Prepare for hearts to flutter and cheeks to flush, because we’re diving headfirst into the world of romance! “Swooning Over These Stories: My Must-Read Romance TBR” is a curated collection of tales designed to ignite passion, spark connection, and leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. From sweet, contemporary meet-cutes to sweeping historical epics, this list is brimming with stories that celebrate love in all its glorious forms. So, grab a cozy blanket, brew a cup of tea, and join me as we explore the pages filled with longing glances, stolen kisses, and happily ever afters that make our hearts sing.
Once You’re Mine: A Dark Stalker Romance (Possessing Her)
Murder brought us together. Only death can keep us apart.
The Tormentor
Calista belongs to me… she just doesn’t know it.
The first time we met, I wanted her. The next time, I was obsessed.
I watched her. I followed her. It only deepened my need to possess her.
Once she’s mine, I’m never letting her go.
The Target
Hayden Bennett is a monster, in and out of the courtroom. Unfortunately, I need his help.
What was supposed to be a simple transaction turns into something else. Something intense.
He’s always there when I need him, but I don’t know if trusting him is a good idea…
Once You’re Mine contains explicit sexual content and a morally gray hero that’s over the top jealous/possessive, a stalker who falls first and harder and is willing to do whatever it takes to have her. A complete list of trigger warnings can be found on the author’s website.
Dark Stranger The Dream (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Book 1)
Since the dawn of human civilization, two warring factions of the immortal descendants of gods have been secretly shaping its destiny. Leading the battle from his luxurious L.A. high-rise, Kian is surrounded by his clan, yet he’s alone.
As the descendants of a single goddess, clan members are forbidden to each other, and since the only other immortals are their sworn enemies, Kian and his kin have long been resigned to a lonely existence and eventual extinction. That is until his sister, a neuroscience professor and a researcher of paranormal abilities, makes a game-changing discovery.
Syssi’s psychic ability is tricky. It foretells catastrophes, but when she gets a job as a research assistant, it fails to predict the thrilling yet terrifying turn her life is about to take. Turns out that her new boss is the immortal daughter of a goddess, and her boss’s imposing brother is the mysterious stranger starring in her dreams.
If you’re captivated by tales of love and intrigue that weave together the lore of gods, the mystique of immortals, the allure of vampires, the humorous presence of meddling ghosts, the enigma of psychic visions, and the intricate web of a sprawling clan saga, then The Children of the Gods series will enthrall you.
An Amazon top 10 All-Star, I. T. Lucas is one of the most popular authors in Kindle Unlimited. More than 6 million copies have been read worldwide!
THE GULL CRY HOTEL: Horror Romance
“A writer isn’t someone who knows a bunch of incredible stories. A writer is someone who can turn an ordinary story into something incredible.”
“Sometimes, to believe in God, one must glimpse the Devil.”
“They saw something that could shake the beliefs of everyone living on the planet. They fancied themselves pioneers of a new religion.”
Anna Walker, a top-tier writer from a prestigious publishing house in London, finds herself in the throes of a creative crisis. Her manuscript lacks inspiration, her literary agent is teetering on the brink of terminating their contract, and her beloved, instead of offering support, has grown distant and aloof. Miss Walker opts for the remotest hotel in Northern Ireland and embarks on a distant journey to a secluded island. Rathlin welcomes her with off-season storms and thick fog. Beyond the mist and inclement rain lies a picturesque cliff overlooking the ocean, mysterious marshes, and an eerie hotel.
One night, Anna hears a murder take place. Due to the weather, it becomes impossible to leave the island, and she wrestles with doubts, wondering what truly happened and what the thick fog conceals …
Destined Mate (Twisted Fate Trilogy Book 1)
Fate stripped everything from me and forced me to face my worst nightmare.
As the adopted and weakest member of my pack, I’ve always been an outcast and mistreated, especially since I’ve never been able to shift into my animal form.
Every time I try to find a way to escape my personal hell, my pack leader stops me, vowing that I’ll never be free from him.
Then the worst happens.
A group of my pack members attack me.
Alone, outnumbered, and stuck in my human form, I’ll fight for my life even though there’s no hope for survival.
Until a group of unfamiliar wolves come to my aid.
The sexiest and strongest of them, Bodey, is adamant to protect me.
And something inside me tugs toward him almost unnaturally.
But it turns out things aren’t what they seem.
There might be something more to my past than I knew . . . and Bodey might be the very person I need protecting from.
Get this steamy and suspenseful forced proximity, touch her and unalive, broody male, fated mates, royal wolf shifter romance today!
The Striker (Gods of the Game Book 1)
She’s the only woman he wants…and the only one he can’t have.
Asher Donovan is a living legend—the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.
But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they’re forced to “bond” during off-season cross-training.
Surviving the summer shouldn’t be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She’s beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t take his mind off her.
The only problem? She’s his rival’s sister—and completely off limits.
***
Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.
Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people .
She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.
Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That’s out of the question—especially when he’s the only person with the power to break her heart.
The Striker is a steamy brother’s rival sports romance feat. a soccer star and a former prima ballerina. It can be read as a standalone.
Of Blades and Wings: A Viking Fae Fantasy Romance (Flame Cursed Fae Book 1)
She wants to earn her Valkyrie wings. He wants to burn every Valkyrie to ash.
Princess Madivia is the Ice Courts best kept secret – until the Valkyrie come for her.
Only her family knows what she can really do, and how dangerous it is to leave her tower. But, she has been selected by the gods themselves to train at Featherblade to become a Valkyrie, an elite fae guardian of Odin.
If she is to make it against the other rooks, survive the Wild Hunt, or battle against the Frost Giants, she has to earn her wings and bond with an ancient animal gifted to her by the gods. She has to get stronger, and work out who her enemies are, and who she can trust.
And she has to do it all under the burning gaze of Kain the Ruinous. Villain of Featherblade. Her obsession.
The disgraced fire-fae combat trainer has had his wings removed and been cursed to burn anyone he touches. He is bound to Featherblade, but he makes no secret of the fiery devastation he would wreak if he could leave.
And it doesn’t take him long to realize that Maddy and her secrets are the key to his revenge.
She knows she should avoid him. He’s lethal, unhinged, and feeds on fear. But he follows her every move, he shows up whenever she is in danger, and he dominates her dreams.
He tests her, pushes her, threatens to find, and break, her limits.
When he is standing before her, fire in his eyes and heat blazing from his cursed skin, Maddy fears she would let the world go up in flames if he told her to.
And if she’s not strong enough, that may be exactly what happens.
This is an enemies to lovers romantasy inspired by norse mythology, featuring Viking fae in an academy/war college setting. If you love villain gets the girl stories and obsessive burn-the-world-down-for-her MMCs then this is the story for you.
The spice is deliciously slow-burn and builds with each book.
*This series is part of the Brides of Mist and Fae world.
His Five Night Stand: Steamy Second Chance Contemporary Romance (Counting on Love Book 1)
Five scorching nights, two fragile hearts, one broken rule…Five nights with a gorgeous man will make her forget her ex forever. At least that’s what Callie’s neighbor promised when Callie moves into a new apartment building. Devastated by her boyfriend’s confession that he’s in love with another woman, Callie can’t imagine anything could heal her broken heart.
Loss has brought Theo to his knees before, so he knows just how to repair Callie’s shattered confidence. After five nights in his arms, she’ll leave her heartache behind, give voice to her deepest desires and be ready to forge a real, lasting love with someone new…it just won’t be him.
Theo can give Callie back her voice and teach her to ask for what she wants from her lover, but what if she asks for more than he can give? Will he break his only rule – no falling in love – for her?
“It’s this one,” Billie said, sorting through her keys. “304.” As she fiddled with the keys someone opened the unit next door.
A tall guy wearing a black t-shirt and jeans stepped outside and turned to lock the door. He smiled as he glanced at Billie and me. I swallowed, my mouth immediately dry. This guy was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. He had wavy dark brown hair almost black, a strong jaw, and these amazing pale blue eyes that jumped out against his olive skin tone. He had broad shoulders, and strong biceps. When he turned away, I couldn’t help but notice that his backside was just as gorgeous. I had to remind myself not to stare again.
“Oh, that’s Theo,” Billie said to me softly. “Hey Theo!” she called a little louder. “New tenant, Callie. You should say hello. You two might be neighbors.” Her voice was a little sing-song as she fiddled with her keys.
“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt him,” I said, wishing I had bothered to brush my hair that morning. I didn’t even have on mascara since I’d cried it all off the night before.
Theo strode toward us smiling. His pale blue eyes were even more magnetic close up.
He held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Callie, or shall I say neighbor,” he gave my hand a firm squeeze. His voice had a lilt to it, British I assumed, though I’d never been really good with accents outside of knowing they made me melt.
His hands were large, strong and warm. I immediately liked the feeling of his skin against mine.
“Maybe neighbor,” I said, laughing as my cheeks burned. “I need to apply and see the place, but it seems nice. Like everyone I’ve met seems wonderful and so welcoming . . .”
His hair was slightly long so it hung in waves not quite hitting his shoulder or falling into his eyes. I had to fight the urge to reach out and brush the curls off his forehead. “Oh, you’ll like it here,” Theo said. “Billie runs a tight ship. Nothing but the most beautiful apartments this side of the University. Right Billie?”
“Got it!” Billie said holding up a key. I doubted she’d been listening to us at all. She’d fiddled with a series of keys before hitting pay dirt. “Almost thought I’d have to leave you here with Theo and who knows where that would lead.”
“Who knows?” he said, grinning at me.
“Right,” I said, smiling back thinking that being alone with Theo was not a horrible thought, not a horrible thought at all.
Billie opened the door and gestured for me to follow.
“I’ll leave you two to your tour then,” Theo said, nodding. “Later neighbor.” He turned and glanced back once with a smile before he walked down the hall.
“Bye,” I said, almost under my breath.
Twilight of Embers (Dragons of Ember Hollow Book 1)
I’d always wondered what it would be like to have a family. I just never expected to find it with five mysterious strangers who have more secrets than I could ever imagine.
Getting a scholarship to Evergreen University and majoring in premed means I need to keep my head down and focus on my studies. But campus is full of distractions…
The football god with his golden retriever charm. The tortured one with his vicious tongue. The broken boy with his determined protectiveness. The merciless billionaire with a penchant for spoiling me. And the genius professor with his brilliant mind.
They make me feel like I belong for the first time since my parents were murdered. And when they touch me, my whole world sparks to flame.
But they have enemies. Those who would give anything to harm what they hold dear. And while they’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe, sometimes falling in love will put you right in the line of fire…
Defiant Vows: An Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance
Viviana Russo has always lived in her sister, Elenora’s, shadow. She prefers it that way. Whereas her sister blossomed into the perfect mafia princess, Viviana spent her days halfway across the world, where she couldn’t embarrass her family or ruin Elenora’s chances of striking a good match.
After years in exile, a tragic accident cuts Elenora’s life short and sends Viviana back to New York for a funeral– and a wedding. The Russo family owes the future don of the Cosa Nostra a wife, and, with Elenora gone, Viviana must fulfill her sister’s place. For better or for worse.
Luciano Venturi wants a wife as much as he wants a bullet to the head, but he knows a union with the Russo family is necessary for the success of the Cosa Nostra. He was prepared to wed Elenora Russo, the brilliant international relations student who spent her entire life training to become the wife of a mafia boss. Not her troublesome little sister.
Viviana sets his teeth on edge. She’s a headache that he can’t shake–at least until they fulfill their marital duties to produce an heir. And yet, somewhere between their scathing squabbles and mind-numbing banter, Luc begins to realize the lengths he’ll go to keep her by his side.
But is love enough to save her from the same dark forces that wanted her sister dead?
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City Book 1)
A #1 New York Times bestseller!
Sarah J. Maas’s brand-new CRESCENT CITY series begins with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.
As we close the final chapter on this journey through romantic tales, I hope you’ve discovered some new favorites to add to your own bookshelf. May these stories remind you of the power of love, the beauty of connection, and the joy of finding your own happily ever after, whether it’s on the page or in real life. Keep your heart open, your expectations high, and your reading list overflowing with stories that make you swoon. And remember, love, like a good book, is always worth the journey.