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12 Exciting New Historical Romance Novels to Add to Your TBR

Speculations about historical romance's demise have circulated the romance world for months, but the sub-genre is far from dead.


In fact, there are plenty of new and exciting historical romances coming out this fall, including the 10 I'm featuring today, all of which deserve a spot on your TBR.



The book cover of "A Tale of Two Dukes" by Emma Orchard features an illustration of a brown-haired woman with her hair up, wearing a red dress and lounging on a pink Regency-era sofa, with two men in suits standing behind her. The illustration is set against a cobalt blue floral backdrop.

A Tale of Two Dukes by Emma Orchard


Independent single mother and widow Viola has no need for a husband, yet when her late husband's cousin offers his hand in marriage in return for an heir, Viola finds herself not only saying yes, but falling for the very man she's sworn off for years. Expect lots of character development and steam from this new release from an author quickly becoming known for her spicy regency romances.





The book cover of "Only Earl in the World" by Amalie Howard is an illustration of a brown-skinned woman with her hair half-up, wearing a pink gown and crossing her arms over her chest. Next to her stands a man in a blue frock coat and black trousers. They are both leaning against a column covered with ivy. The picture is set against a lavender backdrop.

Only Earl in the World by Amalie Howard


This historical romance novella has it all—a fake relationship, suffrage, social justice, enemies to lovers, and a female main character unafraid to balk against the societal constraints of the day. It's also part of Howard's popular Taming of the Dukes series, so if you love this book, you have three more full-length novels to dive into next.






The book cover of "Lady Like" by Mackenzie Lee is magenta with ornate gold designs. On either side of the cursive title are illustrations of a man and woman in Regency-era dress.

Lady Like by Mackenzie Lee


This novel starts with one of my favourite romance premises: someone's relative stipulates that they have to marry for reasons. In this case, the someone is Harriet Lockhart, stage actress and free spirit, and her father is forcing her to leave behind her less-than-savoury ways and finally rise to the respectability everyone expects of her family. She sets her sights on a duke, who just so happens to be the target of social pariah Emily Sargeant. Over a summer season, the two battle it out for the duke's favor, only to find themselves falling for each other instead.





The book cover of "Is This Real or Just Pretend?" by Emily Sullivan is an illustration of a woman with brown hair done in an updo, sitting at a desk. Behind her is a tall bookshelf full of pink book spines. Leaning over the desk is a man with light brown hair, wearing an orange coat and green trousers.

Is This Real or Just Pretend? by Emily Sullivan


Alexandra Atkinson is smarting against the limitations of a woman in late Victorian England. All she wants is to take over her father's investment firm, but with the firm's board against her, she needs a helping hand. And it comes in the form of dashing Lucien Taylor, recently burned by his business partner and in need of funding for his new venture. All he has to do is pretend to court her long enough to curry favour with the board and win Alexandra the position she's always wanted. But their simple arrangement turns complicated when each realizes their connection isn't quite as platonic as they thought.




The book cover of "Ladies in Hating" by Alexandra Vasti is an illustration of two women looking at each other over a garden wall. One woman is wearing a long, dark grey dress and has long black hair, while the other is crouching on the garden wall and wears a pink dress and hood. Around the garden wall are rose bushes, and the sky is painted pink.

Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti


This book has been eagerly awaited by many of us in the romance community who loved Vasti's other works—my fave has to be In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation—not only because Vasti is an exceptional writer, but because it's a rivals-to-lovers story between Gothic novelists that plays with gothic story tropes. Main characters Georgina and Cat find themselves trapped in a manor, solving a mystery while they fall deeper into a love neither expected.




The book cover of "Duke with a Lie" by Scarlett Scott shows a man in a grey waistcoat and dark trousers embracing a woman wearing a light pink dress. The background is dark pink.

Duke with a Lie by Scarlett Scott

What happens when you mix a heartless rake of a duke hell-bent on pleasure, a house party, and a headstrong heroine determined to finally have a good bedroom tumble with her brother's best friend? A historical romance full of sexual tension, tender emotional moments, and enough steam to peel the drawing room's wallpaper. And if you love this book, there are three more in the Wicked Dukes Society series, as well as a fourth coming out in January!




The book cover of "The Spy's Second Chance" shows a man wearing a tricorn hat and a naval coat sitting astride a horse. In the background is a ship on the sea. The photograph is filtered using a teal filter.

The Spy's Second Chance by Renee Dahlia

The first in the Swain Cove series, which also features a sapphic historical romance, this novella follows childhood friends Tobias and Hiram as they adjust to Tobias' status as landowner of a cove best known for smuggling and spying.










The book cover of "Starlight and the Duke" by Meara Platt shows a woman in a dusky blue gown with her back to the camera, looking over her shoulder to the side. In the background is a starlit sea.

Starlight and the Duke by Meara Platt

Older woman-younger man historicals are few and far between, so I always highlight ones when I find them, and this particular title not only features that trope, but also a secret crush, a heart-of-gold hero masquerading as a rake, and the classic bang it out trope, because Lady Fiona Shoreham is operating under the misunderstanding that all she needs to get her affection for Robert Durham out of her system is one week. And we all know how that goes...





The book cover of "Duke of Eccess" by Mariah Stone shows a brown-haired woman in an orange dress holding a cupcake against a blue ornate background.

Duke of Eccess by Mariah Stone


The only holiday romance on this list, this Christmas historical romance focuses on Octavius Everard, Duke of Eccess, and Miss Temperance Fields. Hired to be governess to the duke's three wards, Temperance has a secret—she's no governess. She's actually Lady Agatha Temperance Hale, an heiress on the run from her evil stepmother. But governess or not, she's caught the duke's eye. When she's around, his Scrooge-like tendencies that appear like clockwork every Christmas are absent. Indeed, the duke finds himself falling for the younger woman. But can their love last past the reveal of her true identity? If you love this book's mix of drama and steam, there are four more books in the Seven Dukes of Sin series for you to enjoy!





Hooked by a Hero by Merry Farmer

"Hooked by a Hero" by Merry Farmer shows a blonde man wearing a lilac waistcoat and white shirt, both unbuttoned to show his chest, staring at the camera. In the background is the sea.

Love forced proximity romances set on the high seas? Look no further than this title for your next read. It follows Dr. Elias Pettigrew and the mysterious Caspian, who meet on a ship bound for Australia, and are soon caught up not just in the sparks flying between them, but storms, a mutiny, and a paranormal twist.











The book cover of "The Earl that Got Away" by Diana Quincy shows a brown woman with long brown hair blowing in the wind. She wears an orange dress and holds a book, and in the background is a large English manor and garden.

The Earl That Got Away by Diana Quincy


Second-chance romance with the man who got away? That's the plot of the second in Diana Quincy's steamy Victorian historical romance series. Naila Darwish thinks she's finally gotten a second chance with her first love, but Basil Trevelyn is no longer the man she fell in love with. He's an earl and one of England's most eligible bachelors, but he's jaded too, and hasn't forgotten the way Naila broke his heart. When a wedding reunites the pair, can they find a way back to each other, or will the years between them prove too much to surmount?





The book cover of "To Heist and to Hold" by Christina Britton shows a shirtless man embracing a woman in a red dress from behind. They are standing on a staircase.

To Heist and To Hold by Christina Britton

Not gonna lie, this title had me at "vigilante widow," and I squealed when I found out this is the first in a new series about a society of widows devoted to social justice. Heloise Marlowe, a member of the society, has set her sights on casino owner Ethan Sinclaire. But she doesn't want into his bed; she wants into his business, so she can root out the evil she's sure lies within. Expect spice, banter, and women behaving badly in this regency historical romance.





I love doing these round-ups, not only because in the case of this one, it proves that historical romance is very much alive and kickin', but also because they show the diversity of covers, titles, and tropes within just one sub-genre, proving that if you're a historical romance author and still love a photographic clinch cover, there's still a market for your preferred aesthetic. And if punny titles aren't your thing, you've got options: alliteration, or the good old fashioned "duke/earl/lord + catchy phrase."

I'll be back with another round-up later this month of new witchy romances, in honour of the spooky season that is now upon us. But until next blog post, happy reading and writing!

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