If you’re interested in submitting your romance novel to Harlequin, one of the first questions you might be asking yourself is: Which romance series is my voice right for?
We publish 11 different romance series, ranging from sexy contemporary romance to touching home and family stories to sweeping historicals. We release 4-8 books per month in each line.
To help you make that all-important decision of where to submit, below is a snapshot of our romance categories. Interested in exploring or reading further in one of our lines? Then check out TryHarlequin to download a free ebook from each of our romance series!
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Passion & Spice
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Harlequin Presents
We Are…
- The ultimate escape: passion meets glamour
- Irresistible, powerful heroes and the heroines who aren’t afraid to challenge them
- High stakes emotional conflict and connection
- International settings and classic romance themes: think marriage of convenience, secret babies, billionaires, with your own unique twist
Keyword: Intense
We Aren’t…
- Family sagas
- Americana
You Have…
- A passion for passion
- An intense voice that reflects the relationship between the hero and heroine
Read: Unwanted Royal Wife by Clare Connelly
Watch: Fifty Shades of Grey for the powerful, wealthy hero, and the intensity of their attraction. The James Bond films or Crazy Rich Asians for the international, luxurious settings!
Read the Harlequin Presents series guidelines.
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Afterglow Books
We Are…
- Characters from all walks of life finding their happily ever afters
- Unique plots and strong emotional conflicts that embrace the world around us
- Journeys of complex characters who aren’t afraid to make mistakes or stand up for what they believe in
Keyword: Spicy
We Aren’t…
- Dark Romance
- Paranormal or Suspenseful
You Love…
- Explicitly sexy books with chemistry that pops
- Characters from all walks of life, all types of diverse identities, that will pursue their dreams and discover that love isn’t far behind
Read: Unlikely Neighbors by Renee Daniel Flagler
Read the Afterglow Books series guidelines.
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Love & Life
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Harlequin Special Edition
We Are…
- Heartfelt contemporary romance, with true-to-life characters experiencing the twists and turns on the journey to true love.
- Subtle or sizzling, as long as it’s all about the couple!
- Babies, brides and cowboys
- Real-life conflicts and complex characters
Keyword: Meaningful
We Aren’t…
- International glamor
- Alpha males
You Have…
- A story that immerses readers into the emotional lives of the hero and heroine
Read: A Rancher of His Own by Brenda Harlen
Watch: Parenthood
Read the Harlequin Special Edition series guidelines.
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Harlequin Heartwarming
We Are…
- Wholesome, complex and emotionally satisfying romances you can share with your daughter or grandmother
- Traditional but contemporary
- Available in print through Harlequin’s Book Club subscription service or in ebook at all major retailers
Keyword: Tender
We Aren’t…
- Explicit in any way
- Religious
- Historical
You Have…
- A talent for bringing complicated, realistic characters to life
Read: Saving the Rancher by Tanya Agler
Watch: Sleepless in Seattle
Read the Harlequin Heartwarming series guidelines.
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Harlequin Romance
We Are…
- Relatable, ‘whisk me away’ romances
- All about the heroine! You want to be in her shoes as she experiences the rush of falling in love
- Glamorous and aspirational
- Sensual, emotional, and uplifting
- Gorgeous international locales
Keyword: Emotional
We Aren’t…
- Cowboys or Westerns
- Small Town or Family Focused
You Have…
- A fresh voice that brings the feeling of falling in love to life
- An ability to write feel-good, entertaining and fresh-paced romances
Read: Copenhagen Escape with the Billionaire by Sophie Pembroke
Watch: Crazy Rich Asians for its alpha but emotionally accessible hero, Anyone But You and Ticket to Paradise for their destination wedding settings and second chance storylines, La Dolce Villa for its romantic escapism and Business Proposal for its trope-driven story set in a world of sumptuous glamour.
Read the Harlequin Romance series guidelines.
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Harlequin Medical Romance
We Are…
- Hotshot surgeons, passionate midwives, dedicated doctors and other medical professionals
- Life-affirming stories of learning to love amid the drama of saving lives
- International settings
Keyword: Life-affirming
We Aren’t…
- Suspense, revenge, medical drama without the romance
- Gory or overtly technical
You Love…
- Medical TV drama and emotional, working-together stories
Read: Falling for her Miami Rival by Luana DaRosa
Watch: Grey’s Anatomy
Read the Harlequin Medical Romance series guidelines.
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Suspense & Thrills
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Harlequin Intrigue
We Are…
- Focused on crime-solving
- A race against time, with the hero and heroine working together to figure out a mystery
- High-stakes situations such as woman in jeopardy, stalkers and kidnappings combined with palpable romantic tension
Keyword: Edge-of-your-seat
We Aren’t…
- Cozy mysteries
- Graphically sexual or explicitly violent
You Have…
- A terrific plot built around a strong mystery
Read: Captured in West Texas by Barb Han
Watch: Blue Bloods, The Bodyguard, Scandal
Read the Harlequin Intrigue series guidelines.
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Harlequin Romantic Suspense
We Are…
- Ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances
- Romance against a backdrop of suspense
- Military heroes and heroines, Westerns, law enforcement
Keyword: Romance meets danger
We Aren’t…
- Procedural mysteries
You Love…
- Fast paced, exciting romances with an element of danger
Read: Colton’s Deadly Trap by Patricia Sargeant
Watch: Criminal Minds and the Jason Bourne films
Read the Harlequin Romantic Suspense series guidelines.
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Hope & Inspiration
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Love Inspired
We Are…
- Contemporary romance meets faith-based values
- Relatable, emotionally satisfying and Christian
- Smart, compassionate heroines and strong, honorable heroes
- Set against a backdrop of family and community
Keyword: Character
We Aren’t…
- Sex, drugs (including alcohol) or violence
- Preachy or didactic
You Love…
- Hopeful romances where faith can heal the heart
Read: His Unexpected Baby Blessing by Julie Brookman
Watch: Touched by an Angel
Read the Love Inspired series guidelines.
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Love Inspired Suspense
We Are…
- Courageous characters facing challenges to their faith…and their lives
- Gripping suspense and emotionally compelling romance
- Aligned with Christian values (no drugs, alcohol, gambling, profanity or premarital sex by Christian characters)
- Romantic tension rather than sexual desire
Keyword: Protector
We Aren’t…
- Graphically violent
- Didactic or preachy
You Love…
- Dangerous situations, high emotional stakes and loyal characters
Read: Trained to Protect by Terri Reed
Watch: Bones for the solid suspense stories and the romantic tension between the characters
Read the Love Inspired Suspense series guidelines.
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Historical
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Harlequin Historical
We Are…
- Richly textured and incredibly romantic
- Filled with vivid details that bring the setting to life
- Sensual or sexy, it’s up to you
- Rakes, rogues, Highlanders, Vikings…or a powerful hero from your favorite historical era
Keyword: Sweeping
We Aren’t…
- Paranormal or timeslip
You Love…
- Being carried away to another era and immersed in a passionate love story
Read: The Duke’s Guide to Fake Courtship by Jade Lee
Watch: Downton Abbey, Belle, Pride and Prejudice, Poldark
Read the Harlequin Historical series guidelines.