To explain a little about what this post will be about, I’m taking the intro I did for the last one: In every romance book you read there are tropes or archetypes. You can also see them in shows, movies, plays, etc. Romantic tropes are everywhere, and they are fabulous. I adore them and I always tend to find my favorite ones in romance books so I can enjoy them more. I decided to do a sort of Trope Tuesday piece where I will be talking about many tropes and recommend you all some of my favorites that fit.
What is a trope? Urban Dictionary explains it best I think: “Despite the erroneous definitions already published here, trope on the interwebs really refers to an often overused plot device. It can also be described as another variation on the same theme. TV shows, movies, comics, games, anime’, & books are full of tropes & many rabid fan-sites now name & track said tropes with a self-explanatory title for each one.” We can name a few: accidental pregnancy, best friends to lovers, sibling’s best friend, marriage of convenience, and so many more for sure. Your favorite couples? They probably got a trope too! It’s always so nice to realize or find out your favorite romance trope and keep searching for books with the same theme.
It seems fitting to write about hockey romances while the NHL playoffs are happening right now. I’m always that type of reader that after watching anything, either a movie, show, a game, anything really, I want to find something similar in terms of a romance book with something I enjoyed from the thing I watched before. And I know we have lots of hockey fans in Romancelandia, so I thought let’s do it.
I don’t usually read hockey romances because they tend to be very, very white. It’s the truth! But I do have loved and enjoyed some throughout my years reading romance, so let’s talk about those, alright? I have hockey players, hockey coaches, former players, figure skaters, I have everything for you in this list. Hope you enjoy and have a lovely week!
Off the Ice by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn
This list was also made because of this book. Off the Ice by Avon and Piper is one of my all-time favorite novels. Recently I got a copy because it was re-published by Carina Press and Piper was so kind enough to send me one. I just reread it and it’s as good as the first time.
A sociology professor and a professional hockey player get into this beautiful romance that transforms into something for forever. Sebastian and Tristan are really two figures that have things going on but cannot deny the attraction they feel for each other even though Sebastian is his teacher for the summer! *gasp* It’s such a wonderful story you won’t stop loving it.
Kiss and Cry by Mina V. Esguerra
You aren’t ready for this romance title. Kiss and Cry has everything going for it: former hockey player meets figure skater after ten years, they were once sweethearts but because her coach, her parents and her dream of becoming a star figure skater, she chose them over him. Now ten years later, they meet again and it’s wild, people. They decide to explore what might have been. But they only have three weeks because he’s leaving and moving back to the US.
She doesn’t do relationships, he’s leaving. What is going to happen next? You need to read it, you all. Mina Esguerra, time and time again, continues to write magnificent plots and stories. The romances that you find inside these pages are magical and will be forever in your heart. Do it for the Filipino characters and Manila setting.
Second Round by Melanie Ting
A good author if you want hockey-related romances is Melanie Ting. This whole series is all about hockey so you are in for a treat. Second Round, the third title, is what you are looking for. Even though it’s the third book in the series, you all know they are all standalones with couples appearing in future books, last books, etc. But you can definitely enjoy the story if you decide to not read them in order.
This one is about a woman who hasn’t been on a date for a decade and the guy who doesn’t do relationships. It just so happens that he is Vancouver Vice’s new coach and she’s the one who is there to renovate and furnish his apartment. Their first meeting is epic and everything after that will make your day. You won’t be able to stop reading this book!
Hard Knocks by Ruby Lang
Ruby Lang is a go-to author everyone should at least pick up one of her books. Hard Knocks might enchant some of you people who love a good love story. It’s about neurologist Helen Chang Frobisher wanting to ban hockey from Portland because of the head injuries the player suffer so much. Adam, a hockey player, is nearly up for retirement and definitely doesn’t want to go out like that.
They fight their attraction in private but in public you see them bantering and sparring. But when this fling turns into something real, will they be the winning combination?
Get Pucked by Jamila Jasper
Are you ready for a bad boy hockey player and alpha male to enter your life? Jamila Jasper wrote a fabulous romance with a hockey player who needs help with his image so his team hires a PR firm and puts Amy, our heroine, in charge of changing and reforming his bad boy attitude. They didn’t expect to fall madly in love with each other.
