This HaBO is from Idara, who is looking for this historical romance:
I’m looking for a book about twins switching places for a marriage. It’s a historical romance. I remember “the bad twin” either didn’t want to or couldn’t marry her betrothed so her identical twin sister stepped in to protect the family. There’s something about being institutionalized. I think “the bad twin” ends up in a psychiatric ward or prison. Honestly in the 1800s who can tell the difference.
The hero is unaware of the switch. I remember he has two young daughters who the bad twin has met before and treated poorly. Towards the end they switch places again (don’t remember why) but what stuck with me is that although the hero could tell something was wrong. It was his daughters who were scared of “the bad twin” that told him the evil lady from before was back.
I know it’s not The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren cause I just reread that thinking it was.
I don’t know if this is enough information but if anyone can help me it’s the Bitchery!
Twins were never my catnip, but I know they’re someone’s!
I adore twin stories so I am keenly following this HABO! Not the one mentioned but “close” with a good twin/bad twin vibe as well as somewhat old skool is Lisa Gregory’s LIGHT AND SHADOW. Bad twin runs away from her marriage and drops clues that lead in the direction of her twin sister (the abandoned husband doesn’t even know she HAD a twin). He scoops good twin up and forces her “home” with him and the good twin plays along until she can find out what is happening with her estranged sister. There is a daughter with down syndrome thrown in there as well and the husband marvels at how much more loving his despised “wife” has become. Good stuff.
Somebody please solve this so I can nab it.
I feel like I know this! But after scouring Goodreads, I’ve got nothing. Anyone have any guesses?
Hero doesn’t know which twin is which? I thought it was a given that the H/h knew they were meant for each other, because they could always identify “their” identical twin, even when everyone else confused them.
I am astonished that after, presumably, being intimate with his wife, that the man could not tell the difference. And wouldn’t the good twin have been ticked off when her sister replaced her?
Anyway, this sounds so crazy sauce, so following.
The only historical I can recall with identical twin sisters is SARABAND FOR TWO SISTERS. By Philippa Carr. However it is set much earlier than the 1800s so it probably doesn’t match the HABO.
@Sandra @Gloriamarie Amalfitano I was surprised too! It was one of those things where he could tell something was wrong but he never guessed that they’d switched places again.
Jude Devereaux wrote quite a few identical twin romances but in hers, the true love was the only one who could tell them apart from their twin.
It kinda sounds like The Husband Trap by Tracy Ann Warren. But the hero doesn’t have children. The hero’s kid brother figures out the switch before the hero does and the brother gets the heroine (good twin) to help him with his latin studies. Hero eventually figures it out and is pissed. Bad twin gets sent away and its the second book in the trilogy.
@Idara, what a clueless, unobservant man he sounds like. How is a HEA possible with such a man?
It’s not the HABO, but I’m throwing this oldie out there for those who like twin switches: Savannah Purchase by Jane Aiken Hodge. (Warning: It has a southern plantation setting so it may be triggering for readers.)
Have you looked through the recommendations in the recent Rec League for “Underdog Twin” romances? The book you’re looking for might have been mentioned there:
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2020/05/the-rec-league-underdog-twin/
No idea what book this is, but I’m starting to feel it’s weird that the only switched twins romance I’ve read involved the hero impersonating his twin brother.
THE DRAGON LORD by Connie Mason has the switched twins trope…the demure twin is supposed to marry the hero, but she’d rather join a convent, so the feisty twin takes her place and marries the dude. But it’s set in the Middle Ages, and the other details don’t seem to match up either.
@Nicole It isn’t The Husband Trap. I thought it might be too.
@DiscoDollyDeb Thanks for the link. I didn’t find the book on there though. Not in the comments section either.
Even if I don’t find the book, I am grateful for all the recs. Didn’t realize how much of a catnip this was for me! :).