luxury romance with warmth, wit, and wanderlust
USA Today bestselling author Serenity Woods writes emotionally warm billionaire romance filled with luxury, escapism, and breathtaking New Zealand settings. Her books feature powerful heroes, unforgettable love stories, glamorous destinations, and emotionally satisfying happily-ever-afters
list of contents
- Introduction
- What is Luxury Romance?
- Why readers love Luxury Romance
- Luxury Romance set in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Recommended Luxury Romance Series
- Why Serenity Woods' Readers love Luxury Romance
- Start Reading
- FAQs
introduction
There’s something irresistible about escaping into a world of luxury, glamour, breathtaking destinations, and unforgettable romance. My luxury romance invites readers to step beyond everyday life into stories filled with emotional connection, powerful heroes, and the fantasy of being swept away, whether to a private island, a vineyard overlooking the ocean, or a luxury lodge hidden deep in the New Zealand mountains.
Luxury Romance by Serenity Woods
WHAT IS LUXURY ROMANCE?
Luxury Romance is what has emerged from the evolution of the classic Cinderella fairy tale. It usually features a woman who typically comes from a poor, working-class family, who meets a rich, brooding, and powerful hero who sweeps her off her feet. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre are early examples of this simple trope.
If you’re of a certain age, like me (I’m 56), the first romances you read as a teen might well have been those published by Harlequin. Famous for grouping their books into categories or “lines” that share common themes, their most popular line has always been Harlequin Presents, which was created in 1973. I can remember shelves of these slim books in supermarkets, second-hand bookshops, and airports.
Harlequin’s website summarizes the Presents line with: “Be swept into a world of luxury, wealth and exotic locations. Welcome to the glamorous lives of royals and billionaires, where passion knows no bounds.” The books are short and fast-paced, and the romance is emotional and steamy. Readers enjoy them for their escapism, glamour, travel, and comfort.
Once just millionaires, the genre developed with inflation and now tends to feature billionaire heroes. The publication of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2012 led to an explosion in popularity of billionaire romances, and since then it has become an evergreen genre, eternally popular with romance readers.
The hero (or male main character or MMC in today’s parlance) and the heroine (or female character or FMC) have also evolved. The popularity of the emotionally unavailable, brooding, reserved MMC and the FMC who has to work hard to pry open his tough exterior to get to his heart are slowly changing places. Now, it’s the FMC who holds back from love to focus on her career or family, while popular hashtags on Instagram and TikTok are #hefallsfirst and #mywife. Readers are over “alpha-holes” and want MMCs who are emotionally available from the start and committed to the women they love.
But despite the evolution of the characters, readers still love romance settings like luxury lodges, vineyards, private islands, penthouses, billionaire families, and exclusive retreats. So maybe the next question is: why is luxury romance so popular?
If you’re of a certain age, like me (I’m 56), the first romances you read as a teen might well have been those published by Harlequin. Famous for grouping their books into categories or “lines” that share common themes, their most popular line has always been Harlequin Presents, which was created in 1973. I can remember shelves of these slim books in supermarkets, second-hand bookshops, and airports.
Harlequin’s website summarizes the Presents line with: “Be swept into a world of luxury, wealth and exotic locations. Welcome to the glamorous lives of royals and billionaires, where passion knows no bounds.” The books are short and fast-paced, and the romance is emotional and steamy. Readers enjoy them for their escapism, glamour, travel, and comfort.
Once just millionaires, the genre developed with inflation and now tends to feature billionaire heroes. The publication of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2012 led to an explosion in popularity of billionaire romances, and since then it has become an evergreen genre, eternally popular with romance readers.
The hero (or male main character or MMC in today’s parlance) and the heroine (or female character or FMC) have also evolved. The popularity of the emotionally unavailable, brooding, reserved MMC and the FMC who has to work hard to pry open his tough exterior to get to his heart are slowly changing places. Now, it’s the FMC who holds back from love to focus on her career or family, while popular hashtags on Instagram and TikTok are #hefallsfirst and #mywife. Readers are over “alpha-holes” and want MMCs who are emotionally available from the start and committed to the women they love.
But despite the evolution of the characters, readers still love romance settings like luxury lodges, vineyards, private islands, penthouses, billionaire families, and exclusive retreats. So maybe the next question is: why is luxury romance so popular?
Why Readers Love Luxury Romance
Emotional Escapism
Today, most of us have more freedom and opportunities than our great-grandmothers and grandmothers did. Despite this, life is, on the whole, mundane. Some of us might be able to afford to go on vacation somewhere exotic once a year, but the rest of the time we’re stuck at home, and that’s where emotional escapism comes in.
In TV programs and in books, we can escape to all sorts of alternative worlds. We can travel to other countries and learn about their language, customs, food, and landscapes, all without stepping foot outside the door. We can have a virtual vacation in every book! And sometimes that’s enough to give our everyday lives a lift.
Glamorous Settings
Some readers prefer to read romances set in small towns about boy-next-door heroes, but the appeal of luxury romance never seems to wane. Many readers harbour a secret wanderlust. They love to travel, especially to exotic locations, and to experience the kind of glamour we associate with the rich and famous.
Who wouldn’t love to visit a remote Pacific island, to stay in a luxury villa right on the beach, to swim in turquoise waters, and to drink cocktails, opposite a gorgeous man whose eyes promise romance and wicked fun once the sun goes down?
Comfort and Fantasy
Dark romance is hugely popular right now, but there are still many of us who prefer our romances to be emotionally warm and comforting. My readers like that I offer a safe space for them to read about relationships and sex. Many of us like our romances to be steamy, but we want to read about sex in a safe and positive way, as a natural development between two people who are in love. My stories have plenty of sizzle, but they’re sex positive, with protective and respectful heroes who look after their girls and give them space to heal and grow.
The Appeal of Billionaire Romance
Billionaires often get bad press because of the questionable behaviour of some rich politicians and other important world figures. But in the romance industry it’s just a label to help categorize stories that blend luxury with conscience. In my romances, the heroes are altruistic and emotionally compelling, still alpha in the sense of being powerful and confident in their field, but they nearly always work in professions that help people and better the world they live in.
Who can resist a gorgeous doctor who’s an expert pediatrician and saves children for a living (like Brock in The Perfect Gift?) Or a guy devoted to helping couples who are struggling to have children by using AI to advance IVF (like Saxon in Cinderella and the Billionaire Boss)?
(And if you want to read more, check out my Billionaire Romance Series page!)
Today, most of us have more freedom and opportunities than our great-grandmothers and grandmothers did. Despite this, life is, on the whole, mundane. Some of us might be able to afford to go on vacation somewhere exotic once a year, but the rest of the time we’re stuck at home, and that’s where emotional escapism comes in.
In TV programs and in books, we can escape to all sorts of alternative worlds. We can travel to other countries and learn about their language, customs, food, and landscapes, all without stepping foot outside the door. We can have a virtual vacation in every book! And sometimes that’s enough to give our everyday lives a lift.
Glamorous Settings
Some readers prefer to read romances set in small towns about boy-next-door heroes, but the appeal of luxury romance never seems to wane. Many readers harbour a secret wanderlust. They love to travel, especially to exotic locations, and to experience the kind of glamour we associate with the rich and famous.
Who wouldn’t love to visit a remote Pacific island, to stay in a luxury villa right on the beach, to swim in turquoise waters, and to drink cocktails, opposite a gorgeous man whose eyes promise romance and wicked fun once the sun goes down?
Comfort and Fantasy
Dark romance is hugely popular right now, but there are still many of us who prefer our romances to be emotionally warm and comforting. My readers like that I offer a safe space for them to read about relationships and sex. Many of us like our romances to be steamy, but we want to read about sex in a safe and positive way, as a natural development between two people who are in love. My stories have plenty of sizzle, but they’re sex positive, with protective and respectful heroes who look after their girls and give them space to heal and grow.
The Appeal of Billionaire Romance
Billionaires often get bad press because of the questionable behaviour of some rich politicians and other important world figures. But in the romance industry it’s just a label to help categorize stories that blend luxury with conscience. In my romances, the heroes are altruistic and emotionally compelling, still alpha in the sense of being powerful and confident in their field, but they nearly always work in professions that help people and better the world they live in.
Who can resist a gorgeous doctor who’s an expert pediatrician and saves children for a living (like Brock in The Perfect Gift?) Or a guy devoted to helping couples who are struggling to have children by using AI to advance IVF (like Saxon in Cinderella and the Billionaire Boss)?
(And if you want to read more, check out my Billionaire Romance Series page!)
If you suffer from wanderlust, escape with me in my New Zealand romances!
Luxury Romance Set in Aotearoa New Zealand
We all love to escape to exotic locations that are different from where we live. I do have readers in New Zealand, but the majority of my readers live in other countries. Many of them have only seen New Zealand in movies like The Lord of the Rings, so they’re aware of the breathtaking landscapes of the South Island - the mountains of the Southern Alps, Lake Wanaka, and beautiful cities like Christchurch, Queenstown, and Dunedin.
But did you know that here at the top of the North Island, we have a sub-tropical climate? In the Northland, we have empty beaches with golden sand, vineyards with five-star restaurants and renowned wines, luxury lodges and exclusive resorts, and palm trees and ferns that make you feel as if you’ve stepped into Jurassic Park.
My books will take you on virtual vacations all across ‘Godzone’, from a remote cabin in the Southern Alps in Tempting Autumn, to a wild coastal luxury villa in Mistletoe and the Billionaire Boss, to Napier’s black-sand beaches in The Wounded Billionaire, to the stunning paradise of the Bay of Islands that feature in so many of my series, including The Billionaire Kings.
Want to read more? Check out my New Zealand Romance Books page.
But did you know that here at the top of the North Island, we have a sub-tropical climate? In the Northland, we have empty beaches with golden sand, vineyards with five-star restaurants and renowned wines, luxury lodges and exclusive resorts, and palm trees and ferns that make you feel as if you’ve stepped into Jurassic Park.
My books will take you on virtual vacations all across ‘Godzone’, from a remote cabin in the Southern Alps in Tempting Autumn, to a wild coastal luxury villa in Mistletoe and the Billionaire Boss, to Napier’s black-sand beaches in The Wounded Billionaire, to the stunning paradise of the Bay of Islands that feature in so many of my series, including The Billionaire Kings.
Want to read more? Check out my New Zealand Romance Books page.
Recommended Luxury Romance Series
The Ashford Legacy
This is my latest series (as of May 2026). These stories are based in Auckland, but travel to the rolling hills around Cambridge in the Waikato in The Wrong Billionaire, and all the way to a shepherd’s cottage in the wild, windswept hills around Queenstown in The Mysterious Billionaire.
A Boss in a Billion
This complete series includes nine books grouped into three groups of three, each available in a box set - The Auckland Billionaires, The Wellington Billionaires, and The Christchurch Billionaires. These books are packed full of warm friends and family dynamics, and dramatic love stories that take place against luxury backdrops.
The steamy scenes are always tasteful and loving, with gorgeous, sexy, and kind guys who treat the women they adore with respect and love.
These heroes range from geniuses who invent tech to improve the lives of people struggling to conceive or with degenerative illnesses like ALS, to those involved in a company that helps injured children to walk again. If you finish this series without shedding a single tear, I’ll be very surprised!
The Billionaire Kings
This complete series is set in Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in the Bay of Islands. It follows on from my Three Wise Men series, and features the sons of those heroes, who are all part of the King family. If you love warm, emotional romance with a side helping of dogs and cats, this is the series for you! Although it’s based in the Northland, some of the stories will spirit you to exotic locations such as the towns of Napier and Hastings with their black-sand beaches, the beautiful, snow-filled city of Queenstown in the Southern Alps, and even to a glamorous wedding in Larnach Castle near Dunedin. If you like the sound of this series, all seven books are available in the Kings of the Bay collection, which also includes seven exclusive bonus vignettes!
This is my latest series (as of May 2026). These stories are based in Auckland, but travel to the rolling hills around Cambridge in the Waikato in The Wrong Billionaire, and all the way to a shepherd’s cottage in the wild, windswept hills around Queenstown in The Mysterious Billionaire.
A Boss in a Billion
This complete series includes nine books grouped into three groups of three, each available in a box set - The Auckland Billionaires, The Wellington Billionaires, and The Christchurch Billionaires. These books are packed full of warm friends and family dynamics, and dramatic love stories that take place against luxury backdrops.
The steamy scenes are always tasteful and loving, with gorgeous, sexy, and kind guys who treat the women they adore with respect and love.
These heroes range from geniuses who invent tech to improve the lives of people struggling to conceive or with degenerative illnesses like ALS, to those involved in a company that helps injured children to walk again. If you finish this series without shedding a single tear, I’ll be very surprised!
The Billionaire Kings
This complete series is set in Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in the Bay of Islands. It follows on from my Three Wise Men series, and features the sons of those heroes, who are all part of the King family. If you love warm, emotional romance with a side helping of dogs and cats, this is the series for you! Although it’s based in the Northland, some of the stories will spirit you to exotic locations such as the towns of Napier and Hastings with their black-sand beaches, the beautiful, snow-filled city of Queenstown in the Southern Alps, and even to a glamorous wedding in Larnach Castle near Dunedin. If you like the sound of this series, all seven books are available in the Kings of the Bay collection, which also includes seven exclusive bonus vignettes!
Escape into a luxury world in The Wrong Billionaire
Why Serenity Woods' Readers Love Luxury Romance
I like to think my stories are funny, and they sometimes border on romcoms, but they’re always emotionally satisfying love stories that will take you on journeys from one end of New Zealand to the other. Most of my stories are set in the same universe, with interconnected friends or families, and you’ll often see characters from one series pop up in another. All my books are in Kindle Unlimited, so if you fall in love with book 1, you can easily binge the whole series! I have several longer series, including The Billionaire Kings (7 books), The Billionaire Princes (6 books), and the A Boss in a Billion series (9 books), which are all set in the same world.
Start Reading
Here is a PDF reading list if you’d like to print it off so you can keep a note of which of my books you’ve read:
| reading_list_2026.pdf |
However, if you want the short version, you could start your journey in the Serenity Woods Universe in a few different ways.
- You could start at the beginning with The Perfect Gift (Three Wise Men Book 1). This was my first billionaire romance series, and these are true Cinderella stories, as the heroes all fall in love with three struggling single mums. The Three Wise Men Box Set was a USA Today bestseller!
- Alternatively, you can start with my latest series, The Ashford Legacy. All the stories begin on the night of the Midsummer Masquerade Ball in Auckland, a charity gala for the rich and famous. Book 1, The Wrong Billionaire is out now.
- If you really want to jump right into the deep end, you could start with my longest series, A Boss in a Billion. Book 1 is Talking Dirty with the Billionaire Boss. This story is sensual, emotional, and funny, and guaranteed to suck you in!
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FAQs
What is luxury romance?
Luxury romance features stories filled with emotional connection, powerful heroes, and the fantasy of being swept away to an exotic location.
Why do readers love billionaire romance?
Billionaire romance remains popular because it whisks the reader off to a luxury world of rich men and exotic settings, helping the reader to escape from everyday life.
What makes New Zealand a perfect romance setting?
Aotearoa New Zealand is perfect for luxury romance because it has vastly different landscapes - from the palms and ferns of the sub-tropical Northland to the snow-tipped mountains of the Southern Alps. It’s nicknamed Godzone for a reason!
Which Serenity Woods series should I start with?
I would suggest the Three Wise Men, which is a USA Today bestselling series and where the Serenity Woods Universe begins, A Boss in a Billion, which is my most popular series and has nine books, or The Billionaire Kings, which is set in Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in the Bay of Islands. All seven books in this series are available in a collection called Kings of the Bay, which also includes a series of extra vignettes. Alternatively, my latest series is The Ashford Legacy.
Are Serenity Woods books interconnected?
Yes, all my luxury billionaire romances are set in the same universe, so you’ll recognize places and people as you binge all the series!! You’ll also find the odd character from other series with cameo roles!
Luxury romance features stories filled with emotional connection, powerful heroes, and the fantasy of being swept away to an exotic location.
Why do readers love billionaire romance?
Billionaire romance remains popular because it whisks the reader off to a luxury world of rich men and exotic settings, helping the reader to escape from everyday life.
What makes New Zealand a perfect romance setting?
Aotearoa New Zealand is perfect for luxury romance because it has vastly different landscapes - from the palms and ferns of the sub-tropical Northland to the snow-tipped mountains of the Southern Alps. It’s nicknamed Godzone for a reason!
Which Serenity Woods series should I start with?
I would suggest the Three Wise Men, which is a USA Today bestselling series and where the Serenity Woods Universe begins, A Boss in a Billion, which is my most popular series and has nine books, or The Billionaire Kings, which is set in Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in the Bay of Islands. All seven books in this series are available in a collection called Kings of the Bay, which also includes a series of extra vignettes. Alternatively, my latest series is The Ashford Legacy.
Are Serenity Woods books interconnected?
Yes, all my luxury billionaire romances are set in the same universe, so you’ll recognize places and people as you binge all the series!! You’ll also find the odd character from other series with cameo roles!
