10 Perceptive Historical Romance Novels Full Of Period Details

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 22 August 2019

Whether you're a hardcore history buff or a fan of love stories, you're sure to find something that suits your interests here. These romantic works of historical fiction delve into a number of different settings, from Victorian England to 1950s New York, and are full of compelling characters, passionate affairs, and period details that make the past come alive. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Historical Romances: Our 10 Picks

Title Author
1. Maire Linda Windsor
2. The Typewriter Girl Alison Atlee
3. A Lady of High Regard Tracie Peterson
4. Sultana Lisa J. Yarde
5. Rebellious Cargo Susan Lodge
6. Marry in Haste Christina Courtenay
7. Ashton Park Murray Pura
8. It Was Only Ever You Kate Kerrigan
9. Sweet Revenge Zoe Archer
10. Meant for Me Lyn Cote

Fun Date Ideas For Your Real-Life Romance

8 Great Historical Romance Films

  1. Titanic (1997)
  2. Jane Eyre (1996)
  3. Lorna Doone (2000)
  4. The Painted Veil (2006)
  5. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
  6. Pride & Prejudice (2005)
  7. The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
  8. Anna and the King (1999)

The History of Love

In Depth

If there's one thing historical romance teaches well, it's that love has always had the power to alter lives. Be it during the rigid codes of a medieval dynasty, a time of brutal warfare, or the confines of pre-feminist society, romantic escapades can ease hearts, change minds, and shape the course of entire nations. For those who wish to delve deep into affairs full of period details, here, in no particular order, are ten perceptive historical romance novels.

At the #1 spot is "Maire" by Linda Windsor, which takes place in the barbarous times of the Celts. Maire, a warrior princess and heir to an Irish throne, proves a vicious leader against the invading army. After she captures a handsome mercenary and takes him hostage, his grace and spiritual humility begin to quell her zealous tendencies. Slowly but surely, Maire falls for him, and realizes that the future of her people rests in her own capacity to love.

At #2 is "The Typewriter Girl" by Alison Atlee. Betsey Dobson, a turn-of-the-century Londoner, has just been fired from her job as a stenographer. Left in poverty and carrying broken dreams, she is determined to dust herself off. With some good luck, she meets Mr. Jones, the only man to recognize her resilience and value in a male-dominated economy. He hires her to help manage his lavish sea resort, and naturally, opposites start to attract. Betsey struggles to keep her independence while becoming more and more smitten with her employer.

He hires her to help manage his lavish sea resort, and naturally, opposites start to attract.

At #3 we have "A Lady of High Regard" from Tracie Peterson's "Ladies of Liberty" series. Most Victorian women do what they are told, but Mia Stanley, a socialite with her own gossip column, is an exception to the rule. After uncovering a corrupt scheme involving a group of impoverished seamen's wives, her world is turned upside down. Complicating matters is her friend Garrett, a smart and sensitive man she is falling in love with. She must decide what is worth sacrificing when so much is at stake.

At #4 is "Sultana" by Lisa J. Yarde, which follows the last ruling dynasty in the often-overlooked golden age of Islamic Spain. Fatima, granddaughter of the Sultan, is a child bride wedded to Faraj, an older cousin who is more interested in avenging the death of his father than ruling a nation. Their bond develops at a time of internal strife, embodied by the couple's often conflicting paths in salvaging an empire in decline. Through political successes and struggles, their country is shaped by a tumultuous relationship that tests their ability to understand one another.

At #5 is "Rebellious Cargo" by Susan Lodge. At the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, noble-born code breaker Jane Charlesworth is transported across the seas to help decipher a critical enemy document. She is under the command of naval captain Adam Morston, whose expertise is often challenged by the precocious young woman. Yet Jane is helpless in the chaos of warfare, and finds that Captain Morston may be the only man she can depend on.

Yet Jane is helpless in the chaos of warfare, and finds that Captain Morston may be the only man she can depend on.

At #6 we have "Marry in Haste" by Christina Courtenay. Amelia Ravenscroft has lost everything. Her father committed suicide after the death of her mother, leaving her in the hands of a cruel aunt who has forced her to marry Sir Bernard, a belittling cousin. All seems hopeless, until Amelia overhears that Viscount James Demarr is urgently seeking a wife before his father dies. Desperate to escape the clutches of her aunt, she offers herself up. They elope, yet James harbors suspicious feelings. Can someone so impulsive be trusted with his estate?

At #7 is "Ashton Park" by Murray Pura. The Danforths are an aristocratic family who have lived at the Ashton Park estate for many generations. While the sons are fighting abroad in the First World War, and Sir William attends matters of Parliament, the daughters find themselves balancing out their duties as citizens, while facing their own coming-of-age tribulations. It's a tale of the old world's strict social order at an end, as the girls fall in love with commoners, and learn that breaking with convention comes with a hefty price.

At #8 is "It Was Only Ever You" by Katie Kerrigan. Patrick Murphy is a new world immigrant who leaves post-war Ireland to pursue fame and fortune as a singer in 1950s New York. His career is at a crossroads as three women on two continents vie for his love. Sheila Klein, a Holocaust survivor, adores Patrick and supports his career. Ava Brogan, a hard-boiled dancer and a friend of Sheila's, is also determined to make the musician hers. Their web gets even more tangled when Patrick's old flame Rose comes to America to prove she is his true soulmate.

Their web gets even more tangled when Patrick's old flame Rose comes to America to prove she is his true soulmate.

Coming in at #9 is "Sweet Revenge" by Zoe Archer. Jack Dalton, an escaped convict of Dunmoor Prison, is hellbent on finding the man who murdered his sister. He garners the support of Nemesis Unlimited, an underworld band of low lives bent on serving justice where there is none on the streets of Victorian England. Eva Warrick, a member of Nemesis, is strongly attracted to Jack, and helps him for her own selfish desires. Their relationship is riddled with lust and aggression, as Eva is a dominating force in her own right.

Finally at #10 is the first installment of "The Carlyle Women" series, "Meant for Me" by Lyn Cote. Chloe Kimball was raised to be the ideal Southern belle, but ends up becoming a Lost Generation soul. After the First World War, a period of disillusionment lingers on. Whether it's her father or husband, men are always controlling Chloe. To escape it all, she lives one moment dancing the Charleston, the next fighting for civil rights with the NAACP. Deep down, she yearns for the man she loved before the war changed everything, the one man who truly understood her undying passion for freedom.