Category: heroes

The Sports Romance

On By jolenenavarroIn heroes, Podcast Who Asked Us?Leave a comment

The Unsolicited Opinions of Two Romance Authors

I love a good sports romance. Heroes and Heroines that overcome the odds. Determined. Intense. Sometimes the life of the party and confident on the outside but struggling deep inside. Band of Brothers (or sisters) Found family. The conflicts can be rich and deep. Are they good enough? Are they lost in the image of who the world had told them they are?

Sports can change the way we look at the world…good and bad.

By sell numbers, I am not the only one. They are a popular romance trope. Even if you look at real sports heroes we love the inspirational stories.

There are so many reasons to love sports romance. Some of my favorites are:

Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Football https://susanelizabethphillips.com/chicago-stars-series/

Sarina Bowen Hockey https://sarinabowen.com/brooklyn-bruisers

Amy Daws Soccer in the UK (so they call it football) The Harris Brothers Series https://amydawsauthor.com/

Here are a few we spoke about in our latest podcast. Click on the link below to hear our unsolicited opinions.

Just the number 42 means so much to so many people. Jackie Robinson was more than a sports hero.

J.J. Watt won the 2017 Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award for his charitable work. He is famous for his relief during and after Hurricane Harvey but his charitable contributions have been numerous. He assists schools with after-school programs in an effort to provide activities and sports in a safe manner. In 2018 after a shooting at Santa Fe High School left ten people dead, Watt offered to pay for the funeral expenses. 

But we loved the former Houston Texan defensive end even more when he was deeply offended by a local headline about his fiancee, professional soccer star Kealia Ohai. On a story about her trade to a new team, they didn’t even mention her name, instead calling her JJ Watt’s wife. He called them out on Twitter for that “trash headline” and said “they should be better than this.”

My favorite sports duo is Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor. They are the most winning sand volleyball team. Three gold medals in the Olympics is just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps most remarkably of all, the US pair lost just one set during that extraordinarily golden period. The list goes on and on, with May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings taking home three successive world championship titles (2003-2007), picking up five AVP Team of the Year crowns (2003-2007) and once going an outstanding 112 matches and 19 tournaments without defeat.

Our local favorite is Patty Mills. Mills was born and raised in Canberra Australia and is of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Australian descent. In 2007, he became only the third Indigenous basketball player to play for Australia’s national team. The second was his uncle thirty years before. He is a vocal advocate for social justice.

Here is a Youtube link to our podcast, but you can find in on Apple podcast and Google Play

Podbean: https://whoaskedus.podbean.com/​​​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

WhoAskedUs​​​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Who_Asked_Us​​​

Storm’s website: https://stormnavarro.com/​​​

Jolene’s website: https://jolenenavarrowriter.com/

Two Romance Authors make a Top Ten List of Male Celebrities

On By jolenenavarroIn heroes, Podcast Who Asked Us?2 Comments

THIS IS OUR 10th PODCAST!!! Hope you’ve been enjoying. If there’s a topic you’d like us to talk about, please let us know. One of the best parts of being a romance writer is research. So what draws us to certain people? What makes us want to follow them and watch everything they do?

On our latest Podcast, my daughter, Storm Navarro, and I debate the top ten men of movies and television. I had one she didn’t really know, Pierce Brosnan. She had several I didn’t know: Pablo Schreiber, David Gandy, and Aldis Hodge.

After we stated our case, these were the men left out in the cold: Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine, Lee Pace, Gerard Butler, Russel Crowe and Steven Yeun.

So who did make our list? Listen to the podcast and you can jump in on the debate.

After the podcast post, scroll down and you’ll see I created our list with pictures. So enjoy!

#10 Henry Cavill

#10 Henry Cavill

From Superman to Witcher, and the underrated THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E, he has a jawline made for the big screen (or the smaller ones in our homes). A self proclaimed gaming nerd and the fourth born of five brothers, he has a very sarcastic sense of humor that might get him in trouble. He gets very involved in his roles, from designing the sword in Witcher to being a Chiefs football fan because Clark Kent is from Kansas.

#9 Aldis Hodge

This is one of Storm’s picks. He is in the INVISABLE MAN and LEVERAGE and STRAIGHT OUT OF COMPTON, and one of our favorites, HIDDEN FIGURES. In Hidden Figures he gives one of the best romantic gestures. His character was not supportive of his wife going to college to get her engineering degree in the beginning. Right before she goes, she gets nervous and starts to doubt herself. Instead of telling her not to go, he gives her a set of pencils to let her know she does have his support. It makes me sigh just thinking about it.

#8 David Gandy

David changed the modeling world for men when his friend and flatmate signed him up for a modeling competition. At the time, skinny, slender men–almost feminine–were all the industry wanted. We are so glad he was given that chance to set trends and change fashion.

# 7 Tom Hardy

This actor can be found in a very wide range of style and genre. From THIS IS WAR to BAND OF BROTHERS to BATMAN: The DARK KNIGHT RISES and the remake of MAD MAX. But he has our hearts for his love of dogs.

# 6 Regé-Jean Page

Zimbabwean British actor is up-and-coming. He is one of four boys and was in a band with one of his brothers before acting. Yes, he can sing and write music too. We discovered him as the Duke in the Netflix smash hit, Bridgerton. But that wasn’t his first acting job. He’s been in Sylvie’s Love, For The People, and the remake of ROOTS just to name a few. He also showed off his comedic skills on SNL. We will be watching out for more from this very talented actor.

# Chris Evans

Here is an actor that has stolen our hearts on and off the screen. From saving the world in movies to visiting hospitals to bring a little joy to children that are sick. He is always the first to offer an arm when he sees someone struggling. Sigh. Even his ex-girlfriend called him the nicest human on the Earth. He might be moving on from Captain America but we know he will continue doing great things.

# 4 Jason Momoa

There is just something about this man that screams MAN. LOL He also might be a huge overgrown child. He definitely knows how to have a good time and loves living life as natural as possible with his family. He is very vocal about his love for his wife, children, and the Earth we call home. When not acting, he is spending his time finding ways to protect the planet, from the oceans to the mountains of Hawaii.

#3 Idris Elba

There is something about this man that keeps our gaze on him in whatever movie he is in. From a god in the world of super heroes (Avengers) to a doctor trapped on the side of a mountain in THE MOUNTIAN BEWTEEN US, he brings charisma to the screen.

# 2 Michael B. Jordan

He has been acting and modeling since he was a child. If you watched All My Children you might recognize him from his Soap days. He brings passion and talent to every role he tackles. Creed and Black Panther have been his most recent movies. In 2020, People Magazine named him Sexiest Man Alive. GQ called him Man of the Year in 2018…We agree with both of those.

# 1 HUGH JACKMAN

Yes, I might have had a hand in putting him first. He is 3rd on Storm’s list. But come on, he has won a Tony and has been nominated for an Oscar. He has it all. From romantic comedies, epic musicals, and super hero movies, this song and dance man had proven he can act. But there is so much more to him than his stage presence. His love for his family, and wanting to make the world a better place, has him as my number 1. He is also the only one I met in person so there is that. He was not a disappointment in any way.

What do you think? Who would you put on the list and why?

A diary of a World War II soldier. My Grandfather, Forrest Freeman French

On By jolenenavarroIn heroes, memories, World War 2 Diary7 Comments

In honor of Memorial Day, I’m posting entries from my grandfather’s diary. The following is one week out of a diary my grandfather, Forrest Freeman French, kept during World War II.

Forrest Freeman French, WWII soldier 7th Div. Co. "K" 184th Infantry.
Forrest Freeman French, WWII soldier 7th Div. Co. “K” 184th Infantry.

These written words have special meaning to me because I never got to meet my mother’s beloved father. Through his writing, during WWII, I get to know him.

Soldiers were told not supposed to keep a journal but he did. The passages are short and brief but capture a time in his life I could never imagine. The sacrifice of so many in order for us to live free. A young Texas Farm boy grows up fast on the other side of the world in Okinawa.

I share these to honor all the men and women that stepped forward in the hardest times to fight for a way of life we can easily take for granted.

On this Memorial Day may you take a moment to honor and remember all the ones that didn’t make it home.

Next Monday I’ll post the second week.

 

May 4, 1945

Was assigned to the 7th Div. Co. “K” 184th Infantry. They are up on the lines now. We’ll be carried as far as possible by truck then will have to march the rest of the way.

 

May 5, 1945

Pushed off before dawn to join my outfit. We held services before we left. Am now just behind the lines. Saw my first dead G.I.s. Three of them dead for three days. Can’t get to them. Sure gave me the shivers. Have seen dead enemy soldiers all along the way. They are paying heavy. Not heavy enough to suit me.

 

May 6, 1945

Air raids are every night and sometimes more than once. Have seen quite a few shot down. Today is the first day on the lines for me. We didn’t shove off as everyone needs to get settled.

 

May 7, 1945

Spent my first night on the lines. Didn’t get any sleep as they are giving us hell. Some of the men that came in with me got it last night. I don’t think they even know what hit them. This is a living hell.

 

May 8, 1945

Made my first kill today. He was quite close. Slipped up during the night. Don’t feel much different than before except maybe a little more satisfied.

 

May 9, 1945

Rumor is that we will be relieved tomorrow and go back for ten days rest. We need it as nearly half of the company has been wounded or killed. We are at a place called Conico Peak. Here is where we ran into most of the trouble. Sure hope the rumor is true for we need a rest.

 

May 10, 1945

I thank God with all my heart for we were relieved this morning and am now waiting for trucks to take us about ten miles behind the lines. I feel sorry for the boys in the 96th Div. They relieved us and in for all out hell at Conico Peak.

I could run in heels too if I was chasing Chris Pratt and what about those Chickens!

On By jolenenavarroIn chris pratt, heroes, movies6 Comments

Last weekend we went to see Jurassic World. I was not to sure about it. I mean really, how many time can you recreate a dinosaur and convince yourself this time no one will be eaten? Oh, but this one has something or should I say someone different – a hero that is funny and bad ass at the same time. And can ride a motorcycle like …well you have to see the movie.  Just in case you need reminders of who Chris Pratt is – I have added pictures.

Chris Pratt goofy and bad ass at the same time.
Chris Pratt goofy and bad ass at the same time.

Chris Pratt looking sexy sweet for Jurassic World
Chris Pratt looking sexy sweet for Jurassic World

Chris Pratt with his motorcycle in Jurassic Park.
Chris Pratt with his motorcycle in Jurassic Park.

I really enjoyed it. But again I’m easy to please if you give me a little action, a hot guy with a little romance and a cute kid. There is a reason I’m a romance writer.

I do think one of the reasons this was such a hit was the star himself. How can you not love Chris Pratt? From chubby goofy guy to hot sexy guy that doesn’t take himself too seriously – when he found his chiseled body he didn’t loose the humor. He’s the kind of guy you want to have at your side if you have to run for your life. Even if you have to run in heels or protect the margaritas as you dodge flying dinos looking for a snack.

Here he is explaining how he has to warm-up for his action shots – Did I mention he was goofy?

A tweet from my editor is what actually sent me on a Chris Pratt hunt – Zookeepers are recreating the moment when Chris Pratt has to hold back his meat eating dinosaurs from making a meal out of one of the hired help.  I just had to share. You have to check these out and tell me the one with the chickens did not make you laugh. Dare you.

Zookeepers are recreating Chris Pratt moves in Jurassic World

Since we are on the topic – here are some more funny moments with Chris Pratt.

Why we find Chris Pratt an adorable goofball and sexy too. He pulls off both very well.

So have you seen Jurassic World? What did you think. Are you a Chris Pratt fan?