Jamie Beck Spotlight & Giveaway
Guest Post: Why We Love Athlete Heroes by Jamie Beck
Thanks for inviting me to discuss my new release, SECRETLY HERS, with your readers. This book is particularly fun because it features a sexy alpha-athlete: professional backcountry ski guide Trip Lexington.
Trip first showed up as the hero’s sidekick in ACCIDENTALLY HERS, and he kind of stole the show. In fact, they say when he “passed any woman between the ages of eighteen and eighty, her ovaries sang with more worship than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.” It’s true! Trip’s big, bold, flirtatious, and audacious, yet underneath his bluster beats a tender heart. You know—the heart he hides from most of the world.
In SECRETLY HERS, Trip thinks he’s got the upper hand in his secret, no-strings bargain with hopeless romantic Kelsey Callihan. Then he falls for her—hard. For a guy who isn’t used to taking a tumble, it’s a rude awakening, especially when he learns his rival for her affection is not only someone from his past, but also someone completely unlike him. But don’t worry, this mountain man is up to the challenge. If he can ski off a cliff, he can handle love, can’t he?
I admit, I had a blast writing him. Athlete heroes allow writers all kinds of room to flesh out an exciting, over-the-top kind of guy. There are a lot of things women admire about athletes (no, it isn’t just about those firm muscles), which is probably why they are so popular among readers. Here’s my shortlist of why I think athlete heroes are so universally appealing:
– Discipline. Yes, they may come off as party boys, but to be a professional athlete takes extreme discipline. It’s an admirable trait that isn’t lost on the fairer sex.
– Ambition. They set goals. Whether it is making the team or winning the game, these guys know what they want and they relentlessly pursue it. This trait comes in handy when they finally find the woman they want, which makes for one very sexy man.
– Uniqueness. Let’s face it, the vast majority of men will never be professional athletes. That makes those who make it to the arena a big deal! Who isn’t intrigued by a VIP?
– Talent. We all admire talent of any kind. Athleticism, in particular, appeals because it signifies strength and grace. Women love a strong man. Add a dash of grace, and that’s hard to beat. If he can navigate a field or a ski slope, he can probably dance, too! Total bonus.
– Fun. Unlike CEOs and billionaires or the “everyday” heroes, athletes spend their time outdoors having fun. They work hard, sure, but that work is essentially some kind of game. I think it makes them seem like they’d be more fun to hang out with than, say, Bill Gates.
And when I say they are popular, I mean it. Some of the best selling romance series out there revolve around athletes. There’s Suzanne Elizabeth Phillips’s Chicago Stars football books, Rachel Gibson’s Chinooks hockey series, and Jaci Burton’s Play by Play stories, which feature different athletes of all kinds (and those are some very sexy books!). And let’s not leave out the lady athletes, like Chloe in Kresley Cole’s Macrieve, or Toni Aleo’s Baylor Moore, in Clipped by Love.
Yes, I think the athlete hero is here to stay, and I hope you’ll give my guy Trip a try. I think he’ll make you smile!
SECRETLY HERS
by Jamie Beck
Release Date: June 21, 2016
Contemporary Romance
Montlake Romance
Summary
On her thirty-first birthday, hopeless romantic Kelsey Callihan has all but given up on happily ever afters, which is why she agrees to a risqué proposition from Sterling Canyon’s notorious playboy, backcountry skier Trip Lexington. After all, every girl needs a little fun, and with Trip, there are no mixed signals or risks of a broken heart. And if his tips can help her land a husband in the process, all the better.
Trip couldn’t be happier with his secret, no-strings fling with sweet and sexy Kelsey until she calls it quits after meeting a man she believes could share her dream of marriage and family. His jealousy turns to outrage when he discovers that the man is his estranged half brother and lifelong rival.
Now Trip must decide whether the fire in his gut is due to sibling rivalry or something much more dangerous…like love.
About The Author
Jamie Beck is a former attorney with a passion for inventing stories about love and redemption. In addition to writing novels, she also pens articles on behalf of a local nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and strengthening families. Fortunately, when she isn’t tapping away at the keyboard, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.
Social Networking Links
Website: http://www.jamiebeck.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerjamiebeck
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8020971.Jamie_Beck
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