“A well-read woman is a dangerous creature...”
Taking a leaf out of the brilliant Sarah Maclean’s book, I present you with a list of historical romance novels that I hope you’ll love as much as I do. The books are not listed in any particular order, though you’ll find the more recent additions towards the end. Happy reading, dear friends!
The Wallflowers Series by Lisa Kleypas
Four young wallflowers band together to navigate the treacherous waters of London society. Husband hunting hijinks and heart-felt, deliciously steamy romance ensues. Side note: this is the series where it all started for me, so it will forever have a particularly special place in my heart.
Series Favorites: Again the Magic & Devil in Winter
The Hathaways Series by Lisa Kleypas
An endearing, eccentric family is elevated by an unexpected inheritance, and their fortune brings with it a set of challenges they’re ill-equipped to handle. Here be wayward pets, bluestockings, scandalous secrets, and delicious passion.
Note: I do not have a Series Favorite(s) listed for this one because I quite literally CANNOT choose.
Girl Meets Duke Series by Tessa Dare
A charming series surrounding a quirky group of friends who each strike a steamy bargain suitor of their own. Prepare yourself for some Shakespearan swearing, grumpy (but loveable and oh-so-sexy) heroes, doll funerals, a veritable menagerie, etc.
Series Favorite: The Duchess Deal
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
This classic reigned as the best romance of all time for very (VERY) good reason. The heroine is easily one of the best I’ve ever read, and the hero certainly earns his title as Lord of Scoundrels.
London Steampunk Series by Bec McMaster
Four words: Vampires in Victorian London. Also, steampunk technology, political machinations, and werewolves. Trust me, and READ!
Series Favorites: Heart of Iron & Of Silk and Steam
Dreaming of You (Gamblers of Craven’s Book 1) by Lisa Kleypas
Two words: DEREK CRAVEN. One of the most beloved romances (and romance heroes) of all time. A cockney gambling club owner with a ruthless streak crosses paths with a sheltered writer who saves his life… before bringing him to his knees.
Darkest London Series by Kristen Callihan
A steamy historical-paranormal series with everything from delightfully roguish werewolves to saucy heroines to ghosts-in-a-machine (yes, you read that right) that perfectly blend with the backdrop of Victorian London.
Series Favorite: Moonglow
Legend of the Four Soldiers Series by Elizabeth Hoyt
A quartet that chronicles the steamy romances of four men connected by war and betrayal. With unusual heroes and heroines that range from prickly ladies and charming rakes who are more than meets the eye, to scarred and recluse naturalists, you can’t help but wholeheartedly root for each HEA.
Series Favorite: To Beguile a Beast
Game of Dukes Series by Grace Callaway
A rare look at Victorian London’s underworld with a slew of dukes that range from kings of said underworld, to those of the usual variety. As with all of Grace Callaway’s books, here lies steamy romance that will make you SWOON.
Series Favorites: Enter the Duke & Regarding the Duke
Bed of Flowers (Sweetness and Light Book 1) by Erin Satie
A unique twist on the “beauty and the beast” trope, complete with a baron who grows orchids, and a town beauty who soon realizes that all is not as it seems…
Scoundrels of St. James Series by Lorraine Heath
Fans of Charles Dickens will enjoy this Victorian series revolving around a group of self-proclaimed “scoundrels” who were raised by the same man in the rookeries of London.
Series Favorites: In Bed with the Devil & Surrender to the Devil
Bow Street Runners Series by Lisa Kleypas
This, in my humble opinion, is Lisa Kleypas’s most underrated series. As the title suggests, it follows the antics of the infamous Bow Street Runners, and the women who capture their hearts.
Series Favorites: Lady Sophia’s Lover & Worth Any Price
The Princes Trilogy by Elizabeth Hoyt
A deliciously steamy series revolving around a rather unlikely group of gentlemen who share a passion for agriculture. The second book (The Leopard Prince) will forever change the way you look at the words “my lady.” Trust me.
Series Favorites: The Raven Prince & The Leopard Prince
The Four Hundred Series by Joanna Shupe
Another series that put Gilded Age New York on my list of favorite historical eras/settings. To give you an idea of what you’re in for: the meet-cute in the first book takes place at a birthday party at a restaurant in which all the guests are on horseback (yes, horseback).
Series Favorite: A Daring Arrangement
Any Old Diamonds (Lilywhite Boys Book 1) by K.J. Charles
What do you get with you throw together a kind-hearted illustrator, a slightly sociopathic jewel thief, and a heist that’s meant to stick it to a horrid duke? THIS GEM.
An Indecent Proposition by Emma Wildes
A sexy Regency romance that begins with a wicked wager between a duke and an earl, and turns into one of the most deeply romantic books I’ve ever read.
Sins of the Cities Series by KJ Charles
A brilliantly atmospheric series that takes place in 1873 London during one of the worst fogs in recorded history. There’s a mystery plot rife with murders & scandals that spans all three books.
Series Favorite: An Unnatural Vice
Think of England by KJ Charles
Edwardian era gem in which a stuffy English ex-soldier finds himself enamored with an unapologetically effeminate Jewish poet. Also: house parties, blackmail, murder, and the works.
Enlightenment Trilogy by Joanna Chambers
Epic romantic trilogy set against the backdrop of the Scottish Enlightenment. Features a deliciously angsty (and sizzling) romance between a principled lawyer and an unapologetically hedonistic lord.
The Ruin of a Rake (The Turners Book 3) by Cat Sebastian
In which an upstanding gentleman must help an infamous Byronic rake redeem his reputation following the publication of a salacious novel that (allegedly) details his exploits. The fact that our upstanding gentleman has been lusting after our Byronic rake certainly doesn’t help matters…
Rescued from Ruin Series by Elisa Braden
A thoroughly engrossing series surrounding the love lives of two families (and their interconnected friends), each of which starts with a scandalous bang…
Series Favorites: Ever Yours, Annabelle; The Devil is a Marquess; A Marriage Made in Scandal; and A Kiss from a Rogue (basically I ADORE THEM ALL)
The Art of the Scandal by Suzanne Tierney
A delightful debut in which an impoverished former society darling strikes a bargain with a South African set on vengeance. Artistic forgeries and scandalous living arrangements ensue.
The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
A lovely Regency romance that involves a marriage of convenience between one of the sweetest heroines I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and a wounded ex-soldier that will melt your heart. The heroine also happens to have many furry little friends that you’ll probably love as much as the mains.
Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed (Sons of Sin Book 1) by Anna Campbell
A unique spin on the “maiden who finds herself within the clutches of a rogue to whom her family is indebted” trope that places a delightful emphasis on the importance of consent. The fact that the steamy bits fairly burn the pages is, naturally, a bonus.
When Beauty Tamed the Beast (Fairy Tales Book 2) by Eloisa James
If you’ve ever wondered how Hugh Laurie’s Dr. House would fare in Regency England, you need wonder no more. This book is a swoony, witty, deliciously steamy, and entirely unique twist on the beauty and the beast trope.
My Hellion, My Heart (Lords of Essex Book 3) by Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan
A charming princess is determined to win the heart of the man who was once her guardian. Wagers, villainous plots for ruination, and steamy hijinks with a hero who is as sexy as he is beastly ensue.
The Wildes of Lindow Castle Series by Eloisa James
An unapologetically Georgian (and I mean bewigged gentlemen galore) series that chronicles the (often scandalous) love lives of an eccentric family that manages to keep more than one print shop and gossip rag in alive through their exploits.
Series Favorites: Too Wilde to Wed & Say Yes to the Duke
The Luckiest Lady in London (The London Trilogy Book 1) by Sherry Thomas
Brilliantly written and driven by two of the most deliciously three-dimensional characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading, this is a story of a man and woman who have everyone in society eating out of the palms of their hands—except, of course, each other. Also, prepare for the hero redemption arc of your dreams.
The Ruin of Evangeline Jones (Harcastle Inheritance Book 2) by Julia Bennet
A unique and masterfully Victorian romance featuring a medium and the duke who wishes to expose her for a fraud. It has everything from a strong sense of time and place, to characters that feel achingly real, to a romance that manages to be raw and sweet and INCENDIARY all at once. Also, there is sexy photography.
The Bedwyn Saga by Mary Balogh
A much beloved Regency series revolving around the love lives of six infamous brothers and sisters, one of whom happens to be among the most memorable heroes I’ve ever read (i.e. Wulfric Bedwyn and his quizzing glass).
Series Favorite: Slightly Dangerous
Goddess of the Hunt (The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy Book 1) by Tessa Dare
A bold heroine who seeks to test her feminine wiles on her brother’s best friend ends up igniting a deliciously sweet and sensual romance with (naturally) said brother’s best friend.
Misadventures in Matchmaking Series by Vivienne Lorret
A delightful series that revolves around the love lives of three matchmaking sisters running a matrimonial agency in Regency London. Illicit kissing, rule breaking, and delightfully roguish neighbors are among a few of their many “obstacles.”
Series Favorites: Ten Kisses to Scandal
Love by Numbers Series by Sarah Maclean
From a spinster’s ten item bucket list to a hellion’s list of scandals, three siblings meet their respective matches in this delightful Regency series.
Series Favorite: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
Texas Trilogy by Lorraine Heath
Whether through a mail order bride or a marriage of convenience, three brothers find love in sprawling late-19th century Texas.
Series Favorites: Texas Destiny
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian
A M/M Georgian romance in which the son of a duke engages the services of a delightfully grumpy and decidedly retired highwayman.
An impetuous bluestocking summons a scarred and surly viscount to help her snare a pack of thieves. What ensues is one of the loveliest, most heartwarming rendition of the Beauty and the Beast trope.
The Fifth Avenue Rebels Series by Joanna Shupe
From fabulous Gilded Age house parties, to lessons in seduction, a group of rakish friends each find love where they least expect it.
Series Favorite: The Duke Gets Even
The Merridew Sisters Series by Anne Gracie
After fleeing from their horrid guardian, five sisters each find their match amid London’s glittering ballrooms.
Series Favorites: The Perfect Rake & The Perfect Waltz
One Dance with a Duke (Stud Club Trilogy Book 1) by Tessa Dare
A mysterious duke known for gracing London’s ballrooms at the stroke of midnight finds his evening (and his life from thereon after) turned upside down by a wallflower determined to save her indebted brother from his clutches.
A Rake’s Guide to Seduction (Reece Family Trilogy Book 3) by Caroline Linden
This book gives “pining hero” a whole new meaning! A scandalous rake who has secretly carried a torch for his best friend’s sister has a second chance to woo the object of his desires when they both find themselves attending the same house party.
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
An estranged friends-to-lovers romance that features a transgender heroine that engineered her death in the Napoleonic Wars and a wounded duke who will do just about anything for her.
Remember Love (Ravenswood Series Book 1) by Mary Balogh
A devastating reveal shakes the lives of a prominent family, and brings about the abrupt end of a budding romance between neighbors. Love is remembered and rekindled when the hero returns from war years later.
The Lovelocks of London Series by Felicity Niven
A stunning debut series featuring a family of remarkable women with everything from a brilliant neurodivergent heroine to a famous actress, and the equally remarkable men who worship them.
Series Favorite: Clandestine Passion
A Lady’s Risk (Gentlemen of London Book 1) by Felicity George
A delightful debut that manages to encapsulate everything we love about the traditional “rake-meets-(seemingly) proper miss” Regency romances of Austen and Heyer, but with thoroughly modern sensibilities.
Unlaced by the Highland Duke by Lara Temple
A practical widow and a jaded duke develop a deep and passionate connection against the backdrop of the sweeping Scottish Highlands.
Hell’s Belle’s Series by Sarah Maclean
Nothing does this series justice as much as its official tagline, which tells us it’s “about a gang of women in the Victorian era who are “hell-bent on smashing the patriarchy in all corners of London, from glittering ballrooms to dark alleys.”
Series Favorite: Heartbreaker
Maiden Lane Series by Elizabeth Hoyt
A look at the darker side of Georgian England, replete with cape wielding heroes, tortured dukes, and unique heroines that keep them on their toes.
Series Favorite: Notorious Pleasures
Victorian Rebels Series by Kerrigan Byrne
A deliciously dark Victorian romance series that pushes the boundaries of convention with tortured and ruthless heroes that will make you questions your morals (I know they made me question mine).
Series Favorites: The Highwayman & The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
A grand, sweeping, and much beloved old-school historical romance that explores what happens when one lets preconceived notions and social prejudices shape their judgement, as well as what happens when one is afforded the opportunity to correct said misjudgment. Also, prepare to swoon when you realize the title’s significance…
The Mackenzies & McBrides Series by Jennifer Ashley
A series revolving around a scandalous Scottish family. The first book, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, is a genre classic that features a stunningly depicted autistic hero.
Series Favorites: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, The Many Sins of Lord Cameron, and The Duke’s Perfect Wife
London Steampunk: The Blueblood Conspiracy Series by Bec McMaster
A spinoff of the London Steampunk series that is just as brilliant and intricately plotted as its predecessor.
Series Favorites: The Mech Who Loved Me & Dukes are Forever
Dark Arts Series by Bec McMaster
An intricately plotted historical-paranormal series revolving around three half-brothers who don’t meet until adulthood, and the prophesy that heralds their doom…
Series Favorite: Soulbound
The Secrets of Charlotte Street Series by Scarlett Peckham
A stunning debut series that features members of Georgian London’s most illicit private club. The first in the series features a submissive duke and a botanist heroine, and the second is a trope-tastic fake engagement/enemies to lovers/second chance romance masterpiece.
Series Favorite: The Earl I Ruined
Parish Orphans of Devon Series by Mimi Matthews
A uniquely gothic series of Victorian romances that revolve around the love lives of four orphan boys (now grown men) from North Devon. The author’s research and sense of time/place is impeccable, and each story will leave you feeling full of heart.
Series Favorites: The Matrimonial Advertisement & A Convenient Fiction
Sinful Brides Series by Christi Caldwell
A sizzling series revolving around the owners of Regency London’s most notorious gaming hell (aptly named The Hell & Sin).
Series Favorite: The Scoundrel’s Honor
Castles Ever After Series by Tessa Dare
A delightful series featuring three women who each inherit their own crumbling old castle. Fairy tales, pugilists, and “resurrected” Scotsmen are just a few of the things that come part and parcel with their respective windfalls.
Series Favorite: Romancing the Duke
The Knickerbocker Club Series by Joanna Shupe
A series set in Gilded Age New York that revolves around the four outrageously wealthy men who make up the Knickerbocker Club, and the spunky women who drive them to distraction.
My American Duchess by Eloisa James
A charming Regency featuring a sweet & quirky American heiress on her third fiancé, and a Duke who falls head over heels following a VERY memorable meet-cute.
Longhope Abbey Series by Mia Vincy
If you asked me to name a series that encompasses everything I love about Regency romance, this one would be among the first to come to mind. Mia Vincy turns some much-loved tropes, from the marriage-of-convenience to the fake engagement, on their heads with characters that are so poignantly real they will make your heart ache before making it rejoice.
Series Favorites: A Dangerous Kind of Lady & A Wicked Kind of Husband
What I Did for a Duke (Pennyroyal Green Book 5) by Julie Anne Long
The Pennyroyal Green series is a genre classic and a favorite for many, but this particular book is GOLD. A wonderfully character-driven story about a wicked, world-weary duke and a kind-hearted, witty heroine who are just perfect for one another. Also, AGE GAP.
A brilliant, trope-tastic nod to Heyer (but with WAY more steam and inclusion), complete with a misunderstood rake, a virgin hero, and a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance.
The Palace of Rogues Series by Julie Anne Long
A single sentence that perfectly captures how downright brilliant this series concept is: a widow opens what slowly becomes an infamous boarding house on the Thames with her late husband’s mistress.
Series Favorite: I’m Only Wicked with You & After Dark with the Duke
Set against the backdrop of the early-Victorian Chartism movement in Wales, this cross-class romance is rich in everything from its relationships, to its characters (seriously, this hero/heroine are EVERYTHING), to its period details. The way Mary Balogh manages to bring the beautiful Welsh mountains and hills to life is a brilliant bonus.
The Duke Who Ravished Me (Rebellious Brides Book 4) by Diana Quincy
A libertine (and I mean LIBERTINE) duke, a stern governess, a charming pair of twins, and a plot-twist you won’t see coming will have you turning the pages from the very first.
Devil You Know Series by Kerrigan Byrne
A stunning late-Victorian series in which a deep friendship and a dark secret bind three remarkable redheads--each of whom meets her match in a devilish and equally remarkable man.
Series Favorite: How to Love a Duke in Ten Days
Miracle on Ladies’ Mile by Joanna Shupe
A steamy Christmas novella that has sparks flying between a mysterious department store owner and a charming shop girl in Gilded Age New York.
The Widow of Rose House by Diane Biller
A Gilded Age gem in which an infamous widow and a charming scientist (who also happens to be one of THE SWEETEST heroes anywhere ever) team up to restore a house to its former glory by unearthing the secrets of the ghosts within it. Yes, the ghosts.
Waking Up with the Duke (London’s Greatest Lovers Book 3) by Lorraine Heath
A risqué plot that pays off in spades: the hero is asked to impregnate his cousin’s wife (the heroine), for whom he also happens to secretly carry a torch. Angsty goodness ensures.
Desperate Duchesses Series by Eloisa James
A glittering series that spans generations of aristocrats and their eventually grown-up children (both legitimate and otherwise). Between bewigged gentlemen in heels and the forbidden, deliciously sensual exploits, these books will thoroughly transport you to Georgian England.
Series Favorite: Three Weeks with Lady X
Midnight in Scotland Series by Elisa Braden
If I had to describe this series in a single word, it would be MAGICAL. It’s set right at the heart of the misty Scottish Highlands, and features a unique cast of characters—from strapping Scotsman to winsome English lasses—that you can’t help but love and root for.
Series Favorite: The Taming of a Highlander & The Temptation of a Highlander
The Rakess (Society of Sirens Volume I) by Scarlett Peckham
I knew from the Author’s Note (and the fact that it was written by the brilliant Scarlett Pekcham) that I was going to be in for something special with this book. Peckham gives us everything from the perfect female embodiment of the long standing and almost exclusively male rake trope, to a philosophical exploration of inequalities (particularly those that relate to gender) in late 18th century England, to a kind, wholesome (except, of course, in bed), and achingly human hero that will melt your heart.
Sins for All Seasons Series by Lorraine Heath
A Victorian romance series that follows the love lives of a group of siblings—nearly all of whom were born out of wedlock and abandoned by their sires at the same woman’s doorstep.
Series Favorite: Beyond Scandal and Desire
Desperately Seeking Duke Series by Caroline Linden
A rogue, a Scottish soldier, and a missing Frenchman all find themselves in the line of succession for the same dukedom, and vying (to varying degrees) for the favor of its disapproving duchess.
Series Favorites: About a Rogue & All the Duke I Need
Love and Other Scandals (Scandalous Book 1) by Caroline Linden
A wallflower manages to get her hands on a series of deliciously scandalous stories, and decides that her brother’s rakish best friend may just be the best opportunity to put theory into practice...
Seducing a Stranger (Goode Girls Book 1) by Kerrigan Byrne
A sheltered society miss decides she’s due for one last sensual hurrah, which ends with her (quite literally) falling into the lap of a knighted Chief Inspector. One of the steamiest meet cutes I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading!
The Survivor’s Club Series by Mary Balogh
This Regency series has one of the most brilliant and touching overarching themes anywhere ever: a group of five men and one woman who have survived the horrors of the Napoleonic Wars form a deep bond that in many ways transcends even the familial.
Series Favorite: The Proposal
The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever (Bevelstoke Book 1) by Julia Quinn
A delightful take on the “I’m secretly in love with my best friend’s older brother trope” that will leave you laughing, occasionally tearing up, and (finally) swooning.
The Secret (Highland Lairds Book 1) by Julie Garwood
A classic medieval romance in which a gruff Scottish laird’s world is turned upside down by a young woman who will go to any lengths to honor her vows. The friendship at the heart of this book is just as delightful as the romance!
Olivia and the Masked Duke (Lady Charlotte’s Society of Angels Book 1) by Grace Callaway
A deliciously steamy friends-to-lovers romance between a truly tortured hero and an intrepid heroine with a deep and abiding connection. This book also gains major bonus points for Grace Callaway’s ability to seamlessly weave a fascinating exploration of Victorian era prejudices into the overarching mystery.
The Westcott Series by Mary Balogh
An aristocratic family finds their lives turned upside down when an earl’s death reveals a secret with far-reaching consequences for them all…
Series Favorite: Someone to Hold
The Mating Habits of Scoundrels Series by Vivienne Lorret
A group a delightful debutantes team up to put together an instructive book on the mating habits of scoundrels, and each end up learning (and experiencing first hand) far more than they bargained for.
Series Favorite: The Wrong Marquess & How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart
The Scoundrel’s Daughter (Brides of Bellaire Gardens Book 1) by Anne Gracie
A widowed countess is reluctantly thrust into the role of matchmaker when a blackmailer threatens to publish ruinous letters penned by her late husband. A sulky charge, an interfering nephew, and a charming war hero all conspire to make it a season she’ll never forget.
The Captain’s Midwinter Bride by Liana De la Rosa
A second chance romance between a gruff naval captain and his wife of nearly two decades plays out against the backdrop of their daughter’s Christmas wedding.
The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes (Last Chance Scoundrel’s Book 1) by Eva Leigh
When a notorious rake is compelled to seek a respectable bride, he finds himself making an ironically scandalous bargain with his dearest friend’s sister in exchange for her assistance.
The Outcasts Series by Minerva Spencer
From a long-lost duke’s daughter with a mysterious past to swashbuckling pirates, this stands our as one of the most wonderfully unique Regency romance series I’ve ever read.
Series Favorite: Dangerous
The Horsemen Trilogy by Mary Balogh
Four former soldiers slowly adjusting to life after war each find love where they least expect it.
Series Favorite: Irresistible
The Truth About the Duke Series by Caroline Linden
A catastrophic secret that surfaces after their father’s death sends three brothers on a path that ends with each of them finding love.
Series Favorite: The Way to a Duke’s Heart
A Governess Should Never… Deny a Duke (The Governess Chronicles Book 2) by Emily Windsor
A beautifully atmospheric and whimsical Regency romance between a French governess and a Welsh duke dubbed Mean, Moody, and Mysterious.
Belles of London Series by Mimi Matthews
In this series inspired by the scandalously notorious Pretty Horsebreakers, a group of equestrienne ladies find love and friendship in some of the most unexpected places in 1860s London.
Series Favorites: The Siren of Sussex & The Belle of Belgrave Square
The Rake of Hearts (A Lady to Suit Book 2) by Emily Windsor
A widowed artist with a wounded heart finds solace in the most unexpected place while sharing an idyllic estate in the Cotswolds with a charming rake.
The Halifax Hellions Series by Alexandra Vasti*
Twin sisters dubbed the most scandalous ladies in London find themselves presented with their perfect matches through a mad dash to Gretna Green and some inadvertent involvement in the publication of erotic drawings. Also, there is a cat named Angelica Kauffman—need I say more?
Series Favorite: In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint*
*Both novellas are currently free when you sign up for the author’s newsletter!
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books 1) by KJ Charles
If you love Poldark as much as I do, I would not hesitate to pick this one up! A budding romance between a lonely heir and a charmer on the wrong side of the law is put to the test when they become entangled in the antics of a smuggling clan—of which said charmer happens to be the leader.
Rules of Scoundrels Series by Sarah Maclean
A series revolving around the four exiled aristocrats who own Regency London’s most notorious gaming hell.
Series Favorites: A Rogue by Any Other Name & One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
Mayhem in Mayfair Series by Grace Callaway
A steamy (and I mean SCORCHING) series that brings you suspense and mysterious intrigue from all walks of life in Regency London.
Series Favorite: Her Protector’s Pleasure
The Ravenels Series by Lisa Kleypas
An unassuming rake inherits an earldom that puts him at the head of a delightfully dysfunctional family. Impeccably researched, with many Victorian era staples such as trains and department stores brought front and center, along with a deeply moving cast of characters that spring off the page.
Series Favorite: Marrying Winterborne
Heart of Enquiry Series by Grace Callaway
Another steamy (i.e. SCORCHING) and suspenseful series revolving around the eccentric Kent family, and the mysteries they always seem to find themselves entangled in.
Series Favorites: The Duke Who Knew Too Much, The Lady Who Came in from the Cold, and Never Say Never to an Earl
Scandal & Scoundrel Series by Sarah Maclean
Have you ever wondered how TMZ would fare in 19th century England? Well, wonder no more!
Series Favorite: A Scot in the Dark
The Bareknuckle Bastards Series by Sarah Maclean
A wonderfully unique series revolving around three brothers (dubbed The Rake, The Warrior, and The Duke), and (in the author’s words) “the women who bring them to their knees.” Expect ice smuggling, bareknuckle boxing, women who know what they want and how to get it, and LOTS of steam.
Series Favorite: Brazen and the Beast
The London Lords Series by Nicola Davidson
A steamy series revolving around a group of friends that reign Regency London’s social sphere. Here be mystery, murder, disguises, espionage, and SCORCHING hot romance.
Series Favorite: Rake to Riches
Spindle Cove Series by Tessa Dare
A charming series revolving around a town of unique women (from spinsters to bluestockings) who seek refuge from London society.
Series Favorites: A Week to be Wicked & Any Duchess Will Do
Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day
A steamy romance involving a former male prostitute and a widow who shared a heated moment seven years ago (hence the novel’s title). Includes a heart-wrenching secondary romance involving the heroine’s sister and brother-in-law.
A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
A beautifully written and heartwarming Christmas novella that seamlessly integrates the technological and political changes of the mid-Victorian era. The fact that it’s littered with North & South references is the icing on the cake.
Bitter Spirits (Roaring Twenties Book 1) by Jenn Bennett
An action-pack historical/paranormal romance set in San Francisco during the Roaring 20s that features a spirit medium and a bootlegger who is the equivalent of a giant teddy bear.
The Bridgertons Series by Julia Quinn
I doubt that there is a single historical romance (or romance in general) reader who hasn’t heard of this delightful family and their exploits, so I shall let this selection speak for itself.
Series Favorites: The Viscount Who Loved Me & When He Was Wicked
Lions and Lace by Meagan McKinney
Old-school historical that brings Gilded Age New York to life through the eyes of a Knickerbocker heroine with a heart of gold, and a ruthless, self-made hero with a heart of stone (or so it seems…).
Society of Gentlemen Series by KJ Charles
An engrossing series that revolves around a group of gentlemen who share their proclivity for other gentlemen that seamlessly manages to weave in the social and political upheavals of the Regency era.
Series Favorite: A Gentleman’s Position
The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews
Wonderfully atmospheric and sweeping Victorian romance that weaves the beauty and the beast trope with the backdrop of war, and the power of long lost letters…
The Courtesan Duchess (Wicked Deceptions Book 1) by Joanna Shupe
An abandoned duchess tracks her wastrel husband down and steals his heart under the guise of London’s most sought after courtesan.
Master of the Moor by Emmanuelle de Maupassant
An atmospheric Edwardian romance that puts you right at the heart of the Dartmoor moors as it follows the machinations of a sex-positive heroine who knows how to take the reins, and the obligatory dark/brooding hero.
A League of Extraordinary Women Series by Evie Dunmore
A brilliant debut series set against the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement just as Oxford University was welcoming its first batch of female students in Victorian England. These books are a MASTERCLASS in the art of the slow-burn.
Series Favorites: Bringing Down the Duke & Portrait of a Scotsman
The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard
The blurb put it best: “The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare meets Taming of the Shrew.” If you’re a fan of the Beauty and the Beast trope (and, really, who among us isn’t?), prepare to laugh and swoon, and laugh and swoon.
Uptown Girls Series by Joanna Shupe
If socialites in Gilded Age New York aren’t enough to make your ears perk, the fact that each of the heroines is a feminist dream likely will. Each book in the series features one of three sisters and their deliciously steamy romances.
Series Favorite: The Prince of Broadway
A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh
A lovely novella that shines light on the class divides within Regency England. Do yourself a favor and go into it without spoilers because believe me when I say PLOT TWIST.
MacCarrick Brothers Series by Kresely Cole
A trilogy featuring three strapping Scottish brothers who believe themselves to be cursed, and the three willful lasses who prove them wrong.
Series Favorite: If You Deceive
The Governess Affair (Brothers Sinister Book 0.5) by Courtney Milan
A gem a novella that features a former governess who demands what is due to her, and her former employer’s ruthless man of business. Prepare for plenty of tears and swooning.
Sweet Home Highlander (Tartans & Titans Book 1) by Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan
An estranged husband and wife are granted a second chance at love when said wife shows up demanding a divorce so that she may wed another. If that hasn’t got you intrigued, I’m not sure what will!
The Hellions of Havisham Series by Lorraine Heath
A tragic train crash brings together four young boys who grow into veritable hellions (hence the series title). The first book features one of my favorite Victorian era staples: sexy photography.
Series Favorite: Falling Into Bed with a Duke & The Earl Takes All
Rules for the Reckless Series by Meredith Duran
From housekeepers who are far more than they seem to unapologetically ruthless (and oddly magnetic) politicians, Meredith Duran does it all in this series of cleverly written Victorian romances.
Series Favorite: Fool Me Twice
More Than a Mistress (Mistresses Trilogy Book 1) by Mary Balogh
A young woman who unceremoniously puts a stop to a duel finds herself employed as a nurse to one of the injured parties: a duke whose reputation for reckless debauchery precedes him. This book features one of the most well-matched couples I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Highland Guard Series by Monica McCarty
Monica McCarty’s integration of real Scottish history mixed with sweeping romance makes for a wonderfully bingeable series. A group of elite warriors work to free medieval Scotland from English rule, and end up finding their respective HEAs along the way.
Series Favorite: The Viper & The Recruit
Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James Series by Lorraine Heath
Four of Victorian England’s most infamous bachelors each meet their respective matches in women who are as unique as they are courageous. This series features some of my favorite heroines of all time (especially books one and three).
Series Favorites: When the Duke Was Wicked & The Duke and the Lady in Red
The Dressmakers Series by Loretta Chase
A delightful series about a group of refreshingly mercenary sisters who are the (rightfully) self-proclaimed BEST dressmakers in 1830s London.
Series Favorites: Scandal Wears Satin & Dukes Prefer Blondes
Then Things I Hate About the Duke (Difficult Dukes Book 2) by Loretta Chase
A delightful spin on Shakespeare’s classic The Taming of the Shrew in which an infamous rake/himbo (for lack of a better term) crosses paths with wonderfully formidable lady. You’ll be delighted to see who, exactly, ends up taming who…
Lessons from a Scarlet Lady by Emma Wildes
A seemingly prim-and-proper duchess brings her duke to his knees after making use of the advice she finds in a famous courtesan’s “comportment” book.
Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews
A swashbuckling Regency romance that features at its heart a hero and heroine that are literal SOULMATES, and that ends their journey with an HEA that will leave you feeling that justice has been served.
The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles
A charming fortune hunter crosses swords with a gruff and graceless gentleman when he sets his sights on said gentleman’s niece. What ensues is one of the steamiest and most heart-felt romances I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
West End Earl (Misfits of Mayfair Book 2) by Bethany Bennett
A heartwarming friends-to-lovers romance between a remarkable woman assuming her deceased brother’s identity, and a charming earl with far more to him than just his golden-boy looks.
Sinful Wallflowers Series by Stacy Reid
A group of intrepid wallflowers decide that they will take life by the reigns, and vow to be “wicked, improper, and terribly scandalous” all the while.
Series Favorite: My Darling Duke
Infamous (Rebels of the Ton Book 3) by Minerva Spencer
Ten years following her fall from grace, a Regency era “mean girl” finds herself confined in a country house party with all those she wronged.
Passion (Passion Quartet Book 1) by Lisa Valdez
A young widow has a passionate encounter with a dark stranger while visiting London's Crystal Palace. Said encounter sets the stage for one of the most truly steamy historical romances I’ve ever read.
The Bastard (The Masqueraders Series Book 3) by S.M. LaViolette
A man seeking vengeance against the father who abandoned him finds his plans waylaid by his fixation on a prim and proper spinster. One of my absolute favorite scarred/tortured heroes and wallflower/spinster romances!
The Marquess Makes His Move (Clandestine Affairs Book 3) by Diana Quincy
A reclusive marquess poses as a footman in the home of the infamous mapmaker who swindled him out of a significant portion of his land. Little does he know that the mapmaker in question is the alluring mistress of the house…
Phoebe (The Bellamy Sisters Series Book 1) by Minerva Spencer
In a last-ditch effort to save her family from ruin, a practical spinster proposes a marriage of convenience with the wealthy, enigmatic stranger next door.
A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid
A young lady meets an earl for a duel in her brother’s stead, and ends up impressing her opponent so thoroughly that he offers her a position as his secretary. Temptation and a sweeping romance neither of them expected promptly follows.
The Wagers of Sin Series by Caroline Linden
Three bosom bows each find romance either directly or indirectly through wagers won and lost at the tables of a notorious gambling club.
Series Favorite: When the Marquess Was Mine
The Rake (Davenport Book 2) by Mary Jo Putney
A genre classic that explores the relationship between a quintessential rake and his remarkable steward—who also happens to be a woman.
The Earl She Should Never Desire by Lara Temple
If you are a fan of Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me and/or Bridgerton Season 2 (i.e. Anthony/Kate), you will likely enjoy this equally compelling tale of a man who finds himself falling hopelessly in love with his fiancée’s older sister.
Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston
A delightful debut that features a widowed mother fighting for guardianship over her children and a charming rogue who finds his life upended (in the best of ways) by her antics. One of the most heart-felt depictions of “found family” I have ever read!