It is often
said that “rugby is a hooligans’ game played by gentlemen” .
To the uninformed, it may appear that way. It is, after all,
a full-contact sport of near-seamless action, constant
energy, with frequent collisions where players
wear little-or no protective gear. It can get bloody and messy.
Professional rugby is tough. There are only fifteen positions
in a team, and the competition is hard. The
tough guys at the top have worked for years to get there. They suffer
disappointments, injuries, rehabilitation and waiting for their chances, but it
taught them plenty about mental strength and the
value of fierce commitment. Those are traits I deeply admire.
There’s no denying though that rugby players rank among the
sexiest athletes in the world. They often frequent the front covers of
magazines, in calendars or ads ranging from shower gels to underwear. All
shirtless, of course, and often in skimpy
enough underwear to show off their bodies, toned from years of physical
training, hard work and the fierce physicality of the game.
Their bodies, however, is not the only thing that attracted
me to the game since I was a young girl—and that was even before
I got to the age where boys were starting to interest me. There was something
about the free-flowing game featuring a combination of strength, speed and
strategy when moving the ball across the pitch that had intrigued me and still
does. I must confess. I am an avid supporter of
my local team, and I follow them diligently. If I get a chance, I even
watch them train. I’ll get up in the early hours of the morning to watch a game
or stay up late, and if I’m not at home
or a place to watch the game live, I’ll follow the game live on social media.
Maybe years of following rugby and the increasing popularity
of the game, especially since the
shorter form of the game, the Sevens, had
been included in the Olympics, had been the
inspiration behind, or the reason for the series, Playing for Glory. When you meet a fellow rugby enthusiast on a
boat cruise on the Hudson during the Fourth of July celebrations, there had to
be a reason why such a meeting made an impression. It was only on the long
flight from New York to Johannesburg that the idea of the series started to
form. Before then, I never considered writing about my beloved sport, not even
romances.
The
Playing for Glory series tells the
stories of red-hot players and the women they love. Each character has a
different story, dealing with sensitive issues such as teenage pregnancies,
work ethics, and unforbidden love. Between all the ups and downs , rugby is the
one thing that keep my characters together. Some of the books are steamy and
some are clean, but in the end, it was what the character wanted. And they all
get their Happy Ever Afters .
So,
if you are looking for a rugby series to put you in the mood for the Rugby
World Cup, this is your chance.
THE PLAYING FOR GLORY SERIES
EYE ON THE
BALL (PLAYING FOR GLORY, #1)
What would
prove to be stronger? Love, or loyalty?
It is a World Cup
year and top professional rugby player, Jakes du Plessis, desperately wants to
fulfil his childhood dream of playing for the Springboks. To succeed, he must
stick to the team’s strict vow of celibacy and mantra: ‘Focus! Keep an eye on
the ball – and stay away from women.’
A chance meeting
with artist Angie Summers throws his well-laid plans into a tailspin. Not even
his promise to his friends and teammates, over 9 000 miles between them, and
demons from his past can stop Jakes from falling for her.
But life is not plain
sailing, and Jakes discovers that it takes a team to help him overcome the
obstacles that stand in the way of his own Happily Ever After.
When Angie meets
Jakes, it is not love at first sight. She is not looking for a new
relationship; after all, she still wears another man’s ring.
Fate has
different ideas though.
Can Angie forgive
Jakes and forget about their first disastrous encounters? Will he let her into
his heart to overcome his biggest enemy, which is not on the field of play?
OBSTRUCTION (PLAYING FOR GLORY, #2)
Riley does not have the luxury of hating or avoiding
Christopher. Their lives are inextricably linked forever. Her best option is to
confront him before he discovers her secret through someone else. And when he
knows the truth, will Christopher hate her even more or will he be willing to
forgive?
Obstruction,
is the second standalone sports romance in the Playing For Glory series,
it follows the lives of red-hot professional rugby players and the women they
love.
LEADING FROM THE FRONT (PLAYING FOR GLORY,
#3)
Melissa knew Daniel was going to be a problem from the first
day on the job. There was no way she was going to risk her career for an
arrogant chauvinist who called her a blonde bimbo. She had worked too hard to
get her dream job.
Neither of them could deny the undeniable chemistry between
them, or the famous Cooper curse. When Daniel made one simple request, it had
unexpected repercussions. In his quest to find the truth, he made another error
in judgement, risking not only Melissa’s career but also the loyalty of his
team and the Club.
Daniel and Melissa both faced a decision: What’s more
important? Your career or love?
“If you know
what’s good for you and your career, stay away from my daughter!”
Ulrich Fölscher
wants to play rugby for the Buffaloes and the Springboks and eventually become
the best chef in town. In that order. There is no place for romance in his
life. Obeying Coach Brady’s command is easy, until he meets his daughter
Samantha. She is everything he needs – warm, bubbly – and possibly, the missing
ingredient he lacks to spice up his life.
Sammy is a
professional athlete and she too knows the rules. But it is hard to resist
Ulrich’s quiet strength, focused determination and, most of all, his delectable
kisses.
Both know how to
fight for what they want. But as their desire for each other intensifies, so
does the pressure to make a choice. Can Ulrich and Sammy continue to play by
the rules or risk it all for love?
MAKING THE RIGHT CALL
Nicholas Carter
is the billionaire owner of the Wild Dogs, a young and successful rugby club.
His secret to success is simple; he keeps his business and his private life
separate. That resolve is tested when Emma Cole comes into his life. His new
accountant is not his type, yet she has the uncanny ability to make Nicholas
lose control.
Geeks shouldn’t
look like Nicholas and neither should they kiss like he does. Emma is mortified
to discover that the hot, sexy, green-eyed man with intoxicating kisses is her
new boss.
They cannot deny
the attraction between them. But giving in to the chemistry spells serious
repercussions. During a business trip they surrender to their passion, and
embark on an affair that changes their lives forever. Reality creeps into their
relationship and Nicholas is forced to make a decision . Will he take ownership
of the resulting fallout? Will he make the right call?
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