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Chasing Gold, Catching Her: A sapphic sports romance about rival figure skaters
Not yet published
Expected 21 Aug 26Alisa has spent her entire life preparing for the Olympics. Pair skating is all she knows with the trust, the precision and the years of building a program designed for one the fight for gold.
But after a heated Norwegian championship and a rivalry that sparks both on and off the ice , everything unravels. Her partner won’t be able to compete at the Olympics, and Alisa is forced into an impossible give up her dream or start over in singles skating just months before the Olympic Games.
Singles are brutal. The jumps are harder, the competition fiercer, and her rivals suddenly have the advantage. With her country’s Olympic quota uncertain and political tensions threatening their participation, even qualifying is no longer guaranteed.
And complicating it all is the one skater she shouldn’t be thinking about — her rival, whose presence lingers long after the music stops.
As the Olympics draw closer, Alisa must rebuild her body, her program, and her sense of self, knowing that one mistake could cost her everything.
Gold was always the goal.
However her heart now craves entirely different thing.
This book contains mature themes and trigger content. Not suitable for younger readers.
But after a heated Norwegian championship and a rivalry that sparks both on and off the ice , everything unravels. Her partner won’t be able to compete at the Olympics, and Alisa is forced into an impossible give up her dream or start over in singles skating just months before the Olympic Games.
Singles are brutal. The jumps are harder, the competition fiercer, and her rivals suddenly have the advantage. With her country’s Olympic quota uncertain and political tensions threatening their participation, even qualifying is no longer guaranteed.
And complicating it all is the one skater she shouldn’t be thinking about — her rival, whose presence lingers long after the music stops.
As the Olympics draw closer, Alisa must rebuild her body, her program, and her sense of self, knowing that one mistake could cost her everything.
Gold was always the goal.
However her heart now craves entirely different thing.
This book contains mature themes and trigger content. Not suitable for younger readers.
- GenresRomance
571 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 21, 2026
About the author
Dari A. Malaunt
13 books105 followersDari A. Malaunt writes fantasy and romance that blur the line between light and darkness.
Her stories explore love, power, and redemption through characters shaped by their inner battles, some born from the darkest corners of the soul, others reaching for something softer. No matter the world, she writes with intention: to make you feel, to make you question, and to leave a mark that doesn’t fade with the final page.
She is the author of the "Horns Unveiled" romantasy duology, "Unrequited Love" dark romance trilogy, "Divine Destinies" dark romantasy series, "Worshipped by Darkness" paranormal romance series, and "Blades & Hearts" sports romance.
When she’s not writing, she’s learning, evolving, and chasing the next story that refuses to be forgotten.
To find out more, follow @dariamalaunt on Instagram and @dariamalauntwrites on TikTok.
Her stories explore love, power, and redemption through characters shaped by their inner battles, some born from the darkest corners of the soul, others reaching for something softer. No matter the world, she writes with intention: to make you feel, to make you question, and to leave a mark that doesn’t fade with the final page.
She is the author of the "Horns Unveiled" romantasy duology, "Unrequited Love" dark romance trilogy, "Divine Destinies" dark romantasy series, "Worshipped by Darkness" paranormal romance series, and "Blades & Hearts" sports romance.
When she’s not writing, she’s learning, evolving, and chasing the next story that refuses to be forgotten.
To find out more, follow @dariamalaunt on Instagram and @dariamalauntwrites on TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 26, 2026
For fans of Heated Rivalry we now have Chasing Gold, Catching Her. A beautifully descriptive story that transports you to the ice. It’s impossible not to visualise the skating routines and hear the scraping of the ice with every turn and jump.
A forbidden love story with the added complication of being rivals on the ice as they journey to the Olympics. The sapphic sports romance for the summer.
Many thanks to the author and Wings and Words for the opportunity to read this book.
A forbidden love story with the added complication of being rivals on the ice as they journey to the Olympics. The sapphic sports romance for the summer.
Many thanks to the author and Wings and Words for the opportunity to read this book.
July 18, 2026
A beautiful sapphic romance showing the difficulty of being LGBTQ in a conservative country, as well as the struggles of being a figure skater.
I absolutely adored Alisa and Tora, and I'm so happy I was able to read this early! If you love rivals to lovers, forbidden love and found family, this is for you! I can't wait to read more of Dari A Malaunt's work!
I absolutely adored Alisa and Tora, and I'm so happy I was able to read this early! If you love rivals to lovers, forbidden love and found family, this is for you! I can't wait to read more of Dari A Malaunt's work!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Chasing Gold, Catching Her is simply wonderful!
This was my first time reading a story centered on figure skaters and such high stakes, several scenes genuinely gave me goosebumps! That’s how I know a book has touched me!
I’m incredibly grateful to the author for giving me both Alpha and Beta access to this book. Experiencing the story twice!!! in its raw and evolving form, made me feel more involved than I’ve ever felt with an ARC copies. There’s something special about reading a story while it’s still imperfect.
The book is structured in several parts, each focusing on a defining moment in the main character’s life. The narrative dives deeply into her journey instead of her girlfriend and that's totally okay! And at times I felt like I was watching a beautifully crafted romantic documentary about two figure skaters falling in love. The realism was stunning!!!
The romance is meaningful, but what impressed me most was that the plot takes center stage and it's actually really powerful. In so many modern romances, the plot fades behind the relationship, but here it’s the opposite, and I absolutely loved that! The story is full of unexpected twists; I usually guess them early, but this time the author truly surprised me. Bravo, Dari!
The portrayal of professional sports is another highlight. Even though I’m not someone who typically enjoys heavy technical detail, the author explains everything with such clarity that I never felt overwhelmed. Instead, I felt like I was floating gently through the world of competitive figure skating, watching it unfold with vivid clarity.
Overall, it’s superb!
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves sapphic romances, figure skating and sports-centered narratives.
This was my first time reading a story centered on figure skaters and such high stakes, several scenes genuinely gave me goosebumps! That’s how I know a book has touched me!
I’m incredibly grateful to the author for giving me both Alpha and Beta access to this book. Experiencing the story twice!!! in its raw and evolving form, made me feel more involved than I’ve ever felt with an ARC copies. There’s something special about reading a story while it’s still imperfect.
The book is structured in several parts, each focusing on a defining moment in the main character’s life. The narrative dives deeply into her journey instead of her girlfriend and that's totally okay! And at times I felt like I was watching a beautifully crafted romantic documentary about two figure skaters falling in love. The realism was stunning!!!
The romance is meaningful, but what impressed me most was that the plot takes center stage and it's actually really powerful. In so many modern romances, the plot fades behind the relationship, but here it’s the opposite, and I absolutely loved that! The story is full of unexpected twists; I usually guess them early, but this time the author truly surprised me. Bravo, Dari!
The portrayal of professional sports is another highlight. Even though I’m not someone who typically enjoys heavy technical detail, the author explains everything with such clarity that I never felt overwhelmed. Instead, I felt like I was floating gently through the world of competitive figure skating, watching it unfold with vivid clarity.
Overall, it’s superb!
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves sapphic romances, figure skating and sports-centered narratives.
Review of advance copy
⛸️ ⛸️ ⛸️ ⛸️
Sports romance
⛸️⛸️⛸️⛸️⛸️
This book gave me dancing on ice vibes 😂 I've never read a book like this it's so unique and I haven't read many lesbian books but I very much enjoyed this (I'm straight) 😂
I am so greatful to have receieved an arc by wings and words and the author and oh my they did not dissapoint!!
I loved the characters alisa and tora and there immediate connection even if alisa was in denial, I was like girl give in you like her 😉 I loved how bubbly and the humour and cockyness of tora she just said it how it is and I loved her for that.
The couples skate scene was magical 😍
The detail, the play list and the images of the different positions of ice skating was a cute touch.
Alisa mum frustrated me, I really felt for Alisa she never felt good enough and I loved how supportive and proud tora was of her it kinda made up for her mum.
Sports romance
⛸️⛸️⛸️⛸️⛸️
This book gave me dancing on ice vibes 😂 I've never read a book like this it's so unique and I haven't read many lesbian books but I very much enjoyed this (I'm straight) 😂
I am so greatful to have receieved an arc by wings and words and the author and oh my they did not dissapoint!!
I loved the characters alisa and tora and there immediate connection even if alisa was in denial, I was like girl give in you like her 😉 I loved how bubbly and the humour and cockyness of tora she just said it how it is and I loved her for that.
The couples skate scene was magical 😍
The detail, the play list and the images of the different positions of ice skating was a cute touch.
Alisa mum frustrated me, I really felt for Alisa she never felt good enough and I loved how supportive and proud tora was of her it kinda made up for her mum.
July 22, 2026
Firstly, thank you so much Dari for giving me an opportunity to be an ARC reader for Chasing Gold, Catching Her.
This book was amazing! One of my favorite things was the forbidden romance. The tension between Alisa and Tora while Alisa was completely in denial was incredible.
The figure skating scenes blew my mind! They were so incredibly detailed that I could picture everything perfectly. The sport has a huge place in this book and it was beautifully written.
It was also good to see Alisa’s growth and watching her slowly believe in herself while Tora seemed to know her worth all the time.
Also Alisa’s insecurities because of the homophobia is Russia was heartbreaking.
I’ve loved this book and I highly recommend it!
This book was amazing! One of my favorite things was the forbidden romance. The tension between Alisa and Tora while Alisa was completely in denial was incredible.
The figure skating scenes blew my mind! They were so incredibly detailed that I could picture everything perfectly. The sport has a huge place in this book and it was beautifully written.
It was also good to see Alisa’s growth and watching her slowly believe in herself while Tora seemed to know her worth all the time.
Also Alisa’s insecurities because of the homophobia is Russia was heartbreaking.
I’ve loved this book and I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Chasing Gold, Catching her is a Sapphic Sports LGBTQAI+ Romance by Dari A Malaunt
Thanks to wings & words & Dari for this read.
4 star for me
I am very hit or miss when it comes to sports romance, this one didn't quite do it for me.
I did however love the story outside of the sports aspect & thought Dari did amazingly on the representations surrounding how difficult it is for people within the LGBTQAI+ Community.
Im also a sucker for found family & rivals/enemies to lovers 👀🤣, the aspect of the forbidden love was done amazingly well.
I feel for me personally if it was done outside of sports I would have enjoyed it more - this is a me thing & not a bad thing towards the book 🩵
Thanks to wings & words & Dari for this read.
4 star for me
I am very hit or miss when it comes to sports romance, this one didn't quite do it for me.
I did however love the story outside of the sports aspect & thought Dari did amazingly on the representations surrounding how difficult it is for people within the LGBTQAI+ Community.
Im also a sucker for found family & rivals/enemies to lovers 👀🤣, the aspect of the forbidden love was done amazingly well.
I feel for me personally if it was done outside of sports I would have enjoyed it more - this is a me thing & not a bad thing towards the book 🩵
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you loved Heated Rivalry you will love this book!
This book is just so beautiful. The amount of love that Tora had to be patient and learn to understand that Alisa hadn't even understood her own sexuality as well as the fears she had because of her country is so inspiring.
While Alisa fought it a lot because of the fear of not knowing what came next, it was absolutely beautiful to watch her fall in love with Tora.
Also the couples skate at the end was truly beautiful.
Dari, congrats on the book and thanks for allowing me to be an arc reader! I loved it!
This book is just so beautiful. The amount of love that Tora had to be patient and learn to understand that Alisa hadn't even understood her own sexuality as well as the fears she had because of her country is so inspiring.
While Alisa fought it a lot because of the fear of not knowing what came next, it was absolutely beautiful to watch her fall in love with Tora.
Also the couples skate at the end was truly beautiful.
Dari, congrats on the book and thanks for allowing me to be an arc reader! I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Chasing Gold: Catching Her was a really enjoyable sapphic sports romance set in the world of competitive figure skating. I loved how it balanced the chemistry and romance with the very real struggles of navigating sexuality and being true to yourself in a more repressed society. The relationship developed naturally, the skating backdrop kept the story engaging, and the spice added just the right amount of heat without overshadowing the emotional journey. A heartfelt, entertaining read that I'd definitely recommend to fans of sports romance and sapphic love stories.
Review of advance copy received from Author
2.5 ⭐
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews