Bringing y’all some more book recs! I’ve been a historical romance reader since I was a teenager and it’s still one of my favorite genres. I’ve got some historical romance book recs from y’all today from all different historical eras.
The Hobby Shop On Barnaby Street by Jillianne Hamilton (Indie Author)
A forbidden wartime romance begins just as German planes fill the skies over London in 1940.
This WW2 era romance was fascinating to me as it took place in London in the midst of the war. This book has brother’s best friend vibes as the hero and heroine find themselves in the middle of a war torn city.
To Catch A Raven by Beverly Jenkins
Lying and cheating may be sins to some people, but for Raven Moreaux, it is a way of life. She comes from a long line of grifters and couldn’t be prouder…Until she’s forced to help the government.
This book brings all the espionage vibes on a hunt to save the Deceleration of Independence. If you love secret identities and forced proximity with all the steam, make sure you don’t miss this one!
How The Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long
The story of a beautiful orphan from the streets of Regency London, now refined, who inadvertently bewitches the dashing nobleman whom England’s scandal sheets have dubbed “Lord Ice.”
If steamy Regency Romance is your thing, this book is for you. This story has all the opposites attract vibes and plenty of spice!
Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean
Raised among London’s most notorious criminals, a twist of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she masquerades as a quiet wallflower-so plain and unassuming that no one realizes she’s the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help brides avoid the altar.
If you’re looking for another steamy Regency Romance, here’s another one to dive into. Heartbreaker has so many fun elements, including a heroine who’s a princess of thieves and a duke wanting to uncover her secrets.
If you’re looking for a historical fiction read to enjoy this spring. I’ve got you covered! Below are some of my historical fiction reads that are coming from my shelf to yours. I’ve been diving a bit more into historical fiction this year and have really been enjoying it so far.
The Aviatrix by Violet March
Daring aviators take the skies by storm in this historical romance filled with unconventional women—and the men strong enough to love them.
Set in the 1920s, The Aviatrix had so much fun information about female pilots, plus an engaging story line and a touch of romance. If you’re looking for a book set in the 1920s/post WW1 time frame with lots of background info about women’s history, this is a great one to pick up!
The Huntress By Kate Quinn
On the icy edge of Soviet Russia, bold and reckless Nina Markova joins the infamous Night Witches – an all-female bomber regiment. But when she is downed behind enemy lines, Nina must use all her wits to survive her encounter with a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress.
The Huntress will keep you on the edge of your seat! It has all the suspense, action, and a touch of romance. If you’re looking for a WW2 novel, don’t miss this one!
American Daughters by Piper Huguley
In the vein of America’s First Daughter, Piper Huguley’s historical novel delves into the remarkable friendship of Portia Washington and Alice Roosevelt, the daughters of educator Booker T. Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt.
When I saw this book focused on Alice Roosevelt and Portia Washington, I knew I had to pick it up and it did not disappoint! Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a engaging, well-researched historical fiction read, especially if you’re interested in early 1900s America.
Happy April, readers! Popping in with a little writing update for y’all today here on the blog.
What I’m Working On:
This month I have two big goals with my fantasy projects. The first is getting The Deceiver ready to be sent off for its first round of professional edits by the end of May. I’m basically polishing and tweaking at this point and double checking things like timelines and character names so that I can send my editorial team the cleanest manuscript I can.
My second goal is finishing my current revisions on the third book in the Royals Trilogy, also hopefully by the end of May. This books is still very much in its “working phase” and needs to undergo a lot of revision work, but my goal it to release it to y’all in 2026, so I’m working hard to pull the manuscript together into something clean and coherent (instead of the bit of a jumbled mess it currently is). Endings are always tough, and this one has been no exception, but I am feeling more confident in the direction the story is going as I chip away at these revisions.
What I’ve Finished:
Last month, I finished up my latest round of revisions for Heart of Hope. This month I’ll be letting that manuscript take a little bit of a rest, so that I can come back to it with fresh eyes as I put it through another revision round to focus on tightening up things like timelines and pacing (this manuscript has been a bit of a pacing challenge for me, but it’s getting a better, less slow, pace with revision time).
What I’m Working On:
In the meantime, I’ll be starting to chip away at drafting the next book in the series (is Logan’s book for all of y’all who have read Heart of Trust) now that I have an outline that I’m happy with. I’m hoping to release that book to y’all in 2026 as well.
Happy March! Here’s a little update of how my writing and publishing prep has been going and what’s up next.
What I’m Working On:
This month, I’ve started diving into revisions on my latest draft of The Deceiver! My goal is to get these revisions finished by the end of Apri, so that I can have The Deceiver ready to go for its first round of professional edits. With The Deceiver being a big manuscript, it’s taking some time, but I’ve been making solid headway thus far.
I’ve also been working on chipping away at the third draft of The Imposter. This is a lesser priority project right now, but I’m squeezing in words where I can so that I can hopefully meet my goal of getting The Imposter released in 2026.
What I’m Working On:
This month, I’m diving back into revisions for Heart of Hope as well. Right now, this is second in line behind The Deceiver as far as 2025 release go, so while these revisions aren’t number one priority right now, I’m still fitting in time to chip away at this, as once The Deceiver goes off for edits, Heart of Hope will take the spot of being my number one focus.
Last month, I plotted out the outline for what will be the fourth book in the Hooves & Hearts Series, Heart of Redemption, and I’ve gotten a couple thousand words down already. Much like The Imposter, I’ll be squeezing in time to work on Heart of Redemption as I can around other projects.
Like most writers, I also absolutely love reading, and today I’m embarking on the first installment of what I hope to be a long series of bringing y’all books from my own shelf that y’all might enjoy. I’ll also be including the romantic content for each book and relevant trigger warnings, so that readers can find what books fit them best, using this following scale:
No Spice: Just kisses here
Low Spice: Kissing + Closed Door/Fade To Black
Medium Spice: The door is open, but the there’s no explicit description
Spicy: Multiple sex scenes with explicit description
Today I want to kick things off with books featuring retellings, and this go round, I’m focusing on retellings that I don’t see done super often.
The Princess & The Fangirl by Ashley Poston
Retelling of The Prince & The Pauper
Romantic Content: No Spice
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Imogen Lovelace is an ordinary fangirl on an impossible mission: to save her favorite Starfield character, Princess Amara, from being killed off. On the other hand, the actress who plays Amara wouldn’t mind being axed. Jessica Stone doesn’t even like being part of the Starfield franchise—and she’s desperate to leave the intense scrutiny of fandom behind.
Though Imogen and Jess have nothing in common, they do look strangely similar to one another—and a case of mistaken identity at ExcelsiCon sets off a chain of events that will change both of their lives. When the script for the Starfield sequel leaks, with all signs pointing to Jess, she and Imogen must trade places to find the person responsible. The deal: Imogen will play Jess at her signings and panels, and Jess will help Imogen’s best friend run their booth.
But as these “princesses” race to find the script leaker—in each other’s shoes—they’re up against more than they bargained for. From the darker side of fandom to unexpected crushes, Imogen and Jess must find a way to rescue themselves from their own expectations…and redefine what it means to live happily ever after.
Sea Of Storms by Lindsey Pogue
Retelling Of Skadi & Njord
Romantic Content: Spicy
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Sworn enemies stranded on a deserted island.
The Reaper’s name is whispered throughout Norseland–the infamous sea captain who visits the frozen kingdom with each rising tide to collect a shipful of unfortunates. No one knows where he’s from or where he takes them, only that he leaves wreck and ruin in his wake.
After a terrible tragedy, Brynn wakes on the Reaper’s ship. Bloody, broken, and with nothing left to lose, she vows she’ll avenge her family before they reach the Reaper’s homeland.
But the gods of old play wicked games, and when the Reaper and Brynn are stranded together, destiny weaves an epic, unforgettable love story of pain, passion, and jaw-dropping discoveries.
Music Of The Night by Angela J. Ford
Retelling of The Phantom Of The Opera
Romantic Content: Spicy
Amazon Only
A haunted tower, a mysterious instructor, and the lure of the music of the night. . .
After the death of her father, Aria is left penniless and destitute. To avoid working the streets, she becomes the ward of a Count and moves to a remote town called High Tower.
High Tower is a gloomy place with one vivid attraction: the theater. Lords and ladies come from afar to be seduced by a night of unforgettable entertainment.
Many are warned to stay away from High Tower’s dangerous enchantments, but it’s a warning Aria is forced to ignore. Determined to take her life back into her hands, she and the Count make a deal. She can avoid an arranged marriage if she learns to sing for him.
When Aria stumbles across a mysterious man in a dark tower, she begs to learn the power of song from him. Although reluctant, the man agrees to teach her the music of the night. Between midnight meetings and emotional singing lessons, Aria falls in love with her alluring instructor despite his shadowy past.
But something deadly stirs, awoken by the desire of its master.
Evening reveries become haunted with terror, blood, and murder. Rumors claim the man in the tower is behind the madness that haunts High Tower, a truth Aria is loath to believe. For she just gained the desire of her heart.
What she doesn’t know is that her haunted instructor intends to use her for his own purposes. . .
Shielded by KayLynn Flanders
Retelling of The Goose Girl
Romantic Content: No Spice
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The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. It’s losing the war at its borders, and rumors of a new, deadlier threat on the horizon have surfaced. Princess Jennesara knows her skills on the battlefield would make her an asset and wants to help, but her father has other plans.
As the second-born heir to the throne, Jenna lacks the firstborn’s–her brother’s–magical abilities, so the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of neighboring Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. Jenna must leave behind everything she has ever known if she is to give her people a chance at peace.
Only, on the journey to reach her betrothed and new home, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes the rumors were wrong–the new threat is worse than anyone imagined. Now Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost before it’s too late–for her and for her entire kingdom.
The Marquis And Her Cat by Shari L. Tapscott
Retelling of Puss In Boots
Romantic Content: No Spice
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Finding your happily ever after is complicated when your matchmaker is a cat…
Etta’s happy with her simple life in the mill, but when her aunt passes and leaves her a very peculiar cat, everything goes awry. Now, determined to find her place in the world, Etta’s learning to hunt, having audiences with a king, and falling for a man who’s keeping something from her.
Beau’s happy at sea until his father passes and leaves him with an odd last request. Now he’s setting up shop in a small town, searching for ogres, and, inconveniently, falling for the miller’s sister—who just happens to be taken with someone else.
It soon becomes clear that if Etta and Beau want to get anywhere, they’ll need not only each other’s help, but the cat’s as well. But putting your trust in a feline is difficult, especially when you’re not exactly sure what it is he has planned…
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Retelling of The Six Swans
Romantic Content: Medium Spice
CW for Rape/Assault
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Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment.
But Sorcha’s joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift–by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all…
