I love a good masquerade Regency. If you look on the Books by Plot Type, which categorizes books we have reviewed by general plot or trope, you will see its one of my largest trope categories…for a reason (it means I read them a lot because I love this trope a lot!). But I haven’t distinguished the type of masquerade. Per reader request, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite (and reader favorite) Regencies where the heroine masquerades as a man.
In no particular order, the book covers are linked to Amazon for purchase (and your purchase helps sponsor the blog) and where the author and title are highlighted, you can click to read a Regency Reader review.
Sarah MacLean: Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover. By day she is Lady Georgiana, a Duke’s sister, and by night a founder of London’s most notorious gaming hell.
Liana De la Rosa: To Tame a Scandalous Lady The best way to learn about horse breeding is to masquerade as the Earl’s assistant horse trainer…even if that means giving up the luxuries of her former life.
Darcy Burke: One Night of Scandal The Duke’s sister has a side hustle as a male gossip columnist that is threatened by a sexy MP’s discovery of her ruse.
Cat Sebastian: Unmasked by the Marquess. Readers call it Sebastian’s take on Heyer’s Frederica, with a non-binary MC who presents as both man and woman.
Eloisa James: Duchess By Night An older title, this features a heroine masquerading as a rake.
Georgette Heyer: The Corinthian An OG Regency featuring a heroine who cross-dresses to escape villainous family members and runs into a Corinthian.
Mary Jo Putney: Silk and Secrets A Victorian heroine seeks adventure as a man, but must reunite with her estranged husband to rescue her missing brother.
Sarah MacLean: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. Heroine decides to break some rules and explore what rakes get to do.
Lynsay Sands: The Switch. Escaping a villainous Uncle, twins take turns masquerading as the other’s brother.
Mary Jo Putney: The Rake Heroine masquerading as a steward to absentee landlord…who shows up and sparks fly.
Jo Beverley: My Lady Notorious Lady Chastity dresses as a highway to escape a villian and ends up kidnapping a hot aristocrat.
Suzanne Enoch: Lady Rogue Spies, escapades, and an Earl who has figured out Kit is Christine.
Elizabeth Hoyt: Duke of Pleasure Masked vigilante on the streets of St. Giles, Alf saves the Duke and loses her heart.
Anna Jane Greenville: The Girl Who Was a Gentleman. Victorian romance with a heroine who attends boarding school as a boy, and falls for a schoolmate.
Julia Quinn: Minx One of my favorite JQ books, the heroine is less masquerading as a chap and more living her truth in breeches.
Joanna Maitland: His Cavalry Lady Loosely based on real life Nadezhda Durova, this novel features a Duke and a Captain (who is a lady).
Joanna Shupe: The Lady Hellion Lady Sophia is on a crusade to help the poor. Wearing trousers is easy. What she needs is help shooting. Enter Lord Quint.
Lily Maxton: The Rogue’s Conquest Scientist Eleanor dresses up as a man but is discovered by a prizefighter who will use her secret as leverage…until the stakes become love.
Erica Ridley: One Night to Remember She is a racing curricle mechanic who had to masquerade as a boy throughout childhood and a supportive man.
DL Carter: Ridiculous A romp where Millicent assumes her cousin’s identity to save her family.
Emily Larkin: My Lady Thief Arabella is Earl’s ward by day and Robin Hood by night.
Celeste Bradley: The Spy Dressed as a young tutor, Phillippa is trying to find her father who has been abducted by French Spies.
Emily Larkin: Unmasking Miss Appleby A little magic helps heroine Charlotte be able to change into a man. Her new employer needs her detective skills.
Laura Lee Guhkre: Governess Gone Rogue Amanda needs a job and has the qualifications to be a tutor. Hopefully, her new employer the Earl of Kenyon, doesn’t figure out the new tutor is in disguise…
Jane Feather: Love’s Charade The half starved boy rescued from the streets of Paris will turn out to torment the Earl of Linton once he discovers the lovely lady beneath the disguise.
Sophia Jordan: Sins of a Wicked Duke Dressed as a footman in the most notorious Duke’s house, she starts to be tempted by the devilish rogue.
Nicola Davidson: The Seduction of Viscount Vice Footman sent to spy in a pleasure club, Lady MacNair is determined to set up a competing club and best her former lover. Guaranteed to be hot stuff
Tracy Anne Warren: Bedchamber Games A rising star in legal circles, Lord Byron is challenged by an upstart barrister who is more than he seems…
Darcy Burke: The Duke of Daring Lucy gambles it all, dressed as a man, including her heart.
Wendy Vella: Lady in Disguise Dressed as a highwayman, Olivia runs into the man who broke her heart, and is now bent on saving her.
Honorable Mention:
Carla Kelly: Miss Grimsley’s Oxford Career. Miss Grimsley slips into her brother’s robes to take a peek at his education and finds love. Limited masquerading, but worth a mention
I am so excited to dive in to some of these! Let me know in the comments what some of your favorite books of this trope are.
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