historical romance, look-alike sisters switch at wedding
Talk Name that Book
Join LibraryThing to post.
This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1cyzag
The story was set in maybe 1700's or early 1800's. The one sister was spoiled and the other always gave her whatever she wanted, which is how she got trapped in the marriage switch plot. The spoiled sister had agreed to marry a man, but I think wanted to pursue another man. She convinces the sister to stand in for her. After the marriage and the spoiled sister's return, she becomes jealous because now her doormat sister is wearing all the beautiful gowns the husband had made for her and is getting the attention and respect of the husband. I'm fuzzy about the ending, but I remember a scene where the three of them are going to a ball (after the sister returns and the angry husband reluctanly agrees to take her in) and the sister takes the most beautiful gown to wear. Her sister is hurt, but of couse was going to let her get away with it, but the husband stands up to the spoiled brat and makes her change clothes, saying he won't let it be said that his wife must wear her sister's castoffs. I also remember she stands in for all of her sister's fittings for the new clothes the husband (then fiance) is having made for her because her spoiled sister can't be bothered, so when it is finally revealed that she is to be the bride, the woman helping her get married is greatly relieved to learn they are exactly the same size.
2MyriadBooks
Sorry, not a familiar plot to me. Around when would you have read this?
3cyzag
I can't remember very well, but it would definitely have been before 1992. Probably in the 80's. I had a friend in high school who kept me supplied with romance novels. :)
5cyzag
I have had a memory about something I think happens later in the book. It may be from an entirely different book, but it seems like it might be the original book I asked about. If not, it was one I probably read around the same time. If you recognize it as a different book, please give me that title. But hopefully this is from the same book.
This happens toward the end of the book. The husband has a lavish dinner party, inviting a woman who has been a rival of the heroine for some time throughout the book. I can't remember if he is having an affair with this woman or just using her to make his wife jealous. Despite her lack of experience running a household, the party is a huge success. But she is miserable and believes her husband doesn't love her. She had been writing tons of poems pouring out her feelings. The husband finds them and finally realizes what is going on. He gets rid of the rival, and orchestrates a relationship between her sister and his friend to get them both out of their hair. He tells his wife about it, saying something like..."I convinced them to elope. Told her it was romantic, told him it was practical."
Hoping this will spark a memory in someone.
This happens toward the end of the book. The husband has a lavish dinner party, inviting a woman who has been a rival of the heroine for some time throughout the book. I can't remember if he is having an affair with this woman or just using her to make his wife jealous. Despite her lack of experience running a household, the party is a huge success. But she is miserable and believes her husband doesn't love her. She had been writing tons of poems pouring out her feelings. The husband finds them and finally realizes what is going on. He gets rid of the rival, and orchestrates a relationship between her sister and his friend to get them both out of their hair. He tells his wife about it, saying something like..."I convinced them to elope. Told her it was romantic, told him it was practical."
Hoping this will spark a memory in someone.
6lesmel
Possible match: The Tryst by Lynda Trent
8cyzag
Thank you lesmel for your suggestions. Not The Tryst, and not any of the first 100 on the goodreads list. Is there a way to refine the search on that? You know, published before, or historical romance or something?
9lesmel
>8 cyzag: As far as I know, you can't filter GR lists.
You could try: https://books.google.com/advanced_book_search. This is how I found The Tryst:
https://www.google.com/search?https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&am...
You could also try:
http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/theme/mistaken-false-identity/
http://www.eyeonromance.com/themes.cfm
-- do a CTRL+F and search for mistaken identity
-- look at any of these:
historical: england - (1714-1810) georgian
historical: england - (1820-1837) industrial period
historical: england - (1837-1901) victorian
https://www.amazon.com/ideas/amzn1.account.AHUE32AGX7IHNMVWXVP4B2GVDO6Q/1Y9DK0LK...
I'm out of ideas after that. lol
You could try: https://books.google.com/advanced_book_search. This is how I found The Tryst:
https://www.google.com/search?https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&am...
You could also try:
http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/theme/mistaken-false-identity/
http://www.eyeonromance.com/themes.cfm
-- do a CTRL+F and search for mistaken identity
-- look at any of these:
historical: england - (1714-1810) georgian
historical: england - (1820-1837) industrial period
historical: england - (1837-1901) victorian
https://www.amazon.com/ideas/amzn1.account.AHUE32AGX7IHNMVWXVP4B2GVDO6Q/1Y9DK0LK...
I'm out of ideas after that. lol
12Sandy78
Hi! I'm searching for the same book and I can confirm that it is more than 25 years old. I originally filched it from my mother's bookshelf as a teenager. Things I can add about the book, at least I hope it is accurate after 25 years not reading it:
I'm not sure if the ersatzbride is a sister or a cousin that has to live with the family because she's on her own but I tend towards sister or half sister.
Yes, they switch and it's the wrong one under the veil but the husband-to-be sees through the deception and whispers to the priest, altering the name in the vows to the correct one. The original pairing was never a love match, he wants a high born bride and her family needs the money desperately. I seem to remember dialogue at the beginning where the less pretty sister cautions the younger one and asks her why she wants to marry this man because he's not her style, too serious and domineering and the heroine suspects that the romance of tall, dark and sexy will willt fast and she fears for her sisterÄs happiness. While secretly thinking that he is gorgeous -from afar.
The pretty one is indulged to the detriment of the girl herself, she knows no boundaries. The older one tries to be the voice of reason but it goes unheard.
Interesting for such an old book there are sex scenes, not detailed and fade to black (more in Woodiwiss style) but the husband indeed insists on his marital rights - but it is time appropriate insistence and not outright rape, he seduces her and she's not against it per se, more annoyed about his arrogance. His attitude: You wanted me for a husband, now you're gonna have me in your bed. Deal with it!
The heroine learns to stand up for herself and the hero updates his expectations from: high borne breeder to -> interesting bedmate to ->interesting female to->possible lifemate to I love her - with a heavy helping of having the younger one come back and demonstrate why he should let go of his anger and send prayers to heaven for getting the one he has instead.
The younger sister was maybe named Daphne and I tend to think Sophy for the older one but I might mix up books, this is more nebulous than the other memories.
I hope this helps with finding the book, I've been looking for weeks.
I'm not sure if the ersatzbride is a sister or a cousin that has to live with the family because she's on her own but I tend towards sister or half sister.
Yes, they switch and it's the wrong one under the veil but the husband-to-be sees through the deception and whispers to the priest, altering the name in the vows to the correct one. The original pairing was never a love match, he wants a high born bride and her family needs the money desperately. I seem to remember dialogue at the beginning where the less pretty sister cautions the younger one and asks her why she wants to marry this man because he's not her style, too serious and domineering and the heroine suspects that the romance of tall, dark and sexy will willt fast and she fears for her sisterÄs happiness. While secretly thinking that he is gorgeous -from afar.
The pretty one is indulged to the detriment of the girl herself, she knows no boundaries. The older one tries to be the voice of reason but it goes unheard.
Interesting for such an old book there are sex scenes, not detailed and fade to black (more in Woodiwiss style) but the husband indeed insists on his marital rights - but it is time appropriate insistence and not outright rape, he seduces her and she's not against it per se, more annoyed about his arrogance. His attitude: You wanted me for a husband, now you're gonna have me in your bed. Deal with it!
The heroine learns to stand up for herself and the hero updates his expectations from: high borne breeder to -> interesting bedmate to ->interesting female to->possible lifemate to I love her - with a heavy helping of having the younger one come back and demonstrate why he should let go of his anger and send prayers to heaven for getting the one he has instead.
The younger sister was maybe named Daphne and I tend to think Sophy for the older one but I might mix up books, this is more nebulous than the other memories.
I hope this helps with finding the book, I've been looking for weeks.
13Sandy78
Found it: Janet Louise Roberts, Marriage of Inconvenience https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7069584-a-marriage-of-inconvenience
