Here are the father figures who’ll make you want to play house
In honour of Father’s Day, we’re celebrating the literary heroes who prove that the sexiest thing a man can be is a devoted dad. Single-dad romance books have captured readers’ hearts because they showcase men at their most vulnerable and admirable—juggling the beautiful chaos of parenthood while navigating the complexities of finding love again.
These stories offer more than just romantic escapism; they explore the tender dynamics of blended families, the courage it takes to open your heart after loss or disappointment, and the magic that happens when love multiplies rather than divides. From the CEO who trades power suits for soccer practice to the small-town cowboys teaching his daughter to ride a horse, single dad heroes remind us that strength comes in many forms—and that sometimes the greatest love stories begin with a man who’s already proven he knows how to put someone else’s needs before his own.
Whether you’re looking for steamy contemporary romance, heartwarming small-town tales, or emotional journeys of healing and hope, these single-dad romances deliver the perfect blend of passion, spice and tenderness.
So this Father’s Day, celebrate the fictional fathers who make us believe in happily ever after—for both the dads who deserve love and the brave women who choose to love them and their children unconditionally.
Here are the best single-dad romance books to swoon over:
Caught Up
Liz Tomforde
In Liz Tomforde’s Caught Up, MLB starting pitcher Kai Rhodes is a devoted single father who’s burned through nannies faster than he burns through opposing batters—until his coach forces him to accept help from the one person he can’t fire: the coach’s daughter. Miller Montgomery is an award-winning pastry chef taking a break from her high-pressure career, and she’s everything Kai should avoid—too wild, too young, and planning to leave Chicago when summer ends. What begins as a temporary arrangement quickly heats up as Miller reminds the serious single dad how to have fun again, while he and his son start feeling like the home she never knew she wanted. This steamy sports romance serves up sizzling chemistry alongside emotional depth, with spicy scenes that match the intensity of their connection both in and out of the bedroom. As Miller battles creative block in the kitchen and Kai learns to open his heart again, they must decide if their summer fling is worth risking everything for—because sometimes the most dangerous play is the one that could win you everything.
Sable Peak
Devney Perry
In this small-town romance, Vera Gallagher is seen rebuilding her life after years of instability, determined to find the constant and normal she’s never known. But, when she crosses paths with Mateo Eden—a devoted single father whose love for his family mirrors the wholehearted way Vera herself loves—everything changes for her. Despite her unrequited feelings for the handsome, charming man who seems oblivious to her existence, Vera refuses to give up hope, even when her painful past threatens to keep them apart forever.
Lost and Lassoed
Lyla Sage
Let’s be real, the cowboy core looks better on paper! In this enemies-to-lovers small-town romance, Gus Ryder is drowning under the weight of managing his family’s 8,000-acre ranch while caring for his spirited six-year-old daughter for the summer—a challenge that forces the dependable single dad to admit he can’t do it all alone. Enter Teddy Andersen, his little sister’s chaotic best friend and the last person he’d choose to help, but the only option available when his perfectly ordered world starts falling apart. While Teddy uses the summer to figure out her life’s direction after feeling left behind by everyone around her, Gus discovers that the woman he’s always butted heads with might be exactly what he and his daughter need. As Teddy proves herself as the kind of bonus parent any father would want on their team, both she and Gus must decide if they’re brave enough to risk getting burned by a love that could change everything—proving that sometimes the best partnerships come from the most unlikely places.
Heartless
Elsie Silver
In this sizzling enemies-to-lovers and age-gap cowboy romance, a young city girl finds herself working as a nanny for a gruff, brooding single father who’s thirteen years her senior and seems determined to keep his distance. What starts as a simple two-month contract becomes complicated when a steamy game of truth or dare in the hot tub changes everything between them. Beneath Cade’s hardened exterior lies a man who’s been convinced he’s not good enough, but as their forbidden attraction ignites, she discovers that this broad-shouldered rancher with calloused hands and a protective heart makes her feel more cherished than she ever imagined possible. With tender moments of watching him soften around his little boy and passionate encounters that blur the lines of their professional arrangement. Packed with scorching hot scenes that will leave you fanning yourself, this spicy romance doesn’t hold back on the steam factor, delivering passionate encounters that are as emotionally satisfying as they are physically intense.
Ashes of You
Catherine Cowles
In this emotionally intense small-town romance, fate brings two broken souls together when a woman seeking a fresh start discovers that her potential employer—a single dad in a small mountain town—has the same haunting blue eyes that belonged to the stranger who was her glimmer of hope during her darkest night five years ago. Lawson Hartley embodies everything that makes single father heroes irresistible: he’s protective, gentle with her scars, and devoted to his child, yet carries his own shadows that mirror her pain. The romance sizzles with the intensity of two people who understand each other’s broken places, creating passionate scenes that are as much about emotional connection as physical desire. As their past traumas threaten to destroy their newfound happiness, this gripping tale explores whether love can truly conquer all—proving that sometimes the person meant to save you has been waiting in your future all along, ready to fight for the life you both deserve.
All Rhodes Lead Here
Mariana Zapata
In this beautifully crafted slow-burn romance, Aurora De La Torre returns to a small mountain town to rebuild her life after devastating loss, only to find herself drawn to her mysterious landlord across the driveway. What makes this a perfect Father’s Day read is discovering that her brooding neighbour is actually a devoted single father whose quiet strength and dedication to his child showcase the best of what makes single dad heroes so irresistible. Mariana Zapata masterfully builds tension through everyday moments—shared glances across driveways, helping hands, and gradual conversations that slowly reveal the depth beneath his reserved exterior. This story epitomises the slow-burn romance experience, where every small gesture carries weight and the sexual tension builds so deliciously that when they finally come together, the payoff is explosive.
Irresistible
Melanie Harlow
If you love a man in a boardroom, then this swoon-worthy forbidden romance is just for you. Former Marine turned CFO and full-time single dad to three daughters has his hands more than full juggling business responsibilities at Cloverleigh Farms while navigating the chaos of raising girls alone—complete with laundry disasters and swear jar contributions. When twenty-seven-year-old Frannie Sawyer becomes his part-time nanny, he knows she’s completely off-limits for multiple reasons: she’s the boss’s daughter, she’s younger, and mixing business with pleasure is a recipe for disaster. But Frannie makes this hardened single father remember what it feels like to want something just for himself, and despite his military discipline, he can’t resist the pull between them. What starts as stolen glances turns into stolen kisses, and soon he’s breaking every rule he set for himself.
Beating Heart
Laura Pavlov
Set in the charming town of Magnolia Falls, this heartwarming single dad romance follows a devoted father whose world revolves around his son—until gorgeous new paediatrician Emerson Chadwick moves in next door and turns his carefully ordered life upside down. What makes this Father’s Day perfect read so compelling is watching a man who found his purpose in parenthood discover that his heart has room to beat for someone else, too. This neighbours-to-lovers story delivers the perfect blend of sweet and steamy, with sizzling chemistry that builds every time they cross paths in their small-town setting.
