My fondest Olympic memory comes from 2018, when my husband and I gathered in our curling club warm-room with dozens of other members to watch the men’s gold-medal match, which took place in the middle of the night Eastern Time.
Team USA’s skip, John Shuster, had had a string of disappointing, heartbreaking Olympics, and it looked like 2018 would turn out the same way. But somehow he and his team pulled together to win the last several games. America loves an underdog, so millions of new curling fans stayed up late to watch Team Shuster take on two-time world champions Team Niklas Edin from Sweden, whose curlers were slick, confident, and well-financed (and in the case of Oskar Eriksson, smoking hot). One podcaster I follow tweeted that the matchup looked like a minor-league baseball team versus extras from the movie Blade. 🤣
The gold-medal match was close and tense—I was so glad to be with friends at the curling club instead of gnawing my fingernails at home. When Shuster did a massive takeout to score five in the eighth end, everyone went nuts—cheering, hugging, dancing.
It was hands down one of the best nights of my life. John Shuster later visited our club for photos, autographs, and a Q&A. I brought him a copy of Throwing Stones for him to autograph to me, and he asked if I had an extra copy for him—and would I autograph it?
Of course I said yes, and I did! 😍
Throwing Stones
In a sport where Murphy’s Law rules supreme, one slip can mean falling behind—or falling in love.
Oliver Doyle needs to win. After his reign as one of Canada’s top curlers is cut short by scandal, he arrives in Glasgow to coach Scotland’s next big team to a national championship. All that stands in the way of Oliver’s redemption is a band of upstarts led by an infuriatingly cute skip.
Luca Riley needs to chill. Or so he’s always believed, crafting a Zen-like serenity to carry his underdog curlers to the edge of greatness. To reach Nationals, Team Riley just have to keep calm and beat their arch-rivals—and their hot new Canadian coach—in one final bonspiel.
Luca and Oliver form an instant, irresistible bond. For the first time, Oliver shares the secret shame that’s kept him off the ice for years, and Luca finds true acceptance for who he is. As the tournament races toward a nail-biting climax, Oliver must face his past before it consumes him again. And Luca must choose between the dream he can taste and the man he could love.
First in a spinoff series featuring the hottest sport on ice! Like all the Glasgow Lads novels, this may be read as a stand-alone, as it features a happy ending with no cliffhanger.
Get the book here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/un5l2loqw2
Website: https://averycockburn.com/
Competition/giveaway – CLOSED – the winner is Jennifer Shannon
I’m a sucker for underdogs, and the curling team in my book Throwing Stones is no exception. Team Riley—aka Team Smiley for their positive attitude and composure under stress—has none of the advantages of their archrivals, Team Boyd, who have just hired a world-champion Canadian coach to help them win a season-long tournament. The fact that that coach is distractingly cute provides yet another obstacle for Luca Riley to overcome.
I’m giving away a free ebook of the winner’s choice from my backlist. Just tell me in the comments if you love underdog characters and/or rivals-to-lovers stories too.
Closes February 11, 7 am, LONDON
I love both—there is something about the less favored team prevailing that is so very appealing to me, and having people who are originally in opposition find themselves on the same side? Irresistible!!! Thanks for sharing your story, Avery!
I like both of those. It’s always great when good things happen to those that deserve it. Rivals to lovers can be a lot of fun.
If there is a match-up between two teams I don’t really know, I usually hope the underdog wins.
I love the underdog! No one expects it but I love when the shine and show they got what it takes!!
Who could resist a scrappy underdog?
I love the underdog! There’s just something about seeing the underdog prevail that’s so satisfying.
I love the underdog. It’s so amazing when the prevail over the expected winner. Even when the underdog doesn’t win, they keep persevering and that is inspiring. Rivals-to- lovers stories have so much going for them: the struggle not to fall in love, the sneaking around because they have to hide their relationship, the final acceptance of love conquering all. Love it.
Yes to both!
Love both
I really enjoy rivals to lovers. I love watching how their relationship changes and grows.
Love both.
This is really hard to choose so I have to say I love both. I always cheer for the underdogs and love to read rivals/enemies – to – lovers books. There are nothing better than to spice up a love/hate story.
Go U.S.A.!
Hmmm…underdog characters and/or rivals-to-lovers stories…
I’d definitely choose the underdog characters first because they have more to prove…especially if they’ve had a history with the one who always expects to win or come out on top! I’d still want an HEA though
Both please
I am leaning towards rivals to lovers but underdogs have a spot in my library too.
I like best friends to lovers not rival to lovers.
I love an underdog story. One of my favorites to read.
Too easy to choose the underdog. Enemies to lovers is very difficult to successfully get.
I love underdog characters. I like rooting!