9 Marvelous Romance Series That Take Place in the Past

	Series	Author	First Books in the Series
1.	Sunrise at Normandy	Sarah Sundin	The Sea Before Us	The Sky Above Us
2.	Cowboys of Colorado	Jo Goodman	A Touch of Frost	A Touch of Flame
3.	Spinster Heiresses	Cathy Maxwell	If Ever I Should Love You	A Match Made in Bed
4.	Natchez Trace	Pam Hillman	The Promise of Breeze Hill	The Road to Magnolia Glen
5.	The Darcy Saga	Sharon Lathan	Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy	Loving Mr. Darcy
6.	The Traitor's Club	Laura Landon	Ford	Hugh
7.	Under Northern Skies	Lauraine Snelling	The Promise of Dawn	A Breath of Hope
8.	The Lady's Tutor	Robin Schone	The Lady's Tutor	A Man And A Woman
9.	Put Up Your Dukes	Margaret Locke	The Demon Duke	The Legendary Duke

Fun Date Ideas For Your Real-Life Romance

Cook dinner together
Go for a hike or a bike ride
Get together for a karaoke night
Go bowling
Have a picnic on a sunny day
Play a boardgame or video game together
Go to a roller rink
Have a candlelit dinner
Join a book club together

8 Great Historical Romance Films

Titanic (1997)
Jane Eyre (1996)
Lorna Doone (2000)
The Painted Veil (2006)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Anna and the King (1999)

Slang Terms From the Regency Era

In Depth

Some of the steamiest romances are set in a faraway place and time. Imagine how it might have felt to experience illicit love in an age of courtship, prudishness, and strict social mores? That's exactly what the best historical romance series aim to do, with their lush depictions of sex and seduction in times long ago. In no particular order, here are some of our favorite series that mix romance with history.

Starting off at #1, we have Sarah Sundin's "Sunrise at Normandy" duology. Set in London in 1944, the story follows Lieutenant Wyatt Paxton and his brother, Adler. In the first book, Wyatt must team up with a vivacious young Wren officer to help the allied forces stop an attack on France. When their clear passion for each other starts getting in the way, they have to figure out how to work as a team to stop the Evil Axis in its tracks.

In the second book, Adler Paxton, a tortured lieutenant with a checkered past, must face his demons with the help of Red Cross worker Violet Lindstrom on the Eve of D Day. Packed with period-specific details and thrilling romance, Sundin uses World War 2 as a perfect background for this epic love story.

In the second book, Adler Paxton, a tortured lieutenant with a checkered past, must face his demons with the help of Red Cross worker Violet Lindstrom on the Eve of D Day.

At #2, we find Jo Goodman's "Cowboys of Colorado" trilogy. In Frost Falls, a Colorado town full of outlaws, misfits, bandits and black sheep, three women end up finding love where they least expect it. But in this place, nothing is as it seems. Women have pasts, and men have secrets that they carry to the grave. Featuring whip-smart damsels in distress and strapping heroes, this series takes advantage of its Wild West setting to deliver romantic chills and thrills.

Coming in at #3, Cathy Maxwell's "Spinster Heiresses" series promises plenty of romance between rakish lords and haughty ladies. The three heiresses in question are waiting for the right duke, lord, or earl to propose. But they also want more out of life. Willa, Cassandra, and Leonie are each blessed with a generous inheritance and a keen mind. When three beaus come courting, none of these ladies are content to give up their independence without a fight. With its Regency-era charm, Maxwell's trilogy is a perfect read for lovers of comedies of manners.

For #4, we get Pam Hillman's "Natchez Trace" novels, concerning a family trying to run a plantation in the Antebellum South. When Connor O'Shea leaves his homeland of Ireland to start a new life in America, he doesn't bargain on meeting the love of his life, Mississipi plantation owner Isabella Bartholomew. As Connor and the rest of his family adapt to life in America, he must choose between his love for the haughty Southern belle and his world travels.

As Connor and the rest of his family adapt to life in America, he must choose between his love for the haughty Southern belle and his world travels.

At #5, we find another Regency-era tale, this time concerning actual characters from the Jane Austen universe. In Sharon Lathan's "The Darcy Saga," Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy begin their married life together. But with two strong characters battling for dominion over each other, will their love be able to last? This well-written series will keep you guessing as the Darcys match wits and make love.

At #6 we have the delightful "Traitor's Club" books by Laura Landon. When Captain Fordham Remington and Lady Calinda Barclave have to join forces to expose criminal activity within the Royal shipping company, they don't see eye to eye at first. But as the stakes start to ramp up, the two find themselves falling reluctantly and treacherously in love. Set against a backdrop of high seas adventure and derring-do, this series is a fast-paced treat for lovers of espionage and romance.

Coming in at #7 is Lauraine Snelling's "Under Northern Skies" quartet, which features a strong heroine who works hard to find her place in the world. When a Norwegian family travels to Minnesota in 1909, hoping for a new life, it's not all smooth sailing. After a grueling few months on the family farm, Signe, the wife of Rune and mother of three boys, starts to feel like leaving their home was a mistake. But with the love of her family, she soon finds she can conquer any obstacle.

When a Norwegian family travels to Minnesota in 1909, hoping for a new life, it's not all smooth sailing.

Coming in at #8, we have Robin Schone's "The Lady's Tutor" books, which focus on a young Victorian woman who feels stifled by married life. Elizabeth Petre might be a high-born mother of two, but when Ramiel Devington, the rakishly handsome son of a sheik, comes to town, she experiences a sexual awakening that threatens to turn her life upside-down. With plenty of steamy seduction scenes and a well-drawn heroine, this series is a natural choice for those who adore stories of the buttoned-up Victorian age.

Finally at #9 is Margaret Locke's "The Demon Duke," a story of forbidden romance between two high-society players in 19th century England. Recently-orphaned Damon Blackbourne thinks he has no use for proper British society. That is, until he meets a fascinating debutante who threatens to discover the secret of his terrible past.