I love a dark romance where the characters are totally over-the-top obsessed and possessed by love. Where the plot makes no sense on the surface but emotionally? It resonates. And I’m here to talk about it. Let’s take a deep dive into some of my favorites. 

I have to start with two historical romance novels: Kerrigan Byrne’s The Highwayman and The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo. You can read the rest of the books in the series too, but these two books are especially crazy in the most delightful way. I love these stories for the incredible action, the unbelievable plot twists that literally had me screaming, and the immense emotional angst. They put me through the wringer, you guys. I came out the other end definitely dehydrated from crying so much, but also filled to the brim with love and life.

The Highwayman concerns the most powerful villain in all of England being obsessed with a lonely widow guarding a deep, dark secret. Spoiler Alert: he also has some secrets. And then, in The Duke, etc., there’s this duke. He has a tattoo, but he doesn’t know what it means. No wait, there’s actually a pirate. He kidnaps the heroine on her wedding day. Actually, lemme start with the guy who crawls out of a mass grave and gets rescued by an abused girl. And his secrets are wrapped up in The Highwayman’s secrets in a way that literally had me crying real tears. 

Next, let’s go contemporary. Billionaires. Russians. Former assassins turned moguls. Even some bikers! I’d like to introduce you to Theodora Taylor, a Black author who writes totally amazing, twisty, extremely spicy and dramarama-filled interracial romance novels. Her main series is called “50 Loving States” so you can literally start almost anywhere and find sexy gold, state by state. 

What’s so spectacular about Taylor’s writing is that yes, as it turns out, you totally agree that having revenge sex with your ex who is now your boss and also the father of your no-longer-secret baby is the best possible way to accomplish your dreams of going to college! And the reason you agree is because her books are grounded in true human emotion. These books are ridiculous and yet so relatable.

Finally, for an author I recently discovered, see Mila Kane and her Hellions of Hade Harbor series. Whoa, who knew sports romance was so dark and romantic? These are new adult romance novels with a bullying theme, meaning they involve characters between 18-25 years old being mean to each other. 

I especially liked the first book in the series, Bad Intentions, with a hero from the wrong side of the tracks, who may be a world class hockey player but is also socially inept (he doesn’t care), abused and scarred from it (literally and emotionally), and willing to bend the law to his whims to overcome his poverty (fiscal, moral, and emotional). And he’s the bully, which is enough of an inversion of the natural pecking order of high school/college to be interesting. 

What is it about dark romance that is so addictive? I think that even through the excesses of plot and characterization you’ll find in these books, there are real feelings on the line and each author asks serious questions about love, trust, sacrifice, and salvation through the lens of a bonkers plot. The darker themes in their work are not just meant to titillate but to underscore the heightened emotions of true love. And that’s what always brings me back. I like the drama, but I stay for the emotional whammy of love conquering all. 

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi: A 70 year old final girl? Sign me up!

Somebody is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys by Mariana Enriquez: I own a couple of books by Enriquez but have yet to read them. This memoir-ish book looks great, but then all of her books look great. 

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas: Vampires vs vaqueros on the Texas-Mexico border during the Mexican-American War. 

A friend wanted to do a Halloween buddy read so I picked this one. I picked badly. On paper, this book had everything! Scary vampires, star crossed lovers, a unique historical setting… And yet, the romance and the horror felt like two bookends that never quite met. Often, the characters would be thinking of their love when I really thought they should be more worried about the vampires. It’s well written, but disjointed. 3 stars. 

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley: an orphaned girl embraces her destiny in the magical kingdom of Damar.

I’m not sure how old I was when I first read this fantasy novel. Maybe middle school? I immediately loved it, and reading it again all these years later (so many years later!), I can honestly say I still love it. It has its weaknesses (colonialism, a romantic subplot barely tacked on), but the highs are wonderfully high. Harry, our orphan, is so pragmatic and stalwart, but also vulnerable in dark moments and yet, never loses her inner strength. The worldbuilding is vivid and encompassing, the plot fast-paced but still detailed. I’m so glad I picked it up again. On to the sequel!   

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry: Having survived a pandemic, it turns out my interest in a post-pandemic apocalypse is severely limited. I just didn’t have the stomach for it. But it has such an interesting heroine telling the tale! I may come back to this one in time.  

A little early Christmas present to the cats from my mom. I grew the cat grass over a week and half, and they destroyed it within 10 minutes. They also left dirt all over my recently cleaned floors. But! A happy cat is worth the trouble.

I got pho delivered from a local asian fusion place via Door Dash. This time around I ordered an extra serving of noodles and ended up having enough broth left over for two full servings over two days. I love being thrifty! The only downside? The vegetables were slimy, so I literally just ate broth, meat, and noodles. Still good!  

Well, Halloween has come and gone and now we are in the swing of the holiday season. I’m spending Thanksgiving at the NC Zoo, with the giraffes, elephants, and tigers, oh my. Have you made holiday plans yet? I’m a planner and an organizer by nature, so I have an entire day-by-day itinerary sketched out. Don’t worry, I totally planned some times for spur of the moment adventuring, too.

I wish you the happiest, and most sensibly organized, Thanksgiving ever!

Love, Marcella