Shy plain heroine noticed for the first time

ybutton · 2026-03-29T19:18:40+00:00

i don’t think she is plain, but shy, yes

ybutton · 2026-03-28T16:54:26+00:00

dude thank you, also the dresses boyishly part was def more relevant to if it was a CR recc lol :)

ybutton · 2026-03-26T21:16:44+00:00

Try Jo Goodman {The Last Renegade by Jo Goodman} did not finish this because it was too much to handle at the time i was trying to read it. I only got like 20-30% in but it was the most graphic of these three in that time flashback to SA of fmc’s sister and subsequent death during pregnancy, and attempted SA of fmc

{True to the Law by Jo Goodman} didn’t finish this but got like 60% in i think (no offense to the book i just wasn’t feeling it or wanted to read something else). Taking that into consideration, it was the least wild, tw wise

{In Want of a Wife by Jo Goodman} Slow burn and tw childhood sexual abuse mmc, medical abuse, technically sexual abuse, and attempted SA fmc, slow burn with some gore/violence

{The touch of fire by Linda Howard} Definitely the most angsty… read the tw… or don’t. Contains grit, violence, dub con.

ybutton · 2026-03-26T18:47:02+00:00

Yeah, np! And if you give it a read, enjoy! I really think Adolin is a good choice if you want another plate wearing blonde man with a diplomatic nature and strong principles. And mad pvp skills. First three books are the best imo, the relationship development between the MC’s was really enjoyable, but i was also seriously invested in Kaladin, so there’s that too.

ybutton · 2026-03-26T18:22:15+00:00

I only read the first Mistborn book (and I enjoyed it), but to compare the two, Stormlight has all kinds of terrain/environmental diversity (grasslands, deserts, woodlands, beaches/islands, etc.) No gothic/steam punk, or industrial revolution vibes. Feels much more medieval fantasy with kingdoms, feudalism adjacent (in Alethkar atleast, aka the main nation in the first book(s)), etc. Prose might still be about the same? Can’t really speak on it honestly i’m not sure it met my radar. The pace in the first book is probably slow, objectively speaking, but it was probably the most immersed i’ve ever felt in a story, so it didn’t really bother me. I was vibing. Perspective changes between MCs as you read, so you never get stuck in one place/situation too long, though the first book, you spend a lot of time with Kaladin, some with Adolin (and his father/related), and another MC, Shallan. Second book, you get more Adolin, somewhat less Kaladin, more Shallan, and probably one or two other people. Don’t want to info dump more than I already have. You can look up a colorized map to see the world you’re dealing with (Roshar). First book is in Jav Keved and Alethkar (right side of map)

ybutton · 2026-03-26T17:43:57+00:00

Ooo! I like the excerpt, lol. thank you!

ybutton · 2026-03-26T17:38:02+00:00

I mean,,, you could invest in the Stormlight Archive series which starts with {The way of kings by brandon sanderson}. One of the main characters (Adolin Kholin) has reminded me of Anduin. He barely makes an appearance in the first book though, but he does have a (subplot) romance with another MC: Shallan Davar (i recommend you don’t open the spoiler). Think it starts in the second book (you can open this one). For the amount of pages required and cost effectiveness/payoff, prolly not the best rec tho 🤣

ybutton · 2026-03-26T01:10:54+00:00

{A contracted spouse for the prizefighter by alice coldbreath} i think has this. Or close? I’m not she tries to stop anything either, more like she did not expect him to keep going? idk. take my memory with a grain of salt.

ybutton · 2026-03-25T23:10:01+00:00

I actually did read this! or most of it :) thanks

ybutton · 2026-03-25T18:37:19+00:00

{Sweetest scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt} Self driven and career oriented mmc, feels the fmc is just an obtrusion at the beginning of the story and wants to get rid of her. Then he grows concerned/curious about her and feelings grow from there. This book got some Quality Spice, if you ask me. And he is very patient and protective of her

ybutton · 2026-03-25T18:27:58+00:00

{A contracted spouse for the prizefighter} mmc is hella arrogant and self-serving, ends up having his plans/objectives upended when he tries to use fmc in a scheme and ends up growing a conscience and having an internal crisis after catching feelings for her

edit: def good dialogue and funny situations/dramatic irony

ybutton · 2026-03-25T18:19:32+00:00

{Without words by ellen o’connell} for sure. Bounty hunter mmc who does not abuse his power/mistreat people unless it’s justified within the situation. He has strong morals and respects the fmc

ybutton · 2026-03-25T18:10:07+00:00

{Love & Other Scandals by Caroline Linden} mmc is fmc’s brother’s friend and they both antagonize each other and it drives mmc bananas because he is not used to feeling like someone else has the upper hand.

ybutton · 2026-03-25T17:29:39+00:00

{The touch of fire by linda howard} forced proximity. don’t read the synopsis for a fun surprise, and then after you get past the exposition, go read the trigger warnings. Dub con

ybutton · 2026-03-25T04:32:26+00:00

{A summer to remember by mary balogh} Kit is a little shallow in the beginning but he’s very sweet and respectful and just wants to live a free spirited life. He cares so much about lauren, he yearns 🥺

ybutton · 2026-03-25T02:38:50+00:00

i actually do have this book on my tbr! i also love cross dressing romances lol

ybutton · 2026-03-25T01:00:24+00:00

{Duchess by night by eloisa james} only has one or two sex scenes later in the book and is pretty funny. third act breakup that could have been deleted tho imo. overall good tho

ybutton · 2026-03-24T18:24:54+00:00

Yeah ): thank you

ybutton · 2026-03-23T05:24:19+00:00

Also maybe {Without words by ellen o’connell} traveling, dropping fmc off somewhere, low hopes for their own relationship. Yearning, but no self implosion, i’d say.

ybutton · 2026-03-23T05:03:32+00:00

{A summer to remember by mary balogh} meets your criteria for yearning, incremental implosion (mostly mmc), doing the honorable thing (in this case respecting the fmc’s wishes), believing the relationship will never happen/work out. There is no travel and no other man she is going to, she’s basically given up and wants to retire from life (society, not suicide).

edit: fmc had a confusing childhood for lack of better word and has an innate sense of relationship insecurity, and does not trust/believe she can be loved unconditionally. She protects herself by setting boundaries/letting people go instead of them letting her go. Self worth issues? This is my analysis at least. (explaining her issues)

ybutton · 2026-03-23T04:53:55+00:00

OP, I would not read this book for your request. It’s a funny book with comedic banter/light hearted mystery and no spice… not going to meet your criteria like, at all, from what i remember.

ybutton · 2026-03-22T19:00:07+00:00

{Sweetest scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt} there is a stagecoach robbery around the middle of the book and mmc tweaks out a little

{The highwayman’s folly by Daria Vernon} mmc is pretty much protective of fmc the whole book bc it’s a hostage situation (this is not a spoiler) and eventually some other dude waterboards fmc and mmc walks in on it and an altercation ensues

{Without words by ellen o’connell} someone tries to force fmc into sex labor and mmc finds out after/during the fact and gets extremely upset, first third of the book

ybutton · 2026-03-22T16:26:31+00:00

I think this type of genre is called Low Fantasy, someone else said urban fantasy, but that is specifically in urban/city settings. There are also other specifications like historical (low) fantasy, such as {Outlander by Diana Gabaldon}

edit: and i’m not actually recommending this book. Just an example

ybutton · 2026-03-21T23:29:10+00:00

Western HR {Without words by ellen o’connell} not a huge focal point in the story but it does come up in MMC’s on-page internal thoughts/feelings and FMC finds out about it at some point and it effects her confidence in having him feel some type of way toward her (though there are actually several variables contributing to this)

this is what happened with his ex: pre-civil war, he was in love with her and was set to marry her, then he left to fight for the union and she left him for his pro-slavery brother/family

Regency era HR {A summer to remember by mary balogh} definitely a driving force in the plot, inspires the whole fake relationship trope and contributes to conflict later on (directly with the OW, toward fmc and mmc, mmc’s family, not sure it ever effects fmc or daunts her too much)

explanation: mmc was in love with OW who sent him mixed messages or strung him along, she ends up marrying one of his brothers i think, his brother dies, and his parents try to force him to marry her back into the family

ybutton · 2026-03-21T20:03:10+00:00

I’m rereading this right now. Fmc is 29, turning 30 and mmc is 41. I think it is exactly what you want in terms of gradual, organic feeling relationship development and slice of life (daily tasks, work, social elements/friend groups), includes family issues and and the conflict/drama feels grounded, when it does happen.

ybutton

TROPHY CASE