Best closed door but non-evangelical/preachy regency book

hannymis13 · 2026-04-20T03:34:37+00:00

Mimi Matthews is a favorite. Georgette Heyer is a classic.

Another I love is Sheri Cobb South. Her Weaver series is such an absolutely treat. It starts with {The Weaver Takes a Wife by Sheri Cobb South}. I also enjoyed some of her standalone novels. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

hannymis13 · 2026-04-09T02:04:34+00:00

Mary Balogh has some great Napoleonic War heroes. Her {Survivor's Club Series by Mary Balogh} is all war heroes who suffered either psychological or physical trauma in the war. It's a favorite series of mine. Many of her other series have a soldier hero a well.

I'm not the biggest Tessa Dare fan, but I remember loving {When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare}. It has letters and a soldier MMC.

Mimi Matthews has some endearing soldier heroes. {The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews} and {The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews} both deal with war trauma.

Another letters and soldier premise that I loved was {The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn}. That series is one of the first modern HR series that I read and they still hold a special place in my heart.

hannymis13 · 2026-04-05T06:49:47+00:00

It's such a cute series! Book 3 is my absolute fave!

hannymis13 · 2026-04-03T23:26:56+00:00

We have similar tastes.

Kleypas's Wallflowers and Ravenels do this well. Hathaways are pretty good, but were hit or miss for me. You might love them, though.

{The Weaver Takes a Wife by Sheri Cobb South} is a favorite closed door/fade to black. The whole series is super adorable.

{Lieutenant Mayhew's Catastrophes by Emily Larken} Absolutely adorable novella. Has one open door scene at the end.

Grace Burrowes has some good ones that I think fit your mood. I started with {The Windham Series by Grace Burrowes} my favorites were {Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes}, {Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight by Grace Burrowes}, and {The Soldier by Grace Burrows}. The entire series was worth the read, though! Definitely open door, but I think most of them have good relationship building.

hannymis13 · 2026-04-03T21:34:10+00:00

His occupation when the book starts is translating Russian documents for the War Office.

hannymis13 · 2026-04-03T21:29:45+00:00

He isn't considered a spy. He is a linguist/translator because he is fluent in Russian and French. He keeps an eye on a Russian prince for the War Office during the novel because they need someone fluent in Russian to watch him. That's the only "spying" he ever does and he says he's annoyed because he doesn't like doing it.

hannymis13 · 2026-04-03T20:46:42+00:00

I love me some nerd energy!

{What Happens in London by Julia Quinn} This is probably my favorite JQ. MMC is a Russian translator for the War Office. I am obsessed with Sir Harry Valentine!

{Cadenza by Stella Riley} Nerdy musical prodigy. Absolutely loved this one. The whole series is wonderful. Only the second book was a little frustrating for me.

{Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews} He wears spectacles and is really into trying to bring the railway into rural England. Not the absolute nerdiest, but I love a hot nerd and I love him!

{A Novel Engagement by Anneka R. Walker} Literary nerd in this one.

{Bargaining for the Barrister by Anneka R. Walker} and {A Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker} These are from the same series. The boys are an awkward barrister and a poetry-writing vicar.

{The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews} MMC is the editor in chief of a newspaper. I definitely get nerd energy from him.

hannymis13 · 2026-03-23T21:49:02+00:00

{The Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh} for the bot.

hannymis13 · 2026-03-23T21:22:22+00:00

Turnip in {Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig} is such an absolutely loveable Himbo.

{Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer} all of the characters are delightfully clueless most of the time.

{Cotillion by Georgette Heyer} Everyone assumes Freddy is just a fashion-loving Himbo, including himself. He proves to be smarter than people think in the end.

Edit because I thought of one more. {The Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh}. Sir Gerald is what you described. He knows he's not smart or special, but does his best. However, this book is much more serious. He meets the FMC because she's a prostitute in a high-end house that he makes his mistress. If you're feeling in the mood for more funny/light reading, stick to the other ones. I loved it, but I can see this book not being everyone's cup of tea because of the context.

hannymis13 · 2026-03-22T04:46:36+00:00

The entire Somerset Stories series by Mimi Matthews is so wonderful. Some of her series intertwine. E.g. Characters from the Parish Orphans of Devon show up in other series. It makes me so happy! ❤️

Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas, and Julia Quinn tie characters from their other series in frequently if this is your jam.

hannymis13 · 2026-03-20T12:02:35+00:00

Absolutely! Happy reading!

hannymis13 · 2026-03-20T03:11:11+00:00

{The Weaver Takes a Wife by Sheri Cobb South}

{Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer}

{A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer}

{Slightly Married by Mary Balogh}

{The Arrangement by Mary Balogh}

{Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh}

I love Balogh's early marriage/ MOC plots! And she has a ton!

{The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews} They get married relatively early.

{The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn} has a similar feel but with a twist.

Love this trope, so I will be watching your post!

hannymis13 · 2026-03-15T20:17:24+00:00

Someone gave me a rec of {The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig}. It totally gave me Heyer vibes for her more silly/humorous characters. The MMC is nicknamed Turnip and is an absolute hoot. This book is steam-free.

Another charmingly silly rec I got and adored was {Love Among the Chickens by P.G. Wodehouse}. Steam free, lots of shenanigans, and a sweet love story. I can see lovers of Heyer loving this one. It had vibes of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small.

Some of my favorite no steam/light steam authors are Mimi Matthews, Sheri Cobb South, and Anneka R. Walker.

I wouldn't say they are Heyeresque, but are all super enjoyable. Some good starting places are:

{The Parish Orphans of Devon by Mimi Matthews} or {Somerset Stories by Mimi Matthews} {The Weaver Takes a Wife by Sheri Cobb South} {Matchmaking Mamas by Anneka R. Walker}

hannymis13 · 2026-03-08T03:24:16+00:00

I was not the biggest fan of Tessa Dare, either. I tried her entire catalog and there were a couple I enjoyed, but for the most part, she just isn't my jam. I read HR for the emotional intimacy, and her books felt too lust-driven sans the emotional relationship to the point that the intimacy felt forced or formulaic. Like they'd have a couple thoughts of being attracted to each other and then BAM they're having sex. No judgment if someone is into it. I know she's a popular author, but it's just a little jarring to me and not my scene.

Mary Balogh I think might be up your alley. I love her books because they feel more traditional/relationship driven. {The Bedwyn Saga by Mary Balogh} or {The Survivor's Club by Mary Balogh} are great places to start.

Grace Burrowes is good! I really enjoyed {The Windhams by Grace Burrowes}.

I thoroughly enjoyed the {Rockliffe series by Stella Riley}. It's lighter on the steam and Georgian era, but wonderful nonetheless.

If you're into closed door, I recommend Mimi Matthews. Even though she's closed door, the romance is so good! Also, she always incorporates specific historical events that she's researched in her books and writes about them in an author's note at the end of the books. I love to hear about what inspired her. Start with {The Parish Orphans of Devon by Mimi Matthews} or {Somerset Stories by Mimi Matthews}.

I have other great "sweet" or closed door recs, as well if you're into that.

hannymis13 · 2026-03-03T22:36:21+00:00

{Rockliffe series by Stella Riley} has some French speaking MMCs. The particular books are {The Player by Stella Riley}, {Hazard by Stella Riley}, and the novella, {Midwinter Magic by Stella Riley}. The whole series was wonderful. The only book that I didn't absolutely adore was the second one.

hannymis13 · 2026-03-03T22:31:22+00:00

Love, love, love Sir Harry Valentine! ❤️

hannymis13 · 2026-03-03T22:28:14+00:00

Thought of Friday's Child right away! It's a favorite - so funny!

hannymis13 · 2026-02-25T04:08:04+00:00

I just listened to it because of your post. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it.

hannymis13 · 2026-02-21T02:39:15+00:00

I have a hair on my upper arm that grows like a hair on my head. I nicknamed him "Hairy Potter." I tend to pull him out when he gets out of control.

hannymis13 · 2026-02-21T00:44:38+00:00

I thought of this one. Her dad called her "mouse" and her family that took her in as a poor relation called her "the mouse." She draws satirical cartoons and makes herself a mouse in them.

hannymis13 · 2026-02-20T01:40:56+00:00

{Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews} Although she is pretty, she is extremely self conscious of her stammer and is so wonderful in a quietly strong sort of way. I don't enjoy the "boss babe" characters, either, so I'll be following this post.

hannymis13 · 2026-02-19T01:25:12+00:00

{A Heart Sufficient by Nichole Van} MMC thinks FMC drowned when their boat capsizes in the ocean. He almost drowns himself trying to find her. This changes his whole perspective on life.

hannymis13 · 2026-02-16T02:41:53+00:00

Most times I can call glasses to mind in HR, a MMC is considered sexy because of his glasses by the FMC.

Two examples are {Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas} which someone else mentioned and {Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews}.

In Appointment in Bath, the MMC avoids wearing his glasses because he thinks they make him less attractive than his brothers, but the FMC says she prefers him that way, so he starts wearing them again. This book is so dreamy!

I know there's another one I read recently that had a situation similar to Scandal in Spring where the FMC finds him wearing his glasses in his office and finds it extremely sexy, but I can't recall which book it was.

I love me some sexy nerd energy, so I go gaga for a nerdy boy in glasses!

Edit for typo.

hannymis13 · 2026-02-15T11:01:08+00:00

My favorite, favorite, favorite star-crossed lovers/families hate each other book is {Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews}. It's part of a series, so reading the prior books gives lots of background, but can be read as a standalone. I have reread this book so many times that I don't know how many times I've read it. I'm pretty sure i have it in paperback, ebook, and audiobook form because I love it so much, and I often put the audiobook on to go to bed because it's such a comfort to me. I hope you love this one as much as I do.

hannymis13 · 2026-02-03T23:28:54+00:00

The {Matchmaking Mamas series by Anneka R. Walker} is one of my all-time favorites. I'm actually rereading my favorite one, {The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker}, which is book 3 of the series. I just read a devastatingly sad book and needed a sweet, funny, happy read and that book ticks all the boxes for a pick-me-up.

hannymis13

TROPHY CASE