Bitchin' Blog Posts
Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis
by SB Sarah | January 30, 2010 | Saturday at 11:55 am | 143 CommentsTitle: Slow Heat
Author: Jill Shalvis
Publication Info: Berkley February 2010
ISBN: 9780425233665
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Samantha McNead is the PR director for the Pacific Heat, a major league baseball team in California. Wade O’Riley is the catcher, both in the sense that he crouches behind home plate and grabs 90-mph fastballs, and in the sense that women throw themselves at him.
ETA: Forgot a paragraph - oops! When a crazy fan fakes a pregnancy and claims the baby is Wade’s, a decision is made to have Sam and Wade pair off for awhile in the public eye to take the negative attention off of him and to give him a person in his life that will keep both crazy fangirl and other potential crazy fangirls away. Their fake relationship begins at a wedding Wade is in, and being in close proximity forces them to confront a moment in their past that both Sam and Wade have been trying to forget.
So many times Shalvis sets up what could be a cliched tension or character, and she could have stopped there. It would have been familiar, though lame. There’s a series of examples of how she could have left something before drawing it out, and each time she takes the extra step (and another and another) to make the character, the situation, the plot into something more powerful, more important, just more.
For starters, the book begins with Sam and Wade going to the weekend wedding away,sharing a hotel suite, and pretending for the public to be a couple. Shalvis could have stopped there, or kept most of the book set at that weekend wedding, or made the wedding a week long extravaganza of sexual tension. Or it could have been a long, But no: Wade and Sam deal with their past, and their fradulent-but-sort-of-not-really present relationship and then move on from that weekend to reenter their lives. It’s not as if they escape into a wedding weekend and everything works out when they return home. They escape their lives temporarily, much like they do when they travel for away games. There is still “home” and problems that come with it every time they return. And since it’s baseball, they run home a lot.
Another example is Tag, Sam’s nephew. Tag’s father is checking into rehab, and sends Tag to Sam without warning or even explanation. Just ‘Hello, there’s a kid here for you.’ Tag moves into her condo, and begins life on the road with Sam and the team, learning from a tutor and trying to figure out what to do now that he’s not wanted by his mother or father. Sam initially accepts him because he’s family, and he’s a child, and she’s got a truly good heart, but ultimately, she learns to care about Tag in a way that scares her. But even with that fear, she perseveres because Tag is more important than her fear. In most things, she’s a grown up - how refreshing.
Tag could have been just a pesky kid who disappears and reappears at convenient plot points, but Shalvis takes him, like everything else, into new and dangerous territory. I didn’t always believe that Tag was so quick to adapt to the massive changes in his life, but Shalvis didn’t blink when it came to portraying the phases of adjustment Tag was going through. First he does everything perfectly to avoid being sent home, then he tests her to try to make her make him leave and prove that her promise of permanence (or semi-permanence) was a lie.
Sam’s relationship with Tag is as important in the story as her relationship with Wade. Sam is indelibly shaped by the men in her life, and this is a male of the next generation after her own, one who isn’t weighed down by the same pressure that was thrown upon Sam from an early age. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to understand how Sam, who is not a terribly instint-driven person, goes from not knowing Tag at all and having seen him twice in his life, to feeling a deep and prominent love for him such that his place in her life is crucial within a matter of weeks or a chapter or two. Theirs is a strange kind of familial insta-love that worked on some levels, but really didn’t on others.
Tag also serves as a mirror for Wade. Both males think they are temporary fixtures in her life, and are afraid to trust her completely, even though they both want to, and even though she’s given them no reason not to. All three of them are afraid for various reasons, and the steps of their learning from each other how to trust and be trusted are tiny and real and memorable.
Wade is a piece of work. Wade’s lazy. He hasn’t had to work terribly hard to be charming, and probably the greatest effort he’s exhibited is for baseball, and even then he makes it look easy. So with Sam, he figures he’ll take what he can get and doesn’t ever see himself permanently involved with her or anyone. Wade is a master avoider, and a lazy bum to boot, and seeing him have a fire lit under his ass and watching him realize that he has to face his own feelings to ever grow in any direction is wrenching and realistic. He’s also charming for the reader, and very likeable.
Wade’s father was a neglectful abusive alcoholic, and his father now wants to be part of his life. Wade avoids him, too, until he can’t avoid his father anymore, and must face his father and his father’s alcoholism and his past. Shalvis did a real job of portraying Wade’s dad’s withdrawal from alcohol. She could have left alcoholic father to experience miraculous recovery, but Wade’s dad goes through everything, and it’s painful. Shalvis also doesn’t flinch from revealing how badly Wade needed to tell his dad what a shit he was so they could both recover. Wade’s dad is a painful but powerful character to read.
Wade’s father, however, provides an unhappy contrast with Sam’s family: for a force of males who have influenced her profoundly, we don’t see much of them, and when we see them, they’re stereotypes or fixtures. I wasn’t sure how she hadn’t told one or all of them to go fuck themselves a long time before the start of the novel because they did little of importance and mostly existed as distant, cold, scary assholes or just complete wastes of breath. I think Sam, though not as explicitly as I would have liked, identified with Tag as an outcast in his own family, and she was instantly sympathetic to him because she could create the kind of family environment that she and he both ought to have had. But the Insta-Love for kids is a tough sell when there’s nothing to contrast that with, especially since her brothers and dad were really absent, and the reader had to take Sam’s word for it, and Wade’s to a lesser extent, what real buttholes they were.
Wade avoids, and Sam gives, and eventually, the two of them step over their own fears and challenge one another - and the last scene, though not nearly long enough for my liking, was a powerful moment for Wade. As usual Shalvis delivers a memorable hero, and a heroine who is his match, both in the coupled sense and the game opponent sense. There were moments when I couldn’t stop reading, especially in the first two-thirds of the book, because so many “could have been cliche” moments coalesce into big, real, and delicately powerful problems that I had to keep reading. The resolution is too fast in some ways, and I wanted more of the “more” that Shalvis built on standard cliches, but either way, I finished with a smile on my face.
Want a copy? I’ve got 15 to giveaway to random commenters. Just leave a comment here and tell me about sports romances - like or not? Baseball or no? One thing about Shalvis’ Pacific Heat series, it’s made fans out of readers who proport not to like baseball (Can you imagine?). I’ll pick 15 winners after midnight on Sunday, 31 January, 2010. Standard disclaimers apply: I am not being compensated for this review and the copies are being provided by the author from her stash from the publisher. Freshest if eaten before date on carton. Limited time offer, call now to insure prompt delivery. Beware of dog.
Slow Heat is available from Amazon.com, Book Depository and Powell’s.
Filed: General Bitching, Reviews, Grade B, Authors, Q-S
Tagged: slow heat, review, jill shalvis, free stuff, baseball
Jenyfer Matthews said on 01.30.10 at 12:08 PM
This sounds like a great book!
I never would have thought I’d enjoy a “sports romance” - until I read SEP :) And years ago when I lived in Cleveland, I became a huge Indians fans and still have a soft spot in my heart for them. A romance that incorporates romance sounds like a really interesting mix.
Jessica M.D. said on 01.30.10 at 12:42 PM
I don’t know that I’ve ever read a sports romance, but the movie Bull Durham immediately came to mind—I used to watch it obsessively when I was ten or eleven (I spent my childhood watching movies inappropriate for my age—my favorite example: I saw The Crying Game when it came out in theaters. I was 9, but it’s okay, about 70% of it went right over my head . . .). That’s still one of my favorite movies, but it never made me enjoy watching baseball. Whenever my family dragged me to an Angels game, I brought a book—I got through a huge chunk of Gone With The Wind in the Angels stadium.
But back to the topic, I wouldn’t NOT read a romance just because sports was prominently featured in it, but the sports angle alone wouldn’t sell me on one since I’m not a sports fan. I don’t hate them, I just always have something better to do. Like reading book . Or sleeping.
sharon said on 01.30.10 at 12:54 PM
I like sports romances just fine. To me, if the story is good, it doesn’t matter if it’s sports or not because the sports will drift off into the background in favor of a main plot.
Sounds like a good Shalvis read!
sharon said on 01.30.10 at 12:54 PM
I like sports romances just fine. To me, if the story is good, it doesn’t matter if it’s sports or not because the sports will drift off into the background in favor of a main plot.
Sounds like a good Shalvis read!
El said on 01.30.10 at 02:12 PM
Although I don’t go out of my way for sports romances, I did read the one before this one (Double Play?) ‘cause I read Shalvis. It was a good thing to do, and I’m looking forward to reading this one (however it comes to me).
Cheryl McInnis said on 01.30.10 at 02:35 PM
I’m not much of a baseball fan ( I’m Canadian, so it’s HOCKEY, HOCKEY, HOCKEY! for me ~) but I am a fan of Jill Shalvis and am looking forward to reading Slow Heat.
TheDuchess said on 01.30.10 at 02:43 PM
I’ll echo Jenyfer and thank SEP. I’m not sporty, or a sports fan, and if it hadn’t been for her I might have steered clear sports romances altogether, and boy would I have missed out…
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Abby said on 01.30.10 at 03:28 PM
Love sports romances. Although baseball isn’t my favorite sport (gotta go with Cheryl on HOCKEY, HOCKEY, HOCKEY!), I loved Double Play and can’t wait to read Slow Heat!
Melissa Lipscomb said on 01.30.10 at 03:43 PM
I’m sort of on the fence about sports in general, but I’ve loved baseball romances ever since Bull Durham!
L said on 01.30.10 at 03:54 PM
I like sports romances. As I don’t live in the USA, I quite enjoy football and baseball stories. Maybe that is because I don’t completely understand the ins and outs of how everything works so if something happens that is not as real as a true sports fan would wish, I don’t know that it should be different so I don’t get pulled out of the story.
SL said on 01.30.10 at 03:59 PM
I fully admit that I’m a baseball fan, although I’ve never read a sports romance novel about baseball. The only sports romance I’ve ever read is NASCAR (and even then it was because I couldn’t believe there were entire series of romances about NASCAR) and I was so pleasantly surprised- fun times were had by all
Wendy said on 01.30.10 at 04:06 PM
I haven’t tried Jill’s sport romances but I totally love the hockey series by Rachel Gibson so I would definitely read Jill’s!
Katrina said on 01.30.10 at 04:09 PM
I love SEP’s Stars. I’m not a hockey fan (never seen a match in my life), but Rachel Gibson’s hockey players are fantastic. See Jane Score is one of my favorites.
Rebecca CH said on 01.30.10 at 04:14 PM
Wow! I don’t normally read contemporary. I stopped back in the good ol’ Harlequin heyday (or maybe it still is a “heyday” but I’ve stopped noticing). Anyway, I have only ever read one baseball romance and it played too much (or tried to) like Bull Durham—a personal favorite of mine. So, no, I wouldn’t say that I’m a fan of sports romances. But your description of these characters and their trials makes me want to READ this. Too many books take the something wonderful that they’ve created and turn it into a box of cliches. And that’s the worst part of reading. When you keep hoping with a book because you know that there’s something there—you’re already half in love with the characters—but the author doesn’t give you enough to get deeper with it. It likes a love at first sight that’s only followed up by monthly dates. Just kind of kills it, you know.
Thanks for a great review. SB Sarah. As always.
Vicki said on 01.30.10 at 04:19 PM
Not necessarily a fan of sport romance. I will generally pick an adventure romance over a sports romance but, at this point, do pick sports over the plethora of paranormal, just found I have special powers blech out there. Do, of course, adore SEP’s football series.
Ana said on 01.30.10 at 04:29 PM
After watching invictus las night, I absolutly want to read something with rugby on it… any suggestions?
Lisa richards said on 01.30.10 at 04:30 PM
I am a baseball fanatic. We live in a small rural community outside a small town(5000 pop). The only summer entertainment is baseball or the rodeo. We have a high school/first year college team that is sponsored by the American Legion that we watch every summer. We have been going for 30 years to watch them play and win. We have watched a lot of these boys grow up to to play college ball. We have watched them since they were in T-ball with our boys when they were more interested in catching bugs in the outfield then catching a ball. The team has had an amazing record often being in the top 10 in the state. They have won many championships and were state champs several times.
We have seen many of these boys go on to play college ball and one, Madison Bumgarner, is playing AAA ball with the San Fransisco Giants. We expect to see him playing major league next year.
We follow the team, watching regular season and through playoffs. If we can’t go, we listen on the radio, not missing a game. We even follow a neighboring county team, Cherryville, often riding an hour on the motorcycle just to pull against them(which really rips them up). They are even more rural than us. They put rocks in plastic drink bottles and rattle them to annoy the opposing team when they bat. While attending a playoff game (which we won) we were treated to a mooning of enormous Cherryville butts. After this, the rivalry took on new meaning. So as you can see , I love baseball and would looove to win a copy of Shalvis’s book.
Trai said on 01.30.10 at 04:42 PM
Before this, I don’t think I would’ve tried a sports romance—I’m not a sports fan in general, and my acquaintance with romances has thus far been brief. But this one sounds really interesting—I like that it apparently doesn’t fall for the cliches most of the time.
Peggy P said on 01.30.10 at 04:55 PM
How is it I can love a fictional football team but can’t stand to watch the real thing? I never, ever watch baseball but loved “Double Play” - that takes some skillful writing. Thanks Jill and SEP!
Linda Henderson said on 01.30.10 at 04:57 PM
I love sports of just about any kind, so sports and romance are all right with me. I enjoy Deirdre Martin’s hockey books very much, and I read the Nascar books from the Harlequin line. I enjoy Jill Shalvis so I know I would enjoy this book.
rigmarole said on 01.30.10 at 05:12 PM
I’ve discovered in the last year that I can’t say no to anything NASCAR-related. God help me, I have no idea what’s up with that.
Jan Oda said on 01.30.10 at 05:16 PM
Sport romances,
they can be so great, and so terribly wrong. My biggest problem with sports romances in general is that they are very American in setting. As a reader from Belgium, often the typical American sport settings doesn’t make sense for me, because I didn’t grow up with them, and thus don’t have the prerequisite pre-knowledge to understand the setting. If authors take some time to set the sports setting so even those readers that don’t know the setting well understand it, sport romances can work incredible well.
If they don’t it’s like a historical novel without a decent period setting.
I’m often a little wary about them, but I really like Jill Shalvis, so I wouldn’t say no to this one :)
Heather said on 01.30.10 at 05:24 PM
I have been getting more into sports romances as I get away from my historical romance kick. I always enjoyed SEP’s sports series, but lately I’ve been reading more Erin McCarthy, Kate Angell, and now Jill Shalvis. I think it’s a tough genre to do, and I’m not sure that I can read that Harlequin monthly series that does Nascar and other types, but I’ve been finding authors that do that type of adrenaline/attention junkie character really well.
Kara said on 01.30.10 at 05:26 PM
I love sports romance…all sports (hockey, football, baseball, etc.) My first introduction into this would be Luanne Rice’s Summer Light centered around a hockey player. Loved it!!!
Would love a chance to read a Jill Shalvis book!!!
Scorpio M. said on 01.30.10 at 05:29 PM
Personally, I really enjoy sports romances because I love to follow baseball & football. My favorite sport-rom is a Harlequin Blaze called SCORING by Kristin Hardy.
BTW, top-notch review. Thanks.
Helen of Troy said on 01.30.10 at 05:29 PM
Love ‘em! I must echo the HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! comments and love of Rachel Gibson’s See Jane Score and also Deirdre Martin’s series about the New York Blades. Next I need something with men playing *real* football (i.e. soccer) - they bring new meaning to the definition of “stamina”! Rrowr!
My submission word? minutes33 - at the very least!
Amelia said on 01.30.10 at 05:40 PM
I’m going to keep right on echoing this comment:
I must admit as long as it’s a sport and it’s believable I’m all for reading it.
Carin said on 01.30.10 at 05:43 PM
SEP’s Chicago Stars were my first sports romances. I LOVE Erin McCarthy’s NASCAR books, too. After reading comments I have a few new books to read. I’ve read other Jill Shalvis, but missed Double Play - I’ll go look now. Which all adds up to, I’d LOVE a copy of Slow Heat.
Hydecat said on 01.30.10 at 05:51 PM
I’ve never read a sports romance (except one random NASCAR book), but I love watching real-life baseball. I also just read my first Shalvis book (Blue Flame) and I’d like to read some more of her work.
Susan Blexrud said on 01.30.10 at 05:54 PM
The plot sounds engaging. I’m a big fan of SEP’s sport romances, and Slow Heat by Jill Salvis doesn’t sound like it would disappoint this reader. Thanks for the great contest.
lina said on 01.30.10 at 06:07 PM
Although I’m a big baseball fan (and looooove watching baseball movies), I’ve never really read many sports romances. Oh, except for a free Nascar included in the Harlequin anniversary bundle—which was really not bad.
I’m definitely going to have to check out this one….I keep hearing things about Shalvis and I suppose I’d better sit down and read her!
Sonneillon said on 01.30.10 at 06:09 PM
I’d love a copy!
I actually haven’t read any sports romance yet. Probably because I’m not much into sports, and it always seems like a bit of a cheap sell to me. I never found the ‘professional athlete’ archetype to be anywhere near as compelling as the ‘cowboy’ archetype or even the ‘highland lord’ archetype. However, I could really use another full length book to look over, and I have faith in the SB’s. If you liked it, who knows, I might like it, and if I like it (and if I review it too) I’ll step up and say so.
Natasha R said on 01.30.10 at 06:13 PM
I have not read many sports related romances. Even in the ones I have read, the sports part of the story is always in the background. But I would love to read this book! This review sounds good.
Melody said on 01.30.10 at 06:15 PM
As I’ve never been into sports, other than the odd Olympic event, it amazes me how much I truly enjoy a good “sports” romance. Somehow it’s actually become one of my favorite sub-genres. And I didn’t know Shalvis wrote them. Whee, new author! :O)
Heather said on 01.30.10 at 06:31 PM
LOVE sports romances - especially baseball and hockey. I read some of the NASCAR ones but despite being a Southerner I couldn’t really get into them :)
I would love a copy…I’ve been waiting for its release date ever since I read Double Play (last October)...
Ken Houghton said on 01.30.10 at 06:51 PM
Not really looking for the book—more trying to read paranormals right now, and sad that most of the “sports” romances I see are more Fantasy Cowboys than hockey players. I won’t turn down the book, but the cover makes me wonder:
Is there a place in there where some other woman says, “Yes, and his breasts are bigger than hers.”?
Doreen said on 01.30.10 at 06:55 PM
I have not read a Sports Romance yet but would love to. I like to read everything. I do love romances though….through in some baseball or hockey and I’m still happy. Thanks
SugarSpice said on 01.30.10 at 06:57 PM
I thought that sports romance was rather hokey and not worth my time… until I read Salvis’ Double Play. Now I’m hooked and it’s all your fault Sarah!
Make it up to me by sending me a copy?
Stacey P. said on 01.30.10 at 07:04 PM
I actually haven’t read a lot of sports romances—I’m not opposed, I just don’t seem to have reached that part of my TBR list, heh. I’ve enjoyed the Jill Shalvis books I’ve read thus far, though!
kalafudra said on 01.30.10 at 07:07 PM
Since I’m not American I know basically nothing about Baseball. Well, I know what it looks like but the finer point of the rules? No idea.
But I like contemporary romances and I’d love to learn, so please, sign me up for the giveaway. :)
Jess said on 01.30.10 at 07:17 PM
This series is the book equivalent of the tv show Friday Night Lights for me - they get me so invested in the fictional version of sports that in reality I neither understand AT ALL or care about all that much.
That is some clever characterization and world building right there :)
Spider said on 01.30.10 at 07:19 PM
The only sports romances I’ve read have been SEP’s football related series, and many of those occur off the field/off-season, so to speak. However, I LOVE baseball. Big time. And I’m impressed that Shalvis seems (at least from your comments) to have thought about the super-long baseball season and what that would mean for a woman suddenly caring for a child.
So, throw me in for the drawing and GO CARDS!
QLady48 said on 01.30.10 at 07:19 PM
I am one of those non-sport lovers!! I watch a little hockey when we fight for Stanley and then I watch the Olympics, that’s it. My hubby is also not a sports fan. I started out reading Lori Foster, then she had her fighting series. I didn’t really want to read about sports but I’m a HUGE L. Foster fan. Well, I luved her series!! Then I started reading Susan E. Phillips and got to her sports series. I LUVED her series too. Ok, I now realize I really luv a sports read!! I started looking for more sports reads. I then hear of Jill Shalvis and read her series, LUVED it too. I also found Kate Angell, and her sports series is verrry good too. I don’t think Kate is very well known but anyone who likes sports rom should read her books too. Also Bella Andre wrote 2 sports reads that I have in my TBR pile, I think baseball. I will now look into the hockey reads that were mentioned here!! I have been waiting not so patiently for this new J Shalvis book and also the new L Foster and Kate Angell also has another from her series out later this year. Thanks, Sue
Tovah said on 01.30.10 at 07:27 PM
This sounds great, enter me in the contest.
I don’t usually seek out sports books but I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve come across. Summer in the City is on my favorites shelf, gosh I love Soccer boys!
Anonymousie said on 01.30.10 at 07:29 PM
I don’t like all sports romances, but I’ve so far enjoyed Shalvis’. On the other hand, I can’t say I care for Lori Foster’s MMA romances, but that may be because I prefer baseball to ultimate fighting! I’d love to get a chance to read this one.
(Captcha: military21—I do love me some military romances)
Carolyn said on 01.30.10 at 07:34 PM
I love football and I love SEP-style football, but I’m willing to branch out. :) I’ve never read Shavis (there’s lots of authors I’ve never read, but would like to), so please put my name in the hat.
Thank you for the chance, Sarah and ...
ROLL TIDE, y’all!
Scrin said on 01.30.10 at 07:39 PM
As an aside, I’ve seen an author pull this off with not just one, but three (and possibly four) characters in the same series.
If you like your fantasy, check out Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. First book is Storm Front. Second book is Fool Moon. Third book is Grave Peril.
And the character I’m talking about shows up first in the third book—right in the first two chapters. The best part is…You, the reader, is told how Michael is at the beginning.
And then as the book goes on you find out it was an understatement.
So, um, here, for anyone’s interest (not really any spoilers. I mean, sure, you now know Harry, the narrator, doesn’t die in the first two books, but there’s 11 books so far. Of course he doesn’t die), I present: Michael http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/3/ch1/
CaroleM said on 01.30.10 at 07:42 PM
Your review was so well-thought out, I actually forgot the story had anything to do with sports, until you reminded me at the end. I’m not sure if I read romances to escape from reality, or if I want to see characters that real in the story.
I’ll have to try it.
Isabel said on 01.30.10 at 07:53 PM
Count me in, I don’t watch much sports other than soccer but I really like Shalvis’s style. Double Play was great.
Francesca said on 01.30.10 at 07:58 PM
The only sports romances I have ever read are SEP’s and one about a lady golfer by Elizabeth Gage. Being Canadian, I’m with Cheryl on the HOCKEY, HOCKEY, HOCKEY, but my secret vice (even more secret than reading romance novels) is professional wrestling.
theladyferris said on 01.30.10 at 08:02 PM
I’m just starting on Friday Night Lights so perhaps this would be a good companion read? As a UK resident of course I haven’t a clue what is going on in either sport but I’m sure that won’t spoil my enjoyment!
SandyH said on 01.30.10 at 08:02 PM
What a great review. Sounds like a book to read. I have read SEP sports romances and enjoyed them. Bull Durham is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Francesca said on 01.30.10 at 08:03 PM
This site has lead me to some great readings and great authors. Jill Shalvis seems a new good author for me to enjoy: enter me in the contest!
So, what was the reason for the minus?
edieharris said on 01.30.10 at 08:08 PM
An ex-boyfriend of whom I have fond memories now plays pro ball, and I learned long ago that watching the form and power in a baseball player’s body made for prime entertainment…before, during, and (especially) after the game. I love athlete romances in general, but I hold a special place in my heart for baseball-themed romances. Bring on the slow heat!
JBHunt said on 01.30.10 at 08:10 PM
I’m a Shalvis fan, but I wish she would finish the Wilder brothers trilogy (Instant Attraction…)—growing impatient to read the last installment!
Thanks for the chance to win one of her books, even if it takes place on the baseball field rather than in the High Sierra.
Laura (in PA) said on 01.30.10 at 08:11 PM
I really enjoy athlete heroes. I’m not sure I would be considered a huge fan of sports, but being married to a lifelong fan, and living outside a town (Philly) that takes sports ridiculously seriously, I am surrounded by them enough to like going to games and following teams.
I like SEP’s sports books, and I’ve enjoyed Jill’s books I’ve read so far. I’m really looking forward to reading this one.
Maria Phipps said on 01.30.10 at 08:17 PM
i like some out there sports.. Rugby, European Soccer.
I do love Football, Nascar and Hockey.
I also like the NASCAR Harlequin books. there quick fun reads.
Theresa I said on 01.30.10 at 08:18 PM
I love sports and I love romance novels but I’m always hesitant about a sports romance. The ones I’ve read generally haven’t been well done. Either the author makes so many changes that the sport doesn’t really match real life or the author throws the heroine into the sport in a completely unbelievable way (i.e. a reporter who has never watched sports before but is now covering a sports team).
There have been one or two gems that I remember. When I first started reading romances, I remember a Harlequin about a baseball player who decided to retire when he hit a certain age so he wasn’t in the game beyond his good years. I’ll have to try to find it again, but that was one of my favorites.
Jill Shalvis’ sounds like its a keeper as well!
Abby Normal said on 01.30.10 at 08:20 PM
Caught Running was a sports romance, right? That’s a keeper. I don’t know about sports romances in general, but I think I could argue for some on a case by case basis.
Polly said on 01.30.10 at 08:22 PM
I loved the SEP sports books. I think my favorite was It Had to be You.
And if anyone’s looking for a new tv show to become an enslaved fan to—Friday Night Lights. The recapper on Television without Pity wrote once that she can’t decide if she wants Coach Taylor to be her father or her boyfriend, and wrong as that sounds, she’s exactly right. He had his wife have the best portrayal of a strong and healthy relationship that I’ve ever seen on tv.
JennyD said on 01.30.10 at 08:30 PM
Growing up as the odd one out in a sports-obsessed family (I only played three sports as opposed to my brothers’ six or seven), I’ve tended to steer away from sports fiction. I figure, I got enough of that growing up - don’t need to spend my free time reading about it. =) But this one actually sounded good. I wouldn’t mind giving it a try.
Sara said on 01.30.10 at 08:32 PM
I’m not a huge sports romance fan, but every now and then I pick one up and really enjoy it. This book, however, sounds really good and I would love a free copy.
D.L. said on 01.30.10 at 08:38 PM
Sports romances seem to be a big hit or miss for me. I don’t like football, but love SEP’s series. And I love hockey, but can’t stand Deidre Martin’s Blades series. Baseball is another one of the few sports I enjoy watching, but have never read a book about. Baseball movies are a different story- to echo other commentors, Bull Durham is amazing.
LizM said on 01.30.10 at 08:41 PM
Great review-it definitely made me want to read the book. It took SEP for me to realize that “sports romances” could be great romances that a good writer can make interesting even to a non sports fan like me. Power Play by Deirdre Martin is another very good sports romance (hockey), but what makes it work, for me, are the charcters. I’m still not interested in sports.
RachelT said on 01.30.10 at 08:42 PM
I absolutely love sport (we’re really rooting for Andy Murray in the UK this weekend) and I love romance, so sport romances are a no brainer to me. I think I’ve read most things here, except for Lori Fosters’ books which are in my tbr file.
I would like to add Carly Phillips’ books about three sisters who co-own are sports agents - Hot Stuff, Hot Number, Hot Item, and Hot Property. Hot Ticket is a sports based anthology including stories by Deirdre Martin and Julia London.
Ana - I remembered seeing that Mills and Boon teamed up with the RFU to publish some rugby novels: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/27/rugby-romance-novel-serie_n_161345.html (sorry about the long address, I still haven’t learned how to put a link in to a post)
I looked at Mills and Boon website and found them through the advanced searc - looking at each month in the Modern imprint and looking for the cover with the Red Rose and England Rugby on it. Mind you, none of the summaries mention rugby, so I don’t know how signficant a part the sport plays in the books.
TracyS said on 01.30.10 at 08:49 PM
LOVE sports romance books. ESPECIALLY baseball ones. I love baseball and can’t wait until April!! Some of my best childhood memories involve Milwaukee County Stadium (now gone!) and the right field bleachers!
I’d love to win this book, but will be buying it if I don’t!
Jennifer M said on 01.30.10 at 08:50 PM
I love sports themed romances! I wish there were more of them out there. My favorites are hockey and baseball because I watch them but so far just about any sport in a book and I’ll read it.
kytten said on 01.30.10 at 08:56 PM
This sounds… interesting. Grown up and well written. I might have to check it out.
Leah Vincent said on 01.30.10 at 08:58 PM
I was never a huge fan of sports romance until I read SEP’s “It Had to Be You.” I can’t count the number of times I have re-read it. Rachel Gibson’s “True Love and Other Disasters” was almost as good, with a very similar storyline. My third fav is probably Jill Shalvis’s “Double Play.” I loved those three so much that other books by the same authors in the same sports genre tend to pale a little in comparison, but it doesn’t stop me from reading more and more of them!!
Kimberly C. said on 01.30.10 at 09:01 PM
Baseball fan here (Let’s Go Red Sox!!) & I enjoy sports themed romances. Thanks for the great review. I am definitely putting this one on my TBR list.
Lil' Deviant said on 01.30.10 at 09:02 PM
I Love Sports!! Sports themed romance are even better. When ever there is a specific game Mr Deviant wishes to catch he always picks me up a new book. That way he enjoys the game and I enjoy the game. *grin* What a wonderful afternoon. Thats why I love baseball season. There are sooooo many games. *giggle*
Sybylla said on 01.30.10 at 09:28 PM
I’ve been generally iffy on sports-themed romances, largely for reasons mentioned above: the book-sport doesn’t really match the actual-sport, or the heroine initially knows nothing about it and yet magically winds up super-involved in it, or the game becomes this crushingly obvious metaphor for the relationship. I’ve come across a few that I thought were well-done, and I’m always interested in finding a new author, so I’m signing up for the contest in hopes that this one pulls it off.
Fran said on 01.30.10 at 09:34 PM
I’m Jill’s fan - love her books. And I love sports romance, especially after reading Susan E. Phillips’ books - there’s nothing as hot as an athlete :)
Cecilia said on 01.30.10 at 09:35 PM
Hmmm… I’ve never tried sports romance, but after reading this review, I may have to! I’m also not a baseball fan, but I have to chalk that up to the country I grew up in. I have to confess that I don’t really “get” baseball. I know, I know, sacrilege… But maybe this book will help!
Mera said on 01.30.10 at 09:44 PM
Haven’t read a lot of sports romances.
But I would like to read the one by Jessica Bird, if she continues her O’Banyon Brothers series ... the brother of Sean in “The Billionaire Next Door”, Billy, is a football player.
Fedora said on 01.30.10 at 09:52 PM
I do love sports romances; not a huge fan of baseball, but love Kate Angell’s Rogues!
Tessa K. said on 01.30.10 at 09:59 PM
I love sports romances, especially baseball romances, and I also really like Jill’s stories - I am so excited for this book and I would love to win a copy.
Chris said on 01.30.10 at 10:01 PM
I’d love to win a copy of this! I used to think I didn’t like sports romance, but Rachel Gibson changed my mind with her hockey stories, so I bet Jill Shalvis can change my mind about baseball. :)
Kristin said on 01.30.10 at 10:08 PM
It sounds like a fabulous book with just enough complexity to avoid me rolling my eyes at the cliches. While I’m not a huge baseball fan, I do enjoy it. I have thoroughly enjoyed romances involving sports in the past and this one definitely sounds like one I would like.
Amy M said on 01.30.10 at 10:14 PM
I sort of always thought of baseball as a boring sport. Not a lot of action, slow on TV. Well, I love reading about baseball and all of the fun things that go along with it in a Jill Shalvis book!
Lori said on 01.30.10 at 10:33 PM
Sounds awesome. I love the SEP books and I have the Dierdre Martin on my bookshelf. Please enter me, I’d really like to read this.
Chey said on 01.30.10 at 10:42 PM
Not being a sports fan, I wasn’t sure if i’d like sports romances but I do enjoy Jill’s sports themed books!
Castiron said on 01.30.10 at 10:46 PM
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a sports romance. I did watch an Indian movie, Lagaan, though, that had a bit of a romantic triangle and, more to the point, spends a large chunk of the movie on a cricket match and makes it exciting.
points57—appropriate!
Melissa H. said on 01.30.10 at 10:52 PM
Love baseball! Love Jill Shalvis! Love characters in novels that are grown-ups! Grand slam! :)
cyclops8 said on 01.30.10 at 11:06 PM
I am a fan of sports romances. My favorites are Deirdre Martin’s “Body Check” and Rachel Gibson’s “See Jane Score.” I’m also a fan of Kate Angell’s baseball romances.
Laura Baumbach said on 01.30.10 at 11:16 PM
I think this is a terrific idea. In support of the effort I’ve asked Allromanceebooks to offer my M/M contemporary novel A BIT OF ROUGH as a free download for the weekend. No commission for anyone just a free read for romance lovers!
Laura Baumbach
Abbie said on 01.30.10 at 11:28 PM
I don’t know that I’ve ever read a “sports romance”. I would guess whether or not I would read one would depend on my usual guidelines. Since I really don’t understand anything about sports, I would treat like a romance about any other subject I’m unfamiliar with. As long as it had an interesting story and didn’t use a lot of jargon I was unfamiliar with, I’d be game for it. I plan on reading “Slow Heat” since it does sound like a story I’d like.
Pat L. said on 01.30.10 at 11:31 PM
A lot of people think baseball is boring but beleive it is NOT. I love baseball and was lucky enuf to watch the LA Dodgers win in 3 straight the last 2 years in the first round of the playoff, but then did not not go well in the next to get the World Series. Maybe this year.
Anyway, love sports books, particuarly baseball ones - Kate Angell,
SEP - football, Deirdre Martin - hocky - all wonderful. And of course Jill’s first in the baseball series was wonderful and so look forward to the next one. All of Jill’s books are great and she has a very funny blog too. So I would definitely love winning one of Jill’s books.
Mary G said on 01.30.10 at 11:34 PM
I’ve loved all the ones by Rachel Gibson, Carly Phillips, Deidre Martin, Kate Angell, SEP & Double Play by Jill. They are sports related but it’s the background of the story. If you are not a sports fan you will still enjoy the books as they don’t get technical about the sport. It’s the person’s job - you don’t have to be a doctor to read about one. great post BTW
Rechelle said on 01.30.10 at 11:53 PM
I enjoyed the review. As always, it was well written and up-front. I’ve dipped my toe in a couple of sport romances, this review whetted my taste for more-
Rosie G. said on 01.31.10 at 12:00 AM
I would love to win Jill’s book. I love sports romance. And we come from a big baseball family, so this would be a nice win.
Stephanie said on 01.31.10 at 12:16 AM
I love baseball romances since baseball is my favorite sport and with the foot of snow I can’t get it soon enough. For anyone else who love baseball romances make sure to check out Kate Angell she writes great ones too…
Joanne V. said on 01.31.10 at 12:20 AM
I love all kinds of books, but really like series books. I have read severak of Jill’s and liked them very much. As for sports romance stories, they are very very good. So please count me in. Thanks.
Eshani said on 01.31.10 at 12:35 AM
hahaha..the disclaimer is hilarious. Thanks for the great review :)
I’m not a fan of baseball at all, never seen a game, don’t know the rules, always wondered what the big deal with ballpark hotdogs was all about..but I adored Jill’s Double Play. So I can’t wait to get my greedy little hands on this one :)
Lorraine said on 01.31.10 at 01:11 AM
I’ve only read one sports romance,. It was by Roxanne St. Claire - Dangerous Curves. I loved it; but haven’t read any since then. Would love to have a chance to read Jill’s newest book.
Star Opal said on 01.31.10 at 01:52 AM
For me, I haven’t given sports romances a try yet. Not that I don’t like sports, I played several when I was in school and still follow football and hockey, it’s just never really come up. Complete non-issue so far.
So I’d be willing to give it a shot! *throws name into hat*
followingtheroad said on 01.31.10 at 01:52 AM
I’m not very sporty but I do go on sports romance sprees every so often. I like Gibson and SEP’s, although a few of SEP’s males make me want to hurl. The women generally grow and learn while the men seem to have sudden unexpected leaps in wisdom. Ah well- it’s still fun to read.
I also recently read a book about car racing that I loved, but it wasn’t one of the Nascar series. Does car racing count as a sport? I’m not really sure.
robinjn said on 01.31.10 at 02:15 AM
I really enjoy books where the characters and storylines are realistic instead of cliched. I’d be interested in trying this one, and thanks for the opportunity!
Shannon said on 01.31.10 at 02:25 AM
Hmm sports romances aren’t my thing - unless we are talking ice skating, but I have noticed that Nora Roberts/JD Robb has baseball in almost every book. I now have a greater understanding of baseball than I ever could have imagined :)
I do think though that sports is nice safe place to put an alpha male so he doesn’t come across as too I AM BIG MAN which can be offputting ;P
WV - activity37
Playing sports is activity 37 on my “can I be bothered” list :)
m3t said on 01.31.10 at 02:32 AM
Totally love Shalvis and having raised two baseball players myself love this series!
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