Best Dark Romance Books 2023

Belle catches her boyfriend cheating with her best friend on their one year anniversary. Feeling humiliated and heartbroken, Belle finds herself in a VIP club with the friends she was supposed to be on a double date with, trying to forget everything for one night until she meets him. James Wilder, a dangerously hot billionaire who seeks to claim her body and soul until he becomes her only obsession. Belle thought tonight was about losing her virginity to Sam, but she ends up having a wild steamy encounter with James. The man who turned out to be the CEO of the company she just started working at, her boss, and worst of all, her best friend Tania’s father. Belle believes fate is on her side. Hurt by their betrayal, she creates a revenge plan. Seduce James and become his lover to get back at Tania and make Sam jealous. But James Wilder’s rules don’t make things easy. He never dates his employees. He never falls in love. And most certainly, his daughter’s best friend is even more forbidden. Still, he can’t stay away. He makes Belle his personal trainee and she sees her chance to seduce him completely, turn his heart away from his spoiled daughter, and make him fall helplessly in love with her no matter the cost. But will she succeed in her revenge, or will Belle be the one who falls first? James’ dark past wasn’t part of her bargain, and soon she finds herself trapped in it with no way out. Will getting back at her best friend, who is ready to ruin the life of any woman who competes for her dad’s love, and hurting her ex go as planned, or will it drag Belle down too?

“I’ve been in hell for years, Bella. Trying to forget. Trying to do the right thing. Trying to be the man Victor thinks I am.” I stood up, closing the distance between us. “What if the right thing is being honest about what we both want?” He reached out, cupping my face with one large hand, his thumb stroking my cheekbone. The touch was gentle, completely at odds with the hunger in his eyes. “If I kiss you now,” he said hoarsely, “I won’t stop. I won’t be gentle. And I won’t be able to pretend anymore that you’re just Victor’s daughter.” “Good, I don’t want you to.” I leaned into his touch, my own hand coming up to cover his. “I don’t want you to pretend.”

"She will come back," she promised. "She just needs time to sort her head out." "Not her heart?" The dry distinction made Charley wince. "I'm sure she loves you," she persisted. "She's just not ready to commit to marriage." If you just give her time, then I— Black eyebrows with a fascinating silken gloss gave her a curious look. "Are you actually standing there, Miss Jones, suggesting that I should wait for Adelina to sort her head out?" Well, was she? Lifting her chin, "If you love her—yes," she insisted. "Then you are a romantic fool because it is not going to happen." He moved suddenly, straightening away from the desk. "There is a wedding arranged for next Saturday morning, and I intend to make sure that it goes ahead." Without a bride? Charley stared at him. "You mean—you're going to find her and drag her back to marry you?" A silly kind of laugh left her throat at the very image of Adelina being dragged by this man down the church aisle, kicking and screaming. ‘No.’ Reaching behind him, his long fingers picked Adelina's letter up again—this time to fold it with slow, neat precision. "I mean to replace her with someone else."I want reparation for being taken for an idiot, and if that means putting you in Adelina's wedding dress and marrying you in her place, then that is what is going to happen."

This story chronicles the life of Damien Sky and Adeline James from their teenage years to adulthood. When Adeline James met Damien Sky in her new high school, she instantly hated him. He was arrogant, obnoxious, and a playboy. She wanted to avoid him at all costs. But Damien felt different. He thought Adeline was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on, and he decided he had to have her no matter what. Much to his dismay, Adeline avoided him like the plague. She thought she could escape him forever, but fate had other plans for her. She realized that no matter what, she could never escape Damien, especially since he had been harboring a secret. A secret that will change her life forever and bind them together. Will she continue to hate him? Or will Damien finally win her heart? ***This book is co-written by Eva Harlowe***

Quinlan Torres has responsibilities - one more year of college, a brother who needs a lot of extra supervision, and a best friend in the middle of a hostile takeover of her late father's company. The best thing for her to do would be to keep her head down, her eye on the ball, and her mind clear of any distractions. Problem is, her best friend's boyfriend has this brother...

Life hasn't always been easy for Ellie Sanders. Abused constantly by her mother since she could remember, she faced the challenges of survival in the humbling streets of Coney Island, New York. Ellie, accustomed to fending for herself, struggles to adapt to her father’s new life, which includes his new wife, a move to the luxurious side of Manhattan, and worst of all, the addition of her step-brother Aiden, but after being forced by their parents to get along, Ellie and Aiden soon discover their feelings for each other transcend that of step siblings. In her quest to suppress her growing affection for Aiden, Ellie explores relationships with other guys, only to discover that Aiden’s got some tricks up his sleeve to scare them away. Together, they confront the difficulties of concealing their love and as hearts entangle, the fears of family and society finding out loom large, and Ellie’s past waits to pounce on her, her life becomes an overwhelming roller coaster. Can their love withstand the pressures that surround them, or will the outside pressures rip them apart?

Aurora, an outcast omega with no wolf and no mate, is despised by her pack and mocked by her family. Her only desire is to belong, but instead of love, she faces hatred. Her life takes a dark turn when the Moon Goddess mates her to Kale, the arrogant and ruthless son of the Alpha. On their fated night, Kale rejects her after trying to take advantage of her. This shattered her heart and she flew for life when Kael sent werewolf to kill her. Fleeing for her life, Aurora crosses into forbidden vampire lands and is cornered. Just as death seems inevitable, she is rescued by Draven, the Vampire King. A powerful, cold ruler with no mate for over a thousand years, Draven feels an unexpected pull toward Aurora. Against vampire tradition and centuries of animosity between their species, he claims her as his mate, offering her safety and a chance at love. But peace comes at a cost. Aurora's hidden power, linked to her mysterious lineage, sparks tension between werewolves and vampires. The truth of her heritage exposes lies told by her pack, revealing that she is far more dangerous than anyone imagined. As both sides seek to destroy her, Aurora must navigate a world full of betrayal and war. With Draven by her side, she has the chance to rise and become a queen, feared and revered. But with enemies around every corner, will love be enough to protect her, or will the power within her bring about her downfall

When he looked in through the window, he was astounded to see her topless and braless. She was standing with her back to him, eliciting wild desires in him. He took his handkerchief from his pocket and crept into her room. He blindfolded her with his hankie before dragging her towards the bed. Her heartbeat accelerated. She could feel that he was her man. She asked, "is it you, baby?" He pushed her onto the bed and gazed at her perfect slender body with profound desires in his eyes. He hovered her and tied her wrists with his tie to the headboard. *** She could never stop her heart from beating for him since the day she saw him despite knowing that he would never retaliate to her feelings as for him she was only his best friend's sister. She was so innocent and pure like holy water, and he was messed up and a monster whom anybody definitely wouldn't like to come across. She had never dated anyone in her entire life because, for her, the love of her life was everything. On the other hand, he never believed in all this. For him, "love" didn't exist; it was all about physical needs. His mere presence was enough to relieve her pain; he was like oxygen to her, while on the other hand, he didn't even acknowledge her presence. Her love was so pure and selfless that it could make anyone fall for it because it's not easy to love someone who is forbidden. But will he ever witness her love? Will he ever love her as purely as she loves him? Will her one-sided love ever be fulfilled? If you want to know, then follow the journey of a tempting biker and his secret admirer.

Xavier Woods is a biker with a secret and an obsession with a woman he should not want but does. Rei Draven navigates the aftermath of an unexpected event, striving to rebuild her life. As a divorced mother of three, her world is shaken again when the man from her dreams appears and challenges her to embrace love. Can troubled soul Xavier mend Rei's shattered heart? What unfolds when love is presented unexpectedly? Will Rei take a leap of faith into love or run? Set in a small town, this is a love story between two destined individuals, the delicate balance of light and darkness, hope and despair, and the profound impact of love.

“You little whore.” He rolled his hips with vigor, every thrust a reminder of how insanely his cock had craved her since their last time together. “So wet for daddy.” Her wet pussy throbbed around him, demanding more. He pulled her close, his grip tightening around her waist to steady her in the position he was fucking her. Out of urgency, he lifted her dress up to reveal her naked rump bouncing to the rhythms of his cock. “Fuck me so hard, daddy. Please.” At her request, he pounded her, his long and hard thickness hammering sweetly into her slippery heat, breaking her body into halves, pleasure burning through him unbearably. - After a disastrous heartbreak that shatters her life, Tessa leaves the city behind to start over. Her best friend offers her a place to stay until she finds her footing again. But upon arrival at the new city, she meets him. Julian. Her best friend's father. A man almost twice her age. Untouchable. Way out of her league. One look at him awakens a dangerous hunger deep inside her. He's the kind of temptation she should never desire, but she swears to have him. - Julian has been widowed and single for years, living a quiet life and keeping his desires firmly under control until Tessa walks into his home. Young and beautiful, with an innocent face that hides a sinfully seductive aura. She's his daughter's best friend-completely off limits. The first glance he took at her should be the last. She is a tease, a menace he should stay far away from. But forbidden is sometimes too sweet to resist. And once they cross that line, they may never be able to turn back again.