Books On Board

SBC Fighters Books in Order

  • 7 Books
  • 2007 – 2009 Published

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How to Read the SBC Fighters Series

Lori Foster’s SBC Fighters series is a beloved staple of the sports romance genre, combining the high-octane drama of mixed martial arts (MMA) with intense, character-driven love stories. Centered around the fictional Supreme Battle Challenge (SBC) promotion, the series features protective, alpha-male heroes who are as disciplined inside the ring as they are passionate outside of it.

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the series in publication order. Because the books feature a tight-knit group of athletes, trainers, and executives, reading them in order allows you to follow the recurring characters, overarching subplots, and the evolution of the SBC organization itself. Below is the complete breakdown of the books, including the key novels and the companion anthologies containing connected stories.

SBC Fighters Books in Publication Order

  • Causing Havoc (2007) – The series kicks off with Dean 'Havoc' Conor, a brooding, retired fighter who returns home to reconnect with his estranged sisters and finds himself falling for their fiercely protective friend, Eve.
  • Simon Says (2007) – The second novel focuses on Simon 'Sublime' Evans, a highly disciplined fighter who must break through the emotional walls of Dakota, a woman running from a troubled and dangerous past.
  • Hard to Handle (2007) – This book follows Harley Handleman, a fighter whose focus on a championship title is derailed when he is forced to live with his headstrong life-coach, Anastasia.
  • My Man, Michael (2009) – The fourth novel centers on Michael 'Mallet' Manchester, a premier fighter recovering from a career-ending car accident, who finds hope and healing in the arms of Kaylie Raine. (Note: This book contains a surprising sci-fi twist).
  • Back in Black (2009) – The fifth core novel shifts focus to Drew Black, the hot-headed president of the SBC, who clashes with public relations expert Gillian Noode. This book also features a prominent secondary romance between fighter Brett and activist Audrey.
  • Tails of Love (2009) – An animal-themed romance anthology edited by Lori Foster. It contains the SBC Fighters novella "Man's Best Friend", which follows the fighter Gary as he helps a woman named Erin rescue a puppy during a storm.
  • Double the Heat (2009) – A multi-author anthology that includes Foster’s Winston-crossover novella "Hart and Soul", following Hart Winston as he swaps identities with his twin brother and falls for Lisa Vogle.

Key Caveats and What to Know Before You Start

While the first three books follow a standard contemporary sports romance formula, readers should prepare themselves for a major genre shift in book four, My Man, Michael. Without warning in the publisher blurb, this installment introduces prominent sci-fi elements—including time travel and alien intervention—to resolve the protagonist’s career-ending injuries. While polarizing for some contemporary purists, it remains a unique and memorable entry in the series.

Additionally, Lori Foster has written several connected spin-offs that share the same universe. If you finish the SBC Fighters and want to stay in this world, you can transition to the Love Undercover series, followed by the Ultimate series (which returns to the MMA world with characters like fighter Bray), and finally the Body Armor series, which focuses on an elite private security agency staffed by former fighters.

Frequently Asked

What is the recommended starting point for the SBC Fighters series?

You should start with Causing Havoc (2007), which introduces the Supreme Battle Challenge organization, the core cast of fighters, and sets up the community dynamics that carry through the remaining books.

Does My Man, Michael really have science fiction elements?

Yes. Unlike the other books in the series, which are realistic contemporary romances, My Man, Michael features an unexpected plot twist involving time travel and alien elements that aid in the protagonist's physical recovery.

Which stories in the anthologies belong to the SBC Fighters universe?

Lori Foster's story in the Tails of Love anthology is "Man's Best Friend" (featuring SBC fighter Gary), and her story in Double the Heat is "Hart and Soul" (featuring Hart Winston, which connects the series to her Winston family universe).

Are there any spin-off series connected to SBC Fighters?

Yes. Once you finish the SBC Fighters series, you can read the Love Undercover series, the Ultimate series (which returns to MMA), and the security-focused Body Armor series, all of which share the same fictional universe.

Can the SBC Fighters books be read as standalones?

Yes, each novel features a self-contained romance with a happy ending. However, because characters appear as supporting cast members in later books, reading them out of order will spoil previous couples' endings and make the organizational subplots harder to follow.