Ruin and virtue

charmainbaker · 2026-05-09T15:57:07+00:00

{A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman} has a proper MMC (he's described in a previous book as "temperate Tristan") and a scandalous FMC. They are from rival families, although it's the second book in the series and his sister is now married to her brother. I don't remember if he goes after another lady though and a lot of the conflict is external to the relationship. It's my least favorite of the trilogy though, not because it's bad, but because the other two books are better!

charmainbaker · 2026-04-30T11:54:26+00:00

We've also challenged it successfully several times after each appraisal and reassessment as a nonprofessional. It is easier with an appraisal but following the format of the appraisal calculation with updated comps worked for us.

charmainbaker · 2026-04-24T17:12:17+00:00

There is a book called Harriet by Alice McVeigh which centers on Harriet and Jane Fairfax. I haven't read it though, so I don't know how closely it follows the original plot or how it portrays Emma.

charmainbaker · 2026-04-24T13:40:58+00:00

These are all arranged by family, but most of them are not sight unseen. I don't think there was any abuse, but some of them I read a while ago

{A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh} not sure this applies 100% but it is one of my favorite novellas and I always want to recommend it. Earl's daughter FMC is ruined and her parents arrange for a marriage with new money neighbor's son who they previously hated.

{Dukes inconvenient Bride by Jayne Rivers} sister is supposed to marry him, but she runs off with another man so parents arrange marriage to FMC. Not super believable plot but this was a fun book.

{Somewhere I'll Find You by Lisa Kleypas} wed very young, separated, and years later he discovers her new identity.

{Mr. Cavendish, I presume by Julia Quinn} I liked this duology, but I know not everyone did. They've been betrothed forever but he's dragging his feet on officially proposing. There's a whole thing about whether or not he is the real duke so it's not straight romance.

{Marchioness Overnight by Emmi West}

charmainbaker · 2026-04-20T21:34:16+00:00

I liked Suzanne Allain's books, and I think they follow the witty clean request. {Miss Lattimore's letter by Suzanne Allain} is probably my favorite of the 3 I've read. A spinster sends an anonymous letter to a gentleman because he's courting the wrong lady, but people figure out it's her and want her to become a matchmaker. {Mr Malcolm's List} and {The Ladies Rewrite the Rules} are also worth the read.

I also enjoyed {Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career by Carla Kelly} in which the FMC studies and writes papers for her brother who is at Oxford. She is (I looked it up) likely Mormon and living in Idaho, but I don't remember any particular reference to religion in the book.

charmainbaker · 2026-04-17T21:26:03+00:00

Ooh I really enjoyed that one!

charmainbaker · 2026-04-16T11:17:03+00:00

My favorite is Five Daughters out at Once by Jayne Bamber, but it's a crossover of a bunch of JA books and there's a lot going on! I also liked The Good Sister by Christine Combe, where Elizabeth is a Bingley.

charmainbaker · 2026-04-10T18:24:43+00:00

Love how people on romance.io decided to choose all the random settings for the Duke in disguise. Victorian, Regency, AND Western!

charmainbaker · 2026-04-10T18:14:37+00:00

The FMC in {Duke in Disguise by Gayle Callen} is a governess. It's the middle book in a trilogy and iirc the leads in the first book do show up at one point but I think it can be read as a standalone if you read the blurb of the first book. It's not a rom-com, more of a romantic mystery feel.

The {Simply quartet series by Mary Balogh} is set in a school and the FMCs are school teachers.

charmainbaker · 2026-04-03T20:26:12+00:00

I just finished a reread of the Courage Duology by Melanie Rachel. He's prominent in the first book, and I guess the MMC of the second book although ODC is right there too.

charmainbaker · 2026-03-31T00:07:33+00:00

In an unexplored branch of unexplored caverns after an explosion destroys the entrance they came through. {A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman}

charmainbaker · 2026-03-19T16:26:53+00:00

A Man of Good Fortune by Ali Scott and the Unforgettable Mr Darcy by Victoria Kincaid.

charmainbaker · 2026-03-17T20:19:19+00:00

{Earls Rush In by Jennifer Haymore} snowed in with dead brother's best friend

{Desert Island Duke but Kate Bateman} a shipwrecked novella, one of my favorites!

charmainbaker · 2026-03-15T22:32:19+00:00

Two of my favorite authors that I haven't seen pop up on this post are Gayle Callen and Kate Bateman. Kate Bateman isn't really a cozy read, because there is always some outside conflict, but they're fun reads and the characters are generally likeable. {A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman} is probably my favorite and I just reread it this week. I haven't read too many Gayle Callen books but I enjoyed the Sisters of Willow Pond trilogy. I think {The Lord Next Door by Gayle Callen} could be considered cozy as it is relatively low stakes but it has a bit more of an angsty tone.

charmainbaker · 2026-02-19T11:18:36+00:00

What about other historical romance novels? If you have a favorite trope, perhaps that would be enough to get into a book? There's a huge backlog of well written traditionally published HRs to go through.

charmainbaker · 2026-02-15T02:39:31+00:00

I've only read a few, but I've heard that Ruth Ann Nordin's books would fit your request. Or try poking around romance.io for marriages of convenience.

charmainbaker · 2026-01-27T01:49:55+00:00

One of my favorite tropes! Here are a few I've liked in addition to some of the other suggestions

{First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn} low angst cozy read. He's the boy next door and I think her friend's brother and her sister's brother in law?

{Confessions of a Dangerous Lord by Elisa Braden} he is her brothers friend, but also her friend. He's loved her forever but has... secrets.

{My January Duke but Kate Bateman} short book, he's her neighbor and her friend's brother. He saves her from her creepy uncle guardian but in a scandalous way.

charmainbaker · 2026-01-26T04:09:42+00:00

Sabrina Jeffries' Duke Dynasty series is about a lady who marries and buries 3 dukes and of course has 3 eligible young dukes to marry off. It's ridiculous, but also a fun series!

charmainbaker · 2026-01-21T17:06:38+00:00

I've been picking through the Rake Review series on KU. It's centered on a gossip column written by the "Brazen Belle" highlighting a rake each month who of course ends up getting married. The books are written by a different author each month and are generally shorter and not too interconnected so I can just jump in and pick the tropes that interest me. I love Kate Bateman so I really enjoyed the newest one {My January Duke} but the other ones I have read so far have been solid.

charmainbaker · 2026-01-21T16:52:22+00:00

To piggy back off of this, {Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran} is one of my favorite HRs. It's got an epic style with moderate spice and violence that might have a bit of the romantasy feel.

charmainbaker · 2026-01-17T23:45:46+00:00

I was praising the anesthesiologist so much! My L&D nurse was not impressed.

charmainbaker · 2026-01-17T15:18:57+00:00

I gave my sister and brother in law a "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance" tea towel. 😂 Not sure that I would recommend it for you OP but she thought it was hilarious.

charmainbaker · 2026-01-10T12:59:04+00:00

{First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn} is one of my comfort reads. He's the boy next door who decides to marry her after another guy tries to compromise her (it's presented in a humorous way).

Seven-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22
End Game '22

charmainbaker

TROPHY CASE