The best standalone romance novels from Next Chapter [March 2023]
The standalone romance book genre is a popular and enduring category of literature that focuses on the romantic relationships between two individuals. Unlike series romance novels, standalone romances are self-contained stories that are not part of a larger narrative arc or connected to other books. They often follow a formulaic structure, with a meet-cute, a conflict that threatens the couple's relationship, and a happily-ever-after ending.
One of the benefits of standalone romances is that readers can dive into a book without having to worry about reading an entire series or keeping track of complex plotlines. They are perfect for readers who are looking for a quick and satisfying read, or who want to explore the romance genre without committing to a long series. Additionally, standalone romances often cover a wide range of sub-genres, such as historical romance, contemporary romance, and paranormal romance, giving readers a diverse selection to choose from.
Overall, the standalone romance book genre has remained a popular and important category in the literary world. With its emphasis on love, relationships, and happy endings, these books offer a form of escapism for readers seeking a break from the stresses of everyday life. Whether you're a seasoned romance reader or a newcomer to the genre, standalone romances are a great way to explore the wide variety of romantic stories available in the literary world.
On this page, we’ve collected some of Next Chapter’s best standalone romance novels, all available from major book retailers. If you like any of the books below, please take a moment to leave the author a review :) Don’t agree with our choices? Please leave a comment and let us know which book is your favorites!
Books featured on this page
Tokens Of My Confection by D.S. Williams
Book excerpt
Deputy Kane Garrison drew to a halt in front of Meredith's house, glancing in the rearview mirror at the young woman sitting behind him. "We're here."
Sid whooped with joy. "Gran's gonna be so excited to meet you, Cades. Let's go!" With a brief smile, Sid pushed the car door open and launched herself onto the front walk towards her grandmother.
Cady watched Sid throw herself into the arms of the older woman who stood near the bottom of the steps. Even from the car, she could hear Sid chattering a mile a minute. When Deputy Garrison picked them up from Billings, Sid had climbed into the car beside him without a hint of shyness and proceeded to talk his ear off for the entire two-hour journey. Typical for Sid, she was exuberant and excitable, her joie de vivre tangible to everyone around her. Through Sid's intensive questioning, Cady knew that Kane Garrison was married with twin sons and was a descendant of the original town founders, who'd travelled across the wilderness to Montana in the mid-eighteenth century and settled in the area.
The Deputy stepped out of the car, reaching down to open the back door for her. "Ms. Caldwell?" He held the door patiently, waiting for her to make a move. She was as skittish as a newborn colt and he watched her take a deep breath, centering herself, but still she didn't attempt to get out of the car. He leaned over and regarded her for a second or two, offering her a warm smile. "Your Grandmamma's excited about meeting you, honey. Come on out, now."
The Naphil's Kiss by Simone Beaudelaire
Book excerpt
Sarahi crept into the chamber, trying to remain unobtrusive. It's necessary every so often to appear before Mother to pay homage, leave offerings, but I hate it. Each time she faced the demoness, it reminded her of her son, lost to her, perhaps forever, and of the Naphil she had loved. If I had a choice, I would leave and never come back. But she could not. The danger was too great. Too much depended on her behavior remaining above reproach.
At least it's an easy place to feed. She moved through the dim light of a black fire that crackled and flickered in the center of the room. It gave off no heat, leaving the chill of stone and the strange atmosphere of this otherworldly place to hang heavy in the chamber. She clutched her scarf to her head for warmth. Modesty means nothing here. She could feel her eyes glowing in the darkness. Like a cat, she could reflect even the faintest scrap of light. From the corners of the room, other lamp-like eyes glowed. Sarahi approached the altar and laid down her offering of flowers and fruit.
A familiar sound rang through the room, drawing her attention. She'd seen this spectacle thousands of times. As expected, a new drone was servicing the demon queen. Another Succubus will soon be joining our ranks. Sarahi smirked. She now knew no matter how many drones her sisters provided, no Incubus would ever be born here. Only the combination of Succubus and Naphil proved potent enough to create the coveted creature of legend.
Half A Rainbow by Lorna Read
Book excerpt
Leah felt tired. Not just the tiredness that came from lack of sleep, though she had certainly been suffering from that. No, this was a deep, bone-aching weariness, a general malaise. Each morning when she woke up, she prayed to have a clear head and a body full of energy, but so far it hadn’t happened and she didn’t think her exhaustion was completely the result of the decorating she’d been doing, stripping off peach-coloured woodchip and painting walls and woodwork. She wondered if it was purely physical – she had suffered a health trauma a few months back, after all – or if it had a psychological component, too. Perhaps the two were connected. Maybe she was suffering from depression. It wouldn’t be surprising if she was.
She sighed heavily and balanced her paint brush on top of the pot of ‘white with a hint of lemon’ vinyl silk emulsion. She rubbed her arms, trying to force some vitality into them. Coffee; that would help.
Sitting down with her hot drink and a plain chocolate Hobnob, she felt herself droop and took another deep breath. Suddenly, events of the last few months seemed to fly through her mind, like they said happened when you were drowning… on your last gasp, fingers clawing at water, desperately seeking something to hold onto to save your life. She saw her old London apartment, her flatmates, their faces receding as if she were flashing past them in a speeding train. Cassidy, her best friend, her polar opposite, her dark sister. Her office. The hospital ward – no, no, don’t want to remember that. Go away! She felt her throat tighten as if invisible hands had squeezed her neck and she coughed and reached out a trembling hand towards her coffee mug, which was standing on a table that seemed to be moving away from her as she leant across it.
Bathed In Moonlight by Stacia Kaywood
Book excerpt
Careful not to disturb her patient, Greta picked up the uniform from the arm of the sofa and went to the kitchen. There she mended the holes and tried to wash it the best she could. It would never again be a proper uniform, but at least she could return him to his unit in a somewhat presentable state.
With Ezra’s help, she cleaned up the mess left behind from the firefight. She replaced the curtains with sheets, swept up the broken vase, and hammered a weathered board over the broken window. The armchair had suffered the indignity of a large rip in the fabric, but there was nothing she could do to fix it now.
Ezra and Greta both had the same thought. “Poor Liesel, this was her husband’s favorite chair.” She pointed to the stuffing falling onto the floor. “I won’t tell her if you won’t.” She winked at Ezra who gave a silent laugh.
Jimmy watched the way that Greta and Ezra interacted with each other with rapt curiosity. There was something strange in the way the two of them behaved, not as mother and son, but rather with a distance between the two. Jimmy noted the stark differences in their appearance. Greta was fair, with blonde hair and blue-green eyes, while Ezra had dark brown hair and eyes. Perhaps Ezra favored more of his father, but something nagged him. The longer he lay there, the more the situation puzzled him. There were secrets in this house, and he wanted to know the answers.
Everything I'm Not by Sara Mullins
Book excerpt
The next day, Reagan decided to visit the library. She had completed the romance book she was reading the night before. The woman that worked at the counter anticipated her arrival every Saturday morning. At this point, she was practically on her way to getting a key for the front door.
“Good morning, Reagan,” the woman said.
“Morning, Donna.”
“So . . . was it good?” Donna asked.
Reagan smiled and strolled up to the counter. “It was so good. I couldn’t believe the way he proposed to her.”
“I know, I cried. Isn’t that pathetic?”
“No, don’t feel bad. I cry all the time when I read romance.” Reagan chuckled and slid the book to Donna.
“You know, Mary is talking about retiring soon. You should apply here once she leaves,” Donna said.
“You think so?”
“Oh yeah, this would be the perfect job for you. Heck, you’re here more than I am sometimes.”
“Come on now, that’s not true.” Reagan paused for a second as Donna raised her right eyebrow. “Okay, it’s kind of true, but do you blame me? I live alone, I have a job that I don’t like, and two degrees that I’m not using. I have no clue what I’m doing or what I’m going to do. So, I fill in the void with books and movies. And that’s the extent of my lonely life.”
There you go: the best standalone romance books from Next Chapter in 03/2023. We hope you enjoy the stories - and if you do, please leave a comment below, or a review in Goodreads or your favorite store. We’d love to hear from you!
Praesent id libero id metus varius consectetur ac eget diam. Nulla felis nunc, consequat laoreet lacus id.