After quickly discovering Sarah MacLean is in a league of her own and there aren’t many who write regency banter like she, I dabbled in some she-who-will-not-be-named titles. I got scared. Was Sarah MacLean the only good regency author out there!? Happily, I found a few other authors that have a similar writing style and their books and series were equally as addicting. The ladies I frequent are Loretta Chase, Sophie Jordan, Liz Carlyle and Lisa Kleypas. I will eat up ANYTHING these ladies write, but lately I’ve discovered a few of Loretta Chases’s books that dare to divert from the regency norm.
In case it’s been awhile since you’ve tackled a Lord or a Duke (on the page, not in real life), let me remind you of the Regency Romance Formula:
There’s a Titled Man
He’s really hot like guys in Tswift music videos
He’s usually a Viscount or Duke. It doesn’t matter how many of these books you read, you’ll never remember which is more important. I DO believe the Baron is at the bottom of the peerage, so you usually have a sads if you open a book about a Baron.
Occasionally you’ll read a story about a second son– the one who doesn’t have the title. The one who gets ALL the benefits without the responsibility. The sex with a second son is usually quite spectacular because, let’s be honest, besides an allowance which his older brother gives him, his bedroom moves are all he has.
There’s a Virgin
She’s usually gorgeous but too picky about her men. Or she’s smart and not gorgeous enough. Or her mother ran off with the house steward and there’s scandal surrounding her. But she is a virgin. Always. Unless she’s not… we’ll get to that…
There’s a conflict
Which always involves the Titled man and the Virgin. Enter any scenario you can think of. They are caught in a compromising situation together but no one was actually compromised, still they must marry. Or they hate each other because they are from opposing families who do nothing but quarrel, but they are forced to work together for a charity event. They were childhood friends who were like brother and sister but now that they are grown and attracted to each other realize how terribly matched they are.
Someone is compromised
Someone’s gon’ get compromiseddddd
And we get to the good stuff. If it’s a good writer we get there early on. Maybe in the first few chapters. They’re in a small parlor off the ballroom where all of London is gathered and it’s dark and hot. They brush hands and suddenly his lips are on hers and she kisses him back. In the second scene almost always her bosom is ripped open and breasts are suckled. It happens every.single.time.
She’s a Virgin no more
And eventually.. they make love.. And love it is. The man is struggling with taking the maiden’s virtue before her wedding night but lust and passion and the innocent hand crawling up his leg makes him give in every time.
And they live happily every after! Did I miss anything?
So why is Loretta Chase Different?
She’s not quite different usually, but I read two books this week by Loretta Chase that were FABULOUS and dared to be a bit different:
Your Scandalous Ways breaks the format a bit because dun dun DUNNNNN The Virginal girl is NOT a Virgin! Francesca is a courtsean, James is sent to steal something from her for the British government. They flirt, they tempt, they fall in love.
But will Francesca forgive James for lying to her about his initial intentions? And will James be able to set aside his dreams for a simple life with a maiden to bear him children? Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnnnnn (man I’m being dramatic today) Read it to find out!
Last Night’s Scandal was THE BEST! Olivia has been writing to her childhood friend Lisle for years as he’s been abroad in Egypt, living the adventurous life she’s longed to have. When Lisle comes home for a visit, he’s pleasantly surprised that his old friend has grown into an irresistible woman.
But when Lisle’s family DEMANDS he stay home and become responsible instead of running back to Egypt on yet another adventure, he rebels against the idea of settling down with a wife and a family. Olivia comes up with a plan that might get him back to Egypt, and quickly. Of course that plan involves sneaking off in the dead of the night to a ghost-filled castle with her two crazy aunties, with Lisle running after her before she finds herself ruined. Spoiler alert: She gets ruined. And it’s amazing. READ THIS NOW!
Loretta Chase’s best known book Lord of Scoundrels turns 20 this month! I just started the book and so far am in LOVE! The titled man is SO dark and mysterious. And the girl, while your typical virgin maiden, is smart and sassy and shows no fear around the guy. Plus there’s Paris… sighhhh. Today the internet is celebrating the book with #LOSlove on Twitter and the e-book is just $1.99!!
Hate paying to read old books you can probably find at the library if you weren’t such a lazy bum? Me too. I use OYSTER. It’s $10/month and THE BEST. It costs more in gas to Drive to the library. Well, back in 2014 it would have… Try Oyster!
What Regency Romance Books do you love that dare to be different!?
