Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
Happy Tuesday peoples! Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday entry! This time, I’m sharing these AMAZING Historical Romances that have under 2000 ratings on Goodreads. PEOPLE, YOU REALLY NEED TO READ THESE BOOKS BECAUSE HEA IS JUST MY THING. Ehemm…
Anyway, I am going to tell you WHY you should read this books of AWESOMENESS and perhaps rate them on Goodreads!
A BATTLE FOR LOVE by Cynthia Wright | June 12th, 1986 (167 ratings)
I remember finding this book at a used bookstore when I was a senior in high school. AND I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE! In fact, I tracked down a copy on Amazon because someone borrowed by original copy AND DID NOT RETURN IT TO ME!
This story is set around the time of King Henry the VIII (my second favorite era!) and centers around a French window and an Englishman arranged to be wed because of political advantages. Well, said Englishman, the Earl of Sandhurst masquerades as a lowly painter to meet his intended, Micheline Tevoulere, King Francois I’s favorite courtier. When Micheline falls for the artist, she runs away with him and refuses to marry her betrothed.
Isn’t that JUST JUICY?! I swear I was rooting for these two lovebirds to finally get their HEA.
SECRET WAYS by Kat Martin | April 1st, 2003 (214 ratings)
This book was the first book that got me hooked into reading Regency romance. I found this at a legit bookstore in Cebu (Philippines) when I was a freshman in college, or thereabouts. I still have my old copy back in my house in Dumaguete (Philippine) and my ultimate goal is to bring back that battered copy here!
This is another book about masquerades! In this case, Captain Caleb Tanner masquerades as a groom to the famous courtesan Vermillion Lee Durant to uncover a spy. In fact, it is believed that Vermillion is THE SPY. But, this two fall in love amidst all the scandal and SECRETS are revealed! Also, Captain Tanner is a nobleman’s second son while Vermillion is a daughter of a French courtesan [spoiler]and she is also believed to BE ONE![/spoiler]
So you see the thread here? I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MASQUERADES!
MY FAIR MISTRESS by Tracy Anne Warren | October 30th, 2007 (1,403 ratings)
This is another book I read in college that had me reading a lot of Tracy Anne Warren’s backlist. This book is also set in the Regency period and features a rich financier and an aristocratic widow who bargains herself in exchange for her brother’s debts. Also, they FALL IN LOVE and what’s more THEY ARE FROM DIFFERENT CLASSES in society! Another one of my favorite romance tropes!
LADY BRIDGET’S DIARY by Maya Rodale | February 23rd, 2016 (879 ratings)
This is a newer historical romance book that ended my historical romance slump and it is a retelling of Bridget Jones’ Diary. Eeeppp BTW, this is a heroine who talks about weight and eats a lot of CAKE! Plus, the sibling relationships here are absolutely awesome!
Oh and Lord Daaaarcy is just divine!
LIONS AND LACE by Meagan McKinney | April 1st, 1992 (860 ratings)
ANOTHER FAVORITE! I mean, my original copy is coming apart at the seams because I have reread this bad girl 1 bazillion times! I did buy another copy (thank you Amazon!) that I am not touching, just in case I won’t be able to reread this again. Sadly, it does not have an ebook version. Le sigh
This book is set in the early 1900s in New York and is also another love between the classes! (See?! My favorite trope!). Lady Alana Van Allen, one of New York’s Knickerbocker elites has been forced to marry a self-made, rich as Croesus Irishman in order for his sister to be accepted into society. He uses Alana as the sacrificial lamb to punish all who slighted his sister. But lo and behold, they fall in love!
In know, there are hardly any historical romances set during the early 1900s New York and I hope someone writes MOAR! Also, the second book features Alana’s sister who travels to the Wild West and falls in love with a bandit!
THE HIGHWAYMAN by Kerrigan Byrne | September 1st, 2015 (1,555 ratings)
Another newer historical romance that is also set in the Regency era. This features the king of the London underworld and a Lady! Ehemm and yes, he is also a Highlander!
He also abducts our heroine and takes him back to his island! AND these two met when they where children in an orphanage! Another second chance romance!
HIS FORBIDDEN TOUCH by Shelly Thacker | May 7th, 1997 (976 ratings)
I remember finding this book at a local department store back in Dumaguete that I did not expect to carry this books, let alone this Avon classic! This is set in a fictional place, possibly during the time of King Arthur and is one of my absolute FAVORITES! In fact, I have used a quote in this book for me and Pierre. So, this book really is special to me.
This is also about a banished Knight who escorts Princess Ciara through the mountains to her evil betrothed to stop a war. Sir Royce has a lot of baggage because reasons and HATES the spoiled Princess on sight. That is until they fall in love.
TAKEN BY THE DUKE by Jess Michaels | July 2nd, 2013 (882 ratings)
OMG THIS BOOK! I was crying for most of it because reasons. This is also a Romeo and Juliet retelling and is an erotic historical romance. But not just any erotic romance, it actually has an awesome storyline and you would fall in love with Ava and Christian. Also, there is a kidnapping involved and yup, a lot of steamy sexytimes!
IF THE VISCOUNT FALLS by Sabrina Jeffries | January 27th, 2015 (4,403 ratings)
This is the last book in The Duke’s Men series and is about Dominick Manton and his ex-fiance Jane Vernon. I am also a sucker for second chance romance and this one DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Plus, there is also some investigation going on here!
SECRET DESIRES OF A GENTLEMAN by Laura Lee Guhrke | September 30th, 2008 (1,941 ratings)
ANOTHER FAVORITE! So, I absolutely love working girls/girl bachelorettes in the Regency era and this book is my favorite in the series! Also, the heroine, Maria Martingale IS A FREAKING BAKER! OMG, THE PETIT FOURS AND CAKE and some kissing WITH CAKE! OMG!
This is also an unrequited love/love between the classes because Maria is the daughter of the Marquess of Kayne’s personal chef! So yes, she grew up with the Marquess, Phillip Hawthorne!
Have you read any of the books mentioned above? Tell me which ones are your favorites! I would love to talk to fellow historical romance addicts!
Gahhh! I love this post! So many new books to add to my TBR. I’ve only read the Maya Rodale and I liked that one though not the second. And I really really want to check out that Kerrigan Byrne series. It sounds amazing.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Nick recently posted…5 Reasons Why I Loved Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Your welcome, Nick! Kerrigan Byrne’s book are def worth checking out!
Also, I didn’t like Maya Rodale’s Chasing Lady Amelia.. ugh!
Yes, this post is made for me. I’ve been looking for more romance books to read. Thanks! I don’t have enough underrated books read to make my own list so I did my own topic hahah. Happy reading! http://www.curious-daisy.com/uncategorized/ten-books-you-should-read-asap-book-recommendations/
Sadly, I only have the older romance that were under 2000 ratings. I guess most of the books I reviewed and HAVE read have over 2000 ratings! LOL
I’ve read none of the above! A lot of my books this week were Middle Grade. I love how you kept to one genre here!
Thanks, Ellen! I actually had a VERY HARD time picking the books to feature here. Apparently, most of the books I’ve read have over 2000 ratings! XD
I’ve read His Forbidden Touch and LOVED it!! But I haven’t read any of these other ones and oh boy I feel a romance reading nice coming on now ? I definitely need to pick some of these up! Thanks so much for sharing! ?
You’re welcome, Nicole! His Forbidden Touch is VERY SPECIAL TO ME!!! 🙂 AND ROYCE ST. MICHAEL!!! SWWWWWWOOOOONNNNN!!!!
**oops I meant romance reading binge (stupid autocorrect ?)
Nicole Lynn recently posted…#AZdiverse Read-a-Thon!
I adore historical romance, and I love this blog title!! I think I’ve only read Laura Lee Guhrke’s books before, but I’m definitely intrigued now <3
Eri recently posted…Books that Deserve to Be Hyped
Thanks, Eri! I am one of those romance lovers…REALLY! especially HISTORICAL ROMANCE! <3
ALSO LAURA LEE GUHRKE's Girl Bachelorette series are the best!
A BATTLE FOR LOVE SOUNDS ADORABLE. There you go making me want to read all the romance ever written. Because I do love a HEA!
I want His Forbidden Touch! (Well. That come out weird. Sorry for making things awkward.) Hate to love is like the best thing in the world. I can’t help it, that’s *my* favourite trope! That’s also probably why I think arguing counts as flirting. I have issues okay?!
This is maybe my favourite TTT topic ever! Because everyone has such differing lists from each other and it’s amazinggg
Annika @ Hiding Books recently posted…the Sunday Post: in which the new blog is almost ready. almost!
Omg I soooo agree! I love the hate to love trope so much! Which is why I loved His Forbidden Touch so much! You have to read it! ?
NICOLE, WE NEED TO BLACKMAIL ANNIKA and have her read HR! haha
THANK YOU MY LADY ANNIKA!!!! hahaha sooooo I totally agree that ARGUING IS FLIRTING!!! Ehemm….. *wink wink*
And whose forbidden touch do you want now?! HAHAHA you perv you!
And thank you again for loving this post! I actually had FEELS while writing this BECAUSE HEA! YES YES YES go read at least one! I recommend ALL OF THEM!!!
ALSO THE HIGHWAYMAN BECAUSE HIGHLANDERS YES PLEASE
ehemm.. You say KILT, and I say SWOOON! OHHH and this one HAS ALL THE FEELS! Like he saved her from a perv priest when they were still children! I swear if you want scandal read historical romance!
Okay I’m super gushing no o.O
Ooh, I might need to check out a few of these! I do love that Kerrigan Bryne series so much. And yes to all Sabrina Jeffries, haha. I’m tempted to check out A Battle of Love. Such an epic cover, haha. Lovely list, Zeee!
Cyn @ Book Munchies recently posted…Review: Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes