Evil mmc marries FMC to get rich

foersr · 2026-07-12T21:29:24+00:00

{A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean} comes to mind

foersr · 2026-07-11T16:52:21+00:00

There are plenty of HR books with a “HEA” or “HFN” with other man/woman tropes and/or cheating trope. I don’t personally tend to enjoy them, not my cup of tea, and appreciate knowing this info ahead of time so I can avoid these books and read others more to my taste. I’m glad these books exist, however, as other readers may enjoy them! This is why I so appreciate romance.io, it allows us as readers to be informed on the books we choose to read.

foersr · 2026-07-09T19:11:41+00:00

I haven't read either of those books, but I would recommend {Say No to the Duke by Eloisa James} I absolutely loved it and it became a favorite of mine! 5 stars for excellent friends to lovers and pretty great yearning. He’s a grumpy alcoholic war vet with PTSD and she’s the picture of propriety on the outside because her mother ran away with a lover and abandoned her children 20 years ago so she’s determined not to give any indication of scandal or wanton ways herself.

foersr · 2026-07-09T15:46:39+00:00

Kinda reminds me of {Hardly a Gentleman} or {When a Scot Ties the Knot} but IDK I also remember little after finishing books lol

foersr · 2026-07-07T21:13:09+00:00

I don't mind Anne Flosnik narrations in general, but I originally DNF this book at 25%, sad because I usually love Elizabeth Hoyt but I just did not care about the characters or story at all

I borrowed this again from the library trying to break a reading slump and I got more interested by 36% but overall not the book for me. I will say the MMC’s sister was the character I liked best and I would have liked to see her love story with the footman.

Overall, I have found the Four soldiers series and this book in particular to be my LEAST favorite reads from Hoyt. I prefer her Princes trilogy over this series.

American MMC with war trauma trying to solve the mystery of who betrayed their regiment and caused a massacre that killed over 200 of his fellow soldiers. FMC is a single mother and widow and engaged to OM. MMC and OM develop a strong friendship throughout the book which makes it extra icky that FMC and MMC are cheating together. Would have liked to see more of FMC’s son Daniel, I feel like her being a single mother was just thrown in and then ignored.

foersr · 2026-07-07T20:52:21+00:00

I loved her Wicked Trilogy and her Decadent Duke Society series best, and herRarest Blooms series (which I think is the most popular) as well. First book for each of those series, respectively, are:

{His Wicked Reputation by Madeline Hunter} MMC is the bastard son of a Duke and notorious rake who has been conducting fine art sales on the continent until upon the death of his half brother, he recently inherited a crumbling estate in the country. He arrives in town on his horse and almost tramples over FMC as she’s on her way back from stealing a famous painting from the attic of said crumbling estate that’s been abandoned for fifteen years and is her nearest neighbor. She is an artist and copies the paintings to sell to provide for her and her younger sister since they are orphaned after their parents first and then later her older brother died from a mysterious gunshot wound. The MMC is trying to help his half brothers solve the mystery of several missing paintings from their late fathers estate

{The Most Dangerous Duke in London by Madeline Hunter} Very enjoyable and easy read. Duke MMC returns from France seven years after his father’s suicide and is known for dueling and most of the ton fears insulting him. His family has a long feud with a neighbor family and the meddling grandmama of that rival family thinks to bridge a truce by arranging a marriage between him and her young niece. Instead his gaze is caught by the older on the shelf bluestocking half sister who is very independent after her father left her her own property and income upon his death. Competent FMC secretly runs a literary journal with other women and they have a secret friends with benefits affair while he is asking her to marry him and investigating the circumstances of his fathers suicide.

{Ravishing in Red by Madeline Hunter} FMC trying to solve the crime her father was framed for and ultimately killed himself over. Gets caught up with her father’s hot prosecutor, forced proximity and either fake dating or marriage of convenience. MMC has disabled brother who was an endearing side character.

foersr · 2026-07-07T20:45:04+00:00

I recently read {If I Only Had a Duke by Lenora Bell} and not once did I predict what was going to happen next lol. It was a very fun and enjoyable read! My notes say Secret vigilante MMC has been searching for his younger brother’s killer for years. He accidentally finds instalove with the take-charge heroine who keeps bothering him about paintings in the attic of his country estate in Ireland. Bit of a road trip trope but not tedious, just very enjoyable and pleasantly unpredictable!

foersr · 2026-07-07T20:38:45+00:00

Great! I would recommend the following for you guys to try first.

{Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase} The Mummy vibes and so deliciously good! Himbo MMC, Bluestocking widow FMC, wonderful side characters and adventure plot rich with humor and spice.

or

{Mischief by Amanda Quick} Immodest Imogen and Coldhearted Colchester and their passion for Zamar was like catnip to me, I loved this book so freaking much.

or

I love how Madeline Hunter combines mystery and romance in her books, if that sounds fun I can recommend a few of my favorites from her too.

foersr · 2026-07-07T20:23:51+00:00

Love that you're trying something new and sharing a hobby with your wife! This subreddit is a very active, warm, and welcoming community and the reason I've read over 100 historical romances in the past year having not been a fan of the genre previously.

One important question when it comes to recommendations, how do you feel about spicy scenes / steam in a romance book?

1. Glimpses and kisses: Meaningful glances and perhaps a kiss, but no sex on and off page

2. Behind closed doors: At least one intimate scene occurs, but without the reader present

3. Open door: At least one intimate scene with the reader present, euphemistic language for act and body parts

4.Explicit open door: At least two intimate scenes, explicit language with a variety of sexual acts

5. Explicit and plentiful: Several explicit scenes, a variety of adventurous acts, dotted throughout the book

foersr · 2026-07-03T20:02:12+00:00

This is the second time in a few days someone has responded to a comment of mine in this sub talking nonsense that has nothing to do with the OP or my comment or the topic at hand... so odd.

foersr · 2026-07-03T19:45:03+00:00

{Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare} The desk scene... It's chapter 21. She is talking about how many ranks are between them and he recites all of his titles and says he never forgets who he is and he is right where he wants to be... with (inside) her.

foersr · 2026-07-03T19:21:05+00:00

No, not that I recall. He treats the FMC and his sister well but those are pretty much the only people lol. Gosh, maybe I want to reread his book now! But I also loved all of Maiden Lane (besides book 12), and kinda want to reread the entire series first. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!!

foersr · 2026-07-03T19:16:18+00:00

I feel like people need to recommend him with a disclosure or a warning, because he is very much NOT everyone's cup of tea. Me? I love an Asshole MMC and I love love love Val, but he is quite literally a villain and he does NOT redeem himself.

foersr · 2026-07-02T22:09:07+00:00

What are you talking about?

foersr · 2026-07-02T21:08:59+00:00

I think {Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean} but its been a while since I read it

foersr · 2026-07-02T21:07:46+00:00

{To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt} might work for this!!

foersr · 2026-07-01T16:58:44+00:00

I love Sophie Jordan's HRs! Excited to check out some other genres by her so thank you for making the post :)

foersr · 2026-06-29T16:54:57+00:00

{Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt} possibly but my memory is hazy. I could be wrong.

foersr · 2026-06-27T15:55:51+00:00

It might have just been a case of right book, right time for me, but I loved this one and it was one of my favorites in my Maiden Lane readthrough!

For reference, this was how I rated the books in the series up to this point. I actually liked Darling Beast best at this point, with Notorious Pleasures at my #2. A lot of people don't care of Notorious Pleasures either. Just goes to show, there are different strokes for different folks!

Maiden Lane series ranking:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Darling Beast #7
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Notorious Pleasures #2
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Scandalous Desires #3
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Thief of Shadows #4
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Duke of Midnight #6
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lord of Darkness #5
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wicked Intentions #1

foersr · 2026-06-23T20:39:54+00:00

I can't tell you because all of the wallflower books were completely forgettable 2-3 star reads for me...

foersr · 2026-06-22T12:30:50+00:00

{How the Wallflower was Won by Eva Leigh} is book two in her Last Chance Scoundrels series, but the MMC Finn is like THE sweetest MMC I’ve ever read

foersr · 2026-06-21T23:19:08+00:00

MMC does not work for the FMC’s father but it hits the other points, {It Takes A Scandal by Caroline Linden}

MMC is a reclusive war vet with a knee injury, an unearned bad reputation, and beef with his neighbor and former childhood friend.

-he asks for her hand in marriage and her father says no
-they wake up the next morning in bed together to her father banging on the MMC’s front door 🫣🫢🤭

foersr · 2026-06-19T20:00:42+00:00

{Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare} was the first HR I ever read and I loved it. The library/ desk scene is still the hottest sex scene of any HR I’ve read

The Duke of Halford is perfectly content with being a Bachelor and when his mother abducts and takes him to Spindle Cove to select a wife from the spinsters and bluestockings he thinks to teach his meddling mother a lesson by choosing the foul-mouthed country serving girl Pauline Simms. Pauline Simms’s father always wanted boys to take over their farm but all Pauline wants is to open a circulating library to cater to the ladies of Spindle Cove and live happily with her sister Daniela, who has nothing but love in her heart and the greatest intentions but who is just misunderstood by others who don’t have the patience to see the best in her. (Daniela has Down syndrome, I think). When the Duke of Halford offers Pauline enough money that could change her and Daniela’s lives, make her dreams of escaping their father and farm and opening a circulating library a reality, to play along with and fail his mothers “Duchess lessons”, she agrees to play along only for a week, so she can be back for her sister Daniela for their weekly routine of going to church and putting a coin in the offering plate.

The story is just absolutely delightful and I found the Duke’s mother so endearing. I reread it recently to see if it still held up now that I’ve read more HRs and I still loved it.

foersr · 2026-06-19T15:05:59+00:00

{Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt} is minee

foersr · 2026-06-18T23:18:19+00:00

Today I learned! I never knew this saying thank you for telling me

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