UFC Champ Georges St. Pierre Inspires Harlequin Romance

Who says there's no romance in cage fighting? Not the world's leading publisher of romance novels. Harlequin, whose brand name is as synonymous with bodice-ripping yarns as the Ultimate Fighting Championship's is with face smashing mayhem, has just published Her Son's Hero, the first romance novel to feature an MMA fighter in the hunky hero role. The book, a first novel by MMA and UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre fan Vicki So got 4 and 1/2 stars from RT Book Reviews -- the Consumer Reports of romance books.

So spoke to the Toronto Metro News about her book:

An avid UFC fan, So drew inspiration for her novel's hero from the Canadian mixed martial artist and current UFC welterweight champion. So said it took her only six months to write her first published book, which caught the attention of Harlequin.

"If I have anyone to thank, I have to thank GSP, which I do in my book," she said.

The novel tells the story of a divorced mother who despises violence and a mixed martial arts fighter learning to cope with his own demons. The pair fall in love as the hero gives the heroine's bullied son lessons to fend for himself.

I'm ordering my copy with a couple of boxes of chocolate bon bons.