Book picks similar to
The Discreet Servant by Stein Willard


romance
historical-romance
hidden-gender
historical-fiction

Pining & Loving


Emma Sterner-Radley - 2019
    Which one carries the highest cost? And what price is worth paying? The quiet, tough Aya Lawson has been forced to leave her career as a professional boxer behind and now scrambles for a purpose. Gwen Davies is a chatty barista, and artist in her free time, who lives with clinical depression. They both have battles to fight but they also have something else in common - pining over the woman of their dreams. When daydreams one day meet reality, things get complicated. Is it best to stay with what’s safe? Or to fall and maybe break? If they do take the chance and break, who will get back up?

New Storm Rising (Storm and Silence, #7)


Robert Thier - 2021
    

47 Ronin


Dimetrios C. Manolatos - 2010
    We are born and raised to serve our lord and shogun. Our code dictates selflessness and death to be more honorable than failure, whether on the battlefield or even over the most insignificant dispute.In eighteenth-century Japan, the lord of a samurai clan is sentenced to death for an assault on castle grounds. As dictated by law, the clan must exact revenge on the one responsible for their lord’s death. However due to circumstances, the shogun forbids any such act, placing a band of masterless samurai at odds with themselves and the martial code by which they live and die. After much trial and hardship, the clan does the unthinkable and defies the shogun’s mandate in order to fulfill their duty to their late lord. In doing so, these legendary warriors will be forever remembered for inspiring the Way of the Warrior back into the hearts of their countrymen.If you like historical novels set in old Japan, martial arts action adventure stories or samurai films, discover 47 Ronin.

Abel's Daughter


Meg Hutchinson - 1996
    She has a guardian angel in the form of Sir William Dartmouth, but even when he engineers her release, Phoebe must struggle to make a living for herself. And Annie has not given up her own perverse quest for revenge . . .

Longing for Home #1-2


Sarah M. Eden - 2014
    Now a woman grown, Katie has left Ireland for America and the promise of earning money enough to return home again and plead for her family’s forgiveness. She arrives in Hope Springs, Wyoming Territory, a town sharply divided between the Americans who have settled there, with their deep hatred of the Irish, and the Irish immigrants who have come searching for a place to call home. Her arrival tips the precarious balance, and the feud erupts anew. Even in the midst of hatred and violence, however, Katie finds reason to hope. Two men, as different as they are intriguing, vie for her heart, turning her thoughts for the first time toward a future away from Ireland. Katie must now make the hardest decision of her life: stay and give her heart a chance at love, or return home and give her soul the possibility of peace. Longing for Home: Hope Springs Katie Macauley gave up her lifelong dream of returning to Ireland in order to make a home for herself in Hope Springs, Wyoming, but her future has never been so uncertain. Katie’s heart still remains sharply divided between playful Tavish and steady Joseph, though she feels ill-prepared to make a decision. Furthermore, the town is more divided than ever with both the Irish and the Reds stealing property, burning buildings, and endangering lives. In the midst of the growing unrest, tem­peratures drop quickly, too quickly, and Irish nightmares of fam­ine and cold resurface as the little Wyoming town struggles to beat the harsh winter.Katie makes one sacrifice after another to keep the peace and help see her loved ones through the difficult days ahead, but will her efforts be enough? Can the town make amends before their hatred consumes them all? And will Katie find the love she has been searching for as well as a home to call her own?

The Highlander’s Trust


Emilia Ferguson - 2018
    She’ll marry whoever her father chooses, likely to add to her father’s holdings and secure her family’s future, regardless of who her heart desires. However, she’s met the man of her dreams…and he’s her father’s sworn enemy. An Intrepid Soldier Lieutenant Richard Osborne always does his duty and knows that when he rescues the beautiful Highland lass, he should have turned in her and her family. He can’t do it, and not just because he’s not sure that he can doom her to the fate she’ll receive. His superiors will not agree with his decision though, and the duty-bound Richard must make a hard choice: his career or his honor. A Forbidden Romance The handsome soldier and beautiful lass fall in love…but their love may be no match for the cold and cruel father known as the Earl of Duncliffe. He is determined to preserve their family honor now that Arabella’s reputation is ruined, even if it means marrying her off to the first option on the table. Now Richard must choose between what his head and heart believe of the situation…because a wrong choice will ruin both of their futures. Should Arabella do her duty and protect her younger siblings by marrying the detestable and unfeeling man her father has chosen? Or follow her heart—even if the handsome soldier only wants her hand in order to protect her? Can Richard trust Arabella’s declaration of love when he learns that it may be her choice to marry someone else, or is she lying in order to protect someone? "The Highlander's Trust" is a standalone historical Scottish romance novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cliffhangers, pure content and an awesome happily ever after, guaranteed to ignite your imagination in one sitting. Get This Book FREE With Kindle Unlimited! Enjoy!

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?

Forging the Shilling Girl (The Hudson Sagas Book 1)


Emma Hardwick - 2020
    Young, widowed Clare Byrne, is escaping the famine in Ireland. On the coffin ship from Dublin, in the final hours of the journey to England, Clare goes into labour. Weakened and alone, the young, beleaguered mother gives birth near the quayside. Unable to look after the newborn, the child is bought for a single shilling by a curious gentleman, the industrialist Samuel Hudson. What will happen to the young girl? What plans does Mr Hudson have for her? Will the child thrive, or merely survive? Also by Emma Hardwick ----------------------------------- The Urchin of Walton Hall

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.

And Then He Loved Me


Rebecca Ruger - 2019
    When she is called to the manorial court to answer false charges of 'lying with a man', she expects to be confronted by the kindly Earl Cameron, hoping to have the ridiculous claim dismissed. Instead, she faces the earl's son, James Cameron, who confounds her and intrigues her at the same time. James Cameron is instantly captivated by the very alluring Isla Gordon, but the lass repeatedly rebuffs his overtures, wanting nothing to do with any man. His offer of a position inside the keep is looked upon with suspicion, and her skepticism is only heightened by his seeming inability to NOT kiss her whenever they meet. Isla is quite sure that no man has anything worthwhile to offer her, but James is determined to prove her wrong. AND THEN HE LOVED ME is a stand-alone novella, a prelude to the HIGHLANDER HEROES SERIES. Enjoy!

Risk: Three Crime-fighting Women RISK All for Love, Lust and Justice.: A Lesbian Fiction Thriller


Sam Skyborne - 2017
    Guaranteed to thrill! *** 2019 - Award-Winning Finalist in International Book Awards *** *** 2018 - National Indie Excellence Award - FINALIST! *** *** 2018 - NYC Big Book Award - DISTINGUISHED FAVOURITE! *** It is not bad enough 'coming out'.... Never mind unwillingly being wrenched from the closet in the midst of a dangerous serial killer case by your new nemesis and your long time best friend. "Another gripping, racy page-turner, starring three strong, sexy female protagonists on the hunt for a psychotic killer." "In the dark domains of crime, lust and love - innocence and guilt mix like blood and water. Will Toni RISK it all to catch the psychotic killer?" Toni Mendez, an ex-cop turned private investigator in London, takes on a case to find the truth behind the violent murder of the young wife of a successful entrepreneur, Lucille Ransom-Evans. Little did she know that this case would bring to her door Maxine Bennett, a feisty, opinionated, American detective, on the hunt for a serial killer. Maxine not only infiltrates Toni's working life presenting a sore reminder of a profession she once loved, as a British detective, she also invades her private life by seducing her best friend, Lizbeth Du Cannon. As the action-packed investigation continues, Toni is engulfed, both professionally and privately, into a racy subculture she knew only from a distance - the LGBTQ+ world. She is forced to reassess everything she thought she knew about herself, her sexuality and the foundations (repressed romantic feelings) of her long-term friendship with Lizbeth.

Now You See Me


S.Y. Thompson - 2013
    One fateful day, she shows an irritating new client, Carson Tierney, around the tenth floor space of her own building and her life takes an unforeseen direction.Carson is an awe-inspiring woman by anyone's standards. Possessing genius-level intelligence that has allowed her to become a self-made millionaire of a computer software company, Carson still has a dark secret that could be her undoing.When the two are thrust together to escape a deadly killer in a high-rise office building while a blizzard rages outside, they have no one to count on but each other. So begins an unexpected yet tender romance. However, unchecked love and desire isn't in their future. The murderer is still out there and he's coming for them. Will Carson's street-wise skills protect them both as Erin attempts to discover the killer's identity just as relentlessly as he is seeking their demise?

Making Waves


Erik Schubach - 2016
     She learned how to be strong again and break the shackles her old life had hobbled her with. While Paya is out making waves in London, Lenore is assigned as the driver for the contractor, McGrath, who is renovating a building for the Flotilla, which will allow people who had fallen upon hard times to have a place to call their own. The problem? Lenore finds McGrath to be the most infuriating, cocky, and egotistical woman on the planet. They mix like oil and water and Lenore wants nothing more than to throw a match on the mixture and be done with the woman. She just can’t figure out what it is that boils her blood around McGrath, though apparently all of her smug and smiling friends have an inkling… The Flotilla series is a spinoff of the bestselling London Harmony series.

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!

Meet Me At 10: A bittersweet story about love crossing boundaries.


Vicky Jones - 2017
    Arriving in Alabama, Shona convinces the kind Jeffrey Ellis, wealthy co-owner of Ellis and Bruce Machinery, to give her a job and heads to the site with hopes of becoming invisible while she saves up the money to continue her journey to safety. There, she strikes up a bond with Cuban, who is on a similar path to her, but is racially abused on a daily basis by the workforce and by Jeffrey Ellis’s brutal business partner, Larry Bruce. Shona also meets Elbie, the elderly tool room supervisor, who has been covertly keeping a diary of all the horrific acts that have been carried out over the last five years by Bruce and his associates.As Elbie helps Shona and Cuban settle into their jobs, they are introduced to Chloe Bruce, Larry’s daughter, resulting in their complex worlds becoming inextricably linked, with devastating consequences for all those involved.Will Elbie’s diary end up in the wrong hands? Will Cuban achieve his dream of making it to New York? Will Shona’s past finally catch up with her?A compelling and heart-breaking story of secrets too dangerous to confess to, at a time of cruel, unforgiving and relentless intolerance to difference.“A heart-wrenching and gripping read.”“A moving yet disturbing story…you won’t put this book down!”