Meet Chelsea Curto: The New Star in Sports & Steamy Romance
There’s something electric about discovering a new author who just gets you—who writes characters you want to hug, stories you want to live in, and steamy romance that makes your Kindle fog up. For me, that author is Chelsea Curto.
A newer but powerful voice in the romance community, Chelsea Curto has quickly climbed up my list of favorite authors—and for a good reason. With her signature blend of swoon-worthy hockey players, emotionally layered heroines, and delicious slow burns, she’s become one of the most exciting romance authors to watch. Her books are addictive, her couples unforgettable, and her love stories—both spicy and sweet—linger long after the final page.
💬 Who is Chelsea Curto?
Chelsea Curto is an American romance author who writes stories packed with heart, heat, and humor. She leans heavily into sports romance, especially hockey, and blends her love of emotional depth and steamy scenes into every book she writes.
Her writing is perfect for fans of:
Grumpy x sunshine dynamics
Found family
Friends-to-lovers
Rivals-to-lovers
And of course—men with hockey sticks who know what to do with them 😉
Chelsea’s strength lies in how she builds genuine emotional connections between her characters. She doesn’t just write sexy scenes (though those are 🔥🔥🔥), she crafts entire relationships with tension, teasing, growth, and healing.
Lets get into her books and series I’ve come to love! Aren’t her covers SOO pretty?
Love Through a Lens Series
In this writing moment I haven’t had the time to read through this particular series but it’s definitely on my TBR! I’ll write a short summarize of each book though of what I can find about it 🙂 What I do know, because I’ve read The DC Stars Series, is that some characters from this series appear in the DC Stars Series, it’s not necessary to read this one before, though.
Aiden & Maggie
🔥 Tropes You’ll Love:
One-night stand turned more
Strangers to lovers
Insta-chemistry / intense connection
Photography shoot setting
“I can’t stop thinking about you” energy
Shawn & Lacey
🔥 Tropes You’ll Love:
NFL coach
Friends to lovers
Fake dating trope
Caught in the spotlight
Dallas & Maven
(This couple is mentioned in The DC Stars series!)
🔥 Tropes You’ll Love:
Single dad/nanny trope
Relative to the team coach
Close proximity
NFL player x photographer
“He can’t have her” energy
Reid & Avery
🔥 Tropes You’ll Love:
Workplace rivalry
Enemies to lovers
He falls first
Banter and competition
Forced proximity (work events & travel)
The D.C. Stars Series
This is one of my favorite ice hockey romance series and I’ve loved each and every book! You totally fall in love with the characters and love their little group of friends. I’m going to do a short re-cap of each book and my thoughts of it.
Maverick & Emmy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
- Rivals to lovers
- Teammates
- First woman in NHL
- FWB
- Reverted playboy
- He falls first
My thoughts:
He’s a reverted playboy who instantly falls for the woman in his team – the first woman in the NHL. They have tension and after they’ve released it they can’t get enough and it evolves to more. For me this was a great love story and I really like their relationship and how Maverick transforms and wants to be everything for her.
Liam & Pippa
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
- Hockey goalie x reporter
- Grumpy x sunshine
- She’s divorced
- He’s her teacher
- He fell for her 4 years ago
- Accidental marriage
My thoughts:
He’s the surly and grumpy goalie who “hates” everyone on the team and never does media. Pippa is a divorced 30 ‘something’ year old woman and feels like she’s lacking in the bedroom – enter Liam. He becomes her teacher and they enter a fake dating relationship turning accidental marriage after a drunken night, but it’s also for her benefit. It’s a great trope I usually enjoy but it felt a little lacking to make it really great.
Hayden & Madeleine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
- Hockey player x personal chef
- Close proximity
- Single mom
- Her daughter is deaf
- Friends to lovers
My thoughts:
Hayden needs a personal chef because he sucks at cooking and after a brief meeting between Pippa and Madeleine after a game some time ago, Pippa suggests Madeleine and after Hayden approves Madeleine and her daughter Lucy moves in with him. She’s an excellent cook and makes delicious food that Hayden loves. It’s a slow burn kind of romance where we see Hayden makes great gestures for Madeleine and her daughter but where he also has a filthy mouth and gets loose in the bedroom…
Riley & Lexi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
- Hockey player x athletic trainer
- Amputee after an accident
- He’s a romance reader
- She’s the forever single
- Friends to lovers
- Reversed age gap
- Helps him back on track
- Mental health issues
- Ropes
My thoughts:
When Riley gets in a dark place in life after the life altering car accident that took his leg, he’s having a hard time to be close to the people on his team and even his friends. Lexi volunteers to help his strength back and even has the goal to get him back on his skates. Riley’s dark thought and un even temper is getting in his way of recovery but Lexi is a tough chick and pushes him. Their friendly relationship takes on stronger feelings and before you know it’s a FWB kind of relationship. He’s in awe of her dedication and can only enjoy the ride towards a happier future – on skates and back on the ice! It’s a really well written hockey romance with the best tropes and you really swoon over Riley.