Ah, romance! Is there anything better than getting swept away by a heartwarming love story? Whether you’re a seasoned romance reader or just dipping your toes into the genre, there’s something magical about falling head over heels for fictional characters and their captivating relationships. Today, I’m sharing some of my all-time favorite romance novels—the ones that have made me swoon, sigh, and stay up way past my bedtime. Get ready to fall in love! ❤️📚

From Stardust: Book 1 in the Aarilyan Seas Series 

Lillian is a dedicated lady’s maid and is quite content in her position, but when the family she works for sets sail across the sea and the ship they are on sinks, she is suddenly thrown into an adventure worthy of one of her novels. Found unconscious and drifting alone, Lillian is mistaken as a noblewoman and kidnapped by a misfit band of pirates where she must keep up the ruse to ensure her safety.

Kale is the captain of the pirate ship Stardust, and desperately needs a noblewoman to go after the largest treasure he and his crew have ever attempted. But Lillian isn’t anything like what he expected of a noble, and he struggles with the need for a noblewoman and his growing attraction for her. As the blood moon approaches, Kale and the crew scramble to gather everything needed to access the legendary treasure.

With the clock ticking on their adventure Lillian and Kale must work together as they battle rival pirates, the navy, and a 300-year-old curse. Kale must decide the best path to take for the crew and everyone who depends on him, while Lillian must find a strength within herself she never thought possible.

A Forever Summer 

It’s hard to know who you can trust, when you can’t remember your past.

Katherine is an artist struggling with the grief of losing her mother at a young age. When her father dies, she and her sister unexpectedly inherit a house in Westchester Bay—a house she doesn’t remember.

When she finds a strange collection of old letters addressed to her, she starts to question everything. Her dreams and drawings all seem to hold a secret, a hint of who she was before the day her mother died.

While searching for answers, she befriends Janson Caswell: a kindhearted man with a complicated past of his own. The deeper their relationship grows, though, the more they are faced with a darker reality.

Will the truth tear them apart?

Tower of Shadows (Once Upon A Wicked Villain)

Welcome to the dark world of Grimm, where the villains are as wicked as their desires.

Rozlyn is a courtesan who dreams of becoming a prestigious seamstress in the Dawnbreak Court. When the mysterious Marquis of Shadows offers her his patronage, Rozlyn’s dream of owning a dress shop is finally within her reach.

That is, until she’s forced into a marriage to the Marquis.

The Marquis of Shadows is the greatest sorcerer in all of Grimm, but when he recklessly created a spell for revenge, he bound himself to his tower. The curse can only be broken by one maiden. Now that he has her and the curse is slowly fading, the Marquis will finish destroying those who betrayed him.

Even if Rozlyn is ensnared forever.

Tower of Shadows is a new take on Rapunzel and is part of a series of stand-alone titles of spicy dark fairy tale retellings where the villain gets the girl in the end. Each delicious tale can be read in any order and contains fierce females, morally gray males, epic stories, and scorching romance. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Laura Thalassa, Raven Kennedy, and Jennifer L. Armentrout.

The Phoenix Ascends 

A historical fiction romance of love and adventure. A young biracial lawyer named John, living in Canada, discovers his grandfather, a plantation owner, has died and left the plantation to Tom, John’s father. John goes against his father’s wishes and travels to Texas to settle his father’s estate. On his way home he frees a woman named Virginia. John and Virginia embark on an adventure to Canada. During their adventure, they meet a couple, James and Martha, who offer them shelter, as well as a plantation owner named Harrison, who is determined to claim Virginia for his own. Most importantly, they discover love.

A Grey Resort (1) (A Thousand Years of Crooked Forest)

It’s the summer of 1984, and strange things are happening in the woodsy, sleepy town of Neelsville, WI. One evening, Brooke Larken decides to go fishing at her lakeside resort. She doesn’t realize that her simple decision to go fishing, changes the course of her life forever. Here she meets a mysterious stranger, and gets the shock of her life.

Follow Brooke as she discovers something very sinister about her town, and the people in it.

Sparks of Desire: An MMF Triad Love Story (Riverfront Fire Department Series Book 1) 

What does a woman do when her husband’s best friend lets it slip that he cares for her more than a friend? Will their sparks of desire grow into a raging fire or fizzle out into nothing more than smoke?

Emerson

I thought I had it all with my husband, Owen, and our three kids. His best friend, Drew, turned my world upside down with one sentence.

Owen

We’re fighting fires set by a serial arsonist, but my best friend, Drew, has sparked one close to home. I’m not sure if I can douse the flames, or if I even want to.

Drew

After I lost my wife and son, I never thought I’d get to love again. I won’t let this opportunity go up in flames.

Sparks of Desire is a standalone realistic MMF polyamory novel that is sweet and spicy, with an HEA, bi-awakening, and no cheating.

A Forever Kind of Thing

Growing up on the proverbial “wrong side of the tracks” gave me a long list of bullies and a short list of friends. I spent most of my childhood days thinking of creative ways to escape the dirty pit that was Palmer, Georgia, until a new kid showed up on the first day of fifth grade and gave me every reason to stay.

But as my rotten luck would have it, he disappeared two years later without a word, leaving me with a million unanswered questions and an irreparable hole in my thirteen year-old heart.

Fast forward to five years post-betrayal, and I’ve gone from Palmer trailer park to Atlanta mansion, secondhand clothes to straight off the runway, and bullies now kiss the ground beneath my Gucci-covered feet.

Reigning supreme at my new prestigious high school, I was counting down the days until graduation when the keeper of all my secrets walked back into my life and threatened to knock this queen right off her throne. What he doesn’t know is that I’ll gladly retire my crown. All he has to do is promise me forever.

Veiled in Stars and Silver: A Peter Pan Fairy Tale Romance

He’s the dread pirate captain who kidnapped her brothers.
She’s out for revenge.

For seven years, Wendy has been preparing for the day that she can finally return to Neverland, rescue her brothers, and take her vengeance on Captain Hook. But when she finally returns, things in Neverland aren’t how Wendy remembers.

Since when did Peter come off shallow and grating? And the captain of the Jolly Roger has a strange allure that is oddly difficult to resist. When Peter tells her that her brothers are dead, her world is shattered.

And yet, Hook claims they are alive. He will lead her to them if she retrieves a powerful weapon capable of destroying all of Neverland. She can’t trust his searing forget-me-not gaze. She shouldn’t agree. But Wendy will do anything to find her brothers.

Even bargain with evil itself in the form of one James Hook.

Veiled in Stars and Silver is one of ten books in the Enemies Ever After series, a collection of standalone short novels featuring enemies-to-lovers fairy tale retellings with a touch of steam.

Vice & Virtue: Part One: A Prohibition Era Mafia Romance (North Side Boys)

EOIN
The first time I see her, she’s been broken—by the sort of cruelty I myself enforce.
She knows exactly who I am and what I’m capable of.
But I won’t let the sins on my hands or the darkness in my heart touch her.
Her uncle’s murder pushes us closer, and I can’t bring myself to let her go.
Even though it’s all wrong.
Because she’s a beacon of light in a dismal world. An angel.
Because she’s mine.

EVELYN
They say he’s a monster.
The Irish Devil.
To me, he’s a shadow living in the periphery of my life, pulling strings and crossing off names.
A man with a reputation that colors him various shades of red.
When I see him covered in my uncle’s blood, I believe every rumor I’ve ever heard.
But the Irish Devil won’t stay away.
He’ll ruin me in the end. And while every bone in my body warns me otherwise, I don’t think I’d mind.

No sense in fearing Death when he’s walking straight at you.

There you have it! Those are just a few of the romance novels that have captured my heart over the years. I hope you find some new favorites among them. Now I’m curious, what are YOUR favorite romance novels? Share your recommendations in the comments below – I’m always looking for new books to add to my TBR pile! Happy reading! 💕📚