Book picks similar to
Song of Tenebrae by C.A. Rene


dark-romance
dark
arc
forced-proximity

Sinners' Playground


Caroline Peckham - 2020
    Because it sure as hell wasn’t for the surf. But what else was I supposed to do when I found myself in Sunset Cove with twenty bucks to my name, the key to my enemies’ secrets hanging around my neck and a mouth full of grave dirt that wouldn’t wash clean?I hate the Harlequin boys.But this is the perfect opportunity to take what they owe me. Because once upon a time, they broke my heart, stole my life and sent me away from everything I’d ever known.Fox, JJ, Chase and Maverick.The four names tattooed onto my heart more permanently than any of the ink on my skin. They don’t just live in this town anymore, they rule it. And the view here may be beautiful, but the sun, sea and sand hide dark secrets.The gangs.The lies.The violence.It all lurks beneath a veil so thin that once you’ve seen through it, you can never close your eyes to the truth again.But I don’t plan on closing my eyes. I have four devils set in my sights. And this dead girl no longer has anything to lose.This is an enemies to lovers contemporary series where the girl will end up with multiple love interests and all of the characters are in their late twenties. Trigger warning: this series features gangs, violence, dark romance and jealous/possessive themes.

Ward


Zoe Blake - 2020
    Not anymore.He planned this before I even knew his name. He made the life I've always known vanish as if it never existed, and now I'm his helpless captive, forced to play my part in his sadistic fantasy.It could have been a fairytale... A wealthy, handsome Duke sweeps a poor orphan girl from America off her feet and brings her to a beautiful estate hidden away in the English countryside.But this isn't the Victorian era, and I'm not Richard Payne's bride or his guest. I'm his prisoner.I know it is all a sick, twisted game. But what I know doesn't matter. My delusions will be cured by pain and punishment and nothing will stop him from using me as shamefully as he pleases.I'm his ward now. Perhaps one day soon he'll have made me forget I was ever anything else...Publisher's Note: Ward includes spankings, rough sexual scenes, intense and humiliating punishments, and strong D/s themes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

Bitter Heat


Mia Knight - 2019
    He was the flame. After this, they would be ash. A cruel twist of fate leaves Jasmine Hennessy stranded in a remote cabin with her worst nightmare—her ex-husband, James Roth, who she hasn’t seen in five years. He isn’t acting like the man she married, but did she ever really know him? One night together kicks off a series of events that threatens her freedom as Roth seeks vengeance on those who ruined him seven years ago. He’s determined to bring her back into the world she left behind where money is king, reputation is everything, and people will kill to keep their secrets. Author's Note: This is a dark romance novel with triggers and mature themes that may make some readers uncomfortable.

Loathe Me


L.P. Lovell - 2019
    A killer. The Russian Elite.She’s a mafia princess. A job. A runaway bride.My business is death, however, I find myself manipulated into becoming a glorified babysitter to Adelina Ricci. She’s spoiled, naive, reckless, and yet she see’s parts of me I didn’t know existed. Makes me want things I had never even imagined. I will protect her from everything, but I can’t save her from me— that damage is already done.A lethal knight. A rebellious pawn. A lie that will ruin them both.Loathe me or love me?

Rockin' Her Curves


Lola West - 2021
    If her father taught her anything, it’s that lying, cheating men keep women from succeeding. And nothing is going to keep her from climbing her way to the top of the management side of the music industry. So, when her best friend makes her a profile on the dating app Curve Connection, there is only one thing to do. Delete, Delete, Delete!Only she’s not expecting the sweet sexy message she finds in her inbox.Hunter Winston is mega rich - always has been - and despite his talent, the scuttlebutt is he bought his way into the world of rock. He’s used to chatter, but he’d like to meet a woman who actually likes him, not his money or his talent. On an impulse he makes a dating profile with a fake name and fake photos.And it works! He’s full-on head over heels until Trish, his online dream girl, comes walking through the door with his manager. Can he ever tell her the truth?Rockin' Her Curves is a standalone novella with an HEA, but it features characters from the Universe of all of Lola West's books.Searching for your soulmate? Welcome to Curve Connection, a brand-new dating app developed by curvy women for curvy women and the men who love them. Whether you're into executives, sports stars, blue collar workers, rock stars, or billionaires, we deliver guaranteed happily-ever-afters. Swipe left or right to start searching for your soulmate today.Curvy Soulmates is a collection of steamy short romances brought to you by 12 of your favorite instalove authors. Coming November 2021.

Sweet Surrender


Sav R. Miller - 2020
    Everyone has a debt to collect, and somehow that burden falls to me.I’m being forced into a loveless marriage to pay off my father’s debts when the capo of the Montalto outfit intervenes with an offer I can’t refuse: his hand in exchange for protection.But I’m not the one who needs protecting.EliaThe men in my life value loyalty to our family over everything.I’m supposed to, but my dark heart has a mind of its own.My offer to marry Caroline is half-hearted; I set my eyes on the beautiful nymph and want her for myself.I want to use her. Break her.Turns out, someone else beat me to it.Now all I want is her heart.Sweet Surrender is an enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, dark, erotic, small town mafia romance. Due to adult themes and scenes, it is recommended for ages 18 and older.

Buttons & Lace


Penelope Sky - 2016
     A big one. The payment can't be settled with money or favors. He only wants one thing. Me. Every action gets a reward. A button. Once I fill his jar with three hundred and sixty-five buttons, he'll let me go. He'll let me walk away. But I have to earn every single one. By submitting to the darkest, cruelest, and most beautiful man I've ever known. ** TRIGGER WARNING ** There are some dark and disturbing scenes of abuse and punishment.

Tell Me Pretty Lies


Charleigh Rose - 2020
    A brand new Tiffany's ring. 2. A lavish home on Heartbreak Hill. 3. Three privileged stepsons.The last thing I expected was to fall for one of them, least of all Thayer Ames.Beautiful, brooding, and untouchable. I knew it was a bad idea. He warned me himself. But he was a thunderstorm, and I never could resist the rain. It was perfect…Until it wasn’t. One night was all it took for our world to crumble, leaving only secrets and lies between us. Now, I have to face him again, but the boy I used to know has become the man who loves to hate me.

Veiled Innocence


Ella Frank - 2014
    Tick, tick, tock.Time.That’s all I have now.A small room, a photograph, and time.They want me to trust them and confess my sins.They told me they wouldn't judge me—they lied.I thought we could convince the world that this wasn't a crime.We were wrong.Time doesn't stand still.The clock keeps ticking, the world is unconvinced, and now…Now he is gone.

Asher Black


Parker S. Huntington - 2017
    Huntington comes a steamy, slow-burn love story full of unexpected love and banter.It started with my bladder.I didn't mean to witness a shady deal in the restroom hallway.I didn't think twice when I called the cops.And I certainly didn't know who the club belonged to.Asher Black.Former mafia hitman.Billionaire CEO.New York's most eligible bachelor.When he shows up at my college, looking for the girl who called the cops on his business, I know I'm as good as dead.What I don't expect is his offer--he'll pay my tuition and set me up with a cushy job after I graduate.All I have to do is... be his fake fiancée.Asher Black is a 90,000-word standalone novel in The Five Syndicates mafia romance series.

Ruthless Princess


Rachel Van Dyken - 2020
    A mafia romance about best friends turned enemies by Rachel Van Dyken, the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series.The enemy of my enemy is my friend…I never thought my father would ask this of me, to become the second generation at Eagle Elite University, to rule with an iron fist, and to take care of anyone who gets in our way.But ever since the incident.Ever since Him.There’s been a war in our little clique.After all, a house divided cannot stand.He’s the problem, not me.He used to kiss me like I was his oxygen.Now he looks at me like I’m his poison.But we both drank it, again and again, never believing there would be a day when our love would start a war.And our friendship would shatter into a million pieces.Then again, the worst thing you could do in the mafia is hang on to hope that your life will be normal.The second worse thing?Fall in love with your best friend.Enemy.And heir to the Nicolasi throne.

A Vow Of Hate


Lylah James - 2021
    We were poison together and there was no antidote.Our story began like any other fairy tale ended.With a beautiful wedding.One kiss.Two rings.Three vows.Killian Spencer became my lawfully wedded husband and I, his dutiful wife.But he was no Prince Charming. He didn’t come to save me… and he vowed there would be no happily ever after.And me?Just like the legends I'd read as a little girl, I always thought I’d be the princess in my fairy tale.Well, I was the villain of our love story.“Till death do us part…”

Thy Kingdom Come


Monica James - 2021
    My father says it’s my birthright, but all I see is a curse. It’s because of the Kelly name my mum was slain by the Doyles—our enemies in Dublin, the fellas livin’ on borrowed time. All of Belfast fears my family, especially me. I’m Puck Kelly, otherwise known as Punky; the lad ye don’t want to double cross. I don’t do feelings or emotions. I never have…until she walks into my world.Babydoll is a liar and a thief, but I can’t stay away. We both thrive in the darkness because that’s where our demons can play.No word af a lie, sixteen years later, those monsters still haunt my dreams. But every monster is scared of somethin’…and that somethin’ is me.No more hiding in the shadows because I’m huntin’ youse. Run, wee monsters, run.

This for That


Bella Jewel - 2019
    You’re heartless. You’re sick. You’re really damned twisted. Do you know that? Nope… Still doesn’t cut it. Dear Fate…yeah, that’s the one. Dear Fate, What the actual hell? What exactly did I do to deserve the life you paved for me? Did I bother you so? Was I awful? Did I not pray enough? You took my life into your hands, fate, and you twisted it. You turned it into a broken mess, and you made it ugly. You made meugly. A life for a life. An eye for an eye. That’s how it goes, right? Her life. Now mine. Someone is coming for me, but you already know that, don’t you fate? Did you plan it? Did you even try to tell them it wasn’t my fault? That it was an accident? That I didn’t mean for it to happen? Or is this part of your sick and twisted plan? I have one last question, fate, before you go… Have you got a hero for me? Because I’m going to need one.

Private Property


Skye Warren - 2021
    Or a brooding billionaire who resents his new role.His brother's death means he's now in charge of a moody seven year old girl. She's lashing out at the world, but I can handle her. I have to. I need the money to finish my college degree.As long as I can avoid the boss who alternately mocks me and coaxes me to reveal my darkest secrets.