Let’s be clear, there is nothing wrong with comfort and routine. But sometimes you find yourself consuming all the same things without a second thought, from what you eat, drink, wear, and watch to what you read. Maybe you feel like something is missing. Maybe you want a change of pace to speed things up or to read a satisfying, sizzling slow burn. You want something new from fresh voices and, most importantly, with some heat.
Don’t let your reading be bland. Spice up your TBR with these five indie-authored books from a variety of romance subgenres, including a slice-of-life tale with a twist, a dark retelling of the story of Dracula’s brides, and a gay urban fantasy.
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
Content Warning: This book contains medical content and depictions of misogyny, sexism, grief, bullying (not between the FMC and MMC), death, a car accident, abandonment, sexual harassment (not between the FMC and MMC or from either party), and the loss of a spouse.
Morbidly Yours was originally self-published by Ivy Fairbanks in July 2023, when it became a viral TikTok sensation practically overnight. And for good reason! This opposites-attract romantic dramedy is all about a shy, demisexual Irish mortician who must marry by his 35th birthday to keep his beloved family business and the Texan widow escaping her past who moves in next door.
Callum Flannelly would rather die than take a stranger to dinner, and Lark Thompson moved from Texas to Galway, Ireland, for a fresh start — not to be reminded of her husband’s death by the funeral home next door. But when she learns of Callum’s plight, she can’t help but be determined to take on the project of finding him the girl of his dreams. However, the more they spend time together, the more Lark dreads finding him a match, and the more Callum dreads Lark returning home to Texas. Can the two admit their connection, or is the tension between them reaching a dead end?
Featuring a slow-burn friends-to-lovers dynamic and an MMC who talks dirty in Irish, this book packs plenty of heat. There’s also ample sweetness, as the book isn’t shy to tackle topics like loss, grief, self-advocacy, and living life well.
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
Content Warning: This book contains depictions of emotional, verbal, and physical intimate partner abuse, gaslighting, blood and gore, sadomasochism, self-harm, body horror, violence and murder, alcohol use, depression, and mania. It also contains brief references to sexual assault (not directed at any named character), drug use, child abuse (off-page), drowning, and death.
The story of Dracula’s brides is a dark tale already. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the three brides are insatiable seductresses who consume youth by feeding from infants and are eventually dismantled (literally) by Van Helsing. (Stoker loved his metaphors for Victorian regression and sexuality.) But what if some of the erotic impulses under the surface were brought to light? What if the relationship with Dracula and between the brides was further explored? That’s what indie author S.T. Gibson dared to ask in A Dowry of Blood, their debut book. Blurring the line between desire and deadly devotion, Gibson tells the dark tale of Constanta, Dracula’s first bride.
When Constanta meets Dracula, she is on death’s doorstep. War has ravaged her village, and her parents have been lost to it. He promises her a new life, and she walks through the new door he opens. For a while, they make the best of this new chance, first in a remote castle, then by roaming Europe when a plague erupts. Slowly, this is not enough, and Dracula begins to take on new paramours. As Constanta navigates these newfound relationships, Dracula grows more controlling. Finding both solace and seduction in the new consorts, Constanta discovers new strength to reclaim her humanity — as much as a vampire can, anyways — and her life.
Featuring graphic sexual content and a well-developed polyamorous relationship, A Dowry of Blood will delight readers who wanted more from the dark dynamics laid out in Dracula.
Sprinkled in the Stars by Violet Morley
Content Warning: This book contains medical content and depictions of panic attacks/disorders, a toxic relationship, and gaslighting, as well as mentions of ableism and alcoholism.
Violet Morley is a sapphic author who began her writing journey with this very book, Sprinkled in the Stars. She’s captured an ever-expanding audience ever since with her ability to put to pen well-rounded characters and storylines. Sprinkled in the Stars is no exception.
Paramedic AJ Beckett is just trying to keep herself and Parker, her seven-year-old autistic daughter, in one piece. A-list actress Melanie Cooper wants a rest from the spotlight. The two have nothing in common, right? So why do they keep bumping into each other? Why are they starting not to mind? And why is there some serious tension between them? Falling in love has never been so sweet — or steamy.
Featuring a sweet and spicy sapphic romance and disability representation, Sprinkled in the Stars delivers a relationship readers will love. (And a heads up, there are two R-rated scenes, so if you want spice but in small doses, this book is perfect.)
I Think I Might Want You by Christina C. Jones
Content Warning: This book contains depictions of death, gun violence, infidelity, grief, a car accident, the death of a parent, and murder, as well as mentions of suicide and cancer.
The final installment of a trilogy, I Think I Might Want You is the spiciest book in the series and can be read on its own. (Though be sure to check out the other books if you enjoy this one!) Christina C. Jones deftly and defiantly writes the story of Jemma Love and Levi Anders, two people completely sure of what they want. Or are they?
Jemma’s used to being beholden to no one, and living her life — on her own! — to the fullest. That’s the way she likes it. Until she meets Levi, who was supposed to be just one night. Who she was supposed to be able to stop thinking about. Who she thinks she might want for more after all. If she can admit it to herself first…
Featuring a one-night stand/second chance romance, I Think I Might Want You is an immensely enjoyable read for fans of contemporary romance and strong independent leads.
Twisted Pretty Things: A Gay Urban Fantasy by Ariana Nash
Content Warning: This book contains depictions of gun violence, police violence, human experimentation, and abusive parenting, as well as mentions of homophobic violence and past mental and physical abuse.
Ariana Nash is an adept world-weaver and storied urban fantasy writer. This M/M romance is proof of that, with both intricate details of artifacts and illegal auctions in the seedy underbelly of a magical London, as well as the tension between registered latent John “Dom” Domenici, his boss and enigmatic billionaire Alexander Kempthorne, and the mysterious “hero” Kage (aka, Hollywood). As a registered latent, Dom is able to generate and manipulate psychic energy and has to work at Kempthorne & Co Artifact Retrieval Agency to track down illegal artifacts. But he quickly finds himself in over his head, and both his life and heart are at risk when his boss is keeping secrets, a new figure is on the scene, and something dark is strolling the streets of London…
An urban fantasy rich with magic and intrigue, Twisted Pretty Things is a fun read for fans of slow-burn romance and complex world-building.
Whether you like to start things off slow or speed up the steam from the beginning, there’s a book here with the perfect spice level for you. What are you waiting for? Spice up your life and help support an indie author with one of these books today!
Want to check out more indie romance authors? Click here.
Looking for more steamy reads? Click here to check out our Sensual Escapades reading list on Bookshop!
