It’s August and baseball season is up and running. Now I’m not a huge fan. I grew up with a grandma who loved it and would watch more than one game on TV. However, I always thought it a tad bit boring (pardon me if you’re an avid fan). However, I recently won some free tickets to a game since I’m an Air Force veteran. My family and I went to see the Washington Nationals (Nats) play the Houston Astros. Since I’m from Texas I really wanted to go; however, I did rep some Nats gear. It was my first time seeing a game in person and I really enjoyed myself. So last weekend, my husband and I made a date day of it and went to see the Nats play the St Louis Cardinals game. It was after the game that I came up with the inspiration behind this blog post. What could be better than books that have baseball hero(ines)?
Below you’ll find some books that have someone related to the game. Whether it be players, coaches, fans, etc. Have you read any of these? Did I miss any Christian contemporary romance books you’d recommend with a baseball theme? Let me know in the comments.
In Courtney Walsh’s A Cross-Country Christmas, our heroine needs to get a ride from baseball coach. Think old crush, brother’s best friend, enemies to lovers type of fun. And it’s a road trip during Christmas. What could be better than that?
But that’s not the only suggestion I have. Dana Mentink wrote a book called Sit, Stay, Love that pairs a baseball player, school teacher, and an old dog. Surely there will be many suggestions as this trio
overcomes obstacles set forth by the author. If you’re interested, be sure to add it to your TBR pile.
Kathleen Fuller also created a story about a baseball player, only this time, he injured his arm and now his dreams are altered. In Hooked on You, Ms. Fuller brings the reader to the charming town of Maple Falls for a story that’s ready to charm you.
And because baseball players are so fun to make as heroes, Neena Gaynor chose that profession in her book The Bird and the Bees. This time
the heroine has inherited a secluded cabin that intertwines her path with the hero. To find out more, be sure to check out this read.
Of course you can’t mention a baseball book without talking about Karen Kingsbury’s Angels Walking. This one was definitely different and intriguing all at the same time. Our baseball hero hits rock bottom and is searching for a way up.
Last but not least, I’ve got to mention Carol Moncado’s Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Baseball Stars. I rarely miss a Carol Moncado book because they’re so down to earth
and relatable. This book is no different.
In the spirit of baseball and books, I’d like to do a giveaway for one lucky commenter. One random commenter will have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. In order to enter, please leave a comment with your favorite kind of sports hero. If you have a specific book in mind, leave the recommendation as well! The more books, the merrier. Comment by 8/8/22, 11:59 PDT, and I’ll pick a random winner on 8/9/22.
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Find out more on her website at http://tonishiloh.com.
I love a sports hero who has good morals. A good husband and father. Loyal and true to his family.
Hi Toni, some sports are better watched live than on tv. I haven’t been to a baseball game as its not as big in Australia but I know live games are so much better. There is the atmosphere, and so much else happening that it hold the attention better. I love going to cricket games. I actually enjoy the 4 or 5 day games best but 20/20 is good too. I cant go much now due to noise but there is something different live. Yes I love Cricket. Narelle Atkins mentions cricket or beach cricket in a couple of books but not professional.
I also like Aussie rules (Australian rules Football) and Meredith Resce has a book Falling for Maddie Grace which has her as an umpire.
I enjoy gymnastics, swimming and ice skating and know there are a few books mentioning them. I also love field hockey as I use to play it but besides enid blyton a childrens author i read growing up don’t know any that mention it.
Hi Toni, A Cross Country Christmas is a fun story that I enjoyed reading. I have been to the baseball in Seattle and loved it! I also loved the scenes in Amy R. Anguish’s ‘Destination: Romance’ where the main characters were on vacation and attended a baseball game in Atlanta. 😊
When I lived in Utah I would get free tickets to the AAA minor league games. They are more fun to watch than the major leagues as the players don’t get much in pay and do it for the fun of it. Some will make it to the majors but most don’t make it past the minor league.
I love sports heroes. Those types of books are some of my favorites. I’ve read a few really good clean reads with baseball heroes, but I didn’t know there were Christian stories. So grateful for this list. Thank you!
I’m not really a sports person–probably because my brothers always beat me in those types of games. The sport I can win in is croquet, but I don’t know of any book featuring a croquet player. :D :D
I know I’ve read books with sports heroes, but I can never remember names of books when asked!! I am a baseball fan, though I don’t watch baseball on tv. I went to some games in person a long time ago, as a group of us from church drove up to Atlanta to catch some games over a weekend. That was fun!! Carolyn Miller has her series with hockey stars. Karen Kingsbury mentions football A LOT in her books, too. I don’t mind reading about playing sports, as long as that’s not the focus and is mentioned in passing.
welcome today thanks for sharing. I am dating myself here but, my favorite sports person of all time is: Peggy Fleming. I got to see her in person rehearsing on Big Bear Mountain wen I was 10 yrs old. From that time on I wanted to be just like her in sports. But that wasnt to be. But I still loved watching her and learning about who she was out of the public eye. I am sure I have read a book or two with sports in it, but cant bring them to mind right now.
I like reading sports stories. I don’t know that I have a favorite kind. I agree with you that baseball is boring, especially on TV., but it can be fun in person. We took our granddaughter and her friend to a Red Sox game when we were visiting last spring.
Definitely important!
Sports books are some of my fave. Thanks for mentioning these.
Yes! Amy Matayo also has another baseball book but blanking on the name just remember there was a baseball pic for the cover.
Yeah I have been to a couple of minor league games.
You’re welcome!
Oh man, I remember reading about a game of croquet in a book. Now to remember which one it was in.
Baseball is definitely fun in person.
It’s always difficult to recall when you spend a lifetime reading. I’ve read so many books over the years.
Crossing the Goal Line by Kim Findlay
Her Family’s Defender by Kim Findlay
The Breakup Project and 5 books after that by Carolyn Miller
Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury
One of the books in the Christianseennfan series by Susan May Warren is a hockey player (great series highly recommended)
That’s awesome!!
Thanks for the rec!
My family didn’t play sports so not into sports but don’t really care if they r in a book.
My favorite books with baseball hero’s is Amy Matayo’s 13th Chance and Bria Quinlan’s The Catching Kind
I’m a huge baseball fan! Some of my earliest memories are from trips we made to watch the Cincinnati Reds play.
I love a sports hero who has a good head on his shoulders, isn’t all brawn and no brains, has solid values, and has a good sense of right and wrong, In our house, we like baseball but we LOVE hockey, so the first book that comes to mind is My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade.
Narelle, thanks for the shout out!
I am in a baseball-loving family. My husband grew up in Atlanta so he’s all about the Braves. And my dad grew up in Houston way back when, so he and my brother root for the ‘Stros. And baseball sneaks into my stories because I hear about it so much. :)
I like football sports heros. My family is way into football. I have one sister that always gets season passes and even tries to go to the close by games too, she so devoted to the Atlanta Falcons.
I’m a big football fan, so I love a football hero, I’m not really a hockey fan, but Susan May Warren made me a fan of stories about hockey players!
I like a football sports hero. One of my favorites is Corbin in Falling for You by Becky Wade. I am also a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
any
What a great post! I love baseball, and have great memories of my dad who always had the baseball games on the radio. My daughter and I have season tickets to our local university’s baseball games, and even made it to College World Series in 2018. Sports heroes are great when you hear about the discipline and talent they have on the field, or wherever they compete, but how they conduct themselves off the field is what makes them a hero. Balance of the sport and the other areas of their life is probably hard when you are a competitor, and I know the coaches for our college team focuses on developing young men not just good athletes.
Understandable
Yes! Both great!
We’re going to see them play Nats in a few weeks.
I adore My Stubborn Heart.
Love that!
I’m a huge Dallas Cowboys fan. Huge!
Love when an author can change our minds on a subject.
Woohoo!!! Yes to all of the above!
Awesome
Balance is definitely necessary in life.
I enjoyed Susan May Warren’s books with the hockey players.
One of the books I enjoyed reading was Skin in the Game.
I don’t usually think of sports players as heroes. But I was a fan of Kirby Puckett from the Minnesota Twins. I just learned about the book Hooked on You the other day and have it on my wish list.
I am not a sports fan. My husband loves Ohio State Football. He has already started talking about the first game Labor Day weekend against Notre Dame. I keep reminding him that I will become a football widow when the season starts. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
No specific sport, but I do love a good underdog story.
Baseball is my favorite thing! I love a baseball player hero. It’s such a beautiful, timeless game.
This is such a great giveaway!!
One who has moral standards and isn’t ashamed of his faith.
Hope you enjoy
Yeah I’m eagerly counting down to football season.
Yes!
So glad you like it!
Amen!
There are a lot of books out there about hockey players. I prefer basketball and baseball players. And I am a long time SF Giants fan!
I am a fan of sports heroes who works hard, is honorable, and who helps others when they can.
Oh I could use a good basketball one!
Yes! That sounds like the makings of an excellent hero.
I do like books with professional athletes as heroes. Probably because in real life they don’t seem to relatable.
I’m an Atlanta Braves fan, and during the summer you can probably find the game on in our house. Live games are great fun. I grew up in Michigan and got to see the Tigers live several times. I haven’t been to the new Braves stadium, but went to Turner Field several times.
I loved A Cross-Country Christmas, and another book with a baseball player hero that I loved was When He Found Me by Victoria Bylin
I like any football, baseball, or basketball hero(ine)s but for some reason, I have the latest on mind: Me and the Cute Catastrophe by Jessie Gussman, and A Second Chance for Sugarplums by Emily Dana Botrous.
I love baseball, but hockey is my favorite! I will read literally anything hockey related ❤