Dark contemporary romance books
Start Ella Miles’s dark contemporary romance books with Vicious Lies, after the Lies We Share prologue, for a hitman and a shared past full of secrets. For a complete series built around captivity and betrayal, read Lured by Lies, then Taken by Lies and the remaining Truth or Lies novels. This guide covers all six non-paranormal series labeled Dark romance in the catalog; choose one and follow its numbered order.
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These are dark romance books for adult readers. Check each book’s description before choosing; themes differ by title.
Find your starting story
Lies follows Liesel and Langston from a shared childhood to a request for a hitman. Truth or Lies begins with captivity and betrayal. Sinful Truths begins with Siren rescuing a man from the ocean before she faces being sold to the highest bidder. Each offers six numbered novels; Lies also has a prologue and Truth or Lies a prequel novella.
For a mafia princess and a deadly contest, choose the complete six-book Retribution Games. For marriage deals across two couples, begin the four listed Retribution Kings novels with Lennox. For obsession and dangerous families in a shorter complete sequence, read Dirty Beginning and the three Dirty novels.
How the Truth or Lies world connects
Truth or Lies, Sinful Truths, and Lies share connected characters and couples. The first-book guide suggests continuing from Truth or Lies to Sinful Truths and then Lies. Within each series, use its own numbered reading order; the prequel Lured by Lies belongs before Taken by Lies, and the prologue Lies We Share belongs before Vicious Lies.
Each of these three series has six numbered novels. Truth or Lies is complete; completion status is not specified for Sinful Truths or Lies. Collections are separate editions of the stories, not extra numbered novels. The Truth or Lies World guide links the three series and their starting books.
Lies reading order
Read the Lies We Share prologue, then start the numbered novels with Vicious Lies. Liesel needs a hitman; Langston answers and intends to collect the debt. Their shared childhood and secrets carry through the story.
Six numbered novels plus a prologue in a connected series story. Completion status is not specified; read in order rather than as standalones.
Full descriptions and retailer options6 numbered books , plus a prequel or prologue
Before book 1: Lies We Share (prologue)
| Book | Title | Main tropes and story themes | Standalone or cliffhanger | Buy links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (prequel) | Lies We Share | Shared childhood | Prequel; read before book 1 | Amazon |
| 1 | Vicious Lies | A hitman, Secrets | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 2 | Desperate Lies | Love versus duty | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 3 | Fated Lies | Love versus duty | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 4 | Cruel Lies | Secrets | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 5 | Dangerous Lies | Love and danger | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 6 | Endless Lies | Love versus duty | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
Vicious and Endless are separate collection editions; Lies We Share is the prologue. See the series page for all retailer options.
Sinful Truths reading order
Start with Sinful Truth. Siren saves a man from the ocean; when she is about to be sold to the highest bidder, he wants to save her in return. The next book follows a promise that leaves her unable to escape.
Six listed novels in a connected series story. Completion status is not specified; read in order rather than as standalones.
Full descriptions and retailer options| Book | Title | Main tropes and story themes | Standalone or cliffhanger | Buy links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinful Truth | Rescue, Captivity | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 2 | Twisted Vow | Dangerous promises, Captivity | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 3 | Reckless Fall | Love and debt | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 4 | Tangled Promise | Dangerous promises | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 5 | Fallen Love | Love and danger | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 6 | Broken Anchor | Love and danger | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
Sinful and Broken are collection editions, separate from the six numbered novels. See the series page for all retailer options.
Truth or Lies reading order
Start the numbered novels with Taken by Lies, after the prequel novella Lured by Lies (0.5). Kidnapping, captivity, and claims of ownership make this a dark crime-romance choice alongside the explicitly mafia-focused Retribution Games.
Complete six-novel series plus a prequel novella; read in order rather than as standalones.
Full descriptions and retailer options6 numbered books , plus a prequel or prologue
Before book 1: Lured by Lies (prequel 0.5)
| Book | Title | Main tropes and story themes | Standalone or cliffhanger | Buy links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 (prequel) | Lured by Lies | Assassin and target | Prequel novella; cliffhanger | Search AmazonApple Books · ebook |
| 1 | Taken by Lies | Captivity, Betrayal | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 2 | Betrayed by Truths | Captivity, Secrets | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 3 | Trapped by Lies | Captivity, Betrayal | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 4 | Stolen by Truths | Captivity | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 5 | Possessed by Lies | Love and danger | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 6 | Consumed by Truths | Secrets | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
Taken collects books 1–3; Stolen collects books 4–6. The prequel’s verified ebook link is on Apple Books; the Amazon search link is provided separately.
Retribution Kings reading order
Start with Lennox, then Rialta, Hayes, and Lilith. Marriage deals, a mission to claim a woman, and revenge connect these two couples. Lilith’s description includes her father’s killing and a possible marriage to the leader of the Retribution Kings.
Four listed novels in a connected series, following two couples. Completion status is not specified; read in order rather than as standalones.
Full descriptions and retailer options| Book | Title | Main tropes and story themes | Standalone or cliffhanger | Buy links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lennox | Marriage deal | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 2 | Rialta | Revenge | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 3 | Hayes | Mistaken identity | Cliffhanger; read in order | Amazon |
| 4 | Lilith | Revenge, Marriage deal | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
Collection 3 contains Lennox, Rialta, and Hayes; Lilith is separate. Find collection details on the series page.
Retribution Games reading order
Start with Mistaken Hero. A mafia princess and a man seeking revenge enter dangerous games in which winning her and her father’s empire is the prize.
Complete six-book series; read in order rather than as standalones.
Full descriptions and retailer options6 numbered books
| Book | Title | Main tropes and story themes | Standalone or cliffhanger | Buy links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mistaken Hero | Mafia princess, Revenge | Cliffhanger; read in order | Amazon |
| 2 | Forbidden Princess | Mafia princess, Revenge | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 3 | Tempted Hero | Rescue, Dangerous games | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 4 | Fatal Princess | Betrayal | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 5 | Tortured Hero | Love versus duty | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 6 | Dangerous Princess | Mafia princess, Secrets | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
Collection 1 contains books 1–3; Collection 2 contains books 4–6. Find both on the series page.
Dirty reading order
Read the Dirty Beginning prequel (0.5), then start the numbered novels with Dirty Obsession. Obsession, captivity, the Carini Empire, and revenge connect this dark crime-romance sequence.
Complete three-novel series plus a prequel novella; read in order rather than as standalones.
Full descriptions and retailer options3 numbered books , plus a prequel or prologue
Before book 1: Dirty Beginning (prequel 0.5)
| Book | Title | Main tropes and story themes | Standalone or cliffhanger | Buy links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 (prequel) | Dirty Beginning | Story themes not specified | Prequel; read before book 1 | Amazon |
| 1 | Dirty Obsession | Obsession, Captivity | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 2 | Dirty Addiction | Obsession, Captivity | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
| 3 | Dirty Revenge | Revenge, Captivity | Series book; read in order | Amazon |
Dirty: The Complete Series includes Dirty Beginning, the three numbered novels, and Dirty Epilogue. The epilogue is included in that collection; it is not a fourth numbered novel.
Before you start
Is it complete?
Retribution Games and Truth or Lies are complete six-novel series; Dirty is a complete three-novel series. Completion status is not specified for Retribution Kings, Lies, or Sinful Truths. Prequels and collections are listed separately from numbered novels.
What order do I read them in?
Choose a series and follow its numbered list. Read Lies We Share before Vicious Lies, Lured by Lies before Taken by Lies, and Dirty Beginning before Dirty Obsession. Sinful Truths starts with Sinful Truth, Retribution Kings with Lennox, and Retribution Games with Mistaken Hero.
Is it a cliffhanger?
Mistaken Hero, the prequel Lured by Lies, and Hayes have confirmed cliffhanger endings. Other individual endings are not specified; these are series reading orders, not a list of standalones.
Where can I buy it?
Use the Amazon links beside each book. Where there is no direct Amazon product link, the table labels the Amazon search and preserves the other retailer links. Series pages include collections and supported reading options.
Do these dark contemporary romance books include paranormal stories?
This guide covers the six non-paranormal series labeled Dark romance in the catalog. For wolf shifters, vampires, witches, and magic, start Mateless Shifters with Marked by Moonlight and use the paranormal romance guide.
Are these standalone romances?
These recommendations are connected series stories with numbered reading orders. Retribution Kings follows two couples across its four listed novels. Use the prequel, prologue, and collection notes to choose the right edition and starting point.
How are Lies and Truth or Lies related?
Lies, Truth or Lies, and Sinful Truths share connected characters and couples in the Truth or Lies world. Each has its own six-novel sequence. The first-book guide suggests Truth or Lies, then Sinful Truths, then Lies; follow the individual reading orders within that path.