The best steamy historical romance novels

Written by Silke, updated 08 Jun 2021

Here come the bodice rippers: truly steamy novels set in the past. Not so demure and virtuous... These romance books might be set in the past, but that doesn't mean that their protagonists espouse antiquated morals. This is our compilation of some of the best, and certainly steamiest romance novels out there.

  • #21 The Taming of the Wolf (Westfield Wolves #4) - Lydia Dare

    The Taming of the Wolf (Westfield Wolves #4) - Lydia Dare

    regency historical paranormal urban fantasy alpha male

    He could never lose control...

    Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth, has spent his life fighting the wolf within him. But when the full moon rises, Dash is helpless. A chance encounter with Caitrin Macleod on a moonlit night inadvertently binds the two together irrevocably, and Dash's impulsiveness plunges them both into a nightmare.

    She never saw him coming...

    Caitrin Macleod is no quiet country lass, but a witch with remarkable abilities. But when it comes to Dashiel, she's as helpless to fight his true nature as he is. Her senses overwhelmed, she runs back to the safety and security of her native Scotland. more

  • #22 Seeking Truth - Francesca Hawley

    Seeking Truth - Francesca Hawley

    contemporary

    Baron Eaduin Kempe, a man of intense passions, seeks a healer at a nearby abbey. When the abbess introduces convent-raised Lady Vérité de Sauigni, he knows he’s hellbound for desiring her. He wants to tie her to his bed until she sobs with the pleasure of his touch.

    Eaduin offers Vérité marriage in exchange for easing the pain of his dying foster mother. Years ago, Vérité secretly watched Baron Eaduin arouse a lover and has dreamed of his touch ever since. She desires him enough to risk exchanging the imprisonment of convent life for that of marriage. On their wedding night, Eaduin craves dominance and Vérité submits with enthusiasm. more

  • #23 Face of the Maiden - Emma Wildes

    Face of the Maiden - Emma Wildes

    historical erotic romance virgin heroine paranormal shy heroine

    Her arrival stirs something deep and dark. Perhaps even deadly

    Celia Fairmont’s new home on the wild coast of Cornwall is a sprawling ancient mansion steeped in history and deep, dark secrets. From the first night her dreams are plagued by images of clandestine meetings with a handsome, reckless lover. The man in her visions looks disturbingly like the oldest son of her new guardian, the Earl of Ashbourne, but there the resemblance stops. Phillip Leighton is practical to a fault and too preoccupied with estate business to even notice her presence.

    Phillip Leighton does not have time for illogical romantic fantasies about his father’s young ward. more

  • #24 The Merry Widow - Koko Brown

    The Merry Widow - Koko Brown

    historical victorian erotic romance multicultural working class hero

    Victorian England is a man's world. And no one knows this better than Phillipa Jones who must fight society's conventions along with chauvinistic ship captains and a greedy yet undeniably handsome Viscount to keep her late husband's shipping business afloat. Unfortunately, one moment of weakness and a case of mistaken identities will place her in a compromising position, which will see everything she's worked for come to ruins including her reputation. more

  • #25 Love Slave - Bertrice Small

    Love Slave - Bertrice Small

    historical harems erotic romance

    It is no act of love that Regan experiences the night she takes her sister's place in the marriage bed, a counterfeit bride to sate the lust of her twin's new husband. Come morning, her sister, carrying another man's child, resumes her place and Regan is spirited away to a nunnery.
    But a more exotic fate awaits the fiery Celtic beauty: Regan is sold to a slave trader. It will be her destiny to come under the tutelage of Karim al Malina, master of the erotic arts, who will mold Regan -- now renamed Zaynab, the beautiful one -- into a Love Slave fit for a Moorish king, though the pair break the first rule of teacher and pupil . . . they fall in love. more

  • #26 Emily's Seduction (Carte Blanche #4) - Natasha Blackthorne

    Emily's Seduction (Carte Blanche #4) - Natasha Blackthorne

    historical georgian erotic romance

    Before he can share his deepest, darkest secrets with her, he has to show her what seduction truly means.

    For the first time in a long time, Alex is genuinely happy. He’s found a woman he can love. Now he wants only to enjoy his life. But the past won’t let him go. His dark secrets threaten to engulf him. Yet how can he tell his innocent fiancée about the horrific things he’s experienced?

    Emily finds herself locked in a battle with the darkness that appears to hold Alex captive. As he reveals more of his inner torment, as he seduces her into carnal decadence, she wonders who is this man she’s so desperately in love with. more

  • #27 Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways #1) - Lisa Kleypas

    Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways #1) - Lisa Kleypas

    historical victorian alpha male paranormal virgin heroine

    When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton . Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

    Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. more

  • #28 The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels #1) - Kerrigan Byrne

    The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels #1) - Kerrigan Byrne

    virgin hero abuse marriage of convenience disabilities & scars strong heroine

    Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, is a ruthless villain. Scarred and hard-hearted, Dorian is one of Victorian London's wealthiest, most influential men who will stop at nothing to wreak vengeance on those who've wronged him...and will fight to the death to seize what he wants. The lovely, still innocent widow Farah Leigh Mackenzie is no exception-and soon Dorian whisks the beautiful lass away to his sanctuary in the wild Highlands...

    But Farah is no one's puppet. She possesses a powerful secret-one that threatens her very life. more

  • #29 Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels #3) - Loretta Chase

    Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels #3) - Loretta Chase

    regency historical erotic romance enemies to lovers bad boys

    Tough-minded Jessica Trent's sole intention is to free her nitwit brother from the destructive influence of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain. She never expects to desire the arrogant, amoral cad. And when Dain's reciprocal passion places them in a scandalously compromising, and public, position, Jessica is left with no choice but to seek satisfaction ...

    Damn the minx for tempting him, kissing him... more

  • #30 Night Song - Beverly Jenkins

    Night Song - Beverly Jenkins

    historical erotic romance western african-american western frontier

    A Traitorous Heart . . .

    Cara Lee Henson knows no soldiercan be trusted to stay in one place—and thatincludes handsome Sergeant Chase Jeffersonof the Tenth Cavalry. Dallying withthe dashing man in blue could cost the pretty, independent Kansas schoolteacher herjob and her reputation. So Cara is determinedto repel Chase’s advances—even thoughher aloof facade barely masks hersmoldering desire.

    A Blazing Passion . . .

    Never before has Chase longed for a woman the way he ached for lovely Cara Lee.The strong-willed ebony beauty, however,will not surrender easily. more

  • #31 The Kadin (Kadin #1) - Bertrice Small

    The Kadin (Kadin #1) - Bertrice Small

    historical rape harems abduction

    Abducted from a life of privilege, she was sold into slavery in a distant land. For Lady Janet Leslie there would be no escaping the harem of the wealthy and powerful Sultan Selim. But from the moment the handsome ruler spied his breathtaking "Cyra," was captivated -- by the fiery desire that coursed through his veins. She belonged to him, body and soul -yet it was he who was enslaved. more

  • #32 Shackles of Honor - Marcia Lynn McClure

    Shackles of Honor - Marcia Lynn McClure

    suspense regency historical erotic romance arranged/forced marriage

    Cassidy Shea's life was nothing if not serene. Loving parents and a doting brother provided happiness and innocent hope as life's experience. Yes-life was blissful at Cassidy's beloved home, Terrill. Still, for all Terrill's beauty and tranquility, ever there was something intangible and evasive lurking in the shadows. And though Cassidy wasted little worry on it, still she sensed its existence-looming as a menacing fate bent on ruin. And when a dark stranger appeared, Cassidy could no longer ignore the ominous whispers of the secrets surrounding her. Mason Carlisle, an angry, unpredictable man, materialized-with Cassidy's black fate at his heels. more

  • #33 Petticoat Ranch (Lassoed in Texas #1) - Mary Connealy

    Petticoat Ranch (Lassoed in Texas #1) - Mary Connealy

    historical western cowboys christian western frontier

    Sophie Edwards is doing just fine alone, until a strange-yet oddly familiar-man rides into her life, insisting on rescuing her and her four daughters. Can she find a way to love a headstrong mountain man? When Clay McClellan discovers his brother has been murdered, he's bent on finding the killers and seeing them properly hung. But first his Christian duty demands that he marry his sister-in-law. After all, Sophie needs someone to protect her - right? Faith and love help unruly wed newlyweds find common ground and a chance at love on the Texas frontier. more


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