This week, Sarah Castille is celebrating the upcoming release of her new contemporary romance novel, Against the Ropes (out September 3)! Recently picked by Publishers Weekly as one of the Top 10 Romance & Erotica books for the fall season, Against the Ropes tastefully mixes a heap of MMA, a dash of BDSM and a lot of passion to create one ultra-steamy book for fall–it’s Fifty Shades of Grey meets Fight Club.

Here, Sarah has chosen the five books that inspired her to write Against the Ropes:

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Chuck Palahniuk’s darkly funny first novel tells the story of a godforsaken young man who discovers that his rage at living in a world filled with failure and lies cannot be pacified by an empty consumer culture.

Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley

Stuck in a colorless world, Tyra Masters decides to chuck her old life and starts searching for something. She doesn’t know what it is until she meets her dream man. Although Tack colors Tyra’s world with a vibrancy that’s blinding, being with him means she has to live in his Motorcycle Club world.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

The first in the Stephanie Plum series, pestered by her close New Jersey family, Stephanie offers to catch high-school crush Joe Morelli, cop turned bail jumper, for her cousin Vinnie’s company.

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.

Pinterest PS – Get inspired to get pinned Against the Ropes with this Pinterest board!