10 Marvelous Romance Novels About Athletes

Whether you're a fan of sports or just love a man with the body of an athlete, reading romance novels about baseball or hockey can be endlessly entertaining. If you want to sink your teeth into a novel full of muscular men, intense passion, and plenty of action both on and off the field, these ten books belong on your shelf. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Sports Romance: Our 10 Picks

Title Author(s) Sport
1. Ruthless King Maya Hughes Hockey
2. Chasing Clouds Kathryn Andrews Football
3. One and Done Melynda Price Surfing
4. Deserving It Angela Quarles Hurling
5. The Baller’s Secret Baby Normandie Alleman Basketball
6. Fake Out Eden Finley Baseball
7. Stealing Home Jennifer Seasons Baseball
8. The Playmaker Cathryn Fox Hockey
9. Just Say (Hell) No Rosalind James Rugby
10. Felix Lindsay Paige & Mary Smith Baseball

Why Read Sports Romance?

Some readers prefer stories that center on soldiers or cowboys, but there are a lot of things that make erotic works about athletes appealing. For example, if you're a fan of the sport featured in the book, the story will be even more interesting, as descriptions of the game can be almost as fun as the fling between the main characters. And if you like muscular men, you're sure to enjoy the descriptions of well-chiseled fighters and hunky football players.

Real Life Sports Romances

If you love reading about fictional athletic relationships, odds are you have a good time following real ones in the news. Here are a few famous couples from sports history:

  1. Mia Hamm & Nomar Garciaparra: Soccer player & shortstop
  2. Nadia Comaneci & Bart Conner: Olympic gymnasts
  3. Lindsey Vonn & Tiger Woods: Olympic skier & golfer
  4. Ann Meyers & Don Drysdale: Basketball player & baseball pitcher
  5. Sanya Richards-Ross & Aaron Ross: Olympic athlete & football player

The Psychology of Sports

In Depth

Whether you're dealing with pros or amateurs, the world of sports is full of scandals and juicy gossip. From talented professionals to promising high school recruits, athletes of all types come with their own fascinating stories and internal struggles on and off the field. When they start mixing their love of the game with the other loves in their lives, things get complicated. Here, in no particular order, are ten engaging sports-themed romances that belong on your shelf.

Coming at #1 is "Ruthless King" by Maya Hughes. Emmett already let Avery ruin his life once. He's not about to make that mistake again. At least, that's what he tells himself when his high school sweetheart finds her way back into his life. Today, Emmett is a professional hockey player, no thanks to his old flame. He doesn't want to take on anything that could sabotage his success, especially not a freshly-broken heart. But Avery says she's changed. Maybe this time will be different, if the secrets of their tumultuous past don't get in the way.

For #2 we have "Chasing Clouds" by Kathryn Andrews. Pro footballer Reid Jackson didn't expect to meet the love of his life at her own wedding, getting married to someone else. That's only one of the many hurdles they'll have to clear if they want to be together. Reid and Camille are from totally different worlds, but that doesn't stop Reid from objecting to Camille's loveless union and setting the scene for a passionate affair. Can the two really build a life together when there are so many questions, lies, and deceptions lurking beneath the surface?

Reid and Camille are from totally different worlds, but that doesn't stop Reid from objecting to Camille's loveless union and setting the scene for a passionate affair.

At #3 is Melynda Price's "One and Done." What better way to celebrate turning thirty than to head to Cyprus for a much-needed vacation? Autumn is freshly divorced and looking for a change, and her girlfriends know that heading off to the romantic isle is just the thing to set her right. But no one counted on brash, dynamic surfing champion Balen Kroft showing up. When Autumn and Balen meet, sparks fly. But as the two get closer, what started as a no-strings fling quickly turns complicated as feelings grow and sex tapes surface.

At #4 is "Deserving It" by Angela Quarles. Claire always assumed that her crush, the shy, standoffish Conor, was too focused on seeing his hurling team to victory to notice her. But when a hurricane hits, leaving both team captains stranded in the same hotel room, things heat up fast. Will they be able to keep their relationship going strong after the storm clears?

For #5 we get Normandie Alleman's "The Baller's Secret Baby." Growing up, Nick and Eden's families couldn't have been closer. After the death of Nick's father, however, circumstances pulled the two apart. Nick spent his time putting all of his energy into his basketball career, but he never forgot about his first love. Now, he's reaching out to her to see if they can start something real. But with Nick's possessive mother in the way and his star on the rise, Eden is going to have to find out if she can handle the drama of being a ballplayer's girlfriend.

But with Nick's possessive mother in the way and his star on the rise, Eden is going to have to find out if she can handle the drama of being a ballplayer's girlfriend.

Coming in at #6 is "Fake Out" by Eden Finley. In the small town where Maddox grew up, word travels fast. So when he lies to his girlfriend, claiming to be gay so he doesn't have to admit that he just doesn't want to marry her, it doesn't take too long for the news to spread. The only trouble is, Maddox isn't gay. That's all about to change when ex-pro baseball player Damon comes on the scene. Maddox needs a fake boyfriend to take home, and Damon needs an introduction to a new hot client. Will this marriage of convenience end in mutual satisfaction, or two broken hearts?

At #7 is "Stealing Home" by Jennifer Seasons. Cat burglar Lorelei just chose the wrong mark. When she abandons baseball player Mark Cutter and makes off with his priceless lucky charm, she thinks it's just another score. So why can't she get the hot star catcher out of her mind? But Mark's not letting Lorelei go for different reasons. He wants to make her pay for stealing his heart. With Lorelei's dying niece in need of an expensive treatment, revenge might not be so sweet. Will she return and hit a home run with Mark, or will she be sent to the dugout?

At #8 is Cathryn Fox's "The Playmaker." Nina and Cole have known each other forever. As the sister of Cole's best friend, Nina was totally off-limits growing up. Now, as adults, everything has changed for the pair. Ex-skater Nina is a writer looking to get the scoop on hockey players' love lives, while Cole is a rising star healing from a concussion. If the two can resist falling for each other, all the old secrets from their childhood will remain buried. But with so much heat surrounding the two, it won't be long before the ice starts to melt.

But with so much heat surrounding the two, it won't be long before the ice starts to melt.

For #9 we find "Just Say No" by Rosalind James. New Zealander Marko is a hard worker who wants his rugby career to soar, and is close to achieving the success he's after. When Nyree enters his world, Marko's priorities start to change. The stunning, unpredictable woman seems to upend his life at every turn, but he can't get enough. Is she really all she claims to be, or is Marko picking up on something deeper and darker below the surface?

Finally, at #10, is Lindsay Page and Mary Smith's "Felix." When Memphis Angels pitcher Felix Hernandez finds a new lucky charm in Abigail, he pursues her with a vengeance. Suffering from PTSD and paralyzed by past trauma, Abbie needs someone reliable and dependable. That's not Felix, the ambitious, baseball-obsessed player who's worked so hard to make it in the big leagues. Will he be able to put aside his passion for sports in order to be the man Abbie needs, or are the two destined to go their separate ways?