We were tasked to compile a list of the best romance books featuring crazy possessive and jealous protagonists who are madly in love with the heroine. We are talking about book heros who stop at nothing (and we mean nothing) to claim and protect the heroine and defend what they consider theirs, often to the point of controlling or manipulative behavior.. Over the top? For sure! Delicious regardless? Absolutely!

• #1 The Contract - Melanie Moreland

  

  cruel hero/bully shy heroine boss & employee marriage of convenience fake relationship

  A tyrant by day, a playboy by night. That is the reputation that precedes Richard VanRyan. He lives life the way he wants, no concern for the opinion of others. He cares for no one, is completely unrepentant, and he has no desire to change his ways. Katharine Elliott works under Richard as his PA. She despises him and his questionable ethics, but endures all the garbage he sends her way, because she needs the job. Her end goal is far more important than the daily abuse and demands she tolerates from her nasty tyrant of a boss.
  
  Until the day, he asks her for something she never expected. A new role with a personal contract — fiancée instead of PA... more

• #2 Possessing Liberty - Nichole Rose

  military insta-love age gap grumpy/cold hero

  I'm a military man…rough, demanding, and used to being obeyed. I don't do love. I don't date. I don't have time for either. But Liberty Connor has me rethinking everything. One kiss from those sweet lips, and I'm hers. How do you convince an angel to fall for the devil?
  
  Killian Thorne is my worst nightmare. Bossy, scarred…and hot as Hades. He offered me a fortune to help him save vulnerable soldiers. There's just one problem... more

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• #3 My Husband, My Stalker - Jessa Kane

  small town tortured heroine shy heroine age gap

  I saw her on the news one night and everything changed. Including me. She wants normal? I’ll give her that, even if I have to pretend. I’ll become the paper pushing insurance salesman next door and earn her trust. Make her my wife.
  
  She’ll never find out she’s married to a hit man. She’ll never know I spend my days following her. Watching and listening. Obsessing over her happiness to the point of madness. She’ll never find out... more

• #4 Viper Game - Christine Feehan

  paranormal military cruel hero/bully mystery

  GhostWalker Wyatt Fontenot knows the price he paid for the secret military experiments that gave him his special catlike abilities. After all, he left his bayou home a healer and came back a killer. While Wyatt and his GhostWalker brother Gator may have known exactly the sort of game they were getting into, Wyatt never anticipated where it would lead—or to whom.
  
  The swamps hold many mysteries, but few are as sinuously seductive as Le Poivre de Cayenne. The woman the locals call Pepper is every bit as enigmatic as the three little girls she’s desperately trying to protect. From what, Wyatt is soon to discover. Right now Pepper needs a man like Wyatt. Passionately... more

• #5 The Prince of Broadway - Joanna Shupe

  victorian historical grumpy/cold hero class difference

  As the owner of the city's most exclusive casino, Clayton Madden holds the fortunes of prominent families in the palms of his hands every night. There is one particular family he burns to ruin, however, one that has escaped his grasp... until now.
  
  Florence Greene is no one's fool. She knows Clayton Madden is using her to ruin her prestigious family... and she's using him right back. She plans to learn all she can from the mysterious casino owner—then open a casino of her own just for women.
  
  With revenge on his mind, Clay agrees to mentor Florence. However, she soon proves more adept—and more alluring—than Clay bargained for. When his plans are threatened, Clay must decide if he is willing to gamble his empire on love... more

• #6 Promise of Darkness - Bec McMaster

  science fiction steampunk tortured hero forbidden love dangerous heroine

  In a realm ruled by magic, the ruthless Queen of Thorns is determined to destroy her nemesis, the cursed Prince of Evernight.
  
  With war brewing between the bitter enemies, the prince forces Queen Adaia to uphold an ancient treaty: she will send one of her daughters to his court as a political hostage for three months.
  
  The queen insists it’s the perfect opportunity for Princess Iskvien to end the war before it begins. But one look into Thiago’s smoldering eyes and Vi knows she’s no assassin.
  
  The more secrets she uncovers about the prince and his court, the more she begins to question her mother’s motives.. more

• #7 Reign of a King - Rina Kent

  age gap enemies to lovers forbidden love angst forced proximity tortured heroine

  Nothing is fair in war.
  
  Jonathan King is every bit his last name. Powerful. Untouchable. Corrupted.
  
  He's also my dead sister's husband and way older than me. When I first met him as a clueless child, I thought he was a god. Now, I have to confront that god to protect my business from his ruthless grip.
  
  Little did I know that declaring a war on the king will cost me everything.. more

• #8 Owned by a Sinner - Michelle Heard

  grumpy/cold hero contemporary angst age gap forced proximity mafia

  All I want to do is take care of my dad, so when I land the job of a lifetime that will take care of our expenses, I grab at the chance with both hands. Little do I know, the impossible will be expected of me.
  
  Slowly my smile fades, and my laughter dies until all that's left is the broken puppet my personal hell created.
  
  Liam Byrne, the head of the Irish mafia, returns from a business trip, and I expect my hellish nightmare to increase ten-fold.
  Brutal, merciless, and dangerous, Liam is feared by all - even the monster intent on killing my soul.
  
  Turns out I was wrong.
  
  The instant Liam notices what's happening, he takes me under his wing, and even though he's all sharp edges and threatening growls, I feel safe with him... more

• #9 As If I Wouldn't Fall - Jessa Kane

  insta-love contemporary erotic romance grumpy & sunshine breeding

  Flynt Porter has been my shadow since freshman year, but despite his intense protectiveness toward me, we've never spoken a word to each other. Until now. We're both seniors and I've damaged my mother's car, leaving me no choice but to bring it to Flynt, who moonlights as a mechanic. I'm prepared to offer him anything in exchange for fixing the vehicle, but he only warns me to keep my distance from him. Unfortunately, as soon as he touches me, staying away is the last thing on my mind.
  
  What I want from Ayla is...everything. Now. I want her to be my wife. To carry my baby. But as the product of a broken home, I know how a young pregnancy can destroy a family before it ever gets a chance. I refuse to do that to my Ayla. more

• #10 Things We Never Got Over - Lucy Score

  contemporary small town forced proximity enemies to lovers fake relationship

  Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon. Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.
  
  Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.
  
  Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of... more

• #11 Power (Blurred Lines) - Cassandra Robbins

  age gap virgin heroine contemporary angst billionaire forced proximity

  An explosive age-gap stand-alone love story about an infamous attorney and the woman who brings him to his knees.
  
  Jett Powers is brilliant, nasty, and forbidden.
  
  He takes what he wants, has no regrets, and makes no excuses. Not to mention he’s tall, dark, and irresistible.
  
  From our first secret encounter, I’m addicted. He’s the last man that should be making my stomach flip, and heart pound.
  
  Unfortunately, my mind and body are not in sync. Because Mr. Powers is not mine. He can’t be.
  
  He’s my mother’s fiancé.. more

• #12 Dead Man Walking: A Dark MC Romance Stand-Alone - Giana Darling

  contemporary age gap dark romance bikers

  A dark MC romance about a broken enforcer and the beautiful, innocent woman who shows him that light can exist even in the dark...
  
  A killer. A criminal. A psychopath. The Irish enforcer for The Fallen Men MC is everything good girls are taught to stay away from.
  
  Only, I found myself inexorably drawn into his dark gravitational pull. I wanted to know what it would be like to walk beside the human personification of Death and hold his hand, feel his kiss, and maybe even earn his undying love. more

• #13 365 Days - Blanka Lipińska

  mafia dark romance contemporary bdsm billionaire abduction

  Laura Biel and her boyfriend are on a dream vacation in beautiful Sicily. On the second day of their trip, her twenty-ninth birthday, she is kidnapped. Her kidnapper is none other than the head of a powerful Sicilian crime family, the incredibly handsome, young Don Massimo Torricelli, who is determined to possess her at all costs. Massimo has his reasons. During an earlier attempt on his life, a vision appeared before his eyes: a beautiful woman, identical to Laura. After surviving the attack, he vows that he will find the woman in his vision and make her his own. No matter what.
  
  For 365 days, Massimo will keep Laura captive in his palatial estate and attempt to win her heart. more

• #14 Little Dove - Layla Frost

  contemporary mafia insta-love abduction dark romance

  Once upon a time... Isn't that how all good fairy tales start? And Maximo and I, we were definitely a fairy tale. Not the cleaned-up, sanitized ones where life's problems were solved with a smile and a song. We were the old-school kind. The twisted tales packed with murder, violence, and tragic beginnings.
  
  Okay, so maybe we weren't a traditional fairy tale. After all, Maximo was more villain than prince. He was scarily sexy. Devilishly charming. Controlling, possessive, and dangerous. Especially when it came to me.
  
  His little dove. And heaven help anyone who tried to free me from my gilded cage... more

• #15 Sworn to the Shadow God - Ruby Dixon

  fantasy possessive hero contemporary forced proximity curvy heroine

  Adventure. It's what my boring life is missing, so when I fall through a portal into another world, I'm excited. Here, I'm important. Here, I'm special.
  
  I find out just *how* special when I meet Death. Yup. That guy. He's been exiled to the mortal realm to work through his flaws, and he's just as spoiled and awful as you'd think. Rhagos, the Shadow Lord, is arrogant and rude and controlling and demands to get his way. He's selfish. He's impossible.
  
  He's also utterly gorgeous. Magnetic. Lonely. And strangely protective of me... more

• #16 Ruthless Empire - Rina Kent

  cruel hero/bully enemies to lovers contemporary mystery

  There's a girl. Beautiful. Popular. Fake. And my obsession.
  
  Probably my damnation. Did that stop me? Do I care? No and no. There's a line between right and wrong. Moral and immoral. And then there's her. I cross every limit with blood-coated fingers.
  
  She says she hates me. I say I hate her too as I trap her, own her. Make her all mine... more

• #17 Copper - Lilly Atlas

  bikers contemporary small town age gap forbidden love tortured heroine

  Enormous, commanding, and hotter than sin, Copper is the only man Shell has ever wanted. Even as a young teen, when it was impossible and taboo to capture the attention of a grown man, she longed for him. For years, Shell clung to the dream of turning eighteen and finally being noticed by the Hell's Handlers' rough and gruff president. But the universe had other plans, and she was forced to make a horrible choice. A choice that altered the course of her life forever, sealing her fate and ensuring the dream of being Copper's ol' lady would never materialize.
  
  Sixteen years his junior. Daughter of his MC's former president. more

• #18 Lemonade - Nina Pennacchi,Scott P. Sheridan

  victorian vengeance cruel hero/bully enemies to lovers

  As a young woman in Victorian England, Anna Champion knows all too well the social mores that value prettiness over sense, and etiquette over honesty. But when she stands up to the boorishness of dashing Christopher Davenport at a summertime ball, Anna unwittingly attracts his wrath—and becomes entangled in his malicious scheming.
  
  After a lifetime of harboring shame and resentment, Christopher, a ruthless con artist, wants revenge, and unfortunately for Anna, he’s decided that she will be the perfect pawn in his terrible plot. With a fierceness of spirit uncommon in well-bred young ladies in the nineteenth century, Anna will have to use her intelligence and courage to protect her loved ones... more

• #19 Happily Ever Alpha: Until Nox - Layla Frost

  mafia insta-love possessive hero contemporary working class hero

  Not all heroes are good guys.
  
  With a body count on his soul and blood on his hands, Killian Nox lived in the gray. Ruthlessly single-minded, if he wanted something, it was his. And when it came to the gorgeous lass with a fiery attitude, he didn't just want her.
  
  He needed her.
  
  With southern-bred manners and a snark all her own, Augusta ‘Gus' Allan was a connoisseur of cheap wine, delicious Mexican food, and good TV. Unfortunately, her taste in men wasn't as well-developed. When her knight in shining armor turned out to be a douche in tinfoil, Gus never expected her real hero to be a sexy-accented, tattooed beast of a man. more

• #20 Ignite - Cassandra Robbins

  age gap bikers forced proximity sassy heroine poor heroine grumpy/cold hero

  Axel Fontaine has a giant… At least that's what everyone says. Unfortunately, it's true. All. Of. It. He's dangerous, scary, and addictive. Without a doubt, the last person I should fall for is the VP of the Disciples MC.
  I'm out of my league. He's a six-foot-four, blue-eyed biker god. I'm an ex-ballerina turned stripper who should run away. more