5 Romances Featuring Secret Identities and Disguises

The Lady’s Secret, by Joanna Chambers
After years of believing herself illegitimate, Georgiana Knight is suddenly informed that her parents were actually married. She and her brother are heirs to a great estate, with one catch: there’s no evidence of the marriage. But that’s no problem for Georgy: she’s an actress, like her mother was, and she’ll take on the ultimate role to secure the proof. She poses as a valet in Earl Nathaniel Harland’s household….which means handling most intimate tasks. And soon, intimacy blooms between her and Nathaniel, even though he believes her to be a man. A nice play on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night!

How to Marry a Marquis, by Julia Quinn
Marquis James Sidwell has a problem: his aunt is being blackmailed. In order to suss out the culprit and remove the threat, James decides to pose as the estate manager, severely lowering his station in order to befriend the working class inhabitants of the estate. There, he meets Elizabeth, who is in a pickle of her own: she needs to marry someone with money so she can afford good schooling for her little brother. That’s where a troublesome little book called How to Marry a Marquis falls into her lap, and she figures learning to flirt with someone she could never marry would be harmless. Until she falls for “Mr. Siddons”, who could never, ever, give her what she needs. A witty romance that balances comedy with sensual scenes.

Duke of Midnight, by Elizabeth Hoyt
Do I love me a man in a mask! Maximus Batten has a come a long way from witnessing the gruesome murder of his parents two decades before. Now a Duke, he spends his time wielding power in Parliament…but at night, he dons the disguise of the Ghost of St. Giles to prowl for the murderer. But when he meets Artemis Greaves, Maximus finally meets his match. Artemis is a lady’s maid by day, but in truth, she is trying to free her bother from imprisonment…and when she discovers the Ghost of St. Giles’ true identity, she blackmails him: free my brother, or I’ll tell the world who you really are. But temptation may get the better of them both, as seduction and secrets often go hand in hand…

The Masqueraders, by Georgette Heyer
This one is a classic! Two siblings escape after the Jacobite Rebellion goes badly: practical and realistic Prudence and willful, restless Robin. Their father’s reputation as an adventurer—and a con man—precedes him, and so to keep themselves safe in London society, they decide to take on new names…and new genders. Prudence becomes Kate, Robin becomes Peter, and even though they are both trying to keep a low-profile, love finds them anyway. Kate can’t contain her affection for Sir Anthony Fanshawe, and damsel in distress Letitia Grayson catches Peter’s attention instantly. But they must keep up their ruse despite the temptation to reveal who they truly are…or risk being punished for their previous crimes.

Until You, by Judith McNaught
Sheridan Bromleigh has had her fill of adventure; as a child, living with her American father and his friends of questionable character. But after she is given to an Aunt and instructed in the ways of being a lady, she has resigned herself to a life of servitude and boredom. But when she is hired to act as chaperone to Charise Lancaster, a flighty heiress on her way to England to marry Lord Burleton, she happily accepts. An adventure, at last! Except it goes badly: Charise meets a man on the ship and absconds with him, leaving her poor chaperone without a penny, and with the task of informing her betrothed what has happened. But instead, she meets Stephen Westmoreland, Earl of Langford, with equally terrible news: Lord Burleton has died. Sheridan prepares to go home, but accidentally hits her head on the ship…and when she wakes, she has no memory of who she is and why she is there. Only that she came to England to marry a lord, and that the man caring for her—Stephen—must be him. When he goes along with the ruse, romance ensues. This one has swoons in spades!

Because You’re Mine, Lisa Kleypas
When I heard Lisa Kleypas had a series set in the theater, I was as giddy as an heiress who just laid hands on her fortune. In this installment of the Capital Theater novels, Madeline Matthews is a spirited heroine who takes matters into her own hands when she refuses to marry an old Lord…by running away from her Girl’s Academy to seek out Logan Scott, owner of the Capital Theater, for a reputation-ruining affair. He gives her a job, but keeps his distance, even going so far as trying to find ways to get her to leave. Logan’s past sins and haunt him, and he has no desire to ruin the future of a bright young girl. But after a kiss between them cannot be ignored, both of their plans might be ruined: it was never in Maddy’s plan to have a broken heart…
What romances featuring disguises and secret identities do you recommend?