Wicket Maiden
This could be the innings of her life… if he’ll play ball.
It’s the start of a new season for professional women’s cricket team The Scorpions.
Acclaimed batter Ellie, 32, is returning to the game after a long injury, determined to regain her form and her place in the England squad. This is her last chance, and she won’t let anything stand in her way.
Cricket fan Adam, 34, an artist and photographer, has followed Ellie and the team through highs and lows. He’s drawn to her talent, athleticism and public persona - but is content to be a face in the crowd, cheering her on. He’d never date a famous person, anyway.
When events on and off the pitch bring Ellie and Adam together, friendship blossoms, and their careers initially soar. Yet, with romance in the air, Ellie loses focus, jeopardising her dream.
What’s more important to them both - love, or cricket?
The story echoes the film “Notting Hill” – the challenge of love between a ‘star’ and a ‘normal person’. The book touches on the good and bad sides of fame, and seeks to shine a light on the women’s game—the mental and physical challenges, pressure of relentless media attention, community outreach, fan engagement, and the finite nature of the career of professional athletes. Above this, it is, of course, a love story.
The book is aimed at readers of romance & rom-com, whether or not they know cricket. Whilst it’s a work of fiction, the backdrop needed to be a realistic portrayal of the sport. To that end, I researched extensively, working with a Tier 1 county team, attending matches and interviewing players and senior staff.
With the sport’s momentum, now is the perfect time to add women’s cricket to the sub-genres of romance fiction. This book is the first of a trilogy, with central characters as batter, bowler, then keeper.
A share of the book’s royalties will be donated to pertinent clubs and organisations who champion the development of grassroots, girls’ and women’s cricket.
“Are you ready to dive into a heartwarming sports romantic comedy that will leave you cheering for love and cricket in equal measure? With its unique blend of romance, humour, and the exciting world of women’s cricket, this novel promises to be a delightful and uplifting read that will capture your heart from the very first page.”
“A fun will they won’t they kind of romance novel. I really enjoyed being immersed into the world of women’s cricket. It’s an unusual backdrop but Harrison really made it work. Harrison is going on my list of rom-com writers – Wicket Maiden is a fab read and you don’t need to be a cricket fan to enjoy it!”
“Even if the world of cricket is something I don’t understand completely, I understand friendship, and love. And this book is filled with the latter. Not only between Ellie and Adam alone, but all over the book. That made this book something I truly enjoyed reading.”
“I really enjoyed the storyline and the writing style.
The two main characters Ellie and Adam were brilliant and I couldn’t help but like them - they click straight away.”
“It’s a lovely, very considerately done read which, as well as featuring a gentle and sweetly awkward romance.
The cricket is also genuinely immersive and exciting.”
“Whilst this is a sports romance, there is so much more going on here. There is also a gentle humour running through.
Sports romance seems to be having a moment right now, and it is great to see a different sport given the chance to shine.”
© Copyright Valericain Press Limited & Chris Towndrow 2025. All rights reserved
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