10 Enchanting Historical Romances That Transport You to Another Era

There is just something about historical romance that draws me in. Maybe it’s the allure of living in another time without the interruption of technology. Or perhaps the draw is being in a time and space where things where more formal but not necessarily stuffy (or at least not all the time). Where manners and formality were coveted. Or maybe it’s just the joy of a good read. Read below for ten enchanting historical romances that I’ve read or are on my TBR.

In some instances, I have marked that the book is available on KindleUnlimited or free on Kindle. This was at the time I wrote the post and I cannot guarantee that it will still be available at a later date.

Phoebe’s Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Series: Nantucket Legacy – Book 1
Publisher:  Revell
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Free on KindleUnlimited
Thoughts: I read this entire series in October 2021. It’s amazing and I sometimes think about the books for no real reason at all.

Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Macy, a man whom she loathes.

Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.

In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: September 3, 2024
Genres: Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance
Buy on Amazon
Review

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family’s misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah’s hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

Heart of Beauty by Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press 
Publication Date: February 11, 2025
Add to Goodreads
Free on KindleUnlimited
Review

Discover the origin of Crooked Tooth Ranch in this 1870s western retelling of Beauty and the Beast

How can a beauty save a beast?

Blue Spruce, Montana, 1871—When Caleb Orson’s prize stallion escapes his ranch, Sal Beauregard rides to the rescue, revealing her true identity as a one of the few eligible females in town. She’d do it again if it meant saving an animal from the cruel retaliation of Brendan Doran. The man has no respect for women or God’s creatures.

But the sun’s early setting strands her at Caleb’s ranch. Worse, Sallie’s father unceremoniously leaves her there under Caleb’s protection. However, Doran refuses to lose again to Caleb—first a horse, now a woman. He wants Sallie as his wife, and not even the reclusive ogre of a cowboy can stand in his way. No matter Sallie’s opinion.

Choosing to make the best of a difficult situation, Sallie takes over the gentling of Caleb’s stallion. She believes she can reach Caleb as well. Only, the first blush of friendship grows into something … more. Something that threatens the desires of Caleb’s enemy. And if Doran cannot have a beauty like Sallie, neither can a beast.

A Tale of Tenacity, Romance, and Peace

When Stars Light the Sky by Elizabeth Camden
Series: The Women of Midtown
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: January 21, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Review

In a world on the brink of war, two hearts must navigate shadows of uncertainty.

Inga Klein’s carefree life in New York takes a dramatic turn when she sails for Berlin, Germany, to serve as the secretary for America’s ambassador. Amid the glamour of life at the embassy, she continually finds herself at odds with the straitlaced and imposing Benedict Kincaid, the diplomatic chief of staff who harbors deep misgivings toward the German-born Inga.

As Europe hurtles toward World War I, Benedict’s determination to keep America out of the conflict adds to the already tense atmosphere. Despite their relentless sparring, Inga and Benedict succeed in keeping the embassy afloat through one crisis after another. But when they run out of diplomatic options, a marriage of convenience may be Inga’s only hope of escape from the impending war.

Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden
Series: The Blackstone Legacy- Book 1
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: August 31, 2021
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Free on Kindle Unlimited

Her gilded world holds a deeply hidden secret. 

After years of tragedy, Gwen Kellerman now lives a quiet life as a botanist at an idyllic New York college. She largely ignores her status as heiress to the infamous Blackstone dynasty and hopes to keep her family’s heartbreak and scandal behind her.

Patrick O’Neill survived a hardscrabble youth to become a lawyer for the downtrodden Irish immigrants in his community. He’s proud of his work, even though he struggles to afford his ramshackle law office. All that changes when he accepts a case that is sure to emphasize the Blackstones’ legacy of greed and corruption by resurrecting a thirty-year-old mystery.

Little does Patrick suspect that the Blackstones will launch their most sympathetic family member to derail him. Gwen is tasked with getting Patrick to drop the case, but the old mystery takes a shocking twist neither of them saw coming. Now, as they navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger, Patrick and Gwen will be forced to decide if the risk to the life they’ve always held dear is worth the reward.

Saving Shadow by Laura Beers
Series: The Beckett Files – Book 1
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: September 1, 2017
Buy on Amazon
Free on Kindle Unlimited

For England’s top spy, love is not an option

Born with a perfect memory, Lady Elizabeth Beckett has become one of the world’s most notorious spies, despite being the daughter of a duke. She is shielded only by her code name: Shadow. When young ladies of High Society begin disappearing from London, Eliza has no doubt who is orchestrating these crimes; a heinous man she has been investigating for years. Vowing to save them before they are sold to the highest bidder, she must risk everything to stop him.

Lord Sinclair was perfectly content being the second son of a marquess, but when his brother is murdered, he is thrust into a position he has not been prepared for and does not desire. As an agent for the Crown, he is expected to retire now that he is the heir, but he’s been granted special permission for one more mission… to obtain justice for his murdered brother.

Used to keeping secrets, Lady Eliza and Lord Sinclair must learn to open up to each other when they are assigned as partners to bring down the same ruthless man and his brutal empire of abduction and slavery. As Eliza’s tainted past becomes too much for her to bear alone, can she learn to trust her new partner with her secrets, her life, and possibly her heart?

Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill
Series: The Art of Love and Danger Book 1
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: March 11, 2025
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In the heart of nineteenth-century Cincinnati one woman holds the power to rewrite history.

What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.

With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall’s only lead is Lydia’s fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the “Killer Queen of Romance.” Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.

As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati’s citizens, but for their own hearts too.

The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey
Series: Enduring Hope – Book 1
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Buy on Amazon

How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?
When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.

Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street–where women of ill repute ply their wares–is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.

When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Release Date: July 15, 2025
Buy on Amazon

In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

To Kiss a Knight by Grace Hitchcock
Series: Best Laid Plans – Book 2
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: May 20, 2025
Buy on Amazon

When everything is going right, something must go wrong

Vivienne Poppy’s plans are working out quite well. She’s run away from her family and the prospect of a horrid marriage of convenience and plans to spend her time writing under her pseudonym, Lady Larkby. Until she discovers the old Larkby title is not as dead as she thought.

Yeoman of the Guard and recently knighted Sir Sebastian Larkby is stunned to discover a Lady Larkby that he does not remember marrying. Suddenly Vivienne is left with a choice: relinquish her pen name, expose her true identity, and break Sebastian’s dying grandmother’s heart—or feign marriage to Sebastian to keep the title and fulfill the old woman’s wishes.

This witty novel from award-winning author Grace Hitchcock is filled with scandal, mishap, and just the right amount of romance.

What books set in another time do you recommend?

Thank you to The Artsy Reader Girl for hosting Top Ten Tuesday!


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  1. Louise Avatar

    I really like the sound of the mysteries in Carved in Stone and Written in Secret. I’ll be checking those out.

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I read Written in Secret after I posted this and it is excellent. Carved in Stone is still on my TBR.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Leah's Books Avatar

    I love the way you further narrowed it down to historical romance. I don’t read too much romance, but Carved in Stone and Written in Secret both sound really good!

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I read enough romance for both of us!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Leah's Books Avatar
  3. Jodie | That Happy Reader Avatar

    What beautiful covers! The Christmas book in particular is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this list.

    Like

  4. the bookworm Avatar

    I love a good historical romance and these all look good. I’ve had my eye on Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor and Heart of Beauty.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      They are both great choices!

      Like

  5. Lux Reader Avatar

    A journal revealing secrets from the past is a common premise in the telenovelas I’m familiar with. It’s still exciting though. I like Belle. So the retelling of Beauty and the Beast surely appeals to me. I’m gonna add that to my list. Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I’m happy you found a book for your TBR!

      Like

  6. yvonne473 Avatar

    Very nice list. These all look so good.

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Thank you, Yvonne!

      Like

  7. Susan Avatar

    I’m not big on romance, but I do love historical fiction. I’ll read a Regency romance here and there, so I’ll keep your list in mind for that!

    Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!

    Susan

    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I’m the opposite. If there’s no romance then it’s a no-go for me.

      Like

  8. Lauren Always Me Avatar
    Lauren Always Me

    I’ve been eyeing The Collector of Burned Books at my library – it sounds like it has a lot of potential!

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      It really does. I’d really like to read it before the end of the year.

      Like

  9. Samantha @WLABB Avatar

    All new to me though time period wise, I have read quite a few WWII books.

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      WWII books would be a good era. I haven’t read any nonfiction in that time period that I can recall.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      The ones I’ve read so far have bern.

      Like

  10. Cindy Davis Avatar

    Great list, Carla! I am looking forward to several of these as well, however, Barbara T Blakey and Laura Beers are new to me.

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I follow Laura Beers on Instagram and she’s so nice. I really need to get the book she sent me read soon.

      Like

  11. Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits Avatar

    Historical romances are fun reads—looks like you have some great picks here!

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I’m really hoping to read the ones I haven’t read yet before the empanadas of the year. Fingers crossed!

      Like

  12. Rissi Avatar

    It’s been way too long since I read Elizabeth Camden novels. I need to give some of her books a chance again since some of her older novels were some of my favorites. :)

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I want to read so much more by her after reading When Stars Light the Sky.

      Like

  13. Rebecca Avatar

    Historical romance is truly a magical escape :)

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Yes they are!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Kristyn Avatar

    I also did historical romances! Mine are all regency romances. Thanks for the great recommendations!

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I love regency romances!

      Like

  15. Astilbe Avatar

    Heart of Beauty has a pretty cover.

    Here is our <a href=”https://www.longandshortreviews.com/miscellaneous-musings/top-ten-tuesday-books-set-in-another-time/“>Top Ten Tuesday.</a>

    Like

  16. Kelsey Gietl Avatar

    Some good authors on here! I’m trying to read more backlist books and Nantucket Legacy sounds great. I just ordered it from the library, so thanks for the recommendation.

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      You’re welcome! It’s enjoy helping people find new reads.

      Like

  17. Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life Avatar

    Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor sounds delightful!!! I will have to add that one for December!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Rebecca Avatar

      I’ll chime in and say YES! :D It was so sweet and fun.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Carla Bruns Avatar

      It really is! You’ll enjoy it.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. lydiaschoch Avatar
    lydiaschoch

    Historical Romances have been a popular pick this week!

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I guess not a lot of us were thinking outside the box! 😂😂

      Like

  19. teri Avatar

    I don’t read much historical romance, but the ones I read I really enjoy, just not sure why I don’t pick it up more

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Too many books and not enough time!

      Like

  20. mjeanpike Avatar

    I should read more historical romance. I always enjoy them, but somehow I tend to gravitate toward contemporary when out book shopping. These all look good!

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      Unless you count Amish fiction as contemporary (since it is set in present day), I’m going for historical first. Oh, wait, I am quite addicted to anything written under the Love Inspired imprint.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Cat @ Cat's Wire Avatar

    I’m quite old-fashioned, I keep going back to my favorite Georgette Heyer books :-)

    Like

    1. Carla Bruns Avatar

      I had to look up Georgette Heyer and now I’m wondering when I can find time to read some of her books.

      Like

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Welcome to Carla’s Book Crush where I share my favorite clean, Christian reads. I review everything from Amish and historical romance to suspense, contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and the occasional devotional. If it has heart, hope, and a message that points back to Christ, it’s probably on my shelf. I also love chatting with authors and featuring interviews that give you a peek behind the pages. Whether you’re looking for a new release, a cozy weekend read, or just something uplifting and well-written, you’re in the right place. Clean stories. Encouraging faith. Books worth reading.