Books like 'Hard Lessons: A Dark Romance'
Readers who enjoyed Hard Lessons: A Dark Romance by K.G. Reuss also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance virgin heroine suspense new adult age difference secret-relationship vengeance college betrayal
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Code Name: Pisces by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMy code name is Pisces. The stars say I’m independent, wise, and intuitive.Still waters run deep. I’m the leader of Zodiac Tactical’s guardian unit. We’re the bodyguards—the ones who stand toe to toe with danger and refuse to give any ground. We protect people who need it most.But what if who needs it most is a spoiled diva?I don’t normally take on movie stars...Categorized as:
suspense age difference mystery from hate to love military contemporary dark alpha male -
Dare To Take by L. Ann, Claire Marta
Arabella GrayStudious. Good Girl. Liar.I warned her. I told her I would break her if she stayed.Who knew watching her shatter would taste so sweet?Eli TraversOutcast. Artist. Monster.He vowed to make me pay—to ruin me.Only now it's my own sin that will break me.The monsters of Churchill Bradley Academy are stirring and deadly dangers haunt the halls...Categorized as:
suspense from hate to love new adult vengeance forced proximity mystery secret-relationship dark -
Devil's Kiss by Faith Summers, Khardine Gray
In a world where the secret society and the Bratva reigns, villains and monsters own you from birth. I was torn between two hearts: The devil who stole me. And the man I was promised to. I was supposed to marry Viktor Volkova, heir to one of the most powerful families in the society. But his older brother stole me on our wedding day, just as we were about to take our vows... -
Becoming Noah Baxter by J.M. Sevilla
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsJay and Lily complete each other in ways no one else ever could, teaching one another things about themselves they wouldn't have known otherwise, but is it enough? Can two people from entirely different worlds find a way to make it last? Even if their love is strong enough, they still have an obstacle standing in their way... -
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Ruby Malice by Naomi West
Arrogant bosshole with some dirty secrets. Sounds tempting, right? ]WRONG.Kirill Zaitsev is anything but tempting.Sure, he’s tall and broad and muscular in all the right places.And sure, he’s richer than several small countries.And yes, fine, his eyes do make me feel loopy, and he does smell like mint and musk, and there’s also the way his jaw clenches when he…Sorry, where was I?Oh yeah...Categorized as:
age difference suspense mystery bad boys forbidden love from hate to love mafia contemporary -
Sinner by Sheridan Anne
Death surrounds me.Every step I take, there’s someone waiting for me in the shadows.There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and now, I’m out here on my own, my hands stained with the blood of those I’ve killed to survive.Zade DeVil was my executioner, my most feared enemy, but he was also my protector. I wasn’t willing to cross that line with him, despite how much I may have wanted to...Categorized as:
suspense new adult from hate to love forced proximity cruel hero contemporary dark length-medium -
Kade's Turn by Tiffany Snow
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsIt only takes a second, a fraction of a second, to forever change your life. That moment happened to me years ago. I did something you can’t take back, and I’d do it again. It’s a secret I’ll take to my grave—which is probably sooner rather than later—and that’s okay. I live with my choices... -
Ivy by Willa Nash
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsCan you keep a secret?Aston University might be teeming with prestigious and wealthy students, but the currency on campus isn’t their millions. It’s their secrets. And the three women living at Clarence Manor are filthy rich in lies and deceit.Two of the roommates have played this game for years. Some would consider them masters of a ruse... -
The Savage by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIvan may be my name but I am best known as The Savage.Born and bred Bratva heir and loving every delicious minute of my life. That's why it was easy to kidnap the entitled Charlotte Richmond from her finishing school in England. It was my pleasure to hide her away while her depraved father searched for her.I have no heart, no emotion, and no morals.She is a bargaining chip, a means to an end...Categorized as:
from hate to love age difference forced proximity suspense mafia contemporary dark alpha male -
The Devil's Lair by Penny Dee
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsMassimo De Kysa.The man who stole my first kiss.And now my boss.I learned early how life can turn on a dime.That’s how it is when you grow up as a mafia princess.One minute you’re rich, spoilt, and betrothed to the most revered man in the city—the next your broke and selling your designer bags so you can eat.But I’m not the kind of girl who gives up without a fight...Categorized as:
from hate to love suspense mystery forced proximity vengeance virgin heroine dark mafia -
Heads You Lose by Bea Paige
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsBeast…Beast in name. Beast in nature.Once upon a time Tales was my home.I was the second in command and the best goddamn fighter the club had ever seen.I fought. I won.Every. Damn. Time.Until one day I lost trying to protect the princess from the true monster of this f*cked-up fairy tale.She shunned me, sent me away.Now I’m back to tell her the truth, not some tale full of half-truths and lies...Categorized as:
new adult age difference bad boys from hate to love forbidden love mystery suspense contemporary -
Pearl by Freya Barker
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsa privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary.____Operator Pearl; layered, mysterious, a protector. She masks as delicate, analyzes, and moves stealthily...Categorized as:
suspense from hate to love forced proximity mystery abuse dark multicultural contemporary -
Jerry's Passion by Chiah Wilder
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe first time Jerry saw Kylie, he was taken by her beauty and innocence, but he stayed away because she was too young. A member of the Insurgents MC, Jerry’s life revolves around the club, his Harley, and easy sex. Women clamor for the rugged, tatted outlaw’s attention, and he obliges, but his sights are set on the pretty, young blonde who is all grown up now—sweet curves and all…... -
Dare To Fall by L. Ann, Claire Marta
Arabella GrayStudious. Good Girl. Liar.She's become my addiction—I feed her my pain.When the threat of losing her awakens the monster, there is no one left to save her from me.Eli TraversOutcast. Artist. Monster.I fell in love with my stepbrother—the Monster.I crave his touch and loathe his name. He took everything I gave and twisted it with hate.The past rises from the dead and stalks the living... -
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The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Four by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume FourWhat would you do for three million dollars?Four young women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidders. For no less than a million dollars a year, for three years, each woman will do what it takes to secure her future... -
Hear No Evil by Ivy Fox
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsEvil cannot take hold of an unconsenting soul.Do not be amazed that hell is empty, since all the devils live here.One by one, they will meet their hellish fate.One down…Three to go.EastonA tyrannous society has discovered our most atrocious secret and decided to wage war on us.They’ve had their fun with Finn, and now it’s my turn to be their little puppet...Categorized as:
suspense new adult mystery from hate to love college dark contemporary length-medium -
Illicit Captor by Maggie Cole
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsHe kidnapped me to avenge my husband. The husband I’ve never loved. The cruel man my father forced me to marry to teach me a lesson. My husband didn’t think twice about how to carry out those lessons. Now, I’ve gone from one prison to another. My captor is just as ruthless as my husband. He’ll kill, torture, and do everything to hurt my family until no one is left. Except for me...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity vengeance from hate to love mafia dark alpha male contemporary -
Taken by Him by S.R. Jones
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe took me like a thief in the night, but I was already his from the moment I laid eyes on him. Maxim Volkov. A name I had never heard before but one that my heart now beats for.He’s not an easy man to love. He’s hard. Brutal. Unforgiving. A weapon forged in the fire and pain of his early life. I will take that weapon and use it to bring down all who betrayed me...Categorized as:
vengeance bad boys forced proximity suspense mafia contemporary dark super rich hero -
Amos y mazmorras: Segunda parte by Lena Valenti
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsChegou a hora de encarar o tão aguardado torneio Dragões e Masmorras DS. Entregue-se aos combates. Liberte seus desejos. Na busca pela irmã desaparecida, a agente Cleo Connelly conseguiu se infiltrar no ultrassecreto torneio de práticas BDSM, o Dragões e Masmorras DS... -
Mad as Hell by Hannah McBride
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsI USED TO BE MADISONI was stupid for thinking that I could just step into my twin's world. And I was an idiot for trusting Ryan Cain with my heart. Lesson freaking learned. I won't make that mistake again.MADELAINE IS DEADMy sister wasn't a saint, but she didn't deserve the hell she endured before her death. Gary. Beckett. Adam. Even Ryan...Categorized as:
new adult suspense from hate to love forced proximity vengeance betrayal contemporary high-school -
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 betrayal new adult suspense dark single-father insta-love -
The Final Hour by London Miller
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThree months pass without incident, leading Mishca and Lauren to believe they can finally move on from the past and build a life together ...but enemies both old and new lurk in the shadows, waiting for the opportunity to strike. When a dangerous threat presents itself, Lauren is forced to turn to the one person that would rather see Mishca dead than live happily ever after .. -
The Saint by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis partner’s most trusted informant is his only hope…and his only weakness.When Detective Liam Hollister is assigned to an assault-turned-murder, he brings his signature three “C”s: control, calm, and composure. The “C” he wasn’t counting on? His partner’s informant, Carmen Desoto, who’s not only the key to unlocking his case... -
A Price to Pay by Raven Amor
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne thing the Horsemen have learnedIs everything comes at a priceAnd now they are going have to payAs they prepare for war against a new enemyThey all know one thing for sure, this will change them forever.Lines will be crossed.Bullets will fly.Blood will be shed.Lives will be lost...Categorized as:
from hate to love mystery forbidden love age difference bikers dark contemporary length-novella -
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Crown of Bliss: A Billionaire Mafia Romance by B. B. Hamel
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis obsession. Her salvation.At my lowest, I accept an unimaginable clean up a murder scene to earn one-hundred-grand.Problem is, my employer doesn’t plan on letting me survive the night.That’s when I meet Lanzo Torrent. He’s gorgeous, chaotic, frustrating, and my only salvation. He says he can save my life, but I have to trust him first.Lanzo drags me into his war...Categorized as:
suspense new adult forced proximity vengeance age difference contemporary mafia length-medium -
When Darkness Ends by Marni Mann
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAn all new angsty, dark, stand-alone Contemporary Romance in the Moments in Boston Series ...You never forget your first love … even when he becomes a memory.There was before.When we were together, when we were happy.When we had nothing but dreams.When not a single bad thing could ever happen because we were young and in love.And there was after... -
Imperfect Intentions by Charmaine Pauls
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA DARK ROMANCEI never dreamed of getting married.I dreamed about freedom.When my stepfather promised Leon Hart a partnership in his clandestine software company, he offered me as part of the package deal. It’s a win-win situation for both men. My stepfather gets rid of his damaged stepdaughter, and Leon becomes second-in-command of the biggest underground IT operation in the country... -
January's Ride with Six by Eve London
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA rebel's heart and a biker's duty collide in a forbidden love that threatens everything.GingerLiving under the control of the Savage Bones is like existing in a cage where freedom remains just out of reach. The night I run, desperation fueling my steps, I crash into Six. He’s at the core of everything I’ve been told to fear...Categorized as:
age difference from hate to love forced proximity mystery dark bikers contemporary length-novella -
The Devil's Crown by Monica James
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsI was feared.Respected.Worshiped.But all of that changed when the impossible happened—I fell in love. Only those feelings weren’t reciprocated, because who could love a monster like me?My empire crumbled. People died. I went from being a victorious leader to lurking in the shadows, planning revenge on my half-brother who now reigns in my place...Categorized as:
suspense age difference from hate to love bad boys betrayal contemporary dark alpha male -
Reckless & Ruined by Bethany-Kris
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsPlay dirty. It’s the only way to win in a war. Alessa Trentini follows the rules, or so it seems on the outside. A certain Conti has always been able to sway her inner rebel and keep her out of trouble, but even Adriano won’t be able to get her out of her brother’s mess. In a war, no woman is safe if her hand in marriage can advance her family in the world of the mafia...Categorized as:
suspense virgin heroine forbidden love new adult secret-relationship mafia alpha male contemporary -
Respect by Jay Crownover
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsOnce upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who called a corrupt kingdom home sweet home. Protected and sheltered from the worst the world had to offer, she fell in love with the crumbling city that burned and blazed around her. Every dirty corner, every scary shadow, found a place within her heart. So did a man who was violent and dangerous, just like the streets she claimed as her own...Categorized as:
suspense forbidden love bad boys new adult contemporary dark friends to lovers competent heroine -
Son of a Gun: A Marked Men and The Point Crossover by Jay Crownover
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHeavy is the head that inherits the crown.The only thing on Daire Archer’s mind when she pulled a disappearing act on Christmas was proving she was worthy of being her father's daughter. She was born an Archer, which was a blessing and a curse, and Daire was determined to show everyone she deserved to carry the legacy that came with her name... -
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Sixth Sin by Cora Kenborn, Mollie Stark
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsPreviously published as Starlet by Cora KenbornHollywood. Mafia. Love. Lust. Secrets. Corruption.From USA Today best-selling author Cora Kenborn comes a dark and twisted enemies-to-lovers retelling of Anastasia.They call me America's Sweetheart. Hollywood royalty. The last of an era. Sole survivor of LA's most infamous crime. I'm not any of those things.He forced me into the spotlight... -
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Brewer by Jessica Ames
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBrewerAs the money man of the Manchester chapter of the Untamed Sons Motorcycle Club, my job is simple: make the illegal income legal and don’t get caught. I have a good life in the Sons, an easy one. I don’t have time for women or drama. But when my former cellmate calls and tells me his daughter is in trouble, I have no choice but to respond... -
Beautiful Ink by Nicole Reed
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFamily. I have tattooed that single word on more skin than I care to count. It elicits powerful thoughts and emotions for most people. Loving. Caring. Supportive. Togetherness. Forever. But not for me. The word family means so much more. Vicious. Harmful. Dangerous. Corrupt. Deadly. You can’t run forever from the ones who love you...Categorized as:
age difference forbidden love suspense vengeance mystery bad boys college contemporary -
Dirty Devil by Kristen Luciani
From USA Today bestselling author Kristen Luciani comes a dark mafia, enemies to lovers captive romance full of darkness and forbidden desire.She is his captive.His revenge. I took her in a blind rage.Retribution for a vicious attack on my family.She deserves to be punished for her crime.And I’m the one who will make her suffer and beg for mercy that will never come...Categorized as:
from hate to love vengeance age difference suspense mystery forced proximity contemporary mafia -
Conor Thames 2 by R.J. Lewis
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCharlotte Miles waited. For eight long years she clung faithfully to Conor Thames, longing for his release. But rehabilitation doesn't come easy, and when Conor is finally released, he is not the same man he used to be. With love and determination, Charlotte battles to reclaim the man she loves and knows still lives inside him.For years Conor Thames lived in hell... -
Promised to the Killer by B.B. Hamel
Her family tossed her aside like a broken doll.But she's my shining treasure and I'll kill to make her mine.Siena Bastone is going to die. She's the cast-off traitorous daughter of a minor mafia family with deliciously pouty lips and a wicked tongue.But after we spend one unforgettable night of sin in a hotel room, I can't walk away.I pull her from her family's clutches and make her my own...Categorized as:
new adult suspense bad boys from hate to love contemporary mafia pregnancy alpha male -
Stag by Brooke Summers
She’s a princess locked away without any hope. He’s her dark knight in leather.Stag has been in and out of juvie for years, but now he’s determined to keep his nose clean… or as clean as the Road Captain for the Fury Vipers MC can be.He's found a brotherhood, one that he'll protect until his dying breath.Then he sees her and his plans go up in smoke... -
Mistakes Made by Marie James
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe worst thing you can ever do is make an assumption about me, despite my job resting solely on making people think I’m someone I’m not.I know that makes me crazy, narcissistic, and a little out of touch with the reality of how the world works.I’ll never argue that fact with anyone.Maybe it was the hundred-degree Texas weather.Maybe it was overstimulation from the crowds at the beach...Categorized as:
suspense from hate to love bad boys forced proximity contemporary dark alpha male length-short -
Scotch (The Devil's House MC) West Virginia: Biker Romance by Mhairi O'Reilly
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAshby ‘Scotch’ Feilding returned from the military not feeling like a hero, but as a man fractured by the horrors he witnessed, a shadow of the man he once was. Unable to fit into the normalcy of ordinary life, he finds solace in the roar of engines and the brotherhood of The Devil’s House MC, serving as their tech wizard... -
The Society by Erin Mc Luckie Moya
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhat happens when you're born into a secret society? When your great-grandfather was a founding member? Do you have a choice whether you stay or not?And the benefits that befall you with such a position? The easy college access and high powered positions - the multinational firms... -
Explosive Union by Brooke Summers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNever underestimate a woman who’s been hurt… The vengeance she has will be beautiful.Jade Gallagher has sacrificed more than most for her family.Being sent to prison for a crime she didn’t commit was only the beginning.Five years she spent biding her time and coming up with the perfect revenge plan for those that harmed her while she was incarcerated... -
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Griffin by S.M. West
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA steamy strangers to lovers standalone romance packed with edge-of-your seat action, intense chemistry, and breath-stealing twists...Categorized as:
forced proximity age difference from hate to love suspense contemporary insta-love alpha male dark -
Speak No Secrets by E.R. Whyte
They kissed four years ago, igniting a spark. Now that spark might lead to their destruction. First year high school teacher Shiloh Brookings is struggling to pay her brother’s medical bills. With students only a few years younger than she is, things are difficult enough, but when Gunner Ford enrolls in class, things go from unusual...to complicated... -
The Villain by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGuess who's having the craziest week EVER?That would be me.Sunday: I get dumped by my boyfriend—right before a couple's bungee jump.Monday: My little sister informs me that she’s invited our evil, estranged mom to the wedding I’ve spent months helping her plan...Categorized as:
suspense new adult vengeance from hate to love forced proximity super rich hero multicultural dark -
Betrayal & Deception by Sara Hinds
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsSin used to run this city until Vengeance ran them out.Too bad they didn’t get them all.Like a parasite, they linger, and while they’re still here, nobody is safe.Freedom means nothing if I’m constantly watching not only my back but the backs of the people I care about. And with every day that passes, that list of people grows, no matter how hard I try to fight against it... -
The Lavender Phantom by Lainey Delaroque
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratings𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽.It’s all for my little sister Melanie. After our parents died, I took her to Chicago, and we started a new life. A normal life.But she’s growing up. Getting into trouble... -
Deceived by Jennifer Rose
The first time my gaze locked and held with the doe-eyed beauty named Devyn, she unknowingly became mine .I’ve watched from the shadows, biding my time and planning our future, waiting for the right moment to prove to her that she belongs to me.She gave me the perfect opportunity when she fled to Hollow Hills Campground in the RV, running from her past...Categorized as:
from hate to love age difference suspense new adult dark breeding contemporary explicit-plentiful
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