5 Favorite Dark Romance Books
Honestly, my reading tastes vary from one end of the spectrum to the other.
I enjoy light and funny, but sometimes I prefer something a little on the dark side.
The Best Dark Romance Books
These are some of the darker books I have read, and they may leave you saying, “WTF did I just read?!?”.
1. Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas
“Emily Vargas has been taken captive. As part of his conditioning methods, her captor refuses to speak to her, knowing how much she craves human contact. He’s far too beautiful to be a monster. Combined with his lack of violence toward her, this has her walking a fine line at the edge of sanity. Told in the first person from Emily’s perspective, Comfort Food explores what happens when all expectations of pleasure and pain are turned upside down, as whips become comfort and chicken soup becomes punishment.”
Comfort Food was the first kidnapping/forced submission book I read. I wasn’t sure of what to think or feel while I was reading it. It got inside my head, and I thought about it for days after I finished reading it. However, it was very interesting to see what a person would do after reaching the breaking point. (Also, I couldn’t eat chicken soup without thinking about this book for a long time!)
2. Wanderlust by Skye Warren
“Evie always dreamed of seeing the world, but her first night at a motel turns into a nightmare. Hunter is a rugged trucker willing to do anything to keep her—including kidnapping. As they cross the country in his rig, Evie plots her escape, but she may find what she’s been looking for right beside her.”
I love Skye Warren’s writing–to me, she is the queen of dark romance. Wanderlust was my first Skye Warren book, and it is not a conventional romance by any means. However, you know the writing is good when you find yourself rooting for the bad guy, despite everything he has done.
3. Three, Two, One by JA Huss
“Battered, barefoot, and huddled under a bookstore awning in the pouring rain, Blue only knows one thing. After fifteen months of captivity, finally… she is free. Self-made millionaires JD and Ark are not out to save anyone when they stumble upon a wet and shivering girl one early Sunday morning. But when you sell sex for a living and salvation rings your bell… you answer the call.”
After years of searching, love lifts the veil of darkness, and three people—with three very big secrets—find themselves bound together in a relationship that defies the odds. Or does it?
321 is a dark suspense novel. It has a unique and interesting storyline, and I really liked it. It’s twisty-turny and has a surprise ending. Also, this book is H-O-T! I definitely wasn’t expecting that when I started reading it.
4. Paper Swan by Leylah Attar
“A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense.”
At the risk of sounding cheesy, this book was EPIC. I inhaled every word, not wanting to put it down, even to eat. The Paper Swan is not only a kidnapping story, it is a second-chance love story. It spans over decades and has many surprises that I wasn’t expecting. I would say this is more of a romance with a dark element, not a total dark romance. It’s an excellent story that I highly recommend!
5. Deviant by Callie Hart
“Sloane
I’m not proud of the things I’ve done. The things I’ve had to do. The things I’ve given away. But I’d give it all over again to find her. Even if i die trying, I have to find Alexis.
Zeth
She wants me to help her, but I won’t. She wants me to save her sister, but I can’t. She wants me to be her hero, but I’m not a good man.
I am her damnation…”
Deviant is the first installment in a series of six books. It starts with a bang and things take off from there.
While it may be a short story, there is not a lack of development or twists. It is hot, mysterious, and addictive.
The heroine is a good girl willing to do bad things to save her sister, and the anti-hero is an enigma. It’s not a warm and fuzzy romance, but I totally loved it.
So, there you have my 5 favorite dark romances. Do you read dark romance? Any recommendations?
I’ve only read ONE from your list. ‘Blood & Roses series’ I have Paperswan tho, so I will bump that up on my TBR pile! Great list!!
I think you will really like The Paper Swan. It is definitely in my top 10 of 2015! Let me know what you think after you read it!