Historical Romance Books
A Surprising Proposal What started as a panicked escape for Madeline Goddard ends in a surprising proposal from Evan Bellwether, Duke of Fallon. Madeline ...
Experience a sizzling Regency romance She realizes that the only savior for her is the one she considers as her foe! When Selina, a widow with no money, ...
Scandal and Spice in Regency Romance From one scandal, Felicity Morgan finds herself straight into the arms of another! After her lurid gothic novel becomes ...
Rebecca’s family devised a plan to dispose of her once and for all: unite her in marriage with the most ruthless of all Dukes... Despite having lost ...
"Request anything from me, and I will repay you," she said. "I desire a spouse, Your Grace..." Haunted by the threats of her malevolent cousin, Penelope ...
‘Shall we strike a bargain, my dear? One that you will find most satisfactory…’ Before facing a lonely life as an old maid, Marian is determined to tick ...
"Don't anticipate a genuine marriage from me, dear wife. I selected you with a purpose in mind..." Elias, the formidable Duke of Fyre, always gets his way ...
'This is not a love match, Miss Brandon. It is damage control.' In order to protect her sister from scandal, Jane Brandon takes on a new persona and finds ...
‘You have been away for two years, and now you expect me to surrender to you?'' ‘I will always have claim to you, Duchess. You belong to me.’ Forced ...
"Can this marriage truly protect you, Lady Irene?" asked the Duke. "Only from the gossip, Your Grace. Not from you," replied Irene. After becoming a widow ...
Lilian detests rakes more than anything else. Especially someone like the arrogant, charming scoundrel who is always around her younger sister! Duke Simon's ...
“How can I marry a man who can never love me?” Caroline has no interest in the overwhelming London society. However, when she discovers a child in her ...
Aiming for a Larger Market Tavish and his brothers are seeking an infusion of cash for their whisky distillery in the Scottish Highlands in order to reach ...
Lottie Carlisle has endured five seasons of shallow London society, her dull existence, and her uncle Alfred's interference. Faced with an ultimatum from her ...
Rafe Davies may appear to be just another charming rake, but in truth, he is one of the most valuable agents of the crown. With his relentless and daring ...
Lady Georgiana Arlington has always prioritized her family’s well-being - even if it meant entering into a loveless marriage to protect her father. Widowed, ...
Description
Historical romance (also historical novel) is a broad category of fiction in which the plot is set in a historical period. Walter Scott helped popularize this genre in the early 19th century with works such as Rob Roy and Ivanhoe. Literary fiction historical romances continue to be published, with a notable recent example being Wolf Hall (2009), a multi-award-winning novel by English historical novelist Hilary Mantel. It is also a genre of mass-market fiction, related to the broader romantic love genre.
The terms "romance novel" and "historical romance" are ambiguous, as the word "romance" and the related term "romantic" carry multiple meanings. On one hand, there is the mass-market genre of "fiction dealing with love," such as Harlequin romance, and on the other hand, "a romance" can also be defined as "a fictitious narrative in prose or verse, the interest of which turns upon marvelous and uncommon incidents." However, many romances, including the historical romances of Walter Scott, are also frequently called novels, and Scott describes romance as a "kindred term." Adding to the confusion, literary fiction romances, such as Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, often feature a strong love story element. Other European languages do not distinguish between romance and novel: "a novel is le roman, der Roman, il romanzo."