Selecting the best erotic romance novels is not as easy as one might think. On the one hand, the criteria are set out in the name and thus seem clear enough: Steamy romance books are books that feature a) a love story arc and b) enough sex to keep you, ahem, satisfied.

And therein lies the problem. Just how many romps in the bed are needed to cross over to the ‘seriously hot’ aisle in the book shop? And even if the main protagonists spend a sufficient amount of time pre-occupied with their partner(s?)’s nether regions, how much detail is wanted and with what sort of language? Are we happy about ‘stiffening man-rods’? I rather doubt it… And then, very important for many readers of truly steamy romance novels, exactly how freaky must our characters get?

So you see there is much to think about, even completely disregarding the other aspects that make erotic romance books truly great: elegant writing, satisfying character development, an exciting plot, and of course a believable delivery of the romance.

I hope you’ll agree that the selected books will hit the following marks: There is a lot of romance and a sumptuous story. There is also an awful lot of sex happening in between. And then some more. And some more. The writing is sensual and explicit - and moves the protagonists beyond the bed room in their adventures. Just as in real life, there should be variety and exploration - we are not mad if the characters are learning a trick or two during their journey.

With that being said, here are some of the best erotic romance books we have recently come across:

• #1 Ruthless King - Meghan March

  

  contemporary mafia suspense dark romance alpha male

  Book 1 of a seriously hot trilogy - an alpha male underground tycoon forces a spirited whiskey maker to do his bidding. Spoiler: He will only succeed for so long, not without reason is the second book in the series called 'Defiant Queen')...
  
  New Orleans belongs to me. You don’t know my name, but I control everything you see—and all the things you don’t. My reach knows no bounds, and my demands are always met.
  
  I didn’t need to loan money to a failing family distillery, but it amuses me to have them in my debt. To have her in my debt. She doesn’t know she caught my attention.
  
  I’m going to own her.. more

• #2 Resurrection - Siobhan Davis

  suspense contemporary new adult enemies to lovers dark romance

  Fans of reverse harems (1 lady, several dudes) will definitely enjoy this bully high-school romance, which misses no beat
  
  Everything changed the night my dad died. The night I met Saint, Galen, Caz, and Theo. Those manipulative a-holes set out to ruin me after our hot night together, but they didn’t realize you can’t destroy something that’s already broken. And it only works if the victim cares.
  
  Which I don’t.
  
  Because I’ve been in hell for years, and nothing penetrates the steel walls I’ve erected. Until The Sainthood decides I belong to them and cracks appear in my veneer. more

  Sponsored links

• #3 Virgin Flyer - Lucy Lennox

  m-m (gay) contemporary virgin hero age gap angst

  M-M erotic romance at its best - a funny and sweet romance which is seriously hot as well
  
  After crushing on my best friend for years, I realize he’ll never want someone inexperienced like me. So I decide to get it over with, play the V-card once and for all with an anonymous hook-up. The terms are simple: no talking, no names.
  
  It isn’t as easy as it seems. Now I can’t get the handsome stranger who greeted me with soft kisses and gentle touches out of my mind. Those hands, those lips... But it was just a one-time thing, and I need to forget about him once and for all.. more

• #4 Tormentor Mine - Anna Zaires

  military suspense contemporary dark romance alpha male

  Anna Zaires is somewhat the queen of dark romance to me, with really great mean heroes who are also great and mean in the sack. This is the first book of the Tormentor series, and again, the title is not wrong...
  
  He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance.
  
  Now he's back, but he’s no longer after my secrets.
  
  The man who stars in my nightmares wants me.. more

• #5 Gypsy's Blood - Kristy Cunning

  shapeshifters fantasy vampires paranormal alpha male

  Another reverse harem series - this time in the form of urban fantasy. Readers will love it not only for the naughty parts but also the delightful heroine and amazing world-building
  
  I'm not all that special, really. Or uncommon. I'm sure there are a lot of girls with old gypsy blood who see the dead, have killer cults hunting their family, and turn into something that gets scary when they panic. Yep. Completely unoriginal, if I do say so myself. Move along. Nothing to see here. Nope. I'm just an ordinary girl.
  I wish people would believe that.
  
  It took my mother's death for me to finally start getting answers about what's really been going on.. more

• #6 Scandalous - Lucy Lennox

  new adult contemporary bad boys age gap abuse

  This is a steamy age-gap romance which actually deals really well with the pitfalls of matching a barely out of high school heroine with a rather demanding alpha male: Edie knows exactly what she wants out of the encounters with Trent and the results are, well, scandalous
  
  They call him The Mute for a reason. Hard, cold and calculated, he rarely speaks. When he does, it’s with disdain. When he does, his words aren’t meant for me. When he does, my stomach flips and my world tilts on its axis.
  
  He is thirty-three. I am eighteen. He’s a single dad and my father’s business partner.. more

• #7 I Will Not Beg - Cherise Sinclair

  contemporary bdsm erotic romance abuse alpha male

  If you like BDSM romance novels you will love Cherise Sinclair. And this recent release by her is truly great: a steamy erotica which still more than delivers on the romance as well
  
  Starved for affection, young Piper Delaney surrenders her life to a Master. But there is no love—only abuse. She’s told she can’t leave; she signed the slave contract. Years later, beaten and starving, she hears an English Dom say the contract’s illegal. Unenforceable. And she runs.
  
  But her enslavement left scars. She longs for love, but the only men who truly attract her also terrify her--Dominants.. more

• #8 Bitter Heat - Mia Knight

  billionaire suspense contemporary vengeance strong heroine

  Forced proximity at its finest with a possessive hero: a dark romance
  
  She was the wood. He was the flame. After this, they would be ash.
  
  A cruel twist of fate leaves Jasmine Hennessy stranded in a remote cabin with her worst nightmare—her ex-husband, James Roth, who she hasn’t seen in five years. He isn’t acting like the man she married, but did she ever really know him?
  
  One night together kicks off a series of events that threatens her freedom as Roth seeks vengeance on those who ruined him seven years ago.. more

• #9 The Siren - Tiffany Reisz

  contemporary erotic romance strong heroine suspense dark romance

  The 'Original Sinners' series starts with the siren, and the title is no lie. This is a seriously kinky series, featuring all kinds of couplings and proclivities
  
  Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book... if it ever sees the light of day.
  
  Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control.. more

• #10 Kill Switch - Penelope Douglas

  new adult suspense mystery abuse angst

  Innocent heroine is not really a match for this cruel hero who sets out with vengeance in his heart. This is a dark romance. Suffice to say though, they work things out in the traditional erotic romance way...
  
  Sending him to prison was the worst thing I could've done. It didn't matter that he did the crime or that I wished he was dead. Perhaps I thought I'd have time to disappear before he got out or he'd cool off in jail and be anything but the horror he was.
  
  But I was wrong. Three years came and went too fast, and now he's anything but calm. Prison only gave him time to plan.. more