Books like 'Illicit Desires'
Readers who enjoyed Illicit Desires by Ashley James also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance gay romance cheating friends to lovers queer-awakening angst new adult bad boys college
-
Wolves vs. Hearts by Anna Green
The second volume of The Heart Rate of a Mouse trilogy. A new band, a new city, and new lover - Ryan dusts himself off and starts again, but the god-like status that his former band's tragic end has given him isn't as easy to shake off. As he should be focusing on making a comeback with his new band, he runs into the one person he hasn't been able to forget... -
A Charm of Finches by Suanne Laqueur
“I swear. Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it. ”. Ex-escort Javier Landes is asking for his third chance at love. And the third time is the charm. He meets an art therapist named Steffen Finch and what starts as casual deepens into a passionate relationship—everything Jav has ever wanted, and everything he fears losing. Stef’s business card reads Curator & Sailor... -
Sponsored links / Remove ads
-
A Charm of Finches by Suanne Laqueur
Rated: 4.72 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"I swear. Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it. ". Ex-hustler Javier Landes is asking for his third chance at love. The third time proves to be the charm when he meets a Manhattan art therapist named Steffen Finch. What starts as casual and curious deepens into a passionate relationship--everything Jav has ever wanted, and everything he fears losing... -
A Charm of Finches by Suanne Laqueur
Rated: 4.72 of 5 stars · 16 ratings“I swear. Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it. ”. Ex-hustler Javier Landes is asking for his third chance at love. The third time proves to be the charm when he meets a Manhattan art therapist named Steffen Finch. What starts as casual and curious deepens into a passionate, soulful relationship—everything Jav has ever wanted, and everything he fears losing... -
-
Seduction by Cassie Hargrove, Story Brooks
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsᴀ ʟᴇꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ ʜᴀꜱ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴇᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ…. The Deadly Seven were something I never could have prepared for. They came into my life like a silent stalker, claiming my heart and body, and I gave into them willingly. I love those seven broken souls, but even love has it’s limits... -
Triangulation by Gregory Ashe
After a recent case with a treacherous client, North and Shaw are ready to go back to work building Borealis Investigations. They’re also ready to go back to dodging their feelings for each other, with neither man ready to deal with the powerful emotions the Matty Fennmore case stirred up... -
Dissent: A Charity Romance Anthology by Brighton Walsh, Kennedy Fox
For National Read a Book day, DISSENT is available in eBook and paperback! DISSENT is a charity romance anthology with NEW, never before published content from over 150 authors of all romance genres. All proceeds from the eBook and paperbacks will be donated to organizations benefiting reproductive rights in the United States, particularly in areas where people need them more than ever... -
The Air That I Breathe by Cara Dee
The Game Series, Book 3. 5. “In that moment, I stopped caring about right and wrong. ”. The only thing that stood between us were the boundaries set by others, by society, by our parents. But together we could knock them down. Together, we could find freedom and live life on our own terms. Screw the rest of the world. He was all that mattered. He was the air that I breathed... -
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 4 by 945
GONE BABY GONE. After learning more about Gunwoo’s shrouded past, Eui-joon realizes he’s in love with him. Just as Eui-joon finally decides to tell him how he feels, Gunwoo vanishes. In desperation, Eui-joon goes to Gunwoo’s associate, Chaehyun, to see if he knows where Gunwoo has gone, and if he’s all right... -
Domesticated Beast by Onley James
JAVIER DE LA FUENTE is a criminal, an ex-con with a long line of offenses, atoning for his sins by rescuing abused animals and advocating for child victims. But that doesn’t mean he’s a saint. Javier learned years ago that what’s right and what’s legal aren’t always the same thing. BOWIE BAKER is a ballet dancer, a soloist doing his best to get ahead in his LA dance company... -
Olive Juice by T.J. Klune
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIt begins with a message that David cannot ignore:. I want to see you. He agrees, and on a cold winter’s night, David and Phillip will come together to sift through the wreckage of the memory of a life no longer lived. David is burdened, carrying with him the heavy guilt of the past six years upon his shoulders. Phillip offers redemption. -
Ex Meridian by A.E. Via
Police Lieutenants, God and Day are under intense pressure from the chief to take back control of Atlanta’s streets. The last thing their task force needs is a pair of trained killers in town with a personal score to settle... -
Fracture by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott
After three years, Snow and Jude’s relationship is still passionate and strong. They’re getting ready for a romantic vacation at home when Jude receives a horrifying call no one wants to receive. His youngest brother was found barely clinging to life. While Jude’s family is rallying around Jordan, Jude is determined to find out what happened to him... -
17 Black and 29 Red by Richard Rider
Second part in the Stockholm Syndrome trilogy:. Some mistakes are too enormous and some people are too stubborn for anything to work except running away, but the world is never as big as you need it to be and eventually you can't help circling back to where you started. -
-
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 5 by 945
THE LONG GOODBYE. It's been three years since Eui-joon last saw Gunwoo and there have been a lot of changes. Eui-joon no longer works his punishing graveyard shift at the convenience store, but instead works in sales at a small company where, as the newest employee, he's constantly running errands for his boss... -
Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams by Ashley James
The memory of Josiah DeMille has haunted me for close to a decade. The way he looked. The way he smelled. The way his lips felt pressed against mine, even when they shouldn’t have been. The one person I’ve never been able to get over. The one singular part of my past I’ve never been able to move on from...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening cheating found-family angst other-man-woman m-m -
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 5 by 945
THE LONG GOODBYE. It’s been three years since Eui-joon last saw Gunwoo and there have been a lot of changes. Eui-joon no longer works his punishing graveyard shift at the convenience store, but instead works in sales at a small company where, as the newest employee, he’s constantly running errands for his boss... -
Haven by K.A. Merikan
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratings— Not the same river, not the same man. —. After seven years away, Seth and Domenico are back in Sicily with one goal in mind. Revenge. The man who’d hounded their family is still alive, and as untouchable as he’s always been. While they wait for the right moment to strike, reality clashes with fond memories of home... -
Gabe and Ian by Lane Hart, D.B. West
Gabriel Cross has spent his entire life keeping a secret from his older brother. The tattoo artist all but inked the two words on his flesh, and yet Abe still hasn’t figured it out. Terrified of losing the only family he has left, Gabriel keeps his mouth shut, even though he hates himself for being a coward. Ian Long loves women... -
Anti-Valentine by T. Ashleigh, Ashlyn Drewek
This Valentine’s Day…the bad boys come out to play…. Get ready for an anti-Valentine to remember in this limited release M/M romance anthology. Sixteen authors have come together to bring you a collection of brand-new short stories with a combination of dark, enemies to lovers, and bully themes... -
WTF by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsI don’t do commitment. And though I swing both ways, I don’t do men either. It’s too messy, too stressful, and just asking for trouble. I’d rather shine bright like the sun than drown in the rain, so I adopt a pounce-and-bounce lifestyle for which my sparkling charm keeps me from being hated. When I show up in Sweden for a semester abroad, I expect a roomie. What I don’t expect is Lars... -
Complicated Hearts by Ashley Jade
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsThings are going to get. .. complicated. This is Book two (the final book) of the Complicated Hearts Duet. Book one must be read first. Warning: This book is not for everyone. These characters are flawed and the situation is intense and frustrating. Emotions—all of them—run high. If you're looking for perfect characters and a perfect story. .. this book isn't for you. Trigger Warning:... -
Possessive Park Avenue Prince by Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank
Who are we? Like you even need to ask. We’re the seven richer-than-sin legacies causing debauchery at the prestigious Astor University in Manhattan. Some call us spoiled. Some call us trouble. But everyone calls us the Park Avenue Princes. Daire Connery. “The Bad Boy”. I’m not a man of many words. But when I do speak, it usually starts with F and ends with you. Keep to myself. Don’t let anyone in... -
Garron Park: Special Edition by Nordika Night
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 35 ratings*This is the same book with the same content as Garron Park [the original] but with special edition formatting and illustrated cover. *. Garron Park, where hope dies and no one ever gets ahead. Until… When Devon Sawyer desperately searches for his brother in the middle of the night, beaten and broken, he finds Maddox Kane instead... -
-
His Coveted Obsession by Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPLEASE READ THE BLURB AND WARNINGS IF YOU'RE SENSITIVE TO TRIGGERS! And please, please be careful of spoilers and giving away endings of books. Use spoiler tags. When obsession and possessiveness collide…. Thomas Lauder. Easton is my hero, and I’m obsessed. He comes into my life like a knight in shining armor, saving me from a horrible customer at the coffee shop... -
Salvation by Cassie Hargrove, Story Brooks
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsIt started with an Obsession…. We knew from the moment we saw her that she would be ours, and we used all of our means of Seduction to prove it to her. .. However, with our way of life comes trouble. It didn’t matter how much Devotion we had, it wasn’t enough to keep her safe, and now we’re here. We’re fighting for our lives and everything we never knew we’d have... -
Midnight Target by Elle Kennedy
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Score and Midnight Revenge. .. Four years ago, Cate’s entire life changed when she discovered she was the daughter of a supersoldier. But Jim Morgan’s overprotectiveness has pushed her away. These days, she’s working as a freelance photographer and living the dangerous life Jim never wanted for her... -
Crashing Hearts by K.A. Knight
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPine Valley is a school that’s both rich in history and legacy, and it’s once more opening its doors to another year of students. Skylar Warren owns the streets of Pine Valley and everybody in it. From cars to people, there is nothing he wants that he can’t get—until now... -
Surviving the Merge by C.P. Harris
My name is Justin, and when I was seventeen, I fell in love with a boy named Damon. Damon was sick, only I didn’t know it at the time. And like any disease left untreated, it festered and burrowed into the unaffected areas of us, until we were both so far from healthy, we were killing one another. Then a tragedy sparked our implosion... -
Chip's Forever Daddy by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsChip’s had a good example of a Daddy—and the absolute worst. Ollie’s determined to give him the best…forever. If Chip didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck at all. All he’s ever wanted is a man to see him, truly hear him, and love him. Ollie is the definition of protective, with the muscle to back it up...Categorized as:
queer found-family friends to lovers new adult m-m contemporary age difference daddy-kink -
Reigniting Chase by Jeanne St. James
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsAn unexpected collaboration between two authors that’s hot enough to spark a fire. .. Chase. After an excruciating loss, I’m desperate for a fresh start. Away from the painful memories. Away from everyone I know and anyone who knows my story. That’s how I end up in Eagle’s Landing, Pennsylvania... -
The Mad House by Liza James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA broken home made whole through promises of eternal life and family beyond. On your knees. Whisper the prayers. Obey thy Father and Mother. You'll be made whole in the Spirit once we're all together again. One sister escapes. The other is trapped, carrying the weight of all focus from their parents for years to come... -
How Much for a Broken Heart? by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen the game turns deadly for a SEAL and his Ranger, love becomes the most dangerous mission of all. In a single devastating morning, August's life crumbles. His covert assignment derails disastrously as the family he's meant to safeguard falls prey to the ruthless Cooper River cartel...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer-awakening angst queer hurt-comfort suspense m-m grumpy sunshine -
Loose Cannon by Sidney Bell
Don't miss this brand-new male/male romance series from Sidney Bell, author of. Bad Judgment. Released after five years in the system for assault, streetwise Edgar-Allen Church is ready to leave the past behind and finally look to his future. In need of a place to crash, he's leaning on Miller Quinn... -
-
Unquiet by Melanie Hansen
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLoren Smith has been in love with Eliot Devlin almost his entire life. During their turbulent childhood and teen years, Loren didn’t always understand Eliot, and sometimes he could be a challenge, but Eliot was the only one to ever truly ease Loren’s deep loneliness and accept him... -
Nevermore by A.K. Graves
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen Leonor died, she didn’t see a light. There were no angels, no pearly gates. She didn’t see anything at all, just a cold, dark void. But she did hear music…. Leonor heard her music, the music she made with The Ravens, and she was glad it was waiting for her in the end. Until everything went eerily silent, and she was pulled from the afterlife and thrown into the life after... -
Home Then by A.E. Jensen
Colton. After being in the army for more than 20 years, Colton returns to his home town in Nebraska. His estranged uncle has offered him a job at his auto shop. With nothing to his name, he hopes to start over and build some sort of life. Preferably a quiet life where he doesn’t have to deal with the rest of the world...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer found-family queer-awakening contemporary m-m hurt-comfort military -
Unmask You by Avril Ashton
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsTheirs is a perfect marriage. Until a home invasion exposes secrets, lies, and shatters everything Elias and Lucky hold dear. Too many bodies. Rivers of blood. Elias Kote sees them all in his sleep. Only the love of his husband and daughter keeps him alive and fighting. This contract killer is exhausted and weighed down by all the lies he tells every day. Who he is. What he does... -
Kiss Your Scars by Avril Ashton
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBeing the king of Atlanta’s underworld used to have its perks, but lately all undercover agent Renzo Vega has seen is the downside. Someone is auctioning off women in his city, and he’s damn sure not about to let that offense stand. Just as he’s set to make a move, Renzo’s club is ambushed and he’s shot. Unsure of who to trust, he turns to the one man he definitely knows wants him dead... -
Santino by Linden Bell
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEveryone says that Hayden is a fun, easy-going guy. But when I move into the empty room in his apartment, he's the opposite of friendly. Grumpy and fussy, he's always nagging me about where I leave my stuff, how loud I play my music, how long I take in the shower, and the list goes on. I can't seem to do anything right. So I won't even bother...Categorized as:
found-family queer hurt-comfort forced proximity m-m dark contemporary length-medium -
Remember Me by Avril Ashton
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTheirs was a connection that began and ended in the shadows. Secret moments. Missed opportunities and what-ifs. Wanting more than what they had, but grateful with the bits of happiness they snatched. A bullet stole it away, setting two men adrift. One waiting in the darkness for light to shine once again... -
Deliverance by Garrett Leigh
Banished gangster Benito Martell is living on the edge. An explosive hook-up in a club gifts him the relief he craves, but nothing about his life is ever so simple. Complications abound, and before long, he’s falling for the only man who can save his family from eviction. Recovering addict Mickey Larwood has worked hard to leave his past behind... -
Shattered Pieces by K.M. Neuhold
“I was sure my heart had withered away years ago, but then you smiled at me, and I felt it beat again. ” ~Gage. Years ago, I fell in love with my best friend’s little brother. Then, he took his own life, leaving me shattered and unable to piece my heart back together. I’ve been a zombie for nine long years...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary tearjerkers tortured hero dark length-short -
Strays by Garrett Leigh
! ! SECOND EDITION WITH EXTENDED CONTENT ! ! Award winning MM romance. A grumpy hero with the sweetest heart as forced proximity and found family give two damaged men the HEA they deserve. Work, sleep, work, repeat. Nero’s lonely life suits him just fine until his best friend, Cass, asks him to take on a new apprentice—a beautiful young man who’s never set foot in a professional kitchen... -
-
Codirection by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThey killed a girl to keep their secrets. They won’t stop there. A new home, a fresh start, a chance to do things right this time—and Shaw and North are determined to make it work. But the night of their housewarming party, things don’t go as planned. A reporter arrives, wanting to talk to North about his ex-husband, his father, and a criminal syndicate... -
Resist by K.A. Knight
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSanctuary is more than a band—it’s a home for the lost and broken. No one knows that better than Ryker, the lead singer of the newly rising rock band. It seems he is unable to go even one day without being in the spotlight, and not always for good reasons. From run-ins with his label to arrests and a long line of broken hearts, it seems this rock god is determined to enjoy fame...Categorized as:
friends to lovers found-family queer queer-awakening forced proximity m-m rockstars abuse -
Custody Battles by Gregory Ashe
Some parents would die for their children. Others will do a whole lot worse. Emery Hazard and his husband, John-Henry Somerset, are settling into their new normal—at home, with the latest addition to their family, and at work, as Somers adapts to his new role and Hazard manages his expanding agency. The only thing Hazard is worried about is getting through dinner with his in-laws... -
Black Lies by K.A. Merikan
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 11 ratings"That man is not your fairytale ending. ". Griffith has spent two of the most amazing years with his boyfriend Mark, who is undoubtedly The One. Mark is everything Griffith could want in a man. Sexy, kind, always there for him, showering him with gifts and anticipating his needs... -
Consumed by Bailey Nicole
Welcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa…. Growing up in a small town in Georgia, I never dreamed of starting a band that would blow up from a viral video or that I’d live in a mansion on the beach in Miami, Florida. Since we were seven years old, my best friend Percy had dreamed big enough for both of us. He’d always known this would be our future...Categorized as:
friends to lovers cheating other-man-woman queer found-family m-m contemporary forced proximity -
Pragma by Paulina Ian-Kane
He comes first. Akira Hebikawa, the heir of the strongest ruling Yakuza family. Unhinged, impulsive, belligerent, careless. A continuous pain in the butt for his bodyguard and right hand. Me. We couldn’t be more different. We’re opposites who got together to fight against a common enemy, then never parted...Categorized as:
queer new adult queer-awakening friends to lovers found-family dark multicultural m-m
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.

