Hidden Authors
Remember when you didn't have to also be an influencer to be a successful writer
Y’all know I love the hidden identity and hidden intent trope, and a favorite microtrope under that umbrella is definitely this one, where the hidden identity is that one of the characters is an author but, for one reason or another, doesn’t want anyone to know it’s them. While most often a female lead in a historical romance, one of the books on this list is contemporary, which I found fascinating and yes it DID spark some things in my brain, a brain that loves love and liars.
His Reluctant Lady by Aydra Richards. Poppy Fairchild is a secret Gothic novelist using her writing proceeds to support herself and her younger sisters… 2026 could NEVER. Look at what they took from us etc etc. When she goes to a ball for “research” and ends up sharing a searing kiss with a heartbroken Earl in need of distraction, though, her days of anonymity are numbered. Especially since she uses said Earl (David Kittridge) as inspiration for her book, and he realizes the connection.
What follows is Aydra Richards at her best- an ambitious but nonetheless low self esteem heroine eager to learn passion, and a man whose bad behavior from a misunderstanding/ his own obsession with said heroine who must grovel like his damn life depends on it by the end of the book.
How hot? 🔥🔥🔥
Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong. A classic genderbending set up finds author Daphne McFadden (intrepid outdoorswoman) so frustrated by continued manuscript rejections that she sends one last one in… but with a male pseudonym. And wouldn’t you believe, it gets picked up AND there’s a big payout! Essentially, this is the gender version of The Truth According To Ember by Danica Nava, in set-up, at least.
Unfortunately, her male identity (“Zane Remington” ← incredible) needs a face, so she hires accountant (and indoor boy) Chris Stanton to stand in. He looks the part of the rugged outdoorsman, but he definitely needs to get up to speed quick if he’s going to help Daphne pull this off on tour and beyond.
I really liked how this book navigated the inherent discomfort of every piece of this set up (Daphne being sidelined for her gender even in a contemporary, Chris wanting to do a good job for her despite lowkey lying on his resume, both of them wrangling feelings and the subversion of expectations), while still being a really satisfying and nuanced romance. Love a conclusion with a compromise that doesn’t feel compromising.
How hot? 🔥🔥
A Wicked Bargain For The Duke by Megan Frampton. In another case of a female writer needing a man to pretend to be her for legitimacy, Lady Lavinia is the author of a wildly popular and salacious book, but her author identity is her illegitimate half brother, Percy. She’s also Very Concerned that her sister, Jane, is being courted by Thaddeus, the new Duke of Hasford. Jane is shy and sweet and cannot possibly be a good match for the former military officer-turned-Duke, so Lavinia intervenes… but ends up girlbossing a little too close to the sun, ending up in a compromising position that means SHE’LL have to marry Thad.
He needs an heir, which is why he was wife-hunting in the first place, and since neither of them want to be married, they agree they’ll live separately once an heir is conceived… cue grim breeding stuff, swoon. Except Lavinia, being who she is, demands one extra part of the deal- she wants passion. She wants to ENJOY being grimly bred, and at first, Ol’ Thaddeus is NOT up to the task. We love a woman who knows what she wants and when she’s not getting it, and a man willing to LEARN.
I don’t honestly remember how her book and writing comes into the plot, since much of the plot is concerned with the begetting of an heir/the rescuing of Jane, but that seems like a good reason to reread to me!
How hot? 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Next week, yes, NEXT WEEK, I’ve got my interview with my favorite paranormal/sci-fi author Elizabeth Stephens! Cue additional swooning!
What should I be reading next? Let me know in the comments!
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