Recommendation Request

[E]

Hey Romance readers! I haven’t had the best of luck lately in finding new, good historical romances. So, I was hoping to enlist you fabulous and knowledgeable folks! Here’s what I’ve been looking for recently in terms of story:

1. The Beauty and the Beast style love story. It doesn’t have to be a crossover or based exclusively on Beauty and the Beast. More to the gist of the surly, serious, even intimidating man meets a spunky, unconventional, independent woman who isn’t afraid to stand up to him, and eventually, gradually changes his mind about love. It’s not just the Beauty and the Beast story, but the Maria von Trapp/Captain von Trapp story. That kind of thing.

The last historical romance I read that fit this bill was Romancing the Duke: Castles Ever After by Tessa Dare. Any other recommendations in that vein?

2. When either the hero or heroine of the story starts off by suffering a near-death situation that requires the other to nurse them back to health, thus leading them to fall in love. When I think about this trope Lisa Kleypas’ “Someone to Watch Over Me” comes to mind or Vivienne Lorret’s “This Earl is On Fire.”

Any other good ones that you can think of?

Your recommendations are greatly appreciated.

-Erin

[Vintage]

Okay, get ready....These are 4 star or really great 3 stars from Beauty and the Beast and Historical Fictions lists

Lord of Scoundrels
Yours Until Dawn Lots of Teresa Medeiros
A Kingdom of Dreams Funny and romantic
Charming the Prince even funnier with the Von Trapp/kids angle you mentioned

Candle in the Wind by Christina Dodd (my link won't work right now)
Flowers from the Storm
Elizabeth Hoyt Maiden Lane series or Princes trilogy
More Than a MistressBeautiful Bad Man A western but so, so good Anything by Ellen O'Connell is great!

[Sonja]

Oh oh oh! The Duchess Deal
For B&theB there! By goodness I giggled the whole way through this one! The characters are so fun and Tessa Dare is brilliant as usual! I've read (and own) Romancing the Duke and I LOVED it too. Check out my review if you want but totally worth it!
Oh, another one that borders on the B&theB theme, but with the girl slightly scarred and hiding this time The Duchess War. I adore Courtney Milan's writing and loved this whole series although the first four are my faves (including the prequel The Governess Affair, #2 The Heiress Effect which is my fave and The Suffragette Scandal. Fun series! Duchess walks the line you're looking for but in a reverse and interesting way.

Ah, one more, and this one will be a surprising one Firelight, but definitely follows the Beast/Beauty request! It straddles the paranormal line, but so very well! And I LOVE Kristen Callihan's writing! She's one of few writers I've encountered who can cross genres and still nail it.

Ok last one, I swear, Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed, but this one might be pushing it. It's kind of Beauty and the Beast meets 50 Shades of Grey (I love the B&theB theme, but I cannot stand the 50 shades series!) and yet... give it a chance tho. Cuz the end justifies the means significantly and then I enjoyed this whole series!

I'll think on the other one....

Wait I got one already. Not exactly the same, but brilliant nonetheless! Barely a Lady
And I totally agree on the previous suggestion of Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane and Princes series!

[Sonja]

Ah, I reread your request and I can add a few more...
1.
In Bed with the Devil
Silk Is for Seduction
The Luckiest Lady in London - More P&P than Beauty/Beast, but still so good!

2.
How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days - #2 in a series that's really entertaining tho you necessarily don't have to read #1 first.
Forever Your Earl
Again the Magic - actually this whole series!
Ok I'm done. Really...

[E]

Thanks gals!!!! I am looking forward to diving in!

[Fiore]

Fellow readers,
I've been reading both historical and contemporary romance but few authors develop a plot so sweet romantic but hot and steamy at the same time as LK does. Some I've read are MacLean, Campbell, Hoyt, Dare..I find that only Dare reach the level of "sexiness" Lisa Kleypas does. Please someone has any suggestion to make for my new reading? both author or a book in particular?
Thank you very very much :)

[Vintage]

Fiore wrote: "Fellow readers,
I've been reading both historical and contemporary romance but few authors develop a plot so sweet romantic but hot and steamy at the same time as LK does. Some I've read are MacLe..."

You just hit on all the best ones. Teresa Medeiros, Gaelen Foley, Suzanne Enoch, Loretta Chase, Jennifer Ashley and early Julia Quinn are good ones as well. Books that stand out are The Duke, Charming the Prince, A Kiss to Remember, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Lord of Scoundrels, Flowers from the Storm, When He Was Wicked, Always a Scoundrel.

[AliciaJ]

There's also by Laura Kinsale

[Vintage]

Also meant to include Devil's Bride

[Sonja]

Fiore wrote: "Fellow readers,
I've been reading both historical and contemporary romance but few authors develop a plot so sweet romantic but hot and steamy at the same time as LK does. Some I've read are MacLe..."

Try Kristen Callihan, specifically her Firelight series and, if you like some modern-day romances, her VIP series.
Also Sherry Thomas has become another fave. Try Not Quite a Husband, The Luckiest Lady in London or The One In My Heart.

[Fiore]

Sonja wrote: "Fiore wrote: "Fellow readers,
I've been reading both historical and contemporary romance but few authors develop a plot so sweet romantic but hot and steamy at the same time as LK does. Some I've ..."

Thank you Sonja :)