Book picks similar to
Willed To Wed by Wilma Counts


regency
historical-romance
traditional-regency
arranged-marriage-or-marriage-of-co

Wicked and Wonderful


Valerie King - 2005
    Why, the infuriating man, Judith Lovington fumes. For the past few years, she has enjoyed life as a songstress with a group of traveling actors. Better still, she's escaped her noble family's dictates--and an unwanted marriage. ...BUT TEMPTATION How could she have known that Lord Kelthorne, a devilishly handsome rake, would fall head-over-heels for her? Or that he would outwit every strategem she and her friends could invent to discourage his pursuit? Even worse, he is revealing an unexpectedly appealing determination that shows he wants more from Judith than mere...pleasure. In fact, the imprudent lord refuses to give up!

Beauty and the Spymaster


Moriah Densley - 2014
    Enjoying herself makes it easier to hide a dark reality. A tragic turn of events forces her to take refuge in the last place on earth she belongs: a church. Julian Grey wants everyone to believe he's a quiet country vicar, but Helena discovers his secret. He never expected her to help catch a traitor to the crown, and he's even more shocked to discover she has quite a talent for it. But he's not the only one with a claim on Helena...

An Improper Companion


Karla Hocker - 1989
    Despite her fetching blue eyes and sable hair, Kate Elliott remained every bit the prim and practical schoolmistress. Few at Miss Venable's Seminary for Young Ladies would have dreamed that Kate had entertained romantic notions in her girlhood! At twenty-eight, she remained firmly on the shelf and—with the closing of the school—firmly unemployed. Hence, she welcomed the invitation to be Liza Ashcroft's chaperone for the Season at Bath. But how would she endure the girl's father? Patience was not in her nature... Damien Ashcroft was certain that Miss Elliott would be the ideal companion for his daughter. A wallflower of quiet virtues, she would neither distract the handsome widower from scholarly pursuits nor be bothered by his impatient nature. So he was stunned to discover that the impudent Miss Elliott was outspoken to a fare-thee-well. And shocked when sassy Kate made his pulse race—and even more so when he began to not mind quite so much…

Tenant of Chesdene Manor


Alice Chetwynd Ley - 1974
     Could a mysterious stranger be the answer to Diana’s prayers…? 1809, England After the death of Sir Peter Chalfont his daughter, Diana, and her mother were left nearly penniless and at the mercy of their relative Sir Sidney, who inherited the Chalfont estate. Sir Sidney had no plans to retire to the countryside from his frivolous life in London and the women were allowed to remain at Chesdene Manor. But with no money for upkeep, the grand building soon fell into disrepair. Intelligent and headstrong, Diana is determined to take her future into her own hands. She advertises for a tenant in the hope of supplying herself with an income. But who is the strange man who agrees to the lease? Why does he seem to have a particular interest in the building? And how long can Diana keep her home before the rakish Sir Sidney returns to claim it…? TENANT OF CHESDENE MANOR is a classic Regency Romance by Alice Chetwynd Ley: a traditional British, historical adventure story with a twist of suspense and mystery, set during the Napoleonic Wars. ‘Alice’s books were amongst the first Regencies I ever read and I’ve loved them ever since’ – The Word Wenches ‘These vintage Regency romances hover somewhere between Jane Austen and the genre as we know it today. I really enjoy them.’ - Sonya’s Stuff

Rolande


Clare Darcy - 1978
    INTO BOY -- She was cunningly trained to act out the role of a missing lad who stood to inherit the most fabulous fortune in England. INTO BEAUTY -- She was just as capable of donning a wig and a revealing gown to play the part of a devastating society seductress. INTO BATTLE -- But nothing had prepared Rolande to face the charm of a captivating, conscienceless aristocrat on one hand, and the danger of an unknown assailant of the other...as suddenly she had her fair hands full in a fight for life and love that she dared not lose...

A Court of Thorns for Lady Ambergrave


Emma Linfield - 2020
    Until the day her father announces that she is to marry a stranger.Gideon Merriweather, the Marquess of Ambergrave, has searched far and wide for a reprieve from his pain. Heartbroken after his parents' unfair death, there is but a single cure: vengeance. Vengeance that starts with marrying Lady Luciana.While striving to accept their fate, they cannot escape their luxuriating emotions.An uninvited visitor and an old envelope with an unbroken seal open Luciana's eyes to a lifelong lie, forcing her to make a difficult decision. She must leave Gideon to save them both from a fate worse than death.

His Wayward Duchess (The Lady Adventuress, #1)


Daphne du Bois - 2014
    Who better to help him set the crumbling estate to rights? But Miss Millforte is much more than Sylvester, or even she herself, could ever imagine! When Holly turns the tables on him, charming London society and stealing his heart into the bargain, can their marriage take a most inconvenient turn towards love instead? An old-fashioned comedy of manners in which adventure, blackmail, rakish cousins and true love abound…

The Original Miss Honeyford


Marion Chesney - 1985
    Honoraria obeyed. But if she was reluctantly willing to surrender her hand, this beautiful young lady who could ride, shoot, and argue with any man was not about to lose her head or her heart to any of the dismal cads 'n lads of the Marriage Mart. First she met the arrogantly attractive Lord Alistair Stewart, who treated her infuriatingly like a little girl. And then she met the skillfully seductive Lord Channington, who treated her intoxicatingly like the desirable full-grown woman that she was. But now that she had a choice, which role would she choose and just how much risk was she willing to run?ABOUT THE SERIESDetermined heroines run the gamut from those who set out by running a confectioners sweet shop to others who are willing to disguise themselves as boys to get by and do what they have to do. Whatever the matter, the Regency series brings us heroines of style, grace, and determination - women who are not afraid to use their smarts to seek the stature or standing they feel they need. They may come from humble beginnings (or not, depending) but what these heroines share is a determination unmatched that leaves us turning page after page as we follow them in their dance.

A Lady's Point of View


Jacqueline Diamond - 1989
    When she accidentally cuts the prince’s friend Beau Brummell at a ball, the scandal sends her packing to the countryside. Her faulty eyesight causes her to enter the wrong coach, which delivers her to the estate of handsome Lord Bryn. He mistakes her for the governess who was due to arrive from London.Preferring work over a life of isolation, she goes along with the erroneous impression, and can’t help adoring his mischievous orphaned niece and nephew. When Meg begins falling in love with the handsome lord just as he’s about to become engaged to another woman, however, she can’t see a way out of her dilemma.This is a lighthearted tale in the traditional Regency style—no sex, but plenty of romantic complications and a happy ending. It has been lightly revised since its original print publication.

The Dutiful Rake


Elizabeth Rolls - 2002
    But when an act of charity placed his charge's spotless reputation in jeopardy, Marcus knew he must do the honorable thing. There was no point in pretending he was in love. So in return for Miss Marguerite Fellowes's discretion and children, the earl offered his name and protection.Then Marcus watched as proud Meg blossomed in London society. Meg's smile was perhaps the loveliest he'd ever seen, and the glow in her eyes made him feel wildly out of control. Tantalized by her evident passion for life, the dutiful rake soon found himself consumed by far from innocent desires ...

My One and Only Duke


Grace Burrowes - 2018
    The next, he's declared the long-lost heir to a dukedom. Quinn has fought his way up from the vilest slums, and now he's ready to use every dirty trick he knows to find the enemy who schemed against him.There was just one tiny problem...Jane Winston, the widowed, pregnant daughter of a meddlesome prison preacher, crosses paths with Quinn in jail. Believing his days are numbered, Quinn offers Jane marriage as a way to guarantee her independence and provide for her child. Neither thinks they'll actually have a future together.They were wrong.He's a wealthy gutter rat out for vengeance. She's a minister's daughter who must turn a marriage of desperation into a proper ducal union. Are they doomed from the start or destined for a happily-ever-after?

The Earl's Dilemma


Emily May - 2008
    He’s resigned himself to a marriage of convenience and has even chosen a bride: Kate Honeycourt, his best friend’s sister.Kate has been on the shelf for years. Why, then, does she so firmly turn him down? Surely she can’t be holding out for a love match?But Kate has a proposal of her own: she’ll find James a bride he can fall in love with.Armed with a list of requirements, Kate sets out to find James the perfect wife. But things don’t progress as either of them expect…A Regency romance featuring an earl who needs to marry in a hurry, the spinster he turns to for help, and a list that grows…and grows…and grows.

Christmas Kisses


Cynthia A. Clement - 2014
    When he finally comes home to celebrate the holidays it’s to introduce his fiancée to his family.Will the Christmas season give them a second chance at happiness? Or will honor demand they separate forever?

The Society Catch


Louise Allen - 2004
    But all her hard effort to improve herself comes to nothing when it looks as if Giles is about to propose--to someone else!Deciding that bad behaviour is infinitely more attractive than perfection, Joanna flees her shocked family. Giles is hot on her trail, determined to catch her and bring her safely home. But will he be as determined to make her his bride?

A Civil Contract


Georgette Heyer - 1961
    When his father, a crony of Prince Regent, is killed in the hunting field, Adam becomes the 6th Viscount Lynton of Fontley Priory, Lincolnshire. But he returns from the Peninsular War to find his magnificent home in disrepair and his family on the brink of ruin, with the broad acres of his ancestral home mortgaged to the hilt. He is madly in love with the beautiful Julia Oversley but soon realises that the drastic measure of a marriage of convenience is the only answer. Enter Mr Jonathan Chawleigh, a City man of apparently unlimited wealth with no social ambitions for himself, but with his eyes firmly fixed on a suitable match for his one and only daughter, the quiet and decidedly plain Jenny Chawleigh. A marriage is arranged.Adam chafes under Mr. Chawleigh's generosity, and Julia's jealous behavior upon hearing of the betrothal nearly brings them all into a scandal. But Adam didn't reckon with the Jenny nobody knew, or the unknown quality that lay hidden behind her demure and plain facade, who bring him comfort and eventually more....