Books like 'Dead of Summer'
Readers who enjoyed Dead of Summer by A.J. Merlin also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance funny somnophilia horror m-f suspense praise-kink forced proximity bondage
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Make Me, Sir by Cherise Sinclair
Her job is to make his life miserable. His job is to make her submit. Whose heart will surrender first? Across the country, rebellious BDSM submissives are being systematically kidnapped, one from each club. When her friend falls prey to the slavers, FBI victim specialist Gabrielle volunteers to be bait in a club not yet hit: the Shadowlands...Categorized as:
bondage bdsm alpha male suspense sassy heroine mystery possessive hero strong heroine -
![Lights Out by Navessa Allen]()
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
“I don’t need another kink.”That thought pops into my head whenever I pull up my favorite social media app, but alas, every time I scroll, I learn something new about myself, and another one is born. And yes, I know I’m responsible for what the algorithm shows me, but I’m trying to ignore that fact.Lately, my feed has been dominated by masked men... -
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![Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver]()
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
A friends-to-lovers dark romantic comedy full of murder, chaos, and spice, unlike anything you’ve read before.Every serial killer needs a friend.Every game must have a winner.When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul... -
![The Wicked Aftermath by Melissa Foster]()
The Wicked Aftermath by Melissa Foster
THE WICKED AFTERMATH is an emotionally gripping story of love, loss, and hope, with a rich and entrancing happily ever after. Set on the sandy shores of Cape Cod, the Wickeds feature fiercely protective heroes, strong heroines, and unbreakable family bonds. If you think bikers are all the same, you haven't met the Dark Knights. The Dark Knights are a motorcycle club, not a gang...Categorized as:
new adult suspense sweet heroine m-f working class hero height-difference caretaking hurt-comfort -
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![Unchosen Ruler by Maggie Cole]()
Unchosen Ruler by Maggie Cole
He’s the future unchosen ruler of the O’Malleys.Locked away for too many years.Underestimated and pissed off.Protective beyond all rationale.Possessive unlike any man I’ve ever known.I should run. Except Liam O'Malley isn't a choice. He's the air I breathe.Still, I wonder if I can really be queen of the O’Malleys—especially when I discover the truth about who I am...Categorized as:
suspense possessive hero sweet heroine sassy heroine independent heroine alpha male m-f mafia -
![Rex by Lola Wright, Pam Clinton]()
Rex by Lola Wright, Pam Clinton
AriaLeaving Chicago and my mafia family ties behind, I plant new roots in Denver. The move accomplished a couple of very important things. It put me closer to my brother and got me away from an arranged marriage within Chicago’s toughest crime family. My much-loved brother is a member of a motorcycle club, The Devil’s Angels, and they welcomed me and my family with open arms... -
![Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver]()
Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver
“The undisputed queen of dark rom-coms is back with a new swoony, one-of-a-kind banger, and the book world better get ready for it!” —Ali Hazelwood, #1 New York Times bestselling authorFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Brynne Weaver comes a wickedly delicious new series where dark romantic comedy meets thrilling suspense—and where falling in love can be a killer...Categorized as:
from hate to love suspense mystery m-f forced proximity bdsm bondage childfree-couple -
![Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann]()
Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThe summer before fourth grade, Colten Mosley moved into the house across the street from mine, and we became inseparable.He played the piano and baseball.I had a penchant for dead things while at the same time imagining what it would be like to kiss Colten.We were filled with curiosity and overly active imaginations.We were also forbidden to be more than friends.But that didn’t stop us...Categorized as:
mystery suspense forced proximity alpha male from hate to love office m-f contemporary -
![Cruel Idols by Sorcha Black]()
Cruel Idols by Sorcha Black
How can my favorite author be such a suspicious alphahole?All I wanted was an autograph, but Vandal Stokes is livid when he finds me on his property. The sketchy contract he makes me sign traps me alone with him and his gorgeous friend, Zero, for months.While we adjust to the awkwardness, Zero volunteers to be my writing mentor and assists me with my creepy research... -
![Hans by S.J. Tilly]()
Hans by S.J. Tilly
Cassie: How to make the handsome, brooding man across the street notice me. Step one: Deliver baked goods to his front porch, even though he never answers his door and always returns the containers when I’m not home. Step two: Slowly lose my mind as a whole year passes without ever running into him, no matter how hard I try...Categorized as:
possessive hero tortured hero alpha male sweet heroine height-difference suspense praise-kink m-f -
![Slay Ride by Lauren Biel]()
Slay Ride by Lauren Biel
Snow won’t be the only thing getting blown Bennett My mother is in a medical facility, and I’m running out of money to pay for her care after screwing up a recent contract hit. To make matters worse, I’m no closer to finding my missing sister. I need a distraction. That’s where Catarina Novak comes into the picture...Categorized as:
from hate to love suspense m-f fetish secret-relationship forced proximity bad boys tortured hero -
![Massimo by Olivia Thorn]()
Massimo by Olivia Thorn
Lucia: I hated him from the second he opened his mouth. Sure, he was gorgeous – 6’7” with more muscles than Henry Cavill. And those warm brown eyes… and the deep, deep voice… But he was a mafioso, and he tried to tell me what to do. I’ve had enough of THAT to last me five lifetimes...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love suspense m-f breeding sassy heroine strong heroine bad boys -
![Alluring Abyss by K.E. Osborn]()
Alluring Abyss by K.E. Osborn
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe Tampa Royal Bastards are riding back into town!Join Ominous as he falls into the alluring abyss... -
![Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires]()
Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires
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... -
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![Andrey by LeAnn Ashers]()
Andrey by LeAnn Ashers
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsNicoleSince I was a little girl, raising my younger sister had always been my main priority. I never imagined, however, that taking care of her would put me in danger.Men came for her, but kidnapped me instead by mistake.Then he rescued me, and on that day, he claimed me.Andrey is mine just as much as I am his.AndreyThe second her eyes met mine I saw the fear in them... -
![Mac by Jane Henry]()
Mac by Jane Henry
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBryn Aitkens is the daughter of my enemy.And my enemies must pay.Vengeance for the wrong done my family has driven me.Consumed me.And collateral damage means nothing.So I’ll charm the innocent girl.Seduce her.Win her over, heart and body.Ruin her for anyone but me.And then strike the Aitkens family when they least suspect it.For no enemy of the Cowen Clan goes unpunished…Including her... -
![The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori]()
The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
She’s a romantic at heart, living in the most unromantic of worlds . . . Nicknamed Sweet Abelli for her docile nature, Elena smiles on cue and has a charming response for everything. She’s the favored daughter, the perfect mafia principessa . . . or was. Now, all she can see in the mirror’s reflection is blood staining her hands like crimson paint... -
![Fixate by K.E. Osborn]()
Fixate by K.E. Osborn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe’s a part of me.Even though I don’t know her name.The woman I’ve been exchanging letters with and developed feelings for over the past five years. But I can’t help feeling torn in two when I’m suddenly pulled toward another. Maxxy, the club’s horticulturalist, is strong, sassy, and she gives me so much lip the aggravation is exasperating.She infuriates me. She ignites me...Categorized as:
suspense mystery alpha male forced proximity from hate to love friends to lovers angst bikers -
![Obliterate by K.E. Osborn]()
Obliterate by K.E. Osborn
We met a long time ago.Our bond, instant.And it didn’t matter that she was older than me.At the time I didn’t see her as anything but an incredible woman who stepped up and cared for me when no one else would. Now, years later, Ingrid is the ‘mother’ of the club I’ve transferred to.The thought of us wasn’t a fantasy for me back then.But it’s becoming one now...Categorized as:
alpha male suspense mystery m-f forced proximity hurt-comfort caretaking tortured heroine -
![My Dark Jock: The Complete Series by Arden Long]()
My Dark Jock: The Complete Series by Arden Long
“You hide it so well from everyone else. Your friends, the guys on the team. But you can’t hide it from me. I can see how much you need to be dominated. I own you, and I can do whatever I want with you, and you’ll love every second of it. Isn’t that right?”Meet Malcolm Blackwood—tall, dark, brooding, and undeniably hot. The problem? He hates my guts...Categorized as:
bdsm from hate to love alpha male secret-relationship bondage fetish bad boys new adult -
![One Killer Night by Trilina Pucci]()
One Killer Night by Trilina Pucci
“Whip smart and hilarious! Pucci is well on her way to literary domination.” —Abby Jimenez, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.USA Today bestselling author Trilina Pucci cranks up the heat in this sexy slasher filled with dark family secrets, classic horror tropes, and banter as sharp as a deranged killer’s knife.Love is patient.Love is kind... -
![The Violence of My Affection by Sorcha Black]()
The Violence of My Affection by Sorcha Black
When we pick up a stranger who would make Satan blush, my husband's fantasy goes off the rails.Now, the man won't leave us alone. I’d call him a stalker, except we invited him into our bed.He’s a force of absolute chaos and seems determined to ruin our (currently) long-distance marriage…and now, he wants to get me pregnant?Loïc is charming. Loïc is unpredictable.He’s impulsive and dangerous... -
![Sinners Retreat by Lauren Biel]()
Sinners Retreat by Lauren Biel
All’s fair in murder and mayhemEzraLove isn’t on my mind when I sign up for the yearly Sinners Retreat, but a chance meeting at the airport changes everything.We click right away, and my bond with Kindra only deepens when we discover our mutual love for the most macabre hobbies. But then she brings up her brother’s unsolved murder and her real reason for being here—to find his killer... -
![Twisted Promises by Lilian Harris]()
Twisted Promises by Lilian Harris
I hate everything about him. I hate his smile. I hate his laugh, and most of all, I hate how he makes me feel—so completely alive with every forbidden kiss.Gio is the son of the Italian Mafia and I’m an Irish Mob princess. An assassin who swore her life to the cause.We were never meant to find each other.But one night changed everything. I was about to end his life, while he was about to end mine... -
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![Secret Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart]()
Secret Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart
LUNABaptized in blood, I’m marked for death.Each time it comes, he appears. My masked protector.Saving me for reasons only known to him.But the Vigilante is playing a deadly game.One I must stop before he claims another soul.My new boyfriend, Hunter, vows to keep me safe.But what if we become the final casualties in the Vigilante's secret vendetta?VIGILANTEI’m the most dangerous man in the city...Categorized as:
suspense mystery forced proximity possessive hero from hate to love bad boys tortured heroine dark -
![Bloodlines by Tabatha Kiss]()
Bloodlines by Tabatha Kiss
The Snake Eyes Series: Stand-alone Romances. Interconnecting Stories. One Unforgettable Adventure. I gave her a baby… and she started a war. LUKA There’s been a decade of peace between our mafia families but one moment of passion could tear the whole damn truce apart. Sofia asked for my help on the night before her wedding day...Categorized as:
new adult suspense mystery bondage breeding strong heroine sassy heroine tortured heroine -
![Without Regret by Aubrey Bondurant]()
Without Regret by Aubrey Bondurant
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRejection and I have an understanding: I don't put myself out there and it doesn't screw with my life any more. I keep my feelings hidden, and my heart locked away. It was working well until he came along and threatened my impenetrable armor, one honeyed word at a time. With his clean cut looks, and southern manners, I'm convinced he's not my type...Categorized as:
tortured heroine strong heroine working class hero office bdsm sweet-hero humor contemporary -
![Protecting Charity by Ann-Marie Davis]()
Protecting Charity by Ann-Marie Davis
Tensions are rising for the Moreno Family’s most ruthless enforcer… I’m so close to finding my brother, I can feel it. But now there’s a new problem thrown into the mix. A young girl has been sold to the cartel, and I can’t stand by and watch that happen.With a new enemy on my tail, I’m not sure who I can trust… or how to navigate the increasingly steamy encounters with these men...Categorized as:
mystery suspense bdsm sassy heroine strong heroine tortured heroine alpha male cruel hero -
![Stolen by J.M. Johnson]()
Stolen by J.M. Johnson
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDante wasn't looking for a woman. He was content with being a single dad, and slowly but surely taking his place as leader of his club, Devil's Disciples.His life was busy, and he didn't need women complicating things.Fuck them, leave them. Don't catch feelings.But Dante had never met a woman like Rachel.Rachel has a past. One she has worked hard at erasing...Categorized as:
from hate to love forced proximity new adult suspense dark single-father insta-love betrayal -
![Charity's Torment by Ann-Marie Davis]()
Charity's Torment by Ann-Marie Davis
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAll I wanted was to find my brother after he disappeared. I didn't plan on somebody trying to make me disappear, too.All in a day's work for the Moreno Family's feistiest enforcer.When the twists begin to fly and I'm turned in new directions, I realize there's more to my brother's sudden disappearance than meets the eye... -
![Duck's Salvation by Andi Rhodes]()
Duck's Salvation by Andi Rhodes
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDuck…I finally have the life I want: an amazing fiancée, a baby on the way, Satan’s Legacy MC as my family. And then an accident, or my own stupidity, changes the course of my life forever. Unable to look at me, my fiancé removes herself from the picture, leaving me with a premature baby who requires more love and care than I know how to give... -
![The Three Week Deal by Hannah Shield]()
The Three Week Deal by Hannah Shield
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s a smoking-hot firefighter with a wild side.And now, my obnoxious new roommate. When my apartment catches fire, I know I’m in for a hell of a day. It only gets worse when I meet my temporary new roommate—the same grouchy firefighter who just yelled at me. Matteo De Luca is a tattooed, loud-mouthed, alpha hunk of a man...Categorized as:
suspense mystery forced proximity from hate to love humor dark multicultural military -
![MARCUS: Sins of the Father by Nicole James]()
MARCUS: Sins of the Father by Nicole James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Nicole James, comes aSTEAMY, FORBIDDEN MC ROMANCE! The SECOND GENERATION has arrived!This is the first book in her spin-off from her bestselling Evil Dead MC series.Brandy--When a bunch of bad-boy bikers walk through the door to the bar, one catches my eye.He's got a killer smile, and an air of wickedness about him that draws me in... -
![MARCUS: Sins of the Father by Nicole James]()
MARCUS: Sins of the Father by Nicole James
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsFrom USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Nicole James, comes aSTEAMY, FORBIDDEN MC ROMANCE! The SECOND GENERATION has arrived!This is the first book in her spin-off from her bestselling Evil Dead MC series.Brandy--When a bunch of bad-boy bikers walk through the door to the bar, one catches my eye.He's got a killer smile, and an air of wickedness about him that draws me in... -
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![Bits and Pieces by Bijou Hunter, Noelle Zane]()
Bits and Pieces by Bijou Hunter, Noelle Zane
Silas “Nomad” Bennings doesn’t do normal. As the fearsome enforcer for the Steel Berserkers Motorcycle Club, he refuses to live by other people’s rules. However, this time, the stubborn son of a bitch might have gone too far.Landry Copper spent her life bouncing from one dangerous situation to another... -
![Cashmere Cruelty by Nicole Fox]()
Cashmere Cruelty by Nicole Fox
When is the worst time to tell someone he’s going to be a father?Probably the day of the wedding…When he is getting married to someone else.Well, that is exactly what I did.But my hands were tied.Literally.Matvey Groza is a dangerous man.And nine months ago, he strolled into my shop looking for a custom suit... -
![Valentine's Novella by Tillie Cole]()
Valentine's Novella by Tillie Cole
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsA Totally Booked Blog EXCLUSIVE!!! FREE Hades Hangmen Valentine's Novellahttp://totallybookedblog.com/2015/02/...****updated URL****https://totallybookedblog.com/2017/09.. -
![Inked Adonis by Nicole Fox]()
Inked Adonis by Nicole Fox
My BFF sent the hot stranger a voice note...Of me saying I want to climb him like a tree.And he just. Texted. Back.It's the dog's fault, really.If this untrained Great Dane I'm walking had any manners at all, I never would've ended up With my leash wrapped around the most gorgeous man I've ever seen.Lucky for me, the guy is a good sport about it... -
![Spotless by Camilla Monk]()
Spotless by Camilla Monk
Island Chaptal—nerdy IT engineer by day, romance novel junkie by night—just walked into her messy New York apartment to find Mr. Right waiting for her. No, wait… Mr. Clean . A gentleman professional killer with a bad case of OCD and zero tolerance for unsorted laundry, March isn’t there to kill her…yet. He wants the diamond her late mother stole for a sinister criminal organization... -
![A Deal With the Reaper: A Dark MC and Serial Killer Romance by Madison Lawson]()
A Deal With the Reaper: A Dark MC and Serial Killer Romance by Madison Lawson
Therapist June Graves moonlights as a killer who hunts abusive men. When a client’s niece goes missing, all signs point to her dangerous ex-boyfriend, Theo Zervas. It doesn’t take long for June to decide he will be her next victim.Theo Zervas, president of a local outlaw motorcycle club, the Saints of Purgatory, is intimately familiar with danger and death...Categorized as:
suspense from hate to love m-f forced proximity bondage masc-dom independent heroine strong heroine -
![Savage Revenge by Kate Oliver]()
Savage Revenge by Kate Oliver
CashRevenge is what I live for. My father’s blood stains the streets of Las Vegas, and I know exactly who’s to blame. To destroy the man who took everything from me, I’ll start with his daughter.Jordyn is a sweet, spoiled princess—or so I thought. Kidnapping her was supposed to be my way to break her father, but she’s nothing like I expected...Categorized as:
from hate to love forced proximity bdsm suspense cruel hero m-f independent heroine sassy heroine -
![One Billion Reasons by Millie Belizaire]()
One Billion Reasons by Millie Belizaire
Morgan Caplan has had one dream her entire life. When her adult services website leaks to her interviewer, it seems she can kiss her dream goodbye. That is... until a new client makes her an offer she simply can't refuse. Damien doesn't need to give her a reason to accept. There are at least a billion... -
![Sinful Hearts by Jagger Cole]()
Sinful Hearts by Jagger Cole
My first mistake was sleeping with the most dangerous man in New York, without him knowing who I was.My second was believing he never would ...It was supposed to be one night of sin with a beautiful stranger to forever cut ties with my Bratva past.But I didn’t pick a stranger. I picked him... -
![Don't Be Scared by A.J. Merlin]()
Don't Be Scared by A.J. Merlin
Every town has a history.Ours is just a little darker than most.For years I’ve celebrated Halloween and Hollow Bridge’s history with everyone else who lives here. Parades, festivals, and insane Halloween parties have always been a staple for us. Some bad behavior is expected, given what we’re celebrating.But murder has never been on the table before...Categorized as:
suspense alpha male possessive hero bad boys new adult horror fetish height-difference -
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![Break for Me by Ember Nicole]()
Break for Me by Ember Nicole
Trista has been on the run for years, attempting to escape a past that isn’t willing to let her go. Life taught her that she can rely only on herself for survival, and in turn, it’s made her cold, calculating, manipulative, and just a little vindictive. She knows they’re out there searching for her... -
![Sins of the Syndicate by Lexxi James]()
Sins of the Syndicate by Lexxi James
IvyHe was a handsome stranger who made me an offer I couldn't refuse ...Give me anything I wanted. Anything for one night.The catch?No strings. No commitments. No names.I had no idea who he was when we met. I only knew that he protected me.And he looked damned good doing it.LeoTo the outside world, I'm known only as Z. The enforcer. A widower with nothing to lose...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity from hate to love bad boys alpha male contemporary dark mafia -
![No, You Hang Up by A.J. Merlin]()
No, You Hang Up by A.J. Merlin
It was just a joke.Just A prank call.After surviving a miserable week with my family, I needed something to lift my spirits. My two best friends thought a late-night movie binge—one of those stupid, loud ones we used to have as teenagers—was the answer. Reluctantly, they talk me into revisiting our old prank call habit. After all, what could possibly go wrong?It’s all fun… until it isn’t... -
![Fearless by Tracy Lorraine]()
Fearless by Tracy Lorraine
An all-new and addictive dark, why-choose, captive romance from the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Tracy Lorraine.You know what they say about things that are too good to be true…We might have been in a safe house recovering, but we were in danger, and still the four of us found a way to be together.We’d even managed to find something that I never thought possible.Peace...Categorized as:
from hate to love suspense forced proximity mystery new adult bad boys alpha male strong heroine -
![MINE: The Anti-Hero, Book One by Amanda McKinney]()
MINE: The Anti-Hero, Book One by Amanda McKinney
After reclusive billionaire Astor Stone receives a ransom note for his estranged wife, whom he’s kept under lock and key, he accepts an invitation to an exclusive party to get her back. But when the evening takes a dangerous turn, Astor takes his rival’s daughter as collateral.The moment they meet, Astor knows Sabine Hart will be the death of him... -
![Obsidian Music by Scarlett Dawn]()
Obsidian Music by Scarlett Dawn
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe bestselling conclusion to the Lion Security series is here! Beth and Daniil's passionate love story reaches its ultimate struggle when Beth is kidnapped by Daniil's enemies. Dark and dangerous killers hold her captive, but the Russian mafia will stop at nothing for her return...
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