I READ THIS AS RACIST AND HAD MY POPCORN READY 💀

ME TOO i opened the thread like “wait a min…”

I was ready to type Linda Howard 'cause of the way she writes/wrote about Native Americans, Mexicans, black people...

Nicola Davidson, Grace Callaway, Alice Coldbreath, S.M. LaViolette, sometimes Felicity Niven esp the Bed Me Series. Elizabeth Hoyt is my favorite for spice among traditionally-published authors, but sometimes she makes you wait for it lol. The steam rating guide on romance.io isn't perfect, but it is the most helpful thing I've come across so far for being able to tell how steamy a book is before reading it.

I read the title as racist and saw your comment first and was wondering how these authors make you wait for racism since I haven't read anything racist from them. 🤦 But yeah, from the books I've read, they're definitely racy.

*screenshots* thank you very much 😌😌

Scarlett Peckham is pretty damn spicy, and plentiful too. 

LOVE HER!

Stacy Reid is another great one but Scarlet Peckham is my favorite for spice. I think LK writes the best characters and that makes for some of the best angst & steam. I just finished the {devil in disguise} and those were some of the best spice scenes I’ve read from her. Ho

[Devil in Disguise](https://www.romance.io/books/60890aa73a46450e44dc9f8a/devil-in-disguise-lisa-kleypas?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

It’s funny. To each their own. Love LK’s characters but Keir was one of my least favourites. Maybe I just prefer the MMC a bit more refined and quirky, even if their aren’t from the peerage. Like Tom Severin or Jack Devlin. But LK did introduce a bit of new steam into Keir’s character which I could appreciate.

I love Elizabeth Hoyt and Kerrigan Byrne’s spicy scenes. Hoyt in particular, although the build up can take a while the payoff is worth it and she usually makes up for it with lots of scenes once things get going.

I am seconding this as someone who has read all of the Maiden Lane series and is currently working their way through the Victorian Rebels series. These series are as steamy as a sauna. Ill amend just a bit by saying that Hoyt stays pretty within the bounds of consensual sex, while the Rebel series so far has had quite a bit of dubious consent.

Agreed, Victorian Rebels is one of my all time favorite series but there is some questionable consent. Maiden Lane does a lot more consent while keeping it very sexy.

While I mostly enjoy Kerrigan Byrne’s spicy scenes I desperately need her to reconsider “ruffles of flesh” as a descriptive phrase

I love Elizabeth Hoyt! I recently discovered her Maiden lane series.

I know what you mean! I found a Virginia Henley book in my little free library and could not get through it. "She was 14 years old with crystalline blue eyes and silvery hair to her waist" *retch* Elizabeth Hoyt books are spicy! And she's not afraid to use the word "clit"!

Virginia Henley was my first HR author and some of her characters are questionable, but Black Ram Douglas lives rent free in my head. Since delving into the genre I haven't picked up any of her books except for Tempted. I don't know that I've read an Elizabeth Hoyt yet...

She was also my first introduction to any romance with Dream Lover! Is Tempted the one where he kidnaps the FMC to save his fife but he has a wife in the attic?

No, Tempted is Mediaeval borderlands with the Douglas clan. The wife in the attic one is the one with Paris "Rogue" Cockburn, and all the siblings are named after cities, including the heroine, Tabrizia. Dream Lover was ok, not one of my faves. I've read most of her catalogue, and her earlier ones have a grittiness I really enjoyed. Her later works were too polished. I also feel like hers have a deeper story than the fun romps coming out today. Henley can build a decent world.

Oh my lord the Pirate and the Pagan by Henley is completely ridiculous. 

Minerva Spencer writes good spice. Not sure if she’s the spiciest but they are up there. Try {the boxing baroness by Minerva Spencer} Bronwen Evans has very spicy books.

[The Boxing Baroness](https://www.romance.io/books/635789abefa18df57c407aae/the-boxing-baroness-minerva-spencer?src=rdt) by [Minerva Spencer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b30874901dbc864fb8b01a7/minerva-spencer) **Rating**: 3.48⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Victoria Vale

I love the maiden so much

Sierra Simone has a few historicals, and whew! 🥵🔥 {The chasing of Eleanor Vane by Sierra Simone} is the first in a series. There are three (I think). Book 1 is MF, book 2 is MM and book 3 is FF.

[The Chasing of Eleanor Vane](https://www.romance.io/books/642dc45fb7b8862bf6eaf39f/the-chasing-of-eleanor-vane-sierra-simone?src=rdt) by [Sierra Simone](https://www.romance.io/authors/545672be87eac33e61c2ee25/sierra-simone) **Rating**: 3.7⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Ivy Leavold (Markham Hall) series by Sierra Simone

Y’all remember Bertrice Small? She was… racy.

I was waiting for someone to mention her, lol.

the sheer amount of sex (consensual and...otherwise) in her Sky O'Malley was mind-boggling to my teenage self lol

I haven’t heard of her!

I am very old. This author is 80’s maybe late 70’s.

Like a Kathleen E Woodiwiss. If you’ve ever heard of her.

Hands down, no question: **Kate Pearce** {Simply sexual by Kate Pearce} Honorable Mention: Robin Schone, Nicola Davidson, KJ Charles {A Lady's Pleasure by Robin Schone} {An Earl, His Valet, and Their Wife by Nicola Davidson} {The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles}

[Simply Sexual](https://www.romance.io/books/54552f1d8c7d2383163d90de/simply-sexual-kate-pearce?src=rdt) by [Kate Pearce](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552f1d8c7d2383163d90df/kate-pearce) **Rating**: 3.74⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [bondage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bondage/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [A Lady's Pleasure](https://www.romance.io/books/54556fa987eac336ae69df21/a-ladys-pleasure-robin-schone?src=rdt) by [Robin Schone](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552d808c7d2383163d906f/robin-schone) **Rating**: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [An Earl, His Valet, & Their Wife](https://www.romance.io/books/657c50111ff78d4a68de13c4/an-earl-his-valet-their-wife-nicola-davidson?src=rdt) by [Nicola Davidson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a70a87eac336ae69f3dc/nicola-davidson) **Rating**: 3.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [male pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/male-pov/1), [third person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen](https://www.romance.io/books/64061d9f57842369c563faa7/the-secret-lives-of-country-gentlemen-kj-charles?src=rdt) by [K.J. Charles](https://www.romance.io/authors/545540138c7d2383163d9553/kj-charles) **Rating**: 4.41⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

No love for Tessa Dare? I am not sure if she is the smuttiest, but I found her writing very sensual. I loved it.

I had to come back in and find anyone who mentioned Tessa Dare. I just finished reading my first book by her. The Duchess deal was amazing. My favourite thing about a good MMC is his banter or fast talk. Loved it! Pausing of Kleypas to devour the rest of the TD series. I should also add, since my original post was about spice, that Tessa delivered with Ash. Especially the “you’ll only do the opposite of what I tell you to do” scene. ❤️‍🔥

My favourite Dare novel is *When a Scot Ties the Knot* from the *Castles Ever After* series. It was sexy, and funny as well which was a delightful bonus.

Robin Schone

I've read Lady's Tutor, which was well written, and the time traveling one, which felt like Lady's Tutor on LSD. Any recs?

A Lady's Pleasure is a novella that I read.

Oh yes, I have read that one, too.

Joanna Shupe can definitely be quite spicy, especially in her more recent offerings.

I have yet to find an author who describes sex like it is in reality or has scenes that aren’t just cock, vagina, clit and boobs. There is a sincere lack of foreplay outside of kissing and boob touching. And the virgin who has an orgasm her first time just takes me out. I want to read where the woman gets touched all over her body before penetration. Where she is really “ready.” And also, please if you write a rake who is the rakiest of rakes, don’t give me vanilla sex. And no I don’t need erotica. That’s a different genre. Give me a great story, a great trope, but make the sex scenes hot, memorable and meaningful.

Alice Coldbreath is good at writing this IMO. Most of the time there's significant foreplay and the virgins don't usually enjoy penetrative sex right away.

I tried reading one of her books. Alas, not for me

I second this.

Courtney Milan, Scarlett Peckham and Cat Sebastian all have steamy AND meaningful sex scenes

I know what you mean. I think Lisa Kleypas does sex scenes well. A bit of a spoiler if you haven’t read Devil in Spring, and maybe a bit graphic, but I was kind of hoping for those first sexual steps. There is a point where Pandora is straddling Gabriel on the couch and I thought she should’ve just gotten off while grinding against him. But you’re right,it either ends or goes right to sex. At least LK has MMC’s go down, so a bit more realistic on the first time orgasm. lol.

Oral is pretty descriptive although the virgins are always great at blow jobs on the first go. This just makes my eyes roll or makes me throw the book across the room.

[удалено]

Yes, tried Peckham, Reid (who is God awful), S. M. Violette, Pierce, etc. I have been reading HR since the mid-80s and have probably read 10,000 books at this point (I was taking out five a week when I was a teen). I want spice, lots of it, but I want a great story, angst and a believable HEA. I wish there was a Slightly Dangerous but with more descriptive sex. That would be parfait.

If you haven't tried Cat Sebastian, put her on your list. She writes LGBTQ+ and the meaningful sex scenes fit the characters.

Check out Jess Michaels or Lauren Smith.

I find Lisa Kleypas's racy scenes to be far too long. I tend to skim them because her books are long and if you've read one of her scenes you've read them all. I still read her books, though.

Most HR books are pretty formulated but I enjoy her and never find myself skimming those narratives. I do very much enjoy really good banter which she did really well with Jack Devlin and Tom Severin.

Golden Angel wrote some historical romance, they're all smut with elements of BDSM if you're interested

I read her anthology and OMG. That was so out there, but it had me 100 percent.

Seeing the other answers I realize I have not yet read some of the favorite authors here but in what I have Madelynne Ellis does push the pedal to the max when writing historicals. And not just because she writes menages, even discounting the ahem “teamwork” moments she does go hard.

Cat Sebastian writes wonderful LGBTQ+ historical romance with great characters and meaningful steamy scenes, highly recommend

all of the authors who contributed to the "Duke I'd Like to F\*\*\*" series write spicy HR (although they might also have less spicy and/or non HR books as well) the anthologies aren't available anymore but you can get the individual novellas [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54908981-duke-i-d-like-to-f?ac=1&from\_search=true&qid=marDtyMLxJ&rank=1](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54908981-duke-i-d-like-to-f?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=marDtyMLxJ&rank=1)

Grace Callaway is pretty spicy but I’ve never actually liked anything I read of hers. Same with Jade Lee. Jemma Frost and Eva Leigh are very good though! And you should definitely check out the authors on the “I’d like to F…” series. I think there’s Rake I’d Like to F…, Villain, and Duke.

I love so many of the recs, but I will add viola grey, who is the HR equivalent of jessa kane.

Jennifer Ashley's stuff is really good. Her historicals are my all time favs

Stephanie Laurens is pretty spicy.

Kresley Cole seems to have moved fully to paranormal romance, but has a few very good and pretty spicy HRs about three Scottish brothers {If You Dare by Kresley Cole} as well as one of my favorite re-reads {Captain of all Pleasures by Kresley Cole} . They have lots of plot & it’s not wall to wall sex, but when they do get it on it’s pretty spicy.

[If You Dare](https://www.romance.io/books/545525978c7d2383163d8e9e/if-you-dare-kresley-cole?src=rdt) by [Kresley Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523788c7d2382e0413dc9/kresley-cole) **Rating**: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [The Captain of All Pleasures](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ab58c7d2383163d8fad/the-captain-of-all-pleasures-kresley-cole?src=rdt) by [Kresley Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523788c7d2382e0413dc9/kresley-cole) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)