It’s the season of love, which means stuffing yourself with heart-shaped candy, scrambling to book a last-minute reservation at your go-to restaurant or diving into your favourite romance novels.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of Canadian-written love stories to heat you up this Valentine’s Day—and every day of the year. Romance novels are truly the perfect escapism, making you feel those butterflies from the early stages of falling in love within whichever world you might feel like exploring on a given day. From vigilante killers to cowboys to athletes—like those in my newest sports romance novel Only in Your Dreams—you’re bound to find yourself swooning from beginning to end.

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Butcher & Blackbird, by Brynn Weaver

Rival vigilante serial killers Sloane and Rowan compete in an annual game to pick off the country’s most monstrous criminals in this dark romantic comedy. What makes this story truly special is that it’ll have you laughing and clutching at your heart even through the novel’s most suspenseful and downright jaw-dropping moments.

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A Deal with the Bossy Devil, by Kyra Parsi

To atone for a viral incident costing notoriously cold billionaire Adrien a major business deal, Ria agrees to play the part of his fake fiancée on a trip back home to visit his family. The chemistry between them is palpable even while they despite each other, delivering laugh-out-loud banter that transitions to the swooniest flirtation.

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The Fake Out, by Stephanie Archer

There’s no better way to get back at a terrible ex than to pretend-date the top scorer in pro hockey, especially if he’s got big golden retriever energy and spoils you rotten. Hazel and Rory are so perfectly matched, delivering a delightfully fun story that’ll have you laughing and melting at every turn.

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Out on a Limb, by Hannah Bonham-Young 

A one-night stand changes everything for strangers Bo and Win, when it results in an unexpected pregnancy. Their transition from strangers to friends to lovers is heartfelt and organic, and the characters so are realistic you can’t help but think you might someday bump into them and strike up a friendship.

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Heartless, by Elsie Silver 

This story is a masterful take on the classic single dad/nanny love story, between grumpy rancher Cade and wild-child Willa. Add in some small-town charm and a hilarious cast of side-characters, and you’ll be flying through to pages to see them get their happily ever after.

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Learn more about Only in Your Dreams: 

If he can prove he loved her then, and he loves her still, this time might be different.

Ten years after one of the most heartbreaking nights of her life, Melody Woods is back in her small hometown of Oakwood Bay, broke, jaded, and unceremoniously dumped by her big-city boyfriend. To top it all off, her twin brother, Parker, is pushing her to take his spot on a camping trip with the one guy she’s spent a decade avoiding.

For college football coach Zac Porter, his best friend’s twin sister, Melody, has always been off-limits. And after fumbling his chance ten years ago, a devastated Zac was sure he’d lost Melody for good. So, when Melody shows up at the campsite instead of Parker, Zac realizes that now is the time to prove to her that they were always meant to be, no matter how long it takes to make up for his teenage self’s mistake.

Reeling from the truth of her last relationship, Melody plans to stay in town just long enough to get back on her feet. Then, she’s gone again. Meanwhile, Zac is facing an uphill battle to coach his team to its first winning game in years, to show Melody how she deserves to be loved, and to keep Parker from ever finding out. Maybe then, being with her will be more than just a dream.