Astanna (a merging of the names of the goddesses Astarte and Inanna) offers books that are all about love and / or lust. Check out our selection below or head to the rec room and find your next heartwarming romance or steamy erotica (or something in between). You can also search for specific tropes, authors, or niches using the search box below!
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The Christmas Proof
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Spicy | Small Town | Soul Mates | Secret Identity | Bookish Couple
A Hallmark-esque You’ve Got Mail meets a modern adaptation of Mackenzie’s Mountain in North Georgia with a spoonful of spice.
♥ Secret Identity
♥ Celebrity Crush
♥ Soul Mates
After her mother’s cancer goes into remission, Kasa is finally ready to move away from her parents and meet up with her best friend in Atlanta so they can chase their childhood dreams together.
But when the celebrity author who she’s been in love with since she was a teenager (and whose fan club she’s been the president of for just as long) waltzes into the grocery store where she works, her life takes a turn that knocks her off course in all the best ways.
The Christmas Proof is a slow-paced, low-stakes romantic novella with a spicy center.
In Helping Hands
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While struggling through a furlough at work (and losing utilities week after week), Avery finally breaks down and accepts financial assistance from his best friend, Tonie. But the cost of that help is higher, and more pleasurable, than he could have guessed!
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- On Midnight Shores by Julie Olivia
“Never Harbour keeps getting better and better” — Amazon.com review by BooksAndBunnyHugs
Book Description
He’s Never Harbor’s tattooed bad boy, and I’m the good girl he doesn’t know exists.
I’ve loved Rafe Cohen since I knew unavailable artists with piercing amber eyes and reckless tattoos sparked my young, inexperienced heart.
If only the man knew who I was.
But, as it turns out, I can be reckless too. That’s how I end up in Rafe’s print shop with my legs around his waist and my innocence in his talented hands.
He insists our one night stand is just that: one night. He’s not a relationship guy.
But when he needs a new employee, and I’ve gotten one too many art internship rejections, we’re spending the summer closer than either of us expected. I want to learn everything, and lessons on painting techniques quickly turn into lessons of a very different kind.
I’m a good girl going bad, sneaking around our small town with the one man I shouldn’t, learning how art and intimacy intertwines in the most delicious ways.
I can be casual and still protect my heart. Sort of. Maybe.
I just hope I don’t learn my lesson the hard way.
ON MIDNIGHT SHORES is a grumpy sunshine, opposites attract romance with spice lessons! This is book three in Never Harbor, a series of interconnected stand-alone contemporary romances set in a coastal small town.
TROPES:
- Grumpy Sunshine
- Mentor/Intern
- Spice Lessons
- Tattooed Bad Boy + Good Girl
- Age Gap
- Forced Proximity
- Coastal Small Town
About the Author
Julie Olivia writes cozy love stories filled with humor, spice, and close friend groups that feel like a warm hug. She is a roller coaster fan, avid romance reader, and rainy day enthusiast.
Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their very opinionated pets.
Follow the Author
- Stealing Ares by Kim Conrey
“Stealing Ares is a Magical Reading Experience“ —Amazon Review
“Whether you’re a sci-fi fan, a romance devotee, or someone who enjoys a beautiful story of survival, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Harlow Hanson.” –Katherine Nichols, author of The Unreliables
In the 25th century, the recently widowed Prince Jack Windsor escapes his grief after the death of his wife and child by fleeing to Mars to solve the mystery of the dormant HMS Ares. When Harlow Hanson, the Robin Hood of the Martian colony, sneaks aboard to plunder the ship in order to save her people, the Ares springs to life and begins communicating with her. Prince Jack realizes the woman stealing from him is the key he’s been searching for.
Harlow awakens the ship and the grieving prince’s heart, but all too soon, she’s forced to betray him. Still fighting to believe in her, Jack will give up his crown and all he’s ever known for the love of this beautiful thief and her rogue colony, while the fate of two planets hangs in the balance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Conrey is the author of the sci-fi romance series Ares Ascending, the urban fantasy series The Wayward Saviors, and the memoir, You’re Not a Murderer: You Just Have Harm OCD, that she wrote with her child, Finn Conrey, about their journey through Harm OCD. She’s also the recipient of the Georgia Author of the Year Award for Romance. When she’s not working on her next book, you can find her trail running or cosplaying as a Box Hero Wonder Woman in Atlanta’s Dragon Con Parade. Her stories and essays have been published in regional and local press as well. In addition, she serves as VP of Operations for the Atlanta Writers Club and collaborates on the Wild Women Who Write Take Flight podcast. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
To learn more about my books (including trigger warnings under “Kim’s Books”) signup for my newsletter, and more, visit: Kimconrey.com
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- Amaranthine by Aricka Alexander
“A heartwarming tale featuring found family and a passionate and supportive love…” —Amazon Review
Kilah Jones and Kylie Bennett were each other’s first loves when they were teenagers. They started dating in 10th grade and their feelings for each other only grew as the years passed. One of their favorite pastimes was planning out their futures together and looking forward to all the wonderful experiences yet to come. To Kilah, being with Kylie felt like a dream come true. She never imagined being with anyone else and she was confident that she’d never have to be.
But you know what they say about trying to plan out the future…
Kilah’s world comes crashing down around her the summer before they were meant to start their 3rd year of college when Kylie reveals that she was moving away to attend a school out of the country. Before she could protest, Kylie was gone, leaving nothing behind but a devastated Kilah.
Kilah was heartbroken because she couldn’t understand what had changed between them so suddenly. Kylie never explained anything and instead went no contact for months until one day she hit her up, wanting to reconnect. However, Kilah was furious and refused to talk to her until Kylie eventually stopped trying to contact her.
Fast forward 12 years later, Kylie suddenly moves back to town and Kilah’s world is flipped upside down yet again. She vows that this time, she will protect her heart and tries her hardest to avoid her. But the feelings between them are still stronger than ever and every time they cross paths, it’s hard to ignore that magnetic pull between them.
Then one day, they decide that they can’t avoid each other forever and finally sit down to have that conversation they’ve both longed for for years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aricka Alexander (Arii A.) is an author from Louisiana who has been writing fiction stories and poems for over 15 years now. Ever since middle school, she has always had a love for reading and writing. In 7th grade, she started writing poetry, and that quickly transitioned into writing short stories over the next year. By the time she was 15, she’d written her first full-length novel. For years, she would write stories off and on until she took a step back. In early 2023, she found her love for writing and has written and self-published over 13 books since then, working toward releasing more in the future and expanding her catalog. Most of her books fall into the categories of either Young Adult Romance or Queer Adult Romance. When she’s not writing, she enjoys catching up on the latest movies and rooting for her favorite WNBA teams. Aricka also identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community and wrote her first sapphic love story in 2023. Her goal is and always has been to empower and inspire teens, young adults, and adults with her stories, just like how she was inspired by the books she read back in high school all those years ago.
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- The Other Brother by Tierney Page
London Hearts 1
“…I am just blown away…” —Amazon Review
Sometimes the right love comes from the wrong place.
– Debut novel from Australian romance author Tierney Page
– Forbidden romance between FMC April and MMC James
– London based contemporary romance
The Other Brother – London Hearts Series: Book One
All I ever wanted was a love like my parents had—something deep, irrevocable, and all-consuming. The kind of love that’s written about in stories. And I thought I found it with Lucas, my fiancé. We had it all: the house, the cat, and the promise of a future full of possibilities.
Until everything fell apart.
I discovered his secret. Heartbroken and betrayed, I convinced myself that I’d never find anything like what Lucas and I shared. He was my everything.
Then one night, I ran into his younger brother, James.
He’s a musician—complicated, intense, and nothing like Lucas. And yet, I can’t deny the pull I feel toward him. I’m drawn to him in ways I cannot explain. Opening my heart to someone so close to the man who shattered it feels ridiculous. But it’s undeniable, and I can’t resist. Trying to stay away only makes it worse.
I want him.
I’m falling for the one person I shouldn’t.
I’m falling for the other brother.
Tropes
– Ex-fiances brother
– Forbidden love
– Musician MMC
– Spice
– Banter
– Found family
– Slow burnABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tierney Page is a contemporary romance author and content creator based in Melbourne, Australia. At 32, she crafts stories filled with relatable characters, swoon-worthy MMCs, heartfelt connections, and spice that keeps readers turning pages late into the night.
When she’s not writing, Tierney enjoys traveling, doting on her fur babies, and indulging in a good book. Most days, you’ll find her curled up on the sofa in cosy fluffy socks, a steaming cup of coffee in hand, a cat on her lap, and a spicy romance novel keeping her company.
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- Heir to His Heart by Tatum James
“This quick read left no crumbs on the plate.” — Patrice Latimore-Mason, Amazon Reviewer
After seeing the man she’s been dating post an engagement announcement, Jahnae Greer is devastated. With the advice from her friends, she goes out and has a drunken one-night stand with a handsome stranger. Months later when she finds out her ex-boyfriend isn’t the father of her child, she has no idea how to get in touch with the man from her one night stand. She vows to raise her daughter alone until two years later when she sees him on a news report that he’s been arrested.
Football player Azriel Nichols has never had the best image. Now that he’s losing endorsements and facing a possible trade, he has to do something. When his PR rep comes up with the plan of cleaning up his image by being seen with a good girl, he’s reluctant to take her advice… Even when he finds out it’s her, the one-night stand that he can’t get off his mind.ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am a romance, urban fiction, and women’s fiction author. I love creating unique storylines and unpredictable plots. I have been a published author since 2018 starting with my novella Identical Sins. In the past few years I have penned 20 plus titles. I love to paint pictures with words. My mind is constantly creating stories and when I’m lucky I get them down on paper. Storytelling and music are two of my favorite things. My series Rhymes & Reason highlights those passions. I’m a South Georgia native from a small town called Abbeviile. Being from the rural south encouraged me to develop a wild imagination at a young age. I have also worked as a nurse for over a decade. Follow me on Instagram @authortatumjames and twitter @inkpin_killer. Join my facebook group for updates on new releases, sneak peeks and contest.
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- Reading Romance: A Less Dangerous Delinquency
- Fall Into You by Georgina Kiersten
“Super Quick and Super Cute!” (Amazon)
It’s Autumn. Is there a better time to fall in love?
Imari Haines has had it with the gossip. The whole town is acting like she’s their very own Runaway Bride. A plus-size, black version of Julia Roberts that left a perfectly nice boy at the altar. Her family is no exception. Her mother won’t stop making passive-aggressive comments.
Exhausted by this charged atmosphere, a boss that doesn’t appreciate her, and the never-ending town rumors, Imari makes a bold decision. Come autumn, she moves to Appeley (a small town in Hill Country) and never looks back. In Appeley, for the first time ever, Imari feels welcome, happy, and unapologetically herself. She tries new things, makes brand-new friends and, while attending the fall apple festival, she accidentally bumps into a very familiar face…
Cassidy Martinez was her childhood best friend and partner in crime. Now, she has grown into a stunning, confident woman, and Imari can’t help noticing.
Should she take a risk? Can the two of them pick up where they left off, or is being friends not going to be enough this time around?
An F/F Black BBW Sapphic Romance featuring plus-size main characters, a small town, autumn themes, butches and studs, motorcycle rides, coffeeshops, childhood friends-to-lovers romance, and tons of found family feels.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Georgina Kiersten is an author known for their wide range of LGBTQ+ romance novels that center around the stories of Black queer and trans individuals. As a Black-disabled trans person who was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to having dyslexia, being autistic, and having ADHD. They have a unique perspective on writing romance. It also drives their passion to create a diverse and inclusive romance genre for everyone.
When they’re not writing (which is rare), they can often be found reading a good book, watching bl dramas, drinking their body weight in tea, and co-parenting their five children, two dogs, and their growing horde of stray cats.
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- Best Kept Secret by Maya Alden
romance books, billionaire romance, age gap, forbidden love, single parent romance, sister’s boyfriend romance, baby daddy romance, secret baby romance
The truth about secrets? They always unravel.
I’m Beau Bodine, and someone’s been keeping one hell of a secret from me.
Mira Sen shows up out of nowhere and drops a bombshell: she’s been raising my daughter—her niece—for the past two and a half years. A daughter I didn’t even know existed. I should be furious, and I am, but Mira’s sister—who recently passed away—had convinced her I didn’t want to have anything to do with my kid.
Mira and my daughter move in with me, and before I know it, we become a family. I fall hard for my little girl. Her aunt has gotten under my skin, too. Our age gap, my history with her sister…none of that seems to matter. I’m in deep and for the first time in my reprobate life, starting to dream of white picket fences.
But when Mira’s conservative and influential parents tell me why they’ve been fighting for custody of their granddaughter, everything falls apart. They show me proof that Mira physically hurt my baby. I don’t hesitate. I tell Mira to get the hell out of my house and my life.
Then the truth comes out, and I know I’ve screwed up. Big time.
By the time I find Mira, she’s broken in ways I couldn’t foresee or even imagine. I know it’s my fault. I’ve got to fix this. But she’s shut down and become someone I barely recognize. Now I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to put her back together again.
Best Kept Secret is a billionaire secret baby forbidden romance and features all your favorite tropes:
🏵️Secret Baby
🏵️Sister’s Boyfriend & Baby Daddy
🏵️Single Parent
🏵️Forced Proximity
🏵️Forbidden Love
🏵️Other Woman Drama
🏵️Age Gap (12 years)
🏵️Misunderstood & Uncovered
🏵️Betrayal & Grovel
🏵️Indian Heroine
🏵️No Cheating
🏵️Complete Standalone
Trigger Warning: Reference to past sexual abuse of a minor; on page suicidal ideation and attempt. - If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
Keywords: divorced, next door neighbor, 1990s, autumn, fall, baker, small town, single parent, opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, cozy
A love letter to both the autumn months and the late ‘90s. Grab a cozy blanket, light your favorite fall candle, and revisit the autumn of 1997 where there are small town harvest festivals, crunchy leaves, Halloween celebrations, and Thanksgiving pies!
My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear.I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out.
Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.
Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.
Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe.
Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards.
So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.
IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY is a single dad, friends to lovers, small town romance set in autumn 1997. This is a complete stand-alone romance with a happily ever after.
TROPES
- Slow Burn
- Single Dad Baker
- Friends to Lovers
- Opposites Attract
- Divorcées finding love again
- Autumn 1997
- Cozy Small Town
