Help A Bitch Out - SOLVED!

HaBO: Siblings, Magnus & Christine

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 is from Liz, who wants to find this historical romance:

The book is a historical romance set during the Regency.

The main character is a widow who owns a theater in London. Her mother was a French actress and her father was from an aristocratic family, but a minor branch. She had a crappy marriage (husband was a cheater), but her family doesn’t know that, and she has several young kids. She also has an older brother named Magnus (?) and a very beautiful but narcissistic younger sister named Christine (?).

The hero is a cousin or close friend, who comes back into their life after years of exile in France. He’s handsome, a political radical, and a very talented playwright. They put on his play, I think.

Both sisters were in love with him, but he was in love with the prettier sister, and still not over her I think. He does end up with the widow though I remember finding it somewhat unsatisfying, like he’s settling.

There’s also a subplot about how super rich self-made-brother Magnus is actually a Duke, and lot’s of stuff about theater life. I can’t remember if it has any sex in it. I think it was written by a mother & daughter writing team. This book has stuck in my head FOREVER.

I’m with Liz. It does sound like settling.

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  1. Dennis says:

    I’m pretty sure this is an Anthea Malcolm book. That’s Tracy Grant and her mother. I don’t remember which one.

  2. HeatherT says:

    An Improper Proposal?

  3. KarenF says:

    Yes, agree it’s “An Improper Proposal” …. I have the entire series on my keeper shelf, and that’s one of my favorites.

  4. Liz says:

    Yes, it’s an Improper Proposal!! Thank you!!!

  5. Liz says:

    @KarenF There’s a series!! Do tell! And thank you all for solving this.

  6. KarenF says:

    Yes, all of the Anthea Malcolm books are linked and sort of based on a sins of the father – someone’s bigamous marriage in the previous generation set all of this chaos into being. As well, there was a complicated political plot that spread out over several books. They were written out of order though, and as far as I know they were never put into ebooks – I managed to grab mine through used book sources like abebooks.

    But if you find them and read them in order, it’s a fascinating view of the politics of the day:

    The order (based on a listing in Tracy Grant’s blog) is:
    The Counterfeit Heart (1812)
    A Touch of Scandal (1813)
    An Improper Proposal (1814)
    The Widow’s Gambit (1816)
    A Sensible Match (1818)
    The Courting of Philippa (1819)
    Frivolous Pretence (1820)

    There are also four novellas in the series (I’m not sure where they exactly fit within timeline of the novels, except I know “Fit for a Prince” happens after the events of Frivolous Pretence:
    A Mistletoe Christmas
    Christmas Knight
    The Perfect Mother
    Fit for a Prince

  7. Liz says:

    @KarenF — they are now on my TBR pile!

  8. Tracy Grant says:

    Love that this book stayed with you, and my mom would be thrilled too! Karen summed up the series very well, but don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions. There’s more on my website at http://www.tracygrant.org.

  9. Dennis says:

    My favorite book of yours is Rightfully His, although you have to read the predecessor to fully appreciate it. I personally don’t care for Malcolm and Suzanne, but you obviously do!

  10. Tracy Grant says:

    I’m sorry you don’t care for Malcolm and Suzanne, Dennis, but it’s great to year you like Rightfully His. That was a fun book to write. And Daniel de Ribard was one of my favorite villains to write.

  11. Carol S. says:

    oh that prim old-skool cover!

  12. Susan says:

    This HABO and the comments were one of the most satisfying ever. Not only was the book identified, but both the requester and the author checked in. I like my mysteries tidily resolved. 🙂

  13. Mely says:

    Just a note that a few of the Anthea Malcolm books are available as ebooks, just under the name Tracy Grant. Not An Improper Proposal, unfortunately.

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