When it comes to historical romances I can be very picky. Yes, I love the romance of owning a castle, riding in a phaeton carriage, and dancing in a ball with a handsome lord. However, I really don’t like the idea of not having a real occupation (other than embroidering for a charity), having to hold one’s tongue meekly in public behind one’s husband, or not having the right to vote.
I like discovering about all the ways that society has changed, but I don’t like celebrating the many ways that society wasn’t ideal. And so Loretta Chase writes for women like me!
Real historical facts are often sprinkled throughout her books, usually explained in her author’s notes – incidentally, she and bestselling author Susan Holloway Scott blog about “historical fashion and other matters of social history” on Two Nerdy History Girls. Her female protagonists are usually delightfully unconventional enough for my snobbish tastes: In A Duke in Shining Armor we have a would-be librarian (bespectacled Olympia), whereas Ten Things I Hate About the Duke features a proto-suffragist (red-headed Cassandra). And her male protagonists only use their manliness for good.
Peppered with humour, positivity and feeling, Loretta Chase’s books are always a pleasant and enchanting read. She never disappoints, especially if you are a fan of a good old-fashioned happy ending.
I recommended reading A Duke in Shining Armor and Ten Things I Hate About the Duke one after the other, as the story flows seamlessly from the first book to the second. These Georgian era romances will leave you enchanted and happy.
You can also find these books on Overdrive:
Campbellton Centennial Library 