For those of us bookish gals reading historical romance novels, reading about a shy heroine is like finding a kindred spirit. Especially when she loves to read, has a penchant for awkwardness, and discovers a soulmate who sees straight through her shyness to the interesting person underneath.
If that’s the type of book you’re looking for, here are six historical romances that will leave you satisfied:
The Husband Trap
Tracy Anne Warren
Goodreads rating: 3.86
Era: Regency
The shy heroine:
Violet is the shy twin. She wears glasses, she is interested in intellectual pursuits, and she is always overshadowed by her attention-loving sister. Until she takes her sister’s place, that is.
The plot synopsis:
Violet Brantford has always longed for the passionate embrace of Adrian Winter, the wealthy Duke of Raeburn. Problem is, he's set to marry Violet's vivacious, more socially polished look-alike twin sister, Jeannette. But when Jeannette refuses to go through with the ceremony mere minutes before it is to begin, soft-spoken Violet finds herself walking down the aisle and taking vows in her sister's place. Soon shy Violet is a high-society wife, trying to keep her real identity a secret while living out the fantasies of her wildest dreams.
Adrian thinks he knows exactly what he's gotten himself into: Jeannette may be flighty and, well, a bit self-involved, but she's the picture-perfect wife to carry on the Winter name. Yet this marriage of convenience brings the groom more than he bargained for when he finds his sweet, innocent wife surprising him at every turn. And though he never planned on true love, Adrian is definitely in danger of losing his heart.
The Devil Comes Courting
Courtney Milan
Goodreads rating: 4.36
Era: Victorian (set in China)
The shy heroine:
Amelia is perceived as shy, mostly because that is how she was raised to be. She is also super smart and neurodivergent. As a result, she often doesn’t respond the way people expect her to. Luckily, Grayson sees straight through the awkward to the brilliant.
The plot synopsis:
Captain Grayson Hunter knows the battle to complete the first worldwide telegraphic network will be fierce, and he intends to win it by any means necessary. When he hears about a reclusive genius who has figured out how to slash the cost of telegraphic transmissions, he vows to do whatever it takes to get the man in his employ.
Except the reclusive genius is not a man, and she’s not looking for employment.
Amelia Smith was born in Shanghai, and taken in by English missionaries. She’s not interested in Captain Hunter’s promises or his ambitions. But the harder he tries to convince her, the more she realizes that there is something she wants from him: She wants everything. And she’ll have to crack the frozen shell he’s made of his heart to get it.
The Work of Art
Mimi Matthews
Goodreads rating: 4.16
Era: Victorian
The shy heroine:
Phyllida is used to a small, quiet country life. Now in London, she isn’t allowed to see many people, so she is awkward whenever forced to interact with her uncle’s acquaintances. Except for military man Arthur, who makes her feel at ease in any situation.
The plot synopsis:
Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it's caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland — a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke's clutches, she's going to need a little help.
Captain Arthur Heywood's days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.
Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her — and her heart — in more danger than ever?
A Delicate Deception
Cat Sebastian
Goodreads rating: 3.86
Era: Regency
The shy heroine:
Talk about shy. Amelia lives in the country after having a nervous breakdown in a London ballroom, which seems tied to social anxiety. She is happier without strangers, which is why she is especially angry to discover Sydney on her morning walk.
The plot synopsis:
When Amelia Allenby escaped a stifling London ballroom for the quiet solitude of the Derbyshire countryside, the very last thing she wanted was an extremely large, if—she grudgingly admits—passably attractive man disturbing her daily walks. Lecturing the surveyor about property rights doesn’t work and, somehow, he has soon charmed his way into lemon cakes, long walks, and dangerously heady kisses.
The very last place Sydney wished to be was in the shadow of the ruins of Pelham Hall, the inherited property that stole everything from him. But as he awaits his old friend, the Duke of Hereford, he finds himself increasingly captivated by the maddeningly lovely and exceptionally odd Amelia. He quickly finds that keeping his ownership of Pelham Hall a secret is as impossible as keeping himself from falling in love with her.
But when the Duke of Hereford arrives, Sydney’s ruse is revealed and what started out as a delicate deception has become a love too powerful to ignore. Will they let a lifetime of hurt come between them or can these two lost souls find love and peace in each other?
An Unseen Attraction
KJ Charles
Goodreads rating: 3.89
Era: Victorian
The shy heroine:
This is a male/male romance, so technically, this is a shy hero. Clem has always been told he is different, and his mind certainly works differently than most other people’s. Because of this, he keeps to himself. Until Mr. Green sees past his psychological walls, that is.
The plot synopsis:
Lodging-house keeper Clem Talleyfer prefers a quiet life. He’s happy with his hobbies, his work—and especially with his lodger Rowley Green, who becomes a friend over their long fireside evenings together. If only neat, precise, irresistible Mr. Green were interested in more than friendship...
Rowley just wants to be left alone—at least until he meets Clem, with his odd, charming ways and his glorious eyes. Two quiet men, lodging in the same house, coming to an understanding... it could be perfect. Then the brutally murdered corpse of another lodger is dumped on their doorstep and their peaceful life is shattered.
Now Clem and Rowley find themselves caught up in a mystery, threatened on all sides by violent men, with a deadly London fog closing in on them. If they’re to see their way through, the pair must learn to share their secrets—and their hearts.
When a Scot Ties the Knot
Tessa Dare
Goodreads rating: 3.95
Era: Regency
The shy heroine:
Maddie is the definition of shy. She hates socializing so much that she invents a fiance to get out of having a season. Too bad those fake letters ended up going to a real person…
The plot synopsis:
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.
A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.
Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.
Looking for a free historical romance download?
Don’t miss The Spinster - a short story about a spinster and loom weaver who are both perfectly happy without love (until they meet each other)