Which Series Are You?

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 ——

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HARLEQUIN PRESENTS

We Are…

Presents book cover with closeup of couple on luxurious bed. The dark-haired man sits behind the woman and touches the strap of her lace gown. She leans against him with her eyes closed.
Cinderella’s Royal Seduction by Dani Collins
  • 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: Cinderella’s Royal Seduction by Dani Collins

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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HARLEQUIN DESIRE

Desire book cover of glamorous couple dressed in white formal attire in an embrace.
Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee

We Are…

  • Sexy, dramatic and set in a world of wealth and opulence
  • Larger than life stories: blackmail, secret babies and long-hidden skeletons in the closet
  • More than just the hero and heroine’s relationship: think shocking plot twists and family sagas

Keyword: Dramatic

We Aren’t…

  • International
  • Introverted

 You Love…

  • Classic soap opera stories and tropes
  • Making a “larger than life” story believable

Read: Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee

Watch: Dynasty reboot

Read the Harlequin Desire series guidelines.

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—— LIFE & LOVE ——

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HARLEQUIN SPECIAL EDITION

Special Edition book cover with a couple sitting on a motorcycle. The man is in front, looking back at the woman sitting behind him.
Her Homecoming Wish by Jo McNally

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: Her Homecoming Wish by Jo McNally

Watch: Parenthood

Read the Harlequin Special Edition series guidelines.

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HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING

We Are…

Heartwarming book cover with man in western clothing in front of a pink sky. Two little girls embrace him laughing.
Montana Dad by Jeannie Watt
  • 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: Montana Dad by Jeannie Watt

Watch: Sleepless in Seattle

Read the Harlequin Heartwarming series guidelines.

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HARLEQUIN ROMANCE

Romance book cover with closeup of couple in profile, their heads together, looking at each other and smiling.
Her Twin Baby Secret by Therese Beharrie

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, uplifting with low sensuality

Keyword: Emotional

We Aren’t…

  • Cowboys or westerns
  • Small town or family focused
  • Sexually explicit

 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: Her Twin Baby Secret by Therese Beharrie

Watch: The Holiday

Read the Harlequin Romance series guidelines.

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HARLEQUIN MEDICAL ROMANCE

Medical Romance cover with a closeup of a casually dressed couple smiling warmly at each other.
Surprise Baby for the Billionaire by Charlotte Hawkes

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: Surprise Baby for the Billionaire by Charlotte Hawkes

Watch: Grey’s Anatomy

Read the Harlequin Medical Romance series guidelines.

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—— THRILLS ——

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HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

Intrigue book cover with closeup of a woman looking into the distance, her hand on a chain link fence. She has long blond hair and the shadow of the fence plays across her face.
Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb

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: Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb

Watch: Blue Bloods, The Bodyguard, Scandal

Read the Harlequin Intrigue series guidelines.

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HARLEQUIN ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Romantic suspense cover of a couple seen from above. They are casually dressed and lying on hay bales in a barn. He holds the woman protectively and they look anxiously into the distance.
Cowboy’s Vow to Protect by Carla Cassidy

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: Cowboy’s Vow to Protect by Carla Cassidy

Watch: Criminal Minds and the Jason Bourne films

Read the Harlequin Romantic Suspense series guidelines.

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—— INSPIRATIONAL ——

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LOVE INSPIRED

Love Inspired cover with man standing beside a fence with his horse. He's in western clothing and the sun is setting behind the mountains in the background.
The Wrangler’s Last Chance by Jessica Keller

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: The Wrangler’s Last Chance by Jessica Keller

Watch: Touched by an Angel

Read the Love Inspired series guidelines.

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LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE

Love Inspired Suspense cover with a rescue dog standing in a remote snowy location with mountains behind. The dog wears an orange rescue vest and there's a piece of red cloth on a bare tree branch in the foreground.
Mountain Hostage by Hope White

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: Mountain Hostage by Hope White

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

Historical romance book cover with a woman standing in profile looking a the viewer. She wears a Regency period yellow gown and holds an open white fan. An elegantly decorated room is seen behind her.
An Unconventional Countess by Jenni Fletcher

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: An Unconventional Countess by Jenni Fletcher

Watch: Downton Abbey, Belle, Pride and Prejudice, Poldark

Read the Harlequin Historical series guidelines.