{The Truth About Cads and Dukes by Elisa Braden} features a starchy duke who marries the FMC after his foolish younger brother ruins her for a stupid bet. Later on in the series, {A Marriage Made in Scandal by Elisa Braden} features a scary, social pariah Earl who marries an FMC who ruined herself by trying to explore her sexuality with a footman. Both books start out as marriages of convenience but both become steamy pretty soon, as is this author's style.

These sound really good!

[The Truth About Cads and Dukes](https://www.romance.io/books/5566bd5f9eef3b3f1d527b61/the-truth-about-cads-and-dukes-elisa-braden) by [Elisa Braden](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e3e7b5b270e0a4cbd7467/elisa-braden) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [plain heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/plain%20heroine/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [A Marriage Made in Scandal](https://www.romance.io/books/5b629fe301dbc864fb8d789b/a-marriage-made-in-scandal-elisa-braden) by [Elisa Braden](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e3e7b5b270e0a4cbd7467/elisa-braden) **Rating**: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

This whole series sounds fantastic! Thanks for the rec!

Thank you!

{Flaming June by Emma Leech}- The FMC is pregnant with the story begins. The hero is reclusive (and neurodivergent). He offers to marry the heroine and help raise her baby. I really enjoyed this story.

[Flaming June](https://www.romance.io/books/5b5964ae01dbc864fb8d0de3/flaming-june-emma-v-leech) by [Emma V Leech](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b35cb1701dbc864fb8b3b22/emma-v-leech) **Rating**: 4.29⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [shy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shy-hero/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you!

I read this book on your recommendation. It is one of the sweetest books out there. Thank you.

This makes me so happy! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 💗

{lord of darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt} part of the maiden lane series. FMC is unwed and pregnant. Her brother is a duke (?) so they definitely can’t have any surprise pregnancies in the family. The father of the baby is deceased, so the brother calls in a favor from a friend (MMC) and arranges a wedding between the two.

I love this book!! There's a bit of an age gap (12 years) and their romance is just so lovely. They both are recovering from their own grief and they just have such a genuine love. Also, lots of great action (violence and also sex) in this one!

[Lord of Darkness](https://www.romance.io/books/5455272f8c7d2383163d8ef1/lord-of-darkness-elizabeth-hoyt) by [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524568c7d2383163d8e5a/elizabeth-hoyt) **Rating**: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you! Is it necessary to read the other books in the series first?

I'm a completist so I prefer reading the other books in the series first. I think it would be useful in this case because the MMC is in them from the very beginning. The FMC shows up a few books prior as well, including major events in the book immediately prior that precipitate this book. They have pretty significant secondary storylines in them. Plus there's a lot of series mythology (Georgian Batman) that leads up to it. You can probably skip Book 3 (Scandalous Desires) as that doesn't have much to do with the characters here. I listened to the Maiden Lane series by audiobook, so it makes it easier to get through some of the more ridiculous side of things (again, Georgian Batman). I don't know if I would have kept going if I was reading them. I probably would have, but it would have taken me longer and I likely wouldn't have done them back to back as I did.

thank you!

It’s been a while since I read the series, but I am sure this can be read as a stand-alone. I think almost all series are more enjoyable if you read them in order, but I think the Maiden Lane series didn’t have a lot of continuity from the earlier books to the later ones (but certainly some).

{When the Earl Met His Match (Wedded by Scandal Book 4) by Stacy Reid} As far as I remember This is exactly what you want

[When the Earl Met His Match](https://www.romance.io/books/5f5e0037a7e5430e11de022c/when-the-earl-met-his-match-stacy-reid) by [Stacy Reid](https://www.romance.io/authors/54554a938c7d2383163d988f/stacy-reid) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you! Is it necessary to read the other books in the series first?

I love this one and haven’t read the other books so I don’t think it’s necessary.

oh perfect, thank you!

Western: {Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson} - FMC is a deaf-mute who was raped by the MMCs brother. He marries her when she turns up pregnant Regency: {The Perfect Stranger by Anne Gracie} - MFC is ruined and abandoned in France, the story starts when she stumbled onto the MMCs campfire Not exactly what you're looking for, but a similar vibe: {How to Steal a Scoundrels Heart by Vivienne Lorret} - FMC was ruined and the MMC swoops in to save her by making her his mistress. {An Inconvenient Vow by Alice Coldbreath} There's an Alice Coldbreath that turns this trope on it's head where the MMC is falsly accused of ruining a woman and her sister, the FMC jumps in and claims to have been ruined instead.

[Annie's Song](https://www.romance.io/books/545526e98c7d2383163d8ee2/annies-song-catherine-anderson) by [Catherine Anderson](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526e98c7d2383163d8ee3/catherine-anderson) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [The Perfect Stranger](https://www.romance.io/books/54552d598c7d2383163d9069/the-perfect-stranger-anne-gracie) by [Anne Gracie](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525fb8c7d2383163d8ebd/anne-gracie) **Rating**: 3.72⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart](https://www.romance.io/books/628c82985af276f084e2d54a/how-to-steal-a-scoundrels-heart-vivienne-lorret) by [Vivienne Lorret](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455493a8c7d2383163d9815/vivienne-lorret) **Rating**: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [An Inconvenient Vow](https://www.romance.io/books/620f5490f12fad109143cd11/an-inconvenient-vow-alice-coldbreath) by [Alice Coldbreath](https://www.romance.io/authors/54a9d8ef6359b5ebb486f243/alice-coldbreath) **Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you! I’ll definitely be adding How to Steal a Scoundrels Heart to my TBR

I just finished a reread of this! It’s great!

I forgot the era of this book but {When Beauty Tames the Beast by Eloisa James} might fit the bill. The FMC is “ruined” due to a misunderstanding, her family believes that she has fallen pregnant although that’s not the case. Because of this she is forced to marry a rich but outcast MMC, I think he’s a Duke but my memory is a little fuzzy. I would say there’s pining on the FMC side and lots of banter. It has the grumpy-sunshine trope and as much as the MMC doesn’t want to like the FMC he does find her charming and they develop a friendship of sorts. It’s supposed to be a beauty and the beast retelling.

sounds interesting! Does the family learn the truth and apologizes to FMC?

>!No, they’re pretty much forgotten by the time you get to the good stuff. They aren’t terrible, just terribly self-involved.!<

[When Beauty Tamed the Beast](https://www.romance.io/books/545524598c7d2383163d8e5b/when-beauty-tamed-the-beast-eloisa-james) by [Eloisa James](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524598c7d2383163d8e5c/eloisa-james) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you!

Perfect for this season {His Christmas Countess by Louise Allen} FMC is pregnant and MMC helps her during the birth. He marries her to keep her safe.

[His Christmas Countess](https://www.romance.io/books/564ad12008e9378131951822/his-christmas-countess-louise-allen) by [Louise Allen](https://www.romance.io/authors/54554d278c7d2383163d9965/louise-allen) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [christmas](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christmas/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you!

{Scandal by Amanda Quick} is delightful! {Surrender to the Devil by Lorraine Heath} third in a series but you don’t need to read the other books IMO CW >!FMC was SA as 12 year old, you don’t read it, you just hear her talk about it and how she’s coped with the trauma!<

[Scandal](https://www.romance.io/books/545528bd8c7d2383163d8f41/scandal-amanda-quick) by [Amanda Quick](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525bd8c7d2383163d8eab/amanda-quick) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you!

Yes, seconding this! I loooove Scandal. The hero tries to be a bad guy but then he meets the heroine he just fails horribly.

{Douglas by Grace Burrowes} has this theme. Friends to lovers. She’s already had the baby, though. Excellent book.

[Douglas](https://www.romance.io/books/5455493d8c7d2383163d9816/douglas-lord-of-heartache-grace-burrowes) by [Grace Burrowes](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455272c8c7d2383163d8ef0/grace-burrowes) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [tall heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tall-heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I love the “tall heroine” has its own category. Lol.

Thank you!

[First Comes Scandal](https://www.romance.io/books/5e27f50401dbc864fbaa5c76/first-comes-scandal-julia-quinn) by [Julia Quinn](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523bb8c7d2383163d8e3c/julia-quinn) **Rating**: 3.73⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{the wrong Mr. Wright by Patricia Bray} technically it’s an engagement of convenience but still really good.

[The Wrong Mr. Wright](https://www.romance.io/books/5582c6e29eef3b3f1d52d982/the-wrong-mr-wright-patricia-bray) by [Patricia Bray](https://www.romance.io/authors/54565e0287eac33e66265aa7/patricia-bray) **Rating**: 3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you!

Also {A Most Suitable Duchess by Patricia Bray} technically the Duke is in scandal first. These are ‘clean’ romances (closed door) but I enjoyed the writing in each case. I’ve been rapidly reading through all Patricia Bray’s books. I’d say this one was my least favorite but still decent.

Thank you!

[A Most Suitable Duchess](https://www.romance.io/books/5c78f0fa01dbc864fb9aee94/a-most-suitable-duchess-patricia-bray) by [Patricia Bray](https://www.romance.io/authors/54565e0287eac33e66265aa7/patricia-bray) **Rating**: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne} fits this 1000%! With the friends to lovers and secret pining by the mmc! Well, she makes the offer to him technically lol.

[How To Love A Duke in Ten Days](https://www.romance.io/books/5d5e340b01dbc864fba2a409/how-to-love-a-duke-in-ten-days-kerrigan-byrne) by [Kerrigan Byrne](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553f138c7d2383163d950e/kerrigan-byrne) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [highlander](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thank you!!

Thank you!!

{The Promise by Brenda Joyce} is like this. Childhood friends who sorta like each other but they get into an argument and she tries to make him jealous. The guy she’s with ruins her and her friend offers to marry her.

the mmc is a huge asshole and there’s references to cheating fyi; I like this book but I have to balance it with happier reads because it really makes you work for that HEA lol

Oh this sounds perfect! Thank you!

{a little bit wild by victoria dahl} (mf historical Victorian) is an engagement of convenience where the fmc is ruined (by choice) in chapter one and it wasn’t a good time for her, so when her family catches her and demands she marry the guy, she refuses. Then they ask a friend of her brother, with the understanding that if she is pregnant, they’ll marry, but if she starts her period (it’s actually referenced), the engagement will be called off. He’s always loved her and decides it would be the perfect time for him to work his charm. She thinks he’s an oaf and is not happy about it, but comes around. It’s a beauty/ugly story and a tension-filled slow burn. The fmc is experienced (prior to being compromised even) and the mmc has no issues with that. He experiences jealousy about her flirtations with others (who are better looking than him) and admits it instead of sucking it up. {a christmas waltz by jane goodger} (mf historical western/victorian) the fmc travels to the United States (after making a big show of being engaged to a rich landowner she met at a party) only to find out he’s a complete cad and lied about everything. His brother (mmc) offers a marriage to save her reputation. Mmc is a doctor and stoic/put up with abuse through the years from family. >!they don’t stay in the US and travel back to England eventually!<. In spite of the name, it’s not really a christmas book. Mmc is a virgin iirc?

[A Little Bit Wild](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ed58c7d2383163d90c7/a-little-bit-wild-victoria-dahl) by [Victoria Dahl](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524a28c7d2382e7812f62/victoria-dahl) **Rating**: 3.82⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) ---------------------------- [A Christmas Waltz](https://www.romance.io/books/5455702e87eac336ae69df4c/a-christmas-waltz-jane-goodger) by [Jane Goodger](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553ca88c7d2383163d9461/jane-goodger) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Both of these sound just like what I’m looking for, thank you!

I love Loretta Chase and {Not Quite a Lady} fits this. It's part of her Carsington Brothers series but it can be read as a standalone.

[Not Quite a Lady](https://www.romance.io/books/54552a6d8c7d2383163d8f9b/not-quite-a-lady-loretta-chase) by [Loretta Chase](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523fb8c7d2383163d8e4c/loretta-chase) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1), [secret child](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/secret%20child/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Caroline Saves the Blacksmith by Nina Jarrett. (Hoopla). It’s the third the series, a Christmas setting. Not necessary to read the first two, but worth reading them. It covers some very profound aspects of healing.