Cover of Dead of Summer

Dead of Summer

A.J. Merlin

dark romance(4k)

She caught the camp counselor with an ax — now she has seven nights to survive his obsession.

Content Warnings
violence/gorestalkingdubious consentcaptivitydeath of loved one

Description

Or so the motto of Camp Crestview says. Having been a camp counselor for the last three summers, I can handle most situations that come my way courtesy of rowdy children. This year shouldn’t be any different, even with a new counselor who’s everyone’s type and too good to be true. But even so, Kayde Lane is nothing I can’t deal with. Until I stumble upon him at night with an ax and sinister intentions towards the campers we're meant to protect Unable to let him kill anyone, I strike a dangerous bargain with Kayde, only to realize the true extent of his darkness. With every demand he makes, pushing me to the brink of my moral boundaries, I'm torn between survival and the haunting allure of his control. As the nights pass and Kayde's demands escalate, I find myself teetering on the edge of sanity, questioning my own desires and the twisted games he plays with my mind. Seven nights are all I need to survive with Kayde, and if I can do that, everyone lives. If I can believe the words of a serial killer obsessed with breaking me, that is. Dead of Summer is a 160k+ word dark romance M/F standalone. It features a possessive, over the top hero and themes that not all readers may appreciate, and may be triggering to some. For a full list of TWs, please see the author's note.

Books like this

Cover of Savage Proposal: An Enemies To Lovers Dark Mafia Romance

Savage Proposal: An Enemies To Lovers Dark Mafia Romance

Bella Ash

dark romance
(266)

Sold to a ruthless mafia lord who demands an heir, Isabella refuses to surrender her heart to the monster who owns her.

captor/captiveenemies to loversforced proximity

11 tropes in common

Cover of Devil's Night Series

Devil's Night Series

Penelope Douglas

dark romance
(1k)

Three dark, obsessive romances where fear, revenge, and forbidden desire collide in Devil's Night.

captor/captiveenemies to loversalpha male

10 tropes in common

Cover of Pretty Dark Vows

Pretty Dark Vows

Callie Rose

dark romanceRuthless Hearts #1
(7k)

She walks into enemy territory to save her sister — and ends up craving the darkness of all three Reapers.

captor/captiveenemies to loversforced proximity

11 tropes in common

Cover of Thrall (Thrall, #1)

Thrall (Thrall, #1)

Julie Mannino

dark romanceThrall #1
(205)

A bratty half-human slave and the not-quite-mortal Master who bought him — dark desires, darker secrets.

captor/captiveenemies to loversforced proximity

10 tropes in common

Cover of Untouchable

Untouchable

Sam Mariano

dark romanceUntouchables #1
(26k)

The star quarterback sets his sights on the one girl who dared stand up to his team — and she's his perfect prey.

captor/captiveenemies to loversalpha male

9 tropes in common

Cover of Helfyre

Helfyre

Mariel Pomeroy

dark romanceAgía Sahnta #1
(10k)

She sells her soul for seven days in the devil's realm — and neither of them survives the bargain unchanged.

captor/captiveenemies to loversalpha male

10 tropes in common

Cover of Manacled

Manacled

SenLinYu

dark romance
(163k)

Enslaved and captive in Voldemort's dystopia, Hermione must survive her enemy captor — and her feelings for him.

captor/captiveenemies to loversforced proximity

10 tropes in common

Cover of Vicious Secret

Vicious Secret

Morgan Bridges

dark romanceThe Obsidian Order #1
(13k)

She tried to kill him. Now she's his bride — and the only way to survive the shadows ruling her campus.

enemies to loversforced proximityalpha male

11 tropes in common

Cover of Does It Hurt?

Does It Hurt?

H.D. Carlton

dark romancezade
(271k)

Shipwrecked with a man who wants revenge on her, she may not survive the island — or her feelings for him.

enemies to loversforced proximitystrangers to lovers

11 tropes in common

Cover of The Wolf and the Crown of Blood

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood

Elizabeth May

dark romanceThe Broken Accords #1
(4k)

An immortal assassin is sent to kill the sacrificial princess — but desire may be deadlier than death.

captor/captiveenemies to loversforced proximity

10 tropes in common

Cover of The Contract

The Contract

Rina Saint

dark romanceDangerous Games #1
(4k)

A morally broken mafia fighter wants to possess the angry bartender — and has a contract to prove it.

captor/captiveforced proximitystrangers to lovers

10 tropes in common

Cover of Stalked by Seduction and Shadows

Stalked by Seduction and Shadows

Maggie Sunseri

dark romanceEternal Obsession #1
(20k)

A seductress navigates a vampire city — and the obsessed vampire lord who refuses to let her go.

captor/captiveenemies to loversalpha male

10 tropes in common

Cover of Breaking Hailey

Breaking Hailey

I.A. Dice

dark romanceShadows of Obsession #1
(9k)

He's sent to break her mind for a secret she can't remember — but she's breaking him instead.

enemies to loversforced proximityalpha male

10 tropes in common

Cover of Distorted

Distorted

Nyla K.

dark romanceAlabaster Penitentiary #1
(16k)

A bank robber in a black-site prison catches the eye of the most dangerous — and twisted — guard on the block.

captor/captiveenemies to loversalpha male

10 tropes in common

Cover of Caged Wolf

Caged Wolf

Caroline Peckham

dark romanceDarkmore Penitentiary #1
(36k)

A wolf alpha gets herself thrown into Solaria's deadliest prison — and must win over four enemy alphas to escape it.

captor/captiveenemies to loversforced proximity

8 tropes in common

Cover of Skin of a Sinner

Skin of a Sinner

Avina St. Graves

dark romance
(39k)

The boy who shattered her heart returns soaked in blood — and drags her away as his captive.

captor/captiveforced proximityalpha male

10 tropes in common

Cover of Souls In Ruin

Souls In Ruin

Jacqueline White

romantasyThe Soulbound #1
(11k)

A princess forced to wed a cold foreign king discovers gods want her obedience — or her soul.

captor/captiveenemies to loversforced proximity

11 tropes in common

Cover of Burn for Me

Burn for Me

Effie Campbell

dark romance
(1k)

A mute mafia fire-starter kidnaps the woman he saves from the flames — and refuses to let her go.

captor/captiveforced proximitystrangers to lovers

10 tropes in common

Cover of Sinners Anonymous

Sinners Anonymous

Somme Sketcher

dark romanceSinners Anonymous #1
(109k)

She's marrying his uncle to save her father — but his dangerous nephew holds all her darkest secrets.

enemies to loversforced proximityalpha male

10 tropes in common

Cover of Hush Darling: A Wickedly Dark Peter Pan Retelling of Forbidden Romance

Hush Darling: A Wickedly Dark Peter Pan Retelling of Forbidden Romance

Lydia Michaels

dark romanceVillains of Kassel #1
(146)

A virgin captive and her ruthless pirate captor collide in a dark Peter Pan retelling dripping with obsession.

captor/captiveenemies to loversalpha male

8 tropes in common