Books like 'The Samurai's Garden'
Readers who enjoyed The Samurai's Garden by Patricia Kiyono also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical young adult independent heroine east-asian-mc
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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... -
![In the Eye of the Storm by Robert Thier]()
In the Eye of the Storm by Robert Thier
Egypt... land of romance, mystery, and exploding camels. Lilly Linton thought she’d be ready for anything after one month of working for her boss – cold, calculating businessman Rikkard Ambrose...Categorized as:
independent heroine new adult historical victorian mystery young adult humor strong heroine -
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![Hunting for Silence by Robert Thier]()
Hunting for Silence by Robert Thier
British business mogul Rikkard Ambrose has departed London to face his arch-rival in a deadly game of espionage and intrigue at the Royal Court of France, leaving his lady love behind to knit socks and twiddle her thumbs...Categorized as:
independent heroine victorian historical humor super rich hero young adult strong heroine new adult -
![Storm and Silence by Robert Thier]()
Storm and Silence by Robert Thier
Freedom – that is what Lilly Linton wants most in life. Not marriage, not a brood of squalling brats, and certainly not love, thank you very much! But freedom is a rare commodity in 19th-century London, where girls are expected to spend their lives sitting at home, fully occupied with looking pretty...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical victorian mystery new adult slow burn boss & employee strong heroine -
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![Silence is Golden by Robert Thier]()
Silence is Golden by Robert Thier
Silent. Cold. Chiselled perfection. That is Rikkard Ambrose, the most powerful business mogul in Great Britain. Free-spirited. Fiery. Definitely not attracted to the aforementioned business mogul. That is Lilly Linton, his personal secretary and secret weapon. The two have been playing a cat and mouse game for months...Categorized as:
independent heroine victorian historical new adult super rich hero humor mystery strong heroine -
![Storm of Bells by Robert Thier]()
Storm of Bells by Robert Thier
Never do what you’re told, never boil your own head in vinegar and, most important of all, never ever marry a man—those have always been Lilly Linton’s principles for a happy, carefree life. So, how the heck did she end up engaged to multinational industrial magnate Rikkard Ambrose?Right now she’s too happy to care... -
![A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette]()
A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette
Seven years ago, Moriyah was taken captive in Jericho and branded with the mark of the Canaanite gods. Now the Israelites are experiencing peace in their new land, but Moriyah has yet to find her own peace. Because of the shameful mark on her face, she hides behind her veil at all times and the disdain of the townspeople keeps her from socializing. And marriage prospects were out of the question...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical christian ancient times young adult length-medium new adult m-f -
![Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo]()
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Winner of the National Book AwardA New York Times Bestseller The queer romance we've been waiting for."--Ms. MagazineSeventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root--that desire to look, to move closer, to touch...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc young adult f-f historical contemporary multicultural forbidden love high-school -
![Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster]()
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster
Raised in a bleak orphanage without even a name from her parents, this modern girls' fairy tale tells the story of Jerusha Abbott, a plucky young woman without ties and unsure of her future. After a visit from the trustees of the orphanage, Jerusha is told that one of the trustees sees in her the potential of a writer and wishes to be the patron of her college education...Categorized as:
independent heroine young adult historical humor 20th century age difference new adult mystery -
![The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd]()
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd
An incredible story of dangerous and hidden friendships, ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice.The year is 1739. Eliza Lucas is sixteen years old when her father leaves her in charge of their family's three plantations in rural South Carolina and then proceeds to bleed the estates dry in pursuit of his military ambitions... -
![Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette]()
Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette
Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting and survival. When her family is killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family. The one thing she never counted on was surviving. Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, is shocked to find an unconscious, wounded woman among the Canaanite casualties...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical christian length-long ancient times young adult new adult m-f -
![The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly]()
The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
It has been twelve years since a dark, murderous figure stalked the alleys and courts of Whitechapel. And yet, in the summer of 1900, East London is still poor, still brutal, still a shadow city to its western twin. Among the reformers is an idealistic young woman named India Selwyn-Jones, recently graduated from medical school...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical victorian 20th century mystery class difference suspense young adult -
![Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 3 by Dr. Pepperco]()
Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 3 by Dr. Pepperco
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe Last GoodbyeAlice has finally revealed her secret to Hanako: she is Victor Franks! Yet secrets that must be kept still abound, and family, status, and love bind Alice like thorns... -
![Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 2 by Dr. Pepperco]()
Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 2 by Dr. Pepperco
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA Love That Dare Not Speak Its NameLady Alice shares the story of her love for her former governess Eliza, as well as its tragic end. In the wake of that story, Hanako finds herself harboring two secrets—including the fact that the feelings in her heart are growing all the more intense... -
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![A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur]()
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today’s world, based on a true story from Korean history.Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.1506, Joseon... -
![The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly]()
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
East London, 1888 - a city apart. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled streets by day and a killer stalks at night, where bright hopes meet the darkest truths...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical victorian mystery young adult suspense regency contemporary -
![Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 1 by Dr. Pepperco]()
Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 1 by Dr. Pepperco
Love Among the ThornsEarly in the twentieth century, Hanako journeys to England to follow her dream of becoming a novelist...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc f-f historical young adult 20th century queer length-short glimpses-kisses -
![The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey]()
The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey
A Viking Historical RomanceOn the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical mystery vikings medieval death suspense from hate to love -
![The Bride of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep]()
The Bride of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep
The Continuing Adventure of Jackson and Kit! Detective Jackson Forge can hardly wait to marry the street-sly swindler who’s turned his life upside down...Categorized as:
independent heroine clean young adult historical mystery christian new adult suspense -
![The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee]()
The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee
Get steeped in suspense, romance, and high Victorian intrigue as Mary goes undercover at Buckingham Palace - and learns a startling secret at the Tower of London. Queen Victoria has a little problem: there's a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc independent heroine historical young adult mystery multicultural regency suspense -
![The Centurion's Wife by Janette Oke, Davis T. Bunn]()
The Centurion's Wife by Janette Oke, Davis T. Bunn
Janette Oke has dreamed for years of retelling a story in a biblical time frame from a female protagonist's perspective, and Davis Bunn is elated to be working with her again on this sweeping saga of the dramatic events surrounding the birth of Christianity...and the very personal story of Leah, a young Jewess of mixed heritage trapped in a vortex of competing political agendas and private trauma...Categorized as:
independent heroine christian historical ancient times clean young adult length-medium new adult -
![The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee]()
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBy day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie... -
![New Storm Rising by Robert Thier]()
New Storm Rising by Robert Thier
This was NOT how Lilly had expected her honeymoon to go. Ever since their ship left the shore, she has been feeling dizzy, irritable and nauseous...and what the heck are these strange cravings she keeps having? Her brand-new husband is no help either. Suddenly, stoic, icy billionaire Mr Rikkard Ambrose has turned into a moody, overprotective caveman... -
![Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore]()
Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore
Amelia Beckett is delighted to be a widow. Married by proxy to a man she'd never met, Amelia recognizes that a fortuitous entry into widowhood frees her from meddlesome chaperones and matchmakers. Heiress to her mother's sugar plantation in Jamaica, she happily anticipates working in a man's world, with the additional credibility of her new title: Lady Lockwood...Categorized as:
independent heroine suspense regency historical virgin heroine young adult pirates clean -
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![Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman]()
Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsIn 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet. Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler... -
![Pursuing Miss Hall by Karen Thornell]()
Pursuing Miss Hall by Karen Thornell
Nathaniel Blake has been in love with his best friend, Meg, for as long as he can remember. Though a gentleman himself, his status in Society is inarguably below Meg’s own. Determined to avoid the label of “fortune hunter,” Nathaniel has long concealed the feelings of his heart...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical regency length-novella young adult new adult humor m-f -
![Love Show by Audrey Bell]()
Love Show by Audrey Bell
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsHadley Arrington is the career-driven editor-in-chief of her university’s prestigious newspaper. Jack Diamond is a laidback student whose good looks have made things even easier than they need to be. She’s the girl who came out of nowhere and kissed him in the rain. He’s the boy who made her do something crazy... -
![The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens]()
The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens
Three heros, three rescues, three weddings.We joyfully request your attendance at the wedding of Miss Angelica Cynster...but not until she and her hero confront a devious enemy and lay to rest an ancient grudge in the Scottish Highlands! Headstrong Angelica Cynster is certain she'll recognize her fated husband at first sight...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical highlander mystery suspense regency ancient times young adult -
![Freedom Swimmer by Wai Chim]()
Freedom Swimmer by Wai Chim
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA powerful story of friendship, bravery, and a desperate bid for freedom, inspired by true events.Ming survived the famine that killed his parents during China's "Great Leap Forward", and lives a hard but adequate life, working in the fields...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc young adult historical contemporary high-school abuse multicultural east-asia -
![A Dangerous Stage by Camy Tang]()
A Dangerous Stage by Camy Tang
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTessa Lancaster worked for her uncle in the Japanese mafia until she was sent to prison for a murder she didn't commit. Now, after finding God behind bars, she takes odd jobs as a bodyguard to keep her distance from the family business.In A Dangerous Stage, the second book in Camy Tang's Protection for Hire series, Tessa gets caught up in the web of lies surrounding a shady singing competition...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc suspense christian mystery young adult historical contemporary sassy heroine -
![Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee]()
Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee
Rated: 3.98 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl comes an unforgettable story of determination set against a backdrop of devastating tragedy, perfect for fans of Code Name Verity... -
![A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin]()
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
A whip-smart debut that follows the adventures of an entirely unconventional heroine who throws herself into the London Season to find a wealthy husband. But the last thing she expects is to find love...Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. Left with her father’s massive debts, she has only twelve weeks to save her family from ruin...Categorized as:
independent heroine historical regency from hate to love humor young adult clean new adult -
![The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd]()
The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd
Cornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold. Cornwall, England, 1811 Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate...Categorized as:
independent heroine regency historical christian suspense contemporary young adult new adult -
![Private Label by Kelly Yang]()
Private Label by Kelly Yang
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang delivers a heartfelt and powerful YA romance about a Chinese American girl who gets help from the new boy in town to search for her dad after her successful fashion designer mother is diagnosed with cancer.Serene dreams of making couture dresses even more stunning than her mom’s, but for now she’s an intern at her mom’s fashion label...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc young adult contemporary multicultural high-school racism historical dystopian -
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![Rivals in the City by Y.S. Lee]()
Rivals in the City by Y.S. Lee
In a tale steeped in action, romance, and the gaslit intrigue of Victorian London, Mary Quinn’s detective skills are pitted against a cunning and desperate opponent.Mary Quinn has a lot on her mind. James Easton, her longtime love interest, wants to marry her; but despite her feelings, independent-minded Mary hesitates...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc independent heroine mystery young adult historical victorian suspense england -
![The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman]()
The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman
Jade Moon is a Fire Horse—the worst sign in the Chinese zodiac for girls, said to make them stubborn, willful, and far too imaginative. But while her family despairs of marrying her off, she has a passionate heart and powerful dreams, and wants only to find a way to make them come true... -
![What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri]()
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
As the abandoned son of a Lascar—a sailor from India—Heathcliff has spent most of his young life maligned as an "outsider." Now he's been flung into an alien life in the Yorkshire moors, where he clings to his birth father's language even though it makes the children of the house call him an animal, and the maids claim he speaks gibberish... -
![Drawing from Memory by Allen Say]()
Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
Rated: 3.77 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsCaldecott Medalist Allen Say presents a stunning graphic novel chronicling his journey as an artist during WWII, when he apprenticed under Noro Shinpei, Japan’s premier cartoonistDRAWING FROM MEMORY is Allen Say's own story of his path to becoming the renowned artist he is today... -
![Along the River: A Chinese Cinderella Novel by Adeline Yen Mah]()
Along the River: A Chinese Cinderella Novel by Adeline Yen Mah
Rated: 3.63 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsBestselling Chinese American author Adeline Yen Mah weaves her authentic accounts of life in China into an absorbing novel about a Chinese girl and her vision of a previous life. After a fall, CC is whisked away to a hospital. As she drifts in and out of consciousness, she is haunted by vivid dreams that seem strange—yet somehow familiar... -
![Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee]()
Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee
Rated: 3.74 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsValora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise, though, she's turned away at the gangway; apparently, Chinese people aren't allowed into America.But Val has to get on that ship... -
![The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa]()
The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa
Rated: 3.74 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsAs the Japanese military invades 1930s Manchuria, a young girl approaches her own sexual coming of age. Drawn into a complex triangle with two boys, she distracts herself from the onslaught of adulthood by playing the game of go with strangers in a public square—and yet the force of desire, like the occupation, proves inevitable... -
![Katherine by Anchee Min]()
Katherine by Anchee Min
Rated: 3.62 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis novel, described by the San Francisco Chronicle Book Review as "nothing short of miraculous," is the story of Zebra Wong, a Chinese girl whose pragmatic mind conflicts with her passionate heart; Lion Head, her classmate, whose penchant for romantic intrigue belies his political ambitions, and Katherine, the seductive American with the red lipstick and the wild laugh who teaches them English... -
![Agent 355 by Marie Benedict, Emily Rankin]()
Agent 355 by Marie Benedict, Emily Rankin
Listening Length: 2 hours and 7 minutesFrom Marie Benedict, best-selling author of The Only Woman in the Room and Lady Clementine, comes a captivating work of historical fiction about a young female spy who may have changed the course of American History.The tide is turning against the colonists in the Revolutionary War, and 18-year-old Elizabeth Morris cannot sit by idly... -
![Ransom My Heart by Meg Cabot, Mia Thermopolis]()
Ransom My Heart by Meg Cabot, Mia Thermopolis
Mia Thermopolis, Princess of Genovia and star of Meg Cabot's insanely popular #1 New York Times bestselling Princess Diaries books, has "penned" her first historical romance novel . . . with help from Meg Cabot He's a tall, handsome knight with a secret. She's an adventurous beauty with more than a few secrets of her own. Finnula needs money for her sister's dowry, and fast...Categorized as:
independent heroine young adult historical regency medieval mystery forced proximity length-long -
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![Infamous by Lex Croucher]()
Infamous by Lex Croucher
22-year-old aspiring writer Edith 'Eddie' Miller and her best friend Rose have always done everything together-climbing trees, throwing grapes at boys, sneaking bottles of wine, practicing kissing . . .But following their debutante ball Rose is suddenly talking about marriage, and Eddie is horrified...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc independent heroine historical regency contemporary friends to lovers young adult f-f -
![Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë]()
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
An alternate cover edition can be found here.Drawing heavily from personal experience, Anne Brontë wrote Agnes Grey in an effort to represent the many 19th Century women who worked as governesses and suffered daily abuse as a result of their position.Having lost the family savings on risky investments, Richard Grey removes himself from family life and suffers a bout of depression...Categorized as:
independent heroine victorian historical length-short young adult new adult m-f slow burn -
![It's Not Like It's a Secret by Misa Sugiura]()
It's Not Like It's a Secret by Misa Sugiura
Rated: 3.68 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsSixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara has too many secrets. Some are small, like how it bothers her when her friends don’t invite her to parties. Some are big, like that fact that her father may be having an affair. And then there’s the one that she can barely even admit to herself—the one about how she might have a crush on her best friend...Categorized as:
east-asian-mc young adult historical contemporary f-f high-school multicultural slut-shaming -
![How the Wallflower was Won by Eva Leigh]()
How the Wallflower was Won by Eva Leigh
USA TODAY bestselling author Eva Leigh continues her Last Chance Scoundrels series with a steamy romance between two opposites--a rogue with a taste for wagers and a bookish wallflower--who marry for convenience... but neither bet on falling in love.Finn Ransome is an expert on Lady Luck, which is why he refuses to take a chance on love... -
![Counting on a Countess by Eva Leigh]()
Counting on a Countess by Eva Leigh
Rated: 3.51 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsFor a shameless libertine and a wily smuggler in the London Underground, marriage is more than convenience—it's strategy...Christopher "Kit" Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers...until a wealthy mentor leaves him a sizeable fortune... -
![Re Jane by Patricia Park]()
Re Jane by Patricia Park
For Jane Re, half-Korean, half-American orphan, Flushing, Queens, is the place she’s been trying to escape from her whole life. Sardonic yet vulnerable, Jane toils, unappreciated, in her strict uncle’s grocery store and politely observes the traditional principle of nunchi (a combination of good manners, hierarchy, and obligation)...
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