If your December mood is all about twinkle lights outside and complicated, morally grey men in your books, this list is for you.
Imagine the house is quiet, you’re cozy under a blanket, and your heart races when a possessive main character says, “Mine.” These are the books you pick up for just one chapter, but before you know it, it’s 2:13 a.m., and you’re completely hooked.
Just a heads up: these are dark romances that include things like violence, crime, and controlling relationships. Please review the trigger warnings before reading.
Heat Key: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 = very spicy • 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 = scorching
All picks below are 4+ flames and 4+ stars on both Amazon and Goodreads (checked Dec 16, 2025).
1) The Maddest Obsession — Danielle Lori
Blurb
A relentless, slow-burning cat-and-mouse game unfolds between a federal agent and the woman who has haunted his thoughts for years. Their connection is dangerous, obsessive, and impossible to escape.
Why it’s worth reading
The tension is sharp, personal, and deliciously ruthless, and the payoff is explosive.
What you’ll get
Expect possessive obsession, power struggles, and the irresistible pull of wanting someone you know you shouldn’t.
Read if you like
If you enjoy morally complex men, long-lasting obsession, and a slow-burn that grows wild, this is for you.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥 | dark, obsessive, razor-edged chemistry
· Want to read this one tonight? Grab The Maddest Obsession on Amazon here.
· If you’d rather listen, check whether The Maddest Obsession is available on Audible here.
2) Twisted Emotions — Cora Reilly
Best of #booktok
Blurb
A mafia arranged marriage designed to stop a war… except the man she’s married to is feared for a reason, and the relationship turns into something intense and unexpectedly consuming.
Why it’s worth reading
It blends danger and devotion in a way that keeps tightening the emotional grip.
What you’ll get
Arranged marriage, protective brutality, and a heroine learning what power looks like in her own hands.
Read if you like
Marriage-of-convenience, mafia politics, “touch her and die.”
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥 | dark, protective, emotionally heavy spice
· You can get Twisted Emotions on Amazon here.
· Prefer audio? See if Twisted Emotions is on Audible here.
3) Sinners Consumed — Somme Sketcher
Best of #Booktok
Blurb
A dark underworld romance where obsession and danger collide—high stakes, high intensity, and a relationship that burns hotter the more it should break.
Why it’s worth reading
Because it’s ruthless in the way only a true obsession story can be—no half-measures, no safe edges.
What you’ll get
Intense chemistry, underworld tension, and “we’re in too deep” energy.
Read if you like
Dark mafia vibes, dangerous devotion, duet-style intensity.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥 | brutal, emotional, addictive
· If this is your kind of dark chaos, grab Sinners Consumed on Amazon here.
· Want the audiobook experience? Check Audible for Sinners Consumed here.
4) Beautiful Beast — Neva Altaj
Blurb
A mafia romance with a protective, dangerous hero and a heroine pulled into his world—violent stakes, deep attachment, and a relationship that turns fiercely loyal.
Why it’s worth reading
It hits that sweet spot of danger + tenderness, where the hero is lethal to everyone… except her.
What you’ll get
Possessive protection, underworld consequences, and a couple that locks in hard.
Read if you like
Protective alphas, mafia family pressure, “I’ll handle it” heroes.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥 | intense, protective, fast-gripping
· Ready for ruthless devotion? Get Beautiful Beast on Amazon here.
· If you’re listening while you clean/wrap gifts, see if Beautiful Beast is on Audible here.
5) Broken — Sadie Kincaid
Blurb
A marriage-of-convenience set against wealth, power, and obsession—where the “deal” turns personal and the heat turns downright shameless.
Why it’s worth reading
Because it’s bold, spicy, and emotionally sticky—you’ll get attached and annoyed and thrilled, sometimes in the same chapter.
What you’ll get
Billionaire power, possessive intensity, and a relationship that escalates fast.
Read if you like
Marriage-of-convenience, filthy tension, “husband privileges” energy.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 | hot, dramatic, addictive
· You can grab Broken on Amazon here.
· If you want this in audio, check Audible for Broken here.
6) Crow — A. Zavarelli
Blurb
A woman goes looking for her missing best friend—and ends up stepping straight into the Irish mafia’s world, right into Crow’s attention.
Why it’s worth reading
Because “I’ll lie my way into the lion’s den” is a choice… and it makes the payoff delicious.
What you’ll get
Mafia danger, a fearless FMC, possessive attention.
Read if you like
Irish mob, protective alpha energy, high-tension action.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very hot, gritty, fast-paced
· If you’re in the mood for Irish mob danger, grab Crow on Amazon here.
· For audiobook lovers, check whether Crow is available on Audible here.
7) Heavy — Cate C. Wells
Blurb
A Steel Bones MC romance that starts with a body disposal situation (yes, really) and spirals into a marriage-of-convenience setup with serious heat.
Why it’s worth reading
It’s raw, emotional, and weirdly tender in between the chaos.
What you’ll get
MC dynamics, loyalty, marriage of convenience, spice with depth.
Read if you like
Rough-edged heroes, unexpected softness, intense relationship growth.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very hot, gritty, emotional
· If you want gritty MC heat, get Heavy on Amazon here.
· Prefer to listen? Check Audible for Heavy here.
8) Reaper’s Stand — Joanna Wylde
Blurb
Reapers MC president “Picnic” gets pulled into helping London, a woman trying to keep her life together—until obsession and danger take over.
Why it’s worth reading
This one feels lived-in. You can smell the gasoline, the winter air, and the trouble coming.
What you’ll get
Older MC romance, obsession, cartel danger, intense devotion.
Read if you like
MC leadership, tough heroines, protective obsession.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very hot, gritty, high stakes
· This one is an MC staple—grab Reaper’s Stand on Amazon here.
· If you want the audiobook version, check Audible for Reaper’s Stand here.
9) Motorcycle Man — Kristen Ashley
Blurb
Tyra and Chaos MC president Tack collide—hard—and what starts volatile turns into a full-on, possessive, ride-or-die romance.
Why it’s worth reading
Kristen Ashley writes MC alpha energy like she means it—loud, intense, and impossible to ignore.
What you’ll get
Boss-employee tension, MC family, intense emotions, high spice.
Read if you like
Dirty-talking bikers, protective devotion, chaos-crew vibes.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very hot, bold, emotionally loud
· If you want loud alpha biker energy, get Motorcycle Man on Amazon here.
· Want it in audio? See if Motorcycle Man is on Audible here.
10) Sparrow — L.J. Shen
Blurb
A dark Boston mafia romance with a forced marriage setup and a heroine who ends up bound to a fixer with a dangerous name.
Why it’s worth reading
It’s sharp, dramatic, and the tension snaps like a rubber band.
What you’ll get
Marriage bargain, mob pressure, power struggle, spicy payoff.
Read if you like
Forced marriage, “mine” energy, and emotionally intense drama.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very hot, dramatic, dangerous
· For forced marriage mafia tension, grab Sparrow on Amazon here.
· If you’d rather listen than read, check Audible for Sparrow here.
11) Monster in His Eyes — J.M. Darhower
Blurb
A dark romantic suspense with a truly dangerous man (Ignazio Vitale) and a heroine pulled into a relationship that’s intense, consuming, and not safe.
Why it’s worth reading
Because it’s the kind of story where you know the edge is sharp… and you keep walking closer.
What you’ll get
Danger, obsession, moral gray zones, heavy tension.
Read if you like
Dark suspense, age-gap vibes, “this is a bad idea” attraction.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very hot, dark, suspenseful
· If you like dark romantic suspense, grab Monster in His Eyes on Amazon here.
· For audio, see if Monster in His Eyes is available on Audible here.
12) The Master — Kresley Cole
Blurb
A wealthy mafiya boss with strict preferences meets a woman who doesn’t fit his usual “type”… and she gets under his skin anyway.
Why it’s worth reading
It’s spicy, intense, and the heroine has backbone—which makes the power dynamic way more fun.
What you’ll get
Mafia power, dominance tension, high spice, emotional pull.
Read if you like
Boss-level control, stubborn heroines, luxe danger.
Heat & mood
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Extremely hot, possessive, decadent
· If you want luxe mafia intensity, get The Master on Amazon here.
· Prefer an audiobook? Check Audible for The Master here.
Helpful Resources
- You can read my 9 Dark & Spicy Romance Books That Everyone’s Obsessed With here
- If you want more holiday darkness, you’ll love my Twisted Holiday Romances post right here Blood on the Snow
- You can grab these titles on Amazon using my links, and it helps support Raunchy Reads at no extra cost to you. Amazon.
- If you prefer audiobooks, you can start a free Audible trial and listen while you clean, commute, or wrap gifts. Audible.
Final Thoughts
If you’re going to pick up a ruthless book this December, choose one that helps you forget the cold, ignore your to-do list, and lose track of how many chapters you’ve read.
The best stories don’t ask for permission—they grab you and never let go.
~Kay~
