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Creepy Spooky Love: A Horror / Dark Fantasy / Paranormal + Romance Anthology

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Monsters aren't the only things that go bump in the night.In this spellbinding anthology, romance combines with horror, dark fantasy, and the paranormal to show how chills and thrills can warm your heart, and that happily-ever-afters come at a cost.

Across a collection of chilling and seductive short stories by a diverse lineup of authors, readers will encounter haunted hearts, forbidden bonds, monstrous lovers, and passion that survives beyond the grave. From cursed realms and shadowed forests to crumbling mansions and otherworldly planes, each tale explores what happens when desire meets darkness.

These stories blur the line between terror and tenderness, proving that even in the blackest night, love can burn fiercely...and sometimes fatally.

Perfect for readers who crave romance with teeth, dive into this unique horrormantasy collection today!

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2026

7 people are currently reading
28 people want to read

About the author

Elizabeth Gilliland

13 books5 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Stacy.
163 reviews17 followers
February 4, 2026
ARC REVIEW

This anthology of dark love stories is a great choice for Valentine's month. Every story is skillfully written and captivating. The first story was my top pick, although it contains the most graphic scenes, which is why it's my favorite. The overarching theme of creepy love ties the collection together. My expectations were met.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

Profile Image for Tereza.
143 reviews8 followers
January 22, 2026
Creepy Spooky Love is a nice collection of short stories that may or may not take you by surprise. Some are more gruesome, while others are cozier. I loved that the book included trigger warnings and a spice ranking for each story—although I would have appreciated it more if they were at the beginning of each story rather than only at the start of the book. I also have to say that I disagreed with some of them. The first story is definitely the most graphic for me, and the collection mellows out as you go.

Overall, this was a great read and a very well put-together collection that I would pick up again if I were in a reading slump.

Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Alyson Walton.
931 reviews21 followers
Review of advance copy
January 17, 2026
Anthologies like this one are the reason i love to read anthologies.

This collection has something for everyone. Some horror, some romance and a bunch of amazing writing. As with all anthologies, some hit home , some not so. But all here worked for me.

I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Arely.
54 reviews15 followers
March 12, 2026
A fun mix of eerie and romantic! 💀💖 Each story has its own spooky twist, from cute chills to genuinely creepy moments. Loved the variety and the Halloween vibes.. definitely a treat, though a few stories didn’t hit as hard as others. Good collection nonetheless!
Profile Image for Nancyreadsalotofbooks.
382 reviews24 followers
February 11, 2026
I’m a huge anthology buff. So I was excited for this. It has a perfect blend of everything. Which works perfect since I’m such a mood reader. Each story stood out on its own and the flow reading it worked great.

The Necromancer Wife ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Soulswood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I’d give more of I could)
Inescapable Reflection ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love & Hair ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A New Beginning ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (♾️)
For the Love of Eden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fate of a Goddess ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To Sign or Not to Sign ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meat Cute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you love novellas, regardless of what genre you read, add this one to your TBR.
Profile Image for Jess Adams.
103 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 2, 2026
Thank you to BookSirens and Elizabeth Gilliland Rands for this ARC

This review contains NO spoilers! And all that is said is my honest and non-biased opinion.

I am not going to give spoilers or massive details of what happens in this book. That would be silly and counterproductive!

Release date for this book is 10th February 2026

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This books contains 9 short stories, of which include:

- Necromancer's wife - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Soulswood - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Inescapable Reflection - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Love and Hair - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- A New Beginning - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- For Love of Eden - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Fate of a Goddess - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- To Sign or Not to Sign - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Meat Cure - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Extremely well edited and put together. My favourite was most definately Necromancer's Wife and it was by far the most darker story and features, death  murder, betrayal, necromancy, hint of rape (non consented s£x while asleep, non descriptive, but hinted).
For Love of Eden is a great twist of a biblical tale featuring Adam and Eve and of course Lucifer!
And both were written so well and made you feel like you were in the story!

Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning, each story is very different from the other, and some are more darker than the last. So proceed with caution, there is a lot of tragedy, betrayal, murder, gore, dark, biblical, angels, demons, witches, vampires, serial killers. And a ton of emotional, physical and sexual abuse through out.

All in all I loved it. Extremely well put together.

Thank you again to BookSirens and Elizabeth Gilliland Rands!
Profile Image for Sally.
776 reviews3 followers
February 11, 2026
This is a well curated collection and I enjoyed the clear labelling of each story as well as the variety shown. The editor’s note was beautifully laid out and I loved the citations included.

The Necromancer’s Wife - 3/5. A really interesting concept but would’ve liked to see more spookiness

The Soulswood - 3.75/5, very fairytale vibes and I liked the wider worldbuilding involved

Inescapable Reflection - 3/5, definitely
not the angle I was expecting but still a good read. The flow gets a bit jumbled for the sequence of events

Love and Hair - 4.25/5, that is a fun take on a vampire’s regrets. Very much enjoyed the crafty angle to things

A New Beginning - 2.5, interesting premise but it loses itself in trying to make the narration unreliable which makes the plot difficult to understand

For The Love of Eden - 2.75, hint of sapphic and I enjoyed the contrast between the two

Fate of a Goddess - 3/5, the missing memories is a fun inclusion to a hades and Persephone story

To sign or not to sign - 4.25/5, a fun read! Some familiar tropes but well-written and intriguing

Meat Cute - 4.5/5, loved this one! Vague beauty and the beast vibes, a monstrous LI but with rules, and some lovely songs

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC!
Profile Image for VickydpBooks.
713 reviews9 followers
February 10, 2026
It’s shortish novella and it was good I enjoyed it and had spicy in there

Monsters aren't the only things that go bump in the night.
In this spellbinding anthology, romance combines with horror, dark fantasy, and the paranormal to show how chills and thrills can warm your heart, and that happily-ever-afters come at a cost.

Across a collection of chilling and seductive short stories by a diverse lineup of authors, readers will encounter haunted hearts, forbidden bonds, monstrous lovers, and passion that survives beyond the grave. From cursed realms and shadowed forests to crumbling mansions and otherworldly planes, each tale explores what happens when desire meets darkness.

These stories blur the line between terror and tenderness, proving that even in the blackest night, love can burn fiercely...and sometimes fatally.

Perfect for readers who crave romance with teeth, dive into this unique horrormantasy collection today!
Profile Image for TiaJade.
102 reviews9 followers
February 10, 2026
A good selection of horror and romantic short stories. I found them all enjoyable, and they all had varying degrees of horror/romance elements.

I really liked that there was a list of trigger warnings and spice content ratings at the beginning of the book. I did find the majority leaned more into the romantic element but there were some great scary moments.

Each story was short and well written, I enjoyed that each story was different and that I could choose which order I read them in.
Profile Image for Tehmeena.
179 reviews7 followers
February 13, 2026
Content Warning: Trigger warning info (Spice & Spook factor) are available in the book for each short story.

🪶 "The Necromancer's Wife" by Rowan Hill.
Quite graphic and spooky. I like this one: a short, eerie and quick read! Especially with the undead aspect. The imagery is chilling, I love it.

🪶 "The Soulswood" by Katie M. Loren.
It's such a fantastic short story! The vivid descriptions make every scene so immersive. Perfectly woven with mystery, magic, and danger!

🪶 "Inescapable Reflection" by Linne Elizabeth.
It's a short story that ends surprisingly on a bittersweet note. The plot is written well, and you get a conclusion out of it as well. There's a haunting aura to it, and things aren't always as they appear.

🪶 "Love and Hair" by Suebird Sparrow.
Extremely uncomfortable yet morbidly fascinating. Very graphic. And I think I have a feeling what's in those cookies. Well written, I must say, didn't drag at all.

🪶 "A New Beginning" by Kady Sciog.
I love this one, quite romantic and sweet. There's suspense and mystery, and it takes you on an adventure of mind games. The ending is both sad and creepy. How can it end like that?

🪶 "For the Love of Eden" by aimeeann.
Re-telling of Adam & Eve story with an unexpected plot-twist. I like how it focuses on loving yourself, not people pleasing, and standing up for yourself.

🪶 "Fate of a Goddess" by Bri Brunner.
A Re-telling of Hades and Persephone. It's sweet, a little emotional, and has some banter. Well written.

🪶 "To Sign or Not to Sign" by Chelsey M. Ortega.
Darkness or light? Which one will you choose? Love it. Ughh both sides face betrayal in a way. So good! What an ending. Is there still hope for her? Who knows...

🪶 "Meat Cute" by Lissa Sharpe
I wish there was more of this! It's too short for my liking. You feel the tension, the atmosphere between the two characters that's one movement away from ending in something blood-curdling. Wow. Amazingly written and makes me want more!

Overall, I enjoyed all the stories. My two favourites are "A New Beginning" and "Meat Cute". The rest of the collections are intriguing in their own ways and leave lasting impressions. A fantastic experience! All are unique, and you'll definitely find something that catches your fancy. If you like the vibes of creepy and haunting, beauty and magic, otherworldly and dreamy, mythical retellings and romance, and so much more, then add this to your TBR!

~I received an advance review copy for free via Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.~

Out of Fives;
♡🪶𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪/𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆.
♡🖤𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆.
♡🪶𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍: 202.
♡🖤𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 9.
♡🪶𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍.
♡🖤𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅: 10 𝑭𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 2026.
♡🪶𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: 𝒀𝒆𝒔.
♡🖤𝑶���𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6 reviews
Review of advance copy
January 29, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free (BookSirens), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First, the book opens with an explanation of why love and horror are so well matched. Then we get a menu for spice and spook. Both were unexpected but very welcome.
All the stories in this collection had such different writing styles and angles on the whole creepy/horror love. Though I prefer stories where the horror comes from one of the characters (or both in couples), I've enjoyed quite a few in this anthology where the spooky/eerie were due to outside factors.
The necromancer's wife was a great opener. This story was full of twists and turns. The sudden slip from sneak peek at a complicated romance to actual horror. Daphe, who in the beginning was little more of a doll, adding more to the eerie atmosphere, ended up being my favorite character for taking on the monstruous head on. I also loved Alcide who oscillated between being gently adoring and commanding, but ultimately oppressive.
The Soulswood & Inescapable reflection:: were a beautifully written stories. The first carried a dizzying sense of confusion, but it didn't quite resonnate with me. Whilst the second was a wonderul snippet of love and forgiveness from beyond the grave.
Love and hair: Another favorite! David and his obsession with hair, delightfully crepey. Even more so, after the step by step on making use of every part of his ex-lover's face, for a great christmas and a new prey.
A new beginning: The story filled me with confusion from beginning until the very end, in a good way!
For the love of Eden: I loved this queer horror version of the garden of Eden (the better version!). A story about two women's agency, self love and rage. Short and sweet!
Fate of a goddess wasn't my cup of tea. It didn't resonate with me.
To sign or not to sign: is the story of Stella, a girl trapped and pulled in two different directions by two entities, either the Lucifer cult or her crush at school, that just won't tell her a damn thing. Basically expecting a leap of faith with her life on the line. I'm happy the story went where it did. The magic system was also intriguing, a kind of Sorting Hat situation but for witch jobs.
Meat cute was a lovely ride. The right amount of self awareness, tension and creepy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Hailey Owen.
159 reviews4 followers
March 1, 2026
Creepy Spooky Love edited by Elizabeth Gilliland (many amazing authors in this one!)

🌟🌟🌟🌟.25 was the average for the collection! My thoughts are detailed below!

I loved the preface with how intertwined horror and romance can really be. I requested this one on Booksirens on a whim because I was interested in the premise.

The Necromancers Wife by Rowan Hill
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a fun take on necromancy and love! I enjoyed the dark undertones of this and the ending felt justified. This one was medium on the horror and medium on the romance.

The Soulswood by Kelly M. Loren
🌟🌟🌟.75
This one was a bit slower pace for me but I enjoyed the lore of the town and the implications of the ending. Fun story! This one was medium on the romance and light on the horror.

Inescapable Reflection by Linné Elizabeth
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
This was so good! Creepy as hell in a ghost revenge sort of way but I loved the ending! This was medium on the romance and light on the horror.

Love and Hair by Suebird Sparrow
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a fun spoof of a story with some comedy sprinkled in. It had little to no romance and was light on the horror. Short and sweet!

A New Beginning by Kady Sciog
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This story definitely deserves the full five stars! It was unsettling and hopeful and malicious. I only wish there was more!! This was medium on both the horror atmosphere and the romance. I will be keeping an eye out for more from this author!

For the Love of Eden by Aimeeann
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
I love the spin on the story of Eden. This one screams equality and revenge on those who disagree. This is very light on the horror and heavy on the romance.

Fate of a Goddess by Bri Brunner
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
FUCK I love the gods and especially the dark ones!!! I need a FULL NOVEL PRONTO PLEASE BRI!!! This didn’t have much horror and was medium on the romance.

To Sign or Not to Sign by Chelsey M. Ortega
🌟🌟🌟.5
I was very enamored with this story but it is missing so much and left me with a million questions. If it was a longer story I can definitely see this being rated quite high. This was medium on the romance and little to no horror.

Meat Cute by Lissa Sharpe
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a fun innuendo of a story and a bit cute. Light on the horror other than the implications and very light on the romance if any. It was a fun end to the collection.

Thank you Booksirens for the ARC of this! I had the best time!!!
Profile Image for Mandy.
14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 11, 2026
Definitely a 4.5 star read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

All of these stories are so much fun, and it makes sense to have them all in this anthology. It was a fun and twisty journey going through all kinds of different settings, worlds, and emotions.

I feel like this collection encompasses such a wonderful variety of writing styles, allowing us to experience so many different vibes. From the dark, magnificently horrifying experience of The Necromancer's Wife, I wasn't expecting to run the gamut of my emotions throughout this book. I was left with the intended creeping sense of confusion and dread, yet hesitant hope in The Soulswood. I agonized and wept in Inescapable Reflection. A New Beginning left me twisted up and horrified for our poor, hopeful heroine.

For The Love of Eden was the only story that I didn't quite love or resonate with, but it's possible this writing style and story just wasn't for me, but I appreciated the story nonetheless. (that's what these anthologies are for, right?!) I just felt like the characters didn't evoke any emotion from me, and I'm not sure it's because of the retelling or that it just felt like the writer was just filling in bullet points.

Fate of a Goddess was just… YES. Everything I love about a retelling in a modern way and can I say I was over the moon that it went where it did. It left me so satisfied and smiling.

To Sign Or Not To Sign took me on a ride omg-I think this was my second favorite story of the whole collection! The way the writer kept me hanging on the edge of my seat just NEEDING to know what was going on has me looking for more of her work.

And ending this anthology with Meat Cute? This is my FAVORITE! I could envision the setting, the dread, the fear?! And the heroine was SUCH a fun, amusing and delightful FMC-it made me root for her and it left the book on such a hopeful note all while satisfying that darker need for horror in me.

All in all, I loved this whole collection and will reread and go hunt down majority of these writers.
Profile Image for Sierra.
6 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
February 5, 2026
The necromancers wife - 4.3/5
This reminded me of Tiana’s friend in Princess and the Frog but the Grimm Fairytale version. It was beautifully written and kept me wanting more.

The Soulswoods - 5/5
This story was amazing. I felt like I was there with Ainsley. I love how she finds herself and becomes more confident. I also like how the ending leaves something to the readers interpretation. Wonderful Story.

Inescapable Reflection 3.8/5
This was a fun fast paced story. It has a paranormal element and a love story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Love and Hair 3.5/5
Short story. Creepy. Not my thing but it was well written.


A New Beginning 5/5
This story DREW me in so fast I cared about the characters so quickly. I wish this story had 100 more chapters because I wanted to keep reading it. It was so well written and really immersed me as the reader into the story. I LOVED this story.

For the Love of Eden 1/5
Reading this story was not enjoyable at all. The plot was lacking and the character development was nonexistent. It felt like a high schooler’s attempt at getting back at her overzealous religious parents. I cannot stress how much I disliked this story. Yikes.

Fate of a Goddess 3/5
You can tell the author is very educated in Greek Mythology which I appreciated. It was a good story but somethings seemed out of place like Hades Talking about Harry Potter with Poppy. It just made me feel like the story was fan fiction and didn’t make me take it as serious.

To Sign or Not to Sign 3.5/5
I feel like this story had a lot of fluff but not a ton of substance. It was well written and I enjoyed reading it but I wanted more.

Meat Cute 3.5/5
Exact same as the story above. I enjoyed reading it but it had a lot of fluff and not enough plot. Overall I’m glad it was part of this book.
Profile Image for EM R.
36 reviews
February 13, 2026
I got this book as a free advance review copy from BookSirens, so thank you for the opportunity.

This book is about 3.5 stars for me. I really enjoyed Meat Cute, The Soulswood, and To Sign or Not to Sign.

The Soulswood: I love this concept that nothing comes entirely for free; the protag ultimately gets what she wants, but what does it cost her? (Which is like so many things in life.) For some reason this story reminds me of the movie "The Village," especially the wedding scene where they're dancing.

Meat Cute has the perfect amount of suspense and somehow manages to blend this heightened feeling into softer emotions by the end. Well executed!

To Sign or Not to Sign: I like this one because it tells a familiar story of good vs. evil,

I liked some stories much better than others; anthologies can be a mixed bag with many different writing styles, as readers know. Various types of romantic "love" occur across these stories, and this collection basically spans the entirety of the experience — from meeting someone new to breaking it off at the end. As such, there's something for everyone. This book is a short read that comes just in time for Valentine's Day. 🖤
Profile Image for Vintage Vixen.
93 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
January 20, 2026
​I usually avoid anthologies. I don't know why, maybe I have commitment issues, or maybe I just like one long story. But the cover of this one pulled at my heartstrings, so I grabbed the ARC and decided to give it a shot.

First of all, can we talk about the Editor's Note? Usually, I skip these because... well, yawn. But this one was actually fascinating. The editor compared the physical feelings of romance to the physical feelings of horror (sweaty palms, racing heart, the urge to scream?). It made so much sense.

The editor also rated each story for Spice and Scariness right at the beginning. It was like a little menu for my emotions so I knew exactly what kind of chaos I was walking into. Every book needs this feature. Immediately.

The collection itself? Zero skips. All the stories were great, but I have a massive soft spot for the first one—give me a Bayou setting and I am sold.

I went in skeptical and came out following half the authors on Instagram. I would absolutely pick up another collection from Bayou Rose Press. If you want spooky vibes with a side of romance (and a very helpful spice-o-meter), read this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Twinkle.butt.reads.
383 reviews24 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
January 14, 2026
Creepy Spooky Love is a deliciously dark collection of love stories that proves romance doesn’t always wear a crown of roses—sometimes it comes wrapped in shadows, chills, and a hint of danger. Each story delivers its own twisted take on love, blending eerie atmospheres with emotional depth that makes you feel just as much as it makes you shiver.

From haunting connections to love that lingers beyond the grave, this collection captures the idea that devotion can be beautiful, terrifying, and unforgettable all at once. The writing balances spooky vibes with heartfelt moments, making it perfect for readers who like their romance a little macabre and their happily-ever-afters… questionable.

If you enjoy gothic vibes, paranormal undertones, and love stories that flirt with the dark side, Creepy Spooky Love is truly a collection of love stories to die for.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for jussy. 💀 myhauntedkindle.
14 reviews
February 14, 2026
Advance Reader Review!

The synopsis had me immediately hooked. The introduction genuinely pulled me in. I was ready for something bold, layered, maybe even a little haunting. And unfortunately… that’s kind of where it ended for me.

As a collection of short stories from multiple authors, I expected distinct voices and at least a few standouts that would truly linger. I kept waiting for the stories to deepen, to sharpen, to fully become what the title seemed to promise. It felt like I was being built up for something impactful, but it never quite landed.

Instead, it read more like a blend of different ideas woven together without fully committing to any of them. Certain moments had potential, but they didn’t expand in a way that made them memorable. The pieces didn’t feel cohesive, and none of the stories fully anchored me emotionally.

When I finished, I wasn’t unsettled. I wasn’t moved. It was forgettable for me.
Profile Image for Samantha Alejandro.
34 reviews
February 16, 2026
2.5/5 stars

This book wasn’t really in my usual genre, so I think that shaped my experience with it. The format is a collection of shorter, more experimental retellings, and while the concept was creative, I personally found myself wanting a bit more plot depth and a stronger hook to feel fully invested.

That said, I did appreciate the way the stories reimagined familiar ideas in new ways, especially pieces like Fate of a Goddess and For the Love of Eden. There’s something interesting about seeing classic themes rewritten through different lenses.

As someone who tends to gravitate toward heavier, more immersive dark romance, this felt more fragmented than what I’m used to. However, I can definitely see this working well for readers who enjoy quick, imaginative retellings or who prefer shorter stories that hold your attention in smaller bursts.

Not quite a standout for me, but an intriguing concept with moments of creativity throughout.
Profile Image for Lilith's_Library_.
600 reviews33 followers
Review of advance copy
January 9, 2026
Creepy Spooky Love is a delightfully dark and atmospheric anthology that blends horror, paranormal intrigue, and romance in unexpected and satisfying ways. Each story carries its own unique voice—from bone-chilling suspense to tender, haunting romance—making the collection feel varied yet thematically cohesive.

The contributing authors, including Elizabeth Gilliland, Rowan Hill, SueBird Sparrow, and others, showcase strong world-building and compelling characters who feel real even in fantastical or terrifying circumstances. Some stories are sharper than others, but the overall mix keeps you engaged, unsettled, and emotionally invested.

Perfect for fans of dark fantasy and paranormal romance, this anthology delivers scares, tension, and moments of aching intimacy in equal measure. A moody, immersive read that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
Profile Image for Cassi Olazabal.
61 reviews
Review of advance copy
January 14, 2026
I got the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
This collection of stories is to die for for fans of horror, dark fantasy, and paranormal romance. I loved every story that was included in this anthology. I wasn't sure what I was going to get when I first opened the first pages. With anthologies, there are numerous possibilities for what might occur. Though each of these stories was a hit!
The selected stories are unique and have their own distinct dynamics, ranging from slightly vengeful spirits to vampires, Gods, Angels and Demons, the Fae, necromancy, fated bonds, and more. Another thing I loved about this was the spook and spice factor listing during the introduction. Oh, and one more tidbit, the very last story was actually written by the editor.
I truly did enjoy the introduction as well; it sets the true tone for it all.
Profile Image for Leah McGeorge.
229 reviews
Review of advance copy
February 4, 2026
This is a fantastic collection of short stories with a perfect blend of romance and horror. Though not all the stories were entirely my vibe, they were all really cohesive within the collection which I really liked as sometimes it can be jarring moving from one authors work to another.

Something I think was brilliant was the brief descriptions and ratings of spice and spookiness for each story. It was nice having a rough idea of whether each story was going to lean more love or horror.

Especially for this time of year when the nights are still dark, this is perfect if you still want a spookier vibe but a hint of love and yearning leading up to valentine's day.

I've already recommended this book to a few friends because I think it's a great collection and had brilliant vibes.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Katiebug.
65 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy
February 5, 2026
What a fun collection of horror/romance short stories! I have never read a collection quite like this. Every story was SO different - from voodoo to ghosts to witches. Some of them were a bit dark! My absolute favorite was "Fate of a Goddess". It was a retelling of Hades and Persephone....sighhhh. I just love their story!

I also thoroughly enjoyed "Meet Cute". Many of the stories had a lesson for the main character to learn, even if that was simply accepting who you are. It was nice that at the end of each story, there was a little bit about the author, including a picture! All of them are so creative and it was nice to be a small part of their world for a short time.

Overall, it was a great read! Fans of horror, dark fantasy, and the paranormal will love it!

I received a copy of this book in order to leave a review.
Profile Image for Laura.
12 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2026
The introduction at the beginning of this collection was promising, but the reading experience disappointed and was not what I felt I was being set up for.

Surely there will be a lot of readers that this kind of anthology appeals to, but it ultimately did not deliver enough creepiness, spookiness, or love. The stories covered a range of ideas and genres, in some cases so wide a range that they didn’t seem to quite fit within the scope of the collection. With such a variety quality is always a mixed bag, but nothing seemed to really stand out above the rest and some entries felt entirely unoriginal.

This is an unpaid and honest review, willingly provided in kind for access to an ebook review copy of this title.
Profile Image for Brogan Plot Twist & Chill.
23 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2026
Let me start of saying that I’ve never read an anthology before so this was definitely a new experience for me.

As a kid I struggled with certain subjects and school and was unable to hold interest in short stories, why I’m unsure. I think I expect so much more from them, or maybe I never want them to end.

This was definitely not a disappointment for me, though I do wish some of them were a little longer and maybe could be turned into full books. This was a very interesting read for me. I enjoyed some of them more than others. But with that being said I definitely love how it gives you that feeling of love and fear entwined as one.

Who knew that those completely different emotions made you have the same feelings.

Thanks Booksirens for this new experience!
Profile Image for Toy NYC.
209 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy
January 21, 2026
I enjoyed this anthology,

Normally I would have swallowed this up in a day or two as it was a excited read, however it’s been a bit hectic for me, a virus knocked me out for the count for a couple of days. However each story provided a unique romantic horror story that both engaged me and entertained me. This is not normally my type of genera as I’ve been obsessed with RH stories lately. Moreover, I used to read all types of paranormal, Mafia, bully, enemies to lovers and urban novels by people of color. Therefore, I feel that to say this was enjoyable I have a bit of experience with various reads.


Please give it a try it’s well worth it.
Profile Image for Aaron.
233 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 2, 2026
Creepy Spooky Love is an anthology filled with variation, from spooky hotels to reanimated wives this anthology was a breath of fresh air from start to end. Stand outs for me personally were Meat Cute, The Soulswood and Fate of a Goddess. Anthologies are amazing ways to find new authors and there’s definitely a few in CPL that I’ll be following the careers of. Overall, I loved this anthology, it was the perfect balance of scary, intriguing and romantic!

Check it out if you like;
👻Spooky Shorts of varying scare
🎃 Ghosts, Vampires & the Supernatural
🖤 Quick Reads to fit around a busy life
287 reviews3 followers
February 14, 2026
3.75 stars. This collection is not what I expected based on the synopsis and cover art. I expected these stories to be heavier on the romance than they were, the last one was not romance at all. Each story was wildly different from the next, but all had some kind of dark conflict. I liked each story individually, but I struggled with the order in which they were placed and the spice/spook ratings. The first story was the most intense, so everything after that felt disjointed and bounced between horror and cozy.

Thank you to BookSirens and Elizabeth Gilliland Rands for the free eARC.
Profile Image for Riley Sequoia.
5 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I completed this book in an afternoon.

Tbh I was expecting a little more on both the romance end and the spoopy as well.

The stories were… ok. They weren't awful and I was very surprised to find no grammar or spelling errors. Something that rarely happens. Editors did a great job with this anthology.

I just wasn't really INTO it.

Not the fault of any of the authors or the publisher. I just was expecting….. more
Profile Image for Cyri Thompson.
6 reviews
March 4, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a brilliant collection of stories! Every tale brought out a different emotion; passion, disgust, a deep connection, low-grade fear, and sadness for sure. It's hard to pick a favourite, but the Greek gods retelling and the necromancer's wife were probably two of my favourites. Ending with Meat Cute definitely felt like a good culmination to the book as a whole. This was a very enjoyable read! It definitely evoked the want for more stories of the same genre.
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