Books like 'The Secret Mistress'
Readers who enjoyed The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical funny regency virgin heroine independent heroine grumpy sunshine slow burn cheerful heroine sassy heroine strong heroine
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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited, while he struggles to remain indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever... -
![Silence Breaking by Robert Thier]()
Silence Breaking by Robert Thier
Family - the most important thing in the world,right? If it's your own, maybe. But if it's the family of the incredibly powerful, incredibly alluring businessman with whom you've beenconducting a secret office affair, and they don't yet know about theaffair, things are a little bit different. Life is about to getreal for Lilly Linton... -
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![My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long]()
My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long
In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, a notorious rake meets his match in a doe-eyed girl from the country, changing the course of both of their futures…A London season is the chance of a lifetime for Catherine Keating...Categorized as:
virgin heroine regency m-f cheerful heroine slow burn grumpy sunshine cold hero sweet heroine -
![The Unlovely Bride by Alice Coldbreath]()
The Unlovely Bride by Alice Coldbreath
Lenora Montmayne leads a charmed life as the most beautiful woman at King Wymer’s court, surrounded by admirers. And then disaster strikes. The red pox sweeps the summer palace at Caer-Lyones and Lenora’s fair face falls victim to its ravages. Without her looks, what does Lenora have left to her? If ever there was a knight the crowd loves to hate, it’s Garman Orde... -
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![The Chemistry of Familiar Objects by Alexandra Vasti]()
The Chemistry of Familiar Objects by Alexandra Vasti
57 Gresham Street is the most incendiary building in London. Upstairs, unconventional chemist Emmeline Starling uses combustion to solve scientific mysteries. Downstairs, buttoned-up children’s book printer Robert Vane tries very hard not to panic when the ceiling catches on fire. And when these two opposing forces are contained within one small building? Explosions are just the beginning...Categorized as:
regency forced proximity strong heroine sweet-hero independent heroine cold hero rich heroine m-f -
![Truce by R.L. Mathewson]()
Truce by R.L. Mathewson
This is the story before everything... Elizabeth knows what’s expected of her, perfection. She’s the daughter of an Earl and expected to marry well, say and do the right things with a smile on her face when inside she’s dying for a chance to escape. Thanks to an inheritance her godmother left her years ago, her chance will come with her next birthday... -
![Aurora by D.G. Rampton]()
Aurora by D.G. Rampton
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 15 ratings70,000+ readers have already discovered the Regency Goddesses Series. The books, which can be read in any order, are regularly in the U.S. top 20 for Historical Romance and Humor & Satire... -
![How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long]()
How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long
The Scandal Sheets call him Lord Ice. Ruthless, cold, precise, Julian Spenser, Marquess Dryden, tolerates only the finest-- in clothes, in horseflesh, in mistresses. And now he's found the perfect bride, the one whose dowry will restore his family's shattered legacy and bring him peace at last: the exquisite heiress Lisbeth Redmond. She's about to play with fire..Categorized as:
regency virgin heroine independent heroine angst other-man-woman m-f cold hero cheerful heroine -
![What Happens in London by Julia Quinn]()
What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
RUMORS AND GOSSIP ... THE LIFEBLOOD OF LONDON When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancee, she doesn't believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits .. -
![Jennifer by Beverley Watts]()
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![Mercedes by Beverley Watts]()
Mercedes by Beverley Watts
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFrom the highly acclaimed author of The Shackleford Sisters, Beverley Watts, comes an exciting new series featuring the next generation. The Shackleford Legacies are a delightful dance of romance, humour, mystery and fun... As the eldest daughter of the Earl of Cottesmore, Lady Mercedes Stanhope didn't expect to be still without a husband at the start of her third season... -
![A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens]()
A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens
All of Regency London knows that no Cynster male would ever walk away from a lady in distress...but their protection can come at a tantalizingly high price. And now, Stephanie Laurens has created her boldest Cynster yet--Gabriel--a man who has known the pleasure of many women, but who has given his heart to no one. She was desperate for his help.. -
![The Duke's Wicked Widow (Surprise! Dukes) by Caroline Lee]()
The Duke's Wicked Widow (Surprise! Dukes) by Caroline Lee
They call him the Duke of Death, but he’s her last chance at a life worth living!To Society, Fawkes MacMillian is a nobody; a hanger-on at the edge of respectability with a murky past and an even murkier lineage. But to Lady Danielle Aycock, he is her only hope of salvation before a horrible Christmas deadline...Categorized as:
forced proximity regency m-f historical victorian humor length-long explicit-open-door -
![The Duke's Virgin Sister by Caroline Lee]()
The Duke's Virgin Sister by Caroline Lee
They haven’t quite managed to tame her wild streak. It is to be The Match of the Season. At least, that’s what Lady Carlotta Merritt, sister to the cool and aloof Duke of Cashingham, has been told repeatedly by her mother. The Dowager is beyond thrilled about her daughter’s engagement to Society’s most eligible bachelor, Lord What’s-His-Face... -
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![Cotillion by Georgette Heyer]()
Cotillion by Georgette Heyer
Kitty Charing can inherit a fortune from her irascible great-uncle Matthew when she marries one of her cousins. Kitty is not wholly averse, if the right nephew proposes. Unfortunately, Kitty has set her heart on Jack Westruther, a confirmed rake. To make him jealous and to see a little more of the world, Kitty convinces cousin Freddy Standen to pose as her fiance... -
![Her Ruthless Duke by Scarlett Scott]()
Her Ruthless Duke by Scarlett Scott
From USA Today and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author Scarlett Scott comes a new, deliciously wicked Regency romance featuring scorching heat between a jaded guardian and his bluestocking ward, plus a delightful dash of mystery.Conscienceless seducer, cunning spy, confident scoundrel. Trevor Hunt, the Duke of Ridgely, has been called many things, most of which are true... -
![To Fall for Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Renata McMann, Summer Hanford]()
To Fall for Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Renata McMann, Summer Hanford
How much trouble can Elizabeth get into on a walk in the woods?Despite the fear of injury, Elizabeth Bennet risks all to save a stranger, unaware that the threat to her person will be overshadowed by the threat to her future.Faced with doing what is right or what is preferred, Mr. Darcy proves he is a gentleman by choosing the path of right, but will that choice prove disastrous?To Fall for Mr... -
![Willful in Winter by Scarlett Scott]()
Willful in Winter by Scarlett Scott
Rand, Viscount Aylesford, needs a fiancée, and he needs one now. His requirements are concise: she must not embarrass him, and she must understand he has no intention of ever marrying her. Miss Grace Winter is the most stubborn of the notorious Wicked Winters. When her brother decrees she must marry well, she is every bit as determined to avoid becoming a nobleman's wife...Categorized as:
regency virgin heroine independent heroine forced proximity angst m-f slow burn sassy heroine -
![The Duke's Counterfeit Wife by Caroline Lee]()
The Duke's Counterfeit Wife by Caroline Lee
How did she end up make-believe married to the Grump Next Door?Spinster scientist Felicity Montrose has always been as curious as one of her pet cats. So when her dark and dangerous neighbor catches her breaking into his house, her body’s reactions to his manhandling raises all sorts of interesting questions...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity cold hero m-f highlander historical victorian humor -
![Lady Ferocity by Kate Archer]()
Lady Ferocity by Kate Archer
Rated: 4.64 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHe considers her eccentric, she thinks him smarmy, the ton finds them a well-suited pair of lunatics. Lady Felicity Nicolet, known affectionately to her intimates as Ferocity, has had the privilege of being the eldest of the Duke of Pelham’s daughters... -
![A Folly of Youth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Amy D'Orazio]()
A Folly of Youth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Amy D'Orazio
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMy own folly had endangered me, my preservation I owe to the kindness, the integrity of another… IN 1808, ELIZABETH BENNET is young, curious, and in possession of an invitation to a London party which she ought not to attend. Unable to resist the temptation, Elizabeth indulges her wish to see a party of the beau monde and finds herself in a dangerous situation... -
![Dare to Cause a Scandal by Emma V. Leech]()
Dare to Cause a Scandal by Emma V. Leech
Their mothers dared all for love. Just imagine what their daughters will do…A one track mind…Miss Arabella Hunt is a vivacious redhead with a kind heart and decisive nature. The daughter of the man who owns the notorious gambling den known as “Hunters” has set her sights on the beautiful Louis César de Montluc, the Comte de Villain. The trouble is, the devil doesn’t know she exists... -
![The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer]()
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
When the redoubtable Sir Horace Stanton-Lacy is ordered to South America on Diplomatic Business he parks his only daughter Sophy with his sister's family, the Ombersleys, in Berkeley Square. Upon her arrival, Sophy is bemused to see to see her cousins are in a sad tangle...Categorized as:
regency forced proximity slow burn sassy heroine strong heroine cold hero tall-heroine m-f -
![Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid]()
Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid
Miss Maryann FitzWilliam is too witty and bookish for her own good. No gentleman of the ton will marry her, so her parents arrange for her to wed a man old enough to be her father. But Maryann is ready to use those wits to turn herself into a sinful wallflower.When the scandal sheet reports a sighting of Nicolas Ives climbing out the chamber windows of a house party, Maryann does the unthinkable... -
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![A Matchmaker for a Marquess by Christi Caldwell]()
A Matchmaker for a Marquess by Christi Caldwell
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBe prepared to smile, swoon, and sigh in Christi Caldwell's latest 'Heart of a Scandal' installment where a matchmaker firmly on the shelf is about to fall head over heels for her best friend's younger brother. She lived by a strict set of rules… Meredith Durant believes those who won’t marry, matchmake, and she’s made a notable career for herself helping young women find the perfect mate... -
![Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase]()
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase
USA Today bestselling author Loretta Chase continues her Difficult Dukes series with this delightful spin on Shakespeare's classic, The Taming of the Shrew.Cassandra Pomfret holds strong opinions she isn’t shy about voicing... -
![Miss Fleming Falls in Love by Emma Melbourne]()
Miss Fleming Falls in Love by Emma Melbourne
A Girl. An Earl. A Battle of Wits . . .Miss Amelia Fleming has a very good reason to hate the Earl of Langley. A year ago, her father drowned in the Thames after losing a fortune to Langley at cards. Now her family is broke, her fiancé has broken their engagement, and the debt still hasn't been paid... -
![So True a Love by Joanna Barker]()
So True a Love by Joanna Barker
Danger and passion collide when a plucky young woman becomes embroiled in a Bow Street investigation alongside a handsome officer. London, 1803As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society —and the last woman one would suspect of working as a private investigator...Categorized as:
forced proximity regency m-f angst slow burn independent heroine sassy heroine strong heroine -
![Duke the Halls by Felicity Niven]()
Duke the Halls by Felicity Niven
A ray of sunshine gives the perfect Christmas present to a disagreeable duke. The Duke of Kittredge is that rarest of men—a wealthy, tall, and still-unmarried duke at the age of thirty-one. As such, he’s perennially at the top of the “Most Eligible Bachelor” list of the ton. And yet, he’s never gotten close to landing a wife. Young ladies don’t seem to like him. Scratch that. They revile him... -
![The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn]()
The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn
He thinks she's an annoying know-it-all... Hugh Prentice has never had patience for dramatic females, and if Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has ever been acquainted with the words shy or retiring, she's long since tossed them out the window. Besides, a reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her...Categorized as:
regency virgin heroine sassy heroine forced proximity grumpy sunshine nerdy-hero m-f cold hero -
![The Parfit Knight by Stella Riley]()
The Parfit Knight by Stella Riley
The Marquis of Amberley is rich, assured and thirty-four years old, with the reputation of being a law unto himself and a degree of charm which even his friends consider disastrous. When his coach is waylaid by highwaymen and his coachman shot, he is forced to take shelter at the first house he finds and is subsequently trapped there for a week by a severe snow storm... -
![Every Duke Has a Silver Lining by Tamara Gill]()
Every Duke Has a Silver Lining by Tamara Gill
He can’t deny her anything…except maybe his heart…Ashley Woodville didn’t mean any harm when she broke into Grady Kolten’s office. It was only a dare from her friends. She wasn’t supposed to get caught. And she certainly wasn’t supposed to talk the notorious gaming hell owner (and disturbingly sexy rogue) into showing her London’s wilder side. Falling for him? Also not part of the dare... -
![Dare To Be Scandalous by Tamara Gill]()
Dare To Be Scandalous by Tamara Gill
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAfter inheriting a small fortune, Willow Perry has everything she’s ever wanted. Except a husband, that is. But not just any husband will do. She’s looking for a grand love—someone who will challenge and excite her. It’s just her folly that the one man who interests her is a notorious rake. He’s as wild and passionate as Willow is sheltered and staid... -
![The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean]()
The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean
LADY SOPHIE'S SOCIETY SPLASH The youngest of the infamous Talbot sisters scandalized society at the Liverpool Summer Soiree, striking her sister’s notoriously philandering husband and landing him backside-first in a goldfish pond... -
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![Fair Stands the Wind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Catherine Lodge]()
Fair Stands the Wind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Catherine Lodge
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWe all know that, in Jane Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice," Mr. Darcy is proud and prejudiced because he is a wealthy landowner who believes himself above his company and that Elizabeth Bennet can afford to be proud and prejudiced because she believes she has the freedom to make choices for herself. But what if Mr... -
![Checkmate, Mr Darcy: A Regency Novel inspired by P&P by Sydney Salier]()
Checkmate, Mr Darcy: A Regency Novel inspired by P&P by Sydney Salier
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat might happen if Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy maintained his pride and prejudice, thereby giving his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, a chance to win the enchanting Elizabeth Bennet when they meet at Hunsford.The Colonel, who recently inherited a very small estate, does not need an heiress as long as his chosen lady is happy living in the country on a modest income... -
![Epiphany by Jessie Lewis]()
Epiphany by Jessie Lewis
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratings“Somehow, his hapless sister had begun a rumour that he was romantically attached to the penniless young woman, from an unheard-of and vulgar family, with whom duty and good sense forbade him from ever considering an alliance…but whose extraordinary wit and captivating eyes he had been entirely unable to banish from his thoughts... -
![Matchless Margaret by Christina Dudley]()
Matchless Margaret by Christina Dudley
With her two older sisters married, managing family affairs has fallen to capable Miss Margaret Hapgood, leaving little time for thoughts of marriage. But a trip to Bath to find her uncle a wealthy bride throws her in the path of a handsome recuperating soldier, who is equally determined to keep his mother’s fortune out of grasping hands... -
![The Duke's Diary by Ashtyn Newbold]()
The Duke's Diary by Ashtyn Newbold
She only meant to read one page...until she saw her name.Rather than being forced to marry the vile man her father intends for her, Nora Rothwell plans to escape... -
![It Had to Be a Duke by Vivienne Lorret]()
It Had to Be a Duke by Vivienne Lorret
USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret launches a new series with a sparkling romance about a spinster, a duke, and a fake engagement that blurs the lines between enemies and lovers…Verity Hartley always tells the truth. Well, mostly...Categorized as:
regency virgin heroine cold hero m-f independent heroine sassy heroine angst slow burn -
![Courting Danger by Wendy Vella]()
Courting Danger by Wendy Vella
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestseller Wendy Vella comes an exciting Regency series about legend, love and destiny, with a hint of magic …If only he’d taken more care, she wouldn’t now be facing her destiny.Somerset Sinclair vows not to follow in her elder siblings’ footsteps. There will be no marriages or daring rescues of any man carrying Raven blood. Somer has a career, and nothing is about to thwart that... -
![The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley]()
The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley
A NYT bestselling author kicks off a new Regency series of "irresistible romance and a family of delightful scoundrels" as a woman looking to recover a stolen painting accidentally kidnaps a duke instead. (Eloisa James) Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable—a curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd... -
![Prevailed Upon to Marry: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Mary Smythe]()
Prevailed Upon to Marry: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Mary Smythe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPrevailed Upon to Marry is a forced marriage Pride and Prejudice variation perfect for fans of romantic comedy and chivalric heroes.To love and be loved in return—what more could any rational person wish for? THE NEWS OF ELIZABETH BENNET'S ENGAGEMENT hits Fitzwilliam Darcy with all the force of a runaway carriage... -
![A Governess Should Never... Wager a Duke by Emily Windsor]()
A Governess Should Never... Wager a Duke by Emily Windsor
“So tell me, Miss Webster, why should I employ you?”The wintry Marcus Scarcliffe, the Duke of Shawdale, needs a governess.The penniless Miss Charlotte Webster needs employment.What could be simpler?Yet when long-ago love, a wager, a wandering uncle and Christmas are involved… Nothing is simple...Categorized as:
regency angst m-f grumpy sunshine cheerful heroine independent heroine strong heroine sweet heroine -
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![Turnabout: A Regency Romance inspired by P&P by Sydney Salier]()
Turnabout: A Regency Romance inspired by P&P by Sydney Salier
What if a wealthy aunt ensured that Mrs Bennet and her daughters had a secure future and a proper education?What if Darcy arrived at Netherfield a month after the Bingleys – just in time for the assembly and his famous insult?What if Mr Bennet was just a little more engaged and the inhabitants of Meryton a little less impressed with the visitors – resulting in the whole party getting kicked out... -
![Temperance by Beverley Watts]()
Temperance by Beverley Watts
In this funny romantic series, the Shackleford sisters descend on a Regency society that doesn’t know what’s hit it…Reverend Shackleford was at a loss. He’d truly believed that in marrying his eldest daughter Grace to an extremely wealthy peer of the realm, his problems would be over...Categorized as:
regency cold hero sassy heroine m-f virgin heroine slow burn other-man-woman historical -
![Lord Salisbury's Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife by Jill M. Beene]()
Lord Salisbury's Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife by Jill M. Beene
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEngland, 1825.A man whose head has never been turned…The Marquess of Salisbury loves women... -
![The Duke's Unexpected Bride by Lara Temple]()
The Duke's Unexpected Bride by Lara Temple
From country miss to London duchess!Sophie Trevelyan has been enjoying her visit to London, even if her closest companion is an overweight pug! Then she encounters the dashing Duke of Harcourt, who intrigues her more than is strictly properMax knows he must marry... -
![This Earl is on Fire by Vivienne Lorret]()
This Earl is on Fire by Vivienne Lorret
The sheltered daughter of a country baron, Miss Adeline Pimm comes to London looking for adventure… and finds it in the form of a bloody, unconscious man slumped in the doorway of her family’s rented townhouse. Though his identity is a mystery, Adeline is inexplicably drawn to the handsome, injured man and vows to nurse him back to health...Categorized as:
regency virgin heroine sassy heroine strong heroine m-f angst forced proximity slow burn -
![The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn]()
The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
She was in the wrong place... Fiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify. While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers' hideaway tucked inside a cave...
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