Whether you are looking for romantic stories of southern bells longing for lost lives or steamy, hot romance stories, PublicBookshelf has free online romance novels to meet your romance reading needs.
Today's romance novels are not your mother's romance novels. While some titles still center on lonely women longing for lost loves, today's authors are more likely to include career driven heroines or vampires searching for love in all the wrong places.
There are many types of romance novels - historical, erotic, paranormal, multicultural, inspirational, suspense, and contemporary romance. Each type typically follows the format of traditional romantic stories, but writers today can add their own personal twist and put the hero and heroine in any situation at any place and time.
While the core of any good romantic book is the budding relationship between two characters, don't be surprised if you find some awesome action sequences or side-splitting humor subplots. It is through these attention-grabbing scenes that the characters are allowed to grow and learn more about each other. After all, real life is more than romance, and books typically mirror real life in the most important aspects.
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Gentle Julia ![]() |
Gentle Julia
Teen love at its best...and funniest. The prettiest girl in town has many boyfriends - each who think they are the only one - because she is too nice to say No to anyone. |
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The Darkest Hour ![]() |
The Darkest Hour
Book 3 in the Carmen & Alex series, Carmen and Alex had a perfect marriage until he left on a two-week business trip to South America without her. When he returned, their lives were changed forever and Carmen began the darkest hours of her life. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Something Old, Something New ![]() |
Something Old, Something New
Book 2 of the Carmen & Alex series. Communication has never been one of Carmen’s strengths. It isn’t fear of retribution that makes her hide things from Alex – especially one very personal secret that she and Josh share. Between her obsession about children and reluctance to discuss issues with Alex, their marriage is in danger. She must either adjust or risk losing the man she loves more than life itself. Categories: Romance, Other Fiction, Contemporary Romance |
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Bed & Breakfast Next to the Pink Roses Hotel ![]() |
Bed & Breakfast Next to the Pink Roses Hotel
No one really knew what the owner of the popular bed and breakfast had in mind - even after her death. Her wishes seemed clear...or were they. Her life was private, until her heirs tried to solve the mystery. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense |
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Oak Trees with Pink Leaves ![]() |
Oak Trees with Pink Leaves
Christina had loved Rafael all her life, all eight years of it anyway. But things change when she is moved away across the country. She pines for her friend and her home in New Orleans. But time has a way of healing what ails you. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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Waltz of Her Life ![]() |
Waltz of Her Life
'Waltz of Her Life' is an epic romance with paranormal elements. The story follows Linda Serafina from her days as a college coed, when she answers an ad for 'Dream Research Assistant,' and it changes her life forever. She becomes a nurse, a wife and mother, and a competition quality dancer. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Coffee To Go ![]() |
Coffee To Go
Melanie has a run-in at a coffee shop with a stranger. She meets him again at her sister’s dinner party, and her antagonism is obvious. He forces a truce and realizes he will have to move slowly to win her trust, after discovering she has recently broken her engagement because of betrayal. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Breaking the Routine Can Have Consequences ![]() |
Breaking the Routine Can Have Consequences
Samantha Peters is the quiet good girl type. Her best friend convinces her to go to New York for the weekend where she has her first one night stand. No big deal right since she lives in a little no name town until she finds out the man she spent the night with is her new co-worker. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Once Bitten, Twice Shy ![]() |
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Book 1 in the Carmen & Alex series, Carmen is struggling to make a goat dairy profitable when her roommate’s brother arrives for a visit. Thinking he will be under foot and bored, she is taken by surprise when he seems genuinely interested in her work. As she falls for him, their tumultuous relationship is like a wild roller coaster ride. Categories: Romance, Other Fiction, Contemporary Romance |
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The Kama Sutra ![]() |
The Kama Sutra
The ancient Indian Sandskrit text was considered to be the standard work on human sexual behavior. It contains practical advice on dating, sex, sexual pleasure within the confines of Indian life in the 4th to 6th centuries. Categories: Romance, Sex & Relationship, Historical Romance |
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Alexander's Bridge ![]() |
Alexander's Bridge
Bartley Alexander is a middle-aged construction engineer whose love is divided between his demanding American wife and his exciting British mistress. As he loses his integrity, he also struggles to keep the new bridge he's constructing from also collapsing. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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Venus in Furs ![]() |
Venus in Furs
Severin was so infatuated with Wanda that he asks to become her slave and to be treated in degrading ways. Initially Wanda refuses but she eventually agrees, and soon finds that she likes the idea; but, she starts to dislike Leopold for the role he wants to play. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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Cassie ![]() |
Cassie
Freighting wasn’t a respectable job for a lady, but Cassie wasn’t about to let the bank have their ranch. She wasn’t prepared for renegade Indians or the handsome Frenchman they chased into her life. She had reason to distrust men, but Bordeaux was different – or was he? Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Katie's Hope ![]() |
Katie's Hope
Three weeks after leaving Rhyn, Katie learns the Immortals have no intention of letting her go despite her deal with their leader. Rhyn discovers he can only protect her if he accepts his place among the Immortals. However, doing so may cost him the only thing that matters. Categories: Romance, SciFi & Horror, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance |
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Kiera's Moon ![]() |
Kiera's Moon
Kiera's best friend drags her across the universe to find her a man, only the man she's destined to meet is a battle-hardened warrior living in exile. Calculating A'Ran is too cautious to be surprised by whatever life throws at him - until faced with the challenge of becoming a worthy partner. Categories: Romance, SciFi & Horror, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance |
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The Beautiful and Damned ![]() |
The Beautiful and Damned
Anthony, a fun-loving socialite, and his wife Gloria spend their time enjoying the finer things in their Roaring Twenties life while they wait to inherit the fortune of Anthony's grandfather. As time goes on their lust for life and their similarities threaten to destroy their innocence and their relationship. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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Little Women ![]() |
Little Women
The four March sisters suffer because of growing up poor during the Civil War but they remain happy and learn about life and love while growing up in New England. A wealthy next door neighbor and one sister's tutor fall in love with two of the sisters in this first book of the series. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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A Tutelarius Love ![]() |
A Tutelarius Love
Megan is ready to take control of her destiny, even if she has to fly to another state to escape an overprotective father. From the elite in California to a rustic cabin in Arkansas is culture shock enough, but what she finds in Arkansas isn’t at all what she expects. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Another Chance ![]() |
Another Chance
After the tragic murder of her husband, Jordan returns to the Florida town where she grew up. Slowly she rebuilds her life. After 5 years, she learns her stalker has escaped and he's coming after her. A mystical stranger enters her life. Can he help her survive this new threat to her life? Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense |
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Reality Check ![]() |
Reality Check
Brian and Samantha were two people who were unlucky in love. That was, until they met on the set of a reality movie. Now, their luck has finally changed. Will they fall in love? Will they find someone else on their stay? Or are they doomed to relive their past? Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Custody Battle ![]() |
Custody Battle
Only one thing matters to Mandisa Dladla-protecting her sisters at whatever cost. That includes turning her back on love when it comes knocking, looking like a knight, tasting like an angel while all along being a devil ready to take a child away from his mother. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Katie's Hellion ![]() |
Katie's Hellion
Katie thinks she's going crazy when a baby immortal and death's personal assistant appear in her life. She's drawn into a world of with immortals like Rhyn, an outcast half-breed who claims her as his mate. He rescues her and realizes she can help his brothers protect the immortal and mortal worlds. Categories: Romance, SciFi & Horror, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance |
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Cemetery Street ![]() |
Cemetery Street
In a world of presumptuous people, irony is alive and well, concludes James Morrison, the narrator of this touching coming of age novel. A view Shannie Ortolan - James' longtime friend, sometimes lover, and fulltime obsession - wouldn't argue. From their first encounter as teenagers until Shannie's death, experience the twists, turns and enthralling characters that populate Cemetery Street. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Goodmans Hotel ![]() |
Goodmans Hotel
As pressure mounts in his job in the City of London, Mark decides on a radical career change and sets up a gay hotel, the ‘Goodmans Hotel’ of the title. He is irresistibly attracted to Tom, a local handyman and he takes in an eighteen year old runaway, Darren, who is escaping from parental bigotry. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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The Warlord's Secret ![]() |
The Warlord's Secret
The demon-possessed Warlord of Tiyan is at war with enemy kingdoms and her own impending madness. She discovers the answer to both her problems in Taran, a slave-turned-scout obsessed with vengeance and determined to have Tiyan and its queen for his own. Categories: Romance, SciFi & Horror, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance |
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Courtship of the Recluse ![]() |
Courtship of the Recluse
Cindy accepts a housekeeping job at a remote west Texas ranch. The stoic and reclusive rancher has offered her access to a horse and 3000 plus acres in her spare time. Eventually, respect and admiration for him spawns a much deeper emotion – one that gets out of control in fuzzy stages that blend into each other. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance |
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Fate ![]() |
Fate
Ethan Holt is literally swept off his feet when a beauty saves him from death. The next two weeks sees a hot/cold relationship develop between Ethan and his amnesiac rescuer. He feels beholden; she's fearful of her past. Facing a crisis from her past Zoe finds herself and Ethan and Zoe find each other. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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The Project ![]() |
The Project
Steven is a brilliant, if socially awkward, young software engineer. Not the kind of man Julia would ever consider dating. But when she takes him under her wing she soon discovers there is more to him than meets the eye. Can she help him find some self confidence without breaking his heart? Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Incident in San Francisco ![]() |
Incident in San Francisco
Three strangers: a California cattle rancher, a big-city computer professional, an embittered laborer, have their lives changed forever by their intersection at an event in San Francisco. An unplanned romance is furthered and cemented by an unexpected violent act. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Damian's Assassin ![]() |
Damian's Assassin
Sequel to Damian's Oracle. After thousands of years as the White God’s right hand man and chief assassin, Dustin no longer believes in the human capacity for good, until he meets sweet, sunny Bianca, a Natural whose gift of healing will change not only his fate, but the fates of everyone around them Categories: Romance, SciFi & Horror, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance |
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Honeysuckles of the South ![]() |
Honeysuckles of the South
Meet five southern ladies. Four are looking for that special someone. They're rich,strong,bold and beautiful. They're divine and the cream of the South. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Remains of a Local Girl ![]() |
Remains of a Local Girl
Kate's boring existence is upheaved when a cold case murder investigation is reignited. Human remains in the forest and a dear friend suspected of a violent past are one set of problems she suddenly faces. Romantic feelings for a hick-town cop are another... Then there is the issue of self-worth. Categories: Romance, Romantic Suspense |
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Damian's Oracle ![]() |
Damian's Oracle
Caught in the war between the White and Black Gods, Sofia and her rare gift bring victory to he who grabs her first. Her difficult transition from human to oracle forces her into a new world, where she struggles in her role as Damian’s mate and to help a mysterious man who’s supposed to be dead. Categories: Romance, SciFi & Horror, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance |
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Dream Lover ![]() |
Dream Lover
Charly applies for a position as a farm insurance inspector, knowing she has an uphill battle trying to work in a traditional men’s role. She is immediately aware of an intense hostility from one of the company directors, but manages to strike a bargain with him to work for three days at no salary. She gets the job and eventually wins his heart. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Keepin It Tight ![]() |
Keepin It Tight
What happens when two women and one man suffer devastating pain in their love lives and are all looking for some one to mend their hearts? Do they go on to a love triangle... or pure unadulterated drama? With all of the heart knocks she has suffered, Lela James has all but given up on finding true love. That's until she meets Cornelius Johnston at the James Family Reunion. Neil is a hardworking, successful black man who is prepared to give her the world. And their world is indeed perfect except for one thing...his ever present, sexy blond protege, Amanda Broady, who is fighting for her own corner of Neil's heart. Spending long hours at work, Neil never suspects that one day Lela's loneliness may cause her to stray. Keepin' It Tight explores relationship drama like no other novel. When the insecurity and deception in Cornelius and Lela's marriage reaches a point of no return, it will take a miracle to pick up the pieces. Come take the journey of race, love, deception, and temptation in Keepin' It Tight. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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And You Will Find Love ![]() |
And You Will Find Love
Barbara is a pioneer aviatrix in the mid 1930s who loves her flight instructor, but he chooses instead her best friend and Barbara lives by a code that enables her to give him up. She pursues happiness following the creed: Where there is no love, put love, and you will find love. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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The Viking (A Sample) ![]() |
The Viking (A Sample)
At fourteen, Stefan’s father let him take part in a Viking raid, then he found himself stranded in Scotland. At 13, Kannak’s father deserted her and the only way to survive was to take a husband. Instead, she found herself helping a hated Viking. Could she hide him and who wanted her laird dead? Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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The Bairn of Brianag ![]() |
The Bairn of Brianag
The adored and indulged youngest child of a wealthy plantation owner in the South Carolina colony, Jessie Maclaine is determined to marry Robbie Stewart, her childhood playmate and recent obsession. She hatches a plan to capture the heart of her beloved, but the outcome shakes her world to the foundations and ultimately very nearly claims her life—and Robbie's. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance |
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A Heart to Mend ![]() |
A Heart to Mend
The book is about two people, Edward and Gladys, who meet and are attracted to each other almost immediately, but have difficulty in resolving their feelings, especially because of Edward's past and other twists. The concept for "A Heart To Mend" is from the theme of unconditional love. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Follow Your Heart ![]() |
Follow Your Heart
Lisa Stevens runs to a quiet mountain retreat after being made a laughing stock in the gossip columns at home. As she drives back to her home and life, her car breaks down during an ice storm, forcing her to seek refuge with a local, the handsome rock star Michael Joyce. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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Loose Ends ![]() |
Loose Ends
The story of a beautiful young widow and the men who shape her dreams, shake her world and capture her heart as she discovers her talent and finds a new passion. It is a true-to-life tale of tragedy, fragility, and the salvaging of a life against the backdrop of the American art festival scene. Categories: Romance, Contemporary Romance |
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The Man Between ![]() |
The Man Between
The bonds of matrimony come in many forms for Ethel Rawdon and her friends. Ethel sees the future in a band of gold, hoping to be united with her beloved Tyrrel. But for Dora, the marriage ties become suffocating, a trap. Her escape takes her through tragedies and heartbreak and back home again. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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Anna - The Highlander Series (A Sample) ![]() |
Anna - The Highlander Series (A Sample)
In love with a woman he had only seen once and could not find, the Highlander Kevin MacGreagor needed a wife to give him sons. No other woman pleased him, even the daughters of other larids, so he finally settled for Anna sight unseen. But when his men went to meet her escort, they found her alone in a clearing and badly beaten. Who could have done such a thing and why? Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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The Dude Wrangler ![]() |
The Dude Wrangler
The old and the new clash in the halls of The Colonial Inn, where men retired from work in the Old West live beside young women making their own way in the world. It is at The Colonial, with all its history, that Wallie first meets Helene, and generations of family feuds come roaring to life. Categories: Romance, Western Romance |
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The Mystery of Mary ![]() |
The Mystery of Mary
A beautiful woman is on the run, but from what? She meets a helpful stranger at the train station, but is reluctant to reveal the mysteries of her past that are haunt her present. Then, she is gone. If he is ever to understand the mysterious Mary, he must find out where she went. Categories: Romance, Romantic Suspense |
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Ardath ![]() |
Ardath
In love with a supernatural angel, Alwyn feels unworthy of her affections and looks for a way to change himself. His transformation takes him back in time thousands of years, to the fantastic world of Ardath and a series of adventures that prepare him for his metamorphosis. Categories: Romance, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance |
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The Black Moth ![]() |
The Black Moth
Who is the mysterious man who foils the kidnapping of the beautiful Diana Beauleigh by the nefarious Duke of Andover? He is Jack Carstares, disgraced oldest son of the Earl Wyncham, living a secret life. Jack suffers an injury while rescuing Diana, and must hide with her family if he is to recover. Categories: Romance, Romantic Suspense |
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The Queen of Hearts ![]() |
The Queen of Hearts
Griffith and his older brothers live a quiet life in an old country house, until Jessie, nearly 21, comes to stay. When Griffith gets word that his son will return from sea to declare his love for Jessie, the brothers spin tales to keep the heiress entertained until the sailor arrives. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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The Promise ![]() |
The Promise
In 1746 eight-year-old Colleen Stuart was more than the playmate of ten-year-old Jonathan Rodes -- she was his best friend. She could do anything a boy could do and best of all, she could play jokes on the adults without getting caught. Jonathan assumed they would always be together, but no sooner had his father told him the secret of the jewels, than his world collapsed. The King's men executed his father, his ailing mother died and he found himself painfully separated from Colleen. For years he remembered his promise to find her, but it seemed a hopeless task until one day an odd letter arrived. Categories: Romance, Historical Romance |
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Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo ![]() |
Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo
This thriller brings the mysterious Mademoiselle into contact with a seemingly unstoppable super criminal known only as The Sparrow. The high society world of Mademoiselle may be the unlikely undoing of the underworld operative who has eluded the best detectives in Europe. Categories: Romance, Romantic Suspense |
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