Short contemporary romance novels are also known as category romance or series romance. They’re usually sold in an imprint or line of books that share a similar heat level, character archetype, or reading experience.
Want to read a category romance but don’t know where to start? Try a Harlequin romance novel. After all, this publisher created the series romance! Choose an award-winning sexy contemporary love story from the list below:
A SEAL’s Seduction by Tawny Weber
Love steamy romances about heroic men in the military? Then you need to read A SEAL’s Seduction by Tawny Weber.
On leave while grieving the loss of his fellow Navy SEAL, Blake meets Alexia and can’t control the ferocious sexual attraction. At first he thought their one-night stand would be the best distraction but it quickly turns into a wild weekend that he wants to extend. But Alexia has her reasons for not dating military men. When she discovers he’s a Navy SEAL, she ends the fling. Blake doesn’t think he’d get a second chance until he’s given an assignment to extract Alexia from danger.
Claimed! by Vicki Lewis Thompson
When Josie is invited to be a maid of honor for a horseback wedding, she accepts even though she has two big concerns. First, the best man is Jack, the wild cowboy she had dated before he abruptly dumped her. And second, she doesn’t know how to ride a horse! Jack offers to give her riding lessons as a chance to get over any awkwardness. He swears it’s not a step toward seduction but they can’t keep their hands off each other. Jack wants another chance but is she willing to open herself up to another fall?
This second chance love story offers readers a hot cowboy, a romantic western setting, and a persistent heroine who won’t settle for anything less than a love that will last a lifetime.
Count Valieri’s Prisoner by Sara Craven
Reminiscent of the Harlequin Presents from the 70s and 80s, Count Valieri’s Prisoner takes the reader into a mysterious world filled with illusion, secrets and intrigue. Maddie is weeks away from her wedding when she takes a work trip to Italy only to be kidnapped by the count. She’s taken because of her association with her future in-laws. Her fiancé’s delay in gaining her freedom is as stunning as the sexual desire she has for her captor. No matter how much she fights the attraction, Maddie knows she needs to escape before she succumbs to her enemy.
Written solely in Maddie’s point of view, Count Valieri is just as enigmatic to the reader as he is to the heroine. The author creates a memorable love story.
Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan
Polly and Damon are pitted against each other as they protect their families in this revenge romance. While the two are polar opposites, it becomes clear that they both will do anything to take care of their own. Damon’s protective instincts might go overboard but there are times when Polly wishes she had him in her corner. The fast-paced romance is set in sophisticated and luxurious locations but the real draw is the verbal sparring between the billionaire and his beautiful adversary.
Insatiable by Leslie Kelly
Damien spent the wildest one-night stand with Viv, not realizing this sexy stranger had been fired from one of his offices that day for being a “distraction” to her male colleagues. He wants to take care of her and make things right, but deep down Viv doesn’t think she’s good enough for Damien. Maybe good enough for a brief fling, but she’s not the kind of woman he could care about. And when she discovers he’s the CEO of her company, she has to wonder if Damien swept her off her feet to keep her in line.
If you love bad girl heroines and the strong heroes who challenge and encourage them to go wilder, then you need to read this hot and vibrant romance.
The Nanny Plan by Sarah M. Anderson
Nate is a tech billionaire and instant father to his orphaned niece. He desperately needs help and hires Trish, a woman who has raised her brothers and sisters from a young age. They seemingly have nothing in common, but everything feels right in the world when they’re together.
The heat level in this story is a slow burn. Nate is considered the most eligible bachelor but a past betrayal makes him reluctant to date. Trish understands the consequences from passion and she doesn’t want to become physically intimate with anyone—until she meets Nate.
One Hot December by Tiffany Reisz
This opposites attract romance is very sexy (and explicit!) love story between a blue-collar welder and her white-collar boss. They slipped up one night and had the best sex ever but he had to immediately dump her because of the potential legal ramifications of a workplace romance. He can’t pursue a relationship with her while she works for his company. But once she gives her two weeks’ notice, nothing’s going to hold him back from winning her over.
The chemistry between the main characters is so fun that you’ll have a goofy smile on your face while you read this book.
Pregnant by the Cowboy CEO by Catherine Mann
Amie can’t explain the scorching attraction she has for a man she sees at her cousin’s engagement party. But it doesn’t stop her from having a one-night stand with the handsome stranger in a coat closet moments after meeting him. Then she discovers he’s the new CEO for her family’s empire. How can she work with him every day? And how is she going to tell him that she’s pregnant with his child?
Readers are going to love the older hero. Protective and haunted by his mistakes, family means everything to him.
The Real Rio D’Aquila by Sandra Marton
Rio is a self-made man who transformed himself from a vulnerable street rat to a powerful billionaire. But when he meets Isabella, she doesn’t know who he is and her lack of deference is refreshing. Rio knows the desire between them is honest and real but will it continue when Isabella discovers he’s the infamous Rio D’Aquila?
The sexual chemistry between the hero and heroine is instantaneous in this mistaken identity romance—and it just keeps getting hotter right to the end.
Seduce Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates
Hayley is the perfect good girl. However, she hasn’t lived a full life while demonstrating good behavior and she needs to shake things up. But who is she if she doesn’t follow the rules? It takes meeting Jonathan Bear to help her figure it out. Hayley has never wanted anyone or anything badly enough to take a risk. She wants Jonathan more than she wants to feel safe, but will this man, who doesn’t think he’s worthy of love, take a chance on her?
If you love virgin heroines and bad boy heroes, give this story a try. The Western love story shows two people struggling to find the courage to love and be loved.
She’s Got It Bad by Sarah Mayberry
Years ago Liam rejected Zoe. He loved her but he was no good for someone so pure and sweet. However, his rejection set off a chain of events that changed the course of their lives. When Liam sees her again, Zoe is untamed, brash and hardened by life’s disappointments. The lust between them is as raw as ever and no matter how much they try to deny it, they can’t keep their distance.
This scorching romance will sweep you away in an unforgettable emotional journey. The vulnerable and tortured characters will linger in your mind long after you read the last page.
Temporarily His Princess by Olivia Gates
Vincenzo has been given a royal command to marry. He blackmails Glory—his ex-lover who betrayed him years ago—to accept his proposal for a temporary marriage. As a prince, world-famous scientist and international playboy, Vincenzo could have any woman as his bride, but he still wants Glory. One year with her and he will get her out of his system. But Glory fights him every step of the way. She doesn’t want to marry a man who didn’t value her when they were together and she’s not going to fall for him again.
Filled with high emotions and lush sensuality, this romance should be read when you need a few hours of escapism.
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