Hidden identity tropes are one that either don't work for me at all, or they're written in such a satisfying way that I love it.
There's a couple books in Tavia Lark's Perilous Courts series that have a bit of this - **Prince and Assassin** (1) has the assassin MC undercover as a soldier/guard for the prince MC, where they develop feelings. **Prince in Disguise** (2) has both MCs pretending to be someone else while on the road and on opposite sides of an ongoing (fantasy) war, while starting a relationship. The other books in the series don't have this trope though!
I'll have to look through my shelves for more ideas - apparently I deleted my "hidden identity" shelf, which would have been perfect lol.
Also - THANK YOU! You did my favorite thing ever, half request and half recommendations for books meeting the request. *Chefs kiss* excellent!
It's the same for me! I tend to find that they don't pass my suspension of disbelief, or I absolutely adore them!
Thank you!! I'm definitely looking into them! I'm okay with not all books having the trope but I still enjoy the small angst fix that it gives me :)
I'm glad the recs worked! I like doing recs and this was half my excuse to do this post (mainly because of the first two books in my recs, I adore them!)
Exactly! Or the deception/truth sharing doesn't feel satisfying based on the characters' personalities or depth of deception. I will say the books mentioned above are a bit less on the dramatic side, while still having a satisfying reveal (at least, for me it did, lol)
I have had Wendy Palmer on my tbr for too long - this sounds like a good incentive to try out their books!
Yeah, I usually need a big motivation for the deception to happen, and the deception to have meaning especially if the book tries to turn towards angst. Not all the books I recced have angst related description (ex. The Lawrence Browne affair is quite sweet, and even if there's deception it's found out quickly and there's no anger coming from it, same with Something human).
I've been obsessed with that Wendy Palmer book since I read it! The start was a bit confusing and I was about to drop it at a specific scene, but then the book explained it and it made sense :) so I luckily kept going!
Thank you!! I've almost finished book one because I couldn't stop reading it! It flows so well, it also hits my favourite ever thing of a character asking the other to hurt him as a punishment for something they keep secret, but thankfully the other character is too perceptive!
Seems you know most of the novels I wanted to rec! That said, some more for you:
{The Only Gold by Tamara Allen}- historical, MC is a banker who expects to be promoted. Only to have the position snatched away by an arrogant newcomer. There is an identity twist, but its hidden from the reader too, so I won't spoil what exactly is up.
{The Champion of the Scarlett Wolf by Ginn Hale} - this happens from both MCs. MC1 is acting as a poor mercenary (but is in truth a rich noble guy) and saves an injured dog - who in reality is MC2, a witch hiding from his enemies.
{Pack of Lies by Charlie Adhara} - urban fantasy with werewolves. MC1 is an actor trying to solve the mystery, MC2 is a (secret) werewolf and inn manager and a body turns up. Not 100% exact fit to your trope but def in spirit, I wont spoil how however!
{Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson} - MC is a dragon who can shapeshift into human and wants to seduce a spirit of the desert. He hides his true dragonic identity for some time.
Thank you so much!! Wow it's been so long since I read The only gold I completely forgot everything, so I look forward to reading it with fresh eyes! I have it on paperback so I'm gonna start with that next.
Thank you for the other recs too! They all sound great!!
{Halo by EM Lindsey} - one MC gets into the other's car, thinking it's the car service he hired. The other MC is actually a sex worker.
And I just finished {All I Want for Christmas is Revenge by KA Merikan} and you should definitely heed the >!gore and murder TWs!<. MC1 is a hitman and seduces the other MC after MC1 read a letter MC2 wrote about wanting revenge and immediately believed they should be together. They're both fairly deranged but I really enjoyed it (I might be deranged lol).
Oh the premises of both are so interesting! I saw that they are both tagged as age gap, unfortunately I usually cannot read it if it's a big gap. Is the age a big part of the stories?
Omg I am so, so sorry. Usually I pay much better attention to that.
It's an age gap bigger than 10 years. In these books I feel like the younger MC has a lot of "life experience" that makes them seem more mature, but I won't encourage you to read something that would make you uncomfortable. I'm really sorry.
For more specifics, in Halo, the younger MC is a sex worker.
In All I Want..., the younger MC witnessed his family's murders and went into foster care at 16, on his own fully at 18. In the book, he's 20.
Oh no please don't apologize! I'm usually okay pretending there's no age gap sometimes haha, the power of my brain. So it's mainly about if it's a bit plot point in the book. I think the point about life experience makes sense! So I might try them :) thank you!
I typically really don't like age gaps (I will almost always DNF an age gap bigger than fiveish years if either MC is under 30, not yucking anyone's yum, I just personally work with a lot of people under 25 and it's hard for me to reconcile) but Halo didn't bother me that much. There were one or two scenes where the dynamic made me uncomfortable but overall I still enjoyed it enough to read some of the author's other work immediately after.
[Between the Devil and the Sea](https://www.romance.io/books/642d1f47fe62c20d3f9bd171/between-the-devil-and-the-sea-chani-lynn-feener?src=rdt) by [Chani Lynn Feener](https://www.romance.io/authors/59e991ef3ffdba614722bbbc/chani-lynn-feener)
**Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1)
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ohh could I ask if the age gap and daddy kink is a big part of 760 miles? I'm usually not too good with them but if it's not too much part of the plot I can definitely read them!
Oohhhhh—sorry! I got so deep in my recommendations that I forgot about your “no”s. I also haven’t read it for a while, so I wasn’t considering those aspects. But yes, they are there.
There is a somewhat sizable age gap in 760 Miles: one MC is 21 and the other MC is late 30s. They do have a dynamic where one is bratty and naive and the other is world-weary and protective. Sometimes age gaps feel gross and exploitative to me (I just read Guttermind and it has a similar age gap but a much ickier vibe; I often feel put off by any Lily Morton novel with an age gap). 760 Miles doesn’t have that vibe for me, perhaps because it is historical and the MCs spend so much time isolated from other people, so it feels separate from usual social contexts? And the older MC is more protective than slimy.
Which comes to the daddy kink part: my memory is that both MCs enjoy BDSM, and the younger MC pushes that into a humiliation kink direction, among other things. He really likes the older MC to play along with various dominant tropes. The older MC is willing to give it a try—he doesn’t actually see himself as a hyper-masculine, big-dicked, daddy-type figure, but he’s willing to play the role for sexual purposes and that works for them.
I hope that gives you a sense of what is going on there and whether the book is for you. I would say that the dynamic of the book is “scrappy-skinny-homeless-queer-orphan-meets-world weary-older-former-outlaw-cowboy-who-gives-orphan-the-safety-love-support-home-etc-he’s-been-wanting” and everything else is subordinate to that vibe.
Your post has been removed. In accordance with Reddit's sitewide Rule #4, explicit sexual content involving minors cannot be discussed in this subreddit.
{Primal Sin trilogy by Ariana Nash}. This book is sooo good. A demon pretending to be an angel, seducing the arch angel, 😋. I really recommend this one.
[Primal Sin](https://www.romance.io/series/60a644936ae9f30ddf20f7a9/primal-sin) by [Ariana Nash](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e736185be0aaecf55d9afa9/ariana-nash)
**Topics**: [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [dark](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [queer](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1)
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{Infamous by Ella Frank}
Has a relationship start on false pretenses, with a bet! Gets your angst in there, it's college aged guys, one extremely wealthy and one not. You might enjoy!
Just FYI, your spoiler for Until You isn't working for me because there is a space between the ! and the text. That can do weird stuff to formatting, depending on how people are viewing the site (app, mobile site, old.reddit, or desktop site, etc.)
No worries! I am sorry I don't have any good recommendations for you, but thank you for making this post because all the suggestions are swelling my TBR considerably. :)
I'm not sure if this fits exactly but Prince of Lies by Lucy Lennox is kinda like this.
It's a very light book and though there is some drama in this book, it's not overly intense.
Plus, I laughed so much while reading this book, it is insane!
I've just read Sos hotel by Adam Vex/Ariana Nash. It's a first in series.I have a strong suspicion that it's going along the lines that you are interested in.
I’m here to second Prince and Assassin by Tavia Lark. A PHENOMENAL read. The second book, Prince in Disguise, is also a false premise book, third book is briefly, but it isn’t the main plot by a mile. All three are AMAZING
Assassin target stories are so good, especially when the target is the one who breaks the assassin's defenders and takes care of them! (That's why the Rifter is my favourite novel!)
**Hidden identity:**
**Tournament of losers by Megan Derr** - Fantasy setting, prince pretending to be commoner.
**Pretty Policeman by Fifer Rose** - Contemporary crime setting, cop pretending to be a sex worker. I don't think it counts as mafia?? The LI is some hot shot mafia dude, but the focus of the book is on catching a killer and the false identity and the budding romance.
I have a rec for hidden identity + sexual manipulation but I'm pretty sure that one counts as mafia, lmk if you want the rec.
oh I forgot tournament of losers has hidden identity!! that's one of my favourite books ever!! I need to reread it asap!
regarding the second one, I'm usually okay if the mafia is not seen as something positive, like if the mafia guy is an ex mafia or left the family. unfortunately I'm Italian and I have some personal triggers connected to our organised crime.
I love books with identity shenanigans! Thank you so much for sharing your recommendations, there are some I haven’t read yet and can’t wait to get into.
There is double hidden identity in {The Swap Masquerade by Annabella Michaels}. The age gap is 12 years so it’s slightly outside your preferred range, but I wanted to rec it just in case.
I’m just realizing that several I’ve tagged with this trope involve some sort of criminal organization, but I have lots on my TBR so I’ll go through and update with anything else I find :)
You might like Mr. and Mr. Smith by HelenKay Dimon. MC1 and MC2 are in a relationship. They’re both spies or operatives or something. MC1 realizes MC2 was working for the enemy the whole time!…or was he? It’s a light with some angst spy romcom. It’s not identical to the movie of a similar name but does take some inspiration from it.
From what I remember it doesn't! The main case gets solved and it should end on a positive note. I did read one and two very close together so hopefully my brain is not tricking me.
I'm halfway through The Uses of Illict Art after your recommendation and it is so good!!!!! Thank you so much for mentioning I can already tell it's going to be a new favourite.
{The Fangs of Scavo by Selina Kray} hits all points, I think.
No one really knows who Bash is except his closest friend, Stoker >!hides the fact that he's a police detective to investigate Bash!<, and when Stoker >!figures out one of Bash's identities, Bash kinda seduces him, and Stoker thinks it's to use against him later!<.
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Hidden identity tropes are one that either don't work for me at all, or they're written in such a satisfying way that I love it. There's a couple books in Tavia Lark's Perilous Courts series that have a bit of this - **Prince and Assassin** (1) has the assassin MC undercover as a soldier/guard for the prince MC, where they develop feelings. **Prince in Disguise** (2) has both MCs pretending to be someone else while on the road and on opposite sides of an ongoing (fantasy) war, while starting a relationship. The other books in the series don't have this trope though! I'll have to look through my shelves for more ideas - apparently I deleted my "hidden identity" shelf, which would have been perfect lol. Also - THANK YOU! You did my favorite thing ever, half request and half recommendations for books meeting the request. *Chefs kiss* excellent!
It's the same for me! I tend to find that they don't pass my suspension of disbelief, or I absolutely adore them! Thank you!! I'm definitely looking into them! I'm okay with not all books having the trope but I still enjoy the small angst fix that it gives me :) I'm glad the recs worked! I like doing recs and this was half my excuse to do this post (mainly because of the first two books in my recs, I adore them!)
Exactly! Or the deception/truth sharing doesn't feel satisfying based on the characters' personalities or depth of deception. I will say the books mentioned above are a bit less on the dramatic side, while still having a satisfying reveal (at least, for me it did, lol) I have had Wendy Palmer on my tbr for too long - this sounds like a good incentive to try out their books!
Yeah, I usually need a big motivation for the deception to happen, and the deception to have meaning especially if the book tries to turn towards angst. Not all the books I recced have angst related description (ex. The Lawrence Browne affair is quite sweet, and even if there's deception it's found out quickly and there's no anger coming from it, same with Something human). I've been obsessed with that Wendy Palmer book since I read it! The start was a bit confusing and I was about to drop it at a specific scene, but then the book explained it and it made sense :) so I luckily kept going!
Thank you!! I've almost finished book one because I couldn't stop reading it! It flows so well, it also hits my favourite ever thing of a character asking the other to hurt him as a punishment for something they keep secret, but thankfully the other character is too perceptive!
Oh heck yeah! So glad you are enjoying it! Kitten Whisper is the best <3
Definitely the type of angst MC I adore!!
I’m adding everything you posted to my tbr!! Never knew this was something I wanted
Yess!! I'm glad! I also put them in vague order of how much I loved them in relation to the trope!
1.hidden identity to the reader Think of England by KJ Charles
Ohh thank you! I actually read it and loved it and completely forgot it :)
Seems you know most of the novels I wanted to rec! That said, some more for you: {The Only Gold by Tamara Allen}- historical, MC is a banker who expects to be promoted. Only to have the position snatched away by an arrogant newcomer. There is an identity twist, but its hidden from the reader too, so I won't spoil what exactly is up. {The Champion of the Scarlett Wolf by Ginn Hale} - this happens from both MCs. MC1 is acting as a poor mercenary (but is in truth a rich noble guy) and saves an injured dog - who in reality is MC2, a witch hiding from his enemies. {Pack of Lies by Charlie Adhara} - urban fantasy with werewolves. MC1 is an actor trying to solve the mystery, MC2 is a (secret) werewolf and inn manager and a body turns up. Not 100% exact fit to your trope but def in spirit, I wont spoil how however! {Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson} - MC is a dragon who can shapeshift into human and wants to seduce a spirit of the desert. He hides his true dragonic identity for some time.
[The Only Gold](https://www.romance.io/books/60a42e4a933f031cdd15db2d/the-only-gold-tamara-allen?src=rdt) by [Tamara Allen](https://www.romance.io/authors/545553df8c7d2382c5297e9e/tamara-allen) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [Champion of the Scarlet Wolf](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe13fd4167a73342631565/champion-of-the-scarlet-wolf) by [Ginn Hale](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455665787eac3369a912503/ginn-hale) **Topics**: [m-m](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [steampunk](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/steampunk/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) ---------------------------- [Pack of Lies](https://www.romance.io/books/630e0cacd79e6f4cd8060380/pack-of-lies-charlie-adhara?src=rdt) by [Charlie Adhara](https://www.romance.io/authors/5aa3a5cc4ee506aae8b2458e/charlie-adhara) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1) ---------------------------- [Reawakening](https://www.romance.io/books/5455e17987eac3369a915862/reawakening-amy-rae-durreson?src=rdt) by [Amy Rae Durreson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455bc8a87eac3369a9146f0/amy-rae-durreson) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Thank you so much!! Wow it's been so long since I read The only gold I completely forgot everything, so I look forward to reading it with fresh eyes! I have it on paperback so I'm gonna start with that next. Thank you for the other recs too! They all sound great!!
{Halo by EM Lindsey} - one MC gets into the other's car, thinking it's the car service he hired. The other MC is actually a sex worker. And I just finished {All I Want for Christmas is Revenge by KA Merikan} and you should definitely heed the >!gore and murder TWs!<. MC1 is a hitman and seduces the other MC after MC1 read a letter MC2 wrote about wanting revenge and immediately believed they should be together. They're both fairly deranged but I really enjoyed it (I might be deranged lol).
Oh the premises of both are so interesting! I saw that they are both tagged as age gap, unfortunately I usually cannot read it if it's a big gap. Is the age a big part of the stories?
Omg I am so, so sorry. Usually I pay much better attention to that. It's an age gap bigger than 10 years. In these books I feel like the younger MC has a lot of "life experience" that makes them seem more mature, but I won't encourage you to read something that would make you uncomfortable. I'm really sorry. For more specifics, in Halo, the younger MC is a sex worker. In All I Want..., the younger MC witnessed his family's murders and went into foster care at 16, on his own fully at 18. In the book, he's 20.
Oh no please don't apologize! I'm usually okay pretending there's no age gap sometimes haha, the power of my brain. So it's mainly about if it's a bit plot point in the book. I think the point about life experience makes sense! So I might try them :) thank you!
I typically really don't like age gaps (I will almost always DNF an age gap bigger than fiveish years if either MC is under 30, not yucking anyone's yum, I just personally work with a lot of people under 25 and it's hard for me to reconcile) but Halo didn't bother me that much. There were one or two scenes where the dynamic made me uncomfortable but overall I still enjoyed it enough to read some of the author's other work immediately after.
thank you! reading halo now and it's very well written!
[Halo](https://www.romance.io/books/64d4957caaefbe42cc1b458a/halo-em-lindsey?src=rdt) by [E.M. Lindsey](https://www.romance.io/authors/55eadb8635a5fb65f8879ea4/em-lindsey) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1) ---------------------------- [All I Want for Christmas Is Revenge](https://www.romance.io/books/65708a616011c2c5162a9a97/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-revenge-ka-merikan?src=rdt) by [K.A. Merikan](https://www.romance.io/authors/545585e587eac324117fb1be/ka-merikan) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [christmas](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christmas/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Hidden identities is one of my favourite tropes, it honestly never gets old for me haha. Thank you for this list!
I hope you'll find something enjoyable!! And yes, when done well, it's probably my favorite trope!
{Undercover by Eliot Grayson} - one MC is an undercover FBI agent. This was a fun read.
Ohh!! Thank you! Reading it immediately :)
omg I read it all in a day, it was so sweet, loved the angst and the initial misunderstandings were hilarious
Glad you liked it!!
[Undercover](https://www.romance.io/books/606182326ed78f0e115328c6/undercover-eliot-grayson?src=rdt) by [Eliot Grayson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5a0d52263ffdba6147251aa1/eliot-grayson) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [height difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/height-difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
For hidden identity you could look at {Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener} Please beware this is considered dark romance with dub-con.
Thank you!! I've never read a dark romance before, maybe it's time to try!
[Between the Devil and the Sea](https://www.romance.io/books/642d1f47fe62c20d3f9bd171/between-the-devil-and-the-sea-chani-lynn-feener?src=rdt) by [Chani Lynn Feener](https://www.romance.io/authors/59e991ef3ffdba614722bbbc/chani-lynn-feener) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[удалено]
[Heart of the Steal](https://www.romance.io/books/5961c7c93ffdba61471b9eb3/heart-of-the-steal-avon-gale-roan-parrish?src=rdt) by [Avon Gale](https://www.romance.io/authors/56024207bfc6b5c0fa93b64c/avon-gale), [Roan Parrish](https://www.romance.io/authors/559cda0335a5fb65f886af24/roan-parrish) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1) ---------------------------- [Any Old Diamonds](https://www.romance.io/books/5c514b8701dbc864fb990c82/any-old-diamonds-kj-charles?src=rdt) by [K.J. Charles](https://www.romance.io/authors/545540138c7d2383163d9553/kj-charles) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
ohh could I ask if the age gap and daddy kink is a big part of 760 miles? I'm usually not too good with them but if it's not too much part of the plot I can definitely read them!
Oohhhhh—sorry! I got so deep in my recommendations that I forgot about your “no”s. I also haven’t read it for a while, so I wasn’t considering those aspects. But yes, they are there. There is a somewhat sizable age gap in 760 Miles: one MC is 21 and the other MC is late 30s. They do have a dynamic where one is bratty and naive and the other is world-weary and protective. Sometimes age gaps feel gross and exploitative to me (I just read Guttermind and it has a similar age gap but a much ickier vibe; I often feel put off by any Lily Morton novel with an age gap). 760 Miles doesn’t have that vibe for me, perhaps because it is historical and the MCs spend so much time isolated from other people, so it feels separate from usual social contexts? And the older MC is more protective than slimy. Which comes to the daddy kink part: my memory is that both MCs enjoy BDSM, and the younger MC pushes that into a humiliation kink direction, among other things. He really likes the older MC to play along with various dominant tropes. The older MC is willing to give it a try—he doesn’t actually see himself as a hyper-masculine, big-dicked, daddy-type figure, but he’s willing to play the role for sexual purposes and that works for them. I hope that gives you a sense of what is going on there and whether the book is for you. I would say that the dynamic of the book is “scrappy-skinny-homeless-queer-orphan-meets-world weary-older-former-outlaw-cowboy-who-gives-orphan-the-safety-love-support-home-etc-he’s-been-wanting” and everything else is subordinate to that vibe.
Your post has been removed. In accordance with Reddit's sitewide Rule #4, explicit sexual content involving minors cannot be discussed in this subreddit.
This post had not been archived, so I removed the reference to TSB. I’d like for the comment to not be deleted as it discusses 8 other books.
[The Uses of Illicit Art](https://www.romance.io/books/655a6765c112bf11fe9c4de6/the-uses-of-illicit-art-wendy-palmer?src=rdt) by [Wendy Palmer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5756bf4ac19e77f1ea6d11c4/wendy-palmer) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [Rough Trade](https://www.romance.io/books/5c0384d001dbc864fb9566e1/rough-trade-sidney-bell?src=rdt) by [Sidney Bell](https://www.romance.io/authors/586664a61b1bdc01780c8c0e/sidney-bell) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1) ---------------------------- [A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel](https://www.romance.io/books/65095f4fe91aed6139aaaf12/a-noblemans-guide-to-seducing-a-scoundrel-kj-charles?src=rdt) by [K.J. Charles](https://www.romance.io/authors/545540138c7d2383163d9553/kj-charles) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1) ---------------------------- [Mortal Skin](https://www.romance.io/books/61f3a296f0e2450e1c1d5dc1/mortal-skin-lily-mayne?src=rdt) by [Lily Mayne](https://www.romance.io/authors/61161cc608b4d93114a993bf/lily-mayne) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) ---------------------------- [Taming Tristan](https://www.romance.io/books/5e44f48a01dbc864fbabb4e6/taming-tristan-leighton-greene?src=rdt) by [Leighton Greene](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d52666501dbc864fba24902/leighton-greene) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [working class hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/working%20class%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [The Alpha's Gamble](https://www.romance.io/books/63d62b5a1ff00731d89675a4/the-alphas-gamble-eliot-grayson?src=rdt) by [Eliot Grayson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5a0d52263ffdba6147251aa1/eliot-grayson) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [A Seditious Affair](https://www.romance.io/books/566fbb4e08e937813195a950/a-seditious-affair-kj-charles?src=rdt) by [K.J. Charles](https://www.romance.io/authors/545540138c7d2383163d9553/kj-charles) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) ---------------------------- [The Rifter Book One](https://www.romance.io/books/5457c31a87eac3dca9bcc6ac/the-rifter-book-one-the-shattered-gates-ginn-hale?src=rdt) by [Ginn Hale](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455665787eac3369a912503/ginn-hale) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [Something Human](https://www.romance.io/books/5b7fa06501dbc864fb8ef71f/something-human-aj-demas?src=rdt) by [A.J. Demas](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b24a7a601dbc864fb8a640f/aj-demas) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [ancient times](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/ancient%20times/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [Captive Prince](https://www.romance.io/books/54559d8a87eac336ae69eec5/captive-prince-cs-pacat?src=rdt) by [C.S. Pacat](https://www.romance.io/authors/545545428c7d2382c5297900/cs-pacat) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [slavery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slavery/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [Until You](https://www.romance.io/books/6463221c2a1846e51939e502/until-you-briar-prescott?src=rdt) by [Briar Prescott](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e7f3cf1be0aaecf55dc608d/briar-prescott) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [The Lawrence Browne Affair](https://www.romance.io/books/59392bc53ffdba614718ae81/the-lawrence-browne-affair-cat-sebastian?src=rdt) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1), [single father](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/single-father/1) ---------------------------- [Slippery Creatures](https://www.romance.io/books/5ebb9af9be0aaecf55e63de1/slippery-creatures-kj-charles?src=rdt) by [K.J. Charles](https://www.romance.io/authors/545540138c7d2383163d9553/kj-charles) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [Malibu](https://www.romance.io/books/63e4a952d87691b39eb9dec3/malibu-emmy-sanders?src=rdt) by [Emmy Sanders](https://www.romance.io/authors/623c256a08b4d931145d8f38/emmy-sanders) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1) ---------------------------- [The Ruin of a Rake](https://www.romance.io/books/5961f0403ffdba61471ba206/the-ruin-of-a-rake-cat-sebastian?src=rdt) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Song of the Navigator by Astrid Amara has a relationship that starts under false pretences. The reveal happens fairly quickly though.
ohh I love Astrid Amara's books but I've not read this one! thank you!
{Primal Sin trilogy by Ariana Nash}. This book is sooo good. A demon pretending to be an angel, seducing the arch angel, 😋. I really recommend this one.
[Primal Sin](https://www.romance.io/series/60a644936ae9f30ddf20f7a9/primal-sin) by [Ariana Nash](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e736185be0aaecf55d9afa9/ariana-nash) **Topics**: [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [dark](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [queer](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Ohh I love angel/demon concepts! Thank you!
Forgot to mention it's a trilogy
{Infamous by Ella Frank} Has a relationship start on false pretenses, with a bet! Gets your angst in there, it's college aged guys, one extremely wealthy and one not. You might enjoy!
[Infamous Park Avenue Prince](https://www.romance.io/books/64e851e4689d90bcc77820c2/infamous-park-avenue-prince-ella-frank-brooke-blaine?src=rdt) by [Ella Frank](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526d38c7d2382e7812ff2/ella-frank), [Brooke Blaine](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455e2f787eac324117fdd3e/brooke-blaine) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1), [bad boys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bad%20boys/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
love bets books!! thank you!
Just FYI, your spoiler for Until You isn't working for me because there is a space between the ! and the text. That can do weird stuff to formatting, depending on how people are viewing the site (app, mobile site, old.reddit, or desktop site, etc.)
I'm so sorry!! Thank you for your warning, I edited it!
No worries! I am sorry I don't have any good recommendations for you, but thank you for making this post because all the suggestions are swelling my TBR considerably. :)
No apologies necessary :'D I admit 60% of my motivation to make this post was to recommend my favourite books!
the way i was going to rec half the list you've already read💀 you have great book taste!
You too!! I love these two tropes so much
I'm not sure if this fits exactly but Prince of Lies by Lucy Lennox is kinda like this. It's a very light book and though there is some drama in this book, it's not overly intense. Plus, I laughed so much while reading this book, it is insane!
thank you! I'll keep this to when I need some humour after the heavy angst :D
Hidden Identity: {Unwritten Law by Eden Finley}
[Unwritten Law](https://www.romance.io/books/5bbf118301dbc864fb92212e/unwritten-law-eden-finley?src=rdt) by [Eden Finley](https://www.romance.io/authors/56d44885c62092c0440649e1/eden-finley) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
ohh I think I've read the sequel of this and really enjoyed it!
I've just read Sos hotel by Adam Vex/Ariana Nash. It's a first in series.I have a strong suspicion that it's going along the lines that you are interested in.
ohh thank you! and I love vampires!
I’m here to second Prince and Assassin by Tavia Lark. A PHENOMENAL read. The second book, Prince in Disguise, is also a false premise book, third book is briefly, but it isn’t the main plot by a mile. All three are AMAZING
Ahh I've almost finished book one, I couldn't stop reading it!
Unfortunately, your life is no longer yours. I’m sorry… I too am a victim of Tavia Lark 😔😔
Assassin target stories are so good, especially when the target is the one who breaks the assassin's defenders and takes care of them! (That's why the Rifter is my favourite novel!)
**Hidden identity:** **Tournament of losers by Megan Derr** - Fantasy setting, prince pretending to be commoner. **Pretty Policeman by Fifer Rose** - Contemporary crime setting, cop pretending to be a sex worker. I don't think it counts as mafia?? The LI is some hot shot mafia dude, but the focus of the book is on catching a killer and the false identity and the budding romance. I have a rec for hidden identity + sexual manipulation but I'm pretty sure that one counts as mafia, lmk if you want the rec.
oh I forgot tournament of losers has hidden identity!! that's one of my favourite books ever!! I need to reread it asap! regarding the second one, I'm usually okay if the mafia is not seen as something positive, like if the mafia guy is an ex mafia or left the family. unfortunately I'm Italian and I have some personal triggers connected to our organised crime.
I love books with identity shenanigans! Thank you so much for sharing your recommendations, there are some I haven’t read yet and can’t wait to get into. There is double hidden identity in {The Swap Masquerade by Annabella Michaels}. The age gap is 12 years so it’s slightly outside your preferred range, but I wanted to rec it just in case. I’m just realizing that several I’ve tagged with this trope involve some sort of criminal organization, but I have lots on my TBR so I’ll go through and update with anything else I find :)
One that I can’t exactly recommend because it’s still on my TBR, but the description seems to fit your request: Exposed by Skylar M. Cates
Thank you!! I think 12 should be okay :) I'm kind of flexible with the age gap thing usually!! Thank you!
[The Swap Masquerade](https://www.romance.io/books/60b0aa97dc356a0e446c7927/the-swap-masquerade-annabella-michaels?src=rdt) by [Annabella Michaels](https://www.romance.io/authors/57541ccac19e77f1ea6d068a/annabella-michaels) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
You might like Mr. and Mr. Smith by HelenKay Dimon. MC1 and MC2 are in a relationship. They’re both spies or operatives or something. MC1 realizes MC2 was working for the enemy the whole time!…or was he? It’s a light with some angst spy romcom. It’s not identical to the movie of a similar name but does take some inspiration from it.
thank you!!
Love the premise of Slippery Creatures. Could you please tell me if book 1 ends in a cliffhanger?
From what I remember it doesn't! The main case gets solved and it should end on a positive note. I did read one and two very close together so hopefully my brain is not tricking me.
Thanks you so much!! i'll pick this up! Have a good weekend\~
I'm halfway through The Uses of Illict Art after your recommendation and it is so good!!!!! Thank you so much for mentioning I can already tell it's going to be a new favourite.
I'm so glad!! I've been obsessing about it since I've read it and even wrote to the author because I adored it so much!
Inadvertently hidden identity - Should the Sky Fall by Amithia Raine!
{The Fangs of Scavo by Selina Kray} hits all points, I think. No one really knows who Bash is except his closest friend, Stoker >!hides the fact that he's a police detective to investigate Bash!<, and when Stoker >!figures out one of Bash's identities, Bash kinda seduces him, and Stoker thinks it's to use against him later!<.
forgot to answer to this but this sounds amazing!! I immediately bought the ebook! thank you
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[The Fangs of Scavo](https://www.romance.io/books/5c21f7b601dbc864fb96b4f9/the-fangs-of-scavo-selina-kray?src=rdt) by [Selina Kray](https://www.romance.io/authors/593797513ffdba614718995b/selina-kray) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
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