Unusual Historical Best Bets for July 2019

July in the United States means heat, humidity, and large swaths of the population shooting off fireworks for a solid month terrorizing animals and keeping me up at night. It’s also my busiest time of year at The Day Job, with a variety of budget-related tasks and conference season hitting full swing. This year I’ll be soaking up some of that heat and humidity in New York attending RWA. Yes, I’ll be there - as will some of the Love in Panels crew. If you see us milling about, be sure to say hello! So what books look good for potential reading on my long (loooong) flight to the Big Apple? This month self-publishing takes front and center!

The Clothier’s Daughter by Bronwyn Parry

In the unusually wet summer of 1816, Emma Braithwaite struggles to keep her family’s traditional wool cloth manufacturing company afloat. Her father has died, her brother is missing, and the new cotton factories are spreading, rendering the fine worsted fabrics the Braithwaites have made for generations, expensive and unfashionable. Being a woman in a man’s world of trade is challenging enough, but when her warehouse catches fire it brings her only a step away from financial ruin and debtor’s prison.  

After eight years of war, Major Adam Caldwell is returning for the first time to his family home, Rengarth Castle, when he stops to assist at a warehouse fire … and comes face-to-face with the woman he once loved and lost. Despite all his efforts to forget her, in truth she’s never been far from his thoughts. He was unworthy of her then, and even more so now.  

But as the threats against Emma escalate, they discover that someone wants control of Emma’s family company and is prepared to murder anyone in the way of getting it - including Emma. 

Parry is an Australian writer known for her award winning romantic suspense. This is her first ever historical romance featuring a heroine desperate to save the family business, a hero returned from war, and nary a Duke in sight.

Bold Seduction by Karyn Gerrard

A Fascinating Proposition  

As owner of The Starling Club, one of London’s more popular brothels, Philomena McGrattan has seen and heard it all. There is little that surprises her anymore, and even less that interests her. When she is presented an opportunity at a tempting and bold seduction, she can’t help but rise to the challenge. A virgin son of a duke? How could she refuse?  

An Improbable Encounter  

Quiet and set in his ways, Lord Spencer Hornsby is a brilliant eccentric who prefers solitude and researching ancient civilizations. Alone in the Welsh countryside, with only his two wolfhounds for company, Spencer has little time or patience for the pleasures of society. But when an unexpected guest arrives at his isolated hunting lodge, Spencer cannot help but be irresistibly intrigued by the presence of this beautiful woman.  

Philomena is shocked to discover that the odd professor stirs up feelings she thought long dead. Spencer, ever the man of research, is eager to learn all he can. Will they find deeper emotions are in play as they take their journey of discovery? 

Delayed by other publishing obligations from writing the third book in this series, when Kensington passed on it, the author decided it would be best to have the entire series under her control. Kensington agreed, and this first book, originally published under the Lyrical banner has been revised and re-edited. I’m a sucker for a heroine with a “reputation” and virgin heroes, so of course I pre-ordered this. I’m shocked I missed it the first time around.

Secrets of a Highland Warrior by Nicole Locke

The key to his past…  

…lies with the enemy sharing his bed!  

Part of The Lochmore Legacy: a Scottish castle through the ages! Rory Lochmore had expected to wage battle, to claim land and finally secure his standing within his clan… Instead he won a wife. A McCrieff wife. Their convenient marriage could unite the two long-feuding clans forever. But can a political alliance give way to a passion strong enough to stand the secrets of the past? 

The final book in Harlequin’s The Lochmore Legacy miniseries is the medieval entry and provides more background on the Lochmore and McCrieff feud. Previous books, written by three other Harlequin Historical writers, covered the Victorian, Regency and Tudor eras, with various secrets hidden behind the castle’s walls revealed along the way.

Joe’s Wife by Cheryl St. John

After Meg Telford's husband dies in the war and is lauded as a hero, she must face the fact that she can't keep the ranch without a man to shoulder the workload. Nothing will stop her from saving Joe's dream. The war has taken nearly all the able-bodied men--and a devilishly handsome bad boy seems her only choice.  

Town pariah, Tye Hatcher has a reputation as a hell-raiser, but he's looking to prove himself and has his own plans for the land. Meg's proposal might be too good to be true, but he's willing to take the risk, even if the risk is his heart.  

Struggling with guilt and the rejection of the townspeople, Meg must learn that her convenient husband is a man who takes risks and does what's right for the sake of others. Her vulnerable dreams and their hard work will be for naught unless she and Tye reveal their secrets and face what they're both coming to understand--they can't change the past, but the future is in their hands. 

Originally published by Harlequin Historical in 1999, this is another self-published reprint that has me itching to do a reread. How long has it been since I’ve read this book? Well, I’ve been blogging for 16 years and I read it pre-blogging days. I loved it back then, and it’s a favorite of many in my personal Romancelandia clan. A widowed heroine desperate to save her farm marries the hero, a man who is constantly reminded by everyone in town (other than the heroine) that he’s “trash.”

What unusual historicals are you looking forward to reading this month?