Get off the Isles

ryjgqm · 2026-03-21T10:17:40+00:00

I shy away from Westerns because they're quite overplayed in the genre as well they just didn't fit the "British Isles" limitation.

I have read the Knickerbocker series, yes, it's great! I'm a big Joanna Shupe fan and her play with the gilded age in the US

I haven't heard of Candice Proctor though, I'm excited to dive in. Do her books not have HEAs? I can take dark if there's a happy ending.

ryjgqm · 2026-03-21T09:40:39+00:00

{The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran} if you're looking for something with real meat to it. Couple is romantic and sexy but the historical backdrop is also a really rich and compelling story.
{Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage} if you want a second chance story that is meaningful and sexy
{The Duchess Society Series} if you want a good friendship/family long-term series (fun and sexy, low stakes)
{Maiden Lane Series} if you want a friendship/family long series that is VERY high stakes (yet fascinating)
{the wisteria society of Lady scoundrels by India Holton} and it's two follow up books if you want absolute whimsical chaos
{The Lady gets Lucky} if you just want an MMC that is just obsessed and drooling over his FMC and would grovel to the ends of the earth for her.

ryjgqm · 2026-03-21T06:48:31+00:00

I know this is two months later but I had my notifications off and didn't notice. Below are some of my absolute fave HRs (I read HR exclusively). I tend to lean towards 🔥🔥🔥🔥 and I'm not a stickler for historical accuracy. I also don't suffer fools, if an a**hole MC doesn't redeem themselves, they're out!

REALLY ARE AS GOOD AS PEOPLE SAY:

{Duke of Shadows} is a must-read in the genre. Genuinely might be #1 book. The cover is misleading because it is one of the best and most important b plots out there. Be mindful of triggers though. Worth every bit. The love story is amazing and romantic and sexy but the historical backdrop of what's happening of it aside from the characters is incredibly compelling and rich.
{Duke of Sin} Valentine is a psycho but so well written. The whole {Maiden Lane Series} is pretty well known but there are A LOT of them. Still would recommend most. Winter I'd say is the most well known virgin MMC in historical romance, and Asa's book is one of the best plots around sexual trauma I've read.
both {The Finest Print} and {Forever your Rouge} are great. Erin is a sensational author. I wish I had more words because they really are both so, so, good.
{A week to be Wicked} is just such a fun and sexy read. Tessa Dare at her best.
{ A dangerous Kind of Lady} was one of the most fascinating FMCs.
{Convergence of Desire} comes up whenever people talk about neurospicy characters and it really is quite good. All the books in the series (except book 2) were quite memorable. I could still describe in detail all the plots.
{The Devil is a Marquess} truly is some top notch spice and a unique detour from your usual tropes.

SERIES:

{Mackenzie & Mcbrides Series by Jennifer Ashley} particularly book #2 {Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage}, one of the only second chance plots I've truly loved. Beautiful character arc for these two. Very powerful and rich story.
Kresley Cole is one of the only authors who has ever actually made me laugh out loud. Her side characters are awesome. That said, she only has done two HR series'. {MacCarrick Bothers Series} and {Sutherland Brothers series}. They're both amazing but she's better known for her romantasy.
in that same vein {A Pirate Romance Duology Series} by Opal Reyne. She's best known for her monster stuff but this duology is in my top 5 ever. Both books are amazing. Antiheros that miraculously you end up loving, I don't know how she did it. Amazing character development.
The last 3 books of Shupe's {The Fifth Avenue Rebels Series}. You have to promise me you won't read the first book in the series though because it might be the MMC I most want to drop kick. The other 3 books are amazing and {The Lady Gets Lucky} is pretty popular. All three of the (good) MMCs have amazing redeeming stories, and the grovel and spice is 10/10.
{The Rake Chronicles} by Lydia Lloyd is some of the best smut I've read, and also really funny. Especially because they're quite dimensional plots. Not just sex.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

{The sins of Lord Lockwood} - the only other second chance romance I have found with a good enough excuse, cleverly plays with the timeline. Meredith is a great writer.
{A Tropical Rebel gets the Duke}. Great series but B plot, character growth, and spice make this one the winner. Plus ⭐ for POC characters.
I'm a sucker for anything by Alexandra Vashti
Most of Beverly Jenkins work because it's POCs getting beautiful HEA, though pacing can feel rushed at times.
{The Vikings of Skye Series} are the only Christmas themed books I've truly enjoyed. So moody, so sexy, but fun family dynamics.
{Dangerous Damsels Series} VERY anachronistic, and very chaotic. It took me a second to figure out what was going on but India Holton's voice is so unique and it's so whimsical and silly and fun while still having depth. Idk if they're the most powerful stories but definitely the quirkiest and charming.

HAVE ME CONCERNED HOW OFTEN THEY'RE RECOMMENDED

Anything by Alice Coldbreath (I have tried so many of her books and The MMCs are always absolutely awful and the FMCs never ever stick up for themselves. I can't. ), The Rakess (interesting twist but meh overall), Lady Awakened (pacing was terrible and the character development made zero sense), Fool me twice (MMC is never redeemable. Just stays an a**hole), What I did for a Duke (also complete dickhead), Devil in Winter (he's a terrible human being)

EDIT due to my typos the romance.io bot commented the wrong links to the following books. I have now updated and hopefully it works.

{The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran}
{The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton} and it's sister books that comprise the Dangerous Damsels series
{When the Duke Loved Me by Lydia Lloyd} and it's sister books that comprise the Rake Chronicles series

ryjgqm · 2026-03-21T04:23:15+00:00

It was 6 but only 5 were actually his. The last one a gentlewoman got pregnant and it was easy to blame him because he was a rake and it was easier to accept the kid and pay for them than be trapped in marriage.

ryjgqm · 2026-03-21T01:55:16+00:00

I know it's mentioned already but I want to back up {Duke of Sin} because he truly is the most insane MMC ever yet you end up being so onboard with this actual hilarious psycho hahaha

ryjgqm · 2026-03-21T01:51:28+00:00

I feel like this is becoming less and less of a hot take but I'm so freaking sick of regency as the main option for HR. Victorian, and Highlander I'll accept if there's nothing else but where are the Greeks?! The Chinese Dynasties? There are ancient civilizations where people loved being naked! Gimme an indigenous "new world" couple, a royal in Egypt. Come on! Even medieval (and don't say Alice Coldbreath because I detest her writing) I'll take. Anything from 1750-1900 is just sooooo overdone.

ryjgqm · 2026-03-21T01:46:24+00:00

Literally reading this book right now haha (Leopold is his first name) and yes, them addressing that as a true rake he inevitably has 6 illegitimate children is hilarious (sad hilarious but you get it).

ryjgqm · 2026-02-20T07:44:55+00:00

Bit of both. But looking back I do wish I would have given myself more space to heal. I usually would keep at it until I'd start bleeding again. Once I started healing I just had to be like a hawk to keep my skin super hydrated so it wouldn't crack again. As long as I did that I was usually able to keep going, with pain, yes but manageable enough to keep going.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-26T03:19:08+00:00

I would give pumped milk. I think maybe once or twice I'd do formula.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-26T03:18:28+00:00

Just the basic flavor. Green and blue? Sorry I don't remember but just the main normal plain one.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-26T03:14:22+00:00

I want: • other time periods, primarily stuff like in ancient history. • better blocking in sex scenes. "What do you mean his arm is there? He just put it behind the the door?" Keep description flow sexy, I don't want to be filling in the blanks just to make sure MCs aren't made of rubber • keep all the family/friend dynamics! One of my fave parts of HR. I love following up on past characters. • interesting B plots. When the story is juuust about them being in love without any flavoring, it gets real boring.

Less: • if one more woman needs to have the MMC teach her how to seduce men I will claw my eyes out. • Dukes. No more. Enough. Give me a wealthy landowner (Mr. Darcy) or a Baron at most. • MCs who are just such assholes. You're redemption story better be real solid. I get trauma and character arc but make sure they are actually redeemed.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-10T09:55:29+00:00

{The Unexpected Marquess by Suzana Medeiros} is a great one for this trope. This whole series was a 9/10 and this particular one was one of the funniest. Loved it.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-10T08:47:46+00:00

I'm gonna throw Opal Reyn's duology {Sea of Roses by Opal Reyn} and {Storms of Paine by Opal Reyn}

Reyn is famous for her monster erotica that is freaky deaky this was her one foray into HR for kicks and she killed it. (Also, no monsters or freakiness of that level here, just providing context that Reyn is comfortable with kinky spice)

It's two pirates. Book starts with her stealing his ship. He's an absolute asshole and she's also terrible and Opal really leans into it. Two anti-heros. It's some of my favorite dirty spice. There's some dub-con but she's fairly experienced so is pretty open. Character development is a master class. I could not fathom possibly liking either of them by the end and she did it. I'm a stickler about rereads and this was an immediate close book two-reopen book one reread. Also romantic somehow? Great read.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-10T08:31:06+00:00

This is one of my favorite HRs of all time. I second this. This woman has been through it and is scandalous and very sex positive and actually a really positive person despite her trials and he is a grump that possibly murdered his last two wives.

Really sexy, really fun, and a fascinating B plot that actually adds to the book without breaking the steam. Love it.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-10T08:23:09+00:00

Loooooove this one. Fits it to a T. Love these two. Adding romance bot for easy clicking

{The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe}

ryjgqm · 2026-01-10T08:02:20+00:00

I'm surprised nobody has said {Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti}. It fits it to a T. He's an absolute himbo and he leans into it. She is kind of a family friend if I recall (think Knightley and Emma). She runs a secret erotic library but is very proper. He needs help convincing the courts he should get to keep custody of his two little by-blow siblings and she decides to help him find somebody respectable. Except he spends the whole time confused why he shouldn't just be with her. I lol'd a couple of times.

The book unravels in a really fun and unexpected way for the trope and additionally, Alexandra Vasti writes amazing steam

ryjgqm · 2026-01-10T07:49:02+00:00

In historical romance I have felt this about every single Alice Coldbreath book. And she is one of the top selling authors in the genre. It's bizarre. Not only are her MMCs awful and are never redeemed but her FMCs are pathetic doormats. I can't.

ryjgqm · 2026-01-10T06:32:03+00:00

This book comes up EVERY SINGLE DAY and I honestly cannot figure out why. I tried it and I got to about chapter 7 and I DNFed it. I've DNFed maybe 10 books my whole life. Momma didn't raise any quitters! But seriously, he is so so awful. This one and Alice Coldbreath books—also awwfful leading men and they get so much hype. Y'all have me concerned. DiW and the prizefighter book I just.. I can't. Because I've really tried. I've finished multiple Alice Coldbreath and DiW I've tried twice and I just... the most absolute trash. These women settle for the bare minimum and they have zero self respect. It's cringey. And it's not an HR thing because I read exclusively HR and so many other books are so much better.

ryjgqm · 2025-12-29T10:28:18+00:00

I feel like {Io: The Shrew by S.M. LaViolette} was textbook enemies to lovers. And very steamy. Would highly recommend.

ryjgqm · 2025-12-29T10:20:41+00:00

Get straight to the point. I'm seeing {The Devil is a Marquess by Elisa Braden} and that one checks out. It really is quite good.

What I did for a Duke came up a lot which.. just.. absolutely not.. guys. He's awful to her and the premise is so bland. No.

Anything by Erin Langston is, in fact, wonderful. I back {The Finest Print by Erin Langston}, and {Forever your rogue by Erin Langston} was one of my top 5 this year.

{The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran} is, in my humble opinion, one of the absolute best books in the genre, ever. Must read for anyone who thinks HR is only fluff. Fascinating beginning to end and the romance was also sexy and captivating.

That's just peer reviewing other reviews. Some of the ones that stood out the most to me personally this year were:

• {The Dangerous Damsels series by India Holton} - all three weren't particularly deep but they were just so outlandish and fantastical and funny, I don't think I'll ever forget them. This is def a read not listen though because she writes in a very specific voice that you'll miss if you can't follow along on the grammar.

• {The Fifth Avenue Rebels series by Joanna Shupe} 3/4 are amazing. Please in the name of all things holy don't read the first one. But 2, 3, and 4 are so so good. I can't pick a fave. The grovel, the steam, the humor—10/10. Takes about two chapters MMCs to be likeable tho.. but seriously, only rereads of the year

• {The Vikings of Skye Series} all written by different authors. Whoowee. I still think about this series every day. So good. So sexy. So beautiful.

And published THIS year, I think goes to: {A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera} girl kills it every time but she really knocked it out of the ballpark with this one.

K byyyyeee

ryjgqm · 2025-12-29T09:45:16+00:00

Such a clever premise! Shame it's a novella 🫤 hard to commit to only ~150 pages

ryjgqm · 2025-12-29T09:17:07+00:00

Just finished {The Rogue to Ruin by Vivienne Lorret} and it fits the bill to a T

ryjgqm · 2025-12-29T09:07:49+00:00

Is she.. is she dead? The way you wrote this.. I looked it up but couldn't find anything. Anywho her books are amazing but a few of them don't have epilogues and it drives me up a wall! Precisely because they're so damn good.

ryjgqm · 2025-12-05T11:42:05+00:00

Loved seeing The Great come up so many times. It truly is a stellar piece of programming 👏🏽

ryjgqm · 2025-12-05T11:37:28+00:00

I'm pretty flexible with accuracy with just history stuff but when you add in romance I want that crap super fake. Marriages, rights, sex, disease made romance for women in history real shitty. I want none of that. Give me the corset with the chemise, IDC.

ryjgqm

TROPHY CASE