly hope he comes home happy - he lives not too far from LA.
I absolutely love sports heroes and their stories.
Deirdre Martin’s hockey, SEP of course, and Kate Angell’s baseball books are awesome.
by Pat L. October 15th, 2008 at 7:26 amBella Andre has 2 out - read the first one and loved it; have to get the 2nd one.
Erin McCarthy said she’ll have a race car driver coming out soon.
The only sport I actually like and follow is MMA, ala the UFC and such. But when my kids were in sports, I enjoyed it.
I’ve never been and never will be a football fan. I just don’t get it. But I loved the romances I read with football heroes.
Lori
by Lori Foster October 15th, 2008 at 8:34 amDitto Michelle on Dick Francis books, even though they’re not true romances. But there’s usually a relationship sub plot. I’m less inclined to look for specific hero professions - I just want a well-written hero.
by Terry Odell October 15th, 2008 at 8:41 amI’ve never actually been attracted to one kind of Romance hero - dukes, athletes, Scottish rogues, Alpha, Beta, black, what, Asian… Whatever. It was all in whether he became real and believable or not. I know what true heroism and love is. If the Romance hero doesn’t measure up, I chuck the book.
by Kimber An October 15th, 2008 at 8:45 amI have a love-hate relationship w/ sports heroes. I love them in that they must be in good physical condition, and must practice a lot to stay on top of their game.
What I don’t like are the ones who party too hard with drugs and women, and get too big for their britches. Or the ones who take steroids. I don’t have a problem with them having fun and enjoying their success, but they can go to extremes. Eventually one day they won’t be on top, and who’s going to be hanging with them then?
That being said, I do love a sexy sports hero from time to time (thinking Rachel Gibson’s “See Jane Score” here), and I’m glad to see more of them in books nowadays.
by Stacy ~ October 15th, 2008 at 8:45 amI am a big nascar fan and I enjoy those books. I did enjoy Lori Fosters UFC books but not into that sport at all. Any other sports and I am so lost in the subject.
Great topic though!
by Tee October 15th, 2008 at 8:56 amI enjoy reading sports romances. I’ll give any sports story at least a try, but my favorite sports are football, baseball, and hockey.
by Liza October 15th, 2008 at 9:20 amHey Laurie, fun topic! Before SEP wrote her Chicago Stars books authors were told that we shouldn’t write about sports because women would not read them
by LuAnn McLane October 15th, 2008 at 9:29 amMany of my all time favorite romances center around a sports theme (See Jane Score, Match Me If You Can, Body Check). Although I am a big-time sports fan (baseball, hockey, football) I think the pull of a sports hero can be universal. To reach a professional level of success in any sport requires discipline, hard work, commitment, and desire. These traits work well when crafting the character of a hero.
As a ‘new’ writer I struggled with the long standing industry notion that sports superstars do not make strong heroes. It always struck me as sexist to assume that a healthy segment of the female population doesn’t enjoy sports or that they automatically get turned off because real life sports figures don’t always behave admirably. Seriously, does anyone think a billionaire CEO is going to be a more favorable draw in terms of character?
My first release (coming in November from Samhain) happens to have a baseball hero! After a lenghty internal debate — I wrote what I wanted - instead of focusing on what I thought I could convince a publisher to buy.
by Rita October 15th, 2008 at 9:36 amI am a total sports junkie and love my heros to be athletes. SEP is my all time favorite writer. I will pick up every book that has any type of sport in the plot. I am an aspiring writer and my hero is a professional football player. I personally find the dedication to be the best player in a sport is sexy and the hard bodies that accompany their dedication doesn’t hurt. LOL I am currently reading Deidre Martin’s “Power Play” and I love the arrogance of the hockey player. You don’t become the greatest player without a little mental admiration for yourself.
by Patty L. October 15th, 2008 at 9:58 amI’ve only read one book in which the hero was a soccer player and it was actually a Harlequin NASCAR book. The hero was a soccer player who bought a racing team. Loved it!
Personally I’m a sucker for sports heroes, I love jocks. I’m a big fan of Deidre Martin and Carly Phillips’ Hot Zone series. And when Harlequin NASCAR first came out I ate them up (now I can’t keep up with them).
by Tammy October 15th, 2008 at 10:08 amI’m not normally fond of sports romance, but I love one of Nora Roberts’ romance where she had the hero and heroine as tennis players (I can’t remember the name).
Elizabeth Lowell also has a heroine that’s a jockey in the Olympics… it was the first ever of her books I read and I have a special fondness for it.
by JC October 15th, 2008 at 10:42 amHi Laurie,
you mentioned several sport books and authors I love and while they aren’t jockey heroes Elizabeth Bevarly has some really good books out with the horse racing industry as the sport. The first one is Fast and Loose and the hero is a trainer with a horse at the Kentucky Derby. The second one Ready & Willing comes out in November. Not sure if the hero is in the “industry” of horse racing but it also takes place around the time of the Kentucky Derby. And from where I’m from that is the greatest 2 minutes of sports.
by Laura J. October 15th, 2008 at 12:02 pm“Why is it that women are so attracted to professional athletes?”
Not only women. Sports figures have massive appeal for men, and I’d guess for many of the same reasons: discipline, talent, fitness, camaraderie, having someone to cheer for, the uncertainty of the outcome, and some tabloid/gossipy excitement.
by RfP October 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pmLove sports heroes.
I’m a big fan of SEP, and recently enjoyed Bella Andre’s GAME FOR ANYTHING.
My next release, CRASH INTO ME, features a pro surfer hero.
Thanks for this topic!
by Jill Sorenson October 15th, 2008 at 12:19 pmI read a wonderful M/M novel about two high school baseball coaches. The authors (Madeline Urban and Abigail Roux) gave you a really good idea of all the work which goes behind training kids to suceed as well as the consequences of injury.
by Jenre October 15th, 2008 at 1:11 pmI was going to mention Caught Running too, but Jenre beat me to it.
Another good m/m sports book is Laney Cairo’s One Way Street, about Aussie rules football, great stuff, as all Laney’s books are.
I’m not a major sports fan — the only one I follow is figure skating — but for whatever reason I like sports-based books and movies, and I do like to get more than a surface flavor of how the sport works. If it’s just wallpaper then that’s just as much of a disappointment to me as a wallpaper historical or SF book.
Angie
by Angie October 15th, 2008 at 2:53 pmI heart sports heroes, I really do and I haven’t read a sports romance that I haven’t enjoyed in one way or another so I’ll always give sports romance a go.
Gotta love those athletes. I haven’t read any soccer heroes either but man would I love to!
by Rowena October 15th, 2008 at 3:56 pmI love sports books. Just finished Carly’s recent Hot Zone book. I esp like football and the baseball books. Ok Hockey too. Something about them in print is better then some of the players in real life.
I have read all of SEP and Rachel Gibson books. Also enjoyed Bella Andre and Ms. Force’s new books.
I am a huge fan of football anyway so its an added bonus for me.
by Judy F October 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pmHi, Laurie! I’m not a big sports fan, but I’m a sucker for sports romances–go figure! I’ve read most of the authors you mentioned (hi, LuAnn!!) and just got Bella Andre’s. Oh, and loved Marie Force’s–that was terrific!
by Fedora October 15th, 2008 at 7:42 pmI don’t seek out sports romances, but they’re not something I’d avoid, either. Regarding the most unlikely hero being a jockey, I remembered one as soon as I got to that part of your article: Race Against The Wind by Sue Ellen Cole. Both the hero and heroine were jockeys and competed against each other. I’ll probably date my self by saying this but … it was a 1983 Intimate Moments (#30). And I remember it because 1) the cover was memorable (one of those lovely paintings by H. Rogers, showing the H/H is riding silks), 2) the hero was believable and yummy, and 3) the romance worked (to the point that it used to be a comfort read). In fact, I just might re-read it today; it’s been years since I pulled it off my shelves.
by Kathleen Dante October 15th, 2008 at 8:41 pmDarn, my typing is off today. That should be in riding silks.
by Kathleen Dante October 15th, 2008 at 8:47 pmThanks to everyone for taking the time to comment! I’ve loved all of the responses and will be checking out several books as a result of your recommendations!
I’m intrigued by the Dick Francis books and plan to check them out - thanks for the recommendation, Michelle and Terry.
Lori, I’m looking forward to Erin’s car racing book - anything from her is guaranteed to be good!
Barbara, I loved Cutting Edge, however cheesy! I love watching figure skating too.
Pat, I’ve read the second Bella Andre and while I still think the first is a tad better, I enjoyed it very much.
LuAnn, how interesting that SEP sort of paved the way - I didn’t realize authors were discouraged to write sports rom.
Rita, I’ll be keeping an eye out for your release next month - how exciting for you - and for those of us who enjoy sports romance!
Tammy, how could I have forgotten Carly Phillips’ series?
JC, I think I read that Elizabeth Lowell - I had totally forgotten it!
Patty L, I’ll be on the lookout for your football hero - good luck!
Jill, I remember reading about a pro surfer a couple of years ago, but forget the author - I’ve added CRASH INTO ME to my TBB list!
Jenre and Angie, I have to admit that I’m not a fan of m/m, but it’s great to have your recommendation for those who are - thank you!!
Kathleen, how special that you still have that book! One of the first romances I read was a Regency by Claudia Williams titled Spring Gambit - very tame compared to my reading preferences now, but it was oh, so sweet. Interesting how books work their way into our hearts.
by Laurie October 15th, 2008 at 9:54 pmHi Laurie!
I love romance novels with sports heroes! I’m a sports fan in general, though. I do have sports I like better than others, but I’ll read about almost all sports if the story sounds interesting enough. I’ve also learned a lot about new-to-me sports through romances (like NASCAR).
As for soccer heroes, Samantha Winston’s A Grand Passion from Ellora’s Cave has a soccer hero. It’s one of the first ebooks I ever read, and I continually go back and re-read it!
by Michelle B October 15th, 2008 at 10:39 pm[...] http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/10/15/sports-heroes-in-romance/ [...]
by » Blog Archive » Check this out! October 16th, 2008 at 10:20 ami love it should be more around. i love sports and men who paly them
by kh October 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pmLMAO!!! I agree with you, See Jane Score is one of my all time faves as well.
For me, I’m a sports junkie, so I love reading about guys who share my love of it.
by Lori October 16th, 2008 at 3:33 pmLaurie,
by Marie Force October 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pmThanks for the shout out for my book “Line of Scrimmage.” I didn’t know sports heroes were supposedly a no-no until I had already written LOS. Ignorance is bliss! Thanks for shining the light on all the yummy sports heroes out there!
Marie