Authors Like Jodi Picoult

{TW: DARK ROMANCE, ABUSE, DADDY KINK, PSYCHOTIC, VIOLENCE. This is not your typical dark romance novel, it gets darker with each chapters so if you can't handle it, kindly exit, not all Male leads are heroes some can be your worst nightmare, if you are looking for love you won't find it here} *********************************** "Won't you like to open your gift, Bambi?" It wasn't a question. César Navarro never asked. He commanded. When Anya Esmeralda Torres untied the silk ribbon and lifted the lid of the velvet box, her world shattered. Inside, staring back at her with dead, lifeless pupils, were the green eyes of Giovanni De Luca.....the man whose gaze had made her uncomfortable all evening. Her scream ripped through the silence. "Now his eyes will never trouble you again." He said it like he'd given her a necklace. Like dismemberment was romance. Like murder was love. César Navarro, known in the underworld as Calavera, wasn't just the founder of a billion-dollar tech empire. He was the Skull—mafia heir, executioner, and obsession wrapped in a tailored suit. And Anya? She was his cage bird. His possession. His favorite game. But Anya wasn't born to be caged. She was fire—wild, defiant, desperate for freedom. And no matter how many diamonds he draped her in, she vowed to escape. The question is: can you ever run from a monster who always finds you? Or will love become the cruelest prison of all?

For almost four years without her twin brother, Addison Miranda cannot swallow the pain of her brother's death that still haunts her every night. That's why she pours her every emotion on writing which her brother influenced her when they were still young. And as she grows older, she wants to pursue the dream that settles her from the grief of her lost. The only thing that her mind automatically focuses on is becoming a published writer, willing to do whatever sorcery she needs to perform. But just like any other human being, she stumble upon the biggest regret of her life. Meeting Corpse De Chavez is the start of how she wanted to dig her own grave. It is like in a blink of an eye, Addi become blind of how her success will fall on her hands like streaming waters. She found out that Corpse is a big part of her past that has been torturing her for years. And how unfortunate for her to fall for someone that she’s supposed to despise. Desperate to live a peaceful life, she decided to quit everything so she can save herself from falling apart, even though it breaks her heart leaving the person that loves her more than anyone else. Addison Miranda believes that whatever witchcraft that she's been under, she wanted to get out of it as soon as possible before she falls with it. Because just like spilled coffee on the table, Corpse caused a big mess that no one has ever done to her life. 

I stood in the shadows, the scent of pine and frost heavy in the air, watching my mate, Ethan, smile—truly smile—for the first time in years. But not at me. At her. My cousin, Isla. His first love. She sat beside him, warm and glowing, with our pups, Lucas and Mia, curled up against her like she was their real mother. They were laughing, sharing bites of ice-cream cake, the kind Lucas once said made his stomach hurt. I was never meant to be here. I wasn't his choice. He didn't fall in love with me—he was assigned to me. To him, our bond was never about love. It was a political arrangement—an alliance between two packs: his power, my father’s ambition. A tie forged not by hearts, but by bloodlines and borders. He never touched me unless required. He never looked at me like I was his Luna. In that moment, as their laughter echoed under the full moon, I felt the mate bond falter—thin, fading, like breath in winter. And I knew. I had played my part long enough. So I turned away. It was time to severe the bond that was never truly mine. But when he sensed I was really leaving, when the tether between us began to snap, he broke. Dropped to his knees, clutching the pups like lifelines, his voice raw. "Please," he whispered, "don't leave me." Even the pups cried, reaching for me with shaking hands. "Mom, we’re sorry… We didn't mean it. Please don't go."

My body sinks, water rushing through my nose and mouth like icy needles. I keep my eyes open, praying for a miracle. And then—he appears. A glowing form slicing through the water like lightning. His ginger hair floats around him, a halo of fire in the depths, dancing like the sea itself. He looks like an angel. My angel. My beautiful, guardian angel. --- Nineteen-year-old Marinette Karnowsky knows life as a bed of thorns and broken glass. Abandoned, abused, and barely surviving college on her own, she’s grown used to pain. But everything changes the day her long-lost stepsister returns—sweeping Marinette away to a strange, stunning house in a town that doesn’t exist on any map. A town where the supernatural breathes beneath every shadow. There, Marinette uncovers truths she never imagined. Her beloved sister is not entirely human—and the town, not entirely safe. As she tries to make sense of it all, Marinette meets her sister’s best friend: a golden-haired boy with a blazing smile and fire in his soul. The deeper she falls, the harder it becomes to ignore the pull between them—even if it risks everything, especially her sister’s heart. But their connection runs deeper than attraction. There’s a secret buried in the halls of her new college, one that ties Marinette, her sister, and her mysterious fire-haired prince in ways none of them fully understand. And as that secret begins to surface, so does a destiny Marinette never asked for… and may not survive.

She was auctioned like an object, bought like a secret, and caged like a sin. After a brutal betrayal by the people she trusted most, Seraphina Vale is left drowning in debt and despair—until she’s sold at an underground auction to the one man every criminal fears: Lucien Marchesi, the ruthless head of a powerful mafia empire. Cold. Controlled. Deadly. The world assumes she’ll be discarded like the others who came before her. But Seraphina isn't a lamb sent to slaughter. She’s a lioness in velvet chains—calm, calculating, and waiting for her moment. Lucien didn’t expect her fire. She didn’t expect his scars. What begins as a twisted game of control and survival becomes something far more dangerous: emotion. As secrets unravel and obsession burns into something deeper, Seraphina edges dangerously close to what she swore she’d never feel again—trust. Love. Want. But she hasn’t forgotten her mission. Lucien was supposed to be her weapon, not her salvation. And when her revenge explodes into reality, both hearts will shatter under the weight of betrayal. Until he asks the one question that changes everything: “Have you ever loved me?” Chains of Velvet, Heart of Fire is a gripping dark mafia romance about love born from power, loyalty forged in fire, and two broken souls who dared to rewrite their fate. Perfect for fans of morally gray heroes, twist-filled emotional sagas, and heroines who take their power back—beautifully, mercilessly, and on their own terms.

"Zachary Dawson will never see you as his potential wife. You are just a warmer for his bed." Elena's eyes widened as she heard her speak with so much hatred in her tone. She tried to keep her up her head upon the humiliation that she got from his family. "I can't believe my son's illness could be cured by someone like you. Just like my husband said, take this money and leave him. You are not the woman he needs." Elena's whole body was shivering, her fists tightened, and she felt like she was swallowing a sharp rock. She was never the one who forced this relationship. Just when she was about to open her mouth and speak. A heavy footsteps approached them. And all their attention was diverted to the man that just walked in with his cold, murdering eyes. "How dare you talk to my woman with that dirty mouth of yours.." He looked at his mother like he was looking at his enemy. ........... When Elena finally decided to live her new life a big city, she realized that one job wouldn’t be enough to feed her and save some for her dreams. So, when suddenly a job opportunity came on a usually busy day, she couldn’t resist. Moreover, when the pay was even bigger than the money of three of her part time jobs. Being a maid on the private villa belongs to Young Master Zachary Dawson. A man with rare phobia with women. Will Elena fall for his trap? Two choices. Run or stay.

On my 18th Birthday, My twin sister married my mate, Alpha Jacob, in my name. I was Alisa Clark, the she-wolf with the purest blood. The Alphas must feed on my blood. They were blessed with great power while they were cursed. The greater their abilities, the shorter their lives. My blood protected them from their curse Yet, my twin Jennifer took away my glory and had me tortured for 6 years! Worse still, My mate allowed it ** "You've been like a pig for us. He can smell you down here. He's known this whole time." She took out a mirror and held it up to my face. " You think he would ever accept such an ugly mate like this pig." I hadn't seen myself since I was twelve, vibrant and healthy. I was a child then, and now I looked like a ghost. My face was hollow and pale like a sick person. I saw the scar on my face, it burned and had inflamed my cheek so that it was swollen. My eyes were red from the tears. My hair was dull and limp over my skull. My purple eyes were the only piece of me that still held some semblance of life. I could see scars even on my neck, and I knew that my body was even more scarred, and even more pathetic... "How dare you be so stupid." Jennifer said. "How dare you think the Alpha wants you for more than your blood. Imagine him mating with you, when he could have me."

It was all about a year. Just one simple year. They got married because of his Grandmother's wish. He didn't fall for her in that one year but she did. She didn't expect he would still hold on that contract after being married for a whole year but he did. He terminated the contract after a year and told her that it was over without any regret. He had gifted her divorce papers on their first wedding anniversary. He had expected her to throw a tantrum but too bad cause she didn't. Instead she just packed her bags and left just like he had asked her to. Then all of sudden one year later they met again. But she didn't change like those cliche heroines after divorce. She was the same as she was a year ago. Stupid, clumsy and stubborn. He didn't realise what he lost like those cliche ex husbands when he saw her for the first time after a year. But why did it sting watching her talking to some other men so casually? Why did it sting when she didn't look at him with those puppy lovesick eyes anymore? Why did it sting so much when she treated him like other ordinary people? It shouldn't have right? SLOW UPDATE AND UPDATE 3 DAYS PER WEEK. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THIS AND DON'T COMPLAIN LATER:)

His jawline His smile His gaze His hair His heart and the way he cared for her His scent lingered in the room long after he was gone. Vida did not like Axel and there was nothing in this life that was ever going to change that until she started falling for him in a dangerous way. "I can't like him," she told herself multiple times. How could she like him? He was the complete opposite of her; he lit up a room and everyone loved him. She found herself falling for him more and more with each passing day. He was Axel Manchester's only hope; why did loving him feel so right and yet so wrong at the same time? She was Vida Van Allen and he had fallen head over heels in love with her. The thrilling story of Vida and Axel will keep you on your toes and push your emotions further than you can imagine. Read 21st Century Bride now to go on this journey of love with Axel and Vida.

A bankrupt aristocratic family that only has a name on a paper residency document. Suddenly surprised by the arrival of a letter of application from the capital city. An application that came from a large, highly respected family. From the start it seemed strange but in the end they could no longer avoid it, with great compulsion the only daughter of the family had to go along with the envoy sent to pick her up for her future husband's castle. The proposal that was initially thought to be a blessing turned out to be a disaster, a family that, even though they live in poverty, enjoys everything with a smile. When they know the fate of the girl who was picked up for marriage ends in misfortune. A family that has always enjoyed life is torn apart by the pseudo-happiness of a suspicious proposal. Hello to the readers, if you really like this story please click L*O*V*E, like, give me five star, and to add this story to your heirloom list, don't forget to give me more gem. I have one more story A GIRL FOR THE BEASTS come and see it maybe you will like it. Thankyou