Books like 'The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband'
Readers who enjoyed The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical funny georgian war virgin heroine military friends to lovers regency marriage of convenience mystery
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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... -
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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... -
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 .. -
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The Duke's Wicked Widow (Surprise! Dukes) by Caroline Lee
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThey 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... -
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... -
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... -
An Infamous Betrayal by Lynn Messina
Having solved the two murders that somehow fell in her path, Beatrice Hyde-Clare is on the lookout for a third. Through a absurd quirk of stupid fate, the shy spinster has fallen in love with the thoroughly unattainable Duke of Kesgrave and is desperate for something, anything, to occupy her mind. A dead body would do nicely... -
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... -
Charity by Beverley Watts
In this funny Regency romance series, the Shackleford sisters descend on a Regency society that doesn’t know what’s hit it…While Charity Shackleford might be considered far more outspoken than her twin sister Chastity, she was much less inclined to make a complete cake of herself. Something her twin appeared to be doing with increasing regularity... -
In the Family Way: Another John Pickett Mystery by Sheri Cobb South
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWith a beautiful and clever wife, a growing investigative business, and a baby due any day, former Bow Street Runner John Pickett finally has a respectable life far removed from his beginnings as a juvenile pickpocket in the rookeries of St. Giles. Then his father returns from transportation to Botany Bay, and Pickett’s hard-won respectability threatens to collapse like a house of cards... -
Under the Harvest Moon by Collette Cameron, Caroline Warfield
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs the village of Reabridge in Cheshire prepares for the first Harvest Festival following Waterloo, families are overjoyed to welcome back their loved ones from the war.But excitement quickly turns to mystery when mere weeks before the festival, an orphaned child turns up in the town—a toddler born near Toulouse to an English mother who left clues that tie her to Reabridge...Categorized as:
regency mystery military marriage of convenience historical pregnancy humor arranged marriage -
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
THE RUNAWAY When Sir Richard Wyndham, an accomplished Corinthian, comes across a beautiful young woman climbing out of a window in a bid to escape, he finds the ideal opportunity to realise his own escape. Behind lovely Penelope Creed was the lavish life of a brilliant London heiress, and a proposed marriage to a man she loathed...Categorized as:
regency mystery fake relationship friends to lovers forced proximity m-f historical clean -
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... -
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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 Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsStep into the glittering world of Georgian England with Georgette Heyer’s The Masqueraders, a captivating tale of daring disguises, high society intrigue, and unexpected romance.In the aftermath of the failed Jacobite rebellion, siblings Prudence and Robin Tremaine find themselves on the run, their lives hanging in the balance... -
A Murderous Tryst by Lynn Messina
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe past rears its gorgeous head…Deeply distressed to discover her husband lied about his whereabouts the day before, Beatrice, Duchess of Kesgrave, emerges from a wretched night’s sleep to discover him embracing the most beautiful woman she has ever seen.His former mistress!It is shocking, yes, but not so very alarming, for Penelope Taylor is actually there to see Bea... -
The Taste of Love by Meara Platt
Will the mysterious Book of Love lead Penelope to her true love? Lady Penelope Sherbourne is not—absolutely not—going to fall in love with Thaddius MacLauren, Laird of Caithness, even if he is a big, handsome Scottish brute and ridiculously protective of her... -
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... -
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Master Spy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Jennifer Joy
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNo mission is impossible for this Agent of the Crown... until he meets his match! Fitzwilliam Darcy is the Crown's most formidable secret weapon—a Master Spy. His latest mission will test his limits when he's assigned to protect England's foremost code decipherer, Mr. Thomas Bennet… and his wife and five unmarried daughters...Categorized as:
regency mystery friends to lovers contemporary suspense humor historical length-medium -
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
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
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
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...Categorized as:
regency mystery new adult m-f siblings-bff forced proximity cheerful heroine strong heroine -
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My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe riotous Wynchester family has taken on a new case to expose a forger, but the prime suspect isn't at all what he seems in this captivating Regency romp from a New York Times bestselling author.Lord Adrian Webb is a no-good, roguish, rakish scoundrel of the first order, which is why his father sends him to the Continent and cuts him off without a farthing...Categorized as:
regency mystery forced proximity historical from hate to love humor suspense dual-pov -
The Art of Victory by Martha Keyes
Diana Donovan was raised aboard a naval ship on a steady diet of war strategy, so when her orphaned friend, Lucy, is denied a perfectly respectable love match by her controlling guardian, Diana sees an opportunity to put her battle knowledge to use in service of a deserving friend.But Marmaduke Russell is not the middle-aged curmudgeon Diana is expecting... -
A Governess Should Never... Deny a Duke by Emily Windsor
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“So tell me, Miss Beaujeu, why should I employ you as governess?”A question to rouse fear within the breast of any prospective governess but for Isabelle, a lady with impeccable references and tightly pinned hair, it barely raises a brow...Categorized as:
regency strong heroine virgin heroine historical victorian humor from hate to love forbidden love -
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...Categorized as:
virgin heroine forced proximity georgian strong heroine regency military new adult cheerful heroine -
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
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... -
An Affair by the Sea by Erica Ridley
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhat happens when a wallflower's extremely make-believe fake suitor appears in the flesh just in time to ruin all her spinsterly plans?Orphaned pianist Allegra Brown is a poor relation with nothing much to recommend her, save a minuscule dowry and a very big imagination... -
The Magic of You by Johanna Lindsey
As wild and reckless as the most incorrigible of her male cousins, Amy Malory has reached a marriageable age and has set her sights on a most inappropriate mate: the straight-laced American ship captain who once nearly had her Uncle James hung hanged for piracy. Warren Anderson is shocked by the brazen advances of his despised enemy's beautiful niece...Categorized as:
virgin heroine regency alpha male forced proximity cheerful heroine strong heroine m-f historical -
A Warriner To Tempt Her by Virginia Heath
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter a shocking incident, shy Lady Isabella Beaumont is perfectly happy to stay in the background and let her sister get all the attention from handsome suitors! However, working with Dr. Joseph Warriner to help the sick and needy pushes her closer to a man than she’s ever been before... -
A Familiar Face: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by AnnaMarie Wallace
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIn this variation, seventeen-year-old Elizabeth is on holiday at the seaside with the Gardiners. She intervenes when she sees a young lady being forced into a carriage by a man and an older woman. The young lady’s handsome older brother, Mr. Darcy, expresses his gratitude to her for saving his sister, and they part. Elizabeth expects never to see him again... -
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A Match, Unmasked by Erica Ridley
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsMiss Kitty Stanley’s childhood boy-next-door—the arrogant, entirely too handsome daredevil Nathaniel Baxter—was supposed to stand up with her for the first dance the night of her come-out. The rotter went off to war instead.Now she’s a spinster of means, enjoying her freedom at the masquerade ball of the season. Kitty has forgotten that old foolish tendre. She has no need for Brigadier Baxter... -
A Treacherous Performance by Lynn Messina
Having inexplicably nabbed the Duke of Kesgrave, twenty-six-year-old spinster Beatrice Hyde-Clare is determined to marry him at once.No amount of handwringing from anxious family members, worried friends and well-meaning acquaintances will convince her to delay. Except… maybe she is a little swayed by her uncle’s efforts to make amends for treating her with cold indifference during her childhood... -
The Pretender by Celeste Bradley
Rule #1: Never fall in love. Celeste Bradley captivated critics and readers alike with her unforgettable novel Fallen, which was nominated for the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America for Best First Book... -
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Every fire begins with a little heat–and in Slow Burn, bestselling author Julie Garwood provides the spark, skillfully blending pulse-pounding action, intense emotion, and characters with grit and heart. The result is an electrifying novel of romantic suspense that will have readers burning through the pages...Categorized as:
men in uniform mystery friends to lovers new adult m-f contemporary suspense cruel hero -
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
From RWA's 2017 Golden Heart Winner comes a story of passion that is much more than meets the eye.An aging spinster at 26, all Imogen Duncan sees ahead of her is a life of servitude to her overbearing mother. Her London Season has passed and her desperate shyness and reserved demeanor has destroyed any chance for a match...Categorized as:
regency friends to lovers virgin heroine sunny hero m-f historical humor shy heroine -
Be Daring, Duke by Kate Archer
One Incautious Lady and One Incredulous LordLady Rosalind Bennington, second daughter to the Earl of Westmont, has put a great deal of confidence in the fates. She is certain they will deliver her a man of the utmost courageous spirit, as she considers herself unusually courageous... -
Get Thee Off My Lawn by Daria Vernon
APRIL NIGHTINGALE wants the best for her swans, Gerald and Daphne, which is why she won’t rest until they mate for life. It would have happened by now if not for Gerald’s absurd penchant for the neighbor’s pond. But when April trespasses on the Derring lawns to reclaim her fowl, a fouler surprise awaits… As does a tall, handsome neighbor who can’t hold back his laughter at her folly...Categorized as:
regency forced proximity m-f historical humor from hate to love length-short insta-love -
Step Lively, Mr. Darcy: A Lighthearted Darcy and Elizabeth Christmastime Novella by Laura Hile
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsElizabeth’s mother has lied. Now the horrible Thorpes have come for Christmas!No matter that the fib is an old one, Elizabeth Bennet’s cousins are certain that she is an heiress. Is not the Bennet’s prosperous estate evidence enough? There is a fortune to be had through marriage, and John Thorpe is hungry for it.Repelling the man’s advances is only one of Elizabeth’s troubles... -
How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin
“Sophie Irwin is an exciting and original voice. She’s a must-buy author for me.”—Taylor Jenkins ReidHe wants a wife. She wants to be jilted. This. Is. War. From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a delicious new rom-com....Rich, handsome, and titled Lord Ashford has every lady in England longing for his hand in marriage... -
Accidental Fiancee by Mary Moore
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNecessary Nuptials Lady Grace Endicott never would have dreamed she'd be ruined by a rake. But after an innocent encounter with notorious scoundrel Lord Weston is misconstrued, her beloved sister's introduction to society—and her own reputation—are put at risk. The only way to avoid a scandal is a betrothal... -
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A Warriner to Rescue Her by Virginia Heath
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTempted by the damsel in distress! Captain James Warriner is startled to find a curvaceous beauty caught up a tree in his orchard! Despite his shattered leg, he rescues Miss Cassandra Reeves, then is determined to have nothing more to do with the enticing vicar's daughter. Except when Cassie seeks Jamie out to apologize, they find themselves persuaded to work together on her storybook... -
Rescued by a Devil by Wendy Vella
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Wendy Vella comes a sizzling new series full of passion, scandals and intrigue. Tasked with protecting the King, the Deville brothers are part of a secret alliance forged centuries ago, but when it comes to affairs of the heart they are yet to be tamed... -
The Phantom of Drury Lane by Kate Bateman
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIntrepid Lucy Montgomery has survived a shipwreck off Madagascar and the sweltering jungles of Brazil, but now she’s finally back in London she has something worse to deal with – her long-time nemesis Will Arden, Viscount Wade.Their one, impulsive kiss five years ago led to her humiliating rejection, so the fact that she’s never been able to forget the handsome scoundrel is vexing indeed... -
Once Upon a Townsbridge Story: The Townsbridge Prequel (The Townsbridges) by Sophie Barnes
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsA love that will endure...Margaret Townsbridge has no intention of letting her parents pair her off with Mr. George Townsbridge. As one of England's most notorious rakes, he's bound to make a terrible husband. But in her attempt to dissuade George's suit, Margaret gets to know him, and slowly begins to realize that she may not only have misjudged him, but that he might be the man of her dreams... -
Miss Benwick Reforms a Rogue by Maggie Fenton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA lady in disguise...A rogue out for revenge... What better way to escape an abusive fiancé and a tyrannical mother than by masquerading as the very male secretary to the most infamous scientist in the land? Davina Benwick can't think of a single one. But pretending to be a man is hard work, especially around her employer... -
Cecilia or Too Tall To Love by G.L. Robinson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNote: this book contains Book Club Conversation Starters! What can orphaned Cecilia Beaumaris, a too tall, too outspoken gentlewoman with no pretensions to beauty and no fortune, do when the school she has been living in for nearly fifteen years, first as a pupil, then as a teacher, is closed down and she has to leave? She decides to open her own school, of course...
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