Book picks similar to
Abel's Daughter by Meg Hutchinson


fiction
romance
historical
library-fiction

The American Heiress


Daisy Goodwin - 2010
    Traveling abroad with her mother at the turn of the twentieth century to seek a titled husband, beautiful, vivacious Cora Cash, whose family mansion in Newport dwarfs the Vanderbilts', suddenly finds herself Duchess of Wareham, married to Ivo, the most eligible bachelor in England. Nothing is quite as it seems, however: Ivo is withdrawn and secretive, and the English social scene is full of traps and betrayals. Money, Cora soon learns, cannot buy everything, as she must decide what is truly worth the price in her life and her marriage. Witty, moving, and brilliantly entertaining, Cora's story marks the debut of a glorious storyteller who brings a fresh new spirit to the world of Edith Wharton and Henry James.

Escapade


Jane Aiken Hodge - 1993
    There, Charlotte meets Beth Prior, friend of her mother, actress, and member of the demi-monde. Beth sees Charlotte as the perfect cover for her role as a spy, and the two set off for Palermo, Sicily. In Sicily, the two become embroiled in political intrigue, and Beth begins to question her involvement in British politics. Charlotte and Beth find adventure and romance in Palermo amid the glittering stage lights and hidden agendas of the aristocracy.

Courteously Seduced by an Enigmatic Duke


Scarlett Osborne - 2020
     The astoundingly beautiful older daughter of the Duke of Gresham cares very little about titles, wealth or marriage. Until the day her parents bring her before the harsh reality: in the absence of a male heir, they stand to lose the Dukedom. Born and raised in Australia, the successful sheep rancher Rowland Albertson isn’t prepared for what appears to be his inescapable destiny. Not only is he presented with an unexpected claim to the title of Duke, but also with a pair of stunning mismatched eyes. Sudden and overwhelming, their eagerness to be together, to experience such ecstasy with each other, threatens to consume their every sense. But the past has a way of returning, and Rowland’s comes back with a vengeance. A woman with a single letter, able to set Rowland and Hannah’s future on fire and watch it burn…

Montana Rose


Deann Smallwood - 2016
    There’s no doubt in her mind that if given another chance, she can make a success of homesteading. She will not fail this time. People scoff, saying ranching is too much of a job for a lone woman to undertake. But Rose is no ordinary woman. She may be petite, stylish, and beautiful, but she is also strong and driven. Every aspect of ranching brings joy to her heart. Then why is she here in Wise River, Montana, taking orders from a mean-spirited school board and attempting something she has no clue how to do? Teaching? Jesse Rivers carries his own baggage on his wide shoulders. He’s been called home by a dying stepmother to take over the Rocking R Ranch and the care of a belligerent and wounded brother. A rugged, lanky cowboy, Jesse is also demanding, surly, and afraid to love. No, he can’t love. What if he has buried inside him the same volatile anger as his father, resulting in brutality by strong fists or a whip? Then Jesse meets Rose. Strong willed, outspoken, determined, and oh-so-desirable.

Johanna Lindsey CD Collection 6


Johanna Lindsey - 2009
    Worse still, he is engaged to a stranger who has mocked him in public. But his bride-to-be, Ophelia, has been guiding a lovely and witty, if dreadfully inexperienced, country girl named Sabrina through the latter's all-important first coming-out season. The enchanting Sabrina enthralls Duncan much more than his own intended does, and she shares his passionate feelings as well. But duty and circumstance - plus a scandal in Sabrina's family past - have made it impossible for her and the dashing highlander to be together . . . unless true love can somehow, miraculously, find a way.The Devil Who Tamed Her:Ophelia Reid is an incomparable beauty with a reputation for starting rumors and spreading them. Having purposely wrecked her engagement to Duncan MacTavish, a future marquis, which her social-climbing father arranged, Ophelia wants to return to London’s marriage mart and make her own choice of a wealthy husband. But on her journey home, something unexpected happens…The heir to a dukedom, Raphael Locke, Viscount Lynnfield is – in spite of his disinterest in marriage – the most sought-after young lord in England. He instantly disliked Ophelia when she caused a scandal to avoid marriage to his friend MacTavish, but having comforted her in a tearful moment, he begins to wonder if she’s not all bad. So when MacTavish claims that Ophelia will never be anything but a spiteful beauty, Rafe bets his best friend that he can turn her into a kind-hearted lady who will one day make a good match, just not with him.With her parents’ blessing, Rafe commandeers Ophelia’s coach and whisks her – chaperoned, of course – to his remote estate in the countryside. There, as he tries to show his furious, sharp-tongued “guest” the error of her ways, he discovers the surprising reasons for her bad behavior. Soon his daily lessons with Ophelia take effect and he finds himself irresistibly attracted to her. When Rafe champions the new and improved Ophelia’s re-entry to London society, marriage proposals pour in. Only then does Rafe start to wonder whether he hasn’t gone and fallen in love with Ophelia himself.A Rogue of My Own:How does an innocent lady find herself forced to wed a royal spy who seduced her – by mistake? For Lady Rebecca Marshall, a whirlwind of passion and excitement begins when, to her mother’s great delight, she becomes a maid of honor at the court of Queen Victoria. Rebecca’s mother sees this appointment as a golden opportunity for Rebecca to make a good match.At court, Rebecca innocently steps into the rivalry between the queen’s spymaster and the noblewoman in charge of the maids of honor who is using the maids to spy on powerful courtiers. Soon Rebecca is entangled in a web of deceit with the charming marquis Rupert St. John. The devastatingly handsome n’er-do-well is the cousin of Raphael Locke, with whom Rebecca was once infatuated. What she doesn’t know is that Rupert is a secret agent of the crown who leads a double life.When Rupert obtains proof that Rebecca is spying on him, he seduces her. He hardly suspects her guileless nature. Forced to the altar, Rupert believes that Rebecca has set a trap of the worst sort in order to marry into his powerful family. Although he vows never to be faithful to his beautiful wife, as Rupert comes to know Rebecca’s wit, adventurous spirit, and generous nature, his vow of revenge turns into a desire to share many passionate nights only with his wife for the rest of his life.Warm, witty, and filled with the “deliciously sexy” (Booklist) flirtation that makes each of her bestsellers an irresistible gem, A Rogue of My Own will have listeners falling in love with Johanna Lindsey all over again!

Cupidity


Holly Hepburn - 2013
    Modern day matchmaking is tough – people are busy, their hearts are harder to hit and he’s had enough of wall-to-wall romance. And St Valentine has noticed…Annelise is a Lost Cause. She runs a dating agency but her heart is colder than a penguin’s feet. She thinks love is about compatibility and has no time for passion.Can Cupid prove to St Valentine that he hasn’t lost his touch by melting Annelise’s heart? Or is it curtains for Cupid?A romantic comedy novella - 23,000 words long'Gorgeously romantic, unputdownable and utterly delicious!' Miranda Dickinson, Sunday Times Bestseller (Fairytale of New York, It Started With A Kiss, When I Fall In Love)'A completely charming, fantastically funny, romantic romp, perfect reading for a sunny afternoon.' Scarlett Bailey (Married by Christmas, The Night Before Christmas, Santa Maybe)

Parkside Community Church: The Complete Collection


Katie Crabapple - 2013
    Follow the lives of Pastor Dan and Anna as they meet, get engaged and begin their lives together. This anthology combines the short stories: A Bride for Pastor Dan, Ready Made Family, The Bridesmaid, Riley’s Song and Heartbreak.

The Grace Kelly Dress


Brenda Janowitz - 2020
    Three generations of women. A lifetime of love. In Paris, 1958, Grace Kelly’s royal wedding dress is still all the rage in fashion circles. Rose, a seamstress at a famous atelier, has just been entrusted with sewing another gown in its image. An orphan, she needs her job to survive. But when Rose finds herself in love with the bride’s handsome brother, she must decide what matters most: love or security.Sixty years later, Rocky is thrilled to be marrying the love of her life. He truly is her perfect fit. But there’s just one problem: her family’s heirloom wedding dress isn’t. Rocky knows this admission will break her mother’s heart. What she doesn’t know is why her mother is so set on the dress—or about the shocking secret that changed her mother’s life decades before, as she prepared to wear the dress herself. As the wedding day approaches, the mother-daughter pair will finally confront long-buried heartaches, and it might just be the dress that brings them closer than ever.Life-affirming, heartwarming and timeless, Brenda Janowitz’s The Grace Kelly Dress is about the importance of tradition, new and old, and the power of a dress to fulfill even the most impossible of dreams.

Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes - Reviewed


J.T. Salrich - 2016
    Salrich.Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes is the heartwarming story of a paralyzed young man who sees nothing left to live for, and the young woman who is trying to convince him otherwise... Now you can make your reading better with… Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes - Reviewed When Jojo Moyes wrote Me Before You she created an instant “Classic” that has touched the hearts of millions of readers around the world. When you read this companion guide you will get a deeper understanding of the characters and plot found in Me Before You, as well as the themes included in the novel. You also get a detailed chapter by chapter breakdown and analysis of the events as they unfold along with a glossary of the important characters and terms used in the original book. Just in case that’s not enough for you I’ve also included a list of possible study questions (book club discussions topics) and quotes from the book that I found interesting. Wrapping it all up is a discussion of the critical reviews for Me Before You as well as my overall opinion of the book. Plus much more! This review/summary fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience of the original book. Whether you’re reading this for a book club, school report, or just want to find out what happens before diving into the full length book, you can use this book review and study guide to get most out of your experience reading Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.

Now and Forever


Margaret Scutt - 2021
    But if she thinks she’s safe at home, she is wrong.Her scheming brother wants to marry her off to a fortune-hunter, and he won’t take no for an answer. Out on a lonely walk, Catherine is attacked and left for dead.Could this be her brother’s doing?Catherine won’t wait to find out. Her childhood friend, Martin Lacey, lives in the manor house across the woods, and there was a time when he would have done anything for her.But in the turmoil of Restoration England, nothing lasts forever. Will turning up at Martin’s door be the saving of her — or the end?

Wanderlust


Danielle Steel - 1986
    Orphaned young, Audrey has grown up caring for her eccentric millionaire grandfather and her demanding younger sister, Annabelle, who assume she will always be there for them. Sheltered yet restless, responsible beyond her years yet hungering for experience, Audrey is hopelessly bound until she herself makes the daring decision to leave. As the 1930s unfold, alone, camera in hand, she will shock friends and outrage family as she plunges headlong into the wider world.Crossing the Atlantic aboard the luxurious Queen Mary, Audrey meets James and Violet Hawthorne, who will draw her into a sophisticated circle of artists and expatriates. And it is they who will introduce her to Charles Parker-Scott, in who Audrey will come to recognize a twin soul, a man propelled by relentless curiosity and driven by conflicting needs for intimacy and independence. Together they will spend an exquisite summer at Cap d'Antibes, then board the Orient Express on an adventure that will carry them to a remote outpost in China. But at the farthest reaches of this journey Aubrey must choose again. Japan has attacked China. Charles knows he must return to Europe at once. But Audrey becomes involved with a besieged orphanage and decides to remain in China without Charles, caring for the abandoned children until help arrives. In time Audrey will return to America with a daughter of her own. While she must come home to San Francisco to confront a world irrevocably changed by time, she finds she cannot stay. From prewar Germany to London during the Blitz, from a wrenching reunion with Charles to a war zone in North Africa, again and again she must choose between the dictates of her conscience and the yearnings of her heart. For Audrey Driscoll and the men and women whose lives touch hers, wanderlust is the inescapable element. Born at a time when women were expected to stay close to home and fulfill traditional roles, Audrey is compelled to follow the thread of events that will destroy the complacency of the past and shape the future. From Europe to China, from San Francisco to North Africa, she is irresistibly drawn into a man's world of conflict, discovery, and danger. In a vivid novel of breathtaking scope, Danielle Steel has once again surpassed herself in creating an unforgettable tale of men and women caught in the tides of personal drama and historic event. Wanderlust is Danielle Steel's finest journey.

One and a Half Weddings for Lady Emily


Hazel Linwood - 2021
    Until her first husband, Richard Banfield, shows up on her wedding day, very much alive.Edward Templeton, the Marquess of Frampton, is crushed when his dreams of marrying Emily are shattered. Haunted by the possibility of losing her forever, he must do everything in his power to keep her by his side.But Richard is here to stay. With law and church on his side, he has every right to claim her for himself. Stuck in the middle between the two men she loves, Emily unwillingly starts a war. Secrets and scandal are hiding behind every corner, so how can she be sure of who to really trust?

Tales Ablaze of a Sinless Lady


Ava MacAdams - 2020
    And while her only way out is to marry above her station, true love is what she desires. Until she is caught in a compromising situation.When Leonard Whitfield, the Marquess of Cunningham, is caught alone with Lady Juliet while being betrothed to another, the scandal rocks London. However, the fire she ignites inside him makes the prospect of salvaging her honor all the more intoxicating.After a terrible accident costs Leonard his memory, Juliet is determined to help him remember the passion they shared. However, a single letter plants the seeds of doubt in his mind and threatens their very own lives: a sinister letter that promises death written in Juliet’s own hand...

A Challenge of Love and Faith


Lilah Rivers - 2019
    He’s fled from a tragic past, but his heartache is far from over, when his brother, a rising literary star and his wife are both killed. Right then, he decides to step up and take care of the orphaned son they left behind. While Aaron and his nephew attempt to create a new family, a kind, beautiful woman will unexpectedly enter their lives. Her positivity is refreshing, but she has troubles of her own. Can the three of them find the courage to mend their broken hearts and start anew?Mae has had her fair share of loss in her life, but faith is what kept her strong in the face of all the obstacles thrown her way. Her kindness and grace impress the new salesman in town, when she goes to work for him as a seamstress. As they draw closer, her faith seems to bring him solace but Mae keeps secrets of her own. Can she help bring the new family together, or will her own troubles tear them apart?Relentless, greedy publishers will try to discredit Aaron, and other forces will try to keep him apart from Mae. In this tale of love and faith, will the new family’s courage shine through or will a storm of envy and chaos wash them away forever?"A Challenge of Love and Faith" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

A Heart Filled With Joy


Indiana Wake - 2021
    His neighbors have been a great help with his daughter Charlotte, but he can’t work and take care of her properly.The town matchmaker Emma Hilton has the perfect woman to help Bradley with his baby girl.Nanny Shannon Howell loves taking care of children, but she’d also like to find a husband. She’s eager to travel west in hopes of finding a family to call her own. Shannon is happy to help Bradley with baby Charlotte. Unfortunately, Shannon’s former employer is having problems letting her go.Will the man that traveled across the country drag her back to the east?Has Shannon found the place where she can be her true self with Bradley and Charlotte in Lubbock, Texas?Find out in the first book in a brand new series from Bestselling Mail Order Bride Authors Indiana Wake & Belle Fiffer