December 2025 Romance Releases
It’s the most wonderful time of the year (almost) —for new romance books! Whether you’re in the mood for a snow-dusted small-town love story, a sizzling enemies-to-lovers showdown, or a romantasy full of gods, curses, and celestial heartbreak, December 2025 has something to make your bookish heart skip a beat.
This month’s lineup is pure magic: steamy fake-dating setups, royal drama, time-traveling dukes, hockey bad boys, and even a few divine power plays that could set Olympus on fire. From cozy Christmas reads to dark, delicious fantasies, these upcoming releases will make perfect company for a blanket, a mug of cocoa, and maybe a crackling fire (real or audiobook background optional).
So grab your TBR list—because December’s romance releases are here to wrap up the year with passion, magic, and plenty of HEAs.
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December 2, 2025
The Dark Is Descending
By Chloe Peñaranda
Summary
In the breathtaking finale to Chloe C. Peñaranda’s Nytefall trilogy, Astraea—the Star Maiden—faces her most impossible trial yet. Still reeling from a devastating betrayal, she must race against time to free her cursed lover, Nyte, before darkness consumes their world. To save him, Astraea must decide whether to ally with her sworn enemy or embrace the shadows that have always followed her.
As the light fades and the realm teeters on the edge of destruction, Astraea and her companions embark on a desperate quest to recover the fragments of the Maiden’s broken key—the only weapon capable of destroying vengeful gods intent on reclaiming the mortal realm. Dragons rise, old loyalties fracture, and divine powers clash in a final battle that will test love, fate, and the very meaning of sacrifice.
In a story of gods and mortals, fathers and sons, and lovers bound by destiny, Night is Descending delivers an emotional, high-stakes conclusion where Astraea must decide how much she’s willing to lose to save the one who holds her heart.
Sweet Venom
By Rina Kent
Summary
In Sweet Venom, Rina Kent delivers a dark, addictive enemies-to-lovers romance where obsession turns deadly—and desire even deadlier.
When Ava accidentally witnesses a brutal murder, she makes the mistake of pretending she saw nothing. But silence has consequences. Her life quickly unravels, and soon she finds herself in the crosshairs of Jude Callahan—a golden-boy hockey star with a dangerously dark side. To the world, he’s untouchable. To Ava, he’s a predator who won’t stop until she’s paid for what she saw.
What begins as stalking spirals into a twisted game of control, punishment, and undeniable attraction. Caught in Jude’s web of secrets, Ava is dragged into his hidden world of power, danger, and sin—where every touch feels like both a threat and a promise.
Full of intensity, psychological tension, and morally gray chemistry, Sweet Venom blends the thrill of a hockey romance with the darkness of a secret society and the razor edge of obsession.
The Mating Game
By Lana Ferguson
Summary
Tess Covington thought she had her life mapped out: build her contracting business, land her dream home-renovation TV show, and take care of her struggling family. But when a trip to the ER reveals she’s not sick—she’s a newly presenting omega wolf shifter—her world tilts on its axis. Suddenly, her wolf is demanding things she isn’t ready to give, and the one rule she’s been handed is clear: stay far away from alphas.
Too bad her latest renovation job is for Hunter Barrett, a gruff alpha with a broken heart and a failing lodge he can’t fix on his own. Hunter knows better than to let an omega under his skin again, but Tess’s sharp wit, stubborn independence, and undeniable pull make it harder every day to keep his distance.
As their attraction sparks into something hotter than either expected, Tess and Hunter find themselves tangled in a bond that feels both dangerous and inevitable. With her future on the line and his heart locked behind old scars, resisting each other might be the safest option—but in this game of instincts and desire, playing it safe may cost them their one true chance at love.
A Kiss of Hammer and Flame
By Amy De La Force
Summary
When blacksmith Cahra forges a sword unlike any other, she unknowingly ignites an ancient prophecy—and awakens Hael, an immortal bound in darkness whose power could save or doom the world. With the three warring kingdoms of Hael’stomia closing in, Cahra becomes the hunted, thrust into a dangerous journey beside Terryl—the mysterious noble who ordered the sword in the first place.
As dreams blur with reality, Hael’s presence haunts her nights, whispering of fate, fire, and forbidden desire. Torn between two men—one made of shadow, one hiding secrets—Cahra must decide who to trust and what she’s willing to sacrifice as war erupts and destiny demands its due.
A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is a molten mix of mythology, slow-burn romance, and dark magic—perfect for readers who crave Hades-and-Persephone tension, found family dynamics, and a heroine who can swing a hammer as fiercely as she guards her heart.
Read my full review of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame.
Fallen Gods
By Rachel Van Dyken
Summary
In Fallen Gods, Rachel Van Dyken launches a gripping fantasy romance where ancient myths awaken—and love becomes the most dangerous rebellion of all.
The gods aren’t dead. They’re only sleeping—hidden within mortal bodies and waiting for the right spark to wake them. For Sera, daughter of a ruthless god, that truth has defined her entire life. Trained to obey, to fight, and to serve as her father’s weapon, she’s sent to Endir University—a haven for powerful bloodlines and deadly secrets—with one mission: steal back Mjolnir, the legendary hammer of the gods. Failure isn’t an option.
But Sera’s plan unravels when she crosses paths with Aric Erikson, the cold and enigmatic heir to her family’s greatest enemy. He’s everything she shouldn’t want—and the one person who might shatter her loyalty. As forbidden attraction ignites between them, Sera is torn between the duty that could save her people and the love that could doom them all.
With gods stirring, myths bleeding into reality, and war on the horizon, Fallen Gods is a pulse-pounding tale of destiny, betrayal, and the spark that can set the world ablaze.
Crowntide
By Alex Aster
Summary
Isla Crown has never been one to accept the fate handed to her—and now she’s taken her boldest leap yet. Determined to stop her ruthless ancestor Lark once and for all, Isla launches herself into Skyshade, a realm as treacherous as it is breathtaking. But the land she thought she understood is full of shifting loyalties, hidden dangers, and magic that twists even the sharpest instincts. To survive, Isla must confront not only the darkness around her, but the shadows she’s carried all along.
Back in the fractured realms, Grim and Oro refuse to let Isla face the storm alone. Old wounds, broken trust, and their tangled history make them unlikely allies—but losing her is a price neither is willing to pay. To bring Isla home, they’ll have to set aside their kingdoms’ centuries of betrayal and risk forging the kind of alliance that could either save their world…or shatter it for good.
As long-buried secrets rise to the surface and betrayals cut deeper than ever, Isla discovers that the key to defeating Lark lies in the one place she’s never dared to look: her own heart. But claiming a future of her own making means facing a ruthless enemy who knows her better than anyone.
High stakes, fierce romance, and gasp-worthy twists collide in Crowntide, the explosive fourth installment of the Lightlark Saga—where the line between savior and destroyer is thinner than ever, and every choice could remake the realms.
There’s Always Next Year
by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson
Summary
There’s Always Next Year by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson is a heartfelt YA holiday romcom that blends humor, hope, and the power of community into a story about fresh starts and finding yourself when everything seems to be falling apart.
Told in dual POV, the story follows Andy—a too-serious student journalist whose New Year’s Eve goes spectacularly wrong when she throws up on her crush, loses her phone, and gets her car stolen. Determined to turn things around, she dives headfirst into saving her family’s struggling business from gentrification—all while trying to make sense of her growing feelings for the mysterious new girl next door.
Meanwhile, Dominique, a rising influencer with a shot at a life-changing brand deal, must face the parts of his past he’s tried to leave behind—including his cousin Andy and his complicated history with his former best friend. In a town full of gossip, family ties, and second chances, Dominique has to decide what matters most: fame or authenticity.
Warm, funny, and full of heart, There’s Always Next Year captures the magic of new beginnings, queer love, and the beautiful mess of being a teen trying to figure it all out—because even when everything goes wrong, there’s always next year.
Love Me Stalk Me
By Laura Bishop
Summary
Izzy Russo is juggling a crumbling relationship, a stressful job, and a loneliness she can’t quite admit to—until she downloads Caleb, the AI boyfriend app that promises to listen, flirt, and make her feel seen. Late-night chats turn into something dangerously comforting, and soon, “Caleb” feels like the only one who really understands her.
Except “Caleb” isn’t an algorithm. He’s Callahan Knight, Izzy’s tattooed, brooding coworker and the department store’s new head of security—who just happens to have hacked her phone. The more Izzy confides in him, the deeper his obsession grows. He tells himself he’s protecting her, that no one could love her like he does. But the line between devotion and delusion blurs fast.
When Izzy’s real-life relationship implodes and shadows from her past close in, Cal steps out from behind the screen—determined to be her savior, her protector… her everything.
Darkly funny, seductive, and unnerving, Love Me Stalk Me is a twisted modern love story about connection in the digital age—where privacy is an illusion, obsession wears the mask of romance, and the perfect man might just be the one watching from behind your screen.
The Bodyguard Affair
By Amy Lea
Summary
Andi Zeigler has mastered the art of keeping secrets. By day, she’s the hyper-efficient assistant to the Canadian Prime Minister’s wife—calm, capable, and definitely not the type to cause scandal. But by night, she becomes someone else entirely: a bestselling romance author whose latest book, The Prime Minister & Me, has set the internet ablaze… and sparked rumors that hit a little too close to home.
When whispers of a real-life affair between Andi and the PM threaten her job (and the nation’s favorite political marriage), damage control comes in the form of Nolan Crosby—the PM’s new bodyguard, who also happens to be Andi’s unforgettable one-night stand from three years ago.
To save their reputations, Andi and Nolan strike a fake dating deal. She’ll get the gossip mill off her back; he’ll get a distraction from the emotional toll of caring for his ailing mother. But as their chemistry reignites under the public eye, blurred lines and late-night confessions make one thing clear: real love doesn’t always follow the script.
Perfect for fans of The Bodyguard and The Hating Game, The Bodyguard Affair blends sharp humor, heartfelt emotion, and irresistible tension into a story about second chances, secret identities, and the unexpected places love can find you.
Something Wicked
By Falon Ballard
Summary
In the fractured nation of Avon, revolution has come at a steep price. The monarchy has fallen, the Uprising rules, and a new decree promises to crown Avon’s first president—but only those willing to commit the ultimate act of loyalty may compete: killing the dethroned ruler of their province.
For Callum Vale, exiled prince and reluctant heir, that ruler is his own father. Haunted by guilt yet driven by duty, Callum seeks out the one woman rumored to help him bury his conscience—Lady Caterine, a courtesan whose rare magical gift allows her to manipulate emotions through pleasure.
Cate is used to wielding her magic like a weapon, but Callum’s mistrust of her kind cuts deeper than she expects. What begins as a dangerous alliance of convenience quickly twists into something neither can control—an attraction that defies reason, rebellion, and the dark magic festering beneath the surface of La Puissance, the infamous club where desire and danger are currency.
As betrayal looms and the line between power and passion blurs, Callum and Cate must choose what kind of future Avon deserves—and what they’re willing to destroy to save it.
Something Wicked is a seductive, high-stakes romantasy where revolution meets forbidden desire, and love may be the most perilous magic of all.
The E.M.M.A. Effect
By Lia Riley
Summary
Harriet Smythe has always trusted data over desire. As a computer scientist developing an elite AI performance program—nicknamed The E.M.M.A.—she’s built her career on logic, precision, and zero distractions. But when her funding depends on testing the system on a real athlete, Harriet turns to the one person she swore she’d never mix work with: her best friend’s younger brother, NHL star Gale Knight.
Gale is everything Harriet’s algorithm can’t predict—charming, confident, and very aware of her long-standing crush. But when The E.M.M.A. declares that his “perfect match” is Harriet herself, the lines between research and romance start to blur faster than she can debug them.
Determined to stay professional, Harriet reroutes the experiment—setting Gale up on a string of disastrous AI-approved dates. Yet every test, every late-night session, and every charged glance seems to prove The E.M.M.A. might be onto something real.
Smart, flirty, and full of STEM-fueled tension, The E.M.M.A. Effect is a steamy friends-to-lovers rom-com that asks the ultimate question: can love really be calculated, or is it one variable that even science can’t control?
Tender Cruelty
By Katee Robert
Summary
In Tender Cruelty, Katee Robert brings the storm of Olympus to a fever pitch with a sizzling, emotionally charged retelling of Hera and Zeus. Once the power couple who ruled the city from their glass throne, Hera and Zeus are now bitter enemies—bound by marriage, betrayal, and the weight of a crumbling empire.
When the protective barrier surrounding Olympus falls and chaos descends, Hera sees her chance to finally destroy the man who broke her heart and her trust. But survival demands an uneasy alliance, and the sparks of hatred that once fueled their war ignite something far more dangerous—desire.
As they fight side by side to save Olympus from ruin, the line between vengeance and passion blurs. Old wounds reopen, long-buried truths come to light, and Hera must decide whether love can exist where cruelty once reigned.
A fierce, steamy, and unflinchingly emotional story of enemies, lovers, and gods—Tender Cruelty proves that sometimes the only thing more powerful than hate is the love that refuses to die.
Duke
By Jessica Peterson
Summary
Wheeler Rankin has a plan: visit her best friend, secure a business deal, and prove herself to everyone who ever doubted her. Romance isn’t on the agenda—especially not with Duke Rivers, the charming, restless cowboy and brother of her best friend’s new flame. But the moment they collide on Lucky River Ranch, sparks ignite hotter than a Texas summer.
When a blizzard strands them together during a business road trip, what started as playful flirtation quickly deepens into something neither can ignore. Duke has always dreamed of more than small-town life, yet Wheeler makes him reconsider everything he thought he wanted. Between passion, family pressures, and unexpected news, they must navigate their fears, confront old wounds, and decide whether love is worth the risk.
Duke is a swoon-worthy, small-town romance filled with enemies-to-lovers tension, forced proximity, and a cowboy hero who might just teach Wheeler that home isn’t a place—it’s a person. Perfect for fans of Elsie Silver and Lyla Sage.
Dawn of the Firebird
By Sarah Mughal Rana
Summary
Khamilla Zahr-zad was born to rule—but all she’s ever known is ruin. Once the daughter of a powerful emperor, she watched her clan fall in flames, her home swallowed by the wars that shaped her childhood. Now, vengeance is her only inheritance. Armed with nur, a celestial magic that burns as fiercely as her rage, Khamilla infiltrates Za’skar—the heart of the empire that destroyed everything she loved. Her mission: to rise through their elite military academy, master their secrets, and bring their empire to its knees from within.
But Za’skar is not what she expected. Among cunning monks, fierce warriors, and scholars of jinn, Khamilla discovers truths that challenge the history she was raised to believe. As she’s drawn deeper into the academy’s brutal trials and the politics of power, she begins to question whether the fire driving her is justice—or destruction.
When a new, corrupted magic threatens to consume the world, Khamilla must decide who she truly is: the heir of an empire built on blood, or the spark that could forge something new from its ashes.
Dawn of the Firebird is a fierce, immersive tale of vengeance, identity, and destiny—where the line between hero and monster blurs, and one woman’s wrath could ignite the world.
Dead Set on You
By Lexi Alexander
Summary
Evie Pope has her five-year plan nailed down—land the promotion, secure the paycheck, and finally start living a little. But just as success is within reach, she wakes up… dead. Or close to it. Her body’s in a coma, and her spirit? Trapped in the apartment of the one man she never wanted to see again: Rafael Vela, her maddeningly handsome ex-friend turned office nemesis.
Rafael’s just as ambitious—and just as infuriating—as ever. But he’s also the only person who can see her. And when Evie discovers he’s gunning for the same promotion she was, they strike a deal: he helps her get back into her body, and she’ll make sure he gets the job.
What starts as reluctant teamwork turns into something far more complicated. Between spectral stakeouts, late-night confessions, and memories that refuse to stay buried, Evie begins to see the man beneath the rivalry—and the possibility of a second chance at more than life.
But time is running out, and if Evie doesn’t find her way back soon, she’ll lose not just her body—but the one person who might finally make her want to live for real.
A witty, heartfelt romcom with a ghostly twist—perfect for fans of The Dead Romantics and The Hating Game, where love gets a second shot from the great beyond.
Sparks Fly
By Zakiya N. Jamal
Summary
Stella Renee Johnson has always been the responsible one—the planner, the rule-follower, the woman who’s been waiting for the “right time” to finally let loose. So when her roommate bails on a night out at a sex club, Stella decides to go anyway, determined to push past her fears and maybe—finally—lose her virginity. But when her steamy encounter with a stranger comes to an abrupt halt, she chalks it up to fate and swears to move on.
Fate, however, has other plans. The next morning, that same stranger walks into her office—Max Williams, the brilliant and infuriating developer behind the new AI partnership threatening Stella’s job. Now she’s stuck working side-by-side with the man who quite literally left her breathless.
As sparks fly both in and out of the office, Stella and Max find themselves caught between undeniable chemistry and professional chaos. With careers, pride, and hearts on the line, they’ll have to decide whether their connection is a beautiful mistake—or the start of something worth breaking all the rules for.
Sparks Fly is a witty, sex-positive rom-com about ambition, identity, and the messy magic of modern love—perfect for anyone who’s ever been afraid to take a chance and finally said, why not?
The Heir Apparent
By Rebecca Armitage
Summary
Dr. Lexi Villiers has spent years crafting a quiet, ordinary life far from the palace walls and royal expectations she was born into. In Australia, she’s just another overworked medical resident sharing a farmhouse with her two best friends, Finn and Jack—and maybe, finally, about to turn her long-simmering friendship with Jack into something more.
But everything changes the moment a helicopter lands in her backyard. Her father and brother are gone, and Lexi—Princess Alexandrina of England—is now the heir apparent to the British throne.
Thrust back into the royal spotlight she’s long rejected, Lexi faces a nation that doubts her, a family fractured by grief, and an uncle who would do anything to seize the crown. Torn between her duty to the monarchy and the life she built for herself half a world away, Lexi is granted one year to decide: return to her heart in Australia or embrace the destiny she never wanted.
The Heir Apparent is a sweeping, modern royal romance about loss, legacy, and the courage to choose love—even when the whole world is watching.
December 4, 2025
Sweet Addiction
By Bella Matthews
Summary
Rome Beneventi is everything the world warns you about—dangerous, irresistible, and completely off-limits. An MMA champion with a devilish grin and a reputation for chaos, he’s the last person a sensible woman should fall for…especially when that woman is trying to keep her life orderly and her heart intact.
But when Rome discovers a secret she’s desperate to hide, the tables turn. Instead of discretion, he offers a deal: fake dating. One lie leads to living under the same roof, dodging nosy friends and family, and performing perfect couple moments for the cameras. And through it all, he keeps slipping in those moments—soft touches, whispered names, a heat in his eyes—that make pretending impossible.
Enemies at first, they soon realize that the tension between them is more than chemistry—it’s truth. What started as a charade quickly becomes a dangerously real obsession, forcing them both to ask: can you resist temptation when the person who challenges you the most also makes your heart race like no other?
Sweet Addiction is a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance full of banter, sparks, and a hero who’s both the devil you know—and the one you can’t live without.
When We Fall
By Lena Hendrix
Summary
Single mom Grace has a plan: keep her head down, keep life steady, and definitely keep her heart off-limits. Between a demanding job, a spirited daughter, and an impressive track record of unreliable nannies, romance isn’t on her to-do list.
Enter Austin Calloway—the tattooed, younger neighbor who moves in next door and somehow ends up in her kitchen making pancakes, fixing homework meltdowns, and making her remember what it feels like to be seen.
He’s everything she shouldn’t want: too young, too charming, too close. But every time Grace draws a line, Austin crosses it with quiet patience and a smile that makes her walls crumble just a little more.
As the line between neighbor and something more begins to blur, Grace must decide if she’s willing to risk her carefully built stability for a man who makes her believe that falling might not mean losing control—it might mean finding home.
The Nest Before Christmas
By Piper Rayne
Summary
This Christmas, getting home for the holidays isn’t going to be easy—but nothing can stop the Falcons. When their plane is grounded right before the big day, the team embarks on an epic, laugh-out-loud journey across the country. Trains, buses, snowstorms—you name it, they’ll tackle it—all in the name of love and family.
Back in Chicago, their wives are juggling babies, pregnancy surprises, and a mysteriously missing gender-reveal envelope, proving that the holiday chaos isn’t one-sided. From FaceTime mishaps to a questionable Greyhound adventure, sparks fly and hearts race as the couples navigate distance, misadventures, and the kind of moments that only happen during the most magical time of year.
The Nest Before Christmas is a hilarious, heartwarming holiday romance full of brotherhood, family, and the lengths we’ll go to be with the ones we love.
December 9, 2025
Her Time Traveling Duke
By Bryn Donovan
Summary
When hopeless romantic and part-time witch Rose Novak lights a candle and whispers a spell for an “old-fashioned gentleman,” she expects maybe a cosmic nudge—definitely not a full-fledged Regency duke appearing in her Chicago apartment. But that’s exactly what happens when Henry Leighton-Lyons, the Duke of Beresford, is ripped from his 19th-century portrait and dropped straight into her modern, chaotic life.
Henry is a man of logic, science, and structure—and Rose is none of those things. To him, she’s an infuriating mystery: a woman who believes in moon phases, wears leggings as pants, and somehow has him questioning everything he thought he knew about reason and love.
As they scramble to undo the spell that brought him forward in time, Rose and Henry dive into a whirlwind of magical misfires, museum escapades, and reluctant attraction that’s anything but period-appropriate. Yet somewhere between enchanted artifacts and stolen glances, the line between past and present blurs—and both must decide if fate got it wrong, or if this impossible love was always meant to be.
With sparkling banter, heart-melting tenderness, and a dash of time-bending magic, Her Time-Traveling Duke is a delightfully romantic collision of eras that proves true love really can transcend time.
Bed Chemistry
By Elizabeth McKenzie
Summary
Ashleigh Hutchinson has chemistry down to a science—literally. As a high school chemistry teacher, she knows love and lust are ruled by entirely different chemical reactions, and she’s built her life around keeping them separate. No relationships, no feelings, just carefully contained flings. But when she loses her job and signs up for a lucrative sleep study to stay afloat, her controlled little world combusts.
Because the “partnered” study comes with one major complication: her fake boyfriend for the month is Xander Miller—the charming ex who made her question every rule she’s ever lived by.
Forced to share one bed and pretend they’re madly in love, Ashleigh and Xander find that the experiment’s real heat isn’t coming from the lab equipment. Between late-night banter, lingering memories, and undeniable attraction, the data’s clear—chemistry isn’t always predictable, and some reactions are impossible to resist.
Bed Chemistry is a whip-smart, flirty, and sizzling rom-com about what happens when science meets second chances—and love proves to be the most explosive element of all.
Midnight
By Sharon Sala
Summary
Asher Kingston thought he’d left his hometown—and its heartaches—far behind. Now a special investigator with the Texas Attorney General’s office, his life in Austin is all about long hours, dangerous cases, and keeping his distance. But when he gets a call that his father has been hurt during a break-in at the family bar, Asher rushes back to Crossroads, the tiny town he once couldn’t wait to escape.
What he doesn’t expect is Nora Borden.
His high-school sweetheart has grown into a brilliant, sought-after tech expert with secrets of her own and a security clearance that rivals his. One accidental reunion in the hospital hallway is all it takes for old sparks to flicker—sparks Asher insists he has no room for. His job is unpredictable, risky, and not built for romance. But the more time he and Nora spend together, the harder it becomes to pretend the past didn’t leave unfinished business in its wake.
When suspicious details surrounding the bar attack surface, Asher and Nora find themselves drawn into a cold case that refuses to stay buried. With the Kingston family’s reputation on the line and dangerous truths creeping closer, they must join forces to uncover what really happened that night.
As old feelings deepen into something undeniable, Asher and Nora have to decide whether the second chance they never expected is worth the risks they’ve both spent years avoiding.
A story of hometown loyalty, rekindled love, and long-buried secrets rising under the Texas moon, Midnight is a tender, suspense-kissed romance that proves Crossroads is exactly where hearts go to heal.
Chasing Home
By Piper Rayne
Summary
What started like a whirlwind rom-com turned into the kind of heartbreak you can’t ignore. When country music sensation Zander Shaw singled her out in a packed arena, she thought it was a dream come true—but one signed NDA and a backstage rendezvous later, her fairy-tale romance ended abruptly when he ghosted her.
Now fate has other plans. Zander shows up unexpectedly at her family’s ranch to film a music video, and she’s roped into being his tour guide through her home turf. From sun-soaked pastures to hidden corners of the ranch, every step draws them closer—and stirs up feelings she thought were long buried.
But there’s more at stake than stolen glances and lingering chemistry: she’s carrying his baby. As past hurts clash with present desires, she must decide whether to guard her heart—or take a chance on the man who once walked away.
Chasing Home is a swoon-worthy, small-town romance filled with music, tension, and the kind of love that refuses to stay away.
Love Letters for Other People
By Shaylin Gandhi
Summary
When her dream career as a mathematician crashes spectacularly, Aubrey MacLean retreats to the last place she ever wanted to go—her small Indiana hometown, full of ghosts, gossip, and one man she’s never quite forgiven. Nick Thacker was her first love and her greatest heartbreak, and seeing him again feels like reopening an old wound she thought had long healed.
Nick’s life hasn’t gone the way he planned either. Between his grueling job at the steel mill and raising his daughter, he spends his nights ghostwriting love letters for people who can’t find the words themselves—a secret business that lets him say everything he wishes he could.
When Aubrey starts receiving love letters from a new admirer, they feel hauntingly familiar, stirring emotions she thought she’d buried. As the lines between past and present blur, she’s faced with an impossible question: is she falling for someone new—or rediscovering the man who once knew her heart better than anyone?
Love Letters for Other People is a tender, slow-burn second chance romance about heartbreak, forgiveness, and the words we’re too afraid to say out loud—until it’s almost too late.
Audrey Lane Stirs the Pot
By Alexis Hall
Summary
Audrey Lane insists she’s fine. So she quit her flashy London journalism job, left her ambitious ex-girlfriend, and retreated to sleepy Shropshire to write about local bake sales—what of it? Life is peaceful, predictable, and only slightly haunted by the voice of her ex running commentary in her head. Totally normal. Totally fine.
Until one ill-advised glass (or three) of wine lands her a spot on Bake Expectations, the UK’s most beloved—and most chaotic—baking show. Suddenly, Audrey’s quiet existence is whisked into a blur of buttercream, reality TV drama, and unexpected connections.
There’s Doris, a fellow contestant whose moving story of queer love during WWII rekindles Audrey’s long-dormant spark for storytelling. And there’s Jennifer Hallet—the razor-tongued, wildly intimidating producer who seems determined to make Audrey’s life (and heart) an utter mess.
Somewhere between soggy bottoms, second chances, and one spectacularly inappropriate crush, Audrey starts to realize that maybe “fine” isn’t the goal. Maybe it’s time to stop surviving and start living—messy, loud, and unapologetically herself.
✨ A queer romantic comedy about rediscovering passion, embracing imperfection, and finding love in the most unexpected kitchen.
Come Find Me Tonight
By Caitlin Rose
Summary
Appa has built her life around perfection—flawless photos, curated smiles, and the kind of fame that feeds on control. But when the lights go out, so does her façade. Beneath the influencer glow, she aches for something that burns, something real.
Robby—known online only as “Rook”—has watched her from the shadows for years, turning obsession into art through his anonymous, intoxicating videos. When a single accidental “like” from Appa’s verified account exposes their hidden connection, fantasy blurs into something far more dangerous.
What begins as a moment of power exchange spirals into a secret, all-consuming affair that thrives in the dark—but bruises, secrets, and desire have a way of surfacing. And when the real world starts catching up to their obsession, both Appa and Rook are forced to confront what’s left of themselves beyond the screens, the lies, and the twisted intimacy that binds them.
A haunting, provocative story about control, identity, and the cost of being truly seen.
December 11, 2025
Where You Belong
By Kristen Proby
Summary
In Where You Belong, Kristen Proby delivers a heartfelt, slow-burn finale to The Blackwells of Montana series—a small-town, second-chance romance steeped in longing, forgiveness, and the power of coming home.
Fifteen years after Juliet shattered his heart, Brooks Blackwell has built his life around the one lesson she taught him: love only leads to heartbreak. But when Juliet unexpectedly returns to Bitterroot Valley to open her dream restaurant, old wounds resurface—and so does the undeniable pull between them.
Juliet’s return isn’t just about starting over; it’s about reclaiming her independence after years spent trapped in a toxic relationship. But facing the man she once left behind stirs up more than memories—it reignites the love she’s never truly gotten over.
As their paths cross again amid Montana’s rugged beauty, Brooks and Juliet must confront the pain of the past and decide whether the home they’ve both been searching for has been waiting in each other all along.
Perfect for fans of emotional, small-town romances and lovers of redemption arcs, Where You Belong is a tender conclusion to a beloved series that reminds readers that sometimes love’s second chance is where you were meant to be all along.
December 14, 2025
The Once and Future Queen
By Paula Lafferty
Summary
Vera Price knows her life is going nowhere—fast. She’s twenty-two, heartbroken, stuck in an endless loop of restaurant shifts and morning runs that never seem to lead her anywhere. So when a peculiar stranger shows up claiming she’s actually the long-lost Queen Guinevere of Camelot, destined to return to a world of knights, curses, and forgotten magic… well, it’s the first thing in ages that feels like a direction worth sprinting toward.
One leap through a shimmering portal in Glastonbury later, Vera finds herself in a Camelot nothing like the stories. Magic is fading, the kingdom is fraying, and everyone seems to expect their newly returned queen to fix it all. Trouble is, Vera doesn’t remember any of her past life—not the politics, not the spells, and definitely not the complicated marriage she’s suddenly back in.
Lancelot becomes her first real ally, quick to make her laugh and quicker to stir the rumor mill. But King Arthur—her brooding, infuriatingly noble husband—is another story. Distant one moment, quietly tender the next, he’s a king carrying more secrets than Excalibur’s legend can hold. And the more time Vera spends in Camelot, the more she wonders whether the love story she’s always heard is the one she’s actually living.
With danger rising, magic slipping through the cracks, and her own memories refusing to cooperate, Vera must navigate a treacherous court, rediscover who she once was, and decide who she wants to be this time around. Because saving Camelot means rewriting history—and maybe her own happily-ever-after along with it.
A witty, feminist, time-twisting retelling, The Once and Future Queen blends adventure, romance, and reinvention into a story where destiny doesn’t just call—it kicks down the door.
December 16, 2025
In a Heartbeat
By Laura Pavlov
Summary
Wren Waterstone was once the golden girl of Rosewood River—an elite equestrian with her best friend, Cash Carmichael, always by her side. But somewhere between childhood dreams and grown-up heartbreak, something shattered between them. Now, years later, Wren’s back in town, her confidence bruised and her future uncertain.
Cash has built a quiet life running his family’s ranch, but the moment Wren walks back onto his land—courtesy of a temp job neither of them saw coming—old memories and buried feelings come galloping back. She’s distant, defensive, and clearly hiding something, but Cash has never been able to stay away from her for long.
As they navigate stubborn pride, painful misunderstandings, and the spark that never really died, Wren and Cash must decide if their second chance is worth risking everything for—including their hearts.
A heartfelt, slow-burn small-town romance, In a Heartbeat delivers all the swoon, sass, and signature Laura Pavlov charm fans adore—complete with a cowboy who never stopped loving his girl and a heroine brave enough to find her way home.
Love in Plane Sight
By Lauren Connolly
Summary
Beth Lundberg’s bucket list never included almost crashing in a small plane—but that’s exactly what happens when she ends up in the cockpit with her brother’s infuriatingly grumpy best friend, George Bunsen. After his emergency landing leaves her breathless (and not just from fear), Beth swears off both flying and George.
Then George does the unthinkable—offers her flight lessons. Discounted ones. Maybe it’s guilt, maybe it’s pity, but Beth can’t say no. Flying has always been her dream, even if it means scraping together her waitress tips while juggling her mom’s medical bills.
Up in the air, their chemistry is impossible to ignore. The man who once made her grind her teeth now makes her heart race faster than takeoff speed. But between George’s gruff defenses and the secret Beth’s been keeping—one that could crash everything before it takes off—their growing connection might be heading for turbulence.
A witty, heartfelt grumpy/sunshine romance about risk, redemption, and finding love at thirty thousand feet.
Avenging Angel
By Kristen Ashley
Summary
Willow Knightley has sworn off men—permanently. After one too many heartbreaks and a lifetime of being let down, she’s done waiting for someone to treat her right. But Gabriel Stark, her dangerously composed, maddeningly capable former bodyguard from Nightingale Investigations, has other plans.
Gabe isn’t just interested—he’s all in. A man who’s battled his own ghosts and come out harder, wiser, and more certain than ever, he’s decided that Willow is it for him. And when Gabe Stark wants something, he doesn’t just go after it—he claims it.
But Willow’s independence runs deep, and her heart has battle scars of its own. As the Angels dig into a case that puts them squarely in the crosshairs of danger, Willow discovers that Gabe’s calm exterior hides secrets darker than she ever imagined.
What starts as a war of wills becomes a fight for trust, healing, and the kind of love that refuses to quit. Avenging Angel is a classic Kristen Ashley romance—equal parts grit, heat, and heart—with a hero worth surrendering to and a heroine strong enough to make him earn it.
December 26, 2025
The Flirting Game
By Lauren Blakely
Summary
When interior designer Skylar moves in next door to her new client—a brooding, shirtless hockey star who grumbles more than he talks—she’s determined to keep things professional. Sure, Ford looks unfairly good lifting weights on his porch at sunrise, but she’s got her own goals: a thriving business, a little revenge on her ex, and absolutely no time for distractions.
Except Ford is a distraction. A tall, muscle-bound, impossible-to-ignore distraction.
What starts as banter between neighbors turns into a sizzling one-night kiss they both swear to forget. But when Skylar’s ex resurfaces and Ford volunteers to play the part of her fake boyfriend, their “pretend” relationship spirals into real chemistry, public attention, and feelings neither of them planned for.
Now Ford’s facing the end of his career, Skylar’s falling for the one man she swore off, and their flirty game of revenge might just turn into the real thing.
December 30, 2025
Bluebird Gold
By Devney Perry
Summary
Set against the rugged beauty of 1980s Montana, Bluebird Gold by Devney Perry is a romantic and suspenseful journey through grief, secrets, and the kind of love that takes you by surprise.
When schoolteacher Tessa Ward arrives in the quiet lakeside town of Dalton to settle her late father’s estate, she expects a lonely winter spent packing boxes and saying goodbye. Instead, she uncovers a tangled web of mystery surrounding his death—and a trail of clues tied to the local legend of lost Montana gold.
Sheriff Cosi Raynes never planned to get involved with the woman renting the old cabin at Bluebird Lake—especially since she’s teaching his young son. But as danger circles closer and Tessa’s hunt for the truth turns deadly, Cosi can’t ignore the fierce instinct to protect her… or the connection neither of them saw coming.
With a nostalgic, small-town backdrop and the crackle of a forbidden, slow-burning romance, Bluebird Gold is a page-turning blend of mystery and heart. Devney Perry delivers a story of love born from loss, courage found in unexpected places, and the shimmering hope that some treasures—like true love—are worth the risk of being found.
We Who Will Die
By Stacia Stark
Summary
Arvelle has spent her entire life fighting to keep her little brothers alive in Thorn—the brutal district where hunger, danger, and the ruling vampire elite dictate every breath. But when a powerful vampire arrives at her door with an ultimatum that threatens everything she loves, Arvelle makes a desperate vow sealed in magic: she will assassinate the emperor, the ancient, god-forged tyrant who has ruled their world for centuries.
To get close enough to kill him, Arvelle must first survive the Sundering, a vicious gladiatorial trial where competitors bleed, claw, and outwit one another for a chance to join the emperor’s elite guard. The arena is merciless—and so is the Primus, the emperor’s feared protector, who seems determined to break her spirit. But the warrior beneath the armor is a ghost from Arvelle’s past, a vampire whose betrayal once carved a wound she’s never forgotten.
Forced into an uneasy alliance with both the Primus and the emperor’s dangerously charming son, Rorrik, Arvelle is pulled into a world of court politics, dark power, and shifting loyalties. Rorrik alone understands the strange new abilities she’s beginning to manifest—magic so rare and dangerous it could doom her if the emperor discovers it.
As deadly secrets unravel and the gods themselves stir, Arvelle realizes her mission is far bigger than vengeance. To survive the Sundering and bring down the emperor, she must untangle a conspiracy that reaches into her own past—and decide whether she can trust the two vampires fate has bound to her.
A fierce slow-burn romantasy filled with gladiator trials, forbidden alliances, god-touched magic, and dangerously complicated men, We Who Will Die launches a sweeping new series where sacrifice is inevitable…and survival is anything but guaranteed.
In Your Dreams
By Sarah Adams
Summary
Madison Walker swore she’d left Rome, Kentucky—and all the expectations that came with it—far behind. After years fighting to make her mark in New York’s cutthroat culinary scene, she returns home with bruised confidence, empty pockets, and a quiet fear that maybe she isn’t meant to succeed at all. A fresh start seems impossible…until she’s offered the chance to become head chef of a brand-new restaurant on the edge of town.
The offer comes with one complication: James Huxley. Her brother’s best friend. The steady, soft-spoken farmer she’s known forever—and the last person she expects to be betting on her. James has spent most of his life keeping things simple: tend the land, keep the peace, avoid risks. But Madison has always been his exception, and backing his brother’s restaurant idea is the closest he’s ever come to choosing his own dream.
As the two race to open their farm-to-table passion project, the lines between “professional” and “something more” blur faster than they can chop an onion. The townspeople are delighted to help push them together, gossip is flying, and Madison starts seeing pieces of home—and James—in a new light.
But with family tensions rising, a looming disaster threatening their hard work, and Madison’s self-doubt creeping back in, she’ll have to choose whether to trust in her own talent…and in the man who’s quietly rooted for her all along.
Full of heart, humor, farm-fresh charm, and slow-blooming love, In Your Dreams is a tender small-town romance about finding your footing, facing old fears, and realizing the dreams you left behind might be the ones worth keeping.
Wrap-Up
From steamy lab partners and ghostly second chances to fated lovers fighting the gods themselves, December 2025’s romances are closing out the year with a bang (and a few swoons). Whether you’re adding one or all of these to your TBR, there’s no better way to end the year than getting lost in a love story that reminds you—no matter the chaos, there’s always room for a little romance.
Which of these new releases are you most excited for? Tell me in the comments or tag me over on Instagram or TikTok—I love seeing what everyone’s reading this season!
