Guest Blog & Contest: Rugby and Romance by Shelley Munro

Today I have the super talented, multi-published author Shelley Munro on the blog. She's going to talk about one of her favorite sports and how it fit into her latest release, Wanna Do Bad Things To You (a story I loved, by the way). She's been kind enough to offer an e-book of your choice -- either Best Man or Issy's Infatuation (click titles to be directed to a blurb with story information).

Contest info: Answer the question posed after her guest blog, leave a comment and tell her which story you'd like to win (please include an email address -- no email address means I'll move to the next commenter in line). I'll use Random.org to draw a winner and will announce the lucky duck on Monday.

Without further ado, take it away, Shelley!

Rugby and Romance

Mention the subject of rugby in New Zealand, and you’re likely to get wide-ranging reactions. Some people live and breathe the sport and go into mourning when our national team loses a match. Others just can’t understand our nation’s obsession with a game where grown men chase around an odd-shaped ball.

I remember, as a child, getting out of bed at two or three on a winter’s morning to watch a televised test match between New Zealand’s All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks. My grandparents, uncles and I would all sit around the telly, wrapped in blankets to keep warm, and cheer on our home team. I used to enjoy running and kicking around a football outside and practicing kicking goals at school. Yep, I was a bit of a tomboy. *g*

These days girls can and do play rugby. It’s always fun watching the teams in the beginning grades. I think they allow girls to play on the same team as boys until around the age of 10. Often the young girls are much better than the boys, and they run and tackle in a very determined manner.

I played netball during my teen years, the main sport for girls/women, and even represented my county, but given the opportunity to play rugby, I would have embraced it. Running. Tackling. Scrapping for the ball. I could do that! Our women’s national team, known as the Black Ferns, is the current world champion, beating out England to take the title.

As a writer and a New Zealander, it was inevitable that rugby would find its way into at least some of my books. In fact, Playing to Win, the very first book I wrote featured a rugby hero. The following of my books feature rugby:

Playing to Win, a romantic suspense, has one scene at a rugby match.

Issy’s Infatuation, a contemporary is set in the world of women’s rugby.

Best Man, a gay romance features two rugby playing heroes, but the rugby is very much in the background.

My recent release, Wanna Do Bad Things to You is set in the world of rugby and both main characters are rugby players. There are several rugby scenes, but I think I’ve managed to write them to hold the attention of readers who aren’t as sports mad as me.

Here’s the blurb:

Tyson Hamlin lives and breathes rugby. With loads of natural talent, he’s destined for the big time. But Tyson has a secret—his perfect life, complete with doting girlfriend—is a lie. While he loves the game, he’s not quite as driven as he used to be, and his girlfriend is a beard he hides behind because the truth is—he prefers men.

Darcy Nichols transfers from Dunedin to pursue his dream to make the national team. He’s giving his all this one last season and intends to focus on his goal. Openly gay, he arrives in Auckland to suspicion and hostility.

One look and Ty is smitten. He wants the sexy Darcy to do all sorts of bad things with him. Game on. The sparks fly in private as they burn up the sheets, but they can’t live in seclusion forever. They’re under public scrutiny, and one wrong step could derail their rugby careers and end their dreams forever.

Contains sexy rugby players with their eye on the ball.

To finish my post, I thought I’d introduce you to the world of rugby through a video. The New Zealand All Blacks do a traditional Maori war dance called the haka at the start of each match. This clip shows parts of the haka plus actual game footage. There are two additional clips of the haka and some rugby facts at my website: http://www.shelleymunro.com/for-readers/behind-the-scenes-rugbys-the-game/



Do you like romances featuring sport? <~~ Answer this question to enter the contest!

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and writes spicy romances for Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. Her latest release is Wanna Do Bad Things With You (a rugby romance) while her next release is a paranormal werewolf story called Lone Wolf. Lone Wolf is due out at Samhain Publishing on 23 August.

You can visit Shelley and learn more about her books on her website: http://www.shelleymunro.com

Buy Links:

Wanna Do Bad Things With You

Lone Wolf

Thanks again for stopping by and sharing, Shelley. If you haven't read her work, be sure to enter the contest. You won't regret it. :-)