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Are you looking for a romance novel to heat your summer? Well, you're in luck. I'm a huge fan of romance novels. In fact, I read 36 romance novels and counting during the pandemic. I have a few steamy romance book recommendations that will make you fan yourself cool (and not because the weather is hot). Keep reading to see my curated list of steamy romance novels to heat up your summer.

8 Steamy Romance Novels to Heat Your Summer

01. The Perfect Play

Jaci Burton is the writer of The Perfect Play, the first book in her sports erotica Play-by-Play series. Burton is the queen of steamy romance novels, in my opinion. If you don't mind the lack of character development, especially in the newer books in the series, you'll love her books. Besides, who needs character development when your lady parts are humming with pleasure from reading hot words strung together into a perfect imaginary erotic scene? I digress…

Mick Riley has lived a pretty sweet life for an NFL star quarterback. Now he's ready to share his "sweet life" with someone special. So, the universe couldn't have been looking out for Mick more than on the night he met Tara Lincoln. Tara is a thriving business owner and single mother of a teenage son, and she is not looking for a man with a jet-set lifestyle to hold her down. When Tara cannot separate her feelings for Mick after their unforgettable one-night stand, she is thrust into an unwanted spotlight. So, what happens when the universe gives you someone that isn't on the same page as you? If you're like Mick, you do anything but quit because you don't let the ones you love slip away.

02. Changing the Game

Changing the Game is the second book in Burton's Play-by-Play series and my favorite Riley steamy romance novel. Sports agent Liz Darnell is reeling after Mick fired her for defaming his girlfriend's teenage son. Shameful of her inexcusable actions, Liz distanced herself from the Rileys until she reunites with her longtime crush and Mick's younger brother Gavin.

The last time Gavin saw Liz, she surprised him with the most passionate kiss then went off the grid. After months of not hearing from her, seeing her at the sports banquet made his balls quiver. He was very interested in learning what that kiss meant to her, but he's about to leave for Florida for spring training. Unwilling to lose any more time, Gavin invites Liz to join him.

When a Riley family emergency cuts their time in Florida short, Liz courageously faces the consequences of her broken friendship with Mick to support Gavin. Can Mick ever forgive Liz for her mistakes, or will he get in the way of his brother's happiness?

03. One Sweet Ride

One Sweet Ride is the sixth book in Burton's Play-by-Play series, and it is the first book in the series that does not involve the Rileys. Gray Preston was born into money, but he's built his racing empire on hard work and muscle. When Gray agrees to help his estranged senator father with his upcoming national election, his father sends him his best aide, Evelyn Hill.

Evelyn is dedicated to her job as Senator Preston's aide because one day, she hopes to be in his shoes, or maybe even in the White House. Evelyn finds it hard to keep things professional when the senator assigns her a job with his estranged son.

As Evelyn and Gray spend time together, they learn that there is space for a career and romance to exist, but they must work hard to sustain it like anything else in life. Can they do it?

04. Straddling the Line

Straddling the Line is the eighth book in Burton's Play-by-Play series. The story explores some heavy topics like grief and shame. Trevor Shay is a professional baseball and football player that can get anything, and any woman, he wants. When his late college mentor's wife seeks his help with their daughter, he does everything he can to be there for the girl that was always there for him.

Haven Briscoe's dream job as a sportscaster for a major network couldn't have come at a worse time. Unable to move past the recent death of her father, Haven is unable to concentrate on work and wants to move back home to be with her mother. Before she can even submit a resignation letter, she's assigned a biography on sports superstar and former crush Trevor Shay. What are the odds?

As Trevor and Haven work together on the biography, Trevor teaches Haven to be vulnerable so that she can finally grieve the loss of her father. When Haven asks him to trust her in telling his story, he hesitates because would need to reveal a secret that could blow up his professional and personal world. What will Trevor do?

05. Undercover Bromance

Undercover Bromance is the second book in Lyssa Kay Adams' Bromance Book Club series. This romantic thriller will have you laughing out loud, then fanning yourself book steam. Braden Mack is the owner of a popular Nashville bar and the funniest guy in the Bromance Book Club. His personality is nothing you'd expect from a big, muscular guy, which makes him even more enjoyable. When Liv approaches him about a sexual predator, Mack uses the romantic thriller his book club is reading as inspiration to help her expose him.

Liv Papandreas is a fiery pastry chef at one of Nashville's hottest restaurants. When she catches her boss sexually harassing a co-worker, she confronts him about it and gets fired. Livid, she goes to restaurant entrepreneur and mutual friend Mack for help.

During their investigation, Mack develops feelings for Liv. When Liv agrees to have a night of sympathy passion with Mack, she is determined to put out the flames before she gets burned. But, can she run from something that's meant to be?

06. The Wedding Party

Jasmine Guillory is my all-time favorite contemporary romance author. I have every book in her The Wedding Date series. Still, The Wedding Party is by far my favorite because the enemies to lovers arc is my reading jam.

Maddie and Theo have two things in common:

Alexa is their best friend
They both hate each other

Despite their hate for the other, the two end up sharing a passionate kiss that neither one can stop thinking about. As Maddie and Theo's best friend's wedding approaches, the two sneak around to release some tension. Can they make it to the end of the wedding without their friend knowing about them?

I hope you enjoyed this curated list of steamy romance novels! Follow me on Goodreads for more book reviews and recommendations.