One theme found in Romance is Royalty and Nobility, especially in Regency Romance (British Regency 1811–1820 or early 19th century. It's amongst these that the trope of "The Rake" seems to frequent. Where female protagonists are often warned to steer clear of a certain Duke or Earl due to rather "unwholesome" reputations. Another trope that stands out in these romances is a desire to break away from societal expectations, especially concerning marriage; whether it is a hope to marry for love, rather than a title, or to avoid matrimony altogether.
"Bridgerton meets Poldark in this sweeping Regency romance of smugglers, adventure, mystery, and life-changing love from celebrated author KJ Charles. Abandoned by his father, Gareth Inglis grew up lonely, prickly, and well-used to disappointment. Still, he longs for a connection. When he meets a charming man in a London molly house, he falls head over heels--until everything goes wrong and he's left alone again. Then Gareth's father dies, turning the shabby London clerk into Sir Gareth, with a grand house on the remote Romney Marsh and a family he doesn't know. The Marsh is another world, a strange, empty place notorious for its ruthless gangs of smugglers. And one of them is dangerously familiar... Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. When the new baronet--his old lover--agrees to testify against Joss's sister, Joss acts fast to stop him. Their reunion is anything but happy, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. Soon, all Joss and Gareth want is the chance to be together. But the bleak, bare Marsh holds deadly secrets. And when Gareth finds himself threatened from every side, the gentleman and the smuggler must trust one another not just with their hearts, but with their lives"--. Provided by publisher.
"Joy Abara knows her place. A commoner from the lowly planet Hali, she lives a simple life--apart from the notoriety that being Kindred to the nobility's most infamous playboy brings. Duke Felix Hamdi has a plan. He will exasperate his noble family to the point that they agree to let him choose his own future and finally meet his Kindred face-to-face. Then the royal family is assassinated, putting Felix next in line for the throne...and accused of the murders. Someone will stop at nothing until he's dead, which means they'll target Joy, too"--. Provided by publisher.
"The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation. One evening, an argument at a ball turns into a serious wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, Jeremy's country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition. After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party-Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover. Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. With her in the bedroom and Jeremy's marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, helping to find suitable matches among the eligible ladies at Elderwild, Diana is confident her victory is assured. But while they're focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts"--. Provided by publisher.
"Stavos Voronin was not as blind-eyed as many nobles and royals. Evony's physical gestures -- even the simplest movement of her hands -- revealed that she had not always been destitute. The same was true of the children -- their polished manners and knowledge of horses and tendency to be bold and fearless of strangers. Ah yes, Stavos enjoyed a good mystery. After all, interest in the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the royals of Abawyth was the very thing that had lured him to the kingdom -- the enigma of Abawyth's twelve sleepy princesses. And yet now -- now his mind was all the more intrigued. Not only was the obscurity of what had caused the profound and baffling torpidity of Abawyth's princesses laid out before him, but also he found his curiosity intensely piqued over the riddle surrounding the very lovely Evony and her siblings. As Stavos strode through the village resting on the outskirts of Abawyth Castle, his mind reeled with possibilities. His musings were drawn back to why he had come to Abawyth at all -- to solve the conundrum surrounding the twelve beautiful princesses of Abawyth kingdom -- to solve the seemingly impenetrable crux and thereby win the hand of one of Abawyth's princesses, as his father, King Letholdus of Ethiarien, had commanded."--. Provided by publisher.
"The undisputed queen of Regency romance is back with a brand-new series perfect for fans of Bridgerton. Discover New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh's Ravenswood series. The handsome and charismatic Earl of Stratton, Caleb Ware, has been exposed to the ton for his clandestine affairs-by his own son. As a child, Devlin Ware thought his family stood for all that was right and good in the world. They were kind, gracious, and shared the beauty of Ravenwood, their grand country estate, by hosting lavish parties for the entire countryside. But at twenty-two, he discovered his whole world was an elaborate illusion, and when Devlin publicly called his family to account for it, he was exiled as a traitor. So be it. He enlisted in the fight against Napoleon and didn't look back for six years. But now his father is dead, the Ware family is broken, and as the heir he is being called home. It's only when Gwyneth Rhys-the woman he loved and then lost after his family banished him-holds out her hand to help him that he is able make the difficult journey and try to piece together his fractured family. It is Gwyneth's loyalty, patience, and love that he needs. But is Devlin's war-hardened heart even capable of offering her love in return?"--. Publisher's description.
"When an artist and a duke cross paths in the bustling London slums, an unlikely love story begins and their lives will be forever changed. Royal Academy painting student Lucy Coover quickly comes to the aid of the naked drunkard she stumbles upon one evening in the Shoreditch slums. If only she could banish his lovely form from her dreams as easily. Instead, she finds herself compelled to paint the man in his natural form. Little does she know that her impromptu subject is none other than the seventh Duke of Weston, Anthony Philby. According to his deceased father's will, Anthony is restricted from doing anything to bring further discredit to their scandal-ridden family. So when the duke is confronted with his nude portrait and accused of betraying his father's will, he goes searching for the mysterious artist, L. Coover. He must convince this artist to destroy the painting before it's seen by high society. Stunned to discover the unconventional and bewitching Lucy, he's further amazed when she tries to convince him to help save her aunt's dressmaking shop from ruin. But Anthony is game, and agrees to aid Lucy if she does him a favor in return: assisting him in searching for his disowned and missing sister, Effie. Continually thrown together, an unexpected passion blossoms between the two. Then the hunt for Effie puts Lucy in danger, threatening her career as an artist, and a surprising betrayal imperils all Anthony holds dear. Facing numerous obstacles, it will take all their strength and will to fight for their love"--. Provided by publisher.
Self-made civil engineer Geoffrey Brookhouse has unexpectedly inherited the dukedom of Greenwood. With the London Season imminent, Geoffrey hires Elegant Occasions to orchestrate his timid sister's debut. Lady Diana Harper, spirited fashion expert, proves more than he bargained for. Suddenly, Geoffrey's sister is emerging from her shell, and he is beleaguered with social invitations and gossip. Worse, Diana is attempting to transform him into a presentable duke, when all he really wants is to make her his own.
First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz, with his sister and the Veep's genius granddaughter, are the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. Then photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids. The plan for damage control: stage a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex soon discovers that beneath Henry's Prince Charming veneer, there's a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him. As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. -- adapted from back cover.
Princess Delia knows her duty: She must choose a prince to marry in order to secure an alliance and save her failing planet. Yet she secretly dreams of true love, and feels there must be a better way. Determined to chart her own course, she steals a spaceship to avoid the marriage, only to discover a handsome stowaway. All Aidan wanted was to "borrow" a few palace trinkets to help him get off the planet. Okay, so maybe escaping on a royal ship wasn’t the smartest plan, but he never expected to be kidnapped by a runaway princess! Sparks fly as this headstrong princess and clever thief battle wits, but everything changes when they inadvertently uncover a rebel conspiracy that could destroy their planet forever in this gender-swapped sci-fi YA retelling of Cinderella.
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