List of Steamy Christian Romance: 2024 [Updated]
Steamy Christian romance is incredibly rare, but here are some I have found (and written) that are fit for adult readers who don’t enjoy squeaky-clean romance but also don’t want to deal with lude details or vulgarity.
Please note, there are no detailed/erotic scenes of sex in these books but there are other sensual elements, suggestive language, and situations fit for an adult audience only.
I have personally read every book on this list and would recommend them to mature Christian readers 18+ Click the titles or cover photos to grab your copy today!
Withered Rose
Mafia Romance
I can’t write a list on steamy Christian romance without plugging in my own work! Withered Rose is a Christian romantic suspense novel that I like to describe as tastefully steamy—haha! It is a book about a Christian woman who finds herself in an arranged marriage with a mafia boss. This is the part where haughty Christians shout, BE YE UNEQUALLY YOKED!!
I know guys, that’s the point of the story!
What better example of what it looks like to be unequally yoked than to place a Christian woman with a mafia boss? Plus, this is an ARRANGED marriage. She did not willfully choose to be with this man, okay?
Regardless, the best part of this is that God is with our heroin and it is God she clings to in this dark mafia world as she tries to be a light to those around her. Namely, her husband. What happens when you share the Gospel with a mafia? Our hope is that he converts and leaves the dark to come into the light with his Christian wife.
This book does not shy away from the mafia or the passion. If you are a sensitive reader, this is not for you.
Click here to start reading now!
FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Imagine being a freshman college student entering your first week of classes. Imagine moving into your dorm and spending time with your childhood best friend.
Now imagine the grid going down and living without power, access to clean water, and without a way to replenish your dwindling food supplies. Suddenly, your campus is not a place for students to chase their dreams. It’s a battleground, and only the fittest survive.
You’re a young Christian woman who’s just been trapped on your university’s campus, but you’re not alone. You’re stuck there with your current crush and your ex boyfriend. So this isn’t just about survival, it’s about finding a way to survive with your faith and your heart intact. Especially when you realize neither boy in this love triangle loves God. You don’t want to be unequally yoked, but you’re also tired of fighting these crazy feelings. How long will you survive? How strong is your faith?
Click here to start reading now!
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
FREE on Kindle Unlimited, 5.99 on Kindle App, 8.52 Print, 33.50 Hardcover
Lessman is often referred to as the ‘Black Sheep’ of Christian romance. I couldn’t agree with that nickname more. She goes there in her writing, and from the looks of things, this story isn’t a mere outlier amongst many chaste tales, this heart-pounding, passionate book is her style, and it is here to stay.
A Passion Most Pure is a story about sisters caught in a love triangle. This is book one in a trilogy. The story takes place during the Great War, so politics and patriotism are just as much involved as romance and faith. We see Faith, the protagonist, trying to find herself as she discovers her love for a longtime friend—only to realize he’s set his eyes on her own little sister. Charity is everything Faith is not. Fiery, confident, beautiful… and she’s caught the attention of the one boy Faith has ever truly loved.
The passion in this story is intense at times. Even I found myself blushing while reading through the novel, but I never felt the author went beyond my personal boundaries. It’s an older book, written in 2008, but considering it takes place around 1915, the story feels timeless. The only complaint I have about the book in terms of it being distasteful is that I hated the love triangle between sisters. I really wish Lessman hadn’t pitted siblings against each other. It made the whole situation feel … trashy. I hate saying that! But it was so unattractive to see two beautiful young women of God—sisters in blood as much as in Christ—viciously fighting each other over the same man. Then again, I suppose that made the story seem more realistic instead of attempting to portray the characters as perfect little Christian women. They wanted the same man badly enough to fight for him and learned their lesson. When you put it that way, I guess it’s not so bad. Haha!
All in all, I thought the book was quite emotional and truly tugged on the heartstrings. Not because of the level of intimacy and passion, but because I felt connected to the characters and their emotions—and the emotions they had for each other. I tip my hat to Lessman for being bold enough to go there in her writing. I look forward to reading more by her.
FREE on Kindle Unlimited, 1.99 on Kindle App, 10.99 Print
Another mafia romance! The Woof Pack is about a Christian woman who finds herself caught up in a case of mistaken identity. She is baby-sitting her neighbor’s dog when members of the mafia break into the house and hold her for ransom because they believe she is the daughter of the wealthy couple who lives there!
By the time these gangsters realize their mistake, it’s too late. She’s seen their faces and has memorized their voices. She could identify them. Now, their only choice is to get of her, except their boss won’t let them.
The man who runs the Woof Pack has fallen for the doe-eyed heroin, and kindly offers her a deal. Give him her heart, and he will keep her alive. It’s a life-or-death deal, but our protagonist doesn’t want to take it. As a Christian, her heart belongs to God, and she believes He can save her from this man’s clutches. But can He rescue her from his charming smile?
The Woof Pack is a romantic suspense that I immediately loved! I think it is more suspenseful than romantic but there are plenty of sweet kisses and gentle moments between our love birds. If you like romantic thrillers, this might be up your alley. Click here to start reading!
Beautiful Lies
FREE on Kindle Unlimited or 4.99 Kindle App 12.99 Print
I was walking home from Bible study when I witnessed a murder. Now I’m in witness protection, but I am not safe. The man who committed that murder is a member of the Russian mafia, and now the Bratva want me dead so I can’t testify in court. No one can keep me safe in this godless town, except one man…
His name is Luca Vittore, he’s the older brother of the victim and boss of the Italian mafia.
Luca has taken me into his home. He’s agreed to protect me and has asked for nothing in return. Except my heart… I’m a Christian woman, my heart belongs to God. But I cannot resist Luca forever.
This is a story of what it means to serve as a light in a dark place, and to cling to God during your trials. Our heroin faces more than danger, her very soul is on the line. Falling for a dangerous man like Luca could be the worst mistake of her life. Will she yield to her faith or the desires of her heart? Click here to find out.
The Lincoln Manifesto by Dayo Benson
FREE on Kindle Unlimited or 1.99 on Kindle App
This is the beginning of a very long journey. In fact, The Lincoln Manifesto is book one of thirteen romance novels! And it’s just a spin-off series! I am convinced Benson is tied to her chair and chained to her desk typing away at all hours, haha!
I loved The Lincoln Manifesto. It was so different and unique, but I think it might be a little creepy to some readers because it’s a series about 13 brothers in the occult finding love. They also find salvation as they find love, but if you’re sensitive to dark elements this series may not be for you. It deeply involves occultic elements like chanting, meditation, issuing curses, etc… but it is definitely a Christian book. The content offers insight on how Hollywood works today, and the way demonic messages are tied into our media. The main characters do find salvation in Christ and escape the occult so if you’re willing to try something daring and different, I certainly recommend this series.
Of course, there are no explicit sex scenes, but sex is implied between characters—between multiple characters, actually. And there is plenty of drama. What I liked most about Benson’s writing was that her characters seemed very real to me. Benson is the first Christian author I’ve ever come across to allow her characters to say things like, She looks hot in those jeans. I don’t think I have ever seen hot, sexy, or fine used in a Christian romance so I was surprised by the language, but in a GOOD way! The characters felt real and not forced into a wholesome box that most real-life Christians don’t even fit into. This is one of my favorites of the bunch. It has an incredible balance of drama, steam, and a strong message of the power of God. I highly recommend this series and its parent series, Searchlight.
Privileged: American Prince by JM Downey
FREE on Kindle App or 14.00 Print
Once again, I was drawn in by the sexy cover. You can’t even see his entire face—I should be ashamed! But whatever. Let’s not pretend you don’t see the sexiness.
Privileged also drew me in because it was advertised as a Christian billionaire romance. As someone who has read billionaire romance before (don’t judge me) I was genuinely interested in seeing how a Christian tackled this subject. While I believe the writing could have been stronger, I think Downey did a fair job.
This book left me between a rock and a hard place. At its core, Privileged is a story about a young Christian woman who gets caught up with a boy she has no business dating. William is not Christian at all and doesn’t even believe in God. He’s a sleazy man who has multiple women in his life and in his bed without ever committing to one. Somehow, our protagonist is not turned off by this. Katie gets involved with William and then watches her life spiral out of control.
The message of the book is a demonstration of what happens when Christians are unequally yoked. There is a story of salvation here, as this is only book one in what looks like a 4-part series so please read with an open mind.