What if a washed-up tennis journeyman (Paul Bettany) and a rising phenom (Kirsten Dunst) made a pact to hook up before every round of Wimbledon? That's a big swing from this 2004 rom-com, but how's its follow-through? Noah Ballard (Verve) joins our sports-romance kick to analyze the darker movie at the core of "Wimbledon," savor the film's giant cast, and regale us with racquet-sports anecdotes from his own life.

'Wimbledon' with Noah Ballard | Sports Romances

A cop and robber touch souls—and bods while skydiving at 120 mph—on the penultimate episode of our sports-romance kick. It's "Point Break" week, baby. Bennett Campbell Ferguson is here to dig into everyone's favorite surfing-skydiving-beach football spectacular. We break down good vs. goofy Keanu, assess how Kathryn Bigelow's first big hit epitomized her directing style, and try to figure out what to call Swayze's take on the femme fatale.

'Point Break' with Bennett Campbell Ferguson | Sports Romances

I may be the lawyer, but she's the one judging me …
A bad boy small-town lawyer meets his match. Welcome to Magnolia Falls, perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison!

*** 

 Ruby Rose declared me the enemy before I had a chance to defend myself.⁣ I may be an attorney, but this girl had appointed herself judge and jury.⁣ And I’d never minded a good verbal sparring.⁣

⁣There was a comfort in going to battle against the evil queen.⁣ Maybe it was just the recognition of one damaged soul to another.⁣

⁣But the more we fought – the more I craved her.⁣ Until our arguing turned into a bit of a wager.⁣ One I was determined to win.⁣ One time. Sixty seconds. A secret only we would share.⁣

But from the minute we crossed the line, there was no turning back.⁣ Ruby Rose may have given me more than sixty seconds, but she wasn’t offering forever.⁣ And now my world doesn’t work without her in it.⁣

⁣But how do I convince her to stay, when she already has one foot out the door?⁣

Readers have fallen for WILD RIVER, will you?
'This book omg! The way I obsessed over River and Ruby was not okay' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Burned hotter than any fire … I could feel myself blushing whilst reading' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Falling in love with the ride or die gang has been a highlight of 2024' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I highly recommend reading this small town romance, Laura is the queen of them' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Moving, epically sweet and searingly romantic … this is your next favourite read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes:

⚔️Enemies to lovers

🏠Small town

🐾Black cat FMC

👪Found family

Wild River, By Laura Pavlov, Read by Desiree Ketchum and Aiden Snow

She’s the one girl I can’t have,

and the only one I want …
A notorious ladies' man falls first – and falls hard – for his best friend's sister. Welcome to Magnolia Falls, perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison!

*** 

 Saylor Woodson is my best friend's little sister, and she's completely off limits.

We have a history, a connection – one that no one else knows about. I've kept my distance for years, it was easy when she was away at school. But now she's home, and she's everywhere I turn. And the way that I want her is unexplainable.

So, I do everything in my power to keep my distance, because her brother is my best friend. My family. But the pull is too strong. I want to claim her and keep her and make her mine.

Once we cross that line in the sand, I'm drowning in this girl and can't find my way up for air. Guilt hangs over me like a dark cloud, but I can't seem to walk away, no matter how hard I try.

And now that I've had a taster of forever, I'm willing to risk everything to keep it.

Readers can't get enough of MAGNOLIA FALLS!
'I laughed, I cried, I blushed and kicked my feet like crazy, this book was EVERYTHING!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The spice in this book was top tier' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Falling in love with the ride or die gang has been a highlight of 2024' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I highly recommend reading this small town romance, Laura is the queen of them' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Moving, epically sweet and searingly romantic … this is your next favourite read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes:

❤️Brother's best friend

🏠Small town

👪Found family

Forbidden King, By Laura Pavlov, Read by CJ Bloom and Jason Clarke

Hating her was my end game, loving her was just the beginning … 
A grumpy small-town boxer meets a sunshine girl as sweet as pumpkin spice. Welcome to Magnolia Falls, perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison!

*** 

 Demi Crawford is Magnolia Falls royalty. I'm the boxer from the wrong side of the tracks. We couldn't be more different.

Her family is enemy number one, and it made her guilty by association. I despised her before I even knew her. It was easier that way.

But now she's moved in next door to me, and she's everywhere I turn. She is beautiful and honest and sweet. Everything I know I shouldn't want.

They say there's a fine line between love and hate, and I don't know when I crossed over. She is the right hook I never saw coming. But the secrets between us will threaten to tear us apart.

Lucky for her I'm a born fighter. And she is definitely worth the fight …

Readers have fallen for LOVING ROMEO, will you?
'A delicious slow burn with all the feels' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I laughed, I cried, I blushed and kicked my feet like crazy, this book was EVERYTHING!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The spice in this book was top tier' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I loved Romeo's friends … cannot wait to read their stories' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A perfect small town, enemies-to-lovers romance' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes:

☀️Grumpy x sunshine

🏠Small town

💞Opposites attract

👪Found family

Loving Romeo, By Laura Pavlov, Read by Samantha Brentmoor and Connor Crais

🏒A bad boy hockey player is exactly what she never wanted …🏒
The first ever hockey romance – now with new and expanded scenes – from the author of BookTok sensations Off-Campus and Briar U!  

 ***

After a childhood spent being dragged around the country by her hockey coach father, Hayden Houston intends to take some time to figure out her future. Whether that future will include her currently off-again boyfriend remains to be seen. What it certainly won’t include is the for-one-night-only guy she just met at a bar.

It seems hockey star Brody Croft did not get the memo about being temporary. Big, bold and driven, he’s dedicated in everything he does. Up till now, that’s been his team – the one owned by Hayden’s dad. But his night with Hayden has sparked something he didn’t expect. The two of them are good together. Really good. There’s a connection he’s never experienced before, one he knows they’d be wrong to ignore. Even with a game-fixing scandal testing both their loyalties – to teammates, to friends … to family.

Part of Hayden wants to turn tail and run. A complicated relationship with a bad boy hockey player is exactly what she never wanted. But when it comes to Brody, Hayden is realizing that people can be so much more than what they seem …

Readers are OBSESSED with Body Check:
'Warning … you'll fall in love with Brody' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Perfect for the hockey romance lover inside you' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Elle Kennedy’s steamy writing keeps me coming back for more' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Elle Kennedy writes the best hockey romances I have ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Excellent characters, great plot … and steamy scenes' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Loved every second' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes:

💞Good girl x Bad boy

💞Boy obsessed

💞Dual POV

💞He falls first

Body Check, By Elle Kennedy, Read by Samantha Cook

I wasn't looking for love, until it moved in next door … 

 Welcome to Magnolia Falls, perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison!

***

From the moment my son came into the world – my life changed. I’d found my purpose.

My heart beats for this kid every damn day, and life is good. But then Emerson Chadwick happens. Our town’s new paediatrician is gorgeous, brilliant, and complicated.

But I’m not looking for complications.

To make matters worse, she’s moved in next door, and she’s everywhere I turn.

I can’t stay away no matter how hard I try, but Emerson isn’t here to stay. And now my heart beats for her in a way I never expected.

Falling for the girl next door is a bad idea. Loving her…well, that’s as easy as breathing.

Readers can't get enough of MAGNOLIA FALLS!
'I laughed, I cried, I blushed and kicked my feet like crazy, this book was EVERYTHING!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The spice in this book was top tier' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Falling in love with the ride or die gang has been a highlight of 2024' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I highly recommend reading this small town romance, Laura is the queen of them' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Moving, epically sweet and searingly romantic … this is your next favourite read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes:

❤️Single-dad romance

🩺Medical romance

💑Forced proximity

🏠Small town

👪Found family

Beating Heart, By Laura Pavlov, Read by Savannah Peachwood and Teddy Hamilton

'I enjoyed every minute!' Netgalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

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Overdrive, By Esha Patel, Read by Amrita Acharia and Ako Mitchell

The marriage was fake, but my feelings were real … 

 Welcome to Magnolia Falls … perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison! 

***

Savannah Abbott was my best friend growing up, and the reason I could be the best version of myself.

But then, without warning, she was gone. And my life began unravelling the day she left. My guard went up, and my ability to trust people disappeared.

But now, Savannah is back in Magnolia Falls, and she’s acting like I’m the enemy.

That is, until she needs a favour. A temporary husband …

I may fight flames for a living, but my new wife is the fire that’s been missing all along. None of this is real, we remind ourselves while we’re playing house.

But maybe, for her, I’m willing to bend the rules …

Readers can't get enough of MAGNOLIA FALLS!
'I laughed, I cried, I blushed and kicked my feet like crazy, this book was EVERYTHING!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The spice in this book was top tier' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I highly recommend reading this small town romance, Laura is the queen of them' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes:

💒Marriage of convenience

☀️Grumpy x sunshine

🔥Firefighter romance

🏠Small town

👪Found family

Finding Hayes, By Laura Pavlov, Read by Andi Arndt and Lee Samuels

She's off limits…but I never did follow the rules
Welcome to Rosewood River…your newest obsession from the author of the TikTok sensation Magnolia Falls series. Perfect for fans of Elsie Silver and Lucy Score!

*** 

 Henley Holloway is my boss’s daughter, and my biggest distraction…

I’m not looking for a student, but I’m determined to make partner at the firm, and this is the only thing standing in my way.

So, I agree to take the Princess under my wing.

Because I know that at the sight of any hard work, she’ll be begging me to leave her alone.

But from the day she walks into the office…I’m intrigued. She’s a Harvard grad. Her work ethic rivals mine. And she’s witty, funny, and beautiful all at the same time.

I always had a rule about relationships – it’s a hard no.

But weren’t rules meant to be broken anyway…?

Readers are OBSESSED with Laura Pavlov!
'A delicious slow burn with all the feels' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I laughed, I cried, I blushed and kicked my feet like crazy, this book was EVERYTHING!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The spice in this book was top tier' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A perfect small town, enemies-to-lovers romance' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes:

🏠Small town

⚔️Enemies-to-lovers

💖Workplace romance

👑Calls her princess

💼Boss's Daughter

Steal My Heart, By Laura Pavlov, Read by Andi Arndt and Connor Crais

Go on a themed movie kick with host Chance Solem-Pfeifer. We're currently on Kick #6 ... "Vampires of America." It all leads up to Ryan Coogler's "Sinners."

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