10 Historical Romance Novels Perfect For Anglophiles

If you love bygone eras, passionate love stories, and British culture, the works listed here should be just your cup of tea. These enchanting historical romances are full of characters both common and royal who overcome obstacles, look past personal differences, and fall in love. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

British Historical Romance: Our 10 Picks

Title Author
1. An Affair in Winter Jess Michaels
2. Never Dare a Wicked Earl Renee Ann Miller
3. His Tempting Governess Cerise DeLand
4. It Takes a Spy... Sheridan Jeane
5. The Vagabond Vicar Charlotte Brentwood
6. A Wild Night's Bride Victoria Vane
7. Love's Guardian Dawn Ireland
8. A Hint of Wicked Jennifer Haymore
9. The Education of Portia Lesley-Anne McLeod
10. Ruined by Rumor Alyssa Everett

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)

Slang Terms From the Regency Era

In Depth

Historical romance not only draws readers in with fascinating characters and passionate affairs, but transports them back in time as well. Works set in England are particularly popular among those who fantasize about being swept off their feet by a duke or prince. In no particular order, here are ten enchanting novels that are perfect for Anglophiles, history buffs, and anyone who enjoys a good love story.

In the #1 spot is "An Affair in Winter" by Jess Michaels. Widow Rosalinde Wilde travels through a storm on her way to the country estate of her sister's soon-to-be-husband. As the storm overcomes her carriage, Rosalinde finds shelter at an inn nearby, where she meets Grayson Danford and an unforgettable night of passion ensues. The next day, Grayson arrives at his brother's estate to stop what he thinks is a loveless wedding. He is shocked to find that Rosalinde is the sister of the bride and she supports the union. The two must now find a way to work through their differences.

In the #2 spot is "Never Dare a Wicked Earl" by Renee Ann Miller. The Earl of Westfield Hayden Milton, widely known for his philandering, is confronted and shot by a former lover. While on the mend in his London townhome, he turns his lustful sights onto his beautiful new medical attendant, Sophia Camden. Sophia, desperate to save her job, offers Hayden a wager that if in ten days she hasn't proved herself competent, then she must do his bidding. What follows is a game of wills between the two and a common desire for another chance at love.

What follows is a game of wills between the two and a common desire for another chance at love.

In the #3 spot is "His Tempting Governess" by Cerise DeLand. The Earl of Cartwell, a bachelor at age thirty-six, is left with the guardianship of his friend's eight-year-old daughter. He now has to find and hire a governess, not an easy task as most of the applicants are old, grizzly, and not to his liking. That is until he meets Isabelle Swanson, whose beauty and charm overcome him. She easily wins the position, but can he now win her heart?

In the #4 spot is "It Takes a Spy..." by Sheridan Jeane. In 1851 Victorian England, Cecilia Paring and Devin Montlake are engaged to be married. He, a barrister, aspires to be a judge and wishes to settle Cecilia into an orderly life. She, however, doesn't want to change her exciting and impulsive ways. But when Cecilia's dowry, the family's jewelry collection, is stolen the night before it is to be auctioned off, Devin is framed. Now the two must work together to find the true culprit and, in so doing, they find their true love.

In the #5 spot is "The Vagabond Vicar" by Charlotte Brentwood. Vicar William Brook is dispatched to a country parish in the small village of Amberley as his first assignment. His only desire is to finish this posting and become a missionary overseas. Then, William meets the lovely artist Cecilia Grant, already promised to marry another, and he struggles to choose between his feelings for her and his faith. As a scandal from William's past is revealed, it threatens to end both his career and newly-found love.

Vicar William Brook is dispatched to a country parish in the small village of Amberley as his first assignment.

In the #6 spot is "A Wild Night's Bride" by Victoria Vane. In Georgian England, Sir Edward "Ned" Chambers has vowed to live a life of celibacy after the untimely death of his wife in childbirth. On a trip to London, Ned reconnects with a meddlesome old friend who drags him to a raunchy party where he encounters Phoebe Scott, a struggling young actress there to find a rich patron. What Phoebe finds in Ned is so much more, but will the hijinks and meddling of his friend lead them to love or land them in jail?

In the #7 spot is "Love's Guardian" by Dawn Ireland. Declan Deveraux, the Earl of Worthington, becomes guardian to Alex Kendrick after the death of her grandfather. Declan has sworn to protect Alex and help her to marry a suitable husband, but Alex, a fiery independent-minded countess, doesn't want his help. She tries everything to push Declan away, but this has the opposite effect on both of them. Declan has vowed never to marry for love, and now Alex must battle for his heart.

In the #8 spot is "A Hint of Wicked" by Jennifer Haymore. It has been seven years since Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, lost her husband Garrett in the battle at Waterloo. Now, she finds love anew with his cousin Tristan, heir to the dukedom. In a shocking twist, Garrett returns to England after recovering from amnesia. He demands that Tristan return his title, his lands, and most importantly, his wife. Sophie is torn between the love she feels for both men as she tries to resolve this heart-wrenching love triangle.

He demands that Tristan return his title, his lands, and most importantly, his wife.

In the #9 spot is "The Education of Portia" by Lesley-Anne McLeod. With only two spots officially open for new students at the Mansion House School, widower Lord Stadbroke implores the owner, Portia, to accept all three of his daughters. Reluctantly, she agrees and finds herself becoming deeply attached to both the girls and their father. Her quiet, content life is flipped upside-down when her stepfather threatens to destroy the school's reputation unless she pays him.

In the #10 spot is "Ruined by Rumor" by Alyssa Everett. Roxana Langley has waited five long years for her fiance to come back from the war, but her excitement is soon extinguished as she is rebuffed by him upon his return. Alex Winslow, the Earl of Ayersley, has loved Roxanna from afar for years. After hearing that she has been jilted, Alex rushes to offer a comforting shoulder to cry on, but tears turn into a passionate embrace. As the two are discovered and threatened with scandal, only marriage to the earl will save Roxanna's reputation.