Forgotten Princesses Series by Sophie Jordan / Historical Romance Book Series

Wicked in Your Arms by Sophie Jordan (2011)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Forgotten Princesses series. Grier is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman and being trotted out on the marriage mart with a huge dowry. While she’s hiding behind potted plants and avoiding the gossip about her, she overhears a prince disparaging her. Sevastian is out to find an heiress to marry and bring home to his impoverished war-torn country and believes Grier to be completely unsuitable for anything except his mistress. Sev and Grier angrily flirt every time they’re together, though they’re both courting other people. They somehow end up having an affair and ultimately get caught in a compromising situation. There’s tons more drama involving some shady side characters, which definitely keeps things interesting.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Bookshop.org

Lessons from a Scandalous Bride Sophie Jordan (2012)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Forgotten Princesses series. Cleo is the sister of Grier and also on the marriage mart. She’s been courting a very elderly earl, much to the concern of her family. She has a good reason though: She’s looking to marry someone who will not (cannot) make demands of her in the marriage bed. Cleo has had the trauma of caring for too many siblings, watching weak ones die, carrying away stillborn siblings, and seeing her mother suffer the ills of labor. She wants very much to avoid that type of life and entrapment so avoids men who might prompt that future. Meanwhile, Logan is in London to find an heiress to marry and restore his castle in Scotland. While he is busy courting some vapid debutante, he’s more intrigued by Cleo and declares that he’d rather marry her instead. She refuses of course, but he is persistent in his pursuit. In this book, we’re mostly dealing with Cleo and her emotional issues and learning to accept the affection and passion that she has been denying herself.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Earl in My Bed by Sophie Jordan (2013)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 2.5 of the Forgotten Princesses series. Paget is the vicar’s daughter who has been longtime friends with two of the local earl’s sons, but not so friendly with the middle son, Jamie, who was always pretentious and snotty. Jamie is back as the new earl after the death of his older brother and is just as snotty as he always has been. While Paget has always had a bit of an understanding with Jamie’s younger brother, the wartime separation has dimmed her affection. With Jamie back in town, Paget is physically attracted to him, despite her distaste for his attitude. Jamie’s had his own feelings of inadequacy and loneliness with not being the preferred playmate of his own brothers and covets Paget’s attention. This one is a short novella that wraps up pretty easily and neatly.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

How to Lose a Bride in One Night by Sophie Jordan (2013)

Historical romance. Regency or Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Forgotten Princesses series. We start with the wedding day for Annalise where she’s marrying a handsome duke and then setting off on a honeymoon barge on the river. Except her charming duke turns out to be an attempted murderer: suffocating her with a pillow and then throwing her in the river. She washes up on shore unconscious and is rescued by Owen, an earl back in England from war with his own nightmares and demons as a former assassin. Owen is stuck with an injured, feverish, and unconscious Annalise until he finds some assistance with her care. When she regains her consciousness, she feigns amnesia so she doesn’t risk being returned to her husband by this upstanding stranger. With a broken leg, Annalise is even more vulnerable to danger, but somehow extracts some self-defense lessons from Owen, despite his hesitance to get closer to her. These two are very clearly attracted to each other, but Annalise is keeping secrets and Owen is all sorts of emotionally damaged. Still, the bonkers set up was a great way to hook me into the story immediately.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.