Alpha females spice up a boxing ring just as much as their male counterparts. Who doesn’t love to watch girls fight? I’m just as easily drawn into a story when a female lead is the one playing sports, and even more so when both hero and heroine are playing sports. In my newest novel, Dare to Dance, both male and female leads are strong characters. Where Kross Maxwell boxes for the sport and fun, Ruby Lewis fights to survive on the streets of Boston. The chemistry between the two is as explosive out of the ring as it is when they’re in the ring. Here’s a list of my favorite sports romance books where one or both lead characters play sports. They’re listed in no particular order.

• #1 Dare to Dance - S.B. Alexander

  

  athletes new adult

  Hoping to sign with one of the biggest boxing promoters in the country, Kross Maxwell has to maintain a near perfect record. He can’t afford to lose any more bouts. But his head isn’t in the ring. Instead, he can’t seem to shake his past that’s been beating on his mind. To get back in the game, he goes in search of the girl he walked away from--the one girl who's always owned his heart.
  
  Twenty-year-old, Ruby Lewis, is angry and frustrated with the way her life turned out. She dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but instead of performing for the rich and famous, she’s swinging her fists at girls twice her size in filthy, underground fights... more

• #2 Fallen Crest High - Tijan

  contemporary enemies to lovers strong heroine abuse forbidden love

  Mason and Logan Kade are two brothers who did their own thing. They were rich and expected to attend her school, Fallen Crest Academy. They chose public school and now Samantha has to live with them. The problem is that she doesn't care at all: about them, about her friends, about her cheating boyfriend, or even about her parent's divorce. But maybe that's a good thing. Maybe change is a good thing... more

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• #3 The Deal - Elle Kennedy

  athletes young adult contemporary shy heroine tortured heroine

  Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.
  
  All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for... more

• #4 Scoring Wilder - R.S. Grey

  contemporary funny strong heroine bad boys athletes

  With Olympic tryouts on the horizon, the last thing nineteen-year-old Kinsley Bryant needs to add to her plate is Liam Wilder. He's a professional soccer player, America's favorite bad-boy, and has all the qualities of a skilled panty-dropper.
  
  • A face that makes girls weep – check.
  • Abs that can shred Parmesan cheese (the expensive kind) – check.
  • Enough confidence to shift the earth’s gravitational pull – double check... more

• #5 Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks) - Miranda Kenneally

  contemporary strong heroine friends to lovers love triangle athletes

  What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.
  
  But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable... more

• #6 Real - Katy Evans

  contemporary possessive hero billionaire tortured hero insta-love

  A fallen boxer.
  A woman with a broken dream.
  A competition…
  
  He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…
  
  Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.
  
  He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger... more

• #7 Emerge - S.E. Hall

  contemporary athletes young adult erotic romance new adult

  Laney Walker is a quick witted, athletic, southern tomboy who lets few get too close, using her sarcastic zingers to deflect and no idea how others view her.
  
  
  Evan Allen's always been "friend zoned" yet protected and coveted Laney since they were children. But college puts a gap between them that neither were prepared for- old relationships are tested, new ones are formed and nothing will ever be the same.
  
  
  Especially when in walks one Dane Kendrick, not at all the familiar, southern charmer of home, but an animal all his own.
  
  
  A story of growing up, friendship, loyalty, first love, primal love...and life. Mature content... more