Recommendations based on "The Governess Affair"

In her inimitable style—full of wit, wisdom, drama, gossip, and romance—Julia Quinn introduces the four eldest of the eight Bridgerton siblings as they maneuver through the scrutiny of London’s high society and secure matches worthy of their station—and their hearts. Adored by millions of fans worldwide, these timeless stories will transport you to a world of propriety, elegance, passion, and mischief, where the charisma of one family captures the attention of the entire ton. In these four books, peppered with brilliant commentary from the keen-eyed and irrepressible gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, you will meet: Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter and a diamond of the first water, in The Duke and I; Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest son and an elusive bachelor, in The Viscount Who Loved Me; Benedict Bridgerton, the handsome and romantic second son, in An Offer from a Gentleman; and Colin Bridgerton, the impeccably charming but secretive third son, in Romancing Mister Bridgerton.

'Sophie Irwin is an exciting and original voice. She's a must-buy author for me.' Taylor Jenkins Reid 'I simply couldn't put this book down. Joyous, hilarious and full of sparkling enemies-to-lovers tension, it has everything you could want in a regency romcom' - Beth O'Leary, The Flat Share From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a delicious new romance... He wants a wife. She wants to be jilted. This. Is. War. Rich, handsome and titled Lord Ashford has every lady in England longing for his hand in marriage. Everyone, that is, except Miss Lydia Hanworth - the only young woman Ashford wishes to marry. Pressured into accepting Ashford's proposal, the announcement must be kept secret for ten days. Can Lydia free herself from her obligations before the engagement is publicly announced, without ruining her reputation? You can achieve an awful lot in ten days, after all... Readers LOVE Sophie Irwin: 'LOVED this' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Sophie Irwin - she is such a fresh, fun, witty writer in this space. I'd read anything she wrote' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An excellent, delightful, refreshing Regency Romance' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What an absolute treat' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Inhaled it. Loved it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fun, light and romantic' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ '20 stars out of 5!! This book was a balm to my soul' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'It is going to become a go-to favourite' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An absolute must read for fans of Regency romance' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'So enjoyable, unpredictable, wonderful characters, just SO GOOD' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you haven’t read Cat Sebastian, what are you waiting for?”—Lorraine Heath, New York Times bestselling author   Once beloved by London's fashionable elite, Hartley Sedgwick has become a recluse after a spate of salacious gossip exposed his most-private secrets. Rarely venturing from the house whose inheritance is a daily reminder of his downfall, he’s captivated by the exceedingly handsome man who seeks to rob him. Since retiring from the boxing ring, Sam Fox has made his pub, The Bell, into a haven for those in his Free Black community. But when his best friend Kate implores him to find and destroy a scandalously revealing painting of her, he agrees. Sam would do anything to protect those he loves, even if it means stealing from a wealthy gentleman. But when he encounters Hartley, he soon finds himself wanting to steal more than just a painting from the lovely, lonely man—he wants to steal his heart.

All of London is abuzz over the imminent arrival of Wulfric Bedwyn, the reclusive, cold-as-ice Duke of Bewcastle, at the most glittering social event of the season. Some whisper of a tragic love affair. Others say he is so aloof and passionless that not even the greatest beauty could capture his attention. But on this dazzling afternoon, one woman did catch the duke’s eye—and she was the only female in the room who wasn’t even trying. Christine Derrick is intrigued by the handsome duke…all the more so when he invites her to become his mistress.What red-blooded woman wouldn’t enjoy a tumble in the bedsheets with a consummate lover—with no strings and no questions asked. An infuriating lady with very definite views on men, morals, and marriage, Christine confounds Wulfric at every turn. Yet even as the lone wolf of the Bedwyn clan vows to seduce her any way he can, something strange and wonderful is happening. Now for a man who thought he’d never lose his heart, nothing less than love will do.With her trademark wit, riveting storytelling, and sizzling sexual sparks, Mary Balogh once again brings together two polar opposites: an irresistible, high-and-mighty aristocrat and the impulsive, pleasure-loving woman who shows him what true passion is all about. A man and a woman so wrong for each other, it can result only in the perfect match.

Deceitful Desire With England under the shadow of Napoleon's invasion, the wind-swept coast of Devon had become a hotbed of intrigue. Spies and smugglers were not the proper concern of young ladies, and Joanna Feniton could not have cared less. Her accidental discovery of hand-some double-agent Captain Jackson had aroused more than her passing interest. Suddenly, though duty and logic told her to marry the wealthy and titled Algernon Cholcombe, she could not ignore the desires of her heart--desires that led her into an escapade of danger and deceit with a man who could destroy not only her future... but the future of all England as well... Original title: The Guinea Stamp.

Laurie R. King takes readers way back in her bestselling series with this exclusive ebook short story, as Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes embark upon the riskiest adventure of their partnership: their wedding.   Includes a special preview of the highly anticipated new mystery from Laurie R. King, The Murder of Mary Russell!   Though she cannot entirely discount the effects of the head injuries they were both suffering at the time, Mary Russell is delighted by Sherlock Holmes’s proposal of marriage. After all, they have become partners-in-crime, and she has recently come into her inheritance: what remains but to confirm the union with her mentor-turned-partner through a piece of paper? Russell’s pragmatic side tells her to head straight to the registry office—until Holmes surprises her with a sentimental wish to be married in the chapel of his ancestral manor. There’s just the small issue of ownership: the house is not exactly his, and he is most definitely not welcome there. Of course, such obstacles have never deterred Sherlock Holmes before, and they certainly won’t keep him from concocting an elaborate scheme to evade angry dogs and armed butlers—all in the name of wedded bliss.   Praise for Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell mysteries   “The most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today.”—Lee Child   “The great marvel of King’s series is that she’s managed to preserve the integrity of Holmes’s character and yet somehow conjure up a woman astute, edgy, and compelling enough to be the partner of his mind as well as his heart.”—The Washington Post Book World   “A lively adventure in the very best of intellectual company.”—The New York Times   “Erudite, fascinating . . . by all odds the most successful re-creation of the famous inhabitant of 221B Baker Street ever attempted.”—Houston Chronicle   “An engaging romp guaranteed to please . . . perfectly written in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.”—USA Today, on Pirate King   “Mesmerizing—another wonderful novel etched by the hand of a master storyteller. No reader who opens this one will be disappointed.”—Michael Connelly, on The God of the Hive   “Historical fiction doesn’t get any better than this.”—The Denver Post, on The Game

A rogue nobleman, a rescued lady, and revenge undone by romance all play a part in New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston’s irresistible novel of best-laid plots, delicious deception, and unexpected passion.   Two years have passed since Josie Wentworth was bought from the Sioux for a gold watch and whisked back to England by Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne. When Marcus breaks his promise to return Josie to America, she ends up as a maid in the home of his charming but neglected nephews. Once Josie’s long-lost family finds her, however, the suddenly wealthy heiress sets out to save the two boys from their indifferent uncle—and teach the duke a lesson in honor.   Learning that Marcus is seeking a rich American bride to save his estate, Josie plots to catch his eye—certain he’ll never recognize the beauty she’s become as the ragged captive he rescued. But Josie doesn’t wager on her marital charade taking a tender turn, as the nobleman she’s despised for years proves to be a very different man than she’s imagined. And there’s no denying his passionate caresses, as she falls deeper under the spell of a husband determined to claim her heart.Praise for Blackthorne’s Bride  “[Joan] Johnston’s gloriously dramatic twelfth Bitter Creek novel, the fourth installment in her Mail Order Bride subseries, whisks readers across the Atlantic. . . . [This] page-turner is replete with romantic angst, sizzling sex, and the promise of an enduring love.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Second chances, marriage of convenience, revenge, reconnection, and redemption . . . Blackthorne’s Bride is another winner from Joan Johnston that gives readers a delicious story of love, laughter, forgiveness, and family.”—Smexy Books   “Blackthorne’s Bride is a sweeping tale that takes you from the Wild West . . . to Regency England. [It’s] a feisty and surprisingly enticing romance that takes you on an adventure through the city streets of London and the countryside.”—Addicted to Romance   “Riveting . . . Johnston excels at descriptions, peppered with period details that make this book a picturesque reading experience.”—Buried Under RomanceThe passionate Westerns in Joan Johnston’s Bitter Creek series can be enjoyed together or separately, in any order:TEXAS BRIDE • WYOMING BRIDE • MONTANA BRIDE • SINFUL • SHAMELESS • BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE • SULLIVAN’S PROMISE

From bestselling author Tamera Alexander comes an exquisite historical novel set against the real history of Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, Tennessee, that explores the struggles of real people of the post-war South and the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal. Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Hardings' head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth's husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman. Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn "the gift" that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives. As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for fighting against the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again. Praise for Tamera Alexander: "To Whisper Her Name has everything a fine historical novel needs: characters we truly care about, struggles that really matter, splashes of humor to engage us, and period details that bring the past to vibrant life. Ridley and Olivia both arrive with heartaches and disappointments tucked in their traveling bags. Watching them unpack those memories and make room for the Lord's cleansing touch is pure reading pleasure." --Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times bestselling author "Rich in history, romance, and human drama, To Whisper Her Name is a book to be savored, like a sumptuous Southern banquet. Tamera Alexander's skills as a master storyteller have never been more evident." --Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of Cross My Heart and Who I Am with You "To Whisper Her Name will grab you and not let go. It's a beautiful, powerful story with unforgettable characters who face the unthinkable with honor while a captivating romance blooms where seeds should never have been scattered." --Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times and CBA bestselling author This inspirational historical romance can be read as a stand-alone novel or enjoyed as the first book in Tamera Alexander's Belle Meade series Book length: approximately 125K words Includes discussion questions for book clubs, a recipe, and a note from the author

In this dazzling first novel featuring the Knight family, bestselling author Gaelen Foley writes an elegant, emotional story that touches the heart and soul.Driven to uncover the truth about the mysterious death of his ladylove, the Duke of Hawkscliffe will go to any lengths to unmask a murderer. Even if it means jeopardizing his reputation by engaging in a scandalous affair with London's most provocative courtesan—the desirable but aloof Belinda Hamilton.Bel has used her intelligence and wit to charm the city's titled gentlemen, while struggling to put the pieces of her life back together. She needs a protector, so she accepts Hawk's invitation to become his mistress in name only. He asks nothing of her body, but seeks her help in snaring the same man who shattered her virtue. Together they tempt the unforgiving wrath of society—until their risky charade turns into a dangerous attraction, and Bel must make a devastating decision that could ruin her last chance at love. . . .

THE MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR...UNDER HER ROOF The tabloids were right: Sloan Holden is rich, powerful and incredibly handsome. But he's just another paying guest, as far as B and B owner Maggie Potter is concerned. The hardworking widow has a toddler to care for, a business to build, and a heart to protect. She can't succumb to the charm of a man who is just passing through. Though drawn to his gorgeous landlady, Sloan knows "off-limits" when he sees it. Trouble is, Maggie and her little girl gave Sloan a taste of what he was missing--a family of his own. The bachelor businessman could strike a deal with anyone, but can he find a way to bargain his way into Maggie's life for good?