I am sorry, so sorry! The best romance books featuring remorseful heroes

Written by Silke, updated 28 Apr 2023

There are clearly quite a few romance book readers who love their heroes to be flawed. Or even villainous. However, for the HEA it is important that our fabulous meanies will come around eventually and complete their redemption with a heartfelt apology. We have assembled the best romance books with grovelling heroes.

  • #1 Simply Love - Catherine Anderson

    Simply Love - Catherine Anderson

    western historical bad boys cowboys shy heroine

    Even the hardest heart can be softened by love ...

    Cassandra Zerek is a true innocent in a wild anddangerous place -- but her indomitable spirit and gentle soul make her stronger than anyone suspects.

    The owner of a Colorado mining empire, Luke Taggart's wealth and position can buy him anything, yet he has grown bored with a life of saloons, gambling, and loose women. Nothing soothes his restless inner yearning -- until he spies Cassandra, as fresh and pure as a spring morning, and vows he will possess her. The radiant, charmingly naïve youngbeauty seems blind to the depth of Luke's desire or the lengths he is willing to go to seduce her. more

  • #2 The Marriage Bed - Stephanie Mittman

    The Marriage Bed - Stephanie Mittman

    historical western marriage of convenience western frontier virgin heroine

    Set on the Williamson Farm in 1897 Wisconsin, we are introduced to Olivia and Spencer on their wedding night.  Spencer's life has been beset with tragedy; Olivia is his second wife and a poor consolation prize for a man whose family was torn from him by Scarlet Fever.  Olivia has been a friend and neighbor to him throughout his life and she has been in love with Spencer for as long as she can remember.  Now she only wants to make him happy again and to help replace some of what he has lost. more

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  • #3 Lady Gallant - Suzanne Robinson

    Lady Gallant - Suzanne Robinson

    historical tortured heroine bad boys regency mystery

    An innocent temptress:

    The ladies of the palace called Nora Becket "mouse." But beneath her shy, artless ways hid the heart of a lioness. A daring spy in Queen Mary's court, she risked her life to rescue the innocent from a terrible fate. Yet it was Nora who needed rescuing when cutthroats attacked her--and when Christian de Rivers, a lusty, sword-wielding rogue, swept her out of harm's way ... and into his arms.

    A bold adventurer:

    As magnificent and mesmerizing as a hawk, Christian both frightened and excited Nora, even as he pursued her with a single-minded passion that left her longing to be caught. more

  • #4 The Ultimate Betrayal - Michelle Reid

    The Ultimate Betrayal - Michelle Reid

    historical contemporary tortured hero alpha male love triangle

    A marriage in crisis. . .

    Rachel and Daniel had three adorable children and a strong marriage-or so Rachel had always believed.

    But her happy life was shattered when she was told that Daniel had been having an affair. Then she realized that they'd been growing apart for years. more

  • #5 Temptation - Charlotte Lamb

    Temptation - Charlotte Lamb

    contemporary age gap vengeance virgin heroine tortured heroine

    Linden had only been seventeen when Joss crashed into her life. Naively, she offered him her friendship and trust. In return, he had aroused emotions in her she was too young to handle, wrenching her from childhood to womanhood in a few startling days.

    When he left her, Linden realized that she been ruthlessly used. Her love for Joss had been almost worshipful. His love had been a savage devouring--taking and never giving. more

  • #6 Kiss an Angel - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

    Kiss an Angel - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

    contemporary strong heroine tortured hero enemies to lovers abuse

    Pretty, flighty Daisy Devreaux can either go to jail or marry the mystery man her father has chosen for her. Arranged marriages don't happen in the modern world, so how did the irrepressible Daisy find herself in this fix?

    Alex Markov, as humorless as he is deadly handsome, has no intention of playing the loving bridegroom to a spoiled little feather-head with champagne tastes. He drags Daisy from her uptown life to a broken down traveling circus and sets out to tame her to his ways.

    But this man without a soul has met his match in a woman who's nothing but heart. Before long, passion will send them flying sky high without a safety net... more

  • #7 Tempt Me at Twilight - Lisa Kleypas,Rosalyn Landor

    Tempt Me at Twilight - Lisa Kleypas,Rosalyn Landor

    historical love triangle alpha male marriage of convenience tortured hero

    Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a dangerous hidden life. When their flirtation compromises her own reputation, Poppy shocks everyone by accepting his proposal—only to find that her new husband offers his passion, but not his trust.

    Harry was willing to do anything to win Poppy—except to open his heart. All his life, he has held the world at arm’s length…but the sharp, beguiling Poppy demands to be his wife in every way that matters. Still, as desire grows between them, an enemy lurks in the shadows. more

  • #8 Paradise (Second Opportunities #1) - Judith McNaught

    Paradise (Second Opportunities #1) - Judith McNaught

    contemporary pregnancy mystery strong heroine enemies to lovers

    Meredith Bancroft, a serenley beautiful blonde, and Matthew Farrell, an intense, magnetic tycoon, are both haunted by their once-in-a-lifetime love...betrayed in a conflict of heartache and pain. When the Bancroft family empire is threatened by a hostile takeover attempt, Meredith is forced to turn to Matt. As tensions build between them, leaving them both uncertain, restless...and falling in love again... more

  • #9 That Scandalous Evening - Christina Dodd

    That Scandalous Evening - Christina Dodd

    regency historical virgin hero virgin heroine georgian

    A simple statue began the scandal.

    An innocent English miss conceived of it, her hands gliding across the clay, delineating each smoothly defined muscle and sinew, creating a sculpture of the man she worshipped. When the likeness was exposed, along with Miss Jane Higgenbothem's secret tendre for Lord Blackburn, the ton's gleeful contempt sent the lady back to the country in disgrace.

    Now, a decade later, she's back in London, as a chaperone to her beautiful niece. But to Blackburn, Jane's unwitting model, the cool, reticent spinster is still a challenge. more

  • #10 Duncan's Bride - Linda Howard

    Duncan's Bride - Linda Howard

    suspense contemporary possessive hero strong heroine arranged/forced marriage

    It's been seven years since rancher Reese Duncan's first wife left him high and dry, and he's been trying to rebuild his life ever since. What he needs is a dependable mate—someone uncomplicated with whom he can start a family and who will help out around the ranch. At first glance, city girl Madelyn Patterson seems all wrong. But Madelyn isn't after his money or his land. She wants the one thing Reese can't guarantee—his heart. more


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