You did it! We figured this one out! It is a truth universally acknowledged (by me for certain) that the Bitchery pretty much knows everything, and really, it's true. Scroll down to see the solution for this HaBO - and many thanks!
This HaBO request is from Karly, who is searching for this historical romance and its series:
I am looking for a historical romance novel, most likely regency. It is part of a companion series about a family I think? This one is later on in the series and tells the story of the older brother. In the first few books, he is seen marrying and then losing his wife in childbirth as a secondary character.
In the book I am looking for, the male lead is mourning the death of his wife and is so focused on that, that he is neglecting his two children, a boy and a girl. The female lead is a spinster and a friend of his younger sister. She is either hired as a governess or enters into an arranged marriage with the hero. She goes out to his country estate to live with the family and helps rebuild his relationship with his children.
I’ve been trying to find this book (and the rest of the series) for years even though I can remember so much of it!
This is rather popular historical romance plot methinks, but I feel like if we all just start throwing titles out there, something will stick!
To Take This Lord
by Cheryl Bolen
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I’m pretty sure I’ve read this, but I can’t remember the title either. If it’s the one I’m thinking of, the hero was a cartographer in the British Navy. The heroine was connected to the hero’s aunt or grandmother or godmother in some way. Hope that helps, and isn’t a red herring.
This sounds like The Heiress Bride by Catherine Coulter, which is part of the Sherbrooke series.
Or it could be Rules for a Proper Governess Jennifer Ashley
Hi, Karly – as Amanda says, this is a pretty popular trope in Romance. Can you please give us a little more info? Like, when you say you’ve been looking “for years”, is there a decade you can pinpoint when you read this HABO (i.e., the Ashley series is from the current decade, but Coulter’s is from maybe the 90’s, I think)? And any info about the plots of the first couple of books?
My initial thought was “To Sir Phillip With Love” in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, but that theory quickly fell apart with a little bit of research. I’m very curious to find out which of the many titles that are sure to be suggested it is. Thanks.
This sounds really familiar. Did the governess wear glasses ?
Is it to sir Phillip with love part of the bridgerton series?
Is it Rules for a proper governess by Jennifer Ashley part of the Mackenzie and Mcbrides series
My first thought was the same as @Nina and @Hannah–Rules for a Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley, from the Mackenzies and McBrides series. The problem is, the heroine isn’t a spinster or a friend of his sister, so this book might not be the one. Everything else lines up with the description though. Do you remember anything about the heroine? In this book, Bertie, the heroine, is a plucky, impoverished pickpocket with an abusive boyfriend.
I know this isn’t it, but it reminds me of Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt. The previous tenant left it behind and I found in the basement when I was 10 years old. It was my first romance. *Happy sigh*
The first part sounds like The Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas – oldest brother Leo suffers loss of his first love, but not in childbirth. I think it’s a fever. The second part sounds like To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn in her Bridgerton series.
I agree with PetiteJ – the second part of the description sounds like To Sir Phillip, With Love. If the hero and heroine meet through letter writing, that is the one.
This sure is a common plot in historical novels. I was nodding my head at the suggestions!
Other than the hero’s appearance in earlier books, this sounds like “To Sir Phillip, With Love” by Julia Quinn.
“Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife’s distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he’d proposed, figuring that she’d be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except . . . she wasn’t. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her…
“Eloise Bridgerton couldn’t marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking… and wondering… and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except… he wasn’t. Her perfect husband wouldn’t be so moody and ill-mannered. And he certainly should have mentioned that he had two young – and decidedly unruly – children, as much in need of a mother as Phillip is in need of a wife.”
@Sally, I really loved Mistress of Mellyn too! I read so many Victoria Holt books in high school, and I think that one was my favorite. Maybe it’s time for a reread!
@ Sally-omg Mistress of Mellyn was my first romance too! My sister and I read it together every night before bed one summer when we were kids. Thanks for bringing back that memory.
Thank you so much for posting this! None of the mentioned books are it so far. I know its a very common trope and I think thats why I’m having such a hard time finding it.
A few more details: I read it probably sometime in or after 2012. I have no idea how old it was at the time though. The hero lived in the country side and I remember she went out to see him. I cannot for the life of me remember if it was an arranged marriage situation or not, but I feel like it was. I am pretty sure that one of the previous books in the series was a ‘brother’s best friend’ scenario where she tricked him into marrying her by getting caught with him in a comrpomising moment in a gazebo. I am pretty sure this is also the book where the wife dies in an epilogue and you meet the heroine from my HABO.
Karly – thank you so much for responding to my questions. The information you have added is sure to help someone realize what book you are thinking of. Sadly, at this moment, that person is not me. But I’m pretty sure I read this series; I feel like the answer is a ghost in my memory, flitting away when I get close to it. I keep thinking it’s Tracy Anne Warren’s family series, but I know it’s not. At the same time, I remember reading those books and thinking there was a similarity to someone else’s family series that was out around the same time (and that it sucked for the authors to have bad publishing timing). That’s all I got right now, but I’m still wracking my brain.
@Betseydub. Yeah I have the same problem! I’ve been hoping I’ll just stumble across it haha. Thanks for the help!
It sounds so familiar to me, too! Do you remember the tone of the books? More light hearted or more angst and intrigue?
I sadly cannot help, but I am seriously excited about reading all the guesses!
The compromising situation in the gazebo sure sounds like Kleypas’s “Devil in Springtime.” Could you be thinking of her “Cold-Hearted Rake” by any chance?
I have read a ton of these books. I’m just going to throw out a few more names that haven’t been mentioned yet.
Midnight Angel by Lisa Kleypas, not one of her best efforts, but it’s got a widowed hero and a governess heroine.
Under the Wishing Star, a sweet Regency, same set up, but the hero has not appeared in earlier books, so probably not?
Ethan, Lord of Scandals by Grace Burroughs, I have not read it but it is #3 of a series, so perhaps he lost his wife in an earlier book.
Laura J George – My mind jumped to that book as well but Lisa Kleypas’ Ravenel series is new. In fact, I’m awaiting the next installment. The mystery book was read around 2012.
I keep thinking about a book I read a couple of years ago. I can’t remember the title or author. He’s a Widower with to little girls. Hires local Spinster as a Governess. She is extremely near sighted , wear really thick lensed glasses.He walks in on here bathing. No glasses / clothes. And realizes shes a great after all! Oh, and he is in DEEP MOURNING and feeling Guilt over his late wifes’ death. Anyone else remember this book?
@LMC Not over the top angst but it had its angst moments. A lot of these reccomendations are books I have read after finding them searching for this mystery book!
I’m almost positive that it To Take This Lord by Cheryl Bolen. It is part of her Brides of Bath series.
Hey, Karly – Moriah seems to have it! I’ve read the review & comments on BN.com & “To Take This Lord” (fourth book in series) fits. Mourning widower, neglected kids (1 boy/1 girl), etc.
In the comments, it refers to George’s late wife, Diana as being alive in at least one previous book in the series. And the second book in the series, “With His Ring”, has the heroine in love with her brother’s friend. I don’t know if there’s a gazebo scene, but both titles are from 2011 (or before – apparently the paperbacks were published before the 2011 e-books).
Have a look and let us know (so I can move on with my life ).
Moriah is right! Thats exactly ehat I was looking for. Thank you so much!