Shantel Tessier

Hey dark romance lovers! I'm Shantel Tessier, and I write the kinds of books that make your mother clutch her pearls and your Kindle need a cold shower. (Let's just say my browser history would raise some serious red flags...)

I've always been drawn to the darker side of romance, the stories that explore those shadowy corners of human desire that "polite society" likes to pretend don't exist. Growing up in a small town, I was that quiet girl in the back of the class who filled notebooks with stories that would've gotten me sent straight to the guidance counselor if anyone had read them. But hey, those twisted tales turned out to be pretty good practice for what I do now!

My journey into publishing wasn't exactly conventional. I spent years working regular jobs, raising my family, and secretly writing steamy scenes late at night after everyone was asleep. When I finally worked up the courage to publish my first book, "Unforgettable," I had no idea I'd end up creating a world of dangerous men, forbidden desires, and the kind of romance that comes with equal parts passion and warning labels.

But it was when I created the Lords of Barrington University that everything changed. The Ritual and The Sacrifice aren't just books – they're dark rabbit holes into a world where power, privilege, and ancient secret societies collide with modern-day corruption and deliciously twisted romance. My Lords aren't your typical book boyfriends. They're powerful, ruthless men who demand blood sacrifices and absolute loyalty. (And yes, you'll probably fall madly in love with them despite – or maybe because of – how beautifully broken they are.)

Here's the thing about my writing: I don't do sweet and gentle. My stories are raw, intense, and sometimes shocking. There's blood. There's violence. There's the kind of steam that might make you check over your shoulder to make sure no one's reading your screen. But there's also deep emotion, complex characters, and the kind of love that burns so hot it leaves scars.

When I'm not writing about dangerous men and the women who bring them to their knees, I'm probably binge-watching true crime documentaries (research, I swear!), spending time with my family (who thankfully support my slightly concerning imagination), or plotting new ways to torture – I mean, challenge – my characters.

To my readers: you beautiful, twisted souls who get just as excited about dark romance as I do – thank you. You're my people. The ones who understand that sometimes the best love stories are the ones that make you question your own moral compass. The ones who message me at 3 AM because they just HAD to finish that chapter. The ones who understand why consent in fiction can be... flexible.

Fair warning: if you're looking for sweet, clean romance, you're definitely in the wrong place. My books come with trigger warnings for a reason. But if you like your romance dark and dangerous, your heroes morally gray (okay, sometimes straight-up villainous), and your steam level set to "scorching," then welcome to my world. We're going to have so much fun together.

My writing philosophy? Push boundaries. Break rules. Make readers feel everything – even the uncomfortable stuff. Especially the uncomfortable stuff. Because that's where the most interesting stories live.

What can you expect from my books? Complex characters who blur the lines between good and evil. Steamy scenes that'll have you fanning yourself. Plot twists that'll keep you guessing. And romance that's as dangerous as it is addictive. Plus, there's usually at least one scene that'll make you gasp and think "She did NOT just write that!" (Spoiler alert: I absolutely did.)

So if you're ready to dive into stories that are definitely not for the faint of heart, grab one of my books, lock your door, and prepare yourself for a wild ride. Just remember: you've been warned!

XOXO, Shantel

(P.S. Yes, my family knows what I write. No, we don't discuss it at holiday dinners. 😉)