what’s a simmering romance? a love story with combustible chemistry, where you can feel the heat before the characters reach the bedroom. they often feature white-hot sexual tension, intense attraction, and sometimes forbidden romance. some start out smooth and subtle, while others kick it up a notch right from the start, but neither of these couples jumps into bed right away. They’ll have you fanned at one point or another, and there are definitely hot moments in the back half of each.
All of the books on this list are contemporary romance novels that have received high marks from me, and several have also made my top lists. I’ve included a description of the environment, the blurb, and links to both Amazon and my reviews for easy addition to your collection. Happy reading!
You are reading: Books with sexual tension
Earn Your Extra Credit by Meghan Quinn
intense chemistry • co-workers/friends/fake relationship
“Did you go home with someone else that night?”
Hearing disbelief from my best friend’s mouth makes the events of my failed date hurt that much more.
I would like to make it known, I have much more arrogance than it seems. I usually don’t ask a girl out, I make her not recognize it’s a date, and then she gives me a high five, like I’m her wingman, and I go off with someone else.
not. usually i’m the one who takes the girl home, but with stella there’s been one failed attempt after another and frankly i’m done trying.
but thanks to my best friend getting married in hawaii right before the school year starts, i’m stuck on a tropical island, watching stella walk the runway in what she says is a swimsuit.
Unfortunately, that’s not the worst, just the tip of the iceberg. Because what I think is going to be a relaxing vacation, avoiding the one girl I can’t seem to make it work with, has turned into a spectacle of being recruited as Stella’s doting fake fiancé so she can save face. with an old “friend”. ” from high school.
Now I’m sailing through purgatory as I try not to get turned on by the way he holds my hand or kisses my jaw. it’s all fake, that’s what I keep telling myself, even though it feels too real.
Author’s Note: This book is a mixture of tropes: enemies become lovers, friends become lovers, and co-workers become lovers too. Not to mention, a fake fiancé romance that takes place in Maui and Chicago. Too hot, a balcony scene that will make you blush, absurdly funny jokes, the best supporting cast, a surprise “mom” you’ll never see coming, and a grumpy hero who can’t stop pining for his girl. enjoy!
Forbidden (professor/grad student) • Light but angsty
the love interest of kayley loring
dear fiona,
I hope this letter finds you well, and by well, I mean you are much less angry than you were yesterday. I wanted to continue our conversation from the night we met, but there are so many things I can’t say or do, now that I’m your teacher.
As an anonymous letter writer, I can give you an idea of what I have planned for us once the year is over. As an author, I can share my work in progress with you. not to criticize me, but to show you how much you mean to me.
When you finish reading this page, destroy it and then write to me. do not sign the letter. do not put a return address on the envelope. mail it from a random mailbox.
yours in troubleshooting, me
p.s. I still think you’re wasting your talents on that historical romance novel.p.p.s. I really wanted to push you against the door and kiss your beautiful, angry face. I’m going to. one day.
***
dear emmett,
Your handwriting is almost as terrible as your mood swings, and it would have been my instinct to destroy that letter even if you hadn’t ordered me to.
If you show me your work in progress, I’ll criticize it.
I’m still too mad right now to write about all the other feelings I have for you.
expect another letter soon.
your problem and your solution, me
p.s. I still think that an overpaid, overrated, and overly attractive thriller author doesn’t have a business teaching creative writing at a prestigious New York university. P.P.S. To my great horror, I really wanted you to push me up against that door and kiss my angry face too. Now I understand that your horrible way of treating me in class has been an overcompensation, but I don’t forgive you. I’ll kiss you again anyway. one day.
So, That Got Weird by Amelia Kingston
hot • emotional • opposites attract • college/new adult
a painfully awkward love story.
elizabeth wilde, incomprehensibly awkward, is desperate for love. Connection. privacy. After a lifetime of romantic failures, the twenty-one-year-old gamer realizes that she needs help. Professional Help. she needs…
a sexual guardian.
The devastatingly hot jock Austin Jacobs is just the man for the job. As the reigning god of sex on campus, he has the playboy act down pat. But underneath those ripped abs beats a broken heart. he doesn’t trust people and he sure doesn’t believe in love.
The odd couple strikes a deal. four weeks of ‘tutoring’ for five thousand dollars.
When austin coaxes elizabeth out from behind his computer screen, their attraction is undeniable. both are a bit torn, but somehow their jagged edges fit together. And when their world comes crashing down on them, they must each decide if this strange thing called love is worth fighting for.
reader beware: this book includes references to inadequate parenting, death of a parent, a parent with addiction. there are also scenes that include the use of performance drugs.
The Perfect Catch by Meghan Quinn
adored this moody hero • strangers to lovers • forbidden
“kiss me. just this time . . . please walk.”
Those whispered words were my downfall. . .as the most hated player in baseball, he had two options: clean up my image or pack up. being traded wasn’t an option that only meant one thing, he had to comply.
That’s how I found myself sharing a small bistro table with Kate Chapman, Chicago Bobbies’ newest PR manager. devastatingly beautiful, highly intelligent, and incredibly cunning, she knows exactly how to handle my grumpy behavior. it was supposed to be simple. Book some PR events, introduce yourself, smile for the camera, and voila. but a huge mistake on my part sends me into the trenches with kate, forcing me to open up to her.
innocent glances turn into cordial encounters. secret touches become enticing invitations. and dangerous nights alone turn to consuming despair.
I have never desired a woman as much as her. And I know she loves me, but there’s no fraternizing rule with players. None of us can afford to lose their jobs, but we can’t seem to keep our hands off each other, either.
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
opposites attract • small town • fish out of water • light and fun
Tessa Bailey is back with a schitt’s creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “it girl” who’s separated from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where he bumps into a surly, sexy local who thinks he doesn’t belong.
piper bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly hot on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party kill Piper, her stepdad decides enough is enough. so he interrupts her and sends piper and her sister to learn something about the responsibility of running her late father’s dive bar…in washington.
Piper hasn’t been in Westport five minutes when she meets burly, bearded Captain Brendan, who thinks he won’t last a week out of Beverly Hills. And what if Piper can’t do math, and the thought of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. how bad could it really be? she’s determined to show her stepdad, and the hot, grumpy local, that she’s more than just a pretty face.
except it’s a small town and everywhere you look, you find brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper wants no distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks. However, when he reconnects with his past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper begins to question if the cold and glamorous life he knew is what he really wants. he is calling her by her name, but brendan, and this town full of memories, may have already reached her heart.
Forbidden (she has a boyfriend) • Forced proximity • Billionaire
close quarters by kandi steiner
From bestselling author Kandi Steiner comes a fresh and captivating multi-million dollar romance about a secretive photographer and the powerful CEO who has to have her…
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
Menacingly handsome and unquestionably powerful, Theo Whitman needs only a snap of his fingers to bring a multitude of supermodels to his knees. So when his steel gray eyes meet mine for the first time, I hope he walks over me, doesn’t give my presence a second’s thought.
Instead, he sees me. really see me. And for a girl who prefers to hide behind her camera lens, it’s the most unnerving experience of my life.
until he asks me to stay on his yacht for the summer.
all I have to do to make a living is be theo’s on-call photographer when he has guests over, and I’ll take a free walk around the mediterranean with my boyfriend. very easy.
Still, my skin itches in warning when I say yes.
As the humid days fade into warm nights, I can’t seem to help it. And when it finds me, it’s like a rabbit bumping into a wolf.
His intense gaze immobilizes me. the way she talks undresses me. every touch of her skin burns me like a violent flame.
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
and this time, I think he loves me.
Not the Marrying Kind by Kathryn Nolan
reformed playboy • light and sexy • opposites attract
He’s the best bad decision you’ll ever make…
write a lawyer fiona quinn has a goal to accomplish before she turns 30: a big fairy tale wedding. all she needs is a boyfriend. So what if she’s never been in love, or even lustful, before? she trusts that she can solve the problem like she always does, with spreadsheets and an action plan.
When a family emergency brings bad boy Max Devlin back to town, with his smirk, tattoos and wanderlust, Fiona has to remind herself that he’s as inadequate as he seems. no. It’s not happening. No matter how compelling her invitation is for a night or seven between the sheets. if she can’t tie it, metaphorically, of course, her pants should stay on.
max can’t remember the last time a woman rejected him. that’s a guaranteed good time of three orgasms, dammit. And what if he is not one of those who marry? those sweaty palms he feels when fiona agrees to help him save his father’s punk rock club are just an allergic reaction to his methodical march toward marriage. Before hitting the road again, he’ll show Fiona that life is more fun when you play than when you plan.
no one gets hurt when it’s all fun and games, right?
Author’s Note: A gripping indie romance that attracts opposites and features a cocky bad boy (with a heart of gold) and a demure good girl (with a secret wild side). 1 click if you like dirty dancing, stunning first kisses and hot dates in supply closets. this book comes with a happily ever after guaranteed (and very romantic).
Something Like Hate by Harloe Rae
hate love • office romance • intense chemistry • billionaire
from usa today & Amazon’s top 10 best-selling author Harloe Rae presents a steamy romance of enemies to lovers as a billionaire CEO battles a sarcastic redhead who has her own agenda.
“I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but I’ve never been a good liar.” that’s his initial offense against me. don’t worry, there’s a lot more where that came from.
landon winters is colder than his last name suggests. cruel and insensitive too. I’m sure he finds pleasure in making others miserable.
He’s a billionaire by his own making, not satisfied with simply inheriting a white collar and a silver spoon. Landon’s arrogance is so thick I could choke on the stench alone. he’s also responsible for sticking a jaded chip into my shoulder.
The only saving grace is never having to see him again. illusions are a fickle beast.
My boss just announced that Landon is my latest client. I’ll have to impress him or kiss my promotion goodbye. Either way, this is my chance to get revenge.
revenge is all I see. the price of redemption is high. Landon will pay a small fortune in humiliation. And I’ll walk away filthy rich in vindication.
Forbidden by Karla Sorensen
age difference • boss/employee • single parent/widower • sweet but sexy
It takes a lot to make me nervous, but nothing could have prepared me for the day aiden hennessy walked through the doors of my beloved gym, property papers in her big hands.
I know a lot about my beautiful new boss, a former wrestler whose posters used to decorate my bedroom walls. I know that she retired at the height of her fame to take care of her sick wife. I know that she is now a single parent raising an adorable little girl. and I know that no matter how brooding and quiet, my innocent teenage crush has turned into a highly inappropriate adult fantasy.
I would have gotten over it, until one night training with him in the gym, it’s clear that my feelings are not so one-sided.
It’s impossible to pretend I don’t want it. especially when I have to see him every day and watch him take care of his daughter.
aiden thinks I’m too young for him. he says he shouldn’t love me.
But all it takes is one step over the line to prove what they say is true: the forbidden fruit really does taste sweeter.
Crave Thy Neighbor by Teagan Hunter
See Also: Karen McQuestion – Book Series In Order
single mother • temporary roommates • light but distressed
Don’t fall for your roommate…especially when it’s only temporary.
nolan brooks is out of bounds. Sure, he’s incredibly handsome and funny and I could have gone home with him one night to relieve some stress. big deal.
It was all just a momentary lapse in judgment…just like the kiss we shared.
He’s my temporary roommate while I wait for my new apartment to be ready. that is all. he has no relationships, and he has no attachments.
So what if I’m in love with him? we will only be there for two months. surely I can survive that long.
Love to Tempt You by J. Saman
age gap • rock star/virgin • strangers to lovers • angsty & emotional
Our band’s impressive and untouched new assistant was completely off limits. but that didn’t stop me. a car accident. a false story in the hospital. she warned me when I dragged her from the nightmare that was her life that could very well destroy mine. I didn’t listen I didn’t care. she brought it to my house. in my life. she gave him a job. my pandora a goddess among mortals who opened a jar and destroyed my world with her beautiful evils. But from the moment I saw her, I knew she had to be mine. to hell with the consequences.
In a life where surviving is hardly a thing, I didn’t expect much. Until I ran into him. literally. Keith Dawson is a god among mortals. a rock star I’ve drooled over for longer than I can remember. And now the hero of my darkest tales when a hero was the last thing I wanted. but such a powerful god always has one fatal flaw. Turns out she died a long time ago. and she doesn’t measure up to the ghosts of her past, does she? So where does that leave us? well, that’s where this story gets interesting.
Break the Rules by Roxie Noir
quirky hero • best friend’s little sister • light and sexy
She is my best friend’s little sister. now she is no longer a girl.
As a ranger, I believe in the simple life. I prefer cabins to apartments, trails to highways, and trees to people. my life is orderly, predictable and calm.
Until he gets hit by a woman I never saw coming: Hurricane June.
she is fierce. she’s feisty she has a laugh like the first day of spring, and she’s so pretty i can’t breathe when i look at her. June will only be in town for a few months, just while she looks for a job. She won’t last till winter, but how can I resist?
except that I have to. she is the little sister of my best, oldest and most loyal friend.
Betraying him would be the worst thing I’ve ever done. not betraying him could be the hardest thing.
especially once we started working together on a secret project. This whole thing of hanging out, sneaking out at night, and lying to your brother about what we’re doing sure feels like more than just friendship.
June could break my heart. her brother could break my nose.
but i guess some things were made to break.
The Rival Roomies by Piper Rayne
friends to lovers • bad boy/good girl • temporary roommates
I’ve loved him from afar, even though most of the time he’s only a foot away.
I’m smart enough to know that it will never belong to anyone forever.
checks all the bad boy boxes. tattoos control. motorcycle. check. chip on his shoulder. check check.
If he wasn’t my neighbor and friend, I would have thrown myself at him. well, if i wouldn’t because guys like dylan don’t want a woman who writes kids’ math textbooks under him in bed. instead, I pathetically savor morsels of moments when I have only his attention.
That was until his archenemy moved in with me. now suddenly dylan moves in too and notices the first guy in a while who shows me an interest. Could he finally see me as more than a friend, or am I just a prize to win and show off to his enemy?
Light and Sexy • Quirky Humor • Great Chemistry
dead beautiful by lauren landish
I see dead people. no, not like that movie.
I’m a coroner, and yes, it’s the kiss of death in my love life. when men find out what I do, I’m lucky to hear “it was nice meeting you.”
until i almost accidentally killed blake hale with my car. instead of scaring me, he is intrigued. no matter how hard you try to scare him, he keeps coming back for more. rules boy, he’s breaking them all for me.
We couldn’t be more different. He’s all good and light, with a brain that’s even sexier than his six-pack. ever after he is promising to come true. but…
With every word we exchange, my resolve weakens. With each heated look, he reaches deeper into my soul. with each kiss, he consumes me accepting me as I am.
I deal with death all day. sell life insurance… what could go wrong when i start to believe in mr. right?
Sex and Other Shiny Objects by Lauren Blakely
from friends to lovers • sexual tension • light & sexy
The moment the offer to try out the sexy scenes landed in my lap, I said yes.
After all, I’ve been very curious about some things I’ve read in romance novels. do buttons really fly on the floor when you rip a man’s shirt off? Is sex on the stairs great or does it leave you with a big bruise on your back? And don’t even get me started on all that panty shredding, and it does work.
Time to find out as I embark on a sexy scene research project, at the request of my best friend, a book editor.
All I need is a willing scene partner. enter tristan, my best friend. the witty, tell-it-like-they-are, bearded hottie volunteers for the experiment.
He’s also the guy who gave me the most devastating and exciting kiss of my life ten years ago. but nothing has happened since then.
and now nothing will come between my panties and our friendship since we have a plan to keep it pg.
but once the buttons start flying, all bets are off…
Want more romantic recommendations? check out some of my other lists!
15 Slow Burn to SIZZLE Romances
15 Steamy Romances With Seriously Solid Storylines
15 Scorching Hot Romances with 5-Star Storylines
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See Also: Kristi Ann Hunter – Book Series In Order