Years ago it was difficult to find the professional athlete hero in romance fiction. The common thought (at least what I heard for years while attending conference workshops and editor panels) was that readers didn’t want these characters. The pro athlete was not considered a good romantic partner.
I’m not sure when this opinion started to change. Did the shift occur when the Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips gained popularity? Did readers who were also sports fans asked to see professional athletes in romance fiction? Or did New York editors realize that a team of alpha men in their prime was a perfect built-in series?
Whatever the reason, these days readers enjoy a huge selection of sports romances. One of the popular sports readers enjoy is American football. The hero’s physicality is blatantly masculine and he’s celebrated for his power and brawn. He’s wealthy, famous and enjoys an enviable lifestyle. The football player hero is also driven, competitive and takes care of his team.
If this hero archetype interests you, here are three shining examples of football romance for you to try: Continue reading “3 Football Romances You Need to Read before Kickoff”