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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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
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... -
Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr
A decorated U.S. Marine reservist, LAPD officer Mike Valenzuela was badly wounded in the line of duty, but has found hope and healing in Virgin River. When he agrees to become the town's first cop, he does so knowing it's time he settled down...Categorized as:
men in uniform military virgin heroine friends to lovers mystery war m-f contemporary -
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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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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... -
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
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... -
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... -
When He Was Wicked: The 2nd Epilogue by Julia Quinn
Do the best things really come to those who wait? Three years have passed since Francesca's and Michael's marriage, and they are still childless. And Francesca wonders, can a woman be truly and completely happy when a little piece of her heart remains empty? But just when she makes peace with her fate, something unexpected occurs...Categorized as:
regency friends to lovers m-f historical pregnancy contemporary humor length-novella -
The Duke's Wicked Wife by Elizabeth Bright
Sebastian Sinclair, the Duke of Wessex, is not in love with Eliza Benton—nor anyone else, for that matter. But he must marry and produce an heir, and love is not required for either. His future duchess must be of high birth and good nature, a lady unlikely to snipe at him over breakfast. In short, the complete opposite of Eliza...Categorized as:
regency friends to lovers virgin heroine sunny hero m-f humor historical length-short -
A Kiss to Remember by Teresa Medeiros
AWAKENED BY A KISS Laura Fairleigh needs a husband. If she is to keep a roof over her siblings heads, the prim rectors daughter must wed by her twenty-first birthday. When she finds a mysterious stranger with the face of an angel and the body of Adonis unconscious in the forest and with no memory of his name or his past, she decides to claim him for her own... -
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart. A Scottish sweetheart... -
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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... -
The Year in Between: A Sense and Sensibility Variation by Christina Morland
Marianne Dashwood was "born to an extraordinary fate...to discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favorite maxims" (Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility)...Categorized as:
regency new adult m-f friends to lovers historical length-epic glimpses-kisses angst -
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 -
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
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
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... -
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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 -
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... -
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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... -
The Merry Lives of Spinsters by Rebecca Connolly
Spinster is as spinster does... Georgiana Allen is a spinster and everybody knows it. She also happens to be one of the writers for the Spinster Chronicles, and everybody knows that as well. She’s accepted her lot in life, and, along with the other spinsters in her circle, takes great pride in the articles she writes and the influence she has...Categorized as:
regency m-f friends to lovers strong heroine virgin heroine men in uniform sunny hero humor -
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 -
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... -
The Player by Stella Riley
Tragedy drove him into unwilling exile. Death demands his reluctant return. In the decade between, he has answered to many names and amassed a variety of secrets... -
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... -
Midwinter Magic by Stella Riley
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsCelebrate among old friends ... and perhaps a gate-crasher or two. There will be wassailers and kissing-boughs; music, dancing and romance; laughter and some tears. Above all, expect the unexpected because at Christmas anything can happen.So accept your invitation for what promises to be the most talked-of house-party of 1778 ... and is also a last Huzzah to the Rockliffe series... -
The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom by Courtney McCaskill
Sometimes there’s a fine line between assessing the competition and consorting with the enemy…Thanks to an imprudent wager made by his younger brother, Edward Astley has to win a classical translation contest being hosted by Oxford University. This means he’ll have to beat the latest star on the literary scene, the anonymous translator whose rendition of On the Sublime is taking Britain by storm...Categorized as:
virgin heroine friends to lovers regency virgin hero historical humor royalty length-medium -
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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 Matchmaker's Request by Ashtyn Newbold
His new challenge: Keep himself from falling in love again at all costs.At odds with love, Matthew Northcott has firmly decided that he will never marry, much to the dismay of his relatives...and nearly every young lady he meets. Rather than seek a marriage for himself, he attempts to find matches for others, grateful to see that love is not entirely cruel—just cruel to him...Categorized as:
regency m-f forced proximity friends to lovers cheerful heroine new adult sweet heroine sunny hero -
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... -
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... -
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 -
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
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