Best Romance Novels
Looking for a New Romance Novel to Read?
Here are some of my favorite romance novels. This list is updated regularly and is in no particular order.
You can sort by the tags below to find your favorite romance sub-genre, trope, or 🔥 level.
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You can also check out my sexy short stories and sci-fi romance currently being written.
The Duchess War by Courtney MilanThe start to Milan's Brothers Sinister series. A duke comes a-courting a wallflower. Smart, steamy, romantic, emotional, and satisfying.
The Principal's Office by Jasmine HaynesWhew. How about two mature adults who have lots of mindblowing hot sex? The kind that gets you squirming and steamy under the collar with dirty fantasies, plus a satisfying amount of heart to back it up.
Animal Attraction by Jill ShalvisA small-town romance with a veterinarian hero, a smart and tough heroine, and a side cast of varying adorable species. A fun and sexy read with sexual tension that's off the charts.
Bitten by Kelley ArmstrongA lone female werewolf finds her pack. Also adapted into a TV series!
About Last Night by Ruthie KnoxFun, sexy, and explosive romance between a London banker and a bad girl with a past.
Sins and Needles by Karina HalleGet ready to go for a dark ride with this series. A reformed con-artist heroine tries to stay out of trouble, except her choices in men get her into all the trouble she can handle.
Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie MoningOur heroine travels to Scotland to shake up her life. She tumbles down a hillside into the lap of a highlander who's been slumbering for centuries. Now they must race against time to save his clan.
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa JamesWhat's better than two characters perfectly matched in witty banter? This feisty heroine melts the heart of a cranky doctor war veteran hero.
Married by Morning by Lisa KleypasEveryone's got favorite authors, and then you have your favorite books by your favorite authors. This is one of my absolute favorite Kleypas historicals just because this couple is so ridiculously entertaining. Plus, the enemies to lovers trope is my absolute favorite.
Reign by May SageMages on spaceships. A love story that spans millennia. Need I say more? Somewhere between sci-fi and fantasy romance, this is one of my favorite books that I've read recently.
The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie MoningA lethally seductive immortal highlander is stripped of his powers and only our heroine can help him. This is one bad boy you don't want to miss.
A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLeanA tortured hero meets his smart and independent match and sparks fly. This one's bound to make you hot under the collar.
Darkfever by Karen Marie MoningGet ready to GET HOOKED. The Fever series is a wild, dark, imaginative urban fantasy ride. I got so obsessed, I took a sick day to finish reading this 5-book series. You will get the Faefever.
Slave to Sensation by Nalini SinghAnother staple in the sci-fi romance genre. A hot forbidden romance in a world divided between telepaths and changelings who don't play nice with each other.
The Things That Make Me Give in by Charlotte SteinA super sexy collection of short erotic stories that are bound to get you hot and bothered, catering to a variety of turn-ons and kinks.
A Lot Like Love by Julie JamesOne of my favorite contemporary romance authors, Julie James delivers a sexy undercover delight between an FBI agent and a sassy heroine with a bonus trip to wine country.
Good Girls Don't by Victoria DahlHot and steamy small-town contemporary romance with fun characters and a detective hero whose heart is in the right place. The rest of the series is a great read too!
The Heiress Effect by Courtney MilanA smart, rich, and creative historical romance in Milan's masterful and unique style. It's got complex, flawed characters and believable stakes your heart can really invest in.
A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa DareUnrepentant rake meets brilliant spinster wallflower and they share a long carriage ride with many shenanigans. True story: I met Tessa Dare at a signing at The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles. I accidentally spilled wine on her table then got so flustered I forgot the name of my favorite book by her ("the one with the white cover"). She was very nice about it all.
Sugar Daddy by Lisa KleypasWhat do you get when you cross a classic Kleypas hero with the 21st century? Tall, dark, handsome, brooding, and totally crushable Gabe Travis. The story doesn't quite go where you might expect with the title. Passionflix recently optioned Sugar Daddy for the big screen!
Forbidden by Beverly JenkinsA sweet historical set in the western United States in the 1870s, with a tough as nails heroine and a charming businessman hero who just can't keep away.
Beyond Jealousy by Kit RochaSet in a futuristic world where gangs rule outside the walls of an idyllic city called Eden. Think Hunger Games but with a lot more sex. So much good, good sex.
The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney MilanA cynical rogue meets a suffragette who's put her whole life into her women's rights newspaper. Revenge meets passion in this perfect match.
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa ColeA beautiful scientist who doesn't know she's a long-lost princess. A prince in pursuit, disguised as a pauper. A modern-day Cinderella that spans across continents.
Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth HoytA masked vigilante hero meets his match in a mature heroine who enjoys blowing his mind. (Pun most definitely intended.) Cool passion meets heat. Great on audiobook, too. If you like this I definitely recommend reading the rest of Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series!
Beyond Control by Kit RochaTwo strong personalities make for a lot of erotic power play in this second installment of Kit Rocha's Beyond series.
What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne LongOne of my absolute favorite historical romances of all time, with a hot older hero who meets his match in the heroine. The wordplay and chemistry are off the charts with Julie Anne Long's signature style and wit.
Hate to Want You by Alisha RaiA hot contemporary Romeo & Juliet romance that put Alisha Rai on my auto-buy list. It has all the best types of emotional turmoil and sexual tension that comes with a lifetime of baggage. Plus a smokin' hot tattoo artist heroine.
Thirsty by Mia HopkinsA hot and steamy contemporary romance set in Los Angeles with a fiercely independent heroine and an ex-con hero who's just trying to stay on the right path.
The Autumn Bride by Anne GracieThe start of a delightful historical romance series about four young women who, on the verge of destitution, break into an empty mansion only to find and rescue a neglected dowager and start their lives anew. Sweet, charming, and funny.
Wrong to Need You by Alisha RaiHe wasn't supposed to fall in love with his brother's widow... and yet. A hot contemporary romance with a heroine who isn't afraid to go after what she wants.
Beyond Shame by Kit RochaThe beginning to Kit Rocha's gritty futuristic Beyond series and a good introduction to what you can expect with the rest. A sheltered heroine ends up exiled to sectors run by gangs. She soon finds out she fits right in. Dark, hot, sexy, and kinky.
Trashed by Mia HopkinsAnother steamy contemporary hit from Mia Hopkins. An ex-con hero named Trouble comes up against his match in tough-as-hell chef Carmen.
Laid Bare by Lauren DaneA sexy menage romance about a couple that welcomes a third. This is a lovely depiction of polyamory with a sexy, romantic, and kinky twist.
It Happened One Wedding by Julie JamesA heroine healing from heartbreak meets a sexy FBI agent who pushes all the right buttons. Smart characters, great banter, hot chemistry. A perfectly executed rom-com contemporary romance.
Grimspace by Ann AguirreA fresh and fun space opera with adventure, romance, and a touch of smut. A great place to get started with sci-fi romance.
The Winter Bride by Anne GracieMy favorite of the Chance Sisters series. Romantic and funny, with a strong heroine who just might reform her charming rake.
The Lion's Lady by Julie GarwoodMy personal favorite by Julie Garwood. "A daring lady meets a dashing lord with the soul of a pirate in this classic Regency romance novel."
Chasing Cassandra by Lisa KleypasLisa Kleypas is on auto-buy for me and Chasing Cassandra in the Ravenels series doesn't disappoint. All the things you love about historical Kleypas, with a unique hero totally worth crushing on.
Mr. Impossible by Loretta ChaseA laugh-out-loud historical romp set in Egypt. Bursting with adventure and charming characters.
Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa KleypasAnother romantic contemporary with heat and heart by Kleypas. A (you guessed it) smooth-talking playboy falls for a strong-willed heroine who challenges him in all the right ways.
A Lady Never Surrenders by Sabrina JeffriesA lady and a common bow street runner. Recommended if you've got an itch for some good bickering that ultimately leads to satisfying sexytimes.
Into the Shadows by Carolyn CraneA sexy romantic suspense with a tortured hero and a heroine on a mission. Gangs and mobsters and twists abound.
Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth HoytOur heroine is almost completely blind and her overprotective brother has assigned a brooding Captain as her bodyguard. Only she can melt the injured soldier's heart.
Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney MilanA delightful opposites-attract novella featuring shy mathematician Rose Sweetly and her rakish new neighbor.
In the Prince's Bed by Sabrina JeffriesA fortune-hunting rake pursues an heiress already betrothed to someone else, except love ruins all their plans. Passionate, hot, and fun.
Heart of Steel by Meljean BrooksAn absolute delight of a steampunk ride with mercenary captain Yasmeen and treasure hunter Archimedes Fox. Perfect if you like your heroines lethal with a blade and your heroes not afraid to get cut.
Mind Games by Carolyn CraneHave you ever thought about using your powers of anxiety or depression to fight evil? Mind Games is the start of a unique urban fantasy series that's sexy and really fun to read.
Unclaimed by Courtney MilanAnother fresh historical romance hit by Courtney Milan. I love the virgin trope gender twist – a courtesan agrees to seduce the virgin hero and ends up falling for him instead.
Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa KleypasIf you're looking to try historical romance, start with the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas. This is the first of four books in the series, which hits all the best notes in the historical romance genre – super romantic, great banter, and an excellent ensemble cast. You'll want to read them all.
On the Edge by Ilona AndrewsWelcome to the Edge, the area between the Weird and the Broken. One side has magic, the other does not. Our heroine is right in the middle, caught between aristocratic changelings and magic-hungry creatures set on devouring them all.
Wicked as They Come by Delilah DawsonA hot steampunk fantasy romance where our heroine finds herself caught between our world and the bloody world of Sing – literally, with Bludmen and even Bludbunnies.