Top Ten Tuesday: Amazing Historical Romances with Under 2000 Ratings on Goodreads

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!

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