As Valentine’s Day approaches, the quest for the perfect companion might take you across chocolates, roses, and candlelit dinners, but for the voracious reader, nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like the heart-thumping suspense of romantic thrillers paired with a cozy blanket. Just in time for this day of passion and amour, we’ve curated a selection of Valentine’s Day Spicy Reads that will not only warm your heart but set it racing.
First one up on the list is the entire Twisted Series by Ana Huang. I know I’ve been preaching her up quite a bit, but the word “Twisted” is in there for a reason.
Twisted Series by Ana Huang
It starts out with Twisted Love
A diverse new adult steamy romance from Tiktok sensation and USA Today bestselling author Ana Huang.
Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape.
Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.
But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:
A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.
***
Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.
But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want.
Her brother’s best friend.
Neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.
Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen-but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear.
(Via Amazon)
Moving on to Twisted Games
Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules: 1) Protect his clients at all costs 2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever.
He has never once been tempted to break those rules…until her.
Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She’s nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed.
Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defenses until he’s faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her.
Because she’s his.
His princess.
Forbidden fruit.
His every depraved fantasy.
***
Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses.
But when her brother abdicates, she’s suddenly faced with the prospect of a loveless, politically expedient marriage and a throne she never wanted.
And as she navigates the intricacies-and treacheries-of her new role, she must also hide her desire for a man she can’t have.
Her bodyguard.
Protector.
Her ultimate ruin.
Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a kingdom…and doom them both.
Do not become emotionally involved. Ever.
(Via Amazon)
Rounding the corner into the third book in the series is Twisted Hate
Gorgeous, cocky, and fast on his way to becoming a hotshot doctor, Josh Chen has never met a woman he couldn’t charm―except for Jules Ambrose.
The beautiful redhead has been a thorn in his side since they met, but she also consumes his thoughts in a way no woman ever has.
When their animosity explodes into one unforgettable night, he proposes a solution that’ll get her out of his system once and for all: an enemies with benefits arrangement with simple rules.
No jealousy.
No strings attached.
And absolutely no falling in love.
***
Outgoing and ambitious, Jules Ambrose is a former party girl who’s focused on one thing: passing the attorney’s bar exam.
The last thing she needs is to get involved with a doctor who puts the SUFFER in insufferable…no matter how good-looking he is.
But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes there’s more than meets the eye to the man she’s hated for so long.
Her best friend’s brother.
Her nemesis.
And her only salvation.
Theirs is a match made in hell, and when the demons from their past catch up with them, they’re faced with truths that could either save them …or destroy everything they’ve worked for.
(Via Amazon)
And sliding into home with Twisted Lies,
Charming, deadly, and smart enough to hide it, Christian Harper is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman.
He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he can’t deny the strange pull he feels toward the woman living just one floor below him.
She’s the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he can’t solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer her a deal she can’t refuse.
Every monster has their weakness. She’s his.
His obsession.
Addiction.
His only exception.
***
Sweet, shy, and introverted despite her social media fame, Stella Alonso is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage.
Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship.
But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms―and house―of the most dangerous man she’s ever met, she’s tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time.
Because despite Christian’s cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she’s with him.
Passionate.
Protected.
Truly wanted.
Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies…and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.
(Via Amazon)
The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas
Next up on our list of spicy reads, A journalist’s life is threatened when she investigates the truth about a mysterious car crash that happened twenty years earlier in this gripping thriller from the internationally bestselling author of The Couple at Number 9 and Just Like the Other Girls.
A car accident.
Three missing girls.
A twenty-year mystery.
A woman on the verge of discovering the truth . . .
In a rural Wilshire town lies the Devil’s Corridor—a haunted road which has witnessed eerie happenings, from unexplained deaths to the sounds of a child crying in the night.
In this bucolic stretch of Southwest England famous for its otherworldly sites, nothing is more puzzling than the Olivia Rutherford case. Four girls were driving home. After their car crashed only one—Olivia—was found.
What happened to the girls who disappeared? On the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy, journalist Jenna Halliday has arrived in Wiltshire to cover the case. The locals aren’t happy with this outsider determined to dig into the past. Least of all Olivia.
Soon, Jenna starts receiving menacing notes. The locals have made it clear she’s not welcome. But someone is going to make her leave one way or another. Jenna’s been warned: she must get out of this town before she suffers a dark fate . . . and becomes another mystery attached to this place.
(Via Amazon)
it’s always the husband by Michele Campbell
Isn’t it though? I’m totally kidding. It actually seems more and more that female serial killers are making themselves known.
Spicy Reads number 3 was named one of “50 Best Books for the Beach” by Coastal Living. One of “7 Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down This Month” by InStyle. One of “6 Books to Cure Your Little Big Lies Withdrawal” by Elle.com. And One of “8 Thrillers You Will Devour This Summer” by BuzzFeed
Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, despite being as different as three women can be. Kate was beautiful, wild, wealthy, and damaged. Aubrey, on financial aid, came from a broken home, and wanted more than anything to distance herself from her past. And Jenny was a striver―brilliant, ambitious, and determined to succeed. As an unlikely friendship formed, the three of them swore they would always be there for each other.
But twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge, and someone is urging her to jump.
How did it come to this?
Kate married the gorgeous party boy, Aubrey married up, and Jenny married the boy next door. But how can these three women love and hate each other? Can feelings this strong lead to murder? When one of them dies under mysterious circumstances, will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?
A suspenseful, absorbing spicy novel that examines the complexities of friendship, It’s Always the Husband will keep readers guessing right up to its shocking conclusion.
(Via Amazon)
Layla by Colleen Hoover
Spicy Reads number 4. Yes, yes… another CoHo. I just can’t help myself. She does what she does, just oh so well.
When Leeds meets Layla, he’s convinced he’ll spend the rest of his life with her―until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with. In order to put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. And that’s just one of many inexplicable occurrences.
Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow―another guest of the B&B with whom he forms a connection through their shared concerns. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well-being. Leeds soon realizes he has to make a choice because he can’t help both of them. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental for all of them.
(Via Amazon)
The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
Spicy Reads number 5. And who better to follow Colleen Hoover than her pal, Tarryn Fisher?
Imagine that your husband has two other wives... now imagine that he has a broken ne- …oh… wait. Did I say that outloud?
You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, and because of this unconventional arrangement, you can see your husband only one day a week. But you love him so much you don’t care. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself.
But one day, while you’re doing laundry, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket—an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you just know it’s another of the wives.
You thought you were fine with your arrangement, but you can’t help yourself: you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are. Then Hannah starts showing up to your coffee dates with telltale bruises, and you realize she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. But you’ve never known him to be violent, ever.
Who exactly is your husband, and how far would you be willing to go to find out?
And who is his mysterious third wife?
(Via Amazon)
Does it Hurt? by H.D. Carlton
Spicy Reads number 6. This is actually the first time this guy has come on my radar and I can’t say I’m too disappointed that he did!
I’ve forgotten the answer to that question long ago. Ever since I ran from that house, so desperate to escape, I left with only the clothes on my back and socks on my feet. After that day, I’ve only ever walked in stolen shoes.
Could I be a girl who is searching for the meaning of life in faceless men? They were all so forgettable. Until he came along. He took me under a waterfall and made me forget my name, and in return, I took his instead.
Enzo Vitale.
An enigmatic man that will only ever love the deep sea. Or rather the predators that inhabit it. Turns out, he’s not so different than the monsters he feeds. He lured me onto his boat like a fish in the ocean, seeking vengeance for my crime. Had I realized his intentions, and that a massive storm would leave us shipwrecked, I would’ve run.
Now, I’m a girl who’s seeking refuge in a decrepit lighthouse with a man who loathes me almost as much as he craves me. He wants to hurt me, but the old caretaker of the abandoned island may have intentions far more sinister.
It’s no longer a question of who I am, but rather, will I survive?
(Via Amazon)
The Tormented Series by Dylan Page
Spicy Reads number 7. This one comes with a whole lotta trigger warnings! Doesn’t that just mean that it is gonna be extra good?
Book 1
How did I get here? Broken, bruised, and mentally shattered. For most of my life, my older stepbrother, Shay, was my hero, my rock, and my best friend. The one I knew I could always rely on. For many years, I accepted everyone and everything around me. But as I grew up, the veil was lifted, and I slowly came to understand how f*cked up it all really is.
These men, who I considered uncles and close family friends, are members of the dominant MC, The Celtic Beasts. Shay is not only a proud member. He is the one they send in to do their dirty work. For some reason, this tough, muscled, terrifying guy, needs me to ground and comfort him. But I have always had bigger plans. Bigger dreams. I don’t want to be trapped here, in this life that is dark, bloody and violent. I want to get out, escape… but Shay has other plans for me.
What do you do when your protector becomes the very root of your torment?
**Warning: This book is meant for mature readers, 18+. Torment Part One is a dark romance and contains scenes and situations that may be upsetting for some readers. Includes several triggers and sensitive material such as: domestic abuse, profanity, gang violence, PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, and sexual assault. Please do not read if you are uncomfortable with any of the above. Thank you.
Book 2
My dreams are gone. I’m trapped, controlled, and defeated. I made a deal that I have to stick to, if I want to keep everyone-including myself-safe. Shay has given me an ultimatum; be his or someone I love will pay the price. I’ve been trying to figure out how to survive my new life, but the constant demand to satisfy Shay to keep Manic at bay, is taking its toll.
As time passes, I find myself growing comfortable in my cage, and my priorities start to shift. But when secrets start to unveil themselves, I begin to question everyone around me. Who is lying? Who can I trust?
My protector turned into my tormentor, and now, he’s something I don’t know how to live without.
**Warning: This book is meant for mature readers, 18+. Torment: Part Two is a dark romance and contains scenes and situations that may be upsetting for some readers. Includes triggers and sensitive materials such as – BUT NOT LIMITED TO – domestic abuse, profanity, dub-con, gang violence, PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders, as well as scenes with reference to suicidal implications. Please do not read if you are uncomfortable with any of the above. Thank you.
(Via Amazon)
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Spicy Reads number 8. Iris DuPree meets August West in a sports bar during her last semester of college. It’s the conversation of a lifetime and sends sparks flying in every direction. The connection is undeniable…but the timing is all wrong. August is poised for the NBA draft, and Iris belongs to another man―basketball’s “golden boy” and August’s long-time rival.
The two go their separate ways, but they often recall that electric night and what could have been. While August has embarked on his all-star life, studded with wealth and fame, Iris’s perfect public relationship has become a nightmare behind closed doors. A tarnished dream of fool’s gold.
When August re-enters her life, the world seems briefly bright again, but Iris’s darkest nights are not over yet. To survive, she must build her own strength and trust that her bond with August can endure after all this time.
Even when her fraudulent prince has vowed never to let her go.
(Via Amazon)
Credence by Penelope Douglas
Penny D is in the HOUSE! This one is a bit of a slow starter, but worth it. Totally worth it!
From New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Douglas, comes spicy read number 9.
Three of them, one of her, and a remote cabin in the woods. Let the hot, winter nights ensue…Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own.
The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere. And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?
Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore.
As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them. And as a part of them. She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching. One of them has her. The other one wants her. But he…He’s going to keep her.*Credence is a full length, stand-alone romance suitable for readers 18+.
(Via Amazon)
Hemlock by Kiersten Modglin
She thought she’d escaped her poisonous past…
Spicy Read number 10. Thirteen years ago, Maggie Ellis left her small town and vowed to never return. In her rearview mirror were two men she loved and an ominous secret that would forever haunt her.
Now, tragedy has brought her back, and she’s determined to forget that fateful night. But in a town like Myers, with familiar faces and chilling memories lurking around every corner, moving on is easier said than done.
Before the ink can dry on the closing documents for her new residence, Maggie begins to feel unsettled. In every room, there’s the unmistakable sensation she’s being watched. The strange sounds, odd smells, and bizarre occurrences only add to her paranoia.
There’s something sinister about her new home…
When she discovers the devastating truth about the house and its grim history, Maggie’s worst fears are realized. In order to survive, she must unearth the secrets she’d always planned to keep buried.
After all, they say that home is where the heart is, but as Maggie knows, home is also where the skeletons lie.
(Via Amazon)
Midnight Valentine by J.T. Geissinger
Spicy Reads number 11. Megan Dunn arrives in Seaside, Oregon a broken woman with a dream: open a B&B like she planned to do with her husband, Cass, whose life was tragically cut short five years ago. But the old Victorian she bought needs extensive renovations and the one man who can help her—Theo Valentine—takes an immediate and intense dislike to her.
Left scarred and unable to talk after a terrible accident, the reclusive Theo is a brilliant contractor whose plans to renovate the building Megan bought are eerily similar to her own. As their paths cross again and again and Megan begins to see the man beneath the mystery, a part of her that she thought was lost forever slowly starts to reawaken.
But when she discovers unsettling similarities between Theo and her late husband and strange coincidences begin to mount, Megan is forced to confront everything she believed about her past and decide how far she’ll go to get the truth…and if she’s ready for what she’ll find when she does.
(Via Amazon)
The Acts of Life by Kristen Mulligan
I know… I’m a weirdo, but I can’t read this title without singing the theme song to The Facts of Life. However, that’s pretty much where the similarities between these two end. Spicy Reads number 12.
Sibling rivalry is a killer.
Sam and Stella are closer than most brothers and sisters. Born only minutes apart, they’re both best friends and lifelong adversaries.
Sam’s not worried about who’s living the better life. So what if his law degree isn’t getting much use, his last relationship was a failure, and he spends most weekends hungover. Despite Stella’s nagging mockery, Sam is happy.
But Stella is happier (and she’ll be the first one to tell you). She has a skyrocketing career and imminent engagement to look forward to. And if she’s too busy climbing the corporate ladder to focus on friendships, what does it matter? All she needs is her twin brother.
(Via Amazon)
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Spicy Reads number 13 was another TikTok sensation!
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team.
Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.
Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him.
But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot.
Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried…because she could never like a hockey player, right?
(Via Amazon)
Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
And last but not least, spicy reads number 14.
The first letter arrived the day my husband was buried. It was postmarked from the state penitentiary, and contained a single sentence:
I’ll wait forever if I have to.
It was signed by Dante, a man I didn’t know.
Out of simple curiosity, I wrote back to ask him what exactly he was waiting for. His reply?
You.
I told the mystery man he had the wrong girl. He said he didn’t. I said we’d never met, but he said I was wrong.
We went back and forth, exchanging letters every week that grew increasingly more intimate. Then one day, the letters stopped. When I found out why, it was already too late.
Dante was at my doorstep.
And nothing on earth could have prepared me for what happened next.
(Via Amazon)
And there you have it. From intricate love stories laced with danger to mysterious liaisons that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Our Romantic Book List is sure to bewitch the bibliophile in you. So, light some scented candles, pour yourself a glass of wine, and prepare to dive into tales of love and intrigue with our list of 14 spicy Romantic Thrillers guaranteed to add some heat to your February festivities. But do not forget to check the trigger warnings of these books!
If you still need to get your copy of any of these great reads, you can get them here on Amazon. A bunch are actually available to read for free if you happen to have a Kindle Unlimited Subscription. Or get one for Free when you sign up for a free trial from Audible.
If you have read any of these books, I’d love to hear your thoughts, leave me a comment down below.
As always, keep it brash, keep it bookish and keep true to you!
