Sweep Me Off My Feet: National Curling Day

The Winter Olympics of 2026 came to a close yesterday? If you watched the Olympics you saw the Curling events. And today, February 23, is National Curling Day. 

If you're familiar with my Scottish Romances then you know how much I love Scottish history. 

Curling began with medieval Scots sliding rocks across frozen ponds for fun and bragging rights.  Even, Robert Burns played Curling. 

Check Out These Old Scottish Curling Terms:

Cock —This refers to what we now call the tee 

Guard — A guard is a stone placed in front of the house to block your opponent’s shot.

Still a common term in modern curling.

Draw —A draw is a precision shot meant to gently slide into the house and score.

Wick a bore — To wick means to lightly glance off another stone.

A bore (or “port”) is a narrow gap between stones.

So “wick a bore” means to angle your stone through a tight opening — advanced strategy even in the 1700s.

Rink —The rink is the sheet of ice.

Hog-score —This refers to the hog line — a line the stone must cross to stay in play. If it doesn’t make it? It’s removed.

Curling In America

Curling in America began in the 1830s when Scottish settlers brought the sport to Michigan. Nearly 200 years later, just last week, American Competitive Curlers made it to the podium in the 2026 Olympics. In Milan-Cortina, Team USA captured the Men’s Team Bronze and 🥈 Mixed Doubles Silver.

We all know how popular the sports sub genre of romance is so, for all you Curling Romance fans, here's a reading list of Curling Romances.

Curling Romances that will Sweep you away: 

1. Fire & Ice by Rachel Spangler

Link

A disgraced reporter.

A rising curling star.

One icy assignment that refuses to stay professional.

This sapphic contemporary romance slides straight into that irresistible enemies-to-lovers lane. The tension? Sharp. The stakes? Real. The chemistry? Melting glaciers.

Tropes:

Women in sports

Forced proximity

Slow thawing emotional walls

Competitive fire on and off the ice

2. Throwing Stones by Avery Cockburn

Link

A Canadian coach.

A rival Scottish curler.

History between them that refuses to stay buried.

This MM romance is deeply rooted in the sport itself — team politics, strategy, pride, national rivalry. It’s layered, character-driven, and beautifully slow-burn.

Tropes:

Rivals-to-lovers

International tension

Emotional restraint that eventually snaps

Real curling culture woven throughout

3. Must Love Christmas (Glasgow Lads on Ice #2) by Avery Cockburn

Holiday romance + curlers + Scotland.

While less centered on the sport mechanics than Throwing Stones, this one keeps you in that competitive curling world — teammates, tension, chilly Scottish settings, and warm holiday vibes.

Tropes:

Christmas romance

Team dynamics

Cozy sports settings

Emotional second chances

4. Pride, Prejudice, and Curling Rocks by Andrea Brokaw

Link

Competitive curling meets Austen-inspired romantic tension.

This YA romance brings teen rivalry, regional championships, ambition, and awkward heart-flutters into the rink. It’s lighter, but still full of stakes and emotional sparks.

Tropes:

Tournament drama

Teen angst

Sports-driven coming-of-age romance

5. Knot Letting Go (OlympicVerse Book 4) by Thea Masen & Clover Holloway

Link

Olympic curlers.

Figure skating.

Second chances.

High heat. High stakes.

This 18+ sports omegaverse romance blends Olympic-level curling ambition with figure skating glamour — and layers in pack dynamics, redemption arcs, and intense emotional chemistry.

Pack West wants gold — and public visibility for curling.

They don’t expect to collide with the omega they tormented in high school… now an Olympic figure skater representing Team USA.

When sabotage threatens everything, tensions skyrocket — on and off the ice.

Tropes:

Curling + Olympic setting

Bodyguard/client dynamic

Second chance romance

High emotional intensity

Adult, spicy themes (18+)

6. Curling and Curves (A Lil Love Book 2) by Tilly Tait

Link

Former rugby league star turned amateur curler.

Curvy PR strategist tasked with putting curling “on the map” in Australia.

Forced collaboration. Reluctant hero. Sparks everywhere.

When a medical scare shakes up Australia’s Olympic qualifying team, Dylan unexpectedly lands a curling spot. Enter Crystal — the PR strategist who thinks she’s been demoted from glam sports to “men with brooms and rocks.”

He scowls.

She strategizes.

Neither plans on falling.

It’s playful, warm, and full of chemistry — proving curling romance isn’t just a North American or Scottish thing.

Tropes:

This one brings:

Athlete + PR heroine dynamic

Curvy FMC

Grumpy/sunshine vibes

Underdog Olympic qualifiers

Australian setting

7.  Sticks & Stones: A Winter Olympics Novella by Jillian Arly

Link

Team USA women’s hockey star.

Team USA curling skip.

Brother’s best friend.

One bed.

When Olympic Village housing gets messy, the curling team captain swoops in — and suddenly rules feel… flexible.

Tropes:

Female hockey heroine

Male curling captain

Brother’s best friend trope

One-bed forced proximity

Quick, flirty, and Olympic-level chemistry

One of these Curling romance is sure to glide straight into your heart. 

Happy Curling Day. 

 

 

It’s been a strange start to 2026. After struggling with the plot, my writing, and the overwhelming political realities for a year, I finished my latest work in progress. After debating with my muse, I changed a few chapters and cut about four thousand words in the middle. Then, the last five thousand words — the big showdown, if you will — came quite naturally. I wrote seven days a week to reach the finish line, only to learn that my publishing house doesn't accept new submissions. I admit the news hit me hard. Since 2008, I had only published with this one publisher, and I was happy with how they handled sales and paid royalties. Now, I am left with a finished story and must decide whether to find a new publisher or self-publish. It's a big decision, and I would appreciate your input on what I should do and the pros and cons of each option.

In the meantime, I would like to share an excerpt from my last published book, Dirty Works.

Just when you think you have found the perfect match, you may find yourself bursting into flames.
 
Excerpt

Nicolas left his hideout cautiously. There was no way of knowing how many burglars he was up against. The carpet under his bare feet was soft and warm, swallowing every sound. He had crossed the room when he became aware of a shadow at the next door, which led to the parlor, Mr. Hollander’s favor-ite abode. The aroma of expensive tobacco was in the air, mingling with that of leather and faintly of flowers. He noticed that there were sandy shoe traces from at least two persons on the otherwise spotless carpet. The moment he stepped beyond the threshold, a man attacked him from the right. Nicolas blocked the man’s arm, twisted it around and thrust the man face-first against the wall. The impact stunned him amid the screams of pain. He went down and lay unmoving. Nicolas let go of the man’s arm to face the second opponent, who aimed a pistol at him. Instinctively, Nicolas turned away, and the projectile passed him soundlessly. Before the shooter could pull the trigger again, Nicolas closed the gap, kicked the man in the shin, and twisted the gun out of his hand, turning his body into him. It had not yet reached the floor when the man boxed Nicolas in the kidney twice so forcefully it was both hurtful and stunning. Gasping for air, Nicolas rammed his elbow into the attacker’s midsection, gaining the advantage to turn and punch the man in the face, twice, three times, driving him backward. His side hurt, but for the moment he had his eyes on his opponent and ignored the pain. Nicolas kicked the man’s knee, triggering a groan, then kicked higher at the man’s chest. The opponent hit the wall behind him, and Nicolas was upon him, hitting him hard in the face once again. The man’s defense crumbled—he couldn’t keep up his fists. Nicolas heard a voice calling out in shock behind him. Quickly he swiveled the injured man around him so that he was a shield against yet another silent bullet. A third man had crossed the threshold into the parlor. Wide-eyed and obviously surprised by the situation, he turned tail and ran back through the living room toward the side entrance of the house.

“Fuck!” Nicolas dropped the now unconscious intruder and pursued the third gangster on bare feet. He heard glass shatter with a deafening noise, as if the living room’s mighty candelabra had hit the floor.It was the glass cabinet. The shards lay scattered across the floor, glistening in the afternoon sunlight, too broadly spread to jump over. Nicolas was lucky he came to a skittering halt before stepping into the glass. “I don’t believe this!” Nicolas put his hands on his hips, catching his breath. He heard the third man run down the hall and leave the building, shouting an order in a language Nicolas didn’t understand.

On the way back to the intruders, he tore off the power line of a floor lamp and used it to tie up the two men. Both were unresponsive, and he had his first good look at them. They were both of Asian origin, solidly built, with hair cut so short their scalps shone through, in their late twenties. The second man he had beaten had a shiny silver dart in his chest. Nicolas refrained from touching it. He searched their pockets but didn’t find a passport or a wallet. He also did not find backpacks or bags to transport stolen goods. “What were you guys up to?” he murmured as he left them behind to search the house. On the way, he grabbed a phone from the hook to call the police.

When he couldn’t find any other intruders, he fetched a pair of shoes from the bedroom, a few clothes for Jacklyn and himself, and went to open the closet. “Hey, lady, good to see you.”

Jacklyn embraced him, sighing with relief. She looked up to him with a frown. “You look… chipper.”

“What did you expect? Your badass FBI agent knows howto use his fists.”

*

Find out more about my books at annraina.com

Follow me on Instagram ann_raina_author

Books are available at online bookstores.

15 years!

 Can it really be 15 years since I started visiting Sweet n Sexy Divas? I was first published in 2010, which really does seem like yesterday and writing posts for the 18th of each month. I think I may have missed one or two. So that means around 178 blog posts!

In that time I've gone from 0 published books to more than 35, I haven't done an actual count lately but maybe I should 😀 The list below is just a sampling of my published works. Some are no longer available, so not on the list. There are also books in multiple translations too! Check my WEBSITE for a complete list. 

Currently I'm working on book 3 in the Black Phantom Series titled Devotion, it should be out at the end of March. I'm also working on second book in the Chantilly Darling Cozy Mystery series titled Death on the Black Rocks. Plus I have a number of author collaborations I'll be in which means writing writing writing!

If you'd like to keep up to date on all the news, I encourage you to join my email list - HERE. I send emails on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. When you sign up you get a complimentary copy of My Reading Journal.

This is a pretty big year for me. I'm transitioning into retirement which means a lot of changes 😬 and being more focused on writing and publishing books! I hope you follow me along for this new adventure.

xxx

We Should Love Secondary Characters

It’s just terrible! Look up the definition of a Secondary Character and you’ll find something like this:

Also known as two-dimensional characters or flat characters, they do not grow or change.

Don’t let secondary characters take on too much importance. The story has to revolve, almost totally, around the hero and heroine.

Well, phooey. I don’t agree. In romance novels, heroes and heroines are pretty flat. Obsessed with each other, they crave sexual fulfillment because their bodies are swamped with those “love” chemicals: dopamine, norepinephrine and phenylethylamine. Intellectual bores, they jaw on endlessly about each other, garble, stutter, stumble, blush, sweat, and make a thousand wrong decisions before hitting on the right (obvious) one. Why? Because love has struck them dumb.

So, who can we rely on for a bit of humour, clear thinking, or danger? Secondary Characters. Even Jane Austen’s, Pride and Prejudice, would be dull stuff if we didn’t have the foolish Mrs. Bennet and her silly younger daughters. Would Darcy seem so wonderful without the plotting, lying George Wickham, or the self-righteous, pompous clergyman, William Collins? So let’s demand secondary characters. Let’s create them. And let’s love them.

Come meet one of my own Secondary Characters:

Fast-talking door-to-door salesman Don Ried, electric blue suit, spiffy tie, spit-shined shoes, a snappy joke ready and waiting on his curled lip: “You hear the one about the nympho and the bus driver?” Every weekday, hitting the streets in hick towns north and south, be it rain or shine, blizzard or flood. Natty briefcase in one hand, glossy showroom catalogue snug inside; in the other, the sample box with its miniature sofas, credenzas, tables, armchairs, all with the company logo stamped into them.

Ringing doorbells, bringing luxury and dreams into a housewife’s dull day, brightening an hour or two for them, he’s a fantasy man to women stuck at home cleaning, braising, stewing, raising their brats, and wondering if that’s all there is to life, if romance boils down to this only. Why, he convinces the ladies he’s doing them a favor, introducing wares that might change everything, demonstrating pull-out drawers, nifty storage space.

Words for Patty Jo https://books2read.com/PattyJo

A steamy, exciting PNR for Valentine's Day: Awakening: Shadow-walkers 1--Only 99 cents

This series was inspired by my time as a bass player in a hard rock all-female band. Making music is like magic to me.

Sometimes, the end is really the beginning.

Kate Wolf has messed up her life big-time. She destroyed her successful music career, her close friendships with her Hecate’s Fury bandmates, and her marriage. Now she is given a second chance to succeed as author Kaitlyn Storm. An offer to turn her book series into three movies should make her happy, but her troubled rock-star past continues to torment her.

When a snowstorm traps her in a haunted cabin with Kane Devlin, the hot Scottish movie star playing her hero, they awaken more than just passion. But before she can move on, Kate must let go of the guilt and shame holding her back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Only 99 cents on Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H1P9242

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snippet:

Smiling, I stroked his cheek, caught up in the moment. Confronting that apparition had been kind of a thrill. He fought by my side like a gallant, brave warrior, and it really turned me on.

“Wish one of your young models were here with you now?”

He leaned down and kissed me, weakening my knees, then drew back. “There’s your answer,” he murmured in a rough voice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enter a world of enchantment and passion

www.kelleyheckart.com

Witchy Woman - Erotic Paranormal Romance - NEW Release - Witch - Vampire - Blood Slave - Tina Donahue Monthly Newsmagazine #EroticParanormalRomance #BloodSlave #Giveaways #EyeCandy

NEW RELEASE!

Witchy Woman

(Vampire Quest Book 1)

Amazon Preorder

(Releases Feb 7)

A witch who's ditched sorcery...

A down-on-his-luck vampire...

One fateful encounter between them

that could be pure magic.

Erotic Paranormal Romance

Blood Slave

Las Vegas

Unexpected Lovers

Switched Powers

Bored with getting whatever she wants whenever she wants it, Wren’s now earning things the mortal way—through hard work… specifically erotic dancing.

As a newly turned vampire, Roman dreads eternity until he chances upon Wren at a Las Vegas strip club during her nightly show.

Desire sparks. Lips meet.

Trouble brews from the vamp who turned Roman, and also from the vile warlock who’s determined to make Wren his…forcing her and Roman to battle dark magic and blood lust to turn a disturbing future into their shared paradise.

As they embark on their Vampire Quest.

TEASERS

Excerpt from Chapter One:

WREN

My mother thinks I’m nuts. My relatives avoid me like the plague. Buddies I’ve had since forever have mostly turned their backs on me.

Why?

Because I’ve chosen the one thing no self-respecting witch has ever done to my knowledge… I’ve turned my back on magic.

The bus I’m on lumbers toward my place of employment, a Las Vegas strip club. I want to try things the mortal way for a change. However, that doesn’t mean I’m shy. Besides, stripping is one of the few things I can do without any advanced training, which I never had to take because I am a witch. Damn, fate really screwed me for the real world.

Bummed, I sag in my seat. Despite my attire—calling the scant stuff I wear a costume is being generous—no one on this bus notices my near nudity. Their attention remains glued to their phones, their gazes vacant.

Except for the bus driver.

He regards me in the rearview mirror then slowly drags his tongue over his thick lips and grins.

Ew.

I suppress a shudder and give him the finger instead. If that doesn’t get his eyes back on the road, I’ll twist his head around until it’s facing me, permanently.

He gets the hint and concentrates on his driving.

I blow out a relieved breath and make it to my stop without further incident.

The outside air is balmy, the sky splashed with glittering stars. Hard bass pumps from inside the club. Ready to boogie, I grab the handle for the staff entrance but don’t open the door.

For some reason I can’t.

Expectation floods me as it never has. My skin tingles and my breath catches…as if something exciting and new is going to happen tonight.

An event that might totally change my entire existence.

 

ROMAN

Let’s get something straight from the get-go. For those mortals seeking eternal youth and a never-ending life, thanks to Botox, exercise, or selling their souls to Satan—which is fucking hardcore and stupid—I have one thing to report.

Immortality sucks. Being a vampire blows. Big-time.

I slump in my chair, overwhelmed by an endless future I never asked for and don’t want. Being a mortal with a sell-by date on my existence was fine with me, no matter what anyone else prefers. Different strokes, I say. Despite my liberal attitude toward existence, did I get what I wanted even though I was minding my own damn business?

Hell no.

I gulp whiskey faster than I ever guzzled water. Unfortunately, the booze has the same effect on me. Rather than a pleasant buzz I came to expect as a mortal, I now experience nada, zilch, zero.

Yet I keep drinking, hoping for the best when only blood will ease my craving.

I am so screwed.

What else will you learn about in my newsletter?

CLICK HERE TO READ

Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

A Valentine

What is a Valentine if not a message to the heart filled with love. Burning Bridges offers many different versions of love: a mother to a daughter, a daughter to a mother, friends, old and new, and most importantly, the love for a lost passion. For Sara Richards, is the passion she felt as a teenager for Paul Steinert gone forever, or against all odds, can it be rekindled? Burning bridges are a bitch to rebuild. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be.

I hope you see Burning Bridges as the Valentine it’s meant to be!

Blurb:
Not your typical “secret baby” book! This Southern romance packs in the emotion.

Consider the role of strangers in our lives. An unknown postman in Virginia hides a bag of mail one day. His simple action set in motion untold consequences for many others—strangers—all over the country. How many bridges were burned in that forgotten mail pouch?

Sara Richards’s world is rocked when three love letters from 1970 are delivered decades late. The letters were written by Paul Steinert, a young sailor who took her innocence with whispered words of love and promises of forever before leaving for Vietnam. Sara is left behind, broken hearted and secretly pregnant, yearning for letters she never received.

Then Paul died.

Now, years later, she discovers the betrayal wasn’t Paul’s, when her mother confesses to a sin that changed their lives forever. How can Sara reveal to Paul’s parents that they have a granddaughter they’ve missed the chance to know? Even worse, how will she find the words to tell her daughter that she’s lived her life in the shadow of a lie?

Picking her way through the minefields of secrets, distrust, and betrayal, Sara finds that putting her life together again while crossing burning bridges will be the hardest thing she’s ever done.

Buy link:
Kindle Unlimited

Excerpt:
Sara stared at the letters arranged before her in numerical order. The moment in time she and Paul shared was long ago, yet her dream had conjured his presence as though she’d just seen him. In her mind, his blue eyes darkened with passion before his lips captured hers, and he moaned his appreciation when their tongues met. She tasted his sweetness and knew the steel of his arms as he held her. How many nights had she put herself through hell reliving those memories? Too damn many.

After the concert, they’d met clandestinely on weekends, mostly at Sandbridge, where they could walk and talk undisturbed. With each meeting, stirrings built deep in Sara that pushed her to want more, but Paul insisted they restrain themselves because of her age.

Then the weekend before he shipped out, she'd planned a surprise and her life changed forever.

The kettle screeched, bringing her back to the present. Sara prepared a cup of tea and then picked up the envelope marked twenty-eight. At one time, she would have given her right arm to hold this letter. Now, curiosity and the desire for a brief escape drove her more than the passion of youth. Blind love had faded when she’d had no word to bolster her during the long weeks after the ship left.

First had come the waiting. No letters arrived, even though she wrote him daily. There were no phone calls, no notes, no anything, for days that dragged into weeks then crept into months.

Anticipation morphed into anxiety. She worried he was sick or hurt and unable to write.

One day she admitted that Paul must be afraid to write for some reason, and she feared what he would say if she did receive a letter. That their time together had been a mistake, that she was too young to be in love. That he really loved someone else and Sara had been only a stand-in while he was in Virginia. Perversely, she began to sigh with relief when she arrived home and found no word.

Now, knowing why she hadn’t received mail, what would she feel if she opened this letter and her old fears proved to be true?

“Nothing,” she murmured. “Paul’s dead. He can’t hurt me anymore.” At the very least, his letters might allow her to put his ghost to rest. For that reason alone, she had to read them.

She slid her thumb under the flap and ripped the envelope open. A single sheet held his hurried scrawl.

 Reviews:

"I loved it! And now my daughter's reading it." Sherry, a reader

 "I just finished reading BURNING BRIDGES. Thank you for writing such a powerful story about how real love can overcome all obstacles… How nice that characters of middle age were written as attractive and sexual human beings." A reader, Virginia

"I give Burning Bridges 6 stars out of 5!! A true love story...I'm ready for more." - A reader, Byron, TaylorMade Bod

 "I loved it, just loved it! I was going to take it with me on vacation but I started reading and didn't want to stop. It was addictive." - Chiara, a reader

"Loved it. Just loved it." - Beverly, a Beaufort reader

Winner! Coffee Pot Book Club awarded Burning Bridges the Gold Medal for Best Romance 2020!

A little about me:
A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.

After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity.

Author links:

Website: https://nomadauthors.com

Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749

Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K