The Best 25 Historical Romance Books

Outlander

by Diana Gabaldon

This book will make you want to touch every standing stone in Scotland—just in case. Because if time travel leads to someone like Jamie Fraser, it might be worth the risk. Outlander begins in 1945 with Claire Randall, a former combat nurse on a quiet second honeymoon. But everything changes when she steps through a mysterious stone circle and lands in 1743. Suddenly, she is caught in the middle of clan battles, secret alliances, and a wild, unfamiliar world where nothing is safe and yet, love still finds her.

What follows is a rich, steamy, time-bending adventure that explores what happens when your heart belongs to two different centuries. This is the first book in a deeply addictive series that will have you reaching for the next one the moment you finish the last page.

The Duke and I

by Julia Quinn

Before it became the Netflix hit we all binged in one weekend (yes, we are talking about the Duke of Hastings), The Duke and I was the first book in a charming historical romance series that made Regency love stories feel fresh again. Daphne Bridgerton is kind, smart, and constantly told she is just a little too proper. Simon Basset, a handsome but emotionally guarded Duke, wants nothing to do with marriage. So they strike a deal: pretend to be courting. She looks more desirable to society, and he avoids pushy matchmakers.

It is supposed to be simple but soon the fake relationship feels very real. Stolen looks lead to real sparks, and both Daphne and Simon must decide what they are truly willing to risk. Full of humor, heart, and just the right amount of heat, this book is a perfect place to start if you love your historical romance with strong characters, clever twists, and plenty of scandal.

Secrets of a Summer Night

by Lisa Kleypas

This one has everything I love in a steamy historical romance: secret plots, growing tension, and a heroine who refuses to play by the rules. In Secrets of a Summer Night, Annabelle Peyton is smart, stunning and completely out of money. With no dowry, she is stuck on the edge of society, admired but overlooked. So she joins forces with three other young women in the same situation and together, they form a plan to find husbands before the season ends.

Annabelle hopes for a wealthy, respectable match but the man most drawn to her is Simon Hunt, a powerful, self-made businessman who has no intention of offering marriage. What follows is a push-and-pull between desire and pride, as Annabelle must decide what matters most: reputation or real passion. This is the first book in Lisa Kleypas’ beloved Wallflowers series, and once you meet these women, you will want to follow every single one of their stories.

A Kingdom of Dreams

by Judith McNaught

This is the kind of historical romance that keeps you up way too late, telling yourself, just one more chapter. A Kingdom of Dreams is big, bold, and full of passion—the kind where pride meets desire and neither side wants to give in. Jennifer Merrick is a strong-willed Scottish noblewoman who is kidnapped by her clan’s most feared enemy: Royce Westmoreland, the powerful English warrior known as the “Wolf.” She is stubborn. He is ruthless. And from the start, their clash is explosive.

What follows is a story of fierce battles, quiet moments, and a love that slowly builds between two people who were never supposed to care for each other. Judith McNaught creates a romance that feels both epic and deeply personal. This book is not just about falling in love. It is about fighting for it, even when everything stands in the way.

Mine Till Midnight

by Lisa Kleypas

This is the kind of book that makes you forget your to-do list, your tea, and maybe even your name for a while. Mine Till Midnight brings together two unforgettable characters from completely different worlds. Amelia Hathaway, a practical woman suddenly thrown into the chaos of high society, and Cam Rohan, the mysterious outsider who has never belonged in it. Amelia is focused on keeping her family together. Cam is tired of playing by society’s rules.

When Amelia turns to him for help, sparks fly and quickly turn into something deeper. What starts as a friendship becomes something much more intense and impossible to ignore. This book is part of Lisa Kleypas’s beautiful Hathaway series, and once you meet this family, you will want to spend time with every one of them. If you enjoy slow-burning attraction, stolen moments, and a hero who makes tradition seem overrated, this one is worth staying up late for.

The Things We Leave Unfinished

by Rebecca Yarros

This one gave me chills, a book hangover, and the sudden urge to write a love letter I will never send. The Things We Leave Unfinished is a rare find, blending historical romance with modern emotion and deep heartache. Georgia Stanton is fresh off a painful divorce and back in Colorado, trying to rebuild her life. Then Noah Harrison appears, a bestselling romance author with a big ego who is determined to finish Georgia’s famous great-grandmother’s final novel. She thinks he is annoying; he thinks she is difficult. Yet the tension between them is undeniably real.

As they work together, they uncover Scarlett Stanton’s hidden love story, told through an unfinished manuscript and a box of emotional letters from World War II. What they find is a romance that ends in heartbreak and a chance for them to write a different ending for themselves. If you enjoy rich, layered stories filled with longing and a touch of bittersweet pain, this one will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Half a Soul

by Olivia Atwater

This one is a little different, and that is exactly why I loved it. Half a Soul mixes the elegance of Regency London with faerie curses, magical trouble, and one very grumpy sorcerer. Theodora Ettings lost half her soul as a child. Since then, she has had no sense of fear, shame, or social awareness. That makes the London Season difficult, to say the least.

Everything becomes even more complicated when she catches the eye of Lord Elias Wilder, the Royal Sorcier, known for being powerful, unpredictable, and not especially polite. As Dora is pulled into a world of magical problems and unexpected feelings, she starts to wonder if living with only half a soul has left more room for love. If you enjoy historical romance with a bit of whimsy, clever dialogue, and the charm of Bridgerton mixed with a hint of fairy tale, this one is sure to enchant you.

The Winter Sea

by Susanna Kearsley

Some books feel like they wrap around you, soft and steady. The Winter Sea is one of those stories. It blends the past and present into something haunting and unforgettable. Carrie McClelland is a historical fiction author searching for her next story when she finds herself drawn to the windswept ruins of Slains Castle in Scotland. As she begins writing about the 1708 Jacobite uprising, her words come almost too easily. The details she imagines match real events more closely than they should.

What begins as a novel slowly starts to feel like a memory, as Carrie uncovers the life of Sophia, a woman who lived and loved during a time of political unrest. The romance in this story is quieter than some, but no less powerful. If you enjoy stories with rich emotion, dual timelines, and that eerie feeling of being connected to something long ago, The Winter Sea will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

The Duchess Deal

by Tessa Dare

This book had me smiling, gasping, and kicking my feet like I was the one standing in the Duke’s library. The Duchess Deal starts with a scene you will not forget—Emma Gladstone, a seamstress and vicar’s daughter, storms into a duke’s study wearing a rejected wedding dress and asking to be paid. His reply? A marriage proposal. Naturally.

The Duke of Ashbury has returned from war with scars—some visible, some not. He needs an heir and has no interest in falling in love. Emma, on the other hand, has grit, charm, and no patience for following society’s rules. Their cold, practical arrangement quickly turns into something deeper, full of late-night talks, lingering looks, and emotional surprises. This story is equal parts funny, heartfelt, and romantic. If you love the classic Beauty-and-the-Beast dynamic with clever banter and real heart, this book will be a favorite.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

by Jennifer Ashley

This book feels like velvet and danger in the best possible way. Set in 1881, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie introduces the infamous Mackenzie family. They are wealthy, powerful, and the source of endless gossip in British society. No one is talked about more than Ian. Known as the “Mad Mackenzie,” he is brilliant, blunt, and often misunderstood. After spending years in an asylum, Ian sees the world differently, and the world sees him as someone to fear or avoid.

Beth Ackerley, a young widow who has finally found peace after a hard life, is not looking for anything complicated. But when she meets Ian, everything changes. What follows is a love story that breaks all the rules—tender, bold, and impossible to forget. This is a romance between two people who have survived more than most, and who find something rare and real in each other. Ian Mackenzie is a character you will not forget… and you will not be the only one who falls for him.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

by Sarah MacLean

This book is for every woman who has followed the rules and quietly wondered what she missed. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is a playful, bold journey through Regency London, led by one unforgettable heroine. Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is tired of being overlooked and even more tired of being “proper.” So she writes a list. A shocking, daring, completely improper list of everything a lady is not supposed to do.

At the center of it all? Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston, is known for his charm, scandal, and smile that can undo a room. What begins as a small rebellion quickly turns into fencing lessons, secret kisses, and a growing attraction that neither of them planned for. This story is witty, romantic, and a fun and fearless reminder that sometimes, breaking the rules is the first step toward finding yourself.

Bringing Down the Duke

by Evie Dunmore

This one had me quietly cheering and reaching for my tea. Set in 1879, Bringing Down the Duke introduces Annabelle Archer, a brilliant but broke student at Oxford who was one of the first women ever allowed through its gates. In exchange for her scholarship, she agrees to help the growing women’s suffrage movement by influencing powerful men to support the cause. Her first target? The Duke of Montgomery. Cold, brilliant, and impossible to ignore.

Their clash is immediate and intense. He follows duty and logic. She challenges everything he believes with sharp wit and stubborn confidence. What begins as a political mission becomes a slow-building romance filled with tension, respect, and real emotional depth. If you enjoy smart heroines, strong chemistry, and a love story that pushes against the rules, this one is worth every page.

Next Year in Havana

by Chanel Cleeton

Some stories hold the weight of generations, and Next Year in Havana is one of them. After her grandmother Elisa passes away, Marisol Ferrera travels to Cuba to honor her final wish and finds more than she ever expected. What begins as a simple trip to scatter ashes becomes a powerful journey into family history, identity, and long-buried love.

In 1958, Elisa was the daughter of a wealthy sugar baron, secretly falling for a revolutionary as Cuba faced political upheaval. In 2017, Marisol is a Cuban-American journalist returning to a country she has only heard about through her grandmother’s stories. As Marisol uncovers the truth behind Elisa’s past, she begins to question her future. Their stories unfold side by side, blending memory and present-day discovery into a moving exploration of love, loss, and belonging. This novel is rich with emotion and beautifully written, a story that stays with you long after the last page.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting​

by Sophie Irwin

If Jane Austen and Bridgerton had a mischievous little sister, it would be A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting. Kitty Talbot is not looking for friendship. She needs a rich husband, and fast, if she wants to save her family from financial disaster. With only twelve weeks before the season ends, she steps into London society with no connections, no polish, and one very sharp wit.

Then she meets Lord Radcliffe. He is serious, smart, and not fooled by Kitty’s charm for a second. He plans to stop her scheme, but their arguments start to sound more like flirting, and their goals quickly get more complicated. This story is smart, fast-paced, and full of tension in all the right ways. If you enjoy clever heroines, stubborn heroes, and witty banter, this book is a treat from beginning to end.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern​

by Lynda Cohen Loigman

This one feels like a love letter to every woman who has ever asked, What if? The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern follows Augusta at two turning points in her life: as a curious teenager in 1920s Brooklyn and as an eighty-year-old woman trying to make peace with the past. After a career built on logic and science as a pharmacist, Augusta moves to a Florida retirement community and unexpectedly runs into Irving Rivkin—the boy who broke her heart sixty years ago.

As the story moves between timelines, we see young Augusta caught between her father’s traditional pharmacy and her great aunt’s mysterious healing remedies, and between duty and her first experience with love. This novel is tender and bittersweet with a quiet touch of magic. It explores second chances, hidden truths, and the kind of love that never truly leaves you, no matter how much time has passed.

Ana María and the Fox 

by Liana De la Rosa

This one swept me off my feet with its grace, depth, and slow-burning tension. Ana María and the Fox follows a Mexican heiress as she steps into the strict, glittering world of Victorian London, determined to keep her heart protected. Ana María has always followed the rules set by her powerful family. But when she and her sisters are sent to England for their safety, she begins to discover who she might be without those expectations.

Then she meets Mr. Gideon Fox, a rising British politician with a personal mission to end the Atlantic slave trade. He is serious, focused, and not interested in distractions. But their connection grows stronger with every glance and every conversation. When real danger threatens Ana María, what starts as protection becomes something deeper. This is a love story full of history, strength, and longing. It stays with you like a truth just waiting to be told.

Edenbrooke

by Julianne Donaldson

Edenbrooke feels like stepping into your favorite Austen-inspired daydream, with a little more adventure and a lot of charm. Marianne Daventry is eager to escape the boring routines of Bath and the unwanted attention of a suitor she does not like. When she is invited to a countryside estate to join her glamorous twin sister, she expects peaceful walks, quiet afternoons, and no surprises.

Instead, she meets a highwayman, a mysterious and frustratingly handsome stranger, and a rush of emotions she never saw coming. This is the kind of romance that takes you by surprise—sweet without being too soft, romantic without overdoing it. If you are looking for a clean, classic-style love story that still makes your heart race, Edenbrooke is the perfect choice.

Rebel

by Beverly Jenkins

Rebel is the kind of romance that makes you feel the heat—the heat of New Orleans, of rising tensions, and of a love that will not stay quiet. Valinda Lacey travels south after the Civil War with a clear goal: to teach and support newly freed people. But in a city still healing from conflict, her mission quickly becomes dangerous. When her school is attacked and her safety is at risk, she finds unexpected protection in Captain Drake LeVeq.

Drake is a talented architect with deep roots in New Orleans and a strong sense of justice. His calm strength and quiet charm are hard to resist, and the spark between him and Valinda is immediate. But Valinda’s past and an unwanted engagement back home threaten to undo everything she is building. Beverly Jenkins gives us a powerful, emotional story about freedom, purpose, and falling in love with someone who sees and supports your strength every step of the way.

The Bride

by Julie Garwood

This one is pure Highland fantasy, filled with kilts, castles, and a marriage that neither party wants. In The Bride, Scottish laird Alec Kincaid is ordered by the king to marry an Englishwoman. He quickly chooses Jamie Jamison, a strong-willed baron’s daughter who has no plans to be controlled by anyone. From the moment they meet, their relationship is full of tension, sharp words, and undeniable sparks.

Jamie is clever, stubborn, and not afraid to challenge Alec at every turn. Alec is dark, intense, and more amused than annoyed by her fiery spirit. What begins as a forced match turns into a battle of personalities, stolen kisses, and a love that grows slowly but deeply. If you are looking for sweeping settings, bold heroines, and a romance that feels both fierce and tender, The Bride is everything you want.

Fingersmith

by Sarah Waters

Fingersmith is a twisting, shadowy tale full of deception, longing, and betrayal. Sue Trinder grows up in a rough corner of Victorian London, raised by Mrs. Sucksby, a kind but cunning woman who runs a home filled with orphans and thieves. Life in their hidden world of scams and pickpocketing feels familiar until Gentleman arrives. He is smooth, charming, and full of promises, and he brings Sue a tempting offer: help him trick a wealthy young woman named Maud Lilly into marriage, and they will all share in her fortune.

Sue agrees, believing she is helping the only family she has ever known. She becomes Maud’s maid and begins playing her part, but as the plan moves forward, everything changes. Sue finds herself growing close to Maud in ways she never expected. Soon, nothing feels simple or safe. Identities shift, loyalties unravel, and the line between con and truth blurs completely.

Silver Lining​

by Maggie Osborne

Silver Lining is one of those rare stories that takes you by surprise in the best possible way. Low Down has never expected much from life. She is tough, scrappy, and as rootless as any gold prospector in the Rocky Mountains. When she selflessly cares for a mining camp during a deadly outbreak, the men insist on rewarding her with anything she wants. Her quiet, surprising request? A baby. Not a husband or a home, just the chance to finally have something that belongs to her.

Max McCord draws the short straw and becomes the man expected to marry her. He has other plans and another woman in his heart, but duty pulls them together in a marriage neither of them truly chose. What begins with awkward silences and mismatched hopes slowly turns into something more honest, more human, and deeply tender. This story is gritty, emotional, and full of quiet strength. The real treasure here is not gold, but love built on trust, respect, and a bond that no one saw coming.

Flowers from the Storm​

by Laura Kinsale

Some romances build slowly, almost quietly, and then turn into something unforgettable. Flowers from the Storm is that kind of book. The Duke of Jervaulx is the type of man people whisper about. He is brilliant, reckless, and dangerously charming. But everything changes when he suffers a stroke and becomes trapped in his mind. Once admired, he is now feared and cast aside by those who once sought his favor.

The only person who refuses to walk away is Maddy Timms. She is quiet, deeply religious, and sheltered from society, but she sees something in him that no one else does. As she helps him recover, their connection grows into something powerful and deeply emotional. Their story is full of struggle, hope, and slow, genuine love. This is more than a romance. It is a story about redemption, healing, and a bond that rises above every obstacle.

Indigo

by Beverly Jenkins

Indigo is a love story built on courage, history, and deep emotion. Hester Wyatt escaped slavery as a child and now risks her life helping others find freedom through the Underground Railroad. She is brave, dedicated, and focused on her mission. The last thing she needs is a wounded man with a big reputation and an even bigger ego.

That man is Galen Vachon, known as the “Black Daniel,” a powerful figure in the fight for freedom. He is used to comfort, influence, and control. But in Hester’s Michigan cellar, he meets a woman who challenges him in every way. Their connection starts with tension and mistrust but grows into something powerful and undeniable.

As threats close in and choices become harder, their story becomes about more than romance. It is about freedom, legacy, and learning to trust love even in the face of fear. Beverly Jenkins delivers a powerful and moving story that honors the past and brings two unforgettable characters to life

As You Desire​

by Connie Brockway

If your heart beats a little faster for a rogue on horseback and a heroine who refuses to wait for rescue, As You Desire is a true gem. Desdemona Carlisle is brilliant, bold, and currently being held captive in the Egyptian desert. Her unexpected rescuer is Harry Braxton—a charming mix of scholar and scoundrel, and the man who broke her heart once before.

He arrives like something out of a dream, only to remind her exactly why he is not a safe bet. What follows is a heated back-and-forth filled with pride, longing, and a complicated history neither one can ignore. Desdemona is not easy to win over, but Harry is not the kind of man to give up easily. This story reads like a romantic adventure, full of wit, danger, and a love that burns as hot as the desert sun.

Something Wonderful

by Judith McNaught

There is something so satisfying about a love story that begins with conflict and grows into something deep and unforgettable. Something Wonderful does exactly that. Alexandra Lawrence is a spirited country girl who suddenly finds herself in a rushed marriage to Jordan Townsende, the Duke of Hawthorne. One moment she is living a quiet life, and the next she is thrown into the heart of London’s glamorous and ruthless high society.

At first, their relationship is filled with confusion, pride, and sharp disagreements. But beneath Jordan’s cold and distant appearance is a man carrying more pain than anyone realizes. Alexandra, with her kind heart and fierce loyalty, becomes determined to reach the real man behind the title. As their bond deepens, they must face scandal, danger, and the hard work of learning to trust. Judith McNaught delivers a romance filled with drama, emotion, and passion. This book lives up to its title. It truly is something wonderful.