Books like 'Villette'
Readers who enjoyed Villette by Charlotte Brontë also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical dark romance victorian mystery teacher-heroine m-f age difference forbidden love high-school suspense
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Murder on the Mirrored Lake by Deb Marlowe
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOld secrets dragged into the light . . . can turn deadly. Someone wants Niall Kier’s secrets exposed—even if they lead to scandal, unrest . . . and murder. Miss Kara Levett has discovered a talent for unearthing secrets and truths, but she’s vowed not to turn it on her friend—and more—Mr. Niall Kier. His secrets are his own, until he chooses to share them... -
![The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro]()
The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsHis heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can: “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed. ”. Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in the city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth... -
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![Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt]()
Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt
A MAN OF SIN. Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans. A WOMAN OF HONOR... -
![The Devil in the Duke: A Revelry’s Tempest Novel by K.J. Jackson]()
The Devil in the Duke: A Revelry’s Tempest Novel by K.J. Jackson
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA man accustomed to hiding secrets. A woman with a lost past. Love that cannot be denied. A man accustomed to hiding secrets. His dark silver eyes are haunted, and for good reason. Logan Lipinstein lost his wife years ago in the war and has been a living shell of a man ever since, attempting to atone for past sins. Until one fateful day, when she walks past him carrying a basket of bread...Categorized as:
victorian friends to lovers tortured hero regency historical second chances tortured heroine abuse -
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![Savage Kingdom by C. Lymari]()
Savage Kingdom by C. Lymari
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Sekt does not forgive. The Sekt does not forget. Keeper of secrets and dealers of lies. We bow to no king, nations, or men. Crossing us is certain death. • • • • • •. He was a mercenary, and I a slave. He wanted to save me, but I liked the pain. We stole, cheated, and lied. Through a savage kingdom, we found a divide. He betrayed me, but so did I...Categorized as:
suspense mystery angst historical dark length-short first-in-series standalone-first -
![The Cursed Heir: A chilling, gripping historical mystery from bestseller Heather Atkinson by Heather Atkinson]()
The Cursed Heir: A chilling, gripping historical mystery from bestseller Heather Atkinson by Heather Atkinson
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratings'I have read ALL Heather Atkinson's books. They are all fantastic. '. Edinburgh 1896. At Alardyce House, the family are gathered to celebrate the engagement of the heir to the estate, Robert, to his childhood sweetheart. But what should be a precious memory for his mother Amy, is marred by darkness... -
![The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath]()
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 179 ratingsIn The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath’s hauntingly beautiful semi-autobiographical novel, readers are invited into the mind of Esther Greenwood, a young woman whose dreams of literary success unravel into a descent into mental illness... -
![Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath]()
Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath
Only one woman can break through his heart of stone. .. Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright. .. Lord Rafe Easton may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one...Categorized as:
victorian virgin heroine tortured hero shy heroine class difference angst cold hero super rich hero -
![Anger by Lily White]()
Anger by Lily White
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFifth CircleAngerAlso Known as Damon CrossThere is darkness that surrounds this man. One fueled by his past and ignited by his presentHe knows what it means to lose, but he never stops fightingHe wears his heart on his sleeveBut exists within nightmaresHe is shrouded in the name the Inferno gave him. Angry. Feral. Wild and CarelessDamon is an unpredictable storm without rhyme or reason... -
![Cruel Crown by C. Lymari]()
Cruel Crown by C. Lymari
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsThe Sekt does not forgive. The Sekt does not forget. Keeper of secrets and dealers of lies. We bow to no king, nations, or men. Crossing us is certain death. • • • • • •. Mayhem, secrets, and blood:. We were both monsters who lurked in the dark. . . She was a huntress, but I was a wolf. There was no safe haven for her in this world. . . So be careful, my queen, when you wear your cruel crown... -
![Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos]()
Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 49 ratingsIn this famous story of seduction, two highly intelligent but amoral French aristocrats plot the downfall of a respectable young married woman and a fifteen year old girl who has only just emerged from the convent... -
![Marked by Mallory Hart]()
Marked by Mallory Hart
The stunning conclusion to the Mafia Born Duet. Darragh. Once, I only cared about a few things: family, honor and doing my job for the mob. Then, she came into my life and nothing was the same. My wife took over my world and completely changed the game. But now she’s in the hands of the enemy, and I’ll burn down the entire city if that’s what it takes to get her back...Categorized as:
suspense angst m-f tortured hero contemporary length-medium explicit-open-door historical -
![To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney]()
To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney
Suave, cynical, and too handsome for his own good, Sebastian Verlaine never expects to become a magistrate judging the petty crimes of his tenants and neighbors. Nor can the new Viscount D’Aubrey foresee that, when a fallen woman appears before him, he’ll find himself beguiled against all reason to alter her terrible fate. .. -
![Marek by Bella Jewel]()
Marek by Bella Jewel
Marek is a novella, and can be read as a standalone, however it is suggested to read the Prisoners of Purgatory MC series, starting with Nightmare, to get a better understanding of his character. My name is Ellie. Ellie Mae, if you will. Before you ask, no, it’s not a cruel joke. My parents thought the name suited me and, well, here we are. That’s the mildest part of my story, though... -
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![Le Moulin du loup by Marie-Bernadette Dupuy]()
Le Moulin du loup by Marie-Bernadette Dupuy
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCharente, 1897. Claire vit heureuse avec sa famille et le loup qu'elle a recueilli, dans le moulin transformé par son père, Colin, en fabrique de papier. Mais les affaires sont mauvaises et ce dernier doit céder à un terrible marché : il promet la main de sa fille à Frédéric Giraud, fils d'un riche voisin, contre un prêt inespéré...Categorized as:
virgin heroine victorian age difference angst historical war strong heroine military -
![Perfect Mistake Book Two by Amber Nicole]()
Perfect Mistake Book Two by Amber Nicole
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsTrapped on an island, you would think that's the worst thing to find out. .. Wrong. Now I'm carrying a psychopaths baby. One I dreamed of having before, now I pray the same thing from my past comes to fruition again. Rexley is not meant to be a father. He may be the monster of my nightmares, but the only way to survive is to let my demons out to play, too... -
![Flowers For The Devil by Vlad Kahany]()
Flowers For The Devil by Vlad Kahany
Love can be a devil and a saint. Two men. One woman. Two lies. One truth. A happening that left London speechless. A witness—the entire city. On December 19th, 1851, a crime took place in the center of London. One of the few who knows what truly happened is Countess Alina Bronskaya. But she will never speak of it. The crime is her curse and her salvation...Categorized as:
victorian mystery competent heroine independent heroine tortured hero angst m-f super rich hero -
![Her Villain by S.M. LaViolette]()
Her Villain by S.M. LaViolette
She deserves a hero. How unfortunate that he can only ever be her villain…. David Remington is…lacking. Lacking empathy. Emotion. In fact, it’s what he lacks that makes him such an efficient agent of the Crown. He can carry out any mission—no matter how dark—ruthlessly. Coldly. Until he met her. Calliope Fowler is most inconvenient. Beautiful. Smart... -
![Wicked Hunt by Cari Silverwood]()
Wicked Hunt by Cari Silverwood
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThis book is part of a dark kinky fiction trilogy and may disturb some readers. The full warning is at the bottom. This is not a standalone read. What happens when the victim becomes the killer? Killing isn’t right, but it's better than the wrong people being dead. That’s what Zorie tells herself, until the day she makes a mistake and the hunter becomes the hunted... -
![It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Suzanne Brockmann]()
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Suzanne Brockmann
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsSomething Worth Fighting For. As Christmastime settled quietly over the countryside, Navy SEAL William "Crash" Hawken was faced with a deadly conspiracy. And he had only one person to turn to -- the caring passionate Nell Burns... -
![Cry, or Better Yet, Beg by Solche]()
Cry, or Better Yet, Beg by Solche
Orphaned at a young age, Layla Llewellyn feels like the luckiest girl in the world after she moves in with her uncle Bill, a gardener who lives on the scenic Arvis estate in the Berg Empire. To Layla, Arvis seems like paradise; she loves to explore the vast forest, always bringing her notebook to record the wildlife she encounters... -
![The Laughing Cavalier (The Scarlet Pimpernel (chronological order) #0.4) by Emmuska Orczy]()
The Laughing Cavalier (The Scarlet Pimpernel (chronological order) #0.4) by Emmuska Orczy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThis 1913 adventure tale, The Laughing Cavalier, centres on Percy Blakeney, a foreign adventurer and the progenitor of Baroness Orczy's well-known figure, the Scarlet Pimpernel. Frans Hals' artwork The Laughing Cavalier served as the model for a section of the story, which takes place in Holland between 1623 and 1624... -
![Wicked Weapon by Cari Silverwood]()
Wicked Weapon by Cari Silverwood
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThis book is part of a dark kinky fiction trilogy and may disturb some readers. The full warning is at the bottom. This is not a standalone read. Zorie is lost, again. Friends can become enemies and enemies can become friends. What is a man who declares himself your knight in cracked and bloody armor, when he seems to be leading you to your doom? Mavros, once known as Mister Black, has vanished... -
![On Good Authority by Briana Una McGuckin]()
On Good Authority by Briana Una McGuckin
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRepressed desires, irresistible obsessions, and perception-twisting games. When lady’s maid Marian Osley and footman Valentine Hobbs assume their positions at the cliff-top estate of Valor Rise, they already share a history. Raised together as paupers in a London workhouse, they escaped through games of imaginary crimes and sublime punishment... -
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![On Good Authority by Briana Una McGuckin]()
On Good Authority by Briana Una McGuckin
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRepressed desires, irresistible obsessions, and perception-twisting games. When lady’s maid Marian Osley and footman Valentine Hobbs assume their positions at the cliff-top estate of Valor Rise, they already share a history. Raised together as paupers in a London workhouse, they escaped through games of imaginary crimes and sublime punishment... -
![The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas]()
The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas
Felix Rivendale, the Marquess of Wrenworth, is The Ideal Gentleman, a man all men want to be and all women want to possess. Felix himself almost believes this golden image. But underneath is a damaged soul soothed only by public adulation. Louisa Cantwell needs to marry well to support her sisters. She does not, however, want Lord Wrenworth—though he seems inexplicably interested in her...Categorized as:
victorian virgin heroine tortured hero cruel hero poor heroine class difference m-f super rich hero -
![Her Wanton Wager by Grace Callaway]()
Her Wanton Wager by Grace Callaway
An Heiress on a Mission…. After two failed Seasons, Persephone Fines has vowed to reform her hoydenish ways. But when her beloved brother falls into the clutches of wicked gamester Gavin Hunt, she must take action. Hunt offers her a shocking proposition: he will release her brother… if she can resist six nights of seduction... -
![Once in a Blue Moon by Penelope Williamson]()
Once in a Blue Moon by Penelope Williamson
Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThose who knew spoke of the infamous Trelawny men in hushed, shocked whispers. But to flame-haired Jessalyn Letty, wild, captivating child of the storm-tossed Cornish moors, McCady Trelawny was the most fascinating man she had ever met. Few knew of the dream that burned in McCady's secret soul - a dream destined to change the world. But Jessalyn knew and shared his passion...Categorized as:
victorian shy heroine virgin heroine cruel hero historical dark regency strong heroine -
![Ethan: Lord of Scandals by Grace Burrowes]()
Ethan: Lord of Scandals by Grace Burrowes
Ethan Grey's life was shattered. .. Estranged from his family, widowed, and weary from fighting his troubled past, Ethan Grey now has a chance to replace loneliness with love. His sons' beautiful and stubborn governess might help him battle his ghosts, but it's been a long time since he let himself get close to anyone. Alice Portman has more in common with Ethan than she can comfortably admit... -
![The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett]()
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 71 ratingsSam Spade is hired by the fragrant Miss Wonderley to track down her sister, who has eloped with a louse called Floyd Thursby... -
![A Desire Unbidden by Elisabeth Greythorn]()
A Desire Unbidden by Elisabeth Greythorn
He was an officer, a commander, the son of an Earl. She was a child of the French Revolution, taken from her home to serve the British army. But love doesn’t follow orders. When Christine Fournier is forced to serve as a camp follower, survival becomes her only goal—until she crosses paths with Acting Lieutenant Colonel George Ashford... -
![The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale]()
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
THE SHADOW. Wealthy, powerful and majestically handsome, he is a man of dark secrets--a master of the ancient martial arts of an exotic distant land. Scarred by a childhood of shocking degradation, he has sworn to love chastely. .. but burns with the fires of unfulfilled passion. THE STAR... -
![The Price of Desire (Lady Rivendale's Connections, Book Four): Regency Romance by Jo Goodman]()
The Price of Desire (Lady Rivendale's Connections, Book Four): Regency Romance by Jo Goodman
Forbidden Desires and a Hidden Past Collide in The Price of Desire, by Jo Goodman a Historical Regency Romance from Jo Goodman. No stranger to society's scandalous whispers, Griffin Wright-Jones, Viscount Breckenridge, operates a gaming hell teeming with temptation—a sanctuary for those eager to test their luck... -
![Gabriel's Woman by Robin Schone]()
Gabriel's Woman by Robin Schone
In the erotic tour de force The Lover, readers met not only brooding, passionate Michel des Anges, but his lifelong friend―the mysterious Gabriel, a man with a past as dark as the London night. Now, renowned author Robin Schone explores one of her most talked-about characters in a novel that reveals the blackest secrets of a man's soul. .. and the explosive heart of a woman's desire... -
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![The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys]()
The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys
Amid the gilded opulence and dark intrigue of Renaissance Italy grew a love that knew no bounds. .. . No woman's heart is safe from the Silver Devil. From the moment he sees the beautiful Felicia, he must have her. Overnight he changes Felicia's nightmare world of tavern drudgery into an erotic adventure as his royal mistress. He is the Duke of Cabria who holds his subjects in constant fear...Categorized as:
tortured hero virgin heroine shy heroine cruel hero angst age difference poor heroine cold hero -
![Prince of Swords by Anne Stuart]()
Prince of Swords by Anne Stuart
She is an impoverished noblewoman who lives by her wits as a Tarot reader for the English nobility. He is London's most notorious cat burglar. They met one dark, glittering night. Yet even Jessamine Maitland cannot foresee the destiny that will sweep her into the adventure of her life with the proud, arrogant thief who has no intention of ever being caught—by man or woman... -
![A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan]()
A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan
Rated: 3.82 of 5 stars · 25 ratings"To seal their bond, they must break the ties that bind. ". Painfully introverted and rendered nearly mute by a heavy stammer, Lord George Albert Westin rarely ventures any farther than the club or his beloved gardens... -
![The Portrait by Megan Chance]()
The Portrait by Megan Chance
The reigning master of the New York art world, Jonas Whitaker was brilliant and compelling, a man of dark passions and uncontrollable emotions. Terrified of his own dangerous nature, and scarred by the horror of his past, he hid behind his talent in a world of glittering emptiness--until Imogene Carter pushed her way into his life... -
![A Gentleman Tutor by Harper Fox, Callum Hale]()
A Gentleman Tutor by Harper Fox, Callum Hale
Rated: 3.73 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFor Frank Harte, impoverished schoolteacher, January in London means a yearly fight to survive. A former soldier, his injuries have barred him from all but the lowest-paid posts, and the cold incapacitates him still more. The chance to work as tutor to Viscount Gracewater, son of the famous big-game hunting Earl, comes as a lifeline to Frank... -
![Dearly Beloved by Mary Jo Putney]()
Dearly Beloved by Mary Jo Putney
LOVE MUST FIND A WAY . . . A sheltered life in the countryside has left Diana Lindsay restless to see the wider world, for both herself and the son she is raising alone. She cannot marry, but perhaps as a courtesan she will find love and protection despite her painful past... -
![The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett]()
The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 34 ratings"The Dain Curse" is a novel by Dashiell Hammett, first published in 1929. It is a compelling work of detective fiction that showcases Hammett's signature hard-boiled style. The story follows the adventures of an unnamed private detective, often referred to as the Continental Op... -
![Scandal by Carolyn Jewel]()
Scandal by Carolyn Jewel
From an author known for her "pulse-pounding action, well-drawn characters, and sexy romance",* comes the tale of a proper young widow and the rake who is out to steal her heart. .. The Earl of Banallt is no stranger to scandal. But when he meets Sophie Evans, the young wife of a fellow libertine, even he is shocked by his reaction... -
![Lions And Lace by Meagan McKinney]()
Lions And Lace by Meagan McKinney
SHE PLAYED BY HIGH SOCIETY'S RULES. The gaslight's glow lit Alana Van Alen's golden hair. Born to luxury, she belonged with the Astors and the Vanderbilts at cotillions and soirees. But she shivered with fear and something more as she faced the handsome, ruthless Trevor Sheridan... -
![The Deal by Ann Owen]()
The Deal by Ann Owen
London, 1851. Guy Spencer, the fourth Earl of Ashbourne, deeply hates Jane Hartwell, the girl with whom he shared his childhood. And as the economic problems of the Hartwell family push Jane to ask for his help, Guy offers her a wicked deal: he will save her father from prison, in return she will become his sex slave for six months...Categorized as:
victorian virgin heroine class difference cold hero super rich hero poor heroine cruel hero m-f -
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![Lemonade by Nina Pennacchi]()
Lemonade by Nina Pennacchi
As a young woman in Victorian England, Anna Champion knows all too well the social mores that value prettiness over sense, and etiquette over honesty. But when she stands up to the boorishness of dashing Christopher Davenport at a summertime ball, Anna unwittingly attracts his wrath—and becomes entangled in his malicious scheming...Categorized as:
victorian virgin heroine cruel hero competent heroine poor heroine tortured hero angst m-f -
![Reckless by Anne Stuart]()
Reckless by Anne Stuart
Adrian Alistair Rohan lost his faith, and now, a dedicated member of the depraved Heavenly Host, he loses himself in his only pleasure: the seduction and debauchery of beautiful women. Rich, charming and devastatingly skilled in the arts of love, he never fails in his conquests. .. until Charlotte Spenser... -
![The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted]()
The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Rated: 3.72 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsLucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day…a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known... -
![Dreaming of You by Jennifer McNare]()
Dreaming of You by Jennifer McNare
Their passion was ignited by a treachery neither of them could have ever foreseen, yet it resulted in a love that was destined to last forever…. To secure the wellbeing of her beloved family, Melody Settrington agrees to marry Charles Cavendish, the elderly Earl of Edgington, despite her reservations...Categorized as:
virgin heroine victorian shy heroine m-f forbidden love tortured hero angst age difference -
![Dragonwyck by Anya Seton]()
Dragonwyck by Anya Seton
A novel of seduction, mystery, and danger set in New York’s Hudson Valley in the nineteenth century, by the author of Foxfire. There was, on the Hudson, a way of life such as this, and there was a house not unlike Dragonwyck . . . In the spring of 1844, the Wells family receives a letter from a distant relative, the wealthy landowner Nicholas Van Ryn... -
![The Price Of Desire by Jo Goodman]()
The Price Of Desire by Jo Goodman
USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman delivers a deliciously wicked tale of forbidden desire that knows no limits. Olivia Cole is devastated to learn that her ne'er-do-well brother has promised her to the operator of a London gaming hall as payment of his debts. Olivia accepts her fate-even if it means that her reputation will suffer from living among rogues and gamblers...
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