THE STORY BEHIND THE SERIES

I love reading sports romance, although most of it tends to be American sports.  Toni Aleo made me fall in love with ice hockey, to the extent I started watching it in England (Manchester Storm is my team).  The European Cup, a football/soccer competition played every four years, happened in 2021, and England did really well, reaching the finals.  I watched football as a kid, going to see Oldham Athletic most weeks from the ages of 12 to 17. 

 A Saturday job got in the way, and then I headed off to university.  I started watching Oldham again about ten years ago, when for various reasons I needed to fill my Saturdays.  Last year, I was rather taken with a certain footballer, with a set of amazing thighs, and they inspired me to write a soccer series, so Manchester Athletic were born.  I've purchased photos from Wander Aguiar before, and mentioned to his assistant Andrey I was after a Jack Grealish look-a-like for my cover, especially the thighs.  I sent Andrey a pic of Jack, where he was man-spreading, his thighs displayed in full glory, and the cover for Penalty Kiss was created.  Andrey and Wander know I have twelve books planned, and now whenever they shoot with a new model, they do me a few pictures with him holding a football - you might notice it's always the same shirt!  Research for the series is pretty easy.  

One of my neighbours is an ex-Manchester City player, so I've had a few chats with his lovely wife, and she has given me some behind the scenes info to help, and I've had years of following the game.  So far, it's been fun to create a new kind of family; I love developing the dynamics between the players and building a club, with its multitude of characters.   And I can guarantee that you'll catch glimpses of some of the Callaghan Green and Severton crew too!

Clean-living, wholesome, and with a constant smile plastered on her pretty face, Dee Jones is my antithesis.  

She’s also what I’m told I need to polish my somewhat tarnished image – apparently being papped getting friendly with a fellow holiday maker on a sun lounger after your ex does a kiss-and-tell with the media isn’t exactly what Manchester Athletic deems great publicity for their bad boy midfielder.  A repair job is needed, and the club is hoping that the super shiny star player for the women’s team can transfer some of her good-girl sunshine stardust on to me.  But Dee hates me and I’m the last thing she wants to deal with right now, because Miss Dee has problems of her own. Problems that could score her an own goal.  She’s meant to be my penalty, but will she let me be her kiss instead?  

Penalty Kiss is the first standalone in the Manchester Athletic series. Meet the team in this grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, bad boy athlete romance.

As Manchester Athletic’s record signing, I should be basking in the adoration of fans and enjoying the perks that come with the job. 

Only that’s never been my style. I keep a low profile and stay focused on doing my job. A chance one-night stand on my way back from the States is about as anonymous as I can make it. She had no idea who I was, and I was pretty sure she gave me a fake name too. No numbers were exchanged, and we headed back to our so-called ordinary lives. The chance of a repeat should’ve been zero. Until we meet again in Manchester. Different names this time, but the same chemistry. 

Two people escaping their realities in anonymous hotels. It’s the perfect relationship until the media reveals our true identities to the world - and each other. 

 Hollywood Ball is the second standalone in the Manchester Athletic series. It’s a fake identity, insta-lust, jet set romance with a super geek soccer player and a super-sassy heroine. 

My life has two purposes: stop any footballs from entering my net, and keep my two daughters safe and happy.  It really is that simple.

Or it was, until the hands of my physio started working more than just my muscles.

Amber Ward doesn't want a family, and she definitely doesn't want a footballer - including me.  Unless it's on her physio table after hours, and then her rules don't apply.

Only, I'm not sure I don't want more.  I just have to prove I can keep her heart as safe as my net.

Heart Keeper is the third standalone in the Manchester Athletic series.  It's a single dad, workplace sports romance with a goalkeeper who'll steal your heart.

As a footballer, my first touch of the ball was key. Control, timing, dexterity and skill were all needed to ensure I scored.

I figured it wouldn't be dissimilar in a relationship, only even though I was one of Manchester Athletic's star players, I didn't actually know for sure.

I'd never had a girlfriend.
I'd never, you know -scored.

I trained, I joked with my teammates, I helped my mum out with my cousins who she was bringing up. I was studying for a degree, even though it was going to take me years to get it. I hung around at Kitty's café.

The coffee was good, but coffee wasn't my thing.

Kitty was.

And I think she could be the one.

First Touch is a 12,000 word novella in the Manchester Athletic series.

As the captain of Manchester Athletic, I know exactly what persona the media and fans need to see.
Everything else is behind tightly closed bedroom doors.

I didn’t have a pretty childhood. I’m all kinds of broken. The only relationships I have contain boundaries, non-disclosure agreements and safe words.
My best friend and teammate is one of the few people who knows about what I do in private.

My problem?

The one woman I think I can fall in love with - his sister.

Target Man in steamy, slow burn with a bang, older brother's best friend, soccer sports romance, with a dirty talking hero who knows exactly how to take control. Be warned, one more chapter will keep you up all night!

Jude Whittingham didn’t expect his football season would be spent in the stands recovering from injury. With rest and rehab his primary focus, Jude finds his mind is becoming as messed up as his Achilles tendon. It doesn’t help that Neva, one of his many ex-girlfriends, and the team’s nutritionist, has now been assigned to his case. 

Neva has more to worry about than dealing with Jude. After a series of disastrous dates and time-wasting relationships, her hope of having a baby is fading. Neva's problem – no one has passed the audition phase or come close to being father material. Well, since Jude. 

When a family seems to be out of reach for Neva, not only does Jude find out about her baby dream, but he also offers to help her out. Neva can’t think of a practical reason to say no, apart from the fact that their past should probably be left exactly there.

Jude might be able to give her a baby, but just because he can, does it mean she should?