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When it comes to spicy romances, we’ve done the legwork to find you the must-reads! But adding the element of historical fiction somehow makes these books even more thigh-clenching: the air of taboo relationships, hierarchy dynamics, push-and-pull of tradition, secret affairs, repressed sexuality—oh, and lots of sex. Here are 10 steamy historical fiction romancers to stock your #TBR pile.

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If You Dare by Kresley Cole

Can he exact revenge? Can she deny her passions? Can love exist between them? When Courtland MacCarrick turns against the evil General Reynaldo Pascal, he must escape with his life and exacts revenge by kidnapping Pascal’s fiancée. Lady Annalía Tristán Llorente despises her captor, almost as much as she does Pascal. And yet, most of her fury is driven by her inexplicable attraction to the Highlander. However, she must return to Pascal or not only her death, but brother’s death as well, is inevitable. Yet, as Court discovers that there is a fiery, brave lass behind Anna’s façade, he dares to defy the curse that makes him walk with death or walk alone. Now, Pascal has vowed that he will hunt them down and he will never stop until he’s destroyed them both.

Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

Lady Sesily Talbot has a reputation, and she loves being London’s brightest scandal. No one even notices anymore when she lures gentlemen into the dark gardens beyond Mayfair ballroom. Well, no one except Caleb Calhoun. He has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s sister, but there is just something about the way Sesily looks at him and the way she talks to him. Plus, someone has to make sure Sesily doesn’t get into any trouble, but who is going to keep Caleb out of trouble?

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In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks

Scottish warrior Ewan McCabe has one intended goal: to destroy his enemies. The battle is ready to be fought, and Ewan couldn’t be more prepared to reclaim what was once his. When he has no choice but to take a bride, Mairin, the illegitimate daughter of the king, he is unsure of how to handle her. With his focus on revenge, love becomes a foreign concept to Ewan. For Mairin, being a prized possession makes her wary of love and of trusting a man with her heart. As their attraction towards one another grows, will the two accept the challenges this new union brings, or will Ewan let his desires for war and bloodshed destroy his chances for salvation?

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

This Regency Era romance finds a British lord that is desperate to escape the quiet and small seaside resort that he’s trapped in. However, when agrees to escort a beautiful but socially awkward lady scientist to Scotland, he gets much more than he expected.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

A historical romance that takes a spin on the classical and beloved tale of a beauty and a beast. Unfolding in regency England, a bad-tempered Earl has met his match with a brazen beauty who has vowed to make the handsome grump fall in love with her … in as short as two weeks.

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Yet, nothing could compare her for the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan. Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship, but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement of marriage?

Night Song by Beverly Jenkins

Cara Lee Henson has not only her job as a Kansas schoolteacher, but her reputation on the line when Sergeant Chase Jefferson puts his sights on her. She is determined to repel his advances, even though her desire for him is smoldering. Never before has Chase longed for a woman the way he aches for Cara Less, and he intends to conquer her reluctant ways and teach her how to love fully, and sensuously.

The Chief by Monica McCarty

Scouring the darkest corners of the Highlands and Western Isles, Robert the Bruce handpicks ten warriors to help him in his quest to free Scotland from English rule. They are the best of the best, chosen for their superior skills in each discipline of warfare. And to lead his secret Highland Guard, Bruce chooses the greatest warrior of all. Tor MacLeod, ultimate Highland warlord and a swordsman without equal, has no intention of being drawn into Scotland’s war against the English. Dedicated to his clan, the fiercely independent chief answers to no one, not even his alluring new bride, but she will never claim his heart. Although her husband’s reputation is as fierce as his manner, Christina Fraser believes that something softer hides beneath his brutal shell. But when Christina’s reckless bid to win her husband’s love goes awry and thrusts them into danger on the eve of war, Tor will face his ultimate battle: to save his wife and to open his heart, before it’s too late.

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Ash Turner is to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom, then and only then will he be able to take his revenge in the man who ruined his family. However, he finds himself drawn to the one person who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance. The beautiful Lady Margaret is more than she seems, disguised as a nurse in order to spy on the man who has stolen her fortune and her father’s legacy. Yet, the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resit his smoldering appeal. Soon they find themselves torn between loyalties and passion.

Promises Linger by Sarah McCarty

It’s 1869 in the Wyoming Territory and Elizabeth Coyote will do anything to save her ranch, including marrying Asa MacIntyre. Asa might be the lean-hipped silver-eyed gun slinger with a ruthless reputation, but he also dreams of a place of his own with a wife and respect. However, marrying Elizabeth unleashes a carnal woman that he never expected in a marriage that was a means to an end.

Savage Thunder by Johanna Lindsey

Newly widowed after a shockingly brief marriage to an elderly British lord, Jocelyn Fleming still aches with the pain of unexplored desire. Her restless heart is leading her far from the polite London society and into the perilous American West where she meets Colt Thunder. Breathlessly dangerous, Colt is a loner who is run by his Cheyenne blood burning heart and passion. He isn’t swayed by Jocelyn’s wealth or title, but neither the wild desert stallion nor the untouched English rose can deny their attraction. When their world collide, nothing can stop the firestorm that erupts.

Silver Tongued Devil by Lorelei James

Silas McKay is just as wild as the West, and he has earned his cowboy reputation through more than just being a rancher. His brawling days are accompanied by his charm and he seems to have swooned his way right into Dinah Thompson’s life. The pretty new schoolteacher has got the sass and the sense to stand up to Silas’s shenanigans. However, she can be swayed by his ranchwork honed-body and tempting promises. But when Silas’s long-standing rivalry with Zeke West puts Dinah, Silas and his twin brother Jonas in danger, each one is forced to make difficult decisions about taking a chance to build their legacy. Will their love be one that transcends time?

Looking for a little less erotica and a little more wholesome romance? Check out these picks>>