Swoony Sports Romances
Posted on December 30, 2024
by Amy H
Athletes are used to hard work and disappointment, which makes them perfect for romantic leads. Here are some great new (and new-ish) sports romance titles to raise your heartbeat and generate some heat!
the dating playbook by Farrah Rochon
When it comes to personal training, Taylor Powell kicks serious butt. Unfortunately, her bills are piling up, rent is due, and the money situation is dire. Taylor needs a miracle. And Jamar Dixon might just be it. The so-fine former NFL player wants back into the league, and he wants Taylor to train him. There's just one catch-no one can know what they're doing. But when they're accidentally outed as a couple, Taylor's game plan is turned completely upside down. Is Jamar just playing to win . . . or is he playing for keeps?
evvie drake starts over by Linda Holmes
A smart, fun romantic comedy about the unlikely relationship between a young woman who’s lost her husband and a major league pitcher who’s lost his game. In a sleepy seaside Maine town, Evvie Drake rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash. In New York City, major league pitcher Dean Tenney is wrestling with an athlete's worst nightmare: the “yips”. He can’t throw straight anymore, and, even worse, he can’t figure out why. As the media storm heats up, an invitation to stay in Maine seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button on Dean’s future. When he moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken-and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more.
intercepted by Alexa Martin
Marlee Harper discovers her NFL-player boyfriend has been tackling other women on the sly, and she vows to never date an athlete again. There's just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past, has Marlee in his sights and intends to show Marlee he's nothing like her ex. Unfortunately, the team's wives are not happy with Marlee's return and their gossip makes Marlee public enemy number one. Between their own relationship fumbles and the wicked wives, it will take a Hail Mary for Marlee and Gavin's romance to survive the season.
cleat cute by Meryl Wilsner
A rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.
icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at professional figure skating. As planned, she gets a full scholarship and lands a place on the university competitive figure skating team. Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins. Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team-including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him. But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot. Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried…because she could never love a hockey player, right?
when stars collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Thaddeus Owens, backup quarterback for the Chicago Stars, is a man with a low tolerance for Divas. Olivia Shore, international opera superstar, is a diva with a passion for perfection and a monumental grudge against the egotistical, lowbrow jock she’s stuck with. It’s Mozart meets Monday Night Football as the temperamental soprano and stubborn jock embark on a nationwide tour promoting a luxury watch brand. Suddenly threatening letters, haunting photographs, and a series of dangerous encounters complicate their lives. Is it the work of an overzealous fan or something more sinister?
the graham effect by Elle Kennedy
Gigi Graham needs to improve her hockey game, and worse, she needs help from Luke Ryder, tall, built, opinionated, rude…and sexy as hell. New hockey coach Luke makes the worst possible first impression on the legendary head coach Garrett Graham. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word with her dad. The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they're trying to ignore. It's a dangerous game they're playing, but the risks just might be worth it.
throw like a girl by Sarah Henning
When softball star Liv Rodinsky throws one ill-advised punch during the most important game of the year, she loses her scholarship to her fancy private school, her boyfriend, and her teammates. With no other options, Liv is forced to transfer to the nearest public school where she'll have to beg for a spot on the team. Enter Grey, injured star quarterback with a foolproof plan: if Liv joins the football team as his temporary replacement, he'll make sure she gets a spot on the softball team in the spring. But it will take more than just a flawless spiral for Liv to find acceptance, and behind that charismatic smile, Grey may not be so perfect after all.
time to shine by Rachel Reid
Landon Stackhouse, called up from the Calgary farm team, is a quiet loner by nature. Calgary’s superstar young winger, Casey Hicks, is endlessly charming and completely laid-back in a way that Landon absolutely can’t relate to. They couldn’t have less in common, but Landon needs a place to live and Casey hates being alone in his massive new house. As roommates, Casey refuses to be defeated by Landon’s one-word answers. As friends, Landon comes to notice a few things about Casey, like his wide, easy smile and sparkling green-blue eyes. Spending the holidays together only intensifies their bromance-turned-romance. But as the new year approaches, the countdown to the end of Landon’s time in Calgary is on.
the final score by Jaci Burton
Nathan Riley has been drafted as quarterback for his famous dad’s former team, and his future is bright. When his friend Mia Cassidy moves to the same city, their years-long friendship suddenly sparks hot. Mia is from a sports dynasty family and founder of her own sports management company. The chemistry between them has always sizzled, and it isn’t long before Mia realizes she wants more with Nathan than just late-night talks and pizza. Passion has a funny way of changing the rules, and soon Nathan and Mia discover that to win it all, they’ll have to make an unexpected play for love.
the cheat sheet by Sarah Adams
Bree Camden is helplessly in love with her longtime bestie, NFL legend, Nathan Donelson, who clearly sees her only as a friend. Bree owns her own dance studio, but one more rent increase could mean the end. Nathan comes to the rescue and buys the entire building. Bree is not happy about it and after several conciliatory tequila shots she accidentally spills her deepest, darkest secret to a TMZ reporter. One viral video later, the world thinks Nathan and Bree are a couple. Nathan's publicist proposes a big opportunity that could mean financial security for Bree. The catch? She and Nathan have to pretend to be in love. For three whole weeks. What will happen when Bree gives in to the feelings she's been desperately hiding for so long, and could she be imagining that Nathan is actually enjoying it?
isn't it bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams
Elena is the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, and she escaped danger the only way she could: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the US, where he is a professional hockey player. Vlad thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience, but it's not enough. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him and the bros are determined to help Vlad find true love. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.
winging it by Ashlyn Kane
Hockey is Gabe's life. Dante just wants to have some fun on his way to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Falling for a teammate isn't in either game plan. But plans change. Gabe gets outed, and the resulting chaos messes with his game, sending his team headlong into a losing streak. The last person he expects to pull him through it is Dante. Getting involved with a teammate is a bad idea, but Dante is shameless, funny, and brilliant at hockey. Gabe can’t resist. Unfortunately, he struggles to share part of himself that he’s hidden for years, and Dante chafes at hiding their relationship. Can they find their feet before the ice slips out from under them?
on thin ice by Julie Cross
Brooke Parker never expected to lose her dad. Or for her mom to lose herself. Brooke feels like she’s losing it too…until she finds Juniper Falls women's hockey. Jake Hammond, captain of the hockey team on his way to the big leagues, is on top of the world. Until one hazing ritual gone wrong lands him injured, sitting on the sidelines, and―shocking even to him―finding himself enjoying his “punishment” as assistant coach for the girls’ team. As Jake and Brooke grow closer, he finds the quiet new girl is hiding a persona full of life, ideas, and experiences bigger and broader than anything he’s ever known. But to Jake, hockey’s never just been a game. It’s his whole life. And leveraging the game for a shot at their future might be more than he can give.
simply the best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Brett Rivers is the hottest sports agent in the business-fast and furious, always makes the deal. Rory Garrett is-let’s be honest-a disaster. She has a big heart, an empty bank account, a passion for making exquisite chocolate, and her football legend brother is Brett’s most important client. Brett and Rory should never have met, and they absolutely should never have had that one stupid, drunken night…a disastrous lie…a career in jeopardy…one missing football player…and a very dead body. A woman who has succeeded at nothing and a man who’s succeeded at everything confront the challenge of their lives as they struggle to navigate each other.
canadian boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
Once upon a time teenage Aurora met a Canadian hockey player at the Mall of America. Soon, he was the perfect fake boyfriend she needed to cover her social awkwardness, a get-out-of-jail-free card for all kinds of sticky situations. "I can't go to prom. I'm going to be visiting my boyfriend in Canada." It wasn't like she was ever going to see him again... Years later, Aurora is teaching kids’ dance classes after a failed ballet career when pro hockey player Mike Martin walks in with his daughter. Mike’s honesty about his struggles with widowhood helps Aurora confront her own demons, and the two forge an unlikely friendship. There’s just one problem: Mike was already her fake “Canadian boyfriend.” The longer she keeps her secret, the more she knows it will shatter the trust between them. But to have the life she wants, she needs to tackle the most important thing of all-believing in herself.
just don't fall by Emma St. Clair
First in the Sweater Weather series, these "closed-door" romance books have lots of slow-burn/fake-dating/brother's best friend-ish chemistry without the explicit spice that some readers prefer to avoid.
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