12 Dashing Historical Romances Full Of Old-World Charm

Historical romance is a versatile genre that can take place anywhere from Regency England to Ancient Rome and beyond. If you dream about being transported into the past and getting swept off your feet by a daring hero or charming member of a royal family, check out the twelve dashing works of historical fiction listed here. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

12 Dashing Historical Romances Full Of Old-World Charm

Title Author
1. Susana and the Scot Sabrina York
2. King's Warrior Kris Kennedy
3. Dance on the Wind Brenda Jernigan
4. The Wedding Shroud Elisabeth Storrs
5. Seducing Charlotte Diana Quincy
6. Intrigue Jaimey Grant
7. Sunset Fire Renee Vincent
8. Flawless Carrie Lofty
9. Josette Kathleen Bittner Roth
10. The Smuggler Wore Silk Alyssa Alexander
11. The Rake Takes a Wife Aileen Fish
12. The Singular Mr. Sinclair Mia Marlowe

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

The distant past has a way of enticing readers and capturing their imaginations. Affairs of temptation and seduction seem more exotic when set in bygone eras, and the opulent realms of the British Regency period, or the timeless halls of Ancient Rome, make great backdrops for passionate love stories. Here, in no particular order, are twelve dashing historical romances.

First up, at #1, is "Susana and the Scot" by Sabrina York. It's a primeval time in pre-industrial Scotland, where rugged, kilt-clad warriors prowl lively festivals for young lasses. Susana, a widowed mother of three, has rejected every suitor asking for her hand in marriage. She's a red-headed force of nature who refuses to submit to the wanton pursuits of men. This doesn't sit well with Andrew Lochlannach, an unapologetic Casanova who has his heart set on seducing Susana.

At the #2 spot is "King's Warrior" by Kris Kennedy. From the medieval folklore of swashbuckling heroes comes the tale of Tadhg, a Celtic bandit who defies the rule of the English. He's stolen the famed dagger of King Edward, and kidnapped Magdalena, a seemingly random bystander whom he uses as a human shield. Despite his recklessness, Magdalena is desperately attracted to the haughty outlaw. They become inseparable as harrowing sword fights and passionate sex deepen their lust-filled bond.

From the medieval folklore of swashbuckling heroes comes the tale of Tadhg, a Celtic bandit who defies the rule of the English.

Coming in at #3 is "Dance on the Wind" by Brenda Jernigan. Brandy has lived her entire life in the arms of a church that will soon close down. Desperate to save herself and the orphans she's adopted, she accepts an American man's proposal and becomes a mail-order bride. He promises her a better life in the expanding country of the Wild West, but to safely reach him, she must travel across miles of rugged terrain. The journey becomes more complicated when Brandy starts developing feelings for Thunder, a sturdy half-Cheyenne man who she has recruited to be her guide.

At #4 is "The Wedding Shroud" by Elisabeth Storrs. Caecilia is an ancient Roman on the path to liberation. She's fallen in love with Vel Mastarna, a nobleman from one of the thriving city-states of Etruria. Their marriage transports her to the polar opposite of Rome's rigidly militant society. In her new home she has the freedom to discover herself, as men and women live as equals in the spheres of education, business, and religion.

At #5 we have "Seducing Charlotte" by Diana Quincy. It's the height of the textile industry in Regency-era England and a workers' rebellion has been unleashed against the ruthless captains of industry. As the violence seems to never end, Charlotte Livingston, a baron's daughter, sets out on a relentless campaign of social reform. Meanwhile, she is pursued by the privileged Marquess Camryn, a handsome industrialist who is both foe and fantasy, as she finds his looks irresistible.

As the violence seems to never end, Charlotte Livingston, a baron's daughter, sets out on a relentless campaign of social reform.

At #6 is "Intrigue" by Jaimey Grant. Gideon has been sent by the English government to investigate Malvina Brackney, a woman with a strange criminal past. Her murdered husband was suspected of treason, and she may be protecting the very highway robber who killed him. Is she being blackmailed? What is she hiding, and why? These are some of the questions that entice Gideon and draw him closer to Lady Brackney as he offers to help get her out of trouble.

Coming in at #7 is "Sunset Fire" by Renee Vincent. Daegan Raeliksen, a Viking chief, has been struck by the unparalleled beauty of Mara, an Irish princess. They love each other in sworn secrecy, but their star-crossed affections become a struggle to hide as their tribal nations reach a climax of warfare. Daegan is determined to show Mara's father that the couple's love is stronger than their people's hate. Together, they share a vision that peace between their countries is possible.

At #8 is "Flawless" by Carrie Lofty. In order to inherit a tremendous fortune, Lady Vivienne Bancroft must fulfill her father's wishes by running a diamond-extracting business in South Africa. She is up for the task, as it allows her to escape her drunkard husband, Viscount Miles Bancroft. Unfortunately for Vivienne, Miles intends to help with the diamond business. He cleans himself up from his drinking ways, but it's only circumstantial, as he plans to seduce her, take half the fortune, and abandon her.

She is up for the task, as it allows her to escape her drunkard husband, Viscount Miles Bancroft.

At #9 is "Josette" by Kathleen Bittner Roth. Cameron Andrews is a seafaring tradesmen en route to his hometown of New Orleans. He is returning the rascally Alexia, who snuck onto his ship, back to her family. In his absence, the city has become the thriving heart of 1850s Cajun culture, and its vibrancy is embodied by the earthly grace of Josette Thibodeaux, Alexia's wealthy aunt. Cameron is infatuated by the Bayou darling, and slowly realizes that they share a past full of repressed secrets and familial animosities.

At the #10 spot is "The Smuggler Wore Silk" by Alyssa Alexander. Set during the beginning stages of the Napoleonic Wars, the book follows English spy Julian Travers as he searches for the traitor who gave his identity away. The person he suspects is Grace Hannah, a woman who intrigues him to the core with her sexual prowess. He tries to catch Grace in her treasonous transactions, but her cunning double-life only draws the spy deeper into her web of deceit.

At #11 is "The Rake Takes a Wife" by Aileen Fish. Jonas Tatum is a regency heir with a dilemma: he cannot inherit his family's estate until the day of his marriage. He asks Barbara Hallawell, the sister of a friend, to join him for the summer in London and pretend she's his fiancee. As his scheme moves along, the two find each other to be unbearable bedfellows. Jonas will have to figure out a way to get along with Barbara, or risk losing his inheritance forever.

As his scheme moves along, the two find each other to be unbearable bedfellows.

Finally at #12 we have "The Singular Mr. Sinclair" by Mia Marlowe. Caroline Chatham is like a bird in a gilded cage. She yearns for independence, world travel, and a future without a man. Her parents, on the other hand, want her to get married before her twenty-first birthday, when she'll inherit a fortune and be set for life whether she's single or not. All Caroline needs to do is wait, but she gets tangled up in a romance with the incredibly dashing Lawrence Sinclair. His enviable charm encroaches on her long-held dream of belonging to no one but herself.