SOLVED. Historical romance. Shy orphan raised in a nun-like institution, rescued from a life of drudgery as underpaid governess when long-lost rich uncle returns to England from India. [s]

[Kathryn]

I’m hoping someone in here will be able to help me remember the book title and author of a historical romance story I read a long time ago. I only remember bits and pieces of the story’s plot, but what I do remember is that it’s a story about a shy orphan who was raised in a nun like institution and was rescued from a life of drudgery as an underpaid governess when her long lost uncle finds her after returning to England from India as rich as a Nabob. After he finds and rescues her, he then sets out to launch her into her rightful place in society with the help of his good friend the marquess? Of?? (can’t remember the character’s title or name) who is not only one of society’s most elusive and eligible bachelors but a leader of the fashionable ton… Does anyone remember this story – and the name of the book and its author? Thanks.

I hope I'm posting this in the correct place. If not could you please let me know WHERE I need to post it? Thanks.

[Kris]

Kathryn, I moved your request to the Unsolved folder because you're looking for a specific book.

Around what year did you read this book? I find "a long time ago" means different things to different people in this large group.

Please add plot details and genre to your topic header using the edit link on the desktop (not mobile) website. Someone is more likely to recognize your book. Just ask if you'd like help with this.

[Kathryn]

Hopefully this comment will appear in the unsolved folder beneath my post... In answer to your query Kris...

I believe I read this story back in the 80's possibly early 90’s. In addition to what I've already mentioned, there is a scene in the book where the heroine is dressed and ready to go to the ball or social event where her uncle plans for her to make her first grand appearance into society – and she looks beautiful only she is unaware of this fact. Having never looked in a mirror, she has no idea what she really looks like, for because of the way she’d been raised she’s been conditioned to believe she is a plain nonentity. So in addition to being almost painfully shy she’s also convinced she is plain and unappealing.
Anyways just before her uncle’s friend the marquess?? arrives to escort her to the social event (I think it may have been a ball) where they plan for her to make her spectacular first appearance in London society’s high Ton, she runs out of her room hides in a closet because she’s so nervous and scared about going to this event and disappointing her uncle whom she's come to love like a father…

This is when they (her uncle and his friend) discover just how she’d been raised… And so instead of making a grand entrance into society, they realize they need to introduce her to this circle slowly… Oh and her uncle’s friend is the man she falls in love with as he’s falling in love with her…

[Kris]

I added plot details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it using the desktop (not mobile) website.

[Kathryn]

Kris wrote: "I added plot details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it using the desktop (not mobile) website."

Than you Kris... So long as others can see and read what I've posted within this thread about what I can recall of this book's storyline, then I don't think I'll need to add to or edit what you've written in the topic header of this post...

[Kathryn]

Kathryn wrote: "Kris wrote: "I added plot details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it using the desktop (not mobile) website."

Than you Kris... So long as others can see and read what I've posted within thi..."

I just hope someone will be able to identify the name of this book and its author for me...

[Aerulan]

Have you taken a look at listopia?
There's several lists that your book sounds like it could fit on, maybe see if it's there?
Nunnery/Abbey/Convent related romance
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
Governess lists
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

You might also search for rags to riches lists, shy heroine, or orphan heroine, those are all likely subjects to have lists (listopia is great for finding romance novels by theme/subject). While you're waiting to see if anybody knows the title it might be worth skimming through those to see if anything looks familiar.

[Kathryn]

Thank you Aerulan; I will definitely do that!!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

And if you DO find your book on one of the Listopias, please be sure to come back and let us know what the title is. Enquiring minds want to know.

[Kathryn]

OMG I'm SOO excited - I FOUND the book!!! It's a Harlequin Masquerade Historical book entitled The Damask Rose by Polly Meyrick. I found it after doing several Google searches for Publisher Book Lists... I hit pay dirt when I did a Google search for a list of Harlequin Masquerade Romance novels.

I clicked on "Harlequin Masquerade Historical | Publisher Series | LibraryThing" link choice and this brought me to a TREASURE TROVE of books which lists all the books Harlequin Masquerade has published since it was launched back in the 1980's... Here is the link to this list of books:

https://www.librarything.com/publishe...

As for the book I've been trying for such a LONG TIME to remember the name and author of it - I discovered it is also here in Goodreads. Here is the link to the Goodreads page which contains all the info on this book - The Damask Rose by Polly Meyrick

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

THANK YOU for all the help you guys have given me to SOLVE this book mystery. Now I'm going to go see if there is a way to obtain a copy of this book so I can read it again... :)

Kathy - aka Kathryn L.M. Reynolds, Author & Artist