Book Reviews | Random Olive

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Weekly Reads: February 20 to 26, 2023

Feb 28, 2023

A Rake’s Guide To Pleasure by Victoria Dahl (2009)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Somerhart series. Emma is an orphan who is posing as a widowed baroness to gamble her way through London before the Season begins. She’s trying to save up enough money to escape to a seaside cottage and support herself and her maid. With her scandalous gambling, she’s caught the attention of Hart, who is a stern and serious duke with a history of debauched behavior. He insists that she’ll become his mistress, but she is hesitant and shy about it. There’s a lot of chasing each other and bickering in this story, and it seems like Hart is mostly just a distraction from Emma’s real goals. He does sort of ultimately redeem himself, but it’s a long and humbling road for him.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Taming the Rake by Erica Ridley (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Lords in Love series. Gladys the wallflower is at the Marrywell Matchmaking Festival for the fourth time and needs to find a marriage match before her dowry is given to her delightful younger sister. She finds herself kissed in a garden and expected a proposal from the handsome gentleman, but he never shows up, and she was spotted in a disheveled state, so now she’s publicly ruined as well. Her family cuts her off completely and she has to survive on her own. Five years later, she returns to Marrywell to find the man who ruined her and seek revenge. But he’s a lot less rakish than he seemed before and Gladys is at risk of falling in love. I really enjoyed Gladys’ transformation to a confident woman and the development of her relationship with Reuben.

Advance ebook provided by Erica Ridley via NetGalley.

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Harry Potter Fanfic: The Weight of the Void by Anonymous

Draco/Hermione, One-shot, 5k words. Hermione time-travels back five years to when Draco was in prison, before he was cursed to never have children.

Harry Potter Fanfic: Throw Your Arms Around Me by points_plural

Snape/Hermione, Multi-chapter, 9k words. Short friends-to-lovers story.

Lady with a Black Umbrella by Mary Balogh (1989)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Daisy is an interfering meddlesome piece of baggage who embarrasses Giles at every turn in her effort to assist him. She’s taking her bossy spinster self to London as a chaperone for her younger sister’s Season (even though she’s only twenty-five and actually quite pretty). She defends the handsome viscount Giles against ruffians at an inn, brandishing a black umbrella, and causes him to be a laughingstock. They just keep running into each other in London, somehow his cousin ends up sponsoring the girls into society, and then Giles and Daisy get caught in a compromising situation together. It’s basically just a trainwreck of calamity through this book, but it was humorous and entertaining.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

One Week As Lovers by Victoria Dahl (2009)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Somerhart series. Lord Lancaster, an impoverished viscount, catches his wealthy fiancee with another man at a ball, but knows he’s stuck marrying her anyways. When he gets a letter that his childhood friend Cynthia has died, he rushes back to his childhood hometown to pay his respects. When he’s there, he finds that she is not dead after all, but faked her death to escape an arranged marriage to a horrible suitor. Lancaster is fighting his own demons from his history of a happy childhood turning to a darker adolescence and also trying to resist his attraction for Cynthia. That doesn’t last long though, as they team up to find some buried treasure in the caves on Lancaster’s land.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Prospector’s Only Prospect by Dani Collins (2023)

Historical romance. Pre-Civil War America. Standalone novel. Divorced and disgraced with nowhere to go, Marigold sets off to marry a stranger. Her sister had been set to be a mail order bride, but found another suitor, so Marigold takes her place and travels west. When she arrives, Virgil is angry to find a stranger instead of his bride, but takes her home with him anyway to keep house and care for his three children. They bicker and argue, but it’s clear that Marigold is good with the kids and adapts well to her primitive surroundings. It’s definitely a slow burn romance with lots of missteps (mostly from Virgil), but the writing is refreshingly humorous and you’ll appreciate the competence from both parties and willingness to work together. I had a great time reading this book and can’t wait to see more from this author in this setting.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. Print book provided by Entangled Publishing.

House of the Dragon Fanfic: For Night is Dark by rentekren

Harwin/Rhaenyra, 8k words. A tryst in the woods.

House of the Dragon Fanfic: The One That Got Away by Keepmystrength

Harwin/Rhaenyra, 17k words. After Luke’s death, a man claiming to be the long-dead Harwin comes to visit.

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh (2019)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Union of the Rakes series. Lady Grace is a bookish researcher interested in reptiles and amphibians, but unfortunately, the gentlemen of the ton are not interested in her as marriageable material. In order to catch the attention of her long-time crush, she recruits her bookish friend Sebastian to play the part of a rake and pay her court. Shy and awkward Sebastian is willing to go along with it to help Grace, but struggles with crowds and strange people. Of course, as these two spend more time together, they realize their feelings run deeper than friendship (but each thinks the other person is only interested in being friends). It’s just a bad case of both being complete cowards and unwilling to communicate what they really want.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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February 2023 New Releases in Historical Romance Books

Feb 27, 2023

Portrait of the Duke by Alexa Aston (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Suddenly a Duke series. We start with an adorable prologue with an outspoken teenager warning away one of her spoiled sister’s suitors and letting him know that he isn’t a real contender being merely a viscount. Despite the age-gap and both of their youths, there’s a spark of chemistry between them. Ten years later, Lady Margaret is finally ready to make her debut after caring for her ill-mother, mourning her death, and mourning her father’s death. However, Margaret has no intention to marry, but to build a business painting portraits. Our young viscount, Daniel, is now a duke looking to marry this Season. He’d sought out Margaret in previous years, but she was nowhere to be found. As he sees her in the present, there’s an existing connection between their grandmothers who had been friends in their youth. Daniel’s grandmother is the best wingwoman around, making sure to keep Margaret close by, and supporting her art. This was a relatively low-angst book with an instant attraction between our main characters. There’s the petty spoiled sister in the background, but she doesn’t interfere too badly. Great book if you’re looking for an easy read and a good time.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

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Curled Up with an Earl by Amy Rose Bennett (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian era England. Book 2 of the Byronic Book Club series. Will is an earl and a duke’s heir, but is estranged from his grandfather, serving as a spy for Scotland Yard. He’s investigating a botanical expert on poisonous plants to determine if the man is responsible for the murder of another nobleman; he poses as the new groom to the estate to do so. However, he’s instantly smitten by the Lucy, the daughter of the botanical baron, who serves as a botanical expert in her own right. Lucy is pre-occupied with her own bluestocking studies and desire to travel while also looking after her father’s financially floundering estate and trying to locate her brother. I enjoyed watching Lucy and Will interact with each other, both nervous and smitten, and I also enjoyed seeing them team up with open honesty about the midpoint of the book. The romance plot was pretty low-ansgt without a third-act breakup between our two, but we do get to find out why Lucy’s brother was driven away and the culprit of the poisoning plant murder.

Advance ebook provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley.

Love a Lady at Midnight by Charlie Lane (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Cavendish Family series. We’ve met Jackson and Gwendolyn a few times in previous books as research assistants to Henry, the explorer and adventurer and archeologist. They’ve always shown to be bantering (and possibly flirting) throughout the series. Now, we finally get to see their relationship come to a point and learn why Gwendolyn was found as a stowaway in one of Henry’s ships six years ago. Jackson is very obvious in his desire to woo and wed Gwendolyn, and she’s the one who is protective of her secrets and wants to keep Jackson away. We learn early in the book that Gwendolyn believed to be married to a bigamist and was ruined and ostracized in London society. Her family was horrible and cast her out after the scandal, and her supposed father-in-law thought to make her his mistress. So she ran away and reinvented her identity. For as long as they’ve known her, the Cavendish family has believed Gwendolyn to be holding onto some secrets, but haven’t pushed her to reveal and instead been a supportive and friendly family. Jackson, of course, has been patiently waiting for his opportunity to court her and needs to know why she refuses him. In the background, there’s a plot about Jackson visiting his family estate for the first time in many years since his parents died, but he pretty much had a happy childhood and upbringing, so it’s fairly low drama on that front. And of course, when Gwendolyn finally reveals her secrets, the Cavendishes react exactly how you’d expect them to react. I really liked this one and would recommend!

Advance ebook provided by Charlie Lane via NetGalley.

Only The Valet Will Do by Sophie Barnes (2023)

Historical romance. Regency England. Standalone novella. Lady Lilliana has a meet-cute with her brother’s valet in the woods and feels an instant connection with him. Unfortunately, the disparity in their stations means that it won’t work out and she should stay away from him. However, he may be more eligible than he seems. Tristan is part of the landed gentry and considered a gentleman, but his father’s gambling debts have forced him to seek out employment. Hiding his true identity, he becomes a valet to a viscount and meets his sister Lilliana. Tristan has very little to offer with his diminished circumstances, so he also tries to stay away from the lady who has captivated him. But this is a novella, so it all works out pretty quickly and neatly. Enjoyable read if you need a low-angst bit of fluff.

Advance ebook provided by Sophie Barnes via NetGalley.

The Duke’s Secret Cinderella by Eva Devon (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Never a Wallflower series. While this book is part of a series, it reads completely standalone with no apparent connection to the other books in the series. This one starts off a lot of the movie Ever After (the Cinderella movie retelling from 1998 starring Drew Barrymore, which is one of my favorite movies ever). Charlotte is the servant of the house who schemes with her beloved stepsister to dress nicely and go down to the prison to free her servant. While there, she meets Rafe, a duke whose mother has just decreed that he should marry. They part ways before she can tell him her name, but when he comes to her home to call on her stepsister, she somehow gets introduced as a lady and cousin. Rafe is smitten with Charlotte the whole way through and is determined to make her his duchess, but she is resistant because of the punishments she will face from her stepfather if she’s usurped her stepsister’s place. This book was delightful with how straightforward Rafe is with his feelings and how his mother and grandmother are completely supportive. It makes a nice contrast to how evil and scheming Charlotte’s stepfather is.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. Print book provided by Entangled Publishing.

The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Chessmen series. We have another servant-in-disguise story here, with Daisy/Marguerite posing as a maid in Bishop’s house to catch her client’s wife having an affair. Of course, with Daisy’s skills of observation, something doesn’t seem quite right. Although Bishop certainly seems to entertain a revolving door of married ladies, we find that he falsifies affairs to help the women secure a divorce. While Daisy and Bishop seem to have opposing purposes at first, they uncover each other’s motives and truths by about the midpoint of the book. After that, we see Bishop being suspected of murdering one of the husbands and him hiring Daisy as an investigator on his behalf. The plot twists on the mystery part were a lot of fun to read. The romance part was fairly predictable but in an enjoyable way. Overall, I really liked this book and continue to enjoy Lorraine Heath’s writing.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Never Seduce a Duke by Vivienne Lorret (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. This one makes more sense if you’ve already read Book 3 of the series, The Wrong Marquess. Meg is the younger sister of the male main character of that book and she’s traveling on holiday with the spinsterly aunts of the female main character of that book. After having her heart broken, Meg is intent on having a grand holiday (and possibly flirtation) before returning to her brother’s home to stay a spinster. However, the meddlesome aunts are at their recipe-stealing antics again and somehow get entangled with a surly hermit of a duke, Lucien. His family relic, a recipe book covered in jewels and myths, has disappeared the same time that Meg is caught trespassing in his home, so he chases her across her European vacation to find the book. Lucien seems to think that Meg is the seductive and mysterious Lady Avalon, known the be a thief, while Meg (who has been fresh-faced and overlooked by gentlemen) is flattered by his attentions. The banter and flirtation and fighting goes on for half the book… it’s a bit tedious at times to read, with them misunderstanding each other, and him being a stubborn stoic scientific arse. When they finally come together and perhaps the truth may be uncovered, there’s another set of miscommunications that keep them separated, and from Lucien never knowing Meg’s real name or identity. And as the summary alludes to, Meg ends up pregnant. Though the front half moved slowly and tediously, the pace of the plot picks up in the back half of the book with a gasp-worthy time-jump and we do ultimately find out the identity of Lady Avalon.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Wolf and the Wildflower by Stacy Reid (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. We’ve got tragic background for both the characters here in this story and it makes for an unbelievable connection. Jules has lived her entire life as a man, despite being born a girl; her mother endured difficult childbirths and was warned against having more children, but her father was insistent on a son… so her mother and midwife presented the baby as a son so that she could find relief from marital relations and pregnancy. James, the son of a duke, was lost in the Canadian mountains at the age of 18 and survived there alone for ten years before his rescue and return. Now that he’s back in England and the duke, his mother is concerned that he is addled and savage. Jules and her father are both mind doctors hired by James’ mother to assess the man and fix his behavior. Of course, Jules is the one who understands his plight and need for isolation and quiet amongst his busybody chattering family. James also sees through Jules’ disguise with his heightened senses and awareness and he has been the only one to truly see her in her whole life. The quiet moments where these two are alone are the only times they can be themselves without the judgments of society or putting on an act. It’s sweet and soulful and just the right amount of teary. Probably my favorite Stacy Reid book ever, and I love all her books, so that’s saying a lot.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

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The Princes Trilogy by Elizabeth Hoyt / Historical Romance Book Series

Feb 23, 2023

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2006)

Historical romance. Georgian Era England. Book 1 of the Princes Trilogy. Impoverished widow from the village Anna takes a job as the local grumpy earl’s secretary. Edward, the current earl, survived but is scarred from a smallpox outbreak that killed his whole family. The first half of the book moves pretty slowly, with our two people getting to know each other and conversing about the land that Edward manages. As their attraction for each other grows, Edward seeks refuge at a brothel in the city to work out his lust. Anna somehow schemes to hide her identity and have him bed her instead of a courtesan. With their differences in social class and Edward’s desire to have children, a marriage is impossible between these two. Every so often, we’ll see the point of view of other characters in the story: the estate steward, the squire’s wife, and a hired busybody. It adds some interesting perspectives to the overall plot and we can read about potential pitfalls and schemes from outsiders. With Anna’s big secret looming overhead, we’re just waiting for the fallout and angst that will come with it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007)

Historical romance. Georgian Era England. Book 2 of the Princes Trilogy. Loosely tied to the previous book because Harry is one of Edward’s friends that we see briefly mentioned. We start right away with a carriage accident and Lady Georgina and her land steward Harry are stranded in a rainy downpour on their way to her estate. Georgina is a spinster sister to an earl and owns her estate outright from an inheritance from her aunt. Georgina and Harry don’t know each other well and he’s only worked for her estate for a few months, but on this trip, the attraction between the two begins. As they arrive at her estate, they find that the neighboring lands have found poisoned sheet and they believe that Harry is the cause. He’s got a reason to hold a grudge against the neighboring nobleman, so he’s the prime suspect for foul play. Georgina doesn’t believe that Harry is responsible and helps him investigate. At some point of growing closer, they start an affair, but the social class difference and employer-employee relationship causes tension and angst there. Here’s another book with a few alternate points of view from Georgina’s sister and the dastardly neighbor nobleman.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007)

Historical romance. Georgian Era England. Book 3 of the Princes Trilogy. Ship captain’s daughter Lucy finds an unconscious, injured, naked man on her walk home from the village. She takes him home to recover and finds that Simon is a viscount who has been attacked. Simon comes across as a fanciful and good-natured fellow, but he’s committed to seeking revenge on the men who murdered his brother. This book has two distinct halves: the first in the sleepy village where Lucy lives with Simon’s recovery and flirtation; and the second when the plot moves to London and we’re more focused on Simon’s revenge and backstory. While Lucy and Simon are very much attracted to each other and need each other; they both have to deal with Simon’s needs for vengeance and the unraveling of his motivations. I liked reading about all the drama and intrigue and all those gory duels. And of course, Simon’s friends (the main male characters from the first two books) make their appearances briefly too.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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The Ice Princess by Elizabeth Hoyt (2010)

Historical romance. Georgian Era England. Book 3.5 of the Princes Trilogy. Novella about the madam from the famed brothel, Aphrodite’s Grotto. We first met Coral in Book 1 of the series, now it’s several years later and she’s running the brothel. She and a ship captain, Isaac, have been at odds, since he does not approve of his sailors spending time at her place of business, and she seems to be unable to tempt him. When the majority owner of the grotto puts Coral up for a prize from a card game, the captain steps in the win her. They’re scheduled for seven nights together and they slowly get to know each other (conversationally at first) during those nights. This was a quick-paced novella with relatively low-angst and low external drama. And you don’t need to read the other books in the series to appreciate it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Weekly Reads: February 13 to 19, 2023

Feb 21, 2023

The Wedding Trap by Tracy Anne Warren (2006)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Trap Trilogy series.

Shy and bookish Eliza is about to enter her fourth Season with newfound wealth from her aunt’s inheritance. Her longtime crush Kit, the younger brother of a duke, is recruited to help build her confidence in order to secure a suitable match. Of course, once she’s gotten new hair and clothes, Kit notices how attractive she is and is baffled by his reactions to her. This book was about as predictable as you would expect, but still fun to see Eliza build her confidence (and her backbone) with her successful relaunch into society. Watch out for villainous spiteful cousins and unexpected jealousy (except Kit doesn’t realize it’s jealousy). And we get to interact with the couples from the previous two books of the series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Bridgerton Fanfic: Some Good Can Come of This by Searching4paradiso

Anthony/Kate, Multi-Chapter, 19k words. Starts at the end of Episode 2.05 where Anthony turns back and sees Kate crying and he refuses to marry Edwina. Despite declaring their feelings for each other, they’ve both walked away from each other. Mostly angst, but still interesting to read.

Bridgerton Fanfic: still worship this love (even if it’s a false god) by luvdarkstars

Anthony/Penelope, Multi-Chapter, 6k words. Quick read with Anthony and Penelope having a tryst a few days before the opening ball of the Season, and Penelope now fully understands the concept of being ruined.

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Stealing Midnight by Tracy MacNish (2009)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Beneath the Veil series. I picked this book up because it was the next Fated Mates Podcast deep dive and I was entertained despite its dark beginnings. Olwyn is the daughter of a madman who cuts up corpses to study the meaning of life and death. One day, one of those corpses is not quite dead, and she decides to save him from further harm by threatening her father and running away. When the man wakes up, he thinks that he’s magically entered a different time period because of his rustic surroundings and Olwyn’s dress. Turns out that’s not the case, and Aidan has many responsibilities to get back to, including a fiancee. We get to see a mix of perspectives here, with Aidan’s fiancee and twin brother discovering his death, his grave robbery, and Olwyn’s father’s home. When everyone is reunited and the story of Aidan’s survival unfolding, we get more drama with the severe social class difference between Aidan (a duke’s son) and Olwyn (an isolated villager). Add in a scheming fiancee and a long history of family secrets, there’s a lot to keep the pages turning.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

The Portrait of a Duchess by Scarlett Peckham (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Society of Sirens series. Cornelia is the niece of a duke but has built her reputation as a scandalous painter. She and her friends are trying to raise funds to build an institute for women and she needs a place to exhibit her latest collection of paintings. One seemingly random day, her uncle’s heir, Rafe, and now the duke comes to visit to inform her of her inheritance, which hinges on her being married. The surprise is that she’s already married to Rafe himself, and he suggests they go public with the marriage so she can claim her inheritance. What follows is a non-chronological story of how these two ended up married twenty years ago and then estranged in all the time since then. I mostly kept reading because I wanted to find out what happened, but the story itself wasn’t terribly interesting to me. Rafe is a smooshy sort of fellow who falls in love too freely and scares off all his partners with his enthusiasm and Cornelia is adamant about her independence and does not want the complication (or obligation) of love. He’s an overzealous puppy for most of the book and she’s the reluctant and selfish one, protecting her own isolation. And then there’s the political stuff happening in the background that wasn’t super interesting to me. On the plus side, Rafe is unapologetically bisexual here and one of his male lovers joins in for an encounter with Cornelia. So you know, if you like that stuff, here it is in a traditionally published historical romance.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Beguiling the Duke by Darcy Burke (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Lords in Love series. A duke’s carriage loses a wheel in a small village and he takes shelter in the small village of Marrywell. The village is completely pre-occupied with its annual matchmaking festival, so there’s no room at the inn and no workers to help fix the duke’s carriage. The local squire provides shelter for the week the the duke grows closer to the squire’s daughter. Sadie has been maintaining her father’s home and taking care of her four brothers for years and hopes that this year’s festival will prove fruitful for her marriage prospects. And this time, with the duke at her side, she’s actually getting the attention she deserves. But of course, Sadie and the duke are finding themselves drawn to each other instead. Relatively low on the angst and heartache scale here and a delightful read.

Advance ebook provided by Darcy Burke via NetGalley.

A Kiss in the Moonlight by Cathy Maxwell (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Gambler’s Daughters series. Three sisters in Ireland are at the mercy of their cousin who wants to marry them off to the most convenient person. Middle sister Dara has a plan though; send the oldest, Gwendolyn, to gamble and win enough money for the three of them (plus their great aunt) to go to London and find titled husbands. Sounds easy enough. Through a couple of chapters told from Gwendolyn and an investigator named Steele’s points of view, we see how the money is won, and the women are on their way. Dara wants the best for her sisters, so sometimes she comes across as managing and stringent, much to her younger sister Elise’s dismay. She tries to warn off Elise’s suitor, Michael since he’s not titled, and she’s agonizingly attracted to him herself. Dara feels less beautiful than her sisters and knows that she doesn’t really have a chance with him. She’s focused on making sure her sisters have good matches and they can escape their terrible cousin. Meanwhile Michael is investigating an embezzlement scheme, but the plot there is only shallowly discussed. At some point, Dara finds herself in a compromising situation and Michael is the one to rescue her, which causes a rift between Dara and Elise. The romance between these two didn’t feel developed enough for them to have fallen in love so quickly, especially after all the bickering and arguing they did from the start. I am curious to see how the stories for the other sisters works out though.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

To Tempt A Scotsman by Victoria Dahl (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Somerhart series. Lady Alexandra has been thoroughly ruined and is hiding away at her duke brother’s estate. She was the cause of a duel of honor that left Collin Blackburn’s brother dead and her lover fleeing the country. Collin has come to seek information on her wayward lover to exact revenge for his brother’s death. Of course, when Collin actually meets Alex, he’s stunned to find that she is not exactly as she was rumored to be. There’s a push and pull of attraction between them and multiple somewhat clandestine meetings. We eventually see Collin go from an upstanding and honorable fellow to an insanely jealous beast of a man. (Seemed like a quick turn of personality there) Oh, and Alex’s past lover is trying to swindle her out of money.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Want more Harry Potter fanfic? Here’s a spreadsheet of my all-time favorites.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Marriage of Convenience Historical Romance Books

Feb 16, 2023

The Arrangement by Mary Balogh (2013)

Historical romance in Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Survivors’ Club Series. We have our charming and beautiful viscount who was blinded in the war. He’s escaped his meddling family members and off on his own. A quiet young lady rescues him from being compromised into marriage by her cousin and her guardians toss her out. When our charming viscount learns this, he offers her a marriage of convenience with the knowledge that they’d someday follow their separate independent dreams. This one starts slow, as most Balogh novels do, but sometimes I enjoy reading this slow pace of falling in love and all the character-driven emotion behind it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Only a Promise by Mary Balogh (2015)

Historical romance, Regency-era England. Book 5 of the Survivors’ Club series. Ralph feels terribly guilty that his three friends followed him to war and did not survive. He’s cold and emotionless and empty. As heir to a dukedom from an elderly and ailing grandfather, he knows his immediate duty is to marry. Chloe is visiting the duke and duchess as she is the daughter of the duchess’ god daughter and attempting to serve as a companion. She hears of Ralph’s plight and proposes a marriage of convenience to him, no emotional ties, and no disappointment. Chloe’s reputation is mired in scandal, with her younger sister running off with a married man years ago, and recent speculation that her acknowledged father is not her natural father. She’s looking forward to the comforts of the countryside. However, tragedy strikes soon after the wedding and they’re bound for the London Season after all. Definitely a slow burn angsty romance with all the drama you’d expect from Balogh. And you come to adore Ralph’s grandparents through the story.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Some Dukes Have All the Luck by Christina Britton (2022)

Historical romance in Regency-ish era England; Book 1 of the Synneful Spinsters series. Odd-girl Bronwyn aspires to be a published entomologist, much to the dismay of her social-climbing parents. They push her to marry a titled gentleman and are even more abrasive after a past heartbreak and a recently lost chance at courtship by a duke. Meanwhile, Ash is trying to recover his runaway wards and shield them from his own dukedom’s cruel reputation. They literally bump into each other in the street, and unexpectedly meet again at his manor when she visits his playful and inquisitive wards. Ash gets the bright idea to marry a woman who will care for the wards and proposes to Bronwyn. We have a delightful marriage of convenience, where they do participate in the marriage bed, and a supportive friendship between the two. Loved seeing these two slowly learn to trust each other, but they’re both still hanging on the past hurts and betrayals. I love how quick Ash is to defend Bronwyn’s intelligence. Basically, any support of a partners’s aspirations as an A+ in my book.

Advance ebook provided by Forever via NetGalley. Print book provided by Forever.

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Much Ado About Dukes by Eva Devon (2022)

Book 2 of the Never a Wallflower series. Two fiery and independent people agree on their political aspirations, but William wants nothing to do with passion or love. Beatrice needs the duke’s support for her political endeavors so continues to seek him out. They are thrown together when his brother wants to marry her cousin and they strike up a friendship. When she finds her uncle has lost all her money, he proposes a marriage of convenience to help her situation. I loved reading these two very supportive friends and partners.

Advanced ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

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Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath (1998)

Book 2 of the Texas Trilogy series. We have our oldest brother Dallas who is still wishing for a wife and son. After his last bride left him for his brother in the last book. Amidst a fight over water rights and land on the neighboring property, Dallas realizes the family has a daughter that he didn’t know about. He offers marriage to the woman in exchange for a strip of land that he will give to her family. So they start their marriage of convenience, but Cordelia has been sheltered for so long that she is absolutely terrified of her new house, her new life, and her new husband. Dallas decides to give her space and they slowly get to know each other over the course of the book. At first, I found Dallas to be really gruff and unlikeable, especially after reading the last book. However, I really appreciated the slow burn in this book and how gentle he was with Cordelia throughout.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Prisoner of Love by Beverly Jenkins (2013)

Standalone Novella. So the set up for this one is a little crazy, but it makes for a short and steamy novella. We have some law happening where a prisoner will be released if he marries someone. Well, Elizabeth was abandoned by her first husband and the household chores are piling up and she needs some assistance. So she goes and marries herself a prisoner so she’ll have some help around the farm, and then he’ll be free. What neither of them count on is being attracted to each other, so they end up sharing intimate relations even though that was never the intention. This one was a delightfully steamy read. Probably one of those hidden gems you rarely hear about.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Leave a Widow Wanting More by Charlie Lane (2021)

Book 1 of the Cavendish Family series. Bookshop meet cute and argument over a rare book for a Sarah, a widow with a teenage son and Henry, a widower baron and explorer. The baron is looking to marry and find a new mother for his daughters, while the widow has just been fired from the bookshop and needs funds. They come to an agreement to marry and Henry takes his new bride home to meet his daughters. Now Henry has a tragic backstory because he was so sad when his first wife died, so now he doesn’t want his daughters to get attached to him so they’re not heartbroken when he leaves, but he keeps leaving and they miss him anyway. It’s a whole big thing and his new wife is too enticing, so he needs to face all these feelings that he’s been trying to avoid.

Ebook accessed via Kindle Unlimited.

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Daring the Duke by Charlie Lane (2021)

Book 1 of the Debutante Dares series. Tabitha and her wallflower friends pass the time at balls by daring each other to do things. Tabitha introduces herself as someone different everytime she sees someone and they never remember her, except for Arthur who is displeased at being pranked. I love this microtrope of everyone forgetting about Tabitha except for the one man who notices her and can’t believe everyone else forgets her. When she finds that he is looking for the perfect duchess, she offers herself at the job. She needs the protection and finances of the dukedom to provide for herself and her sisters. And even though she’s naturally a wallflower, she has an impeccable memory and can play the role of a perfectly poised duchess.

Ebook accessed via Kindle Unlimited.

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Counting on a Countess by Eva Leigh (2018)

Book 2 of the London Underground Series. Tamsyn is in London to oversee a shipment of smuggled goods, but somehow finds her way to a ball. She meets Kit, who has recently come into an inheritance, but the will stipulates he needs to marry within the month to get the money. These two embark on a marriage of convenience with the idea that Kit will have the money to fund his new project and Tamsyn will have the money to keep her house and her smuggling operation going. The twist is that the inheritance requires that the wife oversee all the management and spending, knowing Kit’s history of wasteful spending. Ouch. Plus Tamsyn can’t be honest about her smuggling operation since Kit is an upholder of the law, and it’s all sorts of secret-keeping between these two new married people.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Buying Her Viscount by Ann Marquette (2022)

Book 1 of the Naughtily Ever Afters series. Novella-length. A quick steamy read where a spinster orphan suddenly inherits a lot of money and proposes a marriage of convenience to a handsome and impoverished viscount. For as quick of a read this book was, the steam and emotional investment of the characters was totally believable for me. I adored how they each fell in love with each other and shying away from it because it wasn’t part of the original bargain. Definitely recommend.

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Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke by Michelle McLean (2022)

I love when a woman does the proposing in this era because it’s so unexpected. Arabella goes straight to a rakish duke’s house and proposes to him. She’ll give him an heir if he marries her. She’s out to save her family’s reputation after her older sister eloped and wants to protect her younger sister’s prospects. They arrange ten rules for the marriage. I love this clear and open communication between the two. Well, until they start to have feelings… This one is another lovely low-angst humorous book.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

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Convergence of Desire by Felicity Niven (2022)

Historical romance in Regency-ish era England, Book 1 of the Lovelocks of London series. I pretty much picked this up because Julia Quinn (author of the Bridgertons series) posted about it on Instagram. We have a neurodivergent heroine in this one who aims to solve a missing mathematics proof (tbh, the math in this book went over my head and I skimmed it) but her stepmother insists she participates in society. Our hero is a destitute earl who needs to marry rich to salvage his estate. It takes probably 25% of the book for them to meet and contrive a chaste marriage of convenience (which the heroine proposes). Once they start interacting and get married, we’re off to their country estate and we get to see the sweetest slow burn ever with caretaking galore. It was absolutely delightful to watch these two people slowly fall in love. And the heartbreak when they each think the other isn’t interested. The last third will have you tearing up from the longing. Such a great read. (Also, sets up the future couples in Book 2 and 3 nicely as well).

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Weekly Reads: February 6 to 12, 2023

Feb 14, 2023

A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Secret Scientists of London series. This book makes more sense after having read Book 1, so that you’re more familiar with the set up of the women’s club that hosts all the secret scientists. Letty is one of the mathematicians of the club, daughter of a wealthy shop owner, and ruined from society due to a scandal involving an earl’s son. That earl’s cousin and godson Grey, is the viscount stepson of her friend Violet. Over the years since Letty’s scandal, Grey has proved to be a stern and icy and disparaging sort of fellow that she dislikes interacting with (despite being terribly attracted to him). Grey has his own reasons for being rigid and unemotional and had believed his godfather when he said that a conniving young Letty tried to compromise his cousin into marriage. But over the years, Grey has had trouble reconciling the personality of the dowdy bluestocking in front of him with the villain that his godfather described. Mix in some political drama involving men who do not want to see women away from hearth and home, and we’ve got Grey and Letty with competing interests, and him learning to soften his walls and learn someone else’s perspective for once.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Secret Scientists of London series. The previous book hinted at a history between George and Margaret and we get the full story here. This book takes place about a year and a half after the events of Book 2. George and Margaret (and Violet, the main character of Book 1) were childhood friends out in the country where George was not part of the aristocracy at all. One summer, when it seemed that a romance was developing between George and Margaret, heartbreak occurred instead (we get to learn what it was at some point during the book when they finally talk it out). After they parted ways, George joined the army and somehow ended up an earl, while Margaret found an engineering mentor in Paris, got married, and became widowed. Now Margaret is back in England to start her own engineering company and is undertaking a huge project…. that is unfortunately funded by the nemesis of the female scientists at Athena’s Retreat and of George’s. While George and Margaret are growing closer again and working out their heartbreaking pasts, Margaret’s still holding secrets about her employer’s funding and causing discourse among the female scientists. George ends up being the more emotionally mature and politically progressive one in the relationship, supporting Margaret’s ambitions, providing her comfort and humor and safety. And there’s a scene in here that was hinted at earlier with one person’s awkwardness in the bedroom, with deliciously delightful payoff when the truth finally comes out… it was so good, I sent a screenshot of the scene to my friend immediately via text.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Wolf and the Wildflower by Stacy Reid (2023)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. We’ve got tragic background for both the characters here in this story and it makes for an unbelievable connection. Jules has lived her entire life as a man, despite being born a girl; her mother endured difficult childbirths and was warned against having more children, but her father was insistent on a son… so her mother and midwife presented the baby as a son so that she could find relief from marital relations and pregnancy. James, the son of a duke, was lost in the Canadian mountains at the age of 18 and survived there alone for ten years before his rescue and return. Now that he’s back in England and the duke, his mother is concerned that he is addled and savage. Jules and her father are both mind doctors hired by James’ mother to assess the man and fix his behavior. Of course, Jules is the one who understands his plight and need for isolation and quiet amongst his busybody chattering family. James also sees through Jules’ disguise with his heightened senses and awareness and he has been the only one to truly see her in her whole life. The quiet moments where these two are alone are the only times they can be themselves without the judgments of society or putting on an act. It’s sweet and soulful and just the right amount of teary. Probably my favorite Stacy Reid book ever, and I love all her books, so that’s saying a lot.

Advance ebook provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.

The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess by Sophie Jordan (2023)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Scandalous Ladies of London series. Miserably married countess Gertrude (Tru) is launching her daughter into the Marriage Mart this year, but her scapegrace estranged husband is willing to sell her off to the highest bidder. A wealthy inn and hotel-owner Jasper is looking to marry a titled and distinguished lady, so entertains the thought of courting the young debutante, until he meets her mother and is drawn to her instead. Loads of drama and the introduction of a female friend group consisting of a miserably married duchess, her courtesan-turned-marchioness stepmother, and Tru’s spinster younger sister, who I’m betting will all have their own books later in the series. This book isn’t too complicated on external plot, just dealing with a prim and proper countess denying her desires and feelings and guilt over wanting her daughter’s suitor. And the villainous husband of hers.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance print book provided by Avon Books.

The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren (2006)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Trap Trilogy series. This book starts right with the action (which I love). Violet is on her way down the aisle to marry Adrian, except that she’s pretending to be her twin sister Jeannette who wanted to call off the wedding two hours earlier and somehow convinced Violet to take her place. Shy and bespectacled Violet knows that she won’t get another chance like this and takes it because she’s already been in love with Adrian. The rest of the book involves Violet playing the part of a spoiled and bratty Jeannette, while sometimes slipping into her actual good-natured self, and hoping that her husband won’t notice. Of course Adrian can’t believe his good luck that maybe his snobby and shallow bride actually has kindness and depth, so he doesn’t suspect anything at all. But you know that the secret will eventually come to catch up with Violet in the most heartbreaking ways. Such a good book that I dived right into the second one immediately!

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Wife Trap by Tracy Anne Warren (2006)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Trap Trilogy series. Well, after Jeannette is found out for the scandal from Book 1, she’s banished from her home and sent to Ireland to live with her elderly cousins. On the way, she meets a middle-class Irishman, Darragh O’Brien who is brash and boorish. Glad to be rid of him, she’s surprised to see him again at her cousins’ home, where he’s the architect in charge of renovations on the property. So, for most of this book Jeannette is a spoiled and bratty snob with no regard to country life, hard work, or character. She interferes with estate construction on multiple occasions just because she wants to sleep late, like her usual party going London ways and doesn’t realize that her actions can withhold laborers’ ability to get paid. This type of story usually involves some sort of maturation of the spoiled main character, but it was a painfully slow sort of growth here. Add in the part where the plain old architect is actually an earl who works hard to pay off his family debts, Jeannette looks even more selfish and spoiled in comparison.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Harry Potter Fanfic: Woke up on the wrong side of reality by Nyx_Fedra

Draco/Hermione, Deathly Hallows re-telling, multi-chapter, 114k words. A tortured and injured Draco gets dropped off at the trio’s tent in the woods by his mother. Narcissa asks for his rescue in exchange for the cup she stole from her sister’s vault. While Draco and Hermione start as enemies, they have a mutual respect for each others’ intelligence and Draco sees how Hermione is the only one keeping Harry and Ron alive. An enjoyable read up through the final battle; but the chapters after that felt a bit unnecessary to me. Watch out for grammar mistakes throughout, but the plot and romance are worth muddling through.

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London Trilogy Series by Sherry Thomas / Historical Romance Book Series

Feb 9, 2023

The London Trilogy by Sherry Thomas is a loosely connected series that takes place in Victorian England. These books each read pretty well as standalone. They all feature manipulative characters who are motivated by their own self-interests, which makes for a compelling story. I enjoyed reading them, but I don’t recommend a binge read, because the manipulative angst can get a bit much.

The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas (2013)

Historical romance. Victorian England. Book 1 of the London Trilogy series. So I picked up this book because it’s this month’s book club pick from Felicity Niven and Alexandra Vasti’s new Facebook group. In this one, we have Felix, a marquess with a tragic upbringing who has an amiable and popular reputation, and Louisa, an impoverished lady with four sisters who need a financial cushion. For Louisa’s first (and likely only) Season in London, she’s set out a strategy for catching a reasonably financially stable fellow without overreaching. When she’s introduced to Felix, they both can see right through each other’s facades: Louisa sees that he’s not truly the polished gentleman that he presents, and Felix sees that Louisa aims for financial security more than anything. These two keep bumping into each other, likely from Felix’s maneuvering, to the point where Felix offers for Louisa to be his mistress… and she continues to refuse, until Felix ultimately offers marriage. Neither are willing to face emotional rejection, so they each only admit to a carnal attraction for each other, and the practicalities of a marriage of convenience. The wedding takes place about halfway through this book, so we get to see this odd courtship for the front half, and an emotionally bumbling slow burn on the back half.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas (2008)

Historical romance. Victorian England. Book 2 of the London Trilogy series. This one is an estranged marriage story told in non-chronological order. We learned in the last book that marchioness has an arrangement with her husband allowing her to dally with affairs. In this book, we learn how their marriage starts, becomes fractured, and how they might find their way back to each other. In the non-chronological storytelling, it takes awhile for the reader to uncover what happened ten years ago and all the intervening years since. When we start the story, Gigi has requested a divorce from Camden so that she can be free to marry another man. He comes back to town from abroad to demand that she gives him an heir before he’ll grant the divorce. We get to learn all the dirty angsty history of how Gigi and Camden ended up married in the first place and how they both acted immaturely along the way. In reading this book, I could tell that something terribly manipulative was going to happen and not at all looking forward to the fallout. Meanwhile, in the background, Gigi’s mother is trying to cultivate a backup plan for Gigi to meet a neighboring duke, but falls for him herself.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

His at Night by Sherry Thomas (2010)

Historical romance. Victorian England. Book 3 of the London Trilogy series. This one is the romance (sort of) between two people who are the best manipulative actors around. Lord Vere is a secret agent to the crown and plays the part of the bumbling fool while Elissande is desperate to escape her cruel uncle’s home and plays the part of his the poised and cordial niece. When Lord Vere and a whole house party scheme to impose on Elissande’s household while her uncle is away, she knows it’s her only opportunity to compromise a man into marriage. Initially, Elissande has her sights set on Vere, but when he starts to talk as the idiot he protrays, she quickly switched targets. However, Vere is onto Elissande’s schemes and aims to protect his younger brother from being compromised. When Vere and Elissande are caught together, they must marry. While it’s quite obvious why Elissande has done something so cruel and selfish, she starts to see the cracks in Vere’s facade and asks him to drop the pretense of his idiocy. However, he continues to play his role and uphold his duties to the crown. Most of the book is spent disliking each other, even though brief moments of tenderness peak through. There’s also a nice secondary romance with Vere’s brother Freddie (who was rejected in Book 2) and his childhood friend. I did like how the elements of the mystery were tied together and the big reveal at the end of the book.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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