31 Comments

1. Jessica C on July 11, 2011 at 6:51 am

   The Scandal of the Season by Sophie Gee

   http://www.amazon.com/Scandal-Season-Novel-Sophie-Gee/dp/1416540571/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1310382068&sr=1-1

   – follows the poet Alexander Pope as he takes on London society and finds the inspiration for his poem, The Rape of the Lock. Fun, racy with a nice brisk tone that reminds me of the Pink series

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2. AngelB on July 11, 2011 at 7:12 am

   Traitor’s Kiss/Lover’s Kiss by Mary Blayney.

   If just for the fact it mentions Richard Selwick. 🙂

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3. Susan on July 11, 2011 at 7:36 am

   I’ll second Traitor’s Kiss/Lover’s Kiss by Mary Blayney. 2 books in one.

   I’ll also recommend the Liars Club series by Celeste Bradley. The Pretender, The Imposter, The Spy, The Charmer, and The Rogue.

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4. Jo3 on July 11, 2011 at 7:57 am

   The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips.

   A story of suspense and romance as two 21st century academics unravel a 17th century Venetian mystery.

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5. Julie L on July 11, 2011 at 8:04 am

   Memoirs of a Hoyden by Joan Smith

   Lots of humor and running around in the dark. Spies chasing smugglers and one enterprising, bossy and plucky heroine refuses to stay home and be left out of all the fun!

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6. Joanne M. on July 11, 2011 at 9:53 am

   All of these are great suggestions! I second Julie’s Joan Smith suggestion — there is a website, Regency Reads, where you can download some out-of-print regency era books in ebook formats (including Joan Smith’s books).
   “E-books for the haut ton.” 🙂

   http://www.regencyreads.com

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7. Georgia on July 11, 2011 at 10:35 am

   Joanna Bourne’s books are fun and poignant. Great suggestion

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8. jeffrey on July 11, 2011 at 10:38 am

   This may be a bit of a stretch because I find the entire Pink Carnation series so singularly unique….

   A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May alcott (yes she wrote more than just Little Women)

   Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer (Highly improbable, nevertheless an entertaining read)

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9. Bridget on July 11, 2011 at 11:41 am

   I agree with the Scarlet Pimpernel movie, it was on last weekend!

   I’m excited to try the Louisa May Alcott book, I’ve read most of hers, but not that one.

   I would have to like Georgette Heyer Books and Jane Eyre by Bronte!

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10. Leslie on July 11, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Mary Jo Putney has a wonderful series
    “The Fallen Angels” Check them out!
    For those open door romance lovers, try Jo Goodman’s series, “The Compass Club”. Very sexy Peers. Both series have great characters. Happy reading!

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11. Laura on July 11, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

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12. Sarah on July 11, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James! OK, there are no spies, but I feel like Eloisa’s characters would get along very well with Jane and her crew.

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13. LeeB. on July 11, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly. No spies, but past and present characters would definitely like each other.

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14. Anya on July 11, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    The Duke and I by Julia Quinn….<3

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15. Melody on July 11, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    Thank you for such a lovely website!
    I just enjoyed reading The Orchid Affair. I recommend The Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga. Art, mystery and love set in late 1960’s Florence.

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16. Virginia on July 11, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander. I just finished reading it and loved it. There aren’t any spies, but there is a mystery to solve.

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17. Am7 on July 12, 2011 at 2:03 am

    Her Royal Spyness (series)
    The heroine is Eloise-ish, (also Pammy and Colin type characters) though set in the 1930s. still very relatable to the present.
    However with the story set in 1930’s we get the same kind of famous historical figures interacting with the characters. The historical cameos are simiiar to historical cameos in the pink story.
    not espionage but mystery…
    These books remind me of the pink series than anything else.

    Also
    anything by Julia Quinn
    Shopaholic
    The Spymaster’s Lady/ the Forbidden rose, etc. Joanna Bourne

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18. Charis on July 12, 2011 at 8:27 am

    I whould suggest the Jane Austen mystery series by Stephanie Barron, beginning with Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scaregrae Manor. http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Unpleasantness-Scargrave-Manor-Mysteries/dp/0553575937

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19. SusanN on July 12, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    Kate Ross’s Julian Kestrel series. Not a spy series, but a Regency detective series. (I literally cry when I read these books, tho, because I can’t keep Ms. Ross’s untimely death out of my mind, thinking what a terrible loss it was, and wondering where the series would have gone.)

    Ashley Gardner’s Capt. Lacey series. Again, a Regency detective series, rather than a spy romp, but still good.

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20. SusanN on July 12, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    I’d also like to add C.S. Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mysteries to my list.

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21. jamie on July 12, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    i can add georgette heyer’s short short story collection pistols for two. fabulous characters as always and disguises abound!

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22. Lindsey on July 12, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Kathleen Winsor’s ‘Forever Amber’. Great story and characters.

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23. Stephanie on July 13, 2011 at 2:15 am

    First, I agree with the assessment of Forever Amber. Fantastic book. One of my favorites. Also, I just finished reading The Spymaster’s Lady because of this list and LOVED it! Did not see the 3/4-of-the-way-through twist coming at ALL!

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24. Rachel on July 13, 2011 at 7:44 am

    An Accomplished Woman, by Jude Morgan. totally hilarious and romantic!

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25. Chaysen Tula on July 13, 2011 at 11:42 am

    I love the two film versions that you already mentioned but I also love the A&E version of the Scarlet Pimpernel

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26. Leslie on July 13, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    Thanks for all the recommendations!

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27. Dawn on July 13, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    I have to second SusanN’s recommendations of the Kate Ross Julian Kestrel (I haven’t read the last one for the reasons you mentioned) series and Ashley Gardner’s Captain Lacy series (I met the author at a signing last year and she mentioned there could be a new one). Both most deserving of more readers.

    I will suggest a movie, just to be different. The Black Book (1949) set during the French Revolution, about both sides fighting and trying to outwit one another to get a hold of a book of names kept by Robespierre.

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28. SusanN on July 14, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    Thanks, Dawn.

    If you can bring yourself to read it, the 4th Kestrel book is probably the best, most complex in the series. (All the more heartrending, of course.)

    There’s definitely a new Lacey book coming out later this year. AG has been re-releasing the existing books in the series in e-format (including a novella), with a brand new book being offered in September. I’m happy she’s turned her attention back to this genre/series. I love practically everything this prolific author writes under any of her names.

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29. Shelley on April 22, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    “The Grand Sophy,” by Georgette Heyer. Hands down her best novel and funniest! You never know what Sophy will do or how she will get others to do her will. Not a spy romp but if you love the tone of Lauren Willig you’ll love this novel. . .sooo witty!

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30. Dianna on September 25, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia series (5 books/4 e-book Novellas and a 20 year later follow up book “Night of a Thousand Stars”). Also Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series.

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31. Dianna on September 25, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Can’t leave out anything written by Elizabeth Peters/ Barbara Michaels!!!

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