Kate Archer’s A CONFOUNDING REGENCY ROMANCE – Clever Idea and a Fun Story

This is the story of what happens when butlers with good motives get in involved in romance between the families they serve. Jemima Fornay, daughter of the Duke of Eddleston, is being prepared for her first season by Mr. Gamon and his two assistants who want to transform her into a gentle and refined lady, which she definitely is not.

Jasper Pennington, Duke of Barstow, believes it is time for him to wed and is looking for the most refined lady in London. But he’s a bit staid and not very fun (to quote Jemima).

Mr. Martin J. Harkinson is butler to the Duke of Eddleston and proud member of The League, a secret club of six elite butlers who have set themselves the task of providing the most elevated service to their lords and ladies, including matchmaking.

Mr. Harkinson should not have a care in the world. After all, Lady Jemima is comely enough, is a duke’s daughter, and brings a good dowry. Unfortunately, though, he’s spent years describing her as the gentlest and most refined young woman. The League has taken that into consideration and named the Duke of Barstow as the perfect match for the lady. Mr. Harkinson worries what will happen when his fellow members discover the real Lady Jemima...he’ll be named a fraud.

Meantime, others plot to gain Jemima’s hand and lure Barstow into a marriage.

 

The adventure was very fun and the two come together notwithstanding the interference of the butlers. I enjoyed the back and forth, but I never did see any deep affection between Barstow and Jemima. They are at the top of the ton and all would expect them to marry, including her parents who love Barstow. It’s well written to be sure and will likely provide an entertaining read for those looking for a light romance.

 

 

Best Western Historical Romances

I first discovered Western romances by reading those written by my favorite authors who also wrote stories set in other eras. Since then, I have become a true fan of the subgenre and find myself every now and then reaching for a good romance from the Old West. I love those heroes. So, it seemed a “best” list was in order to share some of these wonderful stories with you. I have a separate list for Patriotic Historical Romances I post in July, some of which are set in the same era. All on my lists are rated 4 or 5 stars by me. I think you’ll like them!

   

·               A Fire in the Blood by Shirl Henke

·               A Heart So Wild by Johanna Lindsey

·               Beautiful Bad Man by Ellen O’Connell

·               Beauty and the Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin

·               Behind His Blue Eyes by Kaki Warner

·               Branded Hearts by Heather Graham

·               Brave the Wild Wind, Savage Thunder & Angel, Wyoming trilogy by Johanna

Lindsey

·               Brighter Than Gold by Cynthia Wright

·               Broken Vows by Shirl Henke

·               Captive Melody by Nadine Crenshaw

·               Capture the Sun, The Endless Sky & Sundancer, trilogy by Shirl Henke

·               Colorado Promise by Charlene Whitman

·               Comanche Moon, Comanche Heart & Indigo Blue by Catherine Anderson

·               Clyde Connor by Sally Platt

·               Dancing on Coals by Ellen O’Connell

·               Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell

·               Fair is the Rose by Meagan McKinney

·              Fire Hawk’s Bride by Judith E. French

·               Fireblossom & Wildblossom, the Matthews duology by Cynthia Wright

·               Follow the Heart by Anita Mills

·               Forever Mine by Charlene Raddon

·               From Fields of Gold by Alexandra Ripley

·               Golden Fancy by Jennifer Blake

·               Golden Lady by Shirl Henke

·               Gone Outlaw by Madison Thames

·               Haven’s Flame by Marie Piper

·               Heart of the West by Penelope Williamson

·               Heartbreak Creek, Colorado Dawn & Bride of the High Country by Kaki Warner

·               Her Bodyguard by E. E. Burke

·               Her Wicked Captor by Sandra Jones

·               Hummingbird by LaVyrle Spencer

·               Innocent Fire, Firestorm, Violet Fire & The Fires of Paradise (from The Bragg

Saga) by Brenda Joyce

·               Into the Light by Ellen O’Connell

·               Lavender Blue by Parris Afton Bonds

·               Lawless by Nora Roberts

·               Love a Dark Rider by Shirlee Busbee

·               Love Cherish Me by Rebecca Brandewyne

·               Love Unwilling By Shirl Henke

·               McCrory’s Lady by Shirl Henke

·               Moon Dancer by Judith E. French

·               Mountain Mistress by Nadine Crenshaw

·               Night Flame by Catherine Hart

·               Night Wind’s Woman, White Apache’s Woman & Deep as the Rivers, trilogy by

Shirl Henke

·               No Other Man, No Other Woman and No Other Love, trilogy by Shannon Drake

·               One Heart to Win by Johanna Lindsey

·               Pieces of Sky, Open Country & Chasing the Sun, the Blood Rose trilogy by Kaki

 Warner

·               Reckless Angel by Elizabeth Awbrey (aka Elizabeth Stuart)

·               Savage Ecstasy and Defiant Ecstasy by Janelle Taylor

·               Silken Savage by Catherine Hart

·               Silver Nights with You and Desert Sunrise by Sawyer Belle

·               Sing My Name by Ellen O’Connell

·               Star of the West by Cordia Byers

·               Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers

·               Tears of Gold by Laurie McBain

·               Tender Touch by Charlene Raddon

·               Teton Sunrise by Peggy L. Henderson

·               Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath

·               Texas Tall by Kaki Warner

·               The Ballad of Emma O’Toole by Elizabeth Lane

·               The Bequest by Candice Proctor

·               The Darkest Heart by Brenda Joyce

·               The Double Cross by Carla Kelly

·               The Outlaw Hearts by Rebecca Brandewyne

·               The Outsider by Penelope Williamson

·               The River Nymph by Shirl Henke

·               The Scent of Roses by Charlene Raddon

·               The Tiger’s Woman by Celeste De Blasis

·               The Vintner’s Daughter by Kristen Harnisch

·               To Have and to Hold by Charlene Raddon

·               Under the Desert Moon by Marsha Canham

·               When the Splendor Falls by Laurie McBain

·               Where the Horses Run by Kaki Warner

·               Where the Wild Wind Blows by Nancy Morse

·               While Passion Sleeps by Shirlee Busbee

·               Without Words by Ellen O’Connell

 

 

 

Best Scottish Historical Romances

Geddes MacGregor once wrote, “No one in Scotland can escape from the past. It is everywhere, haunting like a ghost.” Scotland’s past is the subject of this Best List, romance novels set in Scotland, most in that magical part of Scotland called the Highlands. Some have a Scot as hero or heroine. The best are set deep in Scotland’s history. All are rated 4 or 5 stars. Enjoy!

 

·               A Dangerous Love, The Border Lord’s Bride, The Captive Heart, The Border Lord And The Lady, The Border Vixen and Bond Of Passion (from The Border Chronicles) by Bertrice Small

·               A Gentle Feuding by Johanna Lindsey

·               A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

·               A Year and a Day by Virginia Henley

·               Abducted Heiress by Amanda Scott

·               Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

·               Beloved Rogue by Penelope Williamson

·               Blood Feud by Jayne Castel

·               Border Lord by Arnette Lamb

·               Bound to the Highlander by Kate Robbins

·               Bride of the MacHugh by Jan Cox Speas

·               Charming the Shrew and Daring the Highlander (MacLeod duology) by Laurin Wittig

·               Children of the Mist by Aleen Malcolm

·               Claimed by Tarah Scott

·               Clandara by Evelyn Anthony

·               Come The Morning, Conquer the Night, Seize the Dawn, Knight Triumphant, The Lion in Glory, When We Touch and The Queen’s Lady (the Graham series) by Heather Graham Pozzessere

·               Davy’s Last Ride by Brit Darby

·               Desiring the Highlander by Michele Sinclair

·               Devil of Kilmartin by Laurin Wittig

·               Devil’s Mistress by Heather Graham

·               Emerald Embrace by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham)

·               Forever My Love by Rebecca Brandewyne

·               Gather the Stars by Kimberly Cates

·               by Elizabeth Stuart

·               Heather House: Witch of the Moors by Carmen Caine

·               Highland Deception by Meggan Connors

·               Highland Moon by Judith E. French

·               Highland Rebel by Judith James

·               Highland Warrior, Highland Outlaw and Highland Scoundrel (the Campbell trilogy) by Monica McCarty

·               Highlander Defied by Jayne Castel

·               Highlander’s Hope by Collette Cameron

·               If You Dare, If You Desire and If You Deceive (the MacCarrick Brothers trilogy) by Kresley Cole

·               In From the Cold by Nora Roberts

·               His Stolen Bride by Shelly Thacker

·               Kilgannon and The Wild Rose of Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens

·               King Hereafter by Dorothy Dunnett

·               Knight of Fire by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham)

·               Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson

·               Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn (and the MacGregor/Children of the Mist Series)

·               Lord of a Thousand Nights by Madeline Hunter

·               Lord of Fire by Emma Merritt

·               Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain

·               My Lord Monleigh by Jan Cox Speas

·               My Wicked Enchantress by Meagan McKinney

·               On a Highland Shore and Rivals for the Crown by Kathleen Givens

·               Oriana by Valerie Vayle

·               Rebellion by Nora Roberts

·               Rosamund by Bertrice Small

·               Silk and Steel by Cordia Byers

·               Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham

·               Snow Raven by Patricia McAllister

·               Tempest Heart by Paula Quinn

·               Tempted and The Border Hostage, duology by Virginia Henley

·               The Bedeviled Heart, The Daring Heart and The Bold Heart by Carmen Caine

·               The Border Bride by Elizabeth English

·               The Border Lord by Jan Westcott

·               The Captive by Parris Afton Bonds

·               The Chieftain’s Curse by Francis Housden

·               The Daughters of Cameron by Aleen Malcolm

·               The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett (from the Lymond Chronicles series)

·               The Guardian by Genevieve Graham

·               The Highlander’s Reluctant Bride by Cathy MacRae

·               The Lady and the Laird by Nicola Cornick

·               The Lady’s Protector by Emma Prince

·               The Legend and the sequel The Destiny by Kathleen Givens

·               The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen

·               The Passionate One, The Reckless One and The Ravishing One (the McClairen’s Isle trilogy) by Connie Brockway

·               The Pride of Lions, The Blood of Roses and Midnight Honor by Marsha Canham

·               The Renegade (first released as The Renegade and The Rose) by Christine Dorsey

·               The Queen’s Lady by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham)

·               The Taming, Ride Out the Storm and The Daughters of Cameron by Aleen

            Malcolm

·               The Scotsman by Juliana Garnett (aka Virginia Brown)

·               The Scottish Bride by Catherine Coulter

·               The Spider and the Stone by Glen Craney

·               The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

·               Threads of Destiny by Arnette Lamb

·               To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt (one of the Four Soldiers series)

·               To Conquer a Highlander, Highland Hellcat and Highland Heat by Mary Wine

·               To Lie with Lions by Dorothy Dunnett (from the House of Niccolo series)

·               White Knight by Jaclyn Reding

·               Without Honor by Elizabeth Stuart

 

I hope you will consider my own novels set in Scotland’s past:

 

·      Summer Warrior, Bound by Honor, The Strongest Heart and Born to Trouble from the award-winning Clan Donald Saga of historical fiction

·      Rebel Warrior, part of the award-winning Medieval Warriors series

·      The Refuge, an Inspirational Novel of Scotland, winner of the Illumination Awards’ Gold Medal

·      A Secret Scottish Christmas, book 5 in the Agents of the Crown Regency series

·      The Holly & The Thistle, a Regency novella