Troubled Marriages

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Romances about troubled marriages are those in which the couple is estranged, separated, or even divorced early in the story and, having worked out their differences or problems in communication, reunited at the end.

(List begun 01/03, updated 9/12)

  • The Secret Swan (2001) by Shana Abé (A at AAR)
  • Dark Champion (1993) by Jo Beverley
  • The Shattered Rose (1996) by Jo Beverley
  • The Willing Wife (2002) by Claudia Dain  (B- at AAR)
  • Red Adam’s Lady (1973) by Grace Ingram
  • Madselin (1968) by Norah Lofts
  • A Chance Encounter (1985) by Mary Balogh
  • A Counterfeit Betrothal (1992) by Mary Balogh
  • Dancing with Clara (1994) by Mary Balogh (A at AAR)
  • Gentle Conquest (1987) by Mary Balogh (B+ at AAR)
  • Secrets of the Heart (1988) by Mary Balogh
  • The Rules of Marriage (1986) by Sheila Bishop
  • The Emerald Necklace (1981) by Diana Brown (B+ at AAR)
  • April Lady (1957) by Georgette Heyer
  • Frivolous Pretence (1990) by Anthea Malcolm
  • A Regency Charade (1981) by Elizabeth Mansfield
  • The Duke’s Double (1988) by Anita Mills (B- at AAR)
  • The Major’s Mistake (2000) by Andrea Pickens (B+ at AAR)
  • Lady Delafont’s Dilemma (2000) by Donna Simpson (B-/C+ at AAR)
  • Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage (2010) by Jennifer Ashley (B- at AAR)
  • Deceived (1993) by Mary Balogh
  • One Night for Love (1999) by Mary Balogh (A at AAR)
  • The Secret Wedding (2009) by Jo Beverley (B at AAR)
  • The Second Husband (1964) by Sheila Bishop
  • The Duchess’s Next Husband (2005) by Terri Brisbin
  • Three Little Secrets (2006) by Liz Carlyle (B at AAR)
  • The Duke of Shadows (1972) by Meredith Duran (partially set in India) (B- at AAR)
  • The Wagering Widow (2006) by Diane Gaston (B+ at AAR)
  • Bride By Mistake (2012) by Anne Gracie
  • The Painted Lady (1993) by Lucia Grahame (B- at AAR)
  • Daughter of the Game (2002), reissued as Secrets of a Lady by Tracy Grant (A- at AAR)
  • The Marriage Bed (2005) by Laura Lee Guhrke (B+ at AAR)
  • This Duchess of Mine (2009) by Eloisa James (B+ at AAR)
  • When the Duke Returns (2008) by Eloisa James (B at AAR)
  • Your Wicked Ways (2004) by Eloisa James (B+ at AAR)
  • The Shadow and the Star (1991) by Laura Kinsale (A at AAR)
  • Tempt me at Twilight (2009) by Lisa Kleypas (B- at AAR)
  • The Wedding (1995) by Edith Layton
  • Flawless (2011) by Carrie Lofty (B at AAR) – (1880s, South Africa)
  • The Book of Scandal (2008) by Julia London
  • Almost Heaven (1990) by Judith McNaught (A at AAR)
  • Follow the Heart (1990) by Anita Mills
  • The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905) by Baroness Orczy
  • Silk and Secrets (1992) by Mary Jo Putney (A- at AAR)
  • Tapestry (1996) by Karen Ranney (A at AAR)
  • Not Quite a Husband (2009) by Sherry Thomas (partially set in India) (A at AAR)
  • Private Arrangements (2008) by Sherry Thomas (A- at AAR)
  • Ravishing the Heiress (2012) by Sherry Thomas (B+ at AAR)
  • Colorado Dawn (2012) by Kaki Warner (B+ at AAR)
  • Lessons from a Scarlet Lady (2010) by Emma Wildes (B at AAR)
  • McKenna’s Bride (1999) by Judith E. French
  • After the Parade (2000) by Dorothy Garlock
  • The Memory of You (2012) by Laurie Kellogg (post-Vietnam U.S.)
  • The Horse Soldier (2001) by Merline Lovelace (B+ at AAR)
  • The Vow (1998) by Linda Lael Miller
  • Rachel’s Passage (1998) by Paula Reid
  • The Coming Home Place (1994) by Mary Spencer
  • Prairie Wife (2005) by Cheryl St. John
  • Annie’s Wild Ride (1998) by Alina Adams (B+/B- at AAR)
  • Always in My Heart (2002) by Catherine Anderson (B- at AAR)
  • A Perfect Marriage (2/1995) by Laurey Bright – SIM-621
  • Embraced by Love (1995) by Suzanne Brockmann
  • Riley in the Morning (11/1985) by Sandra Brown – LS-115
  • The Fourth Child (2000) by C. J. Carmichael – HSR-917
  • The Wedding Party (2001) by Robin Carr – HR-3222 (B+ at AAR)
  • No Escape (3/1988) by Daphne Clair – HP-1056
  • Breaking Point (2/1992) by Emma Darcy – HP-1433
  • Coast Road (1998) by Barbara Delinsky (B+ at AAR)
  • Better than Before (3/1992) by Judith Duncan – SIM-421 (A at AAR)
  • Reason to Believe (1995) by Kathleen Eagle (A at AAR)
  • The Keeper (11/1995) by Margot Early – HSR-668
  • Line of Scrimmage (2008) by Marie Force
  • Talk to Me (9/1999) by Jan Freed – HSR-858 (B+ at AAR)
  • One True Love (1998) by Barbara Freethy (A-/B- at AAR)
  • The Outlaw’s Wife (10/1998) by Cindy Gerard – SD-1175
  • To the Brink (2006) by Cindy Gerard
  • Any Man of Mine (2011) by Rachel Gibson (B+ at AAR)
  • Just Good Friends (7/1987) by Lucy Gordon – SD-363
  • Just Like Old Times (8/1992) by Jennifer Greene – SD-728
  • Once More with Feeling (10/1983) by Melinda Harris – SCAL-152
  • Hold Fast ‘Til Dawn (12/1983) by Mary Haskell – THH-8
  • My One and Only (2011) by Kristin Higgins (B- at AAR)
  • Twelve Days (2000) by Teresa Hill (B at AAR)
  • The Testimony (10/1983) by Robin James (Sharon and Tom Curtis) THH-1 (C+ at AAR)
  • Oceans Apart (2004) by Karen Kingsbury
  • A Marriage to Fight For (1997) by Raina Lynn – SIM-804 (A at AAR)
  • Delicious (2006) by Susan Mallery (B at AAR)
  • Wife in Disguise (3/2001) by Susan Mallery – SSE-1383
  • On Target (2007) by Catherine Mann (B- at AAR)
  • The Second Mrs. Adams (8/1997) by Sandra Marton – HP-1899
  • Love in a Small Town (1997) by Curtiss Ann Matlock
  • A Chance of Rainbows (12/1985) by Anne McAllister – HAR-132 (B- at AAR)
  • Still Mr. and Mrs. (2002) by Mary McBride (B at AAR)
  • Hot Finish (2010) by Erin McCarthy
  • Paradise (1992) by Judith McNaught (A at AAR)
  • Michael’s Wife (1972) by Marlys Millhiser
  • What Alice Forgot (2012) by Liane Moriarty
  • Urban Renewal (2004) by Pamela Morsi
  • You Again (7/1996) by Peggy Nicholson – HSR-698 (A- at AAR)
  • Some Enchanted Season (1999) by Marilyn Pappano (B at AAR)
  • The Spiral Path (2002) by Mary Jo Putney (A- at AAR)
  • Becca’s Baby (10/2000) by Tara Taylor Quinn – HSR-943
  • Sheltered in His Arms (2001) by Tara Taylor Quinn (B+ at AAR)
  • The Ultimate Betrayal (3/1996) by Michelle Reid – HP-1799
  • Beautiful Lies (1999) by Emilie Richards (B at AAR)
  • The Trouble with Joe (3/1994) by Emilie Richards – SSE-873 (B+ at AAR)
  • Danny Boy (1995) by Leigh Riker
  • Tears of Jade (1993) by Leigh Riker
  • Birthright (2003) by Nora Roberts (B+ at AAR)
  • Mr. and Mrs. Wrong (2001) by Fay Robinson – HSR-1012 (B+ at AAR)
  • One and Only (2001) by Lynda Sandoval (B- at AAR)
  • Donovan’s Promise (7/1988) by Dallas Schulze – SIM-247
  • Marrying Mike…Again (1/2000) by Alicia Scott – SIM-980 (B at AAR)
  • Mirrors and Mistakes (6/1984) by Kathleen Gilles Seidel – HAR-57 (A at AAR)
  • A Risk Worth Taking (8/1983) by Kathleen Gilles Seidel – HAR-17
  • The Same Last Name (4/1983) by Kathleen Gilles Seidel – HAR-2
  • When Love Isn’t Enough(11/1984) by Kathleen Gilles Seidel – HAR-80
  • Foxfire (1950) by Anya Seton
  • Just One Night (1997) by Kathryn Shay
  • Ties that Bind (2006) by Kathryn Shay (B at AAR)
  • Never Let Go (2/1989) by Deborah Smith – LS-308
  • Stranded with her Ex (2011) by Jill Sorenson – HRS-1654 (A- at AAR)
  • Losing It (1/1989) by Beverly Sommers – HAR-278 (A at AAR)
  • Bygones (1992) by LaVyrle Spencer
  • Home Song (1995) by LaVyrle Spencer
  • A Husband by Any Other Name (1996) by Cheryl St. John –SIM-756 (A- at AAR)
  • Moments in Time (1995) by Mariah Stewart
  • Wildfire at Midnight (1956) by Mary Stewart (B+ at AAR)
  • Winter’s Edge (1995) by Anne Stuart HIS-329
  • The Next Step (1983) by Irma Walker
  • One Fine Day (1994) by Theresa Weir
  • Betrayal on Bali (11/1980) by Sally Wentworth – HP-396
  • Summer Storm (2/1983) by Joan Wolf – RR-8
  • The Silence of Midnight (5/1992) by Karen Young – HSR-500
  • Blood Spells (2010) by Jessica Andersen
  • Bitten (2001) by Kelley Armstrong (A- at AAR)
  • The Ocean Between Us (2004) by Susan Wiggs

This list is currently closed for submissions.