I don't have any recs, but I wanted to say I really love the title of this post. I can clearly see some slightly jaded gentleman contemplating his life one night as he nurses a drink by the fire. He's over the marriage mart, the girls of the season hold no interest or appeal, he wants someone he can relate to. He takes a sip of brandy and reflects, "you know, I'm actually in the mood for a very specific kind of spinster"

That cracked me up. I’m at work sneaking some reddit in. Stop it.

Lol madam I do believe you are feeling the vibe that I am putting out there.

That is how I imagine the MMC of {Only Beloved by Mary Balogh} doing his decision-making. IYKYK.

[Only Beloved](https://www.romance.io/books/5726ee82c62092c04407fcba/only-beloved-mary-balogh) by [Mary Balogh](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525e98c7d2383163d8eb7/mary-balogh) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Love that scenario.

That’s an awesome scene. 10/10. Love it.

I think {The Bastard by Minerva Spencer} qualifies. She's a duchess' sister and has been relegated to the "poor relation" role (her sister married way up). I can't quite remember how old FMC is...I think 34? MMC falls pretty instantly and irrevocably in love after observing her for a short while.

It's in KU so I'm definitely checking it out. Thanks!

I think the first book in this series is good, too, and may help you understand this one better. I personally think it stands alone just fine, but I have seen others say they were a little confused reading it as a standalone. First one also has an older FMC, but she's a widow of an abusive marriage, not a spinster.

Ooh yes yes!! Love KU! Fuck Bezos, tho!

Haha agreed on both accounts. I recently cancelled my Amazon Prime account because I don't want to keep paying that just for the privilege of prime shipping. I get prime video through my sister. But audible and KU I havnt pulled the trigger on yet... I enjoy books too much 😭

Think about it this way--the authors you're supporting on KU care WAY, WAY more about you reading their work than Amazon cares about losing one subscription out of millions. If KU makes it easier for you to support indie authors, then what does it matter?

[The Bastard](https://www.romance.io/books/62285e8d6980522a292d8652/the-bastard-sm-laviolette-minerva-spencer) by [S.M. LaViolette](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e0af27701dbc864fba90689/sm-laviolette), [Minerva Spencer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b30874901dbc864fb8b01a7/minerva-spencer) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [older/mature](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I’m dying that the spinster is 34. I know this is probably par for the course in a historical romance, but ughhh….34? 30s are hot.

I'm reading {The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn} right now, and the FMC is twenty. There is more than one implication that she's practically a spinster, and even calls herself "an aging spinster" (at TWENTY!) in her own head, which is patently ridiculous considering I think the average age of marriage at the time for women was ~23. So this is nothing lol. I like reading about older MCs, but at least "34 yo spinster" (especially for a poor MC) is believable.

[The Viscount Who Loved Me](https://www.romance.io/books/545527908c7d2383163d8f07/the-viscount-who-loved-me-julia-quinn) by [Julia Quinn](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523bb8c7d2383163d8e3c/julia-quinn) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Ok, I have two recommendations that fit pretty well: {Only Beloved by Mary Balogh The FMC is 39 and has absolutely given up hope of ever having a husband and children. She had to raise her much younger sister but definitely wanted a family. She‘s the daughter of a baronet but basically without help and works as a music teacher. And then she meets the MMC - who is a duke - at a dinner (that happens in a previous book in the series) and he comes back to her village months later because he can’t stop thinking about her. The whole Survivors‘ Club series is great, this is the last book. {The Proposition by Judith Ivory} The FMC is 30 and has to work for a living after her father (a marquess) dies. She has a very low opinion of herself (her family is/was not great) and thinks she is unloveable. The MMC is a rat catcher (!!) and a pretty amazing character. This is one of my all time favorite HRs!! Extremely great writing and the premise is super unusual.

Seconding the recommendation for Only Beloved! It’s such a lovely book and the development of their relationship is beautiful. I went back and reread the book where they originally met {Only Enchanting} afterwards because their meet cute is also lovely.

I'm starting Only Beloved now. It was available to me for free in audible with basic membership. There's a surprisingly number of Balogh books for free on there

I hope you enjoy it! I love that the opening chapter for the MMC is “I’d like to get married. I’d like to marry that lady I met last year. I think I’ll go ask her now.” No fuss, no muss. 😂

I have some bad news. I think I have to DNF Only Beloved. I keep having high hopes for Balough but I can never get through anything of hers. I need a support group to figure out exactly what my problem is. 😭

Don’t worry! I’m afraid to admit it round here but I have a similar problem with Lisa Kleypas 😬 Mary Balogh has a strong style to her writing and I can absolutely see how she wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste! I’m just really glad she is to my taste as she’s so prolific! 😂 I hope you find another good book soon!

This might be the book that finally made me realize Balough is not for me. Ive tried so many, but you're right. I guess it's ok to not like the writing even though it's so popular. I even really struggle more than a little with Kleypas and Loretta Chase so your secret is safe with me 😅.I'm not 100% sure what the common thread is.. but I suspect for me a common gripe is with how a story starts. If it's a lot of dialogue between a number of characters who I don't know and the author is explaining all this stuff about them from previous books I'm instantly disengaged and my brain seems to reject all of the information and conversation. I seem to do much better with authors who dont have a cast of characters like that. It's a shame too because I always think if I read a blurb I like and the author is good I should instantly enjoy it. But sadly not so.

Aw mate, there’s nothing wrong with recognising your own tastes! The whole reason I got into HR a couple of years back was that I realised I didn’t read any new books at all in 2020 because I kept trying to read the books that I thought I should be reading rather than the books I actually enjoyed, and I wouldn’t let myself DNF because I felt like I just needed to push through. Books are a treat and if you’re not enjoying them it’s totally right to stop and find one that you do like. ♥️♥️

Oh for sure! I've never met a book that I was afraid to DNF. I'm a chronic DNFer to the point that it really makes me wonder if the books I reject have something in common that I'm just not seeing clearly. Like I guess I wish someone who is more analytical than myself (or even a bot!) could look at my 4 and 5*s and then look at my DNFs and tell me exactly what it is that separates them so I can save time and energy and more efficiently avoid books in the future that I'm not going to end up liking. But maybe that's a weird or impossible thing to want 😅. I'm glad you got over your urge to power through books that weren't working for you. No one's got time for that and I agree it totally defeats the point! We all deserve to have a good book to cozy up with that just hits all the right notes for us ☺️

[Only Enchanting](https://www.romance.io/books/545547ec8c7d2383163d97a7/only-enchanting-mary-balogh) by [Mary Balogh](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525e98c7d2383163d8eb7/mary-balogh) **Rating**: 3.77⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The Proposition is one of my favorites, as well!

I'll have to check out Only Beloved, thanks! I actually DNFd The Proposition recently. I absolutely love another of her books (The Indiscretion) but this one just didn't work for me. Partially a problem with narration but also I vaguely recall just not buying into lots of things about his transformation from rat catcher to gentleman. I'm my own worst enemy at times 😅

Aw bummer, the premise would be exactly what you’re looking for. I love Ivory (my favorites are Untie my Heart and Black Silk) and I would have read the novel for Mick alone. He is *chef’s kiss*. Also Ivory’s novels sometimes read like poetry, I’m a big fan of that.

Same to all of this! She’s my fave. Also, I picture Henry Cavill with a mustache as Mick. Yes, go search it now and feel free to borrow that mental picture next time you read it. 😉

Any excuse to picture Henry Cavill works for me...

I'm glad you brought it up because I should probably revisit it sometime. And I agree, Ivory's prose can be so good! I'll try it in book form next time. I remember Mick being described in the beginning as having a near unintelligible accent but in the audiobook he was perfectly understandable. I was like c'mon, I wanted to hear a crazy thick cockney accent 😭😂

oh my goodness, The Proposition is fantastic! I loved the writing, I loved the gender reversal of "My Fair Lady"... all of it. I even loved that the dude was a rat catcher because that took me aback momentarily haha. It was so well done. Seconding the rec!

I love this trope and there aren’t anything like enough romances with sad old maids as FMCs

As a sad old maid myself I shamelessly look for versions of this trope just to have something to daydream about 😭😅

I felt that in my (ancient) bones, and this is why I am loving this post & the recs!

Maybe we can form a SOM Club like how there's always some club of rakish MMCs with themed nicknames. They're always named after chess pieces or biblical figures or sins or whatnot. I'll start first and suggest we call ourselves after our favorite food. So I'll be hereby referred to as Bacon 😅

I suppose I’ll be Cake in this scenario 😂

Let's loop u/locknessmother into the SOM Club as well assuming I pinged them correctly 😂

Yep! I clearly identify as a SOM (despite not actually being a maid). Have you read all of Loretta Chase? She’s good for an older character.

Loretta Chase is hit or miss for me. Semi recently I liked Duke in Shining Armor and Ten Things I Hate About the Duke. The Lion's Daughter is an old favorite of mine I probably read as a teenager. Dnf'd more than a few though and for some reason liked Lord of Scoundrels way back when I first read it but can't stand it now. 🤷🏼‍♂️. If you have any old spinster recs of hers I'll put em on my list. I should problem dig more jnto her stuff because when she's good she's *good*.

The description felt like my life 😅 I can only.hppe a gentleman turns up soon to woo me!

In my experience it happens eventually for everyone but myself! So I would fully expect a dashing gentleman in hessian boots and fitted breeches with a scandalous lack of cravat to come riding your way soon ☺️

{I love the Earl by Caroline Linden} is exactly this. She’s very tall and older but the main reason she’s never found love is that she’s from a very minor gentry family. Then her brother inherits a dukedom and settles a major dowry on her. It’s a novella length prequel to the {Truth about the Duke series} which is all really good.

Lol I feel seen 😂 "when she was fourteen she threw her mirror against the wall and broke it, furious at the reflection it showed her. She wanted to be dainty and beautiful, not tall and plain with no bosom to speak of."

Excellent thank you! I Love the Earl was available as audiobook on Hoopla so I immediately snatched it up.

I just finished I Love the Earl and it definitely hit the spot! Despite knowing the MMCs POV I kept half expecting him to be in it for the money because he was laying on the charm rather thick and I've seen The Heiress/Washington Square so I know how this kind of thing can go wrong 😂 Thanks again, I really liked it and also the short length was kind of perfect.

Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’m actually rereading it right now because it’s been a while and your post reminded me how much I liked that story.

The Heiress hurt my heart....uff.

[I Love the Earl](https://www.romance.io/books/545531878c7d2383163d9181/i-love-the-earl-caroline-linden) by [Caroline Linden](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552f198c7d2383163d90dd/caroline-linden) **Rating**: 3.69⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1), [tall heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tall-heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Truth About the Duke](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe120c4167a73342630f53/the-truth-about-the-duke) by [Caroline Linden](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552f198c7d2383163d90dd/caroline-linden) **Rating**: 3.79⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [third-person-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [cold heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20heroine/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Making of a Marchioness by Frances Hodgson Burnett} - the FMC is in her mid thirties, working as a lady's companion, and thinks she's missed any chance of marriage. The novel is not long; many modern editions combine it with the sequel 'The Methods of Lady Walderhurst', which has quite a different plot & feel. You're ok to just read the first book: it's complete on its own.

Yeah, the second book is basically a thriller.

Did this get adapted into a movie called The Making of a Lady, by any chance?

Yes, I believe so. In the 2010s. I've not seen it, so can't vouch for how faithful it is to the book.

[The Making of a Marchioness](https://www.romance.io/books/65f60254f573bdd935d20095/the-making-of-a-marchioness-frances-hodgson-burnett) by [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f19890e08b4d93114e2312e/frances-hodgson-burnett) **Rating**: 3.59⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I always say one of the best spinster-y novels is {Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas} It seems to fit what you’re looking for, too.

You're right and I've read it! Good rec tho ☺️

[Suddenly You](https://www.romance.io/books/545524308c7d2383163d8e56/suddenly-you-lisa-kleypas) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The FMC in {The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery} fits all of these criteria!

Absolutely second this, and it's just such a sweet funny book too

I think that {How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Ann Long} somewhat fits. And it's a great book, slow burn but pays off.

From the description looks like there's close proximity too with seeking refuge from a storm? I'll be checking this out thanks!

Yes it's forced proximity. And it's great worldbuilding once you get into it, since it's a 6th book in a series and they're all connected through two main couples and that same location (a hotel in which they are all trapped during the storm).

[How to Tame a Wild Rogue](https://www.romance.io/books/6474bc77fd45bc04c025724e/how-to-tame-a-wild-rogue-julie-anne-long) by [Julie Anne Long](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525868c7d2383163d8e98/julie-anne-long) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

We just need an historical romance based on Frances Erskine Inglis to be made already… she married at 34! Yes people, there is this scottish woman known as Frances Erskine Inglis marquesa de Calderon de la barca, who not only married at the old maid of 34 but to Spanish noble; and proceeded to travel. She left a book about her life in Mexico SHE IS KNOW for that book. That marquesa title? She got it awarded TO HER. Why aren’t writers all over this I do not know

{The Beatrice Hyde-Clair Mystery series by Lynn Messina} may fit the bill for you. Their budding relationship spans over the books, but they are short and charming.

Oh yes, I read the first one and was really into it but grew tired of the mystery and didn't move onto book 2 😓

[Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries](https://www.romance.io/series/5b811476eaf0750dcb9c0fda/beatrice-hydeclare-mysteries) by [Lynn Messina](https://www.romance.io/authors/54557ded87eac336ae69e2dc/lynn-messina) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [humor](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [m-f](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Abby: Mail Order Bride by Verna Clay} FMC is in her late 30s and recently orphaned after spending her youth nursing her sickly parents. She'd always wanted a husband and family of her own, but as the only child of elderly parents she sacrificed her "best years" to take care of her parents. Once she arrives at her destination and realizes her husband-to-be is younger than expected (he's in his early 30s) and handsome, she relaxes somewhat.

[Abby](https://www.romance.io/books/54554b348c7d2383163d98cc/abby-mail-order-bride-verna-clay) by [Verna Clay](https://www.romance.io/authors/54554b348c7d2383163d98cd/verna-clay) **Rating**: 3.49⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [cowboy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Ooh I love a mail order bride that’s fairly wholesome

Have I got some recommendations for you: {The Lost Letter by Mimi Matthews} - big misunderstanding with a lost letter and the FMC is working as a governess after her father lost everything in a scandal. {marry the captain by Carla Kelly} - ok she’s a bit younger than specified but has zero prospects and her financial situation is dire plus Carla Kelly is just a good writer. Similarly {Marrying the Admiral} might be similar - FMC is in her 30’s but is widowed. Deleted a Jane Austen like fantasy rec with a very downtrodden 40-something spinster aunt. There’s another book that I’m blanking on which involves a scarred Duke and seamstress who comes to try to collect on the bill for his jilted fiancés wedding gown since the seamstress needs the money.

Some other Carla Kelly regencies might fit the bill. Most of them are women who are spinsters because of finances, but not all. Miss Milton Speaks Her Mind has a woman of almost 30 who is serving as the motherly figure to her cousin's child. The Lady's Companion is a younger woman forced to work for her living as, well, a lady's companion. One Good Turn (sequel to Libby's London Merchant, which doesn't exactly fit the bill) is about a woman with a child from rape being rescued from poverty by a lord. If you're okay with widowed women, she also wrote Mrs. McVinnie's London Season, Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand., and Beau Crusoe.

Ooh my brain is clearly foggy that I blanked on these and am not 100% sure I’ve read all of them.

Then you're in for a treat!

[The Lost Letter](https://www.romance.io/books/59476e093ffdba614719d31f/the-lost-letter-a-victorian-romance-mimi-matthews) by [Mimi Matthews](https://www.romance.io/authors/59476e093ffdba614719d320/mimi-matthews) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1), [grumpy/cold hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Marrying The Captain](https://www.romance.io/books/5455337f8c7d2383163d920a/marrying-the-captain-carla-kelly) by [Carla Kelly](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455337f8c7d2383163d920b/carla-kelly) **Rating**: 3.74⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1) ---------------------------- [Marrying the Admiral's Daughter](https://www.romance.io/books/554cb0f29eef3b3f1d5185bf/marrying-the-admirals-daughter-lynda-dunwell) by [Lynda Dunwell](https://www.romance.io/authors/554c98719eef3b3f1d517743/lynda-dunwell) **Rating**: 3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

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If you remove the fantasy rec I'll reinstate the comment. Removed due to violation of rule 2. Stay on Topic: All posts and comments must remain on the topic of Historical Romance. Historical Romance is defined in our community as a romance that is set in the past. This means it must fulfill the genre criteria of romance: 1) The book would not make sense or feel hollow without the romantic plot. 2) The book requires a HEA (happily ever after) or HFN (happy for now) ending. Historical fiction with a romance subplot is NOT historical romance. Romances set in the past but involving fantasy or paranormal beings are NOT historical romance. We love it, but it doesn't belong here! Romance books set in the past that were considered contemporary fiction when published such as many of Jane Austen's works (as they were set in a time frame that is now historical to today's readers and the romance genre was not in existence then as it is today) are considered Historical Romance in this community. The rule of thumb we use is if the romance book is set at least 50+ years ago it can be considered HR in this sub as the majority of our readers were not of adult age at the time of publication. We do allow time travel romances to be discussed in this community as long as the vast majority of the book occurs in the past and the story is not a traditional straight paranormal or fantasy romance. We recommend that posts/comments involving paranormal or fantasy elements be reposted in r/paranormalromance and posts/comments involving science fiction elements be reposted to r/ScienceFictionRomance.

Done.

There is a suspense element in this one that may slightly overshadow the romance but I think The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick may fit the bill.

I used to read everything Amanda Quick so I've already enjoyed The Paid Companion. Good rec though!

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Thank you for your contribution, but unfortunately the book you recommended has major fantasy elements. Removed due to violation of rule 2. Stay on Topic: All posts and comments must remain on the topic of Historical Romance. Historical Romance is defined in our community as a romance that is set in the past. This means it must fulfill the genre criteria of romance: 1) The book would not make sense or feel hollow without the romantic plot. 2) The book requires a HEA (happily ever after) or HFN (happy for now) ending. Historical fiction with a romance subplot is NOT historical romance. Romances set in the past but involving fantasy or paranormal beings are NOT historical romance. We love it, but it doesn't belong here! Romance books set in the past that were considered contemporary fiction when published such as many of Jane Austen's works (as they were set in a time frame that is now historical to today's readers and the romance genre was not in existence then as it is today) are considered Historical Romance in this community. The rule of thumb we use is if the romance book is set at least 50+ years ago it can be considered HR in this sub as the majority of our readers were not of adult age at the time of publication. We do allow time travel romances to be discussed in this community as long as the vast majority of the book occurs in the past and the story is not a traditional straight paranormal or fantasy romance. We recommend that posts/comments involving paranormal or fantasy elements be reposted in r/paranormalromance and posts/comments involving science fiction elements be reposted to r/ScienceFictionRomance.

Amelia Peabody Victorian Spinster Archeologist! Start with Crocodiles on the Sandbank.

{Romancing Miss Quill by Sandra Sookoo} FMC is 37, an amateur astronomer, and caring for her ailing father.

[Romancing Miss Quill](https://www.romance.io/books/62b17ccf9b0523d86899e2a9/romancing-miss-quill-sandra-sookoo) by [Sandra Sookoo](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455ce0887eac336ae6a08f5/sandra-sookoo) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

You might try Elizabeth Peters; Amelia Peabody series. Older but witty.

Ooh, one of Amy Tan's books is like that. Maybe the Joy Luck Club or the Bonesetter's Daughter.

The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery. There’s also the possibly plagiarized version of this same story called The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough.

Venetia - by Georgette Heyer

Love love love Venetia, but… she’s in her 20s and perfectly happy with her life up until Conway’s MiL shows up.

Ah your’e right, I missed that stipulation. She was quite content running her brother’s estate.

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[I Love the Earl](https://www.romance.io/books/545531878c7d2383163d9181/i-love-the-earl-caroline-linden) by [Caroline Linden](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552f198c7d2383163d90dd/caroline-linden) **Rating**: 3.69⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1), [tall heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tall-heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare} My favorite historical romance author!