The best regency romance books for fans of Bridgerton
Bridgerton, the Netflix show based on Julia Quinn’s already-famous book series, introduced so many new readers to the Regency romance world.
As we write this, Season 2 of Bridgerton will soon be upon us. But will it quench the thirst of its fans completely?
For readers who simply can’t get enough Regency romance we’ve compiled a list of the very best books written by the (other) masters of the genre.
Lisa Kleypas is the queen of historical romance, and Dreaming of You is one of her finest works. Derek Craven has pulled himself from the gutter to become one of London’s richest men by owning the most successful gambling club in all of England. He wants nothing to do with novelist and country mouse Sara Fielding, who has come to London, and Craven’s club specifically, to research her latest book. When she saves his life, he allows her into the club to interview and observe. Derek is determined to protect innocent Sara from a man of the world like himself. Their attraction to each other is powerful, and he’s the only one who can protect her from secret threats when her life is in danger. Or so he thinks.
Lord of Scoundrels is a classic and should be part of your regency cannon. The Marquess of Dain is notorious as a dangerous man without a heart. He’s happy to have nothing to do with “respectable” women. Until she walks into his life. Jessica Trent is on a mission to retrieve her worthless brother before he squanders the family fortune. She’s too smart to fall for such a scoundrel, or so she tells herself.
Minerva Lane is a plain, bespectacled wallflower. She’s worked very hard to stay in the background and would like to stay there. When handsome Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, comes to town, she is directly in his sights. When Minnie figures out what he’s up to, he realizes there is more to her than her glasses. The Duke is determined to lay her every secret bare before she can discover his. But this time, one unassuming woman may prove to be more than his match.
Jack Turner was born in the London slums and will do anything to survive and protect those he loves. He uses what he’s learned on the streets to help those who need a scoundrel to do the job. His distrust of nobility runs rightfully deep. Oliver Rivington is a high-born former-soldier who is a foil to everything Jack is not. All Oliver wants is a steady, predictable life. The opposite of Jack’s. Oliver thought he disapproved of everything Jack does, but is inexplicably drawn to him. Jack thought he could never trust someone like Oliver, but loves seeing his calm exterior worn away every time they are together.
Reginald Mason is a gentleman in nearly every sense of the word: wealthy, well-mannered, refined. Except he is not a gentleman by birth, a fact that grieves his family greatly. When the daughter of their neighbor finds herself caught up in scandal, a vacancy in the ton becomes available. Lady Annabelle Ashton, daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family, has been disgraced, and the Earl is thrilled to find her a suitor at all. After Mr. Mason threatens to cut off Reginald, both are forced into a marriage neither wants. The engagement is openly hostile, and the bride and groom are antagonistic toward each other, much to the delight of their fathers. Thus begins an engrossing story of how two enemies slowly and turbulently become lovers.
Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven, has lived alone for years, and it’s becoming a problem because he is in need of an heir and, therefore, a wife. The only problem is, he already has one. Seraphina, Duchess of Haven, returns to England with one goal in mind: to reclaim her life, and that starts with divorcing her husband. The Duke agrees to the divorce if Sera can find her replacement. She spends a summer on their estate and in very close contact with Malcolm, trying to find him a suitable wife. Spending so much time together reminds the two why they fell in love the first time. But the past is a heavy weight between them, and they might not be able to overcome it.
Ransom Seymour, the Duke of Ainsley, owes a debt to a friend but could never have predicted that he would ask him to get his wife with child. Lady Jayne Seymour, Marchioness of Walfort, is furious that such an agreement would be made without her consent. When she reluctantly agrees, there are firm rules: no kissing, and absolutely no pleasure. Things take an unexpected turn when the Duke turns out to be tender and the Duchess is so lovable. How could they possibly live without each other after what’s transpired between them?
Fiery young Josie does everything a proper lady shouldn’t: goes corsetless, attends horse races, kisses men behind the stables… and gets caught. Even though the Earl of Mayne is engaged, and in love, with someone else, he agrees to marry Josie to get her out of this scandal. She’s used to being bullied by her peers for being plus-sized, and he’s used to women obeying him. Can a marriage forced by stuffy convention end up being the relationship everyone envies?
Originally published at https://www.kobo.com on March 13, 2022.
