FMC Athlete

Jen’s 2024 Diversify Your Romance Challenge

I mean, I love a good hockey romance. Don’t misunderstand. Lauren Blakely’s new series is hotter than fire. But in an effort to read outside my comfort zone, I want to read books where the FEMALE main character is an athlete. So here are three from my to-be-read pile. I haven’t read any of these authors before, so I’m excited to dig in.

Note: I’m currently reading The Senator’s Wife by Jen Lyon, narrated by Abby Craden. The soccer star FMC is awesome, but I have a very strong suspicion this book does not have a happy ending. And we all know, the very definition of a romance is that it has a happy ending. Therefore, The Senator’s Wife didn’t make this list. (If I finish it and it turns out to be HEA, I’ll let you know.)

Week 6: A Female Main Character Athlete

⛸️
From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata, narrated by Callie Dalton & Teddy Hamilton

If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one. After 17 years - and countless broken bones and broken promises - she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she's spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything. Including Ivan Lukov.

🏒
Bombshells by Sarina Bowen, narrated by Patrick Zeller & Desireé Ketchum

The women's league is in the house! And Brooklyn will never be the same again for Anton Bayer and the team....

This is my last chance to ditch my playboy reputation and finally fulfill my potential. So I’ve made three rules for our biggest season yet: no boozing, no women, and no scandals.

Especially that last thing.

So who do I befriend on the very first day back at the rink? An amazing female hockey player. I want Sylvie in a way that’s more than just friendly. I crave her. But I have a championship to win, and so does she.

Then she gets her heart broken by my teammate, and I make the foolish mistake of comforting her in the best way I know how. Our night together sets off a string of sins.

Nobody can know about our affair, especially my overprotective teammate. I can’t let anyone see into my greedy little heart. Not even her.

The things I want from her, and the things we’ve already done? If anyone knew, there’d be bombshells.

🎿
Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler, narrated by Ann Etter

As Olympic snowboarder Corey LaCroix and skier Elise Brandies ride the razor's edge between victory and defeat on the slopes, they also face a heat neither of them is prepared for in their safe worlds of snow and ice. The stakes become steeper than any mountain either of them will ever face when legacies and hearts collide at breakneck speed.

What romance novels with female athletes in the main role have you read? Recs please!