Ten Nights with an Orc, a Love Potion Gone Wrong, and a Lost Atlantis: Free Romance This Week

by Kristen Ashley

Kristen Ashley follows the Three Amigos, Duncan, Imogen and Corey, two boys with rough home lives and a girl who happily got muddy with them. It's sitting at 4.08 with over 7,600 ratings, and one reader said it felt like old KA and reminded them of The Will, which is high praise from a fan. Another reviewer laughed that no 20-year-old says 'rad,' so expect a little dated dialogue alongside the big, sweeping saga.

“It felt like old KA. In fact, it reminded me of The Will... Oh, I don't know, maybe my longer KA break did the trick... or my romance break in general. Or maybe I was just in need of a comfy read during these turbulent times. Uncomplicated, comprehensible sentences and reasonable book length...”

by Finley Fenn

A widow agrees to ten nights with an orc, then discovers his jealous best friend is part of the deal. It holds a 4.15 across more than 2,200 ratings, and the blurb quote promises a wild, hot ride that is also heartwrenching. This is monster romance with real heat, so it's not for everyone, but if that setup made you grin, you already know.

by Abigail Drake

PhD candidate Grace O'Leary finds a spell book in her Aunt Lucy's run-down shop and whips up love potions just to see what happens. Naturally there are consequences, and a sexy reporter. It's at 4.16 with nearly 1,900 ratings. One reader found it too cute and silly, a standard small-town rom-com with a smart heroine and a tall, dark love interest. Another loved the witchy charm and said you don't need book one first.

“Too cute and silly for me. Typical small town romcom with a smart blue-stocking MC and her tall-dark-and-handsome love interest. A bunch of grown-ups who behave like teenagers and ridiculous antagonist. + Halloween vibes.”

by Sara R. Turnquist

An epidemic forces Katherine Matthews to work alongside Wyatt Sullivan, the town doctor and an old enemy. The blurb makes it sound heavy, with desperation and death in the mix, and it has the highest rating of the week at 4.47 from over 1,100 readers. I'd pick this for historical fans who want stakes and a slow thaw between two people with history.

by Amy Kuivalainen

Think A Discovery of Witches crossed with The Da Vinci Code, with immortal magicians, fated bonds, Atlantis mythology and a heroine who turns out to be right all along. It's at 3.99 with about 1,800 ratings. One reviewer was pleasantly surprised and said it's perfect if you love Atlantis lore. Another stumbled onto it in Libby and enjoyed the mix of mystery and magic.

“4 pleasantly surprised ★★★★✩ This book is for you if… you have a fetish for the fantastic tales of Atlantis. A general inclination towards fantasy novels that feature archeological and mythological elements and some sexy action will do as well. ⇝Update. This unexpected surprise just got a sequel...”

by Jennifer Wilde

Marietta Danver, born out of wedlock to a London barmaid, is wrongly convicted and auctioned off in the American colonies. It's an older New York Times bestselling historical, and at 3.92 with over 1,600 ratings it has the lowest score this week, though that's still solid. Go in expecting classic-era conventions and a dramatic, melodramatic plot. If you like your historicals big and unapologetic, this is a good pick.