Cross-Country Love

by Erin McLellan

Mara May is the princess of cross-country skiing. All she needs to finish her career on a high note is the gold medal she was denied four years before by firebrand, Kirby Bonham. And Kirby is still the only one standing in her way.

After upsetting the sport’s princess, Kirby milks her newfound fame for all it’s worth, becoming a reality-TV star. But now Kirby must prove her gold medal was more than a fluke.

Mara and Kirby have history. History of trash talk, upsets, and trading podiums. Their rivalry becomes the flashiest story in primetime when they can’t keep their contempt or chemistry to themselves. As Mara’s princess persona and Kirby’s carefree façade crumble under the pressure of the Games, rivalry warps into passion. But during the most important competition of their lives, there’s too much at stake to fall in love.

Cross-Country Love is part of the Love on the Podium shared queer romance series.

Genres: Lesbian, Sports, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2026

About the author

Erin McLellan writes contemporary romances that are sweet, super sexy, and emotional. She lives in Alaska with her family. She is a lover of chocolate, camping, hiking, antiquing, gardening, Dr Pepper, and reality TV.

Reviews

[Aunt Missa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book at this exact moment. I’ve been trying to hold on to Winter Olympics a bit longer and this was spicy and smutty and it hit the spot. I know zero about Nordic skiing except that when they finish a race, they fall over out of exhaustion. Sometimes there’s spit and nose juice running down their faces and I just hope their coaches keep a lot of Kleenex around for the finish.

Mara is the most experienced on the Olympic team and she’s so focused on winning that she seems to have closed off all her feelings. Kirby came to the sport of cross country later in her life and she wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s unapologetic about everything in her life. These two are literally oil and water and they don’t mix and aren’t really teammates, per se. The book starts with the 2022 Olympics and ends in Italy in 2026. There’s no love lost between these two, but like brokeback mountain, they just can’t quit each other. They do nothing but antagonize each other until they decide to become rivals with benefits. Through that trope, Mara and Kirby start to show their vulnerability while dealing with the pressure of the Olympics weighing heavily on both of them. For a short book, it’s really spicy and it’s fantastic.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Cross-Country Love by Erin McLellan. This sapphic romance is fun, fast-paced, and spicy. Set at the Winter Olympics and centered on an ice-queen, cross-country-skiing princess and the team’s bad girl, this rivals-to-lovers story is filled with snarky jabs, hate sex, and sparkling chemistry that hints at something more beneath it all.
This book is well-written from start to finish. I enjoyed the fiery interactions between Mara May and Kirby, as well as the angst surrounding their confusing feelings.
On-page panic attacks are addressed gently, and mental health is an important factor. The excitement of the competition, along with the toll it takes on the competitors, is easy to imagine. The author does a great job of immersing the reader in the plot. I was invested right away.
There are some very suspenseful moments in the competition.
The characters are well-developed, and I love them!
The ending is satisfying. Cross-Country Love is a great story overall, and I recommend it.
This is my second read from the Love on the Podium series by various authors.
#winter #olympics #Italy #oppositesattract #hatesex #rivalstolovers #competition #anxiety #panicattacks #suspense #HEA #epilogue #icequeen #badgirl #enemieswithbenefits #sextoys #skiing #safesex
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ 3🌶


Perfect book for the Olympics, who doesn't love a sports romance?

This book has a lot of well done sexual tension between the main characters Kirby and Mara. Their interactions are expertly laced with equal parts venom and then lust. Ice queen Mara is still smarting from her second place finish in the 2020 Olympics. Kirby had pulled off the surprise of a lifetime to everyone but herself. Now they're in Italy getting ready to race again, but the world is keyed into this one, since it may be Mara's last. All of the stories in the this series have each taken it to the next level. If you're looking for some books to fill the void until your favorite events show this winter, give these a go.

tropes and warnings: ice queen, princess, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, found family, mental health matters

I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sapphic rivals-to-lovers sport romance set during Winter Olympics. Mara and Kirby are cross-country skiers who have never gotten along, especially once Kirby wins the gold at the 2022 Olympics. Four years later, they're ready to compete again but the enmity starts to soften between them. While I was thrilled to get a new Erin McLellan novel at last, this didn't hit the way her books normally do. The characterization didn't ring true for me, nor did I feel their chemistry. It was also lower heat than we usually get, which could be fine but that strap-on scene was a tease. However, even a lesser McLellan is worth the read. Fingers crossed we get Apollo and Lindsey's romance!


Characters: Mara is a 34 year old lesbian white cross-country skier. Kirby is a queer white cross-country skier and reality star. This is set in 2022 Oberhof, Germany and 2026 Italy.

Content notes: on page panic attacks, anxiety, sexism, athlete diet, diet culture, sport-related injuries, toxic father, family estrangement, on page sex, auditory voyeurism, sex toys, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, appropriation of Indigenous colloquialism ("bury the hatchet")


*Buddy read with Vicky!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book! I loved the opposites of our MCs. Kirby is social, loud and unapologetic. Mara is private, keeps to herself and refuses to show feelings. They clash in the best way. Their banter causes so much heat ;).
There’s a fine line between hate and love. Both women need to focus on their races in the Olympics. Cross country skiing takes so so much endurance and stamina. But also rest and recuperation. Between the flames ignited when Mara and Kirby are together and the heat of their rivalry, can a relationship develop? Is a future together something they can have? Or want?
I recommend reading and finding out how their story turns out!!

[Hunter037 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written sports romance with teammates/rivals who start up a physical and then romantic relationship. I think the author did quite a bit of research into the sport, which is a nice change from some sports romances! The characters were likeable, realistically flawed, and I enjoyed their romance. Erin Mclellan always writes great spice with sex toys, and this was no exception.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love bitchy, competitive, hot women. Erin McLellan delivers the rivalry, the banter/burns, the tension, the heat (🥵), and gold medal marathon sex. The character development is superb. Give me all the gay ice princess + bisexual baddie content. Mara and Kirby are so different and interesting and I was completely captivated by their story. If you love Heated Rivalry but have been missing the sapphics, READ THIS BOOK! Did I mention I love complicated, competent women?

[Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc copy from Erin, and while I’m just starting to dabble in sapphic i read it in one go and enjoyed it.

The two main characters are rivals with very different personalities and clash often, i really enjoyed how worked up Kirby could get Mara.

They both have a journey that didn’t feel forced or rushed

The sexual tension between the two was ongoing and aggressive which I appreciate

All over a great read I would pick up again

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✔Sapphic Book Bingo Challenge 2026 🌈✨: Main Board - Sports Romance

5 stars. The rivalry between Mara and Kirby was addictive. I could not get enough of this book I swear! I loved every single thing about this. The writing is fantastic, I've read this author's other sapphic stories and I loved those as well but this is definitely my favorite.

I ate up every little thing between Mara and Kirby. Every time they were mean to each other or said things that were below the belt I wanted more. They both gave as good as they got. They couldn’t be more opposite from each other if they tried. Mara is very closed off and keeps her emotions close to her chest and comes across as an Ice Queen. Kirby is very much a what you see is what you get type of person and she wears her heart on her sleeve. She and Mara mix like water and oil but their chemistry is so on point. It works and is believable. They love exchanging barbs with one another it’s kinda their love language. They start a rivals with benefits relationship and it was hot but it was extremely satisfying watching these two navigate their feelings once they realize they’ve started to fall for each other. The third act blow up hurt but it made their HEA that much more gratifying. I adored their romance so much. I loved both characters so much but it was Kirby for me. I love a woman who is so unapologetically herself and doesn't give a fuck what others think. Doesn't hurt that she was also kinda toppy and calls Mara 'Princess' in bed. *SWOON*

We also get a lot of skiing as they are competing in the Olympics and I’m really big on sports romances that actually show the characters doing their sport so that was fun. I also liked some of the side characters that were on their team, especially Kirby’s best friend he was awesome. Overall, great read with a lot of passion and it’s one I would highly recommend.

Spice: ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥/❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
Toys, Face sitting
Content Warning: Panic attacks (on page), Parent estrangement

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gea Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE TENSION! OMG THE BANTER!!

Goddess i loved this book, the banter and palpable tension between Mara and Kirby had me at the edge of my seat the whole time, but what had absolutely mesmerized was the few soft moments they allowed with each other, don't get me wrong their banter and bickering and the pushing of each other buttons was top tier but all that means nothing without the blink and you miss it lovely moments written in their relationship. 

Cross-Country Love is the last book in the Love On The Podium shared queer romance series, a series that's also written by queer writers inspired by different Olympic sports and I cannot recommend it enough!

~Blurb~

Mara May is the princess of cross-country skiing. All she needs to finish her career on a high note is the gold medal she was denied four years before by firebrand, Kirby Bonham. And Kirby is still the only one standing in her way.

After upsetting the sport’s princess, Kirby milks her newfound fame for all it’s worth, becoming a reality-TV star. But now Kirby must prove her gold medal was more than a fluke.

Mara and Kirby have history. History of trash talk, upsets, and trading podiums. Their rivalry becomes the flashiest story in primetime when they can’t keep their contempt or chemistry to themselves. As Mara’s princess persona and Kirby’s carefree façade crumble under the pressure of the Games, rivalry warps into passion. But during the most important competition of their lives, there’s too much at stake to fall in love.


Tropes:

🎿Rivals-to-lovers
⛷️Olympic Romance
💅🏻Sexy and Sapphic
🥽Ice Princess x Baddie
🔥High Heat
🏅Only one can win
🗑️Trash talk as foreplay


Cross-Country Love is already out and available on Kindle Unlimited, make sure to give it a try.

Thanks Erin McLellan for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[brogay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross-Country Love follows Mara May, considered the princess of cross-country skiing, the one who everyone is expecting to get gold and the one who says the right things, and Kirby Bonham, smart-mouthed and outspoken, a cross-country skier who is an underdog, underrated but determined and hard working. They’ve never seen eye to eye but Mara keeps her public image polished… until one day she doesn’t.

Kirby is coming back to the Winter Olympics after taking her fame for all it’s worth. She’s entered reality shows since the last winter olympics and she loves it, the drama, the limelight, the money. Whereas Mara has spent the last four years focusing on cross-country skiing and cross-country skiing only. But their paths are crossing again and Kirby wants nothing more than to see the fire in Mara’s eyes and hear the biting words she knows can come from her.

Their trash talk is so fun to read, and I absolutely love how much Kirby loves to push Mara’s buttons. Mara struggles to keep her polished image around Kirby but at the same time, she can’t help but be pulled into Kirby’s orbit. They clash massively and yet somehow they also work together well, which never of them would ever have expected.

I absolutely fell in love with Mara and Kirby, I loved how their relationship grew and progressed over the course of the book, and how they both slowly started to understand the other one better.

The story revolves around second chances, proving one’s self and realising that the path you’ve been on might not be the only path you’re allowed to take. If you enjoy sports romance, rivals to lovers, a sprinkle of hurt/comfort and trash talk as foreplay, this one is for you.

[Nicole Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mara and Kirby are veterans of the cross-country ski circuit, and team mates at the Olympics, where both are vying for Gold in the women's 50km mass start. Their personalities clash, and the media of course loves it!

I love a rivals to lovers romance, and this one was so good! This quote pretty much sums up the dynamic between Kirby and Mara:

"Did the thought of beating me in a race just make you come?"

Their chemistry is combustible and they finally collide while prepping for the Olympics. Rivals with benefits? Yes please. The rivalry doesn't go away because of a few kisses and and orgasm or two, and I loved that for all of us. These two get to know each other throughout their races and team events, and keep on battling the whole way through.

There is plenty of angst in this story, it does take place during the Olympics after all, between two competing athletes! But is balanced by all the sweet moments of care, and it also brings plenty of heat. While I would have loved some moments of them just living daily life outside of sports post-Olympics, the ending was great, and I would definitely recommend this sapphic romance!

Thank you to the author for an eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica H · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Gordon Ramsay voice* Finally some good freaking Rivals-to-Lovers!

It is so hard to find a true rivals-to-lovers book that actually feels like a rivalry. Mara and Kirby are constantly at each other's throats both in a competitive and sexy way. Even before they are intimate for the first time, their chemistry heats up the pages.

I love the way Kirby presses all of Mara's buttons. And I love the moments where Mara pushes right back. She's clearly having the most fun when she drops the princess persona.

Mara is so hyper focused on gold, gold, gold, but it isn't until she's a bit more focused on Kirby that she can actually be the best skier she can be. They push each other, and I absolutely loved reading their story as they fell hard and fast for each other.

*I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.*

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Cross-Country Love is part of the Love on the Podium collection and can be read as a standalone. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book and read it just before the start of the 2026 Olympics. It got me really interested in cross-country skiing and was a great tie-in to the Games.

It was fun seeing their animosity thaw just a little as their attraction played out while they were still finding a footing in how their dynamics were shifting. Mara changed the most as she figured out how to compete while supporting her teammates and figuring out how to have a relationship and a life outside of her sport.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Alice Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Erin for my ARC copy!!

Oh my god, it was actually incredible. From the second I started this book I literally paused it twice, to tell Erin I loved those two moments 🤣 Kirby and Mara were so fucking funny, and so perfect together. I loved how they wound each other up every given chance, it was so cute seeing them. And I mean, Mara being annoyed by Kirby but then seeking her out was so funny to me.

Watching them learn that they actually don't hate each other was so much fun, every second of this book was amazing. I've had the absolute best time reading this. I've loved this book, the story, the characters and her writing so much.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

This book was a fast-paced read that gave us an opposites attract, rivals to lovers story that played out as Mara May starts to break free from a lot of her stresses and starts to take the world around her just a little less seriously.

I love how Kirby and Mara mirror each other, but also come from such different places and bring different strengths to this spicy story. It was fun watching the rivalry turn into something more!

I'm sad that we're at the end of this multi-author collab and I hope we'll see more of this team of authors... and that we don't have to wait four more years for their next series.

[erikoreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⛷️ Cross-Country Love is the last eARC I applied / was approved for in the Love on the Podium series, and I’ve loved all the ones I’ve read!

❤️‍🔥 This one is a sapphic rivals to lovers story being the Princess of cross-country skiing and her rival skier / reality TV star. There’s plenty of trash talking via the media, secret (ish) hookups (and not just between these two 🤭🤫), sunglasses 🕶️ (this isn’t supposed to be code for something else… or is it? 🤔🤣), and also resilience, grit, cuteness and fun! I ended the book wanting more, and more was what I got! There’s a bonus post-epilogue story, eight years after this book ends, which was truly delightful!

[Kaisbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This is a really cute, tension filled story. I love the push and pull that we see between the two main leads as rivals, and how that tension plays out in their love story. I love that their sexual connection grew at the same time that they connected emotionally, especially through Kirby's panic attacks. I enjoyed Mara's emotional growth and development throughout the story, but I wish we saw more of that for Kirby. It was touched on briefly that Kirby had never loved someone like she loved Mara, but I wish that was explored even more. A huge thank you to the author Erin McLellan for this ARC!

[Raven and Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely an enemies to lovers story, which can be a little bit of a turn off for me. Mara and Kirby are US teammates but rivals for the medals. Kirby is downright mean to Mara in interviews and interactions which is honestly borderline bullying to me - the way she acts. Mara protects herself as the ice princess, always aloof and alone. They both have their mental health issues which don’t help matters any. It is true there is a fine line between love and hate but these two need to learn to communicate before they can build anything real.

[Jade J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book for me in the love on the podium series and I’m so invested!! Thankful to the author for the eARC.

I absolutely loved the tension and banter between Mara and Kirby. That chemistry had me eagerly flipping the pages to get to the next scene.

This sapphic, enemies/rivals-to-lovers romance was the perfect quick read with the right amount of smut. I don’t know anything about cross country skiing but I found myself cheering on these teammates and crying tears of joy at the end.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of an ARC and was not paid for this review.

I enjoyed the grumpy enemies to lovers. The two FMC were both lovable in their own ways. It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I did, I enjoyed it! There was just enough extra spicy bits to keep me going but I really enjoyed the storyline the best. I felt like it wasn’t forced or rushed. I’d be interested to see where the characters go from here!

[Michelle Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww what a great read. Enemies to lovers - specifically in this case rivals to lovers - it was such a joy to watch the two FMC's square off and eventually find out they didn't hate each other. I loved the setting of the Olympics, I loved that we got skiing in this story (hate when it's a sports story with little actual sport) and that it was well written! Thanks to the author for a chance to be an ARC reader!

[Karyn Defoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy! A shining 4 stars and a gold medal to this book! I really enjoyed the tension and the chemistry between the characters. The touch of metal health discussion was perfect for the mood and length of the book and it wasn’t heavy handed. I love when a sapphic book doesn’t feel like the point of the book is to be sapphic - queer people just existing. The tension for the Olympic medal race was fun.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of chemistry to lean into here, and the rivals-to-lovers energy is plentiful and makes the interactions between Mara and Kirby spark in interesting ways. The snark is real, the tension and angst is too, and the Olympic world they inhabit feels both stressful and energizing in ways that make it more than just the backdrop for a romance. Overall, an immersive and interesting (in the best ways) read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Robin Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thrill of real competition mixed with bruising emotional love!

Erin McLellan’s storyline is an incredible telling of Olympic gold chasing at its best. Characters are strong women and men living in grueling circumstances working competitively towards their goals. I loved this story with its anxiety of failure to team and self always on the edge. It is well written and leads you seamlessly to a sweet ending.

[Angelica Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Sapphic Heated Rivalry!
A perfect Olympic season read. I loved that this was a more unusual sport, cross-country skiing, cause honestly I learned more about a sport I had no idea about!
The characters were well fleshed out and had GREAT chemistry. This book could have been even longer! But it was wrapped up well.

Thank you to Erin McLellan for the ARC!!

[Amy (amysbooksnthings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I loved this book. It was so fun, and so hot, and overall such a great read. I was into the vibes between Mara and Kirby right from the start and it only got better as we went along. The writing was snappy and engaging and watching these characters figure things out made for a delightfully good time.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one definitely worked for me!! I loved the rivalry, it felt real and was just so great because it was used skillfully to actually show their chemistry. And the chemistry was definitely there! There transition from rivals to benefits to more was just so fun and this makes its place as one of my favorites in the series

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow phenomenal what a fast paced story I loved the main characters their chemistry shined throughout but their rivalry was embedded beautifully throughout. They were described with so much depth making you feel apart of their world a must-read congratulations

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy for an honest review.

The tension between Mara and Kirby felt real and fun, evolved in a way that felt natural, and the whole story was just a fun read. Good balance of spice and character development. Overall, enjoyable!