Jennifer A Hansel

Hey there! I'm Jennifer A Hansel, and I write dark romance that explores the messy, complicated spaces between right and wrong, faith and temptation, and love and obsession. (And yes, I know those book titles make some people clutch their pearls – I'm totally okay with that.)

I never set out to write romance, let alone the kind that makes people shift uncomfortably in their church pews. Growing up in a small Midwestern town where everyone knew everyone's business, I was that quiet girl in the back of the classroom scribbling stories in notebooks, mostly about characters who dared to break free from suffocating expectations. Looking back, I guess I was working through some things!

After years of trying to write "acceptable" fiction (whatever that means), I finally embraced my darker side. Turns out, those shadowy corners of human nature I'd always been fascinated by? That's where the real stories live. My debut novel "In Between Delilah's Thighs" might raise eyebrows with its title, but it's really about the complex intersection of faith, desire, and the price of breaking free from toxic relationships.

When I write, I dig deep into the psychological aspects of my characters. What drives a devoted man of faith to risk everything for a forbidden connection? How does someone find the strength to choose themselves after years of being told they're worthless? These are the questions that keep me up at night (well, those and my unhealthy addiction to coffee and true crime podcasts).

My stories aren't your typical romance fare. They're raw, sometimes uncomfortable, and definitely not for everyone. I write about flawed people making complicated choices, about love that grows in unlikely places, and about the kind of attraction that makes you question everything you thought you knew about yourself. If you're looking for squeaky-clean romance with perfectly behaved characters, I'm probably not your girl.

But if you're drawn to stories that explore the darker side of desire, that question societal norms, and that aren't afraid to get a little (okay, maybe a lot) messy? Pull up a chair. We're going to get along just fine.

When I'm not writing, you can usually find me wandering through old bookstores, binge-watching psychological thrillers, or trying to convince my rescue cat that my laptop keyboard is not, in fact, the most comfortable spot in the house. (Spoiler alert: I'm losing that battle.) I live in a converted Victorian house that's probably haunted (the weird noises in the middle of the night aren't just the pipes, I swear), and I do my best writing during thunderstorms.

To my readers: thank you for being brave enough to explore these darker stories with me. Your messages about how my characters' journeys have touched you or helped you process your own experiences mean everything. I believe that sometimes the most important stories are the ones that make us uncomfortable, that force us to look at the parts of ourselves we'd rather keep hidden.

What can you expect from my books? Intense emotional connections, complicated characters who don't always make the "right" choices, steamy scenes that'll make you fan yourself (and maybe feel a little guilty about it), and endings that might not be traditionally happy but are always honest to the story. I promise to never shy away from the difficult topics, to always treat my characters' struggles with respect, and to keep pushing boundaries in ways that serve the story.

Fair warning: my books come with trigger warnings for a reason. I tackle themes of religious conflict, toxic relationships, psychological manipulation, and intense sexual content. But I also write about survival, about finding strength in unexpected places, and about the kind of love that transforms you – even when that transformation burns.

Want to join me on this journey into the shadows? You can find me on Instagram where I post probably too many pictures of my cat "helping" me write, share snippets of works in progress, and occasionally rant about the weird dreams that inspire my stories. I'm also active in my readers' Facebook group, "Hansel's Dark Hearts," where we discuss everything from book recommendations to which fictional villains we'd risk it all for (no judgment here!).

Here's to the readers who aren't afraid of the dark. You're my kind of people.