Books like 'The Start of Something Wicked'
Readers who enjoyed The Start of Something Wicked by Kathleen Ayers also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical forbidden love insta-love class difference
-
The Secret Heart by Mary Lancaster
Betrayal, temptation and an impossible love.The final book in the Unmarriageable series...Some suspect that Lily Villin is the true heart of the Hart Inn, a lucky house where love always seems to blossom, whatever the obstacles. But Lily has another secret. She is in love with an enigmatic nobleman, and no luck in the world can make such a marriage possible... -
A Motherland's Daughter, A Fatherland's Son by Ellie Midwood
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsPoland, 1939. A country, torn by the occupation of two unlikely allies - Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.On the border of this newly divided territory, a young Wehrmacht Unteroffizier, Werner and a Soviet Military Interpreter, Kira meet and fall in love against all odds. Both forced into the military against their will, they wish for one thing only - a peaceful life together... -
The Duke's Magnificent Obsession by Chasity Bowlin
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIf there is one thing I know, kisses have a tendency to alter things irrevocably.Abandoned at the family’s country estate by her employer, Minerva Stone realizes that the concerns harbored about her position with Mrs. Charlotte Entwhistle-Graves were well founded... -
Sutton's Scoundrel by Scarlett Scott
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIn this deliciously steamy Regency romance from USA Today bestselling author Scarlett Scott, a lady determined to restore her reputation meets her match in a seductive East End rogue she can't deny.Dubbed Lady Scandal thanks to her gossip-stirring past, Portia Fairhaven, the widowed Countess of Blakewell, is no stranger to rumors and innuendos... -
-
The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsFrom the bestselling author of What the Wind Knows and From Sand and Ash comes a powerful love story about a musical duo who put everything on the line to be together. New York, 1960: For Benny Lament, music is his entire life. With his father’s deep ties to the mob, the Bronx piano man has learned that love and family can get you in trouble... -
Winds of the Storm by Beverly Jenkins
Archer Le Veq owes his life to the woman who rescued him from certain death at the height of the Civil War...a woman known only as "the Butterfly." Now, in the dark, waning days of Reconstruction, he needs the courageous and beautiful former spy...in more ways than before! Zahra Lafayette thinks her days of intrigue are far behind her, until she is asked to go on one more mission... -
One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsMeet the unforgettable men of London's most notorious tavern, The Wicked Duke... -
Duke in All But Name by Caroline Warfield
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsSecrets and lies threaten to pull them under, but a forced marriage may be their salvation. Gideon Kendrick grew up as the despised bastard son of the Duke of Glenmoor. Exiled to the mines by his father, he has not only survived but thrived and prospered. He lives apart, wanting nothing to do with the duke, the estate—or anything in his past, except his younger brother Phillip, the new duke... -
Once Upon an Aggravatingly Heroic Kiss by Bree Wolf
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsA meddlesome lady.An honor-bound lord.And quite a few misunderstandings. England 1749: LADY EDITH WESTON, daughter to the EARL OF SWANSBOROUGH, is determined to see her friend wed to a man she loves. Unfortunately, Lady Adele, however, has been promised since birth and refuses to break her father’s heart by going against his wishes... -
I Like Big Dukes and I Cannot Lie by Annabelle Anders, Amy Rose Bennett
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom the delightfully debonair to the devilishly dangerous, these dashing dukes can't help but command your attention. And let's not forget the real stars here—the dazzling, damsel-not-in-distress heroines who don't need a title to rule. These are ladies of wit, grit, and not a little bit of mischief.Every one of these novellas has a duke for its leading man... -
Seven Nights with the Duke by Alyssa Clarke
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMiss Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Fairbanks cannot forget a few abandoned moments with Rannulf Headley, the Duke of Ravenswood. Their romance had begun by accident until it ended when she discovered they were worlds apart.Now that her brother is the new Earl of Celdon, the very bad Fairbanks have been trying to behave themselves and fit into London society...Categorized as:
insta-love class difference historical regency virgin heroine victorian length-short -
One Wedding and an Earl by Tracy Sumner
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this sizzling Regency romance by USA Today bestselling author Tracy Sumner, a notorious earl and an infamous hellion need to face an unforgettable passion.A scarred earl with a big heart—and a big problem.Since his return from war, the Earl of Stanford’s life has been anything but simple... -
Duchess of His Heart by Collette Cameron
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHe once loved her beyond all reason. Dare he risk heartbreak again? Leaving her first love behind was the hardest thing Regine, Duchess of Heartwaite, had ever done. Her marriage of convenience to another man saved her family, even as it laid waste to her heart. That was years ago, however. Now widowed, she’s ready to begin her life anew... -
Radiance by Sydney Jane Baily
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsIn this sparkling early Victorian romance by USA Today bestselling author Sydney Jane Baily, a fiery-haired Diamond daughter sets her cap at this man of science... and he doesn’t stand a chance!She’s a gifted artisan with sparkle to spare, and he’s a preoccupied man of science.At Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition, Lady Radiance Diamond falls in love.. -
-
To Win a Widow by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe craved his touch—and they had yet to kiss.Book 5, the final book in the exciting new Soldiers and Soulmates series from bestselling author Alexa Aston, has arrived. A widowed duchess at loose ends, longing for love. A colonel with no family who unexpectedly becomes an earl. Two stubborn individuals who are drawn together by passion—and also find friendship . . -
Always the Matchmaker by Emily E K Murdoch
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAlways the matchmaker and never the bride - even when she's found her perfect partner…Miss Theodosia Ashbrooke does not believe there is anything greater than matching the perfect pair - and she's become rather expert in it. Never mind that she's never found the missing half to her own soul and body. Perhaps that's not her lot in life, even at the age of eight and twenty... -
Stealing the Heiress by Samantha Holt
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe was looking for adventure...Lady Rosamunde Stanley just never expected in the form of a kidnapping.Well, an almost-kidnapping. The dastardly man only went and took the wrong woman!But she soon discovers the dark, handsome man is not quite the terrible rogue she thinks him to be and she decides to put his experience to use... -
Captured by Mary Lancaster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAwakening life and love… On the sudden death of her oppressive father in a duel, the cool and distant Lady Hera Severne finds herself floundering in her new freedom, and instantly attracted to sardonic doctor, Justin Rivers. Determined to change her life, she travels incognito to Lincolnshire, to take up a post as companion to Lady Astley and learn about life.But nothing is as she imagined it... -
Irish Eyes by Hope C. Tarr
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAran Islands 1898.Eighteen-year-old Rose O’Neill leaves her beloved Ireland and boards a steamer bound for New York City. She’s starting a new life with Adam, the American soldier who’s sworn to marry her.But when she arrives at New York Harbour Rose finds herself abandoned, pregnant and alone... -
It's Raining Rakes in April by Annabelle Anders
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn undercover duke and a clumsy, but ambitious, debutanteEveryone knows debutantes will do anything to marry a duke, which is precisely why this season, the Duke of Ridgefield is going undercover as yet another notorious rake—the mysterious Mr. Pope. As the eldest of seven sisters, Miss Julia Rigsby has one task in life—marry well. The trouble is, she’s clueless when it comes to flirting... -
Christmas in Cumbria by Tammy Andresen, Collette Cameron
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLet the Spirit of Christmas sweep you away! Christmas in Cumbria features THIRTEEN STORIES of love and romance from your favorite authors…Let these glorious stories full of Christmas magic and true love—with more than a hint of steam— sweep you away to a time gone by. Indulge yourself free of guilt with this collection from USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors... -
A Sanctuary for Soulden by J.A. Rock, Lisa Henry
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHe wasn't meant for a quiet life.Philip Winthrop, Viscount Soulden, is a fop. An idle popinjay with nothing more on his mind than how to best knot his cravat. He definitely doesn’t spy against the French. Or arrange hasty weddings. Or occasionally commandeer the navy. And he certainly doesn’t seek out mortal danger in order to combat his pervasive ennui... -
Indecent by Darcy Burke
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsSociety’s most exclusive invitation...Welcome to the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances.If Bennet St... -
Miss Dignified by Grace Burrowes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLydia Lovelace has taken the housekeeper’s post in the London home of Captain Dylan Powell. The captain is short on charm, but he’s known for his rapport with, and support of, former soldiers trying to make a peacetime life in London... -
-
A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"Unique characters and a fast-paced mystery add flavor to this sweet romance.” —Publishers Weekly"An excellent choice for readers who love both traditional Regencies and detective mysteries...Categorized as:
class difference forbidden love historical regency mystery suspense from hate to love death -
A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsIn celebration of its thirtieth anniversary, here is the novel that started it all: New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford’s dazzling saga of a woman who dared to dream—and to triumph against all odds. . . . On the brooding moors above a humble Yorkshire village stood Fairley Hall. There, Emma Harte, its oppressed but resourceful servant girl, acquired a shrewd determination... -
Discouraging the Duke by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWelcome to the new world from Alexa Aston—Dukes Done Wrong.Accused of something they never did. Five boys banished from their homes in disgrace, to the place where they find the brothers of their heart—and build new family ties that will last a lifetime.A lonely army captain who suddenly finds himself a duke. A gentleman’s daughter running an estate because her father no longer can... -
A Dream of Redemption by Bronwen Evans
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA forbidden love and a chilling mystery tease the senses in this sensuous historical romance from the USA Today bestselling author of A Kiss of Lies and A Love to Remember. Bookish and independent Lady Helen Hawkestone is expected to marry well. But, having grown up with warring parents, the institution holds little appeal... -
To Tempt an Earl by Tamara Gill
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHamish Doherty, Earl Leighton is having a terrible Season. A portion of his home burned to the ground, he was attacked outside a gaming hell, and a debutante he cannot stomach is determined they’ll wed. It’s enough to make any lord head for the hills, but his luck turns worse in the country... -
Playing with Fire: Historical Romance by Jayne Davis
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsFrance 1793Phoebe's future holds little more than the prospect of a tedious season of balls and routs, forever in the shadow of her glamorous cousin and under the critical eye of her shrewish aunt. She yearns for a useful life, and a love match like her parents', if such a thing could ever be possible for an unwanted, poor relation... -
His Scandalous Lessons by Katrina Kendrick
Love and scandal make for a deadly combination . . .He is London's most notorious rogueRichard Grey is renowned for his escapades in the bedchamber. But he's hidden the truth for years: that wicked reputation is a public front to hide his political machinations...Categorized as:
insta-love forbidden love historical virgin heroine victorian length-medium open-door -
The Protector by Carla Capshaw
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsQuintus Ambustus is a slave--Adiona Leonia is a wealthy socialite. He fights for his life in the gladiator's ring--she plays cutthroat politics in Rome's high society. He's sacrificed everything for his Christian faith--she believes in nothing and no one. But when Adiona's life is threatened, Quintus is chosen as her bodyguard, and their fascination with one another shocks them both... -
Entranced by the Earl by Jillian Eaton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSometimes love is hiding in the unlikeliest of earls... Evelyn Thorncroft wants to marry a duke, but she’ll settle for an earl. The Earl of Hawkridge, to be precise. The only problem? Weston cannot stand the sight of her. At least, that’s what he says. Their passionate kisses, however, tell a very different story...From the first moment he sees Evie across a crowded ballroom, Weston desires her... -
The Beast's Beloved (The Bluestocking War) by Eva Devon, Maire Claremont
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn the wilds of Scotland. . . A beast broods. The Duke of Clyde has been friend to many but none can climb the walls around his heart. None can thaw the ice that he has wrapped his soul in.Until a bluestocking invades his castle, his life, and threatens to upend everything he has ever known... -
-
A Spinster for the Wicked Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Daphne Byrne
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe had no desire to chase…But the Duke wanted to be caught…Lady Thalia knows she has no place in the echelons of high-society, as her father’s funds are running dangerously low. But when a chance is presented to spend three weeks in the summer house of the Dowager Duchess of Hereford, she doesn’t realize her life is about to change forever... -
Ruined by Jess Michaels
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhen Claire found out a devastating secret about her family, the famous Woodley clan, she ran straight into the arms of a criminal and disappeared for years. But now she’s desperate to escape his clutches and get back what he’s stolen from her: her child. She turns to longtime family horse master Warrick Blackwood, knowing his secrets can get her close to her target... -
The Broken Heart by Mary Lancaster
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsDanger, loyalty and loving the enemy… Book 4 in The Unmarriageable Series is now available! Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited! Shunned by society and even by her own family after the treachery of her late husband, Isabelle de Renarde has long given up any thought of love or remarriage...Categorized as:
insta-love forbidden love regency historical victorian military strong heroine fighters -
The Love of a Libertine by Jess Michaels
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhen Morgan Banfield wakes up in Newgate after a night of debauchery, the last thing he wants to see is his estranged brother. But in exchange for his help, Morgan must agree to take on responsibility and try to get his life together by taking on the job of Man of Affairs for a friend.The last thing Lizzie Margolis wants is some rogue coming onto her brother's staff... -
The Sleeping Night by Barbara Samuel
An unforgettable romance in an unforgiving time.They'll need love and courage to see the dawn. He's a hometown native, returning from the war, determined to change the world he'd fought to protect. She's the girl who's been his secret friend since childhood, now a beautiful woman. Her war-time letters kept him alive. But he's black, and she's white... -
The Champion (Love Inspired Historical) by Carla Capshaw
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Warrior without Equal, a Woman without OptionsTriumphs in the Coliseum--and society bedchambers-- made gladiator Alexius of Iolcos famous for his brutal skill and womanizing ways. Yet the only woman who intrigues him is Tiberia the Younger, who now needs his help. Protecting Tiberia places Alexius in the greatest danger he has ever known--from her vengeful father and his own heart.. -
With You Always by Jody Hedlund
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Riveting Look at the Orphan Train from Historical Novelist Jody Hedlund When a financial crisis in 1850s New York leaves three orphaned sisters nearly destitute, the oldest, Elise Neumann, knows she must take action. She's had experience as a seamstress, and the New York Children's Aid Society has established a special service: placing out seamstresses and trade girls... -
Never Have I Ever With a Duke by Darcy Burke
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom the USA Today bestselling author of The Untouchables series comes your next Regency obsession: The Spitfire Society... Meet the smart, independent women who've decided they don't need Society's rules, their families' expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don't need a man doesn't mean they might not want one.. -
The Hero and the Hellion by Ava Devlin
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne Last Scandal, for Old Time's Sake ... A Hero's HomecomingLieutenant Callum Laughlin has spent four long years at war. Finally, he has enough status and fortune to return to Yorkshire and reclaim the woman of his dreams - a girl he could never have wed when he was a mere stable boy. What awaits him at Somerton is far from the warm welcome he imagined... -
My Forbidden Duchess by Miriam Minger
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMarguerite Easton dreads enduring another Season after the ton treated her so cruelly. A country parson’s daughter, she doesn’t fit in... -
-
A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsUnemployed mill worker Zoe Hart jumps at the opportunity to emigrate to British Columbia in 1863 to find a better life and be reunited with her brother, who fled from home after being accused of a crime... -
Fearless Duke by Scarlett Scott
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMiss Isabella Hilgrove, proprietress of the Ladies’ Typewriting School, prides herself on the quality of her staff. After the Duke of Westmorland sacks the third typist she has sent him in as many days, she’s not just outraged, she’s determined to put the arrogant bully in his place. Benedict Manning, Duke of Westmorland, is having the worst week of his life... -
The Earl from Eastbend by Amanda Panhorst
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHe wants her gone.She wants to leave.The problem? She can't remember where she came from.Hugh Longville keeps his distance from everyone. Especially anyone who may recognize him and remember what he did ten years before. So when he comes to the rescue of a strange woman deep in the forest that's been his home for so long, he wants her back where she came from as soon as possible... -
The Alabaster Hip by Maggie Fenton
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe long-anticipated—and hilarious—final installment in The Regency Romp Trilogy… After the Viscount Marlowe’s latest misadventure gets Miss Minerva Jones sacked from her teaching post, he hires her as a governess for his twins. Marlowe finds himself falling for the feisty bookworm—an alarming development for a man who was nearly broken by his disastrous marriage... -
The Sleeping Dictionary by Sujata Massey
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsFrom an award-winning novelist, a stunning portrait of late Raj India—a sweeping saga and a love story set against a background of huge political and cultural upheaval.YOU ASK FOR MY NAME, THE REAL ONE, AND I CANNOT TELL. IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT. In 1930, a great ocean wave blots out a Bengali village, leaving only one survivor, a young girl... -
Curled Up with an Earl by Amy Rose Bennett
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"Ever since we first met, I've imagined what it would be like to be in your arms, to feel your lips upon mine. I'm twenty-eight years old. A shy and oft-times awkward spinster with singular scientific interests, and I've...I've never been kissed. Not once. In fact, I never thought I would ever want to be kissed. But then I met you and...and I do want this. Very much...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.