We romance readers love a swoon-worthy hero. And what makes one swoon? In a lot of cases, it is a hero who is in some way “dark” - a man who isn’t in touch with his feelings until the plucky heroine shows him how to fall in love.
If you’re in the mood for a brooding alpha male who just doesn’t want to admit he has emotions, here are five of the best historical romances with so-called “dark” heroes for you to try. (Note: these link to my personal bookstore with a 10% discount, but you can also purchase from wherever you prefer to buy books!)
Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.94
This is a retelling of the perennial favorite, Beauty and the Beast. Lord Harte came back very badly scarred from the Napoleonic wars - so much so that he now shuns everyone’s company. When Astrid shows up seeking refuge from her wicked uncle, he can’t help but give her safe harbor - while appreciating her looks, of course.
A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare
Average Goodreads rating: 3.90
The third in the Spindle Cove series, this novel spotlights hero Corporal Thorne. He is a reformed bad boy, down to nineteenth-century prison tattoos, but he is also very obsessed with keeping heroine Kate Taylor safe. As the Plot Trysts ladies mentioned in their review, there is nothing sexier than Corporal Thorne ironing his shirt.
The Highlander by Kerrigan Byrne
Average Goodreads rating: 4.11
Kerrigan Byrne writes dark romances, so all her heroes tend to be on the dark side. Liam MacKenzie spent most of his adult life in the military, earning his sobriquet the Demon Highlander, but now he is back in Scotland to raise his motherless children. The only problem is his new governess - who is both beautiful and seems to bring her own tragic history with her.
The Dragon and the Pearl by Jeannie Lin
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.76
This historical romance takes us to pre-colonial China. The hero, Li Tao, is a much-feared warlord who refuses to bow to the power of the new emperor. After receiving an anonymous note of warning, he rescues the infamous courtesan Ling Suyin from the forest home bequeathed her by the former emperor. Tao refuses to tell Suyin his true motives, but that doesn’t stop her from getting under his skin…
Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurent
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.09
In this first installment of the Cynster series, the hero’s name is literally Devil, so it’s pretty clear he is a rake, scoundrel, and all-around bad boy. When he encounters Honoria in the woods with his cousin’s dead body in the middle of a thunderstorm, he escorts her to a nearby cottage for shelter. By the time the storm has passed, it’s morning, and Devil has discovered the woman he intends to marry. All that remains is to convince her that he is capable of loving her the way she deserves.
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