Books like 'The Passions of Emma'
Readers who enjoyed The Passions of Emma by Penelope Williamson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical rich heroine class difference cruel hero love triangle virgin heroine other-man-woman forbidden love working class hero slow burn
-
WolfeShield by Kathryn Le Veque
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsSometimes, men are impulsive in life and love. When Ronan de Wolfe, son of James de Wolfe (A Wolfe Among Dragons), marries young and impulsively, the consequences will prove to be disastrous when he meets the love of his life...Categorized as:
forbidden love cheating love triangle historical medieval second chances length-medium audiobook -
The Waterfront Lass by AnneMarie Brear
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWakefield 1870On the banks of the River Calder, Meg Taylor struggles to care for her younger siblings and sick mother whilst her father is away working as a boatman on the canals. The slums where they live are rife with disease, and Meg longs for a different life, away from the grinding poverty, but she'll never leave her family... -
Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean
The Lady’s Plan When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year her own, she has plans to inherit her father’s business, to make her own fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste of the pleasure she’ll forgo as a confirmed spinster... -
The Secret Heart by Mary Lancaster
Betrayal, temptation and an impossible love.The final book in the Unmarriageable series...Some suspect that Lily Villin is the true heart of the Hart Inn, a lucky house where love always seems to blossom, whatever the obstacles. But Lily has another secret. She is in love with an enigmatic nobleman, and no luck in the world can make such a marriage possible... -
-
To Hunt the Hunter by Emma V. Leech
Girls who dare – Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen.Eleven girls – Eleven dares in a hat. Twelve passionate stories. Who will dare to risk it all?To Hunt the Hunter A doomed love affair..Categorized as:
victorian forbidden love tortured hero cruel hero cold hero historical regency new adult -
-
All That Glitters by Catrin Collier
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsCornish smuggler Devlin 'Devil' Varcoe braves winter weather and revenue men to fetch the contraband on which Porthinnis depends for survival. Drawn to Jenefer Trevanion, whose father finances the smuggling operation, Devlin is seduced by beautiful wild-child Tamara Gillis. When fire destroys her home, Jenefer is forced to work in the pilchard cellars... -
Meant for the Marquess by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAn army major compelled to leave the military. A lady forced to earn her living. Two souls finding a new way of life . . . and each other . . . along with love. A brutal attack leaves Major Devin Hunt missing two fingers. Unable to fire a gun, he sells his commission and takes refuge with a former fellow officer who has now become a duke... -
An Heiress for August by Kathleen Ayers
London’s most notorious rake needs to wed.August Wade was never meant to be the Duke of Courtland. Now he’s inherited the title from his uncle along with the poorly managed ducal estates. After months of attempting to remedy the situation, August concludes that he must wed an heiress. Specifically, Miss Hazel Dartmont, only child of an obnoxiously wealthy textile merchant...Categorized as:
victorian class difference rich heroine tortured hero cold hero regency historical m-f -
Wild Jasmine by Bertrice Small
"SPELLBINDING." --Romantic Times From the palaces of pashas in seventeenth-century India to the scandalous court of James Stuart of England, one woman struggles against fate to find true love...Categorized as:
angst love triangle other-man-woman historical regency open-door length-long audiobook -
In the Dark with the Duke by Christi Caldwell
A lady of reserve and a fierce street fighter find common ground in the second Lost Lords of London novel by USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.Eight years ago, Lady Lila March retreated to the safe shadows of her family’s estate after a devastating tragedy. Weary of being a whisper of her former self, she is determined to brave the dangers of the outside world again...Categorized as:
victorian tortured hero class difference historical regency tortured heroine m-f audiobook -
The Beast's Beguiled by Eva Devon, Maire Claremont
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom USATODAY Bestselling author Eva Devon, writing as Maire Claremont, comes a brand new series that will sweep you away to the drama and angst of Regency England. Glittering ballrooms, wild moors, and brooding lords waiting to be tamed by bluestockings await. . .Catherine Ludlow knows the betrayal of family...Categorized as:
victorian virgin heroine cold hero regency historical from hate to love strong heroine pregnancy -
The Heart of a Scoundrel by Christi Caldwell
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsRuthless, wicked, and dark, the Marquess of Rutland rouses terror in the breast of ladies and nobleman alike. All Edmund wants in life is power. After he was publically humiliated by his one love Lady Margaret, he vowed vengeance, using Margaret’s niece, as his pawn. Except, he’s thwarted by another, more enticing target—Miss Phoebe Barrett...Categorized as:
victorian virgin heroine tortured hero cold hero regency historical vengeance possessive hero -
Always Remember: Ben's Story by Mary Balogh
Lady Jennifer Arden and Ben Ellis know that a match between them is out of the question. Yet their hearts yearn for the impossible. Discover a new heartwarming story from New York Times bestselling author and beloved “queen of Regency romance” Mary Balogh... -
-
Ghosts of the Canyon by Michelle Mankin
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsWelcome to the year 1969, a tumultuous year when the world and rock ’n’ roll were changing. Woodstock, war protests, free love, it’s all there, plus a rollercoaster romance that will have you frantically flipping pages to discover who this heroine chooses.What Katelyn Love longs for most of all is a child. Someone to shower with the affection she never received from her parents...Categorized as:
cheating love triangle other-man-woman historical contemporary military length-medium -
Highlander The Cursed Lord by Donna Fletcher
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe time has come for a curse that has plagued three clans for 20 years to meet its fate at the hands of three women who hold the key to its destruction... -
The Daring Debutante by Tracy Sumner
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome to the next generation in the Duchess Society!Tobias Streeter’s son and Xander Macauley’s daughter fight falling in love!In the bustling streets of 1840s London, a jaded and world-weary man, Nigel Streeter, carries the scars of a tortuous past... -
Moonstone Angel by Meara Platt
He thought she was a thief, but the only thing she ever stole was his heart... -
Winter's Whispers by Scarlett Scott
Don’t miss this special addition to the bestselling The Wicked Winters series, featuring Winter family favorites and a whole lot of holiday steam!Blade Winter is a coldhearted assassin with a deadly reputation. After a costly mistake leaves him banished to the countryside for a Christmas house party he has no wish to attend, he is furious. No amount of merrymaking is going to improve his mood...Categorized as:
victorian class difference virgin heroine tortured hero fighters highlander historical regency -
Marquess of Fortune by Tammy Andresen
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Marquess of Fortune is too dangerously wicked to ignore…Tall, dark, and handsome, the mysterious Lord Smith is the exact kind of man with which the sister of a baron should never consort. But he captures Miss Emily Cross's interest at every turn, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest whenever their eyes meet... -
Beauty Tempts the Beast by Lorraine Heath
She wants lessons in seductionAlthea Stanwick was a perfect lady destined to marry a wealthy lord, until betrayal left her family penniless. Though she’s lost friends, fortune, and respectability, Althea has gained a scandalous plan. If she can learn to seduce, she can obtain power over men and return to Society on her terms... -
The Broken Heart by Mary Lancaster
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsDanger, loyalty and loving the enemy… Book 4 in The Unmarriageable Series is now available! Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited! Shunned by society and even by her own family after the treachery of her late husband, Isabelle de Renarde has long given up any thought of love or remarriage...Categorized as:
victorian forbidden love fighters working class hero regency historical military insta-love -
A Counterfeit Courtesan by Jess Michaels
The final book in the popular series by 10 time USA Today bestselling author Jess Michaels The last of the Shelley triplets to remain unmarried, Juliana Shelley has never felt like she’s recognized as her own person. But now, scarred by a terrible attack, she’s never felt so alone. Or so tired of cleaning up every else’s mess. She longs for something just for herself... -
Kaze Hikaru, Vol. 5 by Taeko Watanabe
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn the year 1863, a time fraught with violent social upheaval, samurai of all walks of life flock to Kyoto in the hope of joining the Mibu-Roshi--a band of warriors united around their undying loyalty to the Shogunate system. In time, this group would become one of the greatest (and most famous) movements in Japanese history.. -
-
Making of a Scandal by Victoria Vale
A gentleman should never mix business with pleasure, unless he’s a gentleman courtesan … Driven to selling his services to settle gambling debts, the Honourable Mr. Dominick Burke thoroughly enjoys satisfying the appetites of wealthy women. When Miss Calliope Barrington contracts his services, his desire for her is instant and powerful... -
A Duke's Most Tempting Saviour: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Henrietta Harding
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe enthralling Lady Amelia Croweley has an alternate identity to those at the local hospital where she volunteers. They know nothing of her nobility, and that is the way she and her family like it...Categorized as:
victorian disabilities and marks tortured hero historical regency highlander suspense length-medium -
Merry Miss by Annabelle Anders
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsMiss Delia Somerset is stranded in a blizzard—alone, penniless, and certain to perish--but her luck takes a turn when handsome and honorable Jack Thorne appears to save her.Viscount Stark, isn’t at all happy about having to travel home for the holidays and is even less pleased at having to stop for the bedraggled snow angel freezing on the road...Categorized as:
victorian class difference cold hero historical regency age difference christmas length-novella -
A Governess Should Never... Tempt a Prizefighter by Emily Windsor
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 19 ratings“So tell me, Miss Griffin, why should I employ you as governess?”A question to rouse fear within the breast of any prospective governess but for Matilda, a lady without references, appropriate brown clothing or any experience with children whatsoever, doubly so...Categorized as:
victorian class difference single-father fighters historical regency m-f length-medium -
Fearless Duke by Scarlett Scott
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMiss Isabella Hilgrove, proprietress of the Ladies’ Typewriting School, prides herself on the quality of her staff. After the Duke of Westmorland sacks the third typist she has sent him in as many days, she’s not just outraged, she’s determined to put the arrogant bully in his place. Benedict Manning, Duke of Westmorland, is having the worst week of his life... -
Tall, Dark & Wicked by Kathleen Ayers
The Earl of Morwick is no gentleman. He’s not even much of an earl. Brendan would rather climb the face of a cliff than endure a London ball. When he finds himself in London for his cousin’s wedding and spies Lady Petra Grantly, he behaves like the savage he’s often accused of being. Brendan can’t wait to leave for his isolated estate where he can't be tempted by Lady Petra... -
The Duke's Wayward Wallflower by Maggie Dallen
“A Duke's taciturn demeanor does not necessarily indicate a black heart.Although . . . sometimes it does. Tread with care.” — Lady Greta, a truly dreadful chaperoneThere's no love lost between this shy wallflower and society's most formidable duke...Categorized as:
victorian angst class difference slow burn shy heroine cold hero other-man-woman forbidden love -
Duke of Sorrow by Whitney Blake
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA disfigured duke and a mysterious woman discover that love is where you least expect to find it... Get Book Two in the bestselling Dukes of Destiny series - read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Lord William Ainsworth, Duke of Ravenwood, never expected to be his family’s heir. A youngest son, he happily undertakes a doctor’s education...Categorized as:
disabilities and marks victorian tortured hero historical strong heroine regency length-short -
To Bed the Baron by Emma V. Leech
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsGirls who dare – Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen. Eleven girls – eleven dares in a hat, twelve passionate stories. Who will dare to risk it all? To Bed the Baron... -
Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh
First appearances deceive in the newest charming and heartwarming Regency romance in the Westcott series from beloved New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh. Abigail Westcott's dreams for her future were lost when her father died, and she discovered her parents were not legally married... -
-
Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor
Acclaimed for her unforgettable characters and bold storytelling, bestselling author Candice Proctor takes readers to the lush vistas of Australia for this magnificent tale of two people who share a love as forbidden and dangerous as the land that surrounds them. . . -
Lord Anguish by Sydney Jane Baily
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsPrivileged and eligible until a carriage accident hurls him to London’s cobbled street, an earl awakens as Lord Anguish. How could it get any worse?Of all the ladies in London, why does this one tickle his fancy?Lord John Angsley, Earl of Cambrey, can’t stay away from Miss Blackwood, the jammiest bit of jam...Categorized as:
victorian tortured hero other-man-woman historical regency substance abuse audiobook -
The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratings“It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world,” said Elizabeth Bennet at the conclusion of “Pride & Prejudice”—but was it true? Charlie Haywood is a London-based private investigator who has made his own fortune—on his own terms...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort disabilities and marks victorian mystery historical regency length-short audiobook -
Winter's Woman by Scarlett Scott
The reigning toast of the Season, Lady Evangeline Saltisford is betrothed to the most eligible bachelor in London and a scant few weeks from having everything she has ever wanted. Until danger comes calling, and she is forced to accept aid from a decidedly unlikely—and infuriating—source.Devil Winter is the illegitimate offspring of a wealthy merchant and a prostitute... -
I Want You to Want Me by Shana Galen
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA cruel twist of fate…Nicholas St. Clare, youngest son of the Marquess of Averstow, was an avid horseman until his legs were crushed on the battlefield. The injury sent him home to England a broken man. Ashamed of his injury, he’s become a virtual recluse on his country estate until his mother, the dowager marchioness, insists he marry... -
A Scoundrel of Her Own by Stacy Reid
Lady Ophelia Darby exists in two worlds. In one, she is the impudent, willful daughter of a powerful marquess and darling of the ton. In the other, she moves through the underworld’s shadows as songstress Lady Starlight, protected only by the notoriously wealthy scoundrel Devlin Byrne. But when she stumbles upon her beloved father’s darkest secrets, the line between her two worlds quickly blurs...Categorized as:
victorian class difference forbidden love angst rich heroine historical regency friends to lovers -
A Duke In The Rough by Trisha Messmer
How can a newly minted duke escape title-seeking debutantes? Lie, of course!Lady Honoria Bell never recovered from her broken heart. Fending off suitors her marquess father forces in her path, she’s put aside hopes of marriage. However, word of a house party hosted by the new, eligible Duke of Burwood brings a renewed gleam to her father’s eye...Categorized as:
class difference angst victorian historical regency virgin hero length-medium open-door -
The Importance of Being Eunice by Claudia Stone
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA duke, a spinster, a faux engagement; what could possibly go wrong? For four seasons Lady Eunice was quite content with the mantle of wallflower. Bespectacled, frumpy, and put-upon by her overbearing mother, all she really wished to do was vanish from London once she came of age to inherit her fortune...Categorized as:
love triangle victorian other-man-woman historical regency plain heroine length-short audiobook -
Stormswept by Deborah Martin, Sabrina Jeffries
The first wedding night that Lady Juliana St. Albans spent with the dark and daring Rhys Vaughan was intoxicating, the heady culmination of her new husband’s driving hunger and her own awakened sensuality. When he mysteriously disappeared the next morning, she waited for him in hope and desperation. And when he was finally proclaimed dead in a shipwreck, she bitterly mourned the loss of her love...Categorized as:
angst class difference other-man-woman cruel hero tortured hero working class hero historical m-f -
Touch the Sun by Cynthia Wright
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsMeagan Sayers, rebellious Southern beauty, was a runaway. The newly-orphaned daughter of Virginian aristocracy, connected to Madison, Jefferson and General Washington himself, arrived in bustling Philadelphia disguised as a lady's maid.Irresistibly drawn to dazzling young Lion Hampshire, pride demanded she keep her secret as he arranged a loveless marriage to advance his political career... -
-
His Countess by S.M. LaViolette
Businessman Gideon Banks is cold, brilliant, rich…and bored. Who knew that a man who excelled at debauchery could become so bored? It’s not until he learns that he is heir to the Taunton Earldom that things start to get interesting. The late earl’s irksome, superior, and entirely too attractive widow is particularly fascinating to him...Categorized as:
victorian tortured hero disabilities and marks cheating other-man-woman bdsm menage historical -
The Forbidden Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
Devastating Passion Jordan Willis, the Earl of Blackmore, has played with the hearts of many a society belle- yet one stolen kiss impulsively planted on the soft, irresistible lips of the preacher's daughter, prim and proper Emily Fairchild, proves to be his undoing... -
His Scandalous Lessons by Katrina Kendrick
Love and scandal make for a deadly combination . . .He is London's most notorious rogueRichard Grey is renowned for his escapades in the bedchamber. But he's hidden the truth for years: that wicked reputation is a public front to hide his political machinations...Categorized as:
forbidden love virgin heroine victorian insta-love historical length-medium open-door audiobook -
The Make-Believe Widow by Darcy Burke
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWidower James Ludlow, Earl of Rotherham, attends a house party in search of a mother for his two daughters, and his primary requirement is that he doesn’t fall in love. Having already given that emotion to his former wife without reciprocation, he prefers a mutually beneficial arrangement without sentimentality... -
Inventing the Viscount by Ellie St. Clair
She’s never met a problem she can’t fix...Lady Fredericka Ashworth observes the world around her with the intention of making it better. Blessed with a gift of tinkering and the skills of designing and woodworking, she has thought of everything from an easier way to cook eggs to candlesticks that allow for a longer burn...Categorized as:
victorian disabilities and marks tortured hero regency historical short-king open-door ableism -
Zoe by T.A. Ford
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Cinderella fairytale for all time, Zoé takes the reader beyond color and shares the true nature of humanity and passion in a page-turning tale that will keep you reading-and believing that true love knows no bounds...Categorized as:
forbidden love multicultural class difference historical regency 20th century length-medium
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences

Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.