Romance Release Radar: December 2025

December is bringing the heat this year, from cozy snowed in ranches to morally grey tech scandals, enemies turned lovers, and a good old fake dating setup. If your TBR pile was not already stacked, this month might be the one that finally tips you over. 

Here are the five December releases I am most excited to curl up with: 

Duke  

by Jessica Peterson 

2^nd December 

We start the month with a snowed in, small town cowboy romance. Wheeler Rankin heads to Lucky River Ranch for business and ends up stranded with Duke Rivers, the local heartbreaker with a reputation he has definitely earned. Sparks fly, plans go off course, and suddenly one snowstorm changes everything. 

What I love: the classic forced proximity set up, the winter ranch atmosphere, and two independent characters who discover they might be better together. 

The Bodyguard Affair  

by Amy Lea 

2^nd December 

Here we get a fake dating romance with a clever twist. Andi Zeigler secretly writes steamy novels. When her book becomes a surprise bestseller and a scandal hits the Prime Minister’s office, she calls on Nolan Crosby for help. He is the PM’s bodyguard, and he also happens to be the man she once spent a single unforgettable night with. 

What I love: a heroine with a double life, a hero with emotional depth, and a storyline that mixes humor, tension, and a little political chaos. 

Tender Cruelty 

by Katee Robert 

2^nd December 

This one is for fantasy romance fans. Hera and Zeus are already married but also sworn enemies. When the magical barrier that protects Olympus collapses, the two of them must work together whether they like it or not. Hatred and duty begin to twist into something deeper. 

What I love: the mythological world, the enemies to lovers angle, and the idea of a couple who is already married but still has everything to resolve. 

In a Second  

by Kate Canterbary 

9^th December 

This story blends second chance romance with a fake relationship. Audrey once turned down Jude Bellessi at the altar. Now she is divorced and definitely not looking for love. When they cross paths again, Jude is a single father who asks Audrey to pose as his fiancée for a summer while visiting his sick mother. 

What I love: the emotional tension, the complicated history between the characters, and the sweetness that comes from Jude’s life as a dad. 

Bluebird Gold  

by Devney Perry 

30^th December 

We end the month with a romantic suspense set in Montana. A woman returns home to handle her father’s estate. While settling in, she accepts a teaching job and meets the local sheriff. The estate hides secrets linked to a legend of lost gold, and unraveling the mystery draws her closer to the sheriff in more ways than one. 

What I love: the atmospheric small town setting, the blend of mystery and romance, and the sense of discovery that runs through the story. 

December is wrapping up the year with cowboys, bodyguards, Olympian gods, second chances, and Montana mysteries. Light a candle, grab your coziest blanket, and make plenty of room on your nightstand. Romance is definitely thriving this December. 

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