Book picks similar to
Proper Secrets by Rachel Francis


ebook
historical-romance
rating-4-and-above
shelfari-regency

How to Cook your Way into an Earl’s Heart


Edith Byrd - 2021
    

To Love a Tormented Earl


Bridget Barton - 2020
    Time is running short, and if she doesn't find a suitor soon, her household may not survive. Her life takes an unexpected twist, though, when she suddenly comes across her former employer who was believed to be dead. Even though she knows that a romance with him would be a false hope, she can’t stop daydreaming about his captivating gaze. When he asks for her assistance to unveil a conspiracy that ruined his life, her generous heart compels her to agree. Will Emilia manage to overcome the barriers that go against her happiness? Would destiny hold for her a happy ending?After faking his own death three years before, Maximilian Emery, the true Earl of Ceastre, has returned to London to reclaim his estate and his name. But before he can do that, he must determine who is involved in the blackmail that prompted him to flee in the first place. When fate brings him together with a woman from his past, soon old feelings begin to resurface. But until he finds out who is hidden behind the evil plot against him, love will remain just a flight of fantasy, no matter how his anxious heart skips a beat everytime she is around. Will Max manage to solve a puzzle that has made his life a living hell? Will his only dream to live by Emilia's side come true?Despite their strong feelings, Max and Emilia‘s union seems impossible, as they come from two spheres of society not accustomed to mingling. To make matters worse, when Emilia discovers the reason for Max’s exile, she feels that everything is crashing down. Will the star-crossed lovers find a way through the obstacles that insist to keep them apart or will they accept a future without hope of true love?

The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady


Henrietta Harding - 2020
    They call her the "Widow Drake", because she is lonely and grieving, but there is much more around this mysterious widow. She carries secrets buried deep about her marriage that nobody should ever find out! For Susannah, the first glimpse of the tall, handsome master of horses will kindle something deep inside her, something that she never thought she would feel again. But with wounds from the past still bleeding, how can she ever hope to open her heart, and love again?When Jasper Stone arrives at The Willows, to tame the new colt the Widow Drake has purchased, he mistakenly thinks there is nothing exciting about his new assignment. He has been drifting through the country, trying to clear his mind from the painful events that forced him to leave home many months ago...But the Widow Drake is not the middle aged virago Jasper is anticipating. She is a young, beautiful woman; a passionate woman that might be dangerous. How can he hope to keep the fortress he has built around his heart intact?Jasper is not alone in trying to attract the beautiful Widow Drake. A man from her past holds the key to the painful secrets of her past, as well as threatens her very future. As Jasper and Susannah grow closer, she knows she is being drawn to him, as irresistibly as a moth to fire. Can she find the courage to open her heart, even if danger swirls all around her once again?"The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Surrendered to the Lust of the Duke


Ava MacAdams - 2020
    Rescued from the workhouse by a kind Duke, his charity school is the only home she knows. Until the day his son, the man she loves, announces his intention to shut it down.David Wearwood, the Duke of Lentingdale, could never live up to his father’s expectations. Now returned from his travels to attend his funeral, he stumbles upon Teresa. In the place of the little girl stands a woman he seems unable to control himself around.In a desperate attempt to save the only home she’s ever known, Teresa mingles with the wrong crowd. Abominable agendas born in the slums of London decades ago, that not even David can protect her from. Attending a disastrous ball leads them to a peculiar clue: a pink handkerchief. The one Teresa has been seeing in her nightmares...

The Enigmatic Lady in the Ivory Tower


Hazel Linwood - 2020
    Sent to live with a tyrannical Marchioness, she feels her life is ruined. But her confinement to the country turns out to be more than just lessons for proper manners.A life of toil as a stable hand is everything Gabriel Rowan has ever known. Though well aware of his place, Diana’s visits to the stables awaken in him feelings he is forbidden to express.With the appearance of Diana’s suitor, Gabriel’s heart is shattered and reminded of what he can never have. But a single truth is enough to make a castle of lies crumble. And that truth, hidden and concealed for decades, falls in Diana’s hands in the form of a letter. A letter from the late Marquess addressed to his second son...

Daring to Start Again


Grace Clemens - 2020
    Despite her misgivings about marrying a stranger, Sarah braves her way halfway across the country to begin a new life. A new challenge appears shortly after her arrival, since Bobby, her husband-to-be, has a little daughter whom she has to win over. At the same time, she can't ignore the fear of her father discovering her. Will her only chance of happiness be destroyed by the very man who brought her to life?Bobby Huggins is striving to both run his ranch and raise his only child ever since his wife passed away. Deeply worried about his daughter, Samantha, who has been behaving unusually since the sorrowful event, he is looking for a new wife who will soften her grief. Even though he had never truly fallen in love before, Bobby's heart skips a beat for Sarah, while Samantha finds the rock she so much needs. When Sarah's past threatens to tear everything apart, will Bobby forgive her for leaving out a secret that could hurt his loved ones?Bobby and Sarah have been brought together by fate but they will have to stay strong in order to face the frightening challenges coming next. Treacherous people will appear out of nowhere, putting their relationship in danger. Will Sarah manage to make amends to Bobby, after proving herself, or is it too late? Will Bobby give love a second chance by trusting Sarah again?

The Earl's Reluctant Bride


Karen Lynne - 2019
    She thought evil step-mothers were only in fairy tales, but she was wrong. James, the Earl of Malmesbury, convinces Susan to become his pretend betrothed to throw off an evil pursuer, but when she captures his heart, can he persuade his reluctant bride to say yes, forever? “But what about you, James?” Susan replied. “Now that my fortune has turned, we can stop this engagement. This is no longer fair to you; things have gotten out of hand.”Susan’s breath caught as he moved in closer with steel in his eyes. Before she could think, his lips came down to claim her mouth in a kiss so intoxicating, she felt it through the breadth of her body. He pulled back just as quickly, leaving her breathless…She watched in a stupor as, his retreating figure left the room…She raised her finger to her lips, his words echoing in her head. She had given him a chance to be free, but he did not take it. Escape with a Clean and Wholesome Historical Regency Romance for some seriously sweet romance with plenty of twists. Each book can be read as a stand-a-lone, always a sweet and happy ending.Clean, sweet without losing the heat romance!  Brides of Somerset:The Earl’s Reluctant Bride book oneCourting Eliza book two

The Secret Plan of Dazzling Ladies


Aria Norton - 2020
    Juliana is stubborn, adventurous and deeply in love with a Lord who has a questionable reputation. Emmeline is quiet in nature and shier than her fun-loving sister. When they discover that their parents are planning to marry Juliana to an eligible and affable son of a Duke she has no interest in, they concoct a plan to secretly take each other's place. With Emmeline having misgivings about the subterfuge, and navigating her unexpected feelings for this kind hearted newcomer, will the sisters manage to find love and avoid the trouble they've caused?Lord Cale has recently returned to his stepfather's estate to acquire more responsibilities after completing his education. He has known the twin daughters of the Earl of Baxter his entire life and has fallen deeply in love with Lady Juliana. However, due to his family's troubling reputation preventing him from being able to court her, he leaves determined to clear the family name. When he eventually returns vindicated and seeks out Juliana, how will he handle his dismay at thinking Juliana is already happy with another Lord? Will the two Lords come to an understanding about each other's place in the twins' lives or will the strong feelings involved render this impossible?With every passing day Emmeline's and Juliana's lives become increasingly complicated and intertwined and the pretense more difficult to keep up. However, the foggier the truth becomes, the clearer their growing feelings emerge. After all this time and the endless lies, will they manage to untangle this mess without hurting the men they care for, or have they taken this ruse too far? Will both sisters finally get the happily ever after that they long for?"The Secret Plan of Dazzling Ladies" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Letters from a Missing Lady


Hanna Hamilton - 2019
     Matthew Warren, Earl of Hardingham, never expected to find a letter in the middle of the road while on his way to see his long-time friend, Jonathan Ayles. Or to become so frustrated with his inability to discover the identity of the mysterious “Elizabeth.” With her wedding day approaching like a bad omen, Evelina makes one final request before her freedom is snatched away from her forever: a single meeting with the enigmatic “Percy”, whose poetic hand has captured her heart. What Matthew and Evelina never expected though is how inextricably connected their fates are. Or to what gruesome lengths a certain someone will go to tear them apart forever. And then Evelina suddenly goes missing... *If you like a realistic yet charming depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then Letters from a Missing Lady is the novel for you. This is Hanna Hamilton's 30th book, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after. Pick up "Letters from a Missing Lady" today to discover Hanna's amazing new story!

News With Curves


Iris Bolling - 2018
    Raised with the in-depth sense of justice, and the desire to expose the wrongs of the world, Rachel sets out to find the truth behind the incarceration of young men of color. Wade Tyson, of the Tyson Communication family, has no idea what he is walking into when he takes over as News Producer for Tyson Broadcasting. From his first encounter with the mouthy, opinionated, Rachel Fontaine, his life will be forever changed. Armed with no boundaries in seeking the truth, he listens to her theory of un-explainable sentencing practices of certain judges and finds himself the victim of an attempted murder. Pushing aside the sexual tension, his crazy brothers, and her ever questioning father, Wade and Rachel dig deeper into her theory, eventually uncovering a conspiracy that neither realize how wide or far up the political power chain it lives. The P.I.E. infiltration begins……

Enticed (The ROGUES Billionaire Book 6)


Tracie Delaney - 2021
    

Courting A Sinful Stranger


Emily Honeyfield - 2021
    Sarah yearns for so much more, secretly lusting for an enthralling adventure... When she attends a masquerade ball, she is allured by the raven-haired seductive stranger, who whispers shockingly tempting things into her ear, without revealing his identity. She knows all this is far from how a lady should behave, but she finds this game of seduction simply irresistible. After all, what hope can a respectable young lady have in finding any kind of tantalizing excitement? While trying to unveil this captivating masquerader's identity, will she indulge in an adventure of inappropriate promises and lustful desire?Arthur Colton, the Viscount Nordarken, is a bored gentleman, ready to risk it all for the sake of pleasure. While visiting his father in the district, he is on the hunt for a rousing distraction. Sadly, not even one of the eligible young ladies sparks his interest after the whirlwind of excitement that London was. Little did he know that everything was about to change with the announcement of a masquerade ball and the appearance of an enticing dark-eyed beauty into his dangerous path. Being used to always getting what he wants, he comes up with a wicked plan, to make her succumb to his sinful passion. How far is he willing to go in order to conquer her fiery heart?Against all odds, their lives and their feelings get tangled and challenge everything they have ever known. That is when a game of false identities and flaming desire begins... A game that must end soon, or it could otherwise lead to their destruction. For Sarah it is being in the midst of a scandal and losing her gracious place in society. For Arthur it is being targeted and risking turning into a social pariah. Will an arising old scandal threaten their affair to its very core? Will their untamed passion for one another be enough to thrive, in spite of all the hardships or will they drift apart after all?

Reforming the Rigid Duke


Abby Ayles - 2021
    Strong, smart, and capable, she is perfect for the part, but in the process, she never forgets to smile and have fun.Isaac Hardy is Marjorie’s exact opposite. Being a worthy Duke of Sedgewick has been his only focus, to the point that he has not much to live for beyond the Duchy and of course there is no room for entertainment in his life.When the two of them meet, it will be like watching titans clash, much to their mothers’ dismay. But it seems that opposites do attract and there will come a time that neither can deny the feelings for the other…Until a secret comes to light regarding the nature of their meeting, one that might be the end to their budding romance…

Full Circle


Irina Shapiro - 2011
    As Rebecca lives through Lily’s joys and heartbreaks, she gets drawn deeper and deeper into Lily’s world. Who is Lily, and what is her connection to Rebecca? Are these dreams a product of her imagination, or are they memories of another life? Unable to suppress her need for answers any longer, Rebecca travels to London to search for clues, and as she delves into the past, she finds her own unexpected future.

These Old Shades / Sprig Muslin / Sylvester / The Corinthian / The Convenient Marriage


Georgette Heyer - 1977
    Hilarious comedy, fast moving drama, romance spiced with wit and charm - Miss Heyer combines all this with the period conversation and manners she knows to perfection.These five books will give hours of entertainment and lasting pleasure.