This HaBO comes from Victoria, who is looking for this historical romance:
I am trying to find a book I read maybe 3 or 4 years ago. It is driving me insane at this point that I can find no traces of it online with endless googling of plot line combos.
The book was a Regency romance where the main character travelled to a widower’s estate, possibly with another family member. The main characters had an antagonistic relationship throughout the story.
While at this widower’s estate, the main character discovers a library and starts working on organizing it, which makes the widower angry as it was special to his deceased wife. Eventually the sexual tension/attraction starts building. She finds a personal item (either jewelry or clothing of his deceased wife – I think it might be a brooch or locket) and wears it, which he later discovers when they are getting it on for the first time and he is weirded out by it.
It ends happily with them getting together and I vaguely recall that she’s pregnant and working in the library at the end of the book or in the epilogue. I believe the author’s notes at the end mention how her books are meant to honor early library science and librarians.
I hope this is enough detail for folks to help a bitch out!
Oh I think this is plenty of detail!
Following……..
I’m pretty sure Season for Surrender by Theresa Romain has a heroine who helps organize the hero’s library.
Sounds familiar, following as well…
Oh, dear. I believe I read this a while back, ringing so many bells, but I can’t remember the name or the author so I will follow, hoping someone has the answers.
@Christina, I have to disagree. I read it on Kindle and according to Amazon, there is no Kindle version of this book.
Teresa Romain got the rights back to this series, and has re-released it as The Earl’s Holiday Wager.
I really, REALLY liked this book. It was my book club pick when it was released.
The hero in Season for Surrender isn’t a widower, although yes the heroine does some library organizing. Also she’s not expecting at the end of it. I read it a few years ago but couldn’t remember much so just checked it out in ebook from the library and got those details back.
I’m going to stalk this now though because the original book sounds like one I want to read…
This sounds a little bit like No Other Duke Will Do by Grace Burrowes. The heroine goes to a house party with her sister. She loves books and wants to start a lending library. The Duke’s library is known to be extensive and she wants to see it. I don’t remember the Duke being a widower but he is saddled with enormous debts and doesn’t feel he can marry until the debts are paid. I don’t know if this is your book but I remember really enjoying this book.
Reminds me of Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch. Part of the MacTaggert series.
Originally part of a Christmas anthology, Kissing Under the Mistletoe, in 2021.
Jane was the companion of a woman and traveled to Scotland. Meets Brennan, a widower and architect.
I remember her being in his library and also possibly a library of a relative. He’s drawing up plans for a family member’s home.
Thanks for the point to the Romain, @Christina and @SB Sarah! I wasn’t sure what to read next, but I’ve enjoyed Romain’s books in the past and The Earl’s Holiday Wager is $2.99, so that’s an easy decision!
Following, because this sounds like one I would like.
This description is giving me a lot of similar vibes to Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Guhrke. Heroine dresses as a man in order to get a job as a tutor for a widower’s children at his country estate. She spends a lot of time in the library, both before and after the widower discovers she’s actually a woman, but I don’t recall if organizing it was a plot element, or the thing about the dead wife’s jewelry, although it is ringing a faint bell. In any case, it was a decent Regency romance!