It's Carreer Day at Cat's Books! 

Today, I am featuring Physical Thearpists. Cick here for 15 Reasons to Date a Physical Thearpist.

For your Reading Pleasure, here are some great Romance Novels with Physical Thearpist in the lead. My lists are never in any particular order. Enjoy! 

1. Seducing Cinderella by Gina L. Maxwell

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews's chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he's injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he's healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional's care--Reid's best friend's little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She'd do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she's crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance. 

Soon Reid finds himself in the fight of his life...winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.

2. Feels So Right by Isabel Sharpe

Therapy Notes:
Patient is in pain, uncommunicative.
Must work on acceptance of injury, as well as standard treatment for L4-L5 disc rupture. 
Seriously sexy guy.
Must think unsexy thoughts…

Former triathlete Colin Russo is a physical therapist's nightmare. Sidelined—possibly for good—with an injury, he's angry, impatient and a serious pain in Demi Anderson's side. The worst part? The man is hotter than a heat wave in July, and it's all Demi can do to keep her hands from straying where they shouldn't!

But sex is forbidden between therapist and patient. Worse still, every professional stroke of Demi's hands makes the situation—and Colin—hotter. And with every touch, they're coming that much closer to giving in….

3. Ahead in the Heat by Lorelie Brown

Sean Westin finds himself on the beaches of San Sebastian as he recovers from a bad break. But he’ll need more than sand and swells to heal his heart....

The surfing World Championship Tour is under way, and Sean Westin is desperate to make his mark—until a stupid display of machismo in Bali leaves his shoulder busted. He has six weeks to get back on the waves or he may be looking at the end of his career.

Annie Baxter is the best physical therapist in the business, and she knows it. After almost joining the pro circuit herself, she’s wary of working with big stars and their huge egos. But Sean is making her an incredible offer—full funding for her after-school skate center for underprivileged kids—and she’s finding him hard to resist....

As intense therapy sessions turn into passionate intimacy, Sean unleashes a wild side of Annie that she’s suppressed for years. Only, Sean’s keeping secrets, and when his hidden history comes to the surface, everything—even Annie—might get torn away.

4. Someday Soon by Debbie Macomber

Opposite Attract

Cain had chosen his lifestyle. He thrived on the challenge. No drug, he told himself, could produce the physical or emotional high of a successfully completed mission. No drug and no woman.

Then why was he standing on a cold San Francisco pier like a lovelorn teenager, hoping for a glimpse of Linette Collins?

And then he saw her. For a moment it felt as if someone had hit him against the back of his head. He went stock-still.

She stood in line at a fish and chips place. The wind whipped her hair about her face and she lifted a finger to wrap a thick strand of dark hair behind her ear.

The smart thing to do was to turn around, and walk away as fast as his feet would carry him. He'd gotten what he wanted. One last look at her. His curiosity should be satisfied.

But even as his mind formulated the thought, Cain knew that just seeing Linette again wasn't enough.

5. Dream Runner by Gail McFarland

Ever since she was a child, Marlea Kellogg has had one dream: to win Olympic gold. A lifelong runner, Marlea sets her sights on the 400-meter dash, and is at the top of her game when she is terribly injured in an automobile accident. Now Marlea is faced with the very real possibility of losing her dream just when it is within her grasp.AJ Yarborough has lost his NFL career following a knee injury, but luckily he had a career to fall back on: physical therapy. When he meets Marlea, he tries to heal not only her body, but her spirit as well. Join Marlea and AJ as they discover that love is the greatest healer of all.

6. Woodrose Mountain by RaeAnne Thayne

Evie Blanchard was at the top of her field in the city of angels. But when an emotional year forces her to walk away from her job as a physical therapist, she moves from Los Angeles to Hope's Crossing seeking a quieter life. So the last thing she needs is to get involved with the handsome, arrogant Brodie Thorne and his injured daughter, Taryn.

A self-made man and single dad, Brodie will do anything to get Taryn the rehabilitation she needs…even if it means convincing Evie to move in with them. And despite her vow to keep an emotional distance, Evie can't help but be moved by Taryn's spirit, or Brodie's determination to win her help—and her heart. With laughter, courage and more than a little help from the kindhearted people of Hope's Crossing, Taryn may get the healing she deserves—and Evie and Brodie might just find a love they never knew could exist.

7. Out of Left Field by Morgan Kearns

Strike One 

Xavier is a jerk with a capital A.S.S. and he offers no apologies. If a woman is willing to give, he’ll gladly take, walking away without a backward glance. He’s not looking for commitment and the only diamond he’s interested in has three bases and a home plate. 

Strike Two 

Dr. Frances Holden knows all about fixing broken bones and taming arrogant athletes. As the Team Doctor for the Las Vegas Rockets she deals with stubborn ballplayers every day. But nobody is more stubborn than Left Fielder Matthias Xavier III. 

Strike Three 

When a shoulder injury takes Xavier out of the game, it’s Frankie’s job to get him back on the diamond. His rehab turns out to be more than either of them bargained for, and when she promises to help him face his scarred past, neither of them are prepared for the fireworks that come Out of Left Field and threaten to scorch them both. 

8. Nine Months to Redeem Him by Jennie Lucas

"This is all I can give you," he said. "Do you agree?" 

"Yes," I whispered, my lips brushing against his. I hardly knew what I was saying. I could think of nothing other than the darkly powerful Edward St. Cyr. I was too lost in the moment, lost in pleasure that made the world a million colors of twisting light. 

I gave him my body, which he wanted, and my heart, which he didn't. Had I just made the biggest mistake of my life? Maybe when he knows about our baby it will heal his wounded heart, so he can love us both…

9. Next To Die by Marliss Melton

Penny Price dreads the sound of her ringing phone. She's convinced that the person barraging her with threatening calls is a man who got away with murder--her father's. Armed with evidence but branded a target, Penny's only salvation is the playboy nextdoor--Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Joe Montgomery. The sole survivor of the worst disaster in Special Forces history, Joe has been drowning his guilt in a potent mix of alcohol and isolation. Penny refuses to indulge his behavior and a tentative friendship begins, charged with desire. But as her father's killer sets his sights on Penny, all bets are off. The killer will do anything to protect his identity and Joe fears Penny is...NEXT TO DIE.

10. Just One Taste by Kimberly Kincaid

Jesse Oliver was a medic in Afghanistan, but back home in Pine Mountain he’s happy to switch gears as the Double Shot bar’s new sous chef. When his apartment floods and his old Army buddy offers the family’s dilapidated lake house as temporary quarters, Jesse thinks a little remodeling on the creaky duplex sounds like a fair return favor. That’s before he sets eyes on the gorgeous woman moving into the other side of the cabin—and discovers she’s his buddy’s kid sister, a.k.a totally off limits.
 
Kat McMarrin has fought hard for her space, and she’s not too interested in sharing it. Of course, her job as a physical therapist means she won’t see much of Jesse, even if he’s a few thin floorboards away—unless she seeks him out. And with his sculpted body and slow-burn gaze, she might be tempted. Maybe the fixer-upper projects she has planned for the cabin will keep her mind off him. Or maybe her instincts to strip the place down will get out of hand…

Did I miss your favorite? Let me know.

Vote for the best of the best on my Goodreads list: Physical Therapists in Romance Novels. 

Back to school, for many college students means finding new roomates. You don't have to be college age to have housemates. There is a pretty neat movement toward co op living going on at the moment as people realize that sharing spaces and objects makes much more sense. 

In Romanceland, living with a stranger has always made for great plots and sexy times. 

Here is a list featuring  of Opposite Sex Flatmates who fall in in love!

1. Sharing Space (The Complete Series) by Nina Perez 

It’s official: Chloe Brooks is having the worst week ever. Her roommate has just moved out with no notice, leaving Chloe little time to find a replacement. The pressure is on at work as she vies for a big promotion. And she just caught her boyfriend in bed with another woman. She doesn’t need any more complications, but that’s exactly what Chloe gets when Patrick Murphy shows up on her doorstep. 

Life is good for Patrick Murphy. He has an agent who can help kickstart his acting career. His relationship with his best friends has never been tighter. And he’s saved up enough money to finally move into the city. Now if he can just find a place to live… 

There are many reasons why they shouldn’t be together: They’re both focusing on their careers, Chloe is coming out of a nasty breakup, and is it ever a good idea to date your roommate? 

2. Sweet Thing: A Novel by Renee Carlino

Mia Kelly thinks she has it all figured out. She’s an Ivy League graduate, a classically trained pianist, and the beloved daughter of a sensible mother and offbeat father. Yet Mia has been stalling since graduation, torn between putting her business degree to use and exploring music, her true love. 

When her father unexpectedly dies, she decides to pick up the threads of his life while she figures out her own. Uprooting herself from Ann Arbor to New York City, Mia takes over her father’s café, a treasured neighbor­hood institution that plays host to undiscovered musicians and artists. She’s denied herself the thrilling and unpredictable life of a musician, but a chance encounter with Will, a sweet, gorgeous, and charming guitar­ist, offers her a glimpse of what could be. When Will becomes her friend and then her roommate, she does everything in her power to suppress her passions—for him, for music—but her father’s legacy slowly opens her heart to the possibility of something more.

3. The Unexpected Roommate by Allie Borne 

Bryn needs to come up with a way to earn some extra cash, and fast. With her mortgage due and her martial arts studio in jeopardy, it seems life can't get any tougher. That is, until she is run over by a station wagon in front of her neighborhood grocer! 

For hunky EMT, Aiden Romero, Bryn may just be the distraction he has been looking for to get him through his last year of grad school. Can the two become roommates, solving both their problems, or will their encounter spell heartache for Bryn?

4. Be Mine by Judi Fennell

Matt and Megan have been roommates for years. Matt, her best friend’s cousin and one hot guy. So hot that Megan didn’t even bother. After all, he was way out of her league.
Megan’s always sold herself short, especially with her loser boyfriend. So when Loser doesn’t show up for Valentine’s Day, Matt does.
Sometimes the best things are right under your nose….

5. The Real Thing by Cassie Mae 

Eric Matua has one friend—his best friend and childhood sweetheart, who needs a place to stay for the summer. Mia Johnson has thousands of friends—who live in her computer. Along with her email chats and Facebook notifications, Mia also devours romance novels, spending countless hours with fictional characters, dreaming of her own Romeo to sweep her off her feet. When she starts receiving supersweet messages from a stranger who thinks she’s someone else, Mia begins to believe that real love is possible outside her virtual world. 
 
When the two friends become roommates, Mia finds herself falling harder than she ever thought she could. But Eric keeps his desires locked away, unsure of himself and his ability to give his best friend what she deserves in a boyfriend. As her advances are continually spurned, Mia splits her time between Eric and her computer. But she soon realizes she’s about to lose the only real thing she’s ever had.

6. Long Slow Burn by Isabel Sharpe

Kim Horton is turning the Big 3-0 and needs to get her life together. Hopefully, eDating will cut through the chaff and find her the reasonable man of her reasonable dreams. Because lately, she's been distracted by her sexy roommate…and that's just trouble!

Nathan Alexander has something of a reputation for beer, girls and late, late nights. The funny thing is, he's been into his roommate Kim for years. Now he'll have to get Kim's attention, and keep it—one hot, burning night at a time…

7. Bender (The Core Four Book 1) by Stacy Borel 

In my continuing series on the Plus sized Heroine in Romanceland...

Plump: Great Category Romance Heroines with Curves!

I cut my teeth on Category Romances. They were cheap to buy at thrift stores and my grandmother also had them delivered to her house every month as she was in some amazing book club or the other all the time. 

Romance Wiki:  Category romance is also known as "Series" romance, depending on who's doing the talking. The term "category romance" derives from the fact that the books are published in clearly delineated categories, with a certain number of books being published in each category every month. Their alternative name, series romances, came from the sequential numbers sometimes printed on the books' spines. Category romances are short (usually no more than 250 pages), and have a low purchase price compared to other fiction books. 

We are talking your Mills and Boon, Harlequin, Loveswept, Candlelight Ecstasy (to really date me), and Silhouette titles.  They range from sweet to burning hot and cover all the sub genres now but are mainly Contemporary. 

Many of Romance's best writers honed their talent writing in this format. 

Linda Howard

Jennifer Cruise

Nalini Singh

Janet Evanovich

Nora Robert

Ruth Wind 

Lori Foster

I could on and on...

These romances tend to be a bit of a guilty pleasure even to the most "out" romance reader because of they  tend to have awful titles and are not afraid of stereotyping in the least. Sheik ________ is an often used title as is Virgin, Billionaire, Italian and other horrors. 

Dear Author has a lovely post called Confess Yourself: Are You a Closest Category Romance Reader? dealing with the shame/pleasure of these books.

I confess: I will cringe at some of the titles I will recommend later in this post but not the contents of the books. 

While this sub genre can be the most conservative (and backwards or just plain offensive to evolving understanding of the world) in all of Romanceland and the slowest to change due to the restrictions and it is true that  quality varies widely due to the sheer volumes of books published each month so some of these books are just very, very bad, these books are also sometimes the best written, most subversive and groundbreaking due these same factors. Wow. What a long sentence (likely with some run on issues I refused to address)!

Finally, I am getting closer to the topic of this post, BBW in Category Romance. 

Category Romance publisher can afford to take risks on new writers because of the volume of what is being published and consumed by loyal readers to the House. Once that new writer has been at it a while, supported by an editor unlike the Indies (who I adore but are shape by different elements), they begin to experiment. These writers need to produce a great deal and like any thing the more you do it the better you tend to be at it. 

Trying out a new troupe or unusual character can go unnoticed. There is low risk. 

Also, the short format means that these love stories tend to be character driven. A heroine with a bit more omph in the curve department add a layering and complexity to the romance. 

Thus, some of the earliest and best drawn Big and Beautiful Heroines of Romance can be found in Category. 

The two stand outs for me are:

Ruth Wind's Beautiful Stranger: Raised in a gilded cage, she was the chubby twin sister no one noticed. Now her weight loss made Marissa Pierce the kind of woman every man desired—including Robert Martinez. If only she had the courage to return his seductive gaze…

A proud Native American, Robert resented Marissa's privileged lifestyle. Yet this elegant stranger understood his wounded heart. Now Robert was determined to show her how truly beautiful she was—before the princess could escape to her ivory tower forever.

Justine Davis'  A Whole Lot of Love:  On the phone, Layla Laraway had always driven men wild with her sexy voice. But in face-to-face encounters, few looked past her full figure to the woman inside. So, long ago, Layla had stopped believing in fairy tales...and Prince Charming

One look at Layla Laraway and CEO Ethan Winslow knew he'd found a princess. Layla was more woman than any he'd ever met, and he desired her far more than all those 34-24-34s he used to date. And suddenly this far-from-marriage-minded man was seeking to sweep Layla off her feet-and convince her that happily-ever-afters could come true....

Some other great BBW Heroines in the sub genre, I would recommend are...

1. Phantom Lover by Susan Napier, Harlequin Presents

2. Taken! by Lori Foster, Harlequin Blaze

3. Indulge Me by Isabel Sharpe, Harlequin Blaze

4. The Sicilian's Virgin Bride by Sarah Morgan, Harlequin Presents

5. Empty Net by Toni Aleo, Loveswept

6. In His Good Hands by Joan Kilby, Harlequin Superromance 

7. Coming Home to Texas by Victoria Chancellor, Harlequin American 

8. The Sheikh's Kidnapped Bride by Susan Mallery, Silhouette Intimate Moments.

9. Baby at His Convenience by Kathie Denosky, Silhouette Desire

10. Treat Her Right by Lori Foster, Harlequin Temptation

You can read them on your E Reader. No one need ever see. :)

Arguably the best and certainly the most popular BBW Heroine, Minerva Dobbs in Bet Me,  was penned by Jennifer Cruise who is a former Category Romance writer (yeah, I already mentioned this but her catagory books are just that good).  

Right now, Catagory Romance is enjoying a lovely rebirth through ebooks and the low price love we have going on. Loveswept and the newish Entangled are great publishers with wonderful talent- Tessa Bailey, Ruthie Knox, Mary Ann Rivers, for example. 

I hope to see more and more diversity in our heroines  all over the genre-- skinny, pale, dark, grumpy, and on and on. 

Do you have a favorite BBW Heroine in a Category Romance? Let me know!

If you would like to vote of the best of the best, go to my Goodreads list: Plump: Great Category Romance Heroines with Curves.

If you would like more recommendations for Plus Sized Heroines in all the sub genres of Romance as well as utterly lovely images of curvy beauties, my Pinterst Board awaits you:. Real Curves: Best Romance Novel Heroines Who Have'em.