Romance novels to read during the Rugby World Cup (and beyond!)
Last week, Kat Latham wrote a detailed (with GIFS!) guide to Rugby for Virgins. Now we present to you books!
With the Rugby World Cup being played in England and Wales right now, it’s a great time to sample some romances featuring one of the world’s fastest growing (and sexiest!) sports.
For this post, I decided to focus on series that feature fictional teams instead of one-off novels, simply because the list would be too big. Plus, I created this list on Listopia a while ago, and readers continually add their favorites, so that’s a great resource for anyone who wants more than what I’ve included here.
Don’t worry if you don’t know much—or anything—about rugby. You can still read, understand and love these books. You might even learn a little about rugby in a really fun way.
Rosalind James—Escape to New Zealand series
I can’t tell you how many readers contact me to say, “Have you heard of Rosalind James? She’s awesome!” And yes she is. Her books feature rugby players in New Zealand, and Rosalind is the queen (or captain?) of rugby-themed romance.
Knowing the Score by Kat Latham, recommended by Jayne
Kat Latham—London Legends series
That’s me! Each of the books in my series can be read as standalone, but if you’re really into the Rugby World Cup you may want to start with the first two books; they feature my heroes preparing for, and playing in, the World Cup.
Mina Carter—Strathstow Sharks series
Though she’s probably better known for her paranormal romance novels, Mina Carter has a series of sexy shorts featuring a rugby team in England. They’re perfect sexy bites to consume between World Cup matches!
Donna Gallagher—League of Love series
Donna writes about rugby league, a different form of the sport than what’s played in the Rugby World Cup. But I wanted to include her books here because rugby league has loads of fans—and I’m sure you’ll love her books even if you aren’t familiar with league.
Nalini Singh—Bishop-Esera brothers
Okay, I’m breaking my own rules by including Rock Hard since I said I would focus on books that are part of a series about rugby teams. But I’m including Rock Hard for a few reasons. First, it’s a bestseller, so it’s likely that many of you have read it. Second, it’s freaking awesome (I read it four times in its release week). Third, I have an evil-genius plan to bombard Nalini Singh with pleas for books about the hero’s brothers, who are all rugby players. And my plan seems to be working because she told me it’s “highly likely” she’ll write books about them once she finishes her Rock Kiss series. Score!
Toria Lyons–The Scarlet Series
Toria’s a new-to-me author, but from what I hear her books are sizzling. She writes about a fictional rugby team in England, and I look forward to giving her books a try!
Have you read any rugby romances? Do you have favorites to recommend? Please let us know in the comments!
Also for m/m readers – Sean Kennedy’s Tigers and Devils series
@Holly: I LOVE Tigers and Devils but I thought it was about Australian Football (unless that’s another term for rugby, I’m not good with translating sports terms). Kaetrin?
@cleo: paging Kaetrin as well because I am confused now too, never thought rugby was mentioned in that book?
I would have sworn that I read about a book that has a Rugby Player as the hero and a ED doctor as the heroine. I have googled and googled with no luck. Does this ring a bell to anyone? Thanks!
Am not Kaetrin, but can confidently answer: Tigers & Devils features Aussie Rules (Australian Rules Football), which is very definitely not rugby. Ball may be the same shape, but rules, pitch, etc, very different.
The first m/m books featuring rugby that spring to my mind are: Too Stupid to Live by Anne Tenino, and It’s all Geek to Me by JL Merrow, but I’m sure there must be others.
@HelenMac: Hah, I KNEW I’d read an m/m rugby book but couldn’t place it – it was the Anne Tenino.
And you’d think there’d be f/f rugby romance (I dated a female rugby player in college after all) but I can’t think of any.
Joanie, could you be thinking of Jaci Burton’s All Wound Up? The heroine is an emergency room doctor, but the hero is a baseball player.
I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve heard good things about L.H. Cosway’s The Hooker and the Hermit.
The Hooker and the Hermit was very good. Rugby player hero working with a PR firm to improve his image. I think I picked it up because of a review here or at Smart Bitches.
Kareni, I just looked up All Wound Up, I am sure that is the book I was thinking about! Thank you!
You’re quite welcome, Joanie. All Wound Up was a fun read, and it certainly started off with an amusing scene.
I highly recommend Just this once by Rosalind James the book with grab you and having you not wanting to put the book down, till the end! Then comes binge reading remorse, saying what Now! This Author has other books related or with Rugby players in it! Hitting all aspects of romance! Well rounded,fun,romance, steamy love in the afternoon! A def must read!!!!! The Author Nailed it!!!!
My first rugby book was Just Good Friends, by Rosalind James. Once I read it, I was hooked. Her NZ rugby series is the best, but Just Good Friends is my favorite. I am now reading Kat Latham’s books.
I love Rosalind James’ Escape to New Zealand series. Before these books, I had never heard of the All Blacks, Now I have new heroes to admire.
I just found Kat Latham’s books. I enjoy her writing very much also.
Best Rosalind James rugby novel: Tie between “Just This Once” and “Just For Now.” None of the contrived-misunderstanding BS other authors use to keep people apart, just … well, good people who have to figure themselves out a little bit. Which they eventually succeed in doing. Great endings and a ton of fun getting there.
@cleo @Sirius: LOL, yes, Tigers and Devils is about Aussie Rules (which is MUCH better than Rugby!! :D)
Rosalind James books are FAB.
The characters are real people…ones I’d want to know and be friends with. She’s woven a series of stories about rugby players who have terrific romances with real to life main characters. Just This Once is one of my favorites.
I’m American and admittedly didn’t know much, if anything, about NZ or rugby before reading her books. The well thought out story lines are chock-full of NZ and rugby fact nuggets. Ms James books are ones to load into your e-reader and cozy up to over a weekend. Plot, characters, and steam!
The Escape to New Zealand series is like crack–you download that first book and you’re sucked in and suddenly it’s all about the All Blacks. I read the first 4 books in the same day because I could.not.stop.
Oops, pushed POST too fast. I meant to add that I also re-read all of Kat’s books since the RWC started and oh my, I forgot how good they are–not really, but it’s been awhile since I read them! Also, another good book about a rugby coach (a New Zealander) and team (in South Africa) is Too Much of A Good Thing? by Joss Wood. It’s a Harlequin Kiss (I loved that line) and is only $1.99.
I love the Escape to New Zealand series, too. Actually, I had little to no interest in rugby when I picked up the first one. I was more interested in the NZ setting, but I’m completely hooked on that series. If I could clone Rosalind James enough times so that I could have a new Escape to NZ book every week or so…sigh! That would be great :)
I’ve never followed any sport … ever! I picked up a copy of Rosalind James’s “Just This Once” because it was free. After reading about half of it, I immediately bought the next 3 in the series, sight unseen. It was that good! I am now a devoted fan of rugby and the All Blacks and even ventured to Chicago to see them play against the Eagles last fall (2014). I’ve also ventured into Kat Latham’s series and Cd Brennan’s start of a series … just so I can read about rugby + romances.
James still comes out on top for me. My favorite is #3, “Just For Now.” Finn and Jenna are the ultimate couple. So real. But bring tissues, too. Even in real life, tissues are necessary sometimes. =)
MJ
@Kaetrin: Thanks!
Thought of one more m/m – Jackdaw by KJ Charles. Part of her Charm of Magpies series and not at all stand alone – but I love it and one of the heroes plays amateur rugby in his village.