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When many think romances, they are still clouded by the Disney’s seal of approval laden picture of a selfless, unconditional love that rises upon the challenges and conquers every obstacle to carry our pretty much made for each other perfect protagonists away to shining sunset, happily ever after. That’s all a fair and good, but not all of the romance gender must follow this convention, not all of it must be this light-hearted and shiny, it gets tiresome after a while.
Why not try a bit of darkness instead? Dark romance draws from the sensibilities of old European narratives with goth elements that strive to use the power of dark emotions to truly strike the emotional chord of your heart. Explore love’s dark side by reading some of the best dark romance books out there.
Lady Cordelia Cromwell, Countess of Middleton Park, was abandoned in a convent by her father at one month old after her mother died during childbirth. She was raised by nuns and ignored by her father, the Earl of Swanstone, until she learned he had married her off to Lord Harvey Cromwell, Earl of Middleton Park. Unable to perform sexually because of his age and a mysterious affliction, Lord Cromwell makes Cordelia do degrading and humiliating acts in the bedroom. Finally, his disease overtakes him. Cordelia, now nineteen, the Tenth Countess of Middleton Park, widowed yet still a virgin, scarred, and abandoned again to a debt ridden, dilapidated estate, vows to never be controlled by a man again.
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereLies in Love is a novel to seduce you into loving and hating its characters at the same time. Have you ever met someone and the connection was so effortless, you questioned it, yet it was so intense that you couldn’t turn away?
The book follows the love story of Lilly and Dale, two young lovers who overcome harsh obstacles as their lives become firmly entrenched together. As their romance unfolds, it becomes evident that the people in their lives are bound together in different ways; their stories entwined with each other. The author, Rachel Taufer, lovingly provides her readers pieces of the puzzle, gradually exposing different aspects of the characters..
She delves deep into their inner thoughts, desires and the secret lives they lead behind closed doors. Power struggles, relationships, love, grief, anger and sex bind the characters together. Their paths cross at different points in their lives, culminating in an event that brings each character to the same place as they make connections with each other that they had previously overlooked. Lies in Love is a lip-biting book to enjoy reading between the sheets. Embrace your inner romantic and unleash your inner vixen.
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereWhy do so many of us feel painfully lonely in this huge world? Why is the chance of ending up with someone who will not soothe this dull pain so incredibly high? Victor always believed that he had solved the equation. He is young and lonesome, but he knows why and awaits no one special to enter his life anymore. He earns his living by seducing rich, married women, but there no pleasure in it for him. Victor believes that what he does is saving misfortunate birds confined in cages, yet he does not know there are cages better left closed.
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereSam Bleack, raised with ruthlessness, bound by piracy, is unique by nature. Sam Bleack was feared by most, and the Bleack name was despised by all. Only one thing made this pirate different from the others: Sam was a girl. Conrad Rutledge, the Earl of Rustlebridge, with revenge in his heart, vowed to eliminate all with the Bleack name. Seeking revenge encouraged him to encounter Sam. At first, with hatred, they wanted to kill each other, but then a deeper feeling began to emerge, making them not know whether to pursue their feelings or their hatred for each other.
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereThe book highlights the far-reaching consequences of the AIDS epidemic in the UK during the 1980s through a sad but compelling love story between two college students who separate to conform to their families’ narrow-minded expectations. Ultimately brought back together by tragedy, Felicity and Robin meet many exceptional people on their journey, characters who represent many of the forgotten heroes and heroines of the time. As the couple learn the importance of being true to themselves, hope appears in the darkest of places and the suffering gives them a chance to believe in the fundamental kindness of human nature again.
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereIndie’s last day at Heights High is tough, she has to say goodbye to Jake. But there’s a reason for that, Indie has a gift – she is a water elemental. Her father transfers her to The Frost Academy for the Gifted, a boarding school for teenagers with talents like hers.
And it is at The Frost Academy that Indie’s life takes off.For it is here that she meets the enigmatic Jethro Mist who steals her heart with one glance. But if Indie has a talent then so does Jethro, they are star-crossed lovers and although the saying goes ‘opposites attract’, that does not necessarily mean they can stay together.In Fate, Kayla Ford’s fast-paced fantasy, can Indie and Jet’s love endure with family, war, friends and creatures of darkness trying to kill them at every turn? Indie fights for her life, her power and the man of her dreams. But will it be enough?
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereJane Forebright has what she considers a normal, middle-class existence in suburban Oxfordshire. During her university studies she befriends the local Lady Eleanor Palmain and her world is suddenly turned upside down when she meets Andrew, Elle’s brother, a retired, injured soldier. One night of passion sees her thrust into an unfamiliar world when she becomes pregnant with Andrew’s child and he is called back to Afghanistan for a dangerous secret mission.
Jane assumes the life of a Lady and tries to adjust to the fact she may never see Andrew again as she waits out her pregnancy. Unknown to her, he is still alive and starting to turn native in Afghanistan. Love Hurts shows us that love will always prevail, but not always in the way we wish for.
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereThe start of a dark romantic fantasy series, yet each book can be enjoyed as a standalone. Each novel focus on a different type of “arts” considered forbidden by the Church in the Middle Ages.
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Book Depository (International)Waterstones (International) Read more reviews and buy the book hereContributors to this article
