Books like 'Painted by the Sun'
Readers who enjoyed Painted by the Sun by Elizabeth Grayson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical tortured hero tortured heroine
-
Twist and Shout by Gabriel (AO3), Standbyme
Destiel Fanfic. What begins as a transforming love between Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak in the summer of 1965 quickly derails into something far more tumultuous when Dean is drafted in the Vietnam War. Though the two both voice their relationship is one where saying goodbye is never a real truth, their story becomes fraught with the tragedy of circumstance... -
The Girl in the Striped Dress by Ellie Midwood
Germany, 1947. A strange case scheduled for the Denazification Court lands on the desk of an American psychiatrist currently serving in Germany, Dr. Hoffman. A former Auschwitz guard, Franz Dahler, is set to appear in court, and he has requested to bring the most unexpected witness to testify in his defense - one of his former inmates and current wife, Helena...Categorized as:
tortured heroine tortured hero historical 20th century war forbidden love shy heroine sweet heroine -
Sponsored links / Remove ads
-
One Wylde Knight by Kathryn Le Veque
Rated: 4.73 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe bigger and badder they are, the harder they fall. .. Dark, sultry, with a hint of fire in his blood from his Visigoth ancestors and a spark in his eye that betray his killer instincts, Thorington “Thor” de Reyne is the son of the Earl of Ashington and one of the greatest knights England has ever seen. His talent is unmatched, so much so that the king himself has demanded Thor’s service... -
Into the Darkest Day by Kate Hewitt
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsShe had to step outside and hold the paper up to the moonlight to read it, but when she was able to make out the words, her heart felt as if it would drop right out of her chest. Because the message was in German. 1944, London:. When Lily meets enigmatic GI Matthew in war-torn London, she doesn’t expect to fall in love... -
-
Impossible by Darcy Burke
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSociety’s most exclusive invitation. .. Welcome to the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances. Ada Treadway has been in love before, and it brought nothing but heartache... -
Highlander Lord of Fire by Donna Fletcher
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe’s blind, yet he’s the one who cannot see. Snow might be blind, but it doesn’t stop her from seeing the powerful and fierce Lord of Fire’s true nature. He’s pigheaded, domineering, demanding, and completely frustrating. The few encounters she’s had with him when he’s visited the Clan Macardle did not go well, especially when he threatened her pup, Thaw...Categorized as:
tortured heroine historical alpha male highlander medieval scotland europe british-isles -
Her Virtuous Viscount by Scarlett Scott
Jilted by the woman he loved, Tom, Viscount Sidmouth, has decided he will happily remain a bachelor for the rest of his life. He wants nothing to do with affairs of the heart. And he most certainly wants nothing to do with the wild widow next door. After spending years trapped in a loveless marriage, Hyacinth has returned to London on a mission to experience everything she missed...Categorized as:
tortured heroine tortured hero historical victorian length-short m-f england female-rake -
The Heart of a Scoundrel by Christi Caldwell
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 23 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:
tortured hero regency historical victorian vengeance virgin heroine possessive hero cold hero -
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:
tortured heroine tortured hero historical regency victorian class difference m-f audiobook -
Make Believe with the Marquess by Annabelle Anders
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen he mistakes you for a chambermaid… The Marquess has something this teacher wants, and, as luck would have it, she has something he needs. Beatrice Wolcott is desperate to keep her past a secret... -
Drops of Gold by Sarah M. Eden
Layton Jonquil has spent the four years since his wife's death in the isolated sanctuary of his home, Farland Meadows, with only his daughter Caroline. Mary Wood, a flame-haired, out-spoken, overly-cheerful governess descends on the household changing both their lives and unearthing secrets Layton would rather remained buried and forgotten...Categorized as:
tortured hero regency historical christian clean length-short audiobook glimpses-kisses -
Lady Saves The Duke by Annabelle Anders
Miss Abigail Wright, disillusioned spinster, hides her secret pain behind encouraging smiles and optimistic laughter. Self-pity, she believes, is for the truly wretched. So when her mother insists she attend a house party—uninvited—she determines to simply make the best of it…until an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction...Categorized as:
tortured heroine tortured hero regency historical victorian length-medium past-sexual-abuse death -
In the Midnight Rain by Barbara O'Neal
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsTwo converging mysteries compel a woman’s search for the truth in a captivating novel about loss, love, family, and healing by the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids. Biographer Ellie Connor is in Gideon, Texas, to research blues singer Mabel Beauvais who, on the verge of fame, mysteriously disappeared more than forty years ago. Gideon holds another mystery for Ellie...Categorized as:
tortured hero contemporary mystery suspense historical small town length-medium audiobook -
Mad Duke March by Sadie Bosque, The Rake Review
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhisky. Plenty of it. Keep it coming… That’s all that Alexander Blackwood, the notorious “Mad Duke” of London, desires. Determined to waste his life away, he manages to offend even his closest friends. But when he carelessly ruins Miss Emily Fitzwilliam while in a drunken stupor, he finds himself chained to the only woman in England who refuses to fear or fawn over him... -
-
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... -
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:
tortured hero historical victorian regency highlander suspense disabilities and marks length-medium -
The Duke of Desire by Darcy Burke
Ten years ago Ivy Breckenridge’s life was ruined. She had to reinvent herself, and now, after painstakingly making her own way in the world, she’s nearly forgotten the dreams of home and family she’d once nurtured. Until one man peers into her soul and awakens every one of her hidden desires...Categorized as:
tortured hero tortured heroine regency historical miscarriage death abuse poor heroine -
The Gorgon by Kathryn Le Veque
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsYear of our Lord 1235 A. D. , Dorset, England. An epic Medieval romance written in the same old-world vein as 'Ivanhoe', this is a tremendously powerful story of Sir Bose de Moray and the Lady Summer du Bonne. Bose was the Captain of the Guard for King Henry III until Bose's wife's untimely death in childbirth...Categorized as:
tortured hero historical medieval insta-love virgin heroine m-f length-medium audiobook -
The Broken Duke by Jess Michaels
The third sensual romance in the 1797 Club series by USA Today Bestselling Author Jess Michaels. Adelaide Longford is London’s most overlooked bluestocking wallflower and that is fine by her. Being ignored gives her the perfect opportunity to sneak out and secretly take on the persona of the most celebrated actress of the day, Lydia Ford... -
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:
tortured hero historical disabilities and marks victorian strong heroine regency length-short -
Swept Up by Symone West
Malaya Jacobs is on a long drive to calm her mind when she ends up in a rainstorm that leads to a frightening situation. Cold and barely hanging on, her cries seem hopeless until a stranger saves her. Noah Davenhill never imagined the storm would bring him a captivating woman who tugs at his restraints. A short dance with desire isn’t enough for the man who’s remained alone for years... -
The Love of a Libertine by Jess Michaels
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen Morgan Banfield wakes up in Newgate after a night of debauchery, the last thing he wants to see is his estranged brother. But in exchange for his help, Morgan must agree to take on responsibility and try to get his life together by taking on the job of Man of Affairs for a friend. The last thing Lizzie Margolis wants is some rogue coming onto her brother's staff... -
Highlander’s Wicked Prophecy by Fiona Faris
A child born of violence, a woman with a prophecy, and a personal vendetta that will mark their fate. .. Robbie MacDonald wished he was never born. His father's forceful ways tormented his very existence. Without a feeling of belonging he decides to leave the isle of Skye and pursue a future as a mercenary in the Americas... -
Wounded Hearts by Caroline Warfield
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWounded bodies mend; wounded hearts take longer. Three warriors return from the Napoleonic wars with damaged bodies, ugly memories, and regrets to futures they are ill prepared to face. But love can heal the most damaged heart bringing with it hope for better days. Candles in the Dark—Douglas Marsh came home to an unexpected inheritance, a factory he has no idea how to run... -
-
The Highland Earl by Amy Jarecki
Mr. & Mrs. Smith meets Outlander in this action-packed Scottish romance where a marriage of convenience leads to secrets that could be deadly. With two young sons to care for and a large estate to run, John Erskine, the widowed Earl of Mar, needs to remarry as quickly as possible. And beautiful Lady Evelyn Pierrepont would be the perfect match...Categorized as:
tortured hero highlander historical medieval victorian arranged marriage open-door length-medium -
The Laird of Blackloch by Amy Rose Bennett
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsRevenge might be sweet, but love is far sweeter…. Following the Battle of Culloden, Alexander MacIvor returns to his ancestral home, Blackloch Castle, only to find the Earl of Tay, chief of the rival Clan Campbell, has laid waste to everything he holds dear. In the face of such devastation, Alex seems doomed to live the life of a fugitive Jacobite. .Categorized as:
tortured hero historical highlander forced proximity from hate to love betrayal length-medium -
The Accidental Groom by Barbara Devlin
A tortured soldier, a gentle spirit, and a love that will last a lifetime. Welcome to book 2, The Accidental Groom from USA Today Bestselling Author Barbara Devlin. A TORTURED SOLDIER. Injured at Quatre Bras, Lord Rawden Durant, Earl of Beaulieu, suffers permanent emotional and physical wounds. Hiding a dark secret, he fears exposure that would destroy him... -
The Diamond and the Duke by Christi Caldwell
When a wounded soldier and self-proclaimed "beast" finds unlikely friendship with a headstrong and unconventional beauty, they quickly find themselves weaving a tale as old as time…. Despite a hero’s return to England from the Napoleonic Wars, Wesley Audley isolates from the ton. Deep wounds from the horrors of combat—and the despair of a broken heart—left him scarred... -
To Enchant a Wicked Duke by Christi Caldwell
A Devil in Disguise. Years ago, when Nick Tallings, the recent Duke of Huntly, watched his family destroyed at the hands of a merciless nobleman, he vowed revenge. But his efforts had been futile, as his enemy, Lord Rutland is without weakness. Until now. .. With his rival finally happily married, Nick is able to set his ruthless scheme into motion...Categorized as:
tortured hero regency historical victorian virgin heroine cold hero tall-heroine open-door -
My Lady Thief by Emily May, Emily Larkin
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsLady by day, Robin Hood by night. .. Arabella Knightley is an earl’s granddaughter, but it’s common knowledge that she spent her early years in London’s gutters. What the ton doesn’t know is that while Arabella acts the perfect young lady by day, at night she plays Robin Hood, stealing from the wealthy to give to the poor. Adam St Just is one of Society’s most sought after bachelors... -
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... -
Duke of Disrepute by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWho doesn't love a duke? How about five of them? Welcome to bestselling author Alexa Aston's new Regency romance series, the Dukes of Distinction! These five aristocrats all come with nicknames Polite Society has bestowed upon them. Renown. Charm. Disrepute. Arrogance. Honor. A beautiful widow at the mercy of selfish relatives. .. A duke broken by a terrible secret. .Categorized as:
tortured heroine tortured hero victorian historical regency single-mother m-f length-short -
Wicked At Heart by Danelle Harmon
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEngland, 1813. Damon de Wolfe, the sixth Marquess of Morninghall (a Romantic Times K. I. S. S. Hero of the Year Nominee) is dark, diabolical, and very, very dangerous. Tortured by his past and driven by his desire for revenge, the former naval hero has fallen from grace after infuriating his superiors... -
A Foolish Wager by Rose Pearson
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Lady with a limp. A Gentleman blackmailed in a wager. Can anything good come of this? Lady Amelia Ferguson cannot remember the day she fell from the apple tree in the orchard, but she has carried the consequences of it ever since. Even though she is the daughter of the late Earl of Stockbridge, London society do not regard her as of any importance because of her limp... -
-
Highlander's Captive Bride: A Steamy Scottish Medieval Historical Romance by Ann Marie Scott
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe has sworn revenge. And she might be the perfect opportunity for him to get it. Sarah Ainsworth thought her fate could not get any worse. Her Uncle, and only guardian after her parents' death, forced her to leave her home in England to marry a Laird four times her age...Categorized as:
tortured heroine tortured hero ancient times historical medieval highlander regency victorian -
Her Dangerous Viscount by Cynthia Wright
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe year is 1814 and Grey St. James has escaped from Napoleon's prison on the rocky isle of Mont St. Michel. Desperate and dangerous, he is a far cry from the rakish nobleman who had broken hearts in Regency London. In a chateau high above the romantic Loire River, Natalya Beauvisage is writing her second novel... -
Never Marry a Scandalous Duke by Renee Ann Miller
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsA thoroughly roguish nobleman and a devoted lady entomologist have absolutely nothing in common—or do they? Love is far from scientific when it truly blooms. .. In the eyes of the ton, Lady Sara Elsmere is so firmly on the shelf, she might as well be nailed in place. Not that Sara minds. She is far more concerned about her study of butterflies than society’s gossip...Categorized as:
tortured hero victorian marriage of convenience arranged marriage humor historical sports military -
A Lady's Prerogative by Annabelle Anders
It’s not fair. Titled rakes can practically get away with murder, but one tiny little misstep and a debutante is sent away to the country. Which is where Lady Natalie Spencer is stuck after jilting her betrothed. Frustrated with her banishment, she’s finished being a good girl and ready to be a little naughty. Luckily she has brothers, one of whom has brought home his delightfully gorgeous friend...Categorized as:
tortured hero regency historical open-door dual-pov third-person-pov strong heroine cold hero -
The Lady Flees Her Lord by Ann Lethbridge
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA passionate Regency romance from award-winning author Ann Lethbridge! Driven to despair by her husband’s endless abuse and ridicule, Lucinda, Lady Denbigh, can endure no more. With no one to turn to, she flees London to take quiet refuge in the countryside, determined to build a new life of her own... -
The Cruel Duke's Bride: A Steamy Marriage of Convenience Regency Romance Novel by Tessa Brookman
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA Duke seeking vengeance. A Lady who threatens to expose him. One fateful kiss. Lady Amelia's childhood was ruined when her father fell victim to the notorious ‘Masked Rogue’. Years later, on the balcony of the grand annual Stanhope ball, she finds herself face to face with the same man, and she seizes an opportunity of vengeance…...Categorized as:
tortured hero tortured heroine historical regency victorian length-medium m-f from hate to love -
The Earl's Tempting Proposal by Lavinia Glen
A man who thought himself unlovable. After two decades of exile, Colin Knightsbridge returns to his ancestral home to claim his title as the Earl of Hartfield. The shy child he was when he left is a far cry from the man he has become. Driven by his desire to help and protect others, he has become a skilled physician and a master of martial arts... -
Once Upon a Promise by Nicola Davidson
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLong ago abandoned for the battlefields of Europe by her aristocratic soldier husband, Emma Montclair craves a formal separation. To forget the man who pulled her into his glittering, stifling world, introduced her to love, laughter, and sizzling passion in their whirlwind marriage, then broke her heart...Categorized as:
tortured hero humor regency historical marriage of convenience strong heroine angst length-novella -
Tempted by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham
His saviour from the darkness…. After years of brutal torture, Callum MacKinloch is finally free of his captors—but his voice is still held prisoner. He'd never let anyone hear him scream. Although Lady Marguerite de Montpierre's chains are invisible, they threaten to tie her to a loveless and cruel marriage... -
101 avenue Henri Martin, 1942-1944 by Régine Deforges, Yaşar İlksavaş
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsVoici le second volume de la célèbre saga de Régine Deforges, La Bicyclette bleue . Un roman qui plonge l'héroïne Léa Delmas dans la tourmente et les affres de l'Occupation. En cette année 1942, les habitants du domaine de Montignac sont victimes de maints deuils et privations... -
-
A Temporary Betrothal by Dorothy Mack
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA heart-stopping Regency romance! Perfect for fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Balogh, Jane Aiken Hodge and Jane Austen. Can Belinda shield her cousin from scandal without sacrificing her happiness? Regency England Having spent several years caring for her grandmother, Belinda Melville has hardly ever left her family home...Categorized as:
tortured hero historical regency arranged marriage cheating other-man-woman length-medium -
The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor
Rated: 3.97 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA lady with a noble mission. A duke looking for redemption. A forbidden love that cannot be denied…. Lady Daphne Hallworth is ready to celebrate the holidays with her family. But when they accidentally leave her home alone, Daphne uses the time to work on her dream—opening a home for unwed mothers... -
Bewitching the Earl by Lauren Smith
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratings**Author issued edition**. She’s a lady desperate for a future, one that doesn’t involve her dark past. On a cold night she receives aid from a mysterious stranger, one who tells her she can change her destiny, as long as she agrees to marry the man who wins her... -
Dark Fires by Rosemary Rogers
Desire -- savage, untamed and undeniable -- bound tempestuous Virginia Brandon to Steve Morgan, her magnificent, dangerous soldier of fortune. And in the blistering heat Of revolution's flames, they swore tolove for an eternity and beyond...Categorized as:
tortured heroine rape virgin heroine possessive hero secret child cruel hero open-door m-f -
Red Roses Mean Love by Jacquie D'Alessandro
After nearly being killed, Lord Stephen Barrett regains consciousness in an unfamiliar but free-spirited household, nursed by the oldest sister of orphaned children. He decides to hide out there for a while and develops a bond with the children and a passion for his seductive nursemaid. But when Stephen walks out of Hayley's life one night, it will take his sister to bring them back together.Categorized as:
tortured heroine regency historical sweet heroine poor heroine class difference open-door m-f -
Captive Embraces by Fern Michaels
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBestselling author Fern Michaels has thrilled generations of readers with her glorious love stories and sweeping romantic sagas. Here is a classic historical tale of passion on the high seas as one woman dares to win back the man who stole her fortune–and her heart. . . . Proud and beautiful Sirena Cordez once commanded her own ship, battling pirates to avenge her sister’s brutal death...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
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.

