10 Books To Read If You Love Watching The Crown
So, you binge-watched Netflix’s The Crown and now you’re at a loss, wanting more! The palace, state dinners, corgis, the good old red box, drama, and steamy romance are sure to pull you from page one to feed your regal fix until the next season. Here are 10 royally fascinating books to read if you love watching The Crown.
A Season for Treason (Deception and Discipline #1) by Golden Angel
A traitor. A courtship. A scandalous Season. In the race against time, will this pair reach the altar or the traitor first? In the service of England's spymaster (well, his niece, but surely he'll appreciate the help), Miss Mary Wilson is on a mission to uncover a treasonous plot. Though her only clue leads to the debaucherous secret society of the Marquess of Hartford, a lifetime of being overlooked should ensure her access to all of the gossip her assignment will require. There's just one problem: Mary is due to find a husband this Season and her Aunt Elizabeth, the Viscountess Hood, is determined to see her niece shine bright.
Focused on finding the perfect bride this Season, the Marquess of Hartford, known to his friends as Rex, finds himself distracted by the quiet Miss Wilson as she continually turns up everywhere she shouldn't be. As Rex considers the misbehaving Miss Wilson, a curious thought occurs to him. Is it possible that she could be the kind of bride who would enjoy life by his side and the pursuits of the Society of Sin?
Winter's Woman (The Wicked Winters Book 9) by Scarlett Scott
The reigning toast of the Season, Lady Evangeline Saltisford is betrothed to the most eligible bachelor in London and a scant few weeks from having everything she has ever wanted. Until danger comes calling, and she is forced to accept aid from a decidedly unlikely—and infuriating—source.
Devil Winter is the illegitimate offspring of a wealthy merchant and a prostitute. He detests fancy aristocrats and has no patience for a cosseted duke’s daughter. But he will do anything for his family, and when his older brother asks Devil to play bodyguard to Lady Evie, he has no choice but to accept the loathsome task.
Evie wants nothing to do with the boorish man from the rookeries who favors growls and glowers to polite manners. She is perfectly happy with her handsome, aristocratic fiancé. At least, that is what she tells herself. Until her gruff protector reveals a side she never imagined existed. A side she finds increasingly difficult to resist.
Devil is determined to eliminate the threat to Evie and cull her from his life. But being forced to remain by her side proves not so loathsome a duty after all. And before long, protecting the stunningly gorgeous duke’s daughter is only the beginning of what Devil wants to do…
Undressed with the Marquess (Lost Lords of London Book 3) by Christi Caldwell
For a heartbroken woman and a daring thief, the most tempting proposal comes after marriage in the unforgettable final Lost Lords of London novel by USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.
Long ago, Dare Grey disappeared from privilege to help the downtrodden. Abandoning his future as a nobleman, he instead came of age as the most skilled—and wanted—thief in East London. But when the Robin Hood of the Rookeries is captured, his influential grandfather offers him a choice: face his heritage...or the gallows. And to step into his rightful role as marquess, Dare must find a wife. Little do they know, he already has.
Marrying Dare rescued young Temperance Swift from a brutal life. Yet his commitments were elsewhere, and Temperance would not continue in the charade of a relationship that surely would end with her husband in Newgate Prison. It broke her heart to leave the righteous bandit, but she established a new life for herself as a seamstress. One who respected and obeyed the law and kept herself safe—if lonely. But Dare finds her and offers to resume their role as husband and wife, and this time it will yield a fortune. A fortune that could be used to help the disadvantaged, without resorting to ever-more-daring thefts...
Once they're ensconced in the comfortable family fold of Mayfair, the romance they thought ended years ago stirs again. But when every kiss is shadowed by the mistakes of the past, and a haunting secret Temperance bears, will love be enough to save them from such an uncertain fate?
Caught in the Storm of a Duke’s Heart by Abby Ayles
She didn’t know what she was seeking, until she found him. He didn’t wish to live any longer, until she gave him a reason to… Judith Brewen’s bid to find her life’s true meaning has her embarking on a journey to Northern England. But there is a storm gathering and her plans will be forcefully cut short…
Stranded in a dark forest with only her maid for company, Judith happens upon a gloomy estate and seeks shelter from its mysterious owner, a man used to living in the shadows. Stephen Dunham, the Duke of Sawbrook, wastes away as life passes him by. A horrible accident left him broken, despite the fact that no physical injuries remained. Now his health is declining, and he has lost all hope and will to live.
As Judith starts breathing life into the husk that was Dunham estate and its gloom slowly dissipates before Stephen’s eyes, he starts hoping for a future again. But can he really condemn this lovely lady that has been a ray of sunshine in his darkness into misery, watching his life fade a little more each day…?
The Beast’s Bride (The Bluestocking War) by Eva Devon & Maire Claremont
From USA TODAY Bestselling author Eva Devon, writing as Maire Claremont, comes a brand new delicious series that will sweep you away to the drama and angst of Regency England. Glittering ballrooms, wild moors, and brooding lords waiting to be tamed by bluestockings await...
Lady Augusta Penworthy is in dire straights. Her father has spent every last coin, and she and her sisters cannot even afford coal. One chance encounter and a torn gown change everything. While one might think a sudden marriage to a wealthy lord would be relief, if that marriage is to to the Duke of Blacktower, one would be vastly mistaken. For no young lady wishes to be the beast’s bride.
The Duke of Blacktower, known to the ton as "The Beast," has a secret. He has vowed never to marry and ensured his fearsome reputation would dissuade any hopeful lady or their scheming mama. Now, his hand has been forced, and his fury is unleashed. But Lady Augusta is not the manipulative young lady he believed, and suddenly, he finds himself tempted by his own bride.
Winter's Wallflower (The Wicked Winters Book 8) by Scarlett Scott
He's the lord of London's underworld. She's the lady who deceived him. And now, there will be hell to pay… Dominic Winter rules his empire with cutthroat determination, his heart as cold and dead as the January ground. Debts must be paid. Men must be loyal. Anyone who defies him will suffer the consequences, including the indolent aristocrats who frequent his establishments.
When a beauty boldly ventures into his lair and strikes a bargain with him to save an unworthy lord, Dom is captivated. Though his instincts tell him she cannot be trusted, soon, he will do anything to make her his. Until she disappears. Desperate to save her beloved brother from ruin—or worse—at the hands of the despicable Mr. Winter, Lady Adele Saltisford offers herself in exchange. But one night of unexpected passion leaves her with dire consequences. Torn between her dangerous attraction to Dom and loyalty to her family, Adele flees London.
It doesn't take Dom long to discover the depth of her betrayal and give chase. This time, nothing and no one will stop him from claiming her. It's crime lord versus duke's daughter in a battle of the heart.
Married to the Rogue (Season of Scandal Book 3) by Mary Lancaster
Free to follow her heart…just not to her husband! Deborah needs a husband to protect her from the scandal breaking over her head; Christopher Halland, a radical and ambitious member of parliament, needs a wife to get at his fortune and Gosmere Hall. It is the perfect marriage of convenience. Or is it? She should have been warned off by the fury in his eyes on their first encounter when he almost rode over her. And by the whispered rumors of his women and loose living. Instead, she thrives as the lady of Gosmere Hall, and her calm soothes her volatile husband throughout quarrels with his grandfather, and even when his black-sheep cousin, accused of murder, turns up wounded in the cellar. However, falling in love was not part of their agreement—at least not with each other—and they have to overcome many misunderstandings before happiness is within their reach.
A Governess Should Never... Tempt a Prizefighter by Emily Windsor
A question to rouse fear within the breast of any prospective governess but for Matilda, a lady without references, appropriate brown clothing or any experience with children whatsoever, doubly so. Yet, alone in the world, except for a brutish guardian and a malodorous betrothed, Matilda must seek her own future, even if that means employment in the household of a rugged ex-prizefighter with sizeable muscles and doubtless miniscule intellect.
“Please continue to enlighten me, Miss Griffin.” Mr Seth Hawkins, owner of famed Boxing Academy, has reached the point of desperation in his search for a governess. Yet, with no other suitable candidates, could this yellow-clad, bespectacled female who seemed to think him a witless dolt with calloused knuckles and no books, teach his daughter the ways of a lady?
The Lady and the Prizefighter. One should never judge a man by his well-defined muscles or a lady by her yellow-silk slippers, for beneath both façades, lay yearning hearts, shared dreams, and a taste for adventure. With tavern excursions, scandalous kisses in midnight carriages, whifflers, nobblers, and dressing as a nefarious footpad on the prowl, the vocation of governess has never been so exciting…
The Duke Who Didn't (Wedgeford Trials Book 1) by Courtney Milan
Miss Chloe Fong has plans for her life, lists for her days, and absolutely no time for nonsense. Three years ago, she told her childhood sweetheart that he could talk to her once he planned to be serious. He disappeared that very night. Except now he’s back. Jeremy Wentworth, the Duke of Lansing, has returned to the tiny village he once visited with the hope of wooing Chloe. In his defense, it took him years of attempting to be serious to realize that the endeavor was incompatible with his personality. All he has to do is convince Chloe to make room for a mischievous trickster in her life, then disclose that in all the years they’ve known each other, he’s failed to mention his real name, his title… and the minor fact that he owns her entire village. Only one thing can go wrong: Everything
Nothing Compares to the Duke: The Duke's Den by Christy Carlyle
Christy Carlyle concludes her Duke’s Den series with this sparkling romance about two reluctant allies intent on following the rules and breaking every single one.
His Only Regret… Rhys Forester, the new Duke of Claremont, lives his life by four words: Enjoy All, Regret Nothing. He’s devoted to the pleasure of his wild soirees, reckless behavior, and shocking the ton with his interests in trade. The debts that come with his title don’t fit the carefree lifestyle he’s created, and when he’s forced to return to his family’s estate, he’s also forced to confront his one and only regret: the beautiful girl he left behind.
May Be Falling in Love… Arabella Prescott has been the belle of more balls than she cares to remember. After three seasons and five rejected proposals, she’s done with the marriage mart. Bella’s hopes to live a comfortable life, alone, come crashing down when her parents demand she marry. But her salvation may come in the form of the man she hates the most.
Bella has never forgiven Rhys for what he did to her, but desperate times call for fake engagements. With a few dozen rules, their scheme begins, but it’s not long before the former enemies find themselves breaking every single rule, including the most important of them all: don’t fall in love…
Christmas Reindeer Cupcakes
Ingredients Cupcakes:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 ½ cups sifted self-rising flour
½ cup milk
Ingredients Frosting:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 drop brown food coloring
Ingredients Decoration:
6 vanilla wafer cookies (such as Nilla®)
12 red jellybeans
24 candy eyeballs
24 chewy chocolate-flavored candy (such as Tootsie Roll®)
24 pretzels
Directions
Step 1 - Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line cups with paper liners.
Step 2 - Combine 9 tablespoons of butter, white sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add eggs one at a time and beat until well combined. Fold in half the flour and 1/4 cup milk and stir to combine. Repeat with remaining flour and milk. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
Step 3 - Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 minutes.
Step 4 - Remove tin from oven and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the tin and cool completely on a wire rack before decorating, about 1 hour.
Step 5 - Combine confections' sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1 tablespoon milk in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Thin frosting with a little milk or water, if necessary. Add food coloring and stir until frosting is uniformly brown. Add more food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until frosting is the color you like.
Step 6 - Spread a thin layer of frosting on top of each cupcake. Break vanilla cookies in half. Place a cookie half on each cupcake as a mouth. Use a bit of frosting to "glue" a jellybean onto the cookie for Rudolph's red nose. Stick 2 candy eyeballs into each cupcake. Break off a piece from each pretzel so they look like antlers and stick 2 into the top of each cupcake. Shape chewy candies into ears and stick 2 into the sides of each cupcake.