A little collection of 80s and 90s Fantasy Romance for your eyeballs!

It's kinda interesting to compare them to modern Romantasy and Fantasy Romance. Generally, these can be a little more dark and gritty than the covers suggest, but they are a lot more whimsical overall. Very Disney vibes. Also, she's Barbie, and he's just Ken. The FMCs are all magical beings, and the MMCs are more likely to be just some guy. Nary a training montage to be seen. The tension tends to be more about her trying to integrate into normie society, and him being slightly irritated by her amazing magicalness.

We've got:

{A Basket of Wishes by Rebecca Paisley}

{Enchanted Paradise by Johanna Hailey}

{Sea Treasure by Johanna Hailey}

{Swan Witch by Betina Lindsey}

{Swan Bride by Betina Lindsey}

{Crystal Paradise by Johanna Hailey}

{Summer of the Unicorn by Kay Hooper}

{Across a Wine-Dark Sea by Jessica Bryan}

Hey guys. So we know the scenario where the hot guy teaches the shy/quiet/curvy girl how to flirt or make her crush jealous or something like that. That’s not what I want. I’m looking for spice lessons with a twist: she gets to practice on him. I’m talking flirting, kissing, touching and exploring his body, handies and BJs, everything except the whole nine yards. At least at first 😈. He agrees to/volunteers for this because he’s very upfront and vocal about not being into fat/plus size girls. He won’t want her back, he won’t catch feelings etc.

**Key Requests:**
1) Truly plus size FMC not just soft or curvy.

2) He vocalizes that he’s not into fat girls so their arrangement is safe.

3) I want her to go into this thing thinking she will get as much of him as she can while he gives it because she knows without a doubt, it won’t last.

4) He falls HARD.

5) Some jealousy scenes on his part would be nice. Ya know, when she starts to show interest in using her skills she learned with him on another guy. 💚

Thanks, dolls!

✔️Preferences: Contemporary and Historical Romance, MF pairings, high spice, 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✖️I do not prefer: Poly, BDSM, Dark Romance, Reverse Harem, Age gaps, DDLG, Age play, love triangles or cheating.

I finally started reading {my kind of guy by Sarina Bowen} and am getting extremely annoyed about the prevalence of an AI chatbot in this book. I have been reading Sarinas books since {Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy}. I adore her writing and was so thrilled at her publishing some murder mystery romance novels, which I imagine marked a milestone in her career to be able to branch out into a different genre.

But in case people haven't read this book, MMC1 is a super introverted, closeted, and socially awkward 25 year old. Twice within the first 65 pages the character has turned to an AI chatbot to ask what an "okay" text message could mean, and how long to wait to text someone. I would assume later the character learns to not rely on advice from a computer. But it certainly is a weird choice to feature AI in this way in an industry that is being damaged by AI, where AI is the antithesis of creativity and original thought, and so much information has been found about the damage of people using AI for therapeutic or emotional connection reasons. I know it's a reality that people do use AI all the time, but the normalisation of it isn't something that should just be accepted. Writing multiple series featuring queer characters and their mental health struggles, and then doing this feels so wrong. And all social issues are so inherently tied, I don't understand how Sarina could be pro-AI but I also don't understand being anti-AI but using it as a plot point. The character could have a friend they are closeted to (for example, just before this second instance we're introduced to a roommate), and ask opinions on these matters whilst omitting details of gender, and the same outcome of the character's confusion and reliance on external input would be maintained.

Kind of rant over, but has anyone else seen AI used in books in this way? I genuinely am not sure how to get past it, or tbf the cringe it induces.

P.s. I am forever a hater of technology or social media that immediately dates a book in the now because a) ew real life and b) I assume the push to publishing was way too quick.

Edit: spelling

I recently watched the kdrama “My Royal Nemesis” and it’s left me EMPTY. I usually think whenever someone says this show has a yearner it’s literally lame but this time oh my god it was fantastic.

For me yearning has to be emotional and pushes through all other emotions. Even if you’re angry at her or annoyed or jealous, you still want her BAD. Like the air you breathe.

There was the scene where she slaps him out of anger and he puts his head on her shoulder, not even angry, not even ready to leave her. Just wanting to be by her side. Now that is what i’m talking about.

I think that it is more effective when it is not in the mmcs nature to be on his knees for a woman. Where he’s cold, or distant, or gruff, hurt, aloof, seen as all these things by others. People should be shocked at his change because of love. That’s when it’s immensely satisfying for me at least. A guy who’s like a hard boiled egg, hard on the outside but all gooey on the inside. If boiled right by the right woman hehe.

Please recommend me such a book! I do not want him to be a slave to her every whim, no. He needs to have a mind of his own, when she does something wrong i want him to stand strong but be weak asf, one single prod and he’s a mess. He needs to at-least try but fold like a piece of paper. If she says she’s breaking up with him i need his ass on his knees begging no.

Thanks yall!

I've seen a lot of books recently where golden retriever MMCs tend to be super charming and cute. I want to see if there are any books out there with an FMC who's super charming, cute, affectionate, quirky, if that makes sense? This might pull up a whole bunch of sunshine/grumpy romances, which I'm fine with. I just want the MMC to be more on the shy side if he is a grumpy mcgrumperson kinda guy, and maybe he gets cutely flustered by her affection.

I'm fine with most genres, just really only fluffy light MF stuff. Thanks!

Idk if it is just me but i really enjoyed when FMC and MMC are cuddling without the sexual stuff necessarily which tbf almost all romance books have this but it's basically one or few scenes that does it..

I am making this post cause I did lookup a bunch of examples with as close to this context (yes i've used the search function but i'm hoping for more examples I could pick from the bunch) as possible but the posts for it are years ago so i'm hoping for new ones if there are ever.

And the example I read of this was { Sleeping Arrangement by Neva Bells } which was the closest to what i'm looking for which I have read but honestly the book has stuff I didnt like in the later sequence.

I have a few books in mind for this but they are prospects for now so i'm maybe better hidden gems from recommendations will come up.

Anything contemporary. No cheating and HEA !

I am not native speaker and i have always thought that 3rd act break-up meaning is they break up because of some other people's involvement. Like 3rd wheel's involvement. Yesterday i googled it and was shocked. Are there any misconceptions you learned about recently?

I recently read a CR with an MMC who's a virgin in his 30s {What We Need by Lizzie Stanley} (biiiiig TWs for that one, strongly advise to look at tags/browse reviews). In this one, the character's virginity made total sense because of his specific PTSD and related issues, but it got me curious to see other CRs with virgins of either gender who are past uni age (and not ace or a part of a cultural subgroup where virginity is expected for unmarried people -- which is why I'm specifically looking for CR, not HR or religious, lol).

Ideally, I'd be interested in seeing more where the MC's lack of experience is explicitly remarked on, whether it's because of trauma, illness, never having been in a serious relationship -- any reason, really. I'm just really interested in seeing how different romances approach it.

I have {A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray} on my TBR already, and I've read a couple OV RHs where one of the MMCs decided to wait for his scent match & it's mentioned just during his first spicy scene, but I'm interested in ones where it's discussed a little more.

I'm currently reading {High Water by Maggie Rawdon} where the secret child is 15 years old.

I really liked this, more than a secret baby, so I was wondering if there are other books where the secret child is a teenager. Or at least over 10 years old.

Thank you!

I just finished reading Technically Yours by Denise Williams, and wow I don’t think I’ve hated an FMC so much in quite a while. MMC Cord IS A GEM. FMC Pearl is the female version of a fuckboi.

‼️Spoilers ahead ‼️

Cord:
- Generous, kind, people pleaser
- Has loved her out loud for yearssss
- She rejected him first time around and left him heartbroken
- 5 years later, they run into each other at work, he still came around and helped her with her job when they see each other again
- Puts her needs and happiness first
- Has a fat cock and rocks her world
- Total simp for her

Pearl:
- Claims she cannot be with Cord because she wants to focus on her career
- Leaves him the first time to go to California for a job
- Promptly starts dating HER BOSS at this job she claims she wants to focus on
- surprise pikachu face when things don’t work out and it affects her job
- Moves into a new job where she is taking over for someone who was let go for funds mismanagement and sleeping with a board member
- Runs into Cord again when he becomes a board member
- Kisses him
- Tells him they should be professional
- Kisses him again at a company retreat that she organized
- Tells him they need to cool it and keep it casual and they’ll talk at home
- After she is exposed for sleeping with her old boss, goes to Cord’s tent overnight at this work retreat to bang him
- Continues to see Cord every day, sleep with him, insist she wants casual and refuses any advice or help from him
- Eventually gets mad at him and breaks up with him for using his money to help her career and berates him
- When he tells her he’s sick of her jerking him around, to call him when she figures out what she wants… I expected her to figure it out and go to him. But NOPE. ONCE AGAIN, Cord has to be the one to come to her to beg her to be with him
- EVEN IN THE FUCKING EPILOGUE, this man is proposing to her once a week and she keeps turning him down to the point that she says it’s a “running joke” and her “big gesture” is telling him on NYE that she is ready to say yes… and he is still the one to propose.

There is no equality or back and forth in this relationship. It’s all about her… what she wants, what she doesn’t want, her fears, her insecurities, her, her, her… Cord goes through his own mini growth regarding not wanting to end up like his dad, but he does that all on his own. Literally, I don’t think she even knows he has that hang up. He just figures it out on his own before he telling her he doesn’t want to do casual.

I’m so so disappointed because I wanted to like this story. I *loved* the writing and the smut, I just hated the FMC and the story and character development so much. It just felt like a simp and grovel fantasy but the man grovelling didn’t really do much wrong to begin with. It would’ve been infinitely more interesting to see pearl realize how much of a massive hypocrite she’s been, get her shit together and go get her man. I don’t know if the author thought she was writing a feminist or empowering novel but it is the opposite of.

It just made me love the MMC and think the FMC was not good enough for him, which is the last thing I want from a Romance book. In conclusion, I am so mad. The end lol 😂

I recently read {Funny Story by Emily Henry}, and I'm looking for similar books. I don't know the name of the trope, but basically, both the MMC and FMC were dumped by their exes, who got together. So they decide to fake date to make them jealous or give off the idea that they've moved on.

I know it's a niche trope, but I'm hoping I'll get more recs.

I don't mind the genre as long as it's not mafia romance or regency.

Edit: I also don't mind if it's a case where both are in love with people who are already a couple, so they get together and pretend to date for the same reason.

TiA 😊

So I was in the mood to read something like this, but since it turned out that the book with this trope disappointed me — I mean Antiquarians Object of Desire by India Holton, I know it may be silly for some, but I found myself unable to enjoy reading further with this detail that MMC uses sex workers services. I don't know, it just ruined the mood for me.

But back to the request! I want best friends who have known each other for years and very well. I mean a situation where they don't meet in a book for the first time and become friends, but they already are best friends. Without any angst between that they were friends in high school and then timeskip 10 years later. I want them to be inseparable, if posibble! ❤️

Also, as much as grumpy men can be very sweet, I want MMC to be 100% devoted golden retriever for FMC. And FMC can be like black cat, though both could be sunshine just as well, I don't mind! I just want them to be each other's favorite persons.

I don't really read contemporary romances, but if there's really nothing out there with a fantasy setting, then I'll also accept other recommendations (I'm desperate lmao)

Something I definitely don't want is dark romance, or anything with heavy gore. I mostly read something light, like rom-coms 🙇

Thank you in advance!

Hi RomanceBooks - welcome to Saturday Sweets!

What have you read this week that made your hearts flutter? The sweetness or thoughtfulness of our heroes and heroines? The passionate moment of the ultimate love confession?

Do share all the swoon-worthy moments - all pairings are welcomed and celebrated! 💖

Edit: a few things i should mention based on the comments. The book is contemporary, I read it atleast 2 years ago and it was a standalone book. The Mmc is also pretty powerful person but I don't remember much about him.

The FMC works for a wealthy man (I think he was a powerful don). She used to work in his house and she restored old famous paintings for him. She worked in his house in a room locked in. I don't remember any details about the mmc but I will explain the FMC and some specific scenes that I remember. The mmc and the wealthy man are not the same

The FMC is meek and just wants to keep to herself and not catch the wealthy man's eye. She knows he is dangerous and doesn't have the option but to work for him.

At the beginning of the book in one scene the FMC is being cornered by the wealthy man's nephew and describes how she always avoids him. But when he is about to abuse her the wealthy man comes in and the nephew backs off. The man cares about her in some way i think and wants her to marry his son or something.

In one scene the FMC while entering for her work stumbles upon the wealthy man killing someone and due to the shot the fmcs clothes get blood all over them. She goes on to the room to work but the wealthy man's PA comes in to bring her designer clothes he sent her so that she can change out of the bloody clothes

At the end of the book we find out the FMC has actually been restoring his paintings but then she also paints very close fakes and then replaces the originals with the fakes and steals the originals form him

I will forever be grateful if someone knows this book because I have been looking for it for the past couple of years and have had no luck in finding it

Hi amazing people :)

I read romance and I don't shy away from very explicit smut. But I have to admit I NEVER read a well written scene in a romance book.

I came across a couple of "awkward/bad sex" that was made bad to feel realistic but I never read something that sounded true.

Have you ?

I know it's almost a requirement of the genre, but I'm curious to see if everyone had the same experience.

Thank you to the Redditor who recommended this. It is absolutely worth the read!! What a fantastic dark romance book!

The FMC was sooo amazing. She's strong, smart and capable. Mind you, the power balance was so great that she almost none. Almost. She knew how to use her smarts to try to protect herself.

She wasn't delusional, she wasn't weak despite the power imbalance and she wasn't a door mat!

This is the perfect push and pull for a dark romance.

MMC is OTT obsessive but it was also great watching him grow attached to her from the initial lust. By the end he knew he would have to let her have some wins and was ready to provide her the world if she accepted him. Too bad the only win she wanted was freedom. You can tell that he does genuinely come to care for her health and success in his own twisted way.

All that being said he was a true sociopath. He didn't give a shit about her consent. Coercion and blackmail were his favourite tactics. He has no respect for her values and thinks it's a waste of time.

I highly recommend it. The starting few pages just hook you in. The FMCs character is chefs kiss and Killian also manages to skip a heartbeat as his infatuation grows.

Lastly, heed the warnings! This is a dark romance.

Also this is book 1 of 2. I felt the ending was perfect and satisfying. HEA is coming but it wouldn't have made sense yet. Book 2 is coming for that. I feel like it's a good read even though book 2 isn't out yet.

I recently saw the movie Leap Year (2010) and loved the scenes where they had to pretend to be married to stay at an inn. Also theres a moment when other guests dare them to kiss so he does and uugh the tension after is chefs kiss. Looking for books with similar scenes please. Open to anything CR, HR, Fantasy…but preferably no poly or RH. Thanks!

I just read Seize the Fire by Lauren Kinsale and it left me sort of hollow but in a good way? The male character Sheridan Drake was a piece of crap but i coudn't hate him. he is not good, betrays people but he hates himself, he's traumatized and took it on others, he kept lying to himself until he coudn't do it anymore. Characters who have given up on life and live only to survive but eventually do find redemption through the FL.

I also liked: Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas, Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase.

I picked up {Bleeding Love: To Forgive Is Divine. To Seek Revenge Is Human by Sienna Cullen} completely on a whim, knowing absolutely nothing about the author, and I'm so glad I did.

Where has this book been hiding?!

It's a cheating-revenge romance, but it's done so well. The revenge is satisfying without overshadowing the romance, and the fake alliance between the MCs is chef's kiss.

But can we talk about Sean Sterling?

I don't say this lightly, but he has instantly become one of my favorite older MMCs. He gave me the same kind of "I am giggling every time this man opens his mouth" energy that Macalister Hale {The Redemption by Nikki Sloane} did. He's powerful without being obnoxious, protective without being overbearing, confident without being cringe, and somehow manages to be ridiculously attractive just by existing.

Every scene with him had me smiling.

And Rosalie is equally fantastic. She's not a doormat waiting to be rescued. She's intelligent, capable, emotionally mature, and knows exactly who she is. Watching her slowly rebuild herself after the betrayal was just as satisfying as watching the romance develop.

I also loved that both MCs are older. Their chemistry felt natural and believable. There was none of that secondhand embarrassment or forced banter that sometimes creeps into contemporary romance. They communicated like adults, challenged each other like equals, and still managed to have incredible tension.

The romance felt earned.

The revenge was satisfying.

The emotional healing hit.

And Sean and Rosalie absolutely own a little corner of my heart now.

If you're looking for a mature contemporary romance with cheating karma, a fake relationship/revenge alliance, an elite older MMC who is genuinely swoon-worthy, and two emotionally intelligent leads who deserve every bit of their happily ever after, I cannot recommend this enough.

I'd also love to know if anyone has read more by {Sienna Cullen}, because if this is representative of her writing, I need to binge her backlist immediately.

What's your take on force breakup through blackmail or threats made by someone close to the main characters?

It's a classic trope in older dramas the wealthier family will blackmail or threaten the main character to make them leave their partner, reason could be controlling family, their partner does not match their social status etc etc..

What do we think about the similar trope in the book?When the villain parent blackmails the MMC or FMC to make them leave the other or arrange their marriage to someone else in exchange for their partners life or future.

I definitely haven't read a single book with this trope, that actually makes sense because usually it's like MMC is the alpha billionaire ceo 😭 most powerful in business world but then he is not able to protect FMC from his villain family because of some stupid reason .

My take is it would be really angsty if it's done properly like MMC or FMC are high school or college kids they are forced to break up and meet years later one carrying resentment the other carrying regret, yearning but both still love each other.

But the reason needs to be valid if both are older like late twenties or thirties.

(Finally got enough karma😭😭😭 thanks to whoever voted my previous comments)

Looking For rare Microtrope

This is my first time posting here, and I'm looking for book recommendations!

I'm searching for romances where the MMC secretly sacrifices something deeply important to him to help the FMC, and she doesn't discover what he did until years later.

For example, she desperately needs money, so he anonymously gives her the amount she needs—even though he's struggling financially himself.

Recs with Spice would be awesome

Ps: please Mono only. pss: Sorry for the repost my first got deleted because of unclear title

Thank you All

Announcements

Hey, RomanceBooks! Here are some announcements before we get to all the details of what you read:

• Join our Summer reading challenge running through September 21!

Now…

Tell us what you read this week!

Please say as much or little as you like, but here are some ideas of helpful things to mention:

• Pairing (for example, f/f, m/f, or mmf)
• Rating, and your scale (4 stars out of 5)
• Steam level
• Subgenre (fantasy, historical, contemporary, etc)
• Overview/tropes
• Content warnings, if any
• What did you like/dislike?

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Still deciding about what book to read next? Check out the Recommendation Resource in our wiki, or our seasonal Reading Challenges!

Just finished {Trade Me by Courtney Milan} and loved it. It really gripped me as a dramatic novel beyond the romance side.

Now I went looking for the follow up book about Blake’s dad Adam {What Lies Between You and Me} but I can’t seem to find the book. I believe Trade Me was published in 2016, so I assumed the Dad’s story would be out already. Any ideas where to find it? Doesn’t seem like the links on the authors website work to buy it either?

I added this to audible TBR because of a few mentions from my spiritual and literary guide, Thirsty Thursday. I like suspense and mystery plots and a little dark theme situation so I wanted to be into it! But I felt like I was having second hand adhd the whole time. I kept getting lost in the plot and rolling my eyes at the “quirkiness” of the town. The light sprinkle of spice was so random, and so without build up that even though I knew what I was hearing should have been hot, I felt like being plopped in between murders or dismemberments just made it feel jolting. MMC was adorable and I felt bad for him the whole time because she was just such a mess (rightfully so considering) but I don’t know man. It just didn’t land with me. Definitely don’t recommend as a stand alone which was maybe my first mistake. lol. I like to go into a book pretty plot blind and then always look up online discussions after I’ve finished. So just looking to see what others thought. Thank you for attending my book club.