My Ultimate List of Marriage of Convenience Historical Romance Novels — Katherine Grant Romance (2024)

When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare

Average Goodread Rating: 3.95

Synopsis:

On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.

A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.

Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

For Logan, he wants to claim Maddie’s castle so his men have somewhere they can settle. For Maddie, well, he is the actual manifestation of her dream guy. But she isn’t sure she actually agreed to the marriage, so there is some back and forth about whether the marriage will last, leading to fun angst!

Brighter Than the Sun by Julia Quinn

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.89

Synopsis:
When Charles Wycombe, the dashing and incorrigible Earl of Billington, toppled out of a tree and landed at Ellie Lyndon‘s feet, neither suspected that such an inauspicious meeting would lead to marriage. But Charles must find a bride before his thirtieth birthday or he’ll lose his fortune. And Ellie needs a husband or her father’s odious fiancée will choose one for her. And so they agree to wed, even though their match appears to have been made somewhere hotter than heaven…

Ellie never dreamed she’d marry a stranger, especially one with such a devastating combination of rakish charm and debonair wit. She tries to keep him at arm’s length, at least until she discovers the man beneath the handsome surface. But Charles can be quite persuasive—even tender—when he puts his mind to it, and Ellie finds herself slipping under his seductive spell. And as one kiss leads to another, this unlikely pair discovers that their marriage is not so inconvenient after all… and just might lead to love.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:
Charles is about to lose his fortune for lack of a bride (for reasons). Ellie is anxious to escape the thumb of her stepmother-to-be. They agree it will be purely a business arrangement, until Charles realizes he finds Ellie particularly attractive and she discovers husbands can be quite the charmers when they want to be.

First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.80

Synopsis:

Against the scandal and seduction of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh introduces an extraordinary family—the fiery, sensual Huxtables. Vanessa is the second daughter, proud and daring, a young widow who has her own reason for pursuing the most eligible bachelor in London. One that has nothing to do with love. Or does it?

The arrival of Elliott Wallace, the irresistibly eligible Viscount Lyngate, has thrown the country village of Throckbridge into a tizzy. Desperate to rescue her eldest sister from a loveless union, Vanessa Huxtable Dew offers herself instead. In need of a wife, Elliott takes the audacious widow up on her unconventional proposal while he pursues an urgent mission of his own. But a strange thing happens on the way to the wedding night. Two strangers with absolutely nothing in common can’t keep their hands off each other. Now, as intrigue swirls around a past secret—one with a stunning connection to the Huxtables—Elliott and Vanessa are uncovering the glorious pleasures of the marriage bed…and discovering that when it comes to wedded bliss, love can’t be far behind.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

Elliott is responsible for this new family that has inherited his neighboring estate, so he might as well marry one of the sisters. That way, he’ll have a wife, and said wife can take care of introducing the rest of the sisters to Society. As for Vanessa, well, she has already had a chance at marriage, so she doesn’t want to ask her sister Meg to sacrifice by marrying Elliott. It’s a little bit of martyrdom, except for the fact that she does find Elliott pretty attractive.

Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.09

Synopsis:
When Devil, the most infamous member of the Cynster family, is caught in a compromising position with plucky governess Honoria Wetherby, he astonishes the entire town by offering his hand in marriage. No one dreamed this scandalous rake would ever take a bride. And as society mamas swooned at the loss of England′s most eligible bachelor, Devil′s infamous Cynster cousins began to place wagers on the wedding date.

But Honoria wasn′t about to bend society′s demands and marry a man "just" because they′d been found together virtually unchaperoned. No, she craved adventure, and while solving the murder of a young Cynster cousin fit the bill for a while, she decided that once the crime was solved she′d go off to see the world. But the scalding heat of her unsated desire for Devil soon had Honoria craving a very different sort of excitement. Could her passion for Devil cause her to embrace the enchanting peril of a lifelong adventure of the heart?

Why the Marriage is Convenient:
Devil and Honoria spend the night alone in a cottage during a storm, so it only makes sense to save Honoria’s reputation by marriage. At least, that is Devil’s excuse. For Honoria’s part, she doesn’t mind her reputation, but she does want to get to the bottom of who killed Devil’s cousin - the reason she and Devil ended up in the storm in the first place. So, like any good amateur sleuth, she accepts Devil’s hand in order to stay close by as he and his cousins investigate.

The Matrimonial Advertisem*nt by Mimi Matthews

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.03

Synopsis:
She Wanted Sanctuary...

Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar's Abbey isn't the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill--though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome--is anything but a romantic hero.

He Needed Redemption...

Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison. Now, he needs someone to smooth the way for him with the villagers. Someone to manage his household--and warm his bed on occasion. What he needs, in short, is a wife and a matrimonial advertisem*nt seems the perfect way to acquire one.

Their marriage was meant to be a business arrangement and nothing more. A dispassionate union free from the entanglements of love and affection. But when Helena's past threatens, will Justin's burgeoning feelings for his new bride compel him to come to her rescue? Or will dark secrets of his own force him to let her go?

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

For Justin, a wife is a status symbol that he has improved himself from the boy everyone in town knew. For Helena, a marriage in a remote, hard-to-access corner of England is precisely the escape she needs from her dangerous current situation. It is a win-win - as long as no emotions get involved, right?

A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.17

Synopsis:

It was the ideal marriage of convenience...until they met

Cassandra DeWitt has seen her husband only once--on their wedding day two years earlier--and this arrangement suits her perfectly. She has no interest in the rude, badly behaved man she married only to secure her inheritance. She certainly has no interest in his ban on her going to London. Why, he'll never even know she is there.

Until he shows up in London too, and Cassandra finds herself sharing a house with the most infuriating man in England.

Joshua DeWitt has his life exactly how he wants it. He has no need of a wife disrupting everything, especially a wife intent on reforming his behavior. He certainly has no need of a wife who is intolerably amiable, insufferably reasonable ... and irresistibly kissable.

As the unlikely couple team up to battle a malicious lawsuit and launch Cassandra's wayward sister, passion flares between them. Soon the day must come for them to part ... but what if one of them wants their marriage to become real?

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

Both Cassandra and Joshua agreed to their marriage because they felt it was her dying father’s wish. For Cassandra, it meant income and security for herself and her sisters. For Joshua, it meant paying tribute to his mentor. And the marriage has been convenient for years, in the sense that they don’t ever meet, but it gets harder to keep it that way when they are actually living in the same house. Cue lots of delicious sexual tension!

In the Wake of the Wind by Katherine Kingsley

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.64

Synopsis:

Enchanting Serafina endured years of exile in Wales with consoling thoughts of the golden-maned lover who was her destiny throughout time. On the eve of his wedding to a woman he doesn't know, the Earl of Aubrey meets a breathtaking fairy queen in the woods. Spellbound, he meets her again--on his wedding day.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

This marriage has been arranged since Serafina and Aiden were children. Serafina believes she is on the way to marry her fated love. Aiden believes he is being trapped into a terrible marriage to an unweddable woman. When they meet just before the wedding, Aiden falls for Serafina’s beauty, and she is horrified that he does not look at all like the man of her literal dreams. Heads up: this is an old school romance that also includes witchy time travel!

How to Love a Duke in 10 Days by Kerrigan Byrne

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.15

Synopsis:

Famed and brilliant, Lady Alexandra Lane has always known how to look out for to herself. But nobody would ever expect that she has darkness in her past—one that she pays a blackmailer to keep buried. Now, with her family nearing bankruptcy, Alexandra strikes upon a solution: Get married to one of the empire’s most wealthy eligible bachelors. Even if he does have the reputation of a devil.

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is seeking revenge and the first step is securing a bride. Winning a lady’s hand is not so easy, however, for a man known as the Terror of Torcliff. Then, Alexandra enters his life like a bolt of lightning. When she proposes marriage, Piers knows that, like him, trouble haunts her footsteps. But her gentleness, sharp wit, independent nature, and incredible beauty awakens every fierce desire within him. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe in his arms.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

Piers doesn’t expect anyone to actually be attracted to him, so he is happy to marry any woman who will take him. Alexandra needs the money that comes from being a duke’s wife. That there is a palpable frisson of attraction between them only makes it that much harder to explain to her friends.

The Gilded Web by Mary Balogh

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.58

Synopsis:

From one of America’s most beloved storytellers comes a classic love story—the breathtaking tale of a man and a woman caught in a web of temptation and seduction.

All she wanted was to escape the hot, crowded London ballroom. But moments after stepping into the bitterly cold night, she is seized by a pair of strong hands and spirited away. Fully expecting to be ravished, sheltered Alexandra Purnell instead finds herself at the mercy of the man who saved her from certain scandal. Edmund, Earl of Amberley, is bold and sensual, tempting Alexandra to be reckless for the first time in her life. But as passion ignites, Edmund’s offer of marriage takes Alexandra completely by surprise. Now a woman who craves her freedom above all else is about to discover how far one man will go to protect and possess the woman he loves.…

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

For Alexandra, marriage is not only convenient but necessary, because word around town is that she was ruined that night she was kidnapped. For Edmund, the marriage is essential to repair the honor of his family.

Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.99

Synopsis:

England, 1817. Miss Adeline Hays is out of options. Determined to escape marriage to a repugnant earl, Adeline plans to deliberately allow herself to be caught in a compromising position at a house party with the much kinder man she’d hoped to marry. Instead, Adeline accidentally enters the wrong chamber and tumbles into the bed of the mad duke.

Edmond Rochester, the duke of Wolverton, is seeking a wife to care for his two daughters. A young lady of sensibilities, accomplishment, and most importantly, one who he is not attracted to—a complete opposite of the bewitching beauty who traps him into marriage. But despite the lust he feels for his new duch*ess, Edmond is resolved to never allow them intimacy, refusing to ever again suffer the tormenting loss of a loved one.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:
Adeline wants a marriage, so she makes it convenient by stumbling into a bedroom. Except it is not the man she expected it to be. So suddenly it becomes convenient in order to save her reputation but not so much her self-respect. Meanwhile, Edmond finds it convenient to have a replacement mother for his young children. Too bad he doesn’t want to be attracted to his wife!

Fair as a Star by Mimi Matthews

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.17

Synopsis:

A Secret Burden…

After a mysterious sojourn in Paris, Beryl Burnham has returned home to the village of Shepton Worthy ready to resume the life she left behind. Betrothed to the wealthy Sir Henry Rivenhall, she has no reason to be unhappy—or so people keep reminding her. But Beryl’s life isn’t as perfect as everyone believes.

A Longstanding Love…

As village curate, Mark Rivenhall is known for his compassionate understanding. When his older brother’s intended needs a shoulder to lean on, Mark’s more than willing to provide one. There’s no danger of losing his heart. He already lost that to Beryl a long time ago.

During an idyllic Victorian summer, friends and family gather in anticipation of Beryl and Sir Henry’s wedding. But in her darkest moment, it’s Mark who comes to Beryl’s aid. Can he help her without revealing his feelings—or betraying his brother?

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

Ok, this one is a different take: Beryl is about to enter into a marriage of convenience that we as the readers can see would be TERRIBLE! Obviously, she should be marrying her fiance’s brother instead! I’m including it in this list because it is a fun twist on the trope.

Tempest by Beverly Jenkins

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.19

Synopsis:

What kind of mail-order bride greets her intended with a bullet instead of a kiss? One like Regan Carmichael—an independent spirit equally at home in denims and dresses. Shooting Dr. Colton Lee in the shoulder is an honest error, but soon Regan wonders if her entire plan to marry a man she’s never met is a mistake. Colton, who buried his heart along with his first wife, insists he only wants someone to care for his daughter. Yet Regan is drawn to the unmistakable desire in his gaze.

Regan’s far from the docile bride Colton was expecting. Still, few women would brave the wilds of Wyoming Territory for an uncertain future with a widower and his child. The thought of having a bold, forthright woman like Regan in his life—and in his arms—begins to inspire a new dream. And despite his family’s disapproval and an unseen enemy, he’ll risk all to make this match a real union of body and soul.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

Jumping to the American Old West, you’ve got a classic trope: the mail order bride! For Regan, the convenience is an adventure. She doesn’t necessarily want to fall in love with her husband, but she does want to start her own life, and that’s what marriage means. Meanwhile, Colton is looking for what all widowers need: a replacement mother for his daughter.

About a Rogue by Caroline Linden

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.90

Synopsis:

It’s no love match…

Bianca Tate is horrified when her sister Cathy is obliged to accept an offer of marriage from Maximilian St. James, notorious rake. Defiantly she helps Cathy elope with her true love, and takes her sister’s place at the altar.

It’s not even the match that was made…

Perched on the lowest branch of his family tree, Max has relied on charm and cunning to survive. But an unexpected stroke of luck gives him an outside chance at a dukedom—and which Tate sister he weds hardly seems to matter.

But could it be the perfect match?

Married or not, Bianca is determined to protect her family’s prosperous ceramics business, even when Max shows an affinity for it—not to mention a dangerous ability to intrigue and tempt Bianca herself. And when Max realizes how beautiful and intelligent and desirable Bianca is, he’ll have to prove he’s no rogue, but the passionately devoted husband she craves…

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

For Max, marriage to a Tate - any Tate sister - gives him lifelong access to the Tate business. He wants the purpose, cachet, and income that being a business owner offers. Meanwhile, for Bianca, the only convenient thing about the marriage is allowing her sister to run away and not marry Max.

The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.12

Synopsis:

An Uncommon Beauty...

Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it's caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland--a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke's clutches, she's going to need a little help.

An Unlikely Hero...

Captain Arthur Heywood's days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.

Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her--and her heart--in more danger than ever?

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

For Philly, marriage to Arthur is an escape from marriage to the terrible duke who would treat her as a possession. For Arthur, well, the goal is the same: save Phyllida from a dangerous fate. For those of us who don’t like a lot of angst, this marriage of convenience is a balm to the soul because they don’t waste too much time before confessing to one another that they are actually pretty psyched to have ended up together.

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.89

Synopsis:
Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale, has a problem: he needs to marry and produce an heir to the title. All Jasper wants is to find a lady who will put up with him long enough to wed so he can retreat to his life of debauchery—a life that keeps the haunting memories of his past at bay. Knowing that Jasper is under pressure to marry, Melisande Fleming grasps her fate with both hands and volunteers to wed him. Although Jasper is initially only interested in producing an heir, he soon becomes entranced by his wife—prim and proper by day, wanton by night—and vows to learn her secrets.

Melisande, however, is determined to keep her husband at a distance. She has loved and lost before, and will do anything to keep him from learning her terrible weakness: She's secretly been in love with him for years. But to her chagrin, her husband pursues her, wooing her as if she were a paramour, not his lady wife. As Melisande and Jasper embark on a passionate game of cat and mouse, secrets from the past begin to resurface ... threatening to tear them asunder.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

After being jilted by two women in a year, Jasper is rather desperate to have a wife, so he finds marriage to Melissande convenient simply because it is a sure thing. As for Melissande, she claims that it is convenient because she wants the status of being a married lady and to no longer live with her brother as a spinster. What she doesn’t admit is that she has been quietly in love with Jasper for years.

The Husband Plot by Katherine Grant (me)

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.89

Synopsis:

What could go wrong when you marry a perfect stranger?

Lisbeth Dawes would rather not end up a spinster. After her first fiance leaves her at the altar, she agrees to marry Adrian Hathorne sight-unseen. She doesn’t expect much from her new husband, since he plans to leave for Jamaica within the year, but she does hope for friendship and freedom to pursue her own interests.

Adrian Hathorne wants to be above reproach. He doesn’t indulge in any of the usual gentlemanly pursuits, nor does he chase after any women. When his father writes from Jamaica with instructions to marry as soon as possible, he does as asked. It is only after the wedding that he realizes he doesn’t really know how to be a husband - especially not to a bluestocking wife with so many of her own ideas.

Divorce is not an option - which means Lisbeth and Adrian need to find common ground before their marriage of convenience goes up in smoke. Just when they have discovered they don’t disagree with each other over everything, another letter arrives from Jamaica with news neither of them expected. News that will test every aspect of their fledgling marriage.

Why the Marriage is Convenient:

Lisbeth wants the independence of being a married lady. In particular, a married lady whose husband will live on the other side of the Atlantic for most of their marriage. For Adrian, marriage to Lisbeth is the final step in building status as an elite Englishman in hopes of being approved to be treated legally as a White man under Jamaican law. Neither of them expect the marriage to include any emotions, but that’s just silly of them, isn’t it?