Bridgerton
For fans of Bridgerton-
Dearest Readers: If you love the historical romance escapism (and decidedly modern steamy hijinks) of Netflix's Bridgerton series, do try these books.We think you'll be delighted!
Damned if I duke
Bradley, Anna (Romance fiction writer), author.
2024
"A sensible duke wants a dutiful duchess. A rakish duke wants no bride at all. But a truly wise man knows the pleasure of finding a wife who's his match in every way . . . Bold and adventurous, Prudence Thorne is not the kind of woman to stand by meekly when someone she loves has been wronged. And she's quite certain that Jasper Vincent, Duke of Montford, somehow duped her father into racking up enormous gambling debts. When fate offers her a chance to blackmail Jasper into forgiving her father's losses, she seizes it . . . only to have her scheme backfire. Jasper enjoys London's illicit delights too much to wed. Too bad his grandfather has decided that a woman with the nerve to blackmail might be exactly the sort of wife to tame him. Pressed into a marriage neither wanted--and fighting a desire neither expected--Prue and Jasper torment and tempt each other beyond reason. Surely a proper duchess should be subdued, obedient, and dignified? Yet just as he begins to get his wish, Jasper realizes how much he wants his unconventional wife--and only her--if it's not too late to win her . . ."-- Provided by publisher.
The duke undone
Lowell, Joanna, author
2021
"When an artist and a duke cross paths in the bustling London slums, an unlikely love story begins and their lives will be forever changed. Royal Academy painting student Lucy Coover quickly comes to the aid of the naked drunkard she stumbles upon one evening in the Shoreditch slums. If only she could banish his lovely form from her dreams as easily. Instead, she finds herself compelled to paint the man in his natural form. Little does she know that her impromptu subject is none other than the seventh Duke of Weston, Anthony Philby. According to his deceased father's will, Anthony is restricted from doing anything to bring further discredit to their scandal-ridden family. So when the duke is confronted with his nude portrait and accused of betraying his father's will, he goes searching for the mysterious artist, L. Coover. He must convince this artist to destroy the painting before it's seen by high society. Stunned to discover the unconventional and bewitching Lucy, he's further amazed when she tries to convince him to help save her aunt's dressmaking shop from ruin. But Anthony is game, and agrees to aid Lucy if she does him a favor in return: assisting him in searching for his disowned and missing sister, Effie. Continually thrown together, an unexpected passion blossoms between the two. Then the hunt for Effie puts Lucy in danger, threatening her career as an artist, and a surprising betrayal imperils all Anthony holds dear. Facing numerous obstacles, it will take all their strength and will to fight for their love."--Provided by publisher.
Earls trip
Holiday, Jenny (Romance author), author
2024
"Even an earl needs his ride-or-dies, and Archibald Fielding-Burton, the Earl of Harcourt, counts himself lucky to have two. The annual trip that Archie takes with his BFFs Simon and Effie holds a sacred spot in their calendars. This year Archie is especially eager to get away until an urgent letter arrives from an old family friend, begging him to help prevent a ruinous scandal. Suddenly the trip has become earls-plus-girls, as Archie's childhood pals Clementine and Olive Morgan, are rescued en route to Gretna Green. ... The fully grown Clementine, while as frank and refreshing as he remembers, is also different to the wild, windswept girl he knew. This Clem is complex and surprising--and adamantly opposed to marriage. Which, for reasons Archie dare not examine too closely, he finds increasingly vexing"-- Provided by publisher.
The ladies rewrite the rules : a novel
Allain, Suzanne, author
2024
"Diana Boyle, a wealthy young widow, has no desire to ever marry again. Particularly not to someone who merely wants her for her fortune. So when she discovers that she's listed in a directory of rich, single women she is furious, and rightly so. She confronts Maxwell Dean, the man who published the Bachelor's Directory, and is horrified to find he is far more attractive than his actions have led her to expect. However, Diana is unmoved by Max's explanation that he authored the list to assist younger sons like himself who cannot afford to marry unless it's to a woman of means. She gathers the ladies in the directory together to inform them of its existence, so they may circumvent fortune hunters' efforts to trick them into marriage. Though outraged, the women decide to embrace their unique position of power and reverse the usual gender roles by making the men dance to their tune. And together...the ladies rewrite the rules"-- Provided by publisher.
Queen Charlotte
Quinn, Julia, 1970- author
2024
Go beyond the original Shondaland series on Netflix, Queen Charlotte, with this lushly romantic Bridgerton prequel novel written by New York Times bestselling authors Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes, as the marriage of Queen Charlotte and King George of England leads to an unexpected love story and a union that transforms society.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Quinn, Julia, 1970- author
2015
Secretly drawn to her best friend's brother for years, Penelope Featherington believes that she knows everything about Colin Bridgerton, until she stumbles upon his deepest secrets.
Something in the heir
Enoch, Suzanne, author
2022
"Smart, capable heiress Emmeline Pershing will do anything to keep her beloved home; and all it takes is an arranged marriage and a teeny white lie to fulfill her family's silly inheritance rules! But now her little fib means that she and her completely unsuspecting husband are going to inherit big-and very messy!-trouble"-- Provided by publisher.
To have and to hoax : a novel
Waters, Martha, 1988-, author
2020
Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met, fell in love, and got married. Four years ago, they had a fight to end all fights, and have barely spoken since. Their once-passionate love match has been reduced to one of cold, detached politeness. But when Violet receives a letter that James has been thrown from his horse and rendered unconscious at their country estate, she races to be by his side-only to discover him alive and well at a tavern, and completely unaware of her concern. She's outraged. He's confused. And the distance between them has never been more apparent. Will the two be able to overcome four years of hurt or will they continue to deny the spark between them?
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
Holton, India, author
2021
"A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance. Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She's also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it's a pleasant existence. Until the men show up. Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he's under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake: Never underestimate a woman. When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her-hopefully proving, once and for all, that she's as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them."-- Provided by publisher.