This HaBO is from Georgiana, who is looking for a historical that sounds somewhat gothic, and exactly the kind of book Elyse likes:
Hello, I hope someone can help me, I’ve been looking for an historical romance novel published in the 1990s or early 2000s. I don’t recall the title or author but bits of the storyline.
A young woman arrives on her brother-in-law’s estate in England to discover that her sister in dead. The sisters names are Catherine and Elizabeth, I believe. The widower has a young daughter who is terrified of him because it is generally believed that he murdered his wife.
She was thrown out of a tower on the estate by another young lady who lives there (the governess?) so that she could marry the widower, I think. In the end, he falls in love with his sister-in-law.
This sounds positively creepy. Do you recognize this book?
Yes, I recognize it. I just wish I could remember the title. Trying to remember who I was reading back then…
I’ve read this! I’m also drawing a blank on what it was though. Brainbox is frozen.
Could it be something by Elizabeth Thornton? I know I’ve read this one and it’s driving me nuts.
Would it be one of Eve Silver’s gothics, or are those too recent?
Hmmm. . . I totally read that book, but, I can’t remember the title either! At least you have confirmation that it is a real book! 😉
It’s not Eve Silver or Victoria Holt. I checked their book lists and none of their published works fits, unfortunately. I’ll check into Elizabeth Thornton, I hadn’t thought of her, thanks for the suggestion, Moriah.
No luck with Elizabeth Thornton, any other suggestions?
I don’t think this is your book but if you’re looking for something with a similar Gothic-y plot, “A Double Deception” by Joan Wolf features a widower whose first wife committed suicide. The hero is suspected of having driven her to it, and when suspicious accidents begin to happen to his second wife, everybody thinks he’s trying to kill her off too. The two wives are not related, but the hero is the nephew of the 2nd wife’s godmother.
I know I’ve read this book … but I can’t remember the title. The authors that jumped straight to mind are Jennifer St Giles, & Catherine Coulter .. this will drive me nuts for the rest of the evening !
Amber Dane
Nope, just checked St. Giles and Dane, neither is the author. Coulter’s works don’t fit either. Thanks for suggesting them!
Sorry, didn’t finish my thoughts lol
I’m thinking it was Amber Dane’s Northern Knights series?? I think it was the first one perhaps called Gem of Gravane ??
Liz Carlyle’s Beauty Like the Night ?
Thanks anyway, Nikki, Dane seems to solely write medieval romances and this story takes place in the 1800s.
I appreciate it, Cate, but the novel I’m looking for has a murderess in it who is the governess/maid/housekeeper/etc. Carlyle’s heroine is the governess and it doesn’t fit what I’m looking for.
A non-exhaustive list of black widowers: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/39866.Black_Widow_Widower_Romances_Hero_Or_Heroine_Is_Suspected_Of_Killing_Spouse_Or_Lover
I really could swear I’ve read this book, but i haven’t seen anything that looks right yet, though I’m thinking it’s a less-popular author, like Emma Wildes or Jane Feather, or someone like that.
(Other lists that might be useful: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/40837.Sexy_Widowers_in_Romance
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/14100.Books_With_Close_Siblings )
Thanks, Celia, I’ll check into the links you posted. I agree, I think the book was written by a less notorious author, but I may have only read that one title from her.
Still no luck, if anyone has other suggestions, I’m happy to see them. Thanks in advance!
Could it be a Brenda Joyce book? Based on the attitude of the hero and the whole “kidnapping” angle, it’s possible and seems somewhat familiar – some of her older ones do have the heroine being raped by the villain, so you’d need to sort through. Good luck!
Arg, sorry, totally the wrong thread!! Never mind that last comment – I don’t know how to delete it, so sorry!