Book picks similar to
The Portrait by Joan Wolf


romance-historical
historical-romance
romance
heroines-unusual-careers

Her Smile


Carla Kelly - 2021
    Thanks to an impulsive request from Elizabeth Ann Everett, the Everett family from Omaha, Nebraska, become tourists on a vacation in newly created Yellowstone National Park. The year is 1877 and the weather is fine, . When the Nez Perce, fleeing the U.S. Army, charge into a tourist camp, pampered, wealthy Elizabeth Everett gets more than she bargains for. So do the Nez Perce.

On A Train Bound For Nowhere


Susan Leigh Carlton - 2017
    Unadopted and nearing the maximum age for the Foundling Home, Mary Catherine is given a choice by the mother superior, and decides to take the orphan train looking for a future. Trace Jennings is a shy young man who lost his father in the Civil War. Raised by his mother, he lives on a ranch in Helena, Montana. Raw from a disastrous mail order marriage, romance is not on his agenda. Faced with the obstacles life has dealt them, can Mary Catherine and Trace find romance and have a life together?

The Sheikh King's Ward


Leslie North - 2021
    But he’s stunned when the “girl” turns out to be a twenty-seven-year-old American beauty, Fiona Nadide.According to a secret stipulation in her father’s will, Fiona will not obtain her inheritance and be free from guardianship unless she marries before her 28th birthday. But to Fiona, arranged marriages are archaic. She has absolutely no intention of getting married, and certainly not to a man handpicked by Bashar. The truth is, the only man she’s interested in is her smouldering guardian.As his ward, Fiona is strictly off limits to Bashar, and his advisors would be shocked if they knew where his thoughts about Fiona were drifting. Problem is, Bas can’t stop wishing he could have her for himself.

So Wright


Skye Jordan - 2019
    She’s about to break ground on her dream of building green, affordable houses for retired veterans, and she’s not about to let anything alter her plans—especially not a sexy know-it-all architect from New York. Her strict, no-seconds rule has kept her heart safe this far, so why fix what isn’t broken?When a family crisis strikes, Jack Taylor is on the next flight to Nashville. But coming home stirs up more betrayal than answers, and he finds the perfect distraction in a feisty but guarded brunette. Only, one-night turns into a whole lot more, and Jack finds himself all-in by the time he discovers that Miranda’s secrets may very well cost him not only the family business, but his heart.

Gentlemen Always Play Fair


Cheryl Bolen - 2016
     Unaware of the tales of Lord Stacks' wickedness, Freddie Lambeth comes to live with her guardian, and through his caring blossoms from a plain, shabbily dressed girl to a lovely young woman. Freddie and Lord Stacks come to need each other as his flowers need sunshine, but Stacks cannot allow himself to love her. His own wickedness has destroyed any chance for happiness. HIGHLANDER IN HER BED by Allie Mackay Tour guide Mara MacDougall stops at a London antique shop-and spots perhaps the handsomest bed ever. Then she bumps into the handsomest man ever. Soon Mara can't forget the irresistible-if haughty-Highlander. Not even when she learns that she's inherited a Scottish castle. Spectral Sir Alexander Douglas has hated the Clan MacDougall since he was a medieval knight and they tricked him into a curse-the curse of forever haunting the bed (the very one that Mara now owns) that was once intended for his would-be bride. But Mara makes him feel what no other MacDougall has-a passion that he never knew he'd missed. MY HIGHLAND LORD by Tarah Scott London Heiress kidnapped by the Marquess of Ashlund, read the headlines. Yet no one tried to save her. British spy Phoebe Wallington searches for answers to exonerate her father of treason. Her quest veers off course when she's kidnapped by suspected traitor Kiernan MacGregor, the Marquess of Ashlund. But someone wants him dead…and Phoebe stands in the killer's way. The only way to save her reputation and protect Kiernan is to marry him. MY LADY THE SPY by Barbara Devlin Can the mind forget what the eyes have seen? L’araignee, The Spider, is England’s most notorious spy--and Lady Rebecca Wentworth’s alter ego. After her partner in espionage is killed in the line of duty, Rebecca returns to London, only to discover a traitor has compromised the war effort from the highest levels of the vaunted Counterintelligence Corps. To lure the villain into the open, Rebecca embarks on a new mission, acting as prey for a dangerous enemy. But it is the handsome former Navy captain tasked with her safety that presents the greatest threat, when she falls in love. THE WICKED LADY by Brenda Jernigan The Thief When Trevor Claremont was blind-sided by a pickpocket on the docks beside his clipper ship, he tracked down the culprit--only to face a feisty, emerald-eyed beauty who stirred his hungriest desires. Seeing a solution to his pressing problem of finding a bride to please his dying grandmother, he offered her a deal: marriage to him...or prison, never imaging that this little cut-purse would also steal his heart. The Sea Captain Kristen Johnstone realized she’d been outfoxed by this handsome Englishman and reluctantly agreed to a marriage in name only. Soon, she traded rags for resplendent gowns, black alleys for drawing rooms, and fury for fiery passion in the arms of her new husband. But when the scandalous secrets of her past came to light, she would risk everything, including her heart to save a love more precious than gold.

Katerina and the Reclusive Earl (Sisters of Castle Fortune #3)


Alicia Cameron - 2022
    

The Grateful Bride's Passion


Rowan Gracemill - 2020
    She has a pretty face and a sweet, grateful heart, and she's a wonder with small children. But when she nearly loses her nanny position at Pendleton Hall over a false accusation, she is sentenced to the laundry, where the endless, backbreaking work promises her no future. What were these false accusations? Can she prove her innocence?A fellow servant introduces Cassie to The Matrimonial Times. Cassie jumps at the idea of finding a husband and home of her own as a mail-order bride. Soon she is writing to Jake Everly, a Nebraska rancher, intrigued by his large extended family and small town lifestyle. Did she overreact, or did she make the right decision?When Jake proposes marriage, Cassie gratefully accepts. But while she waits for him to send the funds for her trip West, a tragic accident leaves her forever physically and emotionally scarred. What was the accident? Will Jake still want her as his wife after what happened to her?While Cassie is traveling to Nebraska, she meets a man named Zach Wright. He is going to Nebraska too, with his little nephew Samuel. When Cassie offers to help him with the toddler, Zach gratefully accepts, and watches in awe as the child instantly takes to her. Is this enough to make Zach fall in love with Cassie?Zach is prepared for life as a minister and carpenter in Nebraska, but he needs someone to help him care for his adopted little boy. Cassie longs for a family and a home, but wonders if anyone can love her now. What will happen with the arrangement between Jake and Cassie? Are love and happiness meant for Cassie, Zach, Jake, and Samuel?

Sunshine for Christmas: A Holiday Novella


Mary Jo Putney - 2002
    Chance brings him to Naples—where it's also raining. But the rain clears, and as he discovers the city, a pleasant young English governess rescues him from an altercation with a flirtatious girl and her protective family.Miss Elizabeth Walker is between jobs and taking a holiday in Naples when she meets the quiet, handsome Englishman. When he proposes that she act as his guide for the next few days, she accepts, because they enjoy each other's company. Elizabeth matter-of-factly recognizes that, of course, she'll fall quietly in love with him, and nothing will come of it, but she'll have some lovely memories to cherish in her old age. ...and finding a second chance at love... As they come to know each other better, Randolph starts thinking thoughts of forever, but that seems impossible—until fate takes an alarming hand.Author's Note: The hero of Sunshine for Christmas was a secondary character in my RITA winning novel, The Rake . A foolish youthful mistake had cost him the woman he loved. But doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?Originally published in the Christmas Revels anthology

Betting on a Lady's Heart (His Majesty's Hounds Book 14)


Arietta Richmond - 2018
     Gervaise Belmont, Viscount Woodridge, has sworn to no longer gamble – but giving it up is proving far harder than he had expected. He despairs of achieving his aims, especially as the reputation he created, two years earlier, persists, destroying his opportunities for change. Until a chance meeting with a young lady gives him a reason to hope. Miss Clarisse Weston is disconsolate. Her father has, after many, many years, married again – and her relationship with her stepmother is strained, to say the least. When she is encouraged to look for a husband, she feels trapped. Whilst her father has introduced her to a charming Earl, she finds herself uncertain – especially as the Viscount she met by accident wishes to court her too. But all is not as it seems, and a tangle of lies, deceptions and betrayals soon traps Clarisse. Is the Earl all that he seems? Is the Viscount truly a rake and a gambler beyond redemption? Is her stepmother as concerned for Clarisse’s wellbeing as she professes to be? And can Clarisse find her way through the web of deceit, to be with the man she loves, or will greed and manipulation steal her chance at happiness forever?

Deceived Mail-Order Bride


Margaret Tanner - 2019
    The streets of New Orleans beckon unless she can quickly find another job. Unemployed and desperate, she decides to become a Mail-Order Bride for a wealthy businessman. She arrives at Dry River with six-year-old orphaned Max to a drunk and abusive prospective groom. Connor Grey believes he is not worthy of a woman’s love because of his scarred face. He sees Anna being abused, and after stepping in to help is left with her and the child. Anna’s situation is now dire. She came to marry one man, dare she wed another? How could a marriage between her and Connor work, even if the hand of fate appears to be pushing them together?

Saving The Broken Highlander


Ann Marie Scott - 2019
    Caitlyn despises him immediately.He may be brave and imposing, but this man is also curt, overbearing and unable to open up to women. Was it up to her, she wouldn't choose to spend an hour with him, but at this point, he is her only hope for saving her mother.When they reach his castle, she can not imagine what is concealed inside.In one of the rooms, Caitlyn will find a fragile and isolated young lass who had not seen the sunlight for months. That's what's left from Ava, Alastair's beautiful sister after bandits attempted to rape her.The two of them come close, and Ava will decides to reveal the truth about her brother's tormented past and the horrendous games of fate that shaped his character. Caitlyn has never met a person she can't touch with her kind heart, but this man seems to have lost all lust for life.When the bandits that attacked Ava return, Alastair, will have to face his external and internal demons or lose everything he loves. "Saving the Broken Highlander" is a standalone story packed with emotion, romance, and redemption, set on the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

Welcome to Seabury


Beth Rain - 2021
    Why would she when life's pretty much perfect as it is?She's lived in the gorgeous coastal town of Seabury all her life - well, apart from that three-month blip in London - but she doesn't like to think about that.Now she's back where she belongs - running her tiny seafront cafe, The Sardine, with her rescue dog Stanley at her side, and the occasional romantic (though decidedly brief) visit from a certain gorgeous French fisherman.But when the local gossip-vine starts buzzing with the news that New York Froth is coming to town, it's not just the super-snazzy coffee chain that's got Kate on the hop - Mike Pendle, its rude, grumpy owner, seems hell-bent on demolishing her life - one nightmare encounter at a time.Is The Sardine safe? Will Kate manage to weather this summer storm? Or will the waves of change washing over Seabury prove too strong for her to swim against?A summery read full of friendship, fun and laughter! For fans of Holly Martin, Polly Babbington and Heidi Swain.Welcome to Seabury is the first novella in the Seabury series - and part one of Kate's story.

Highlander's Twin Flame


Shona Thompson - 2020
    That's what Adamina, the wife of Laird Domnhall Buchan, was. All he wanted was to worship her, but she never allowed him to get close.After returning from a trip looking soft and vulnerable, Domnhall crosses every limit between them to be with her. And after a taste, he can't get enough.Allie is heading towards a life that is not hers to a man she doesn't belong to. One day, she is just a maid. The next one, she is traveling to take her place as the wife of a Laird.This is her punishment for sharing the same face as Lady Adamina of the Buchan Clan. She gave Allie a choice: "either take my place or die."There's fine a line between right and wrong, and Allie crosses it when she accepts the deal and surrenders to the husband that she shouldn't love.With happiness within their grasp, they don't know that the dream will become a nightmare and that, when Adamina returns, the truth will crush them both…Love and hate share the same face, and he's thirsty for them both…"Highlander's Twin Flame" is a Historical Scottish romance novel of more than 80,000 words (around 440 pages). STANDALONE, No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.*If you like brawny Highland warriors with a soft heart, and steamy romantic stories depicting the majestic and mysterious Scottish Highlands, then Highlander's Twin Flame is the perfect novel for you.

A Courtesan Countess Worth the Scandal


Ava MacAdams - 2021
    When her family is threatened, she does the one thing she can to protect them: publishes a book exposing them all.After his disaster of a marriage, Liam Westwood, the Earl of Keswick, made a sacred pact: never fall in love again. Having spent his years abroad, he never expected to meet a vixen that would test his sanity and haunt his nights upon his return.With the Ton’s most scandalous secrets hiding between the pages of her book, Nora has no shortage of people who wish to see her suffer. And some are determined to see her ruined. When the manuscript falls in Liam’s hands, his feelings of betrayal are overshadowed by a single thing: a name that jumps out more than all the others put together. His.

Broke-Ass Women's Club


Sharon Sala - 2021
    All but one of them are left penniless and about to lose their homes, and all of them are too shocked to grieve.Finding out they'd been deceived was bad enough, but coming face to face with each other at the funeral home wasn't quite what they'd expected. Before the day was over, the first wife--the only legal one--made them an offer they couldn't refuse...From Sharon Sala, a winner of numerous honors including the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, this is a poignant, funny story of four women wrestling with betrayal, grief, and anger--and finding hope for the future in their unexpected friendship.Praise for Sharon Sala's novels: "A well-written, fast-paced ride." --Publishers Weekly"There are not many authors who can write a story with such depth and emotion." --RT Book Reviews