author Christina Dudley: delightful historical romance

I’m excited to feature author Christina Dudley, who writes both historical and contemporary romance. Since I’ve read her historical romances, that will be my focus. Her storytelling is filled with wit and humor, and her books are refreshingly clean and wholesome.

General information about author Christina Dudley

Author Christina Dudley’s novels have been praised as “enchanting,” “sparkling,” and “swoon-worthy” by reviewers from Austenprose and Austenesque Reviews. She has written two award-winning Regency series, The Hapgoods of Bramleigh and The Ellsworth Assortment, as well as Pride and Preston Lin, a modern take on Austen’s classic. Her contemporary novel was named a February 2024 Editor’s Pick by Kirkus Reviews Magazine and earned starred reviews from both Kirkus and Booklist. She currently resides in Bellevue, Washington with her family.

My favorite of her series in historical romance, Lord Dere’s Dependents

Oxfordshire, 1800. When Lord Ranulph Dere offers a cottage on his Perryfield estate to a family of poor relations, he never expects how deeply they will capture hearts—or how these young ladies will upend his quiet world. Lord Dere’s Dependents is a charming series of clean and wholesome Regency romances, perfect to enjoy as standalones or in order.

I give By His Grace and Favor, book one, an enthusiastic five stars:

When misfortune befalls the Barstow family, eldest daughter Adela hatches a daring secret plan: she will secure their future by marrying their elderly benefactor, Lord Dere of Perryfield. But her path is anything but smooth. First, she faces the sharp disapproval of the household tutor, a man who seems determined to thwart her efforts. Then, to her own surprise, she finds her heart refusing to follow her carefully laid scheme.

Tutor Gerard Weatherill has his own battles to fight. Determined to carve out a place in respectable society, he keeps everyone at a distance, guarding secrets that could unravel his ambitions. And no one poses a greater risk to his carefully built walls than the keen-eyed, quick-witted Adela Barstow. Observant, mischievous, irresistible Adela Barstow. But if he pushes her away, will he sacrifice something far more precious than his hard-earned reputation?

An aspect of this book I especially enjoyed was learning about Fleet Prison:

Fleet Prison, located in London, was one of England’s most notorious debtors’ prisons. It operated for centuries before its closure in 1844. Prisoners ranged from struggling tradesmen to once-wealthy individuals who had fallen on hard times. Unlike criminal prisons, Fleet operated with a degree of autonomy, allowing inmates to move about within its walls.

Corruption was rampant, with prison officials charging inmates fees for everything from basic necessities to privileges like improved lodging or temporary release under the “day rules,” which allowed prisoners to leave during daylight hours if they could afford it. Despite its grim reputation, Fleet became a microcosm of society, where debtors, their families, and even businesses operated within its confines. The prison’s notoriety was cemented in literature, with Charles Dickens later drawing inspiration from it in The Pickwick Papers. By the mid-19th century, shifting attitudes toward debt and imprisonment led to Fleet’s closure, marking the end of an era in England’s treatment of financial hardship.

Book two, Mrs. Merritt’s Remorse, also earns five stars:

Jane Merritt’s first marriage was a disaster, so much so that she swore she would never marry again. But when a young man enters her life, embodying everything her first husband was not, she finds her heart unwilling to abide by her resolve.

Philip Egerton has a clear path: earn his Oxford degree, secure a fellowship, serve as a curate, and eventually step into the living promised by his uncle. At that point, he will dutifully marry his uncle’s angelic ward. A woman like the widowed Mrs. Merritt, with her complicated past, has no place in his carefully laid plans. So why can’t he seem to stop thinking about her?

This book was thought-provoking. Author Christina Dudley powerfully illustrates the ways society passes judgment, showing how people justify their attitudes toward others. Through her characters, she highlights the unfortunate tendency to assign varying levels of guilt based on who is perceived as the “sinner” and the severity of the “sin.” It really made the double standards jump out at me.

Book three is The Bestowed Bride:

A naval officer who is reckless at times, Horace Greenleigh returns to England a changed man. He has lost his closest friend, his health, and two years of his life as a prisoner of war. He finds that his childhood sweetheart is now engaged to another. Though the promises made to him have been broken, he remains determined to keep his own. His duty is to honor his late friend Sebastian Barstow’s final request by caring for Sebastian’s widow and young son.

Sarah Barstow has built a quiet, contented life with her son, Bash, and the warm, loving family of her late husband. Out of nowhere, a man from her past arrives, insisting her late husband had entrusted her to his care and even proposing marriage! Horace Greenleigh, the very man she once considered a terrible influence on her husband and his fellow officers? The idea is absurd… or is it?

I thoroughly enjoyed book three as well! It was interesting learning about practices in the Navy:

In the 17th century, as the Royal Navy modernized, it relied on impressment to staff its crews, but officers were recruited differently, receiving full pay only when assigned to a post and half-pay in between. Commanding officers earned extra depending on the status of their ship or station. Before 1814, shore-based officers were paid every six months, shifting to quarterly payments after peace with France left many without ships. Pay was based on seniority, ranging from £3.30 per day for admirals to just five shillings for junior lieutenants. Officers and crew could also earn prize money from captured enemy ships, with commanding officers often receiving large sums, enabling them to own estates. In contrast, junior officers struggled on half-pay, making it difficult to marry or maintain a home, and while they could wait for better postings, doing so risked being overlooked for future commands.

Other series:

• Somerset, 1800. Penniless squire Richard Hapgood finds himself saddled with four dowerless daughters and a wife too busy imagining herself ill to marry them off. Can this family be saved? The Hapgoods of Bramleigh is a series of clean Regency romances which can be read as standalones or in order.
• Winchester, 1800. William Ellsworth has five children by three different wives. The series The Ellsworth Assortment has six books filled with their love stories. (Of course, he needs another great love as well!)

I’ll be interested to hear if you try any of author Christina Dudley’s books!

For more information, feel free to visit her website.

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• author Laura Frantz: rich history, captivating romance, and inspiring faith
• author recommendations in historical romance (sweet and clean)
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Fondly,

Crysti