Canelo acquires steamy football romance by debut author Tara Sexton

Canelo have signed US-based author, Tara Sexton, in a three-book deal for her spicy sports romance series.

World English rights were acquired by Editorial director, Emily Bedford,  from Megan Carroll at Watson Little.

The Greatest Game will be published in May 2026, in mass market paperback and ebook, with a sapphic football romance to follow in February 2027 and a rugby romance in October 2027.

For fans of Ted Lasso, She’s the Man and Bend It Like Beckham, the first book follows Marcee Ackerman struggling in her dream job as head soccer coach at Pemberton Prep. If her team loses the state championship, she can say goodbye to her job. To make matters worse, Pemberton’s rival school hires the last person she ever expects – hotshot ex-Premier League player Remington Lockley. Falling for the enemy is bad play, but Marcee’s never been afraid of being put in the sin bin…

Editor Emily Bedford says: ‘Tara’s writing hooked me in from the get-go – the chemistry between Marcee and Remy crackles from their first meet-cute-turned-ugly. Between misunderstandings, fierce competitive natures and with high stakes at play, Tara has created an utterly scorching and compelling romance, and I’m delighted to be able to work with her on her series.’

Tara Sexton says: ‘I could not be more excited to work with Emily and the team at Canelo! From the first draft of The Greatest Game, I knew I had something special with my main characters, Marcee and Remy. Emily’s enthusiasm for this book and her understanding of what I hoped to accomplish with not only a romance, but a story of women overcoming obstacles in sports, is unmatched. Thank you to Emily and my agent, Megan, for making this dream come true!’

Link to the full article here.