Monica James

Hey there, beautiful dark souls! I'm Monica James, and I write the kind of romances that make your mother clutch her pearls and your book club raise their eyebrows. (Don't worry – those are exactly the reactions we're going for.)

Let me tell you something funny: I used to think I'd end up writing fluffy contemporary romance. You know, the kind with meet-cutes at coffee shops and first kisses in the rain. But my characters had other plans. They showed up in my head with sharp edges, dangerous smiles, and the kind of secrets that would keep a therapist busy for decades. What could I do except write their stories?

I'm an Australian author who spent years believing I wasn't "dark enough" to write the books lurking in my imagination. Turns out, those shadowy corners of my mind were just waiting for the right moment to spill onto the page. When I finally let myself explore those darker themes – obsession, revenge, redemption – everything clicked. Kiss Me in the Dark was born from those late-night writing sessions where I finally stopped censoring myself and let the story be as raw and real as it needed to be.

My writing style? Think Gothic romance meets psychological thriller, with a healthy dose of "I shouldn't be rooting for this character BUT HERE I AM" energy. I love crafting morally gray characters who blur the lines between hero and villain until you're not sure which is which (and honestly, neither am I sometimes). There's always passion, always danger, and always that delicious tension that keeps you turning pages way past your bedtime. Sorry not sorry about those dark circles under your eyes!

When I'm not writing, you'll find me binge-watching true crime documentaries (research, I swear!), drinking way too much coffee (like, concerning amounts), and trying to convince my cat she's not actually the main character in all my books. She remains unconvinced.

I believe romance doesn't always have to be pretty. Sometimes it's messy, complicated, and comes with a body count. My books explore the shadows where love and obsession dance together, where consent is sexy but corruption is seductive, and where happily ever after might look different than what you expected – but it's all the more satisfying for the darkness you had to walk through to get there.

Kiss Me in the Dark was my first venture into publishing these darker stories, and the response from readers has blown me away. You've embraced my twisted tales and morally questionable characters with such passion that it's encouraged me to dig even deeper into those shadowy places where love and darkness intertwine.

To my readers: you're my kind of weird. You understand that sometimes the most beautiful love stories come with blood on their hands and secrets in their hearts. You don't judge when I push boundaries or when my characters make choices that would scandalize your book club. Instead, you dive right in with me, ready to explore those darker desires and complex emotions that make us human.

Fair warning: my books aren't for everyone. If you're looking for sweet, wholesome romance, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you like your love stories with sharp edges, your heroes with questionable morals, and your happily ever afters earned through fire and blood – pull up a chair. We're going to have fun together.

What can you expect from my books? Intense emotional connections, characters who'll haunt you long after you close the book, and love stories that prove light can be found in the darkest places – if you're brave enough to look for it. Plus, there's usually at least one scene that'll make you gasp and text your book friends "OH MY GOD DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?!"

I'm currently working on more dark and twisty tales that I can't wait to share with you. Until then, you can find me on social media, probably posting way too many pictures of my cat and dropping hints about upcoming projects that will keep you guessing.

Remember: life's too short for boring books. Let's embrace the darkness together. ♥