It's that time of year...

...time to enjoy a little something spooky.

My family was never big into Halloween growing up. I mean, we liked the free candy, but my mother wasn't fond of the holiday overall, so it wasn't a BIG DEAL. But despite that, I've always loved stories with a little bit of spookiness to them. Nothing horrid, or horribly scary - just a taste of the other-worldly. 

Imagine my displeasure, then, when I discovered just how FEW historical romances fit that bill. I had to really go looking for historical romances with a touch of Fae/Magic/Ghosts. And I determined that if I was looking for such stories, especially as Autumn arrives with chilly nights and hot chocolate evenings, others must be looking for them, too.

So here is my list of THIRTEEN (pretty amazing how I got to that auspicious number, right?) CLEAN historical romance novels with a little taste of SPOOKINESS. 

​(Affiliate links have been used in this post.)

A Haunting at Havenwood
by Sally Britton

Yes, I'm going to mention my book. I had so much fun writing this book, with a chilly setting near the woods, in the midst of fall. 

If you love a good ghost story, without any of the creepy components, this book will fit the bill. The ghosts are the bickering ancestors of the hero, who is himself an author and most reluctant to be disturbed, and the heroine...? Well, she has some changing to do.

Nothing will keep Louisa from searching for an ancient fortune. Except perhaps a phantom who turns out to be a most eligible bachelor. 

---

Order Now

---

An Unlikely Match
by Sarah M. Eden

I have loved every book Sarah has written, and this one is no exception. In this ghost story, a young heir finds that he's inherited more than an estate - he's inherited a lovely ghost. But why does she haunt the castle when she seems like such a pleasant person? (This has a happily ever after, I promise.)

"...A deep and abiding affection grows between the two, tempered by the unbreakable barrier that separates them. They cannot possibly hope for a happily ever after. There can be no future between a man yet living and a woman long dead. But how can Nickolas possibly give Gwen up? And how can Gwen face an eternity without Nickolas?"

---

Order Now

---

The Masked Baron
by Anneka R. Walker

I love Anneka, and I love this book almost as much. It's such a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with a touch of magic realism in this Regency romance. 

You'll love this story if you love a secretive hero and a heroine determined to unravel a mystery. There is a Dark Rider and Black Forest. What more could you want?

Order Now

---

Half a Soul
by Olivia Atwater

I only just discovered this book, which has taken off in popularity for those who love Regency and the world of Fae and magic. 

The world of Fae is reaching out to London, and a woman with only half a soul (the other half stolen by a black-hearted fae lord) might be the only one capable of helping the very grumpy Lord Sorcier solve the mystery. 

​This is a fantasy novel, not frightening, but suspenseful and fun.

Order Now

---

Beauty and the Clockwork Beast
​by Nancy Campbell Allen

I really enjoyed this steampunk retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Steampunk, for those uninitiated, is generally set in the Victorian era and combines elements of strange inventions, magic, and suspense. 

This is a truly marvelous, slightly suspenseful, retelling of my favorite fairy tale. It's perfect for late night reading when the moon is full. 

Order Now

---

All Hallows' Eve Collection
A Timeless Romance Anthology
With novellas written by Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Lisa Mangum, Jordan McCollum, and Elana Johnson. 

You will NOT find a better collection of somewhat-spooky, but entirely sweet, and squeaky clean romances. Reading this collection is like taking the entire bowl of Halloween Candy and finding it full of the GOOD stuff. 

You're going to love these stories. 

---

Order Now

---

Eleanor and the Iron King
by Julie Daines

I love that this is a ghost story AND an arranged-marriage story. Set in the middle-ages, with a Welsh King and his reluctant bride. 

"Clinging desperately to her pride, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a web of murder and deceit. And as the lines between good and evil become blurred, Eleanor must decide for herself who is to be trusted—and loved."

Order Now

---

Bessie Bell and the Goblin King
by Charlotte E. English

As a devoted fan of The Labyrinth film, every mention of a Goblin King catches my interest. 

While this is part of a series, it can be read on its own quite well. The world of this book is a mix of Regency and Fae, featuring house parties and balls as well as changelings and elves. 

The heroine is a maid who finds herself without position and in the midst of a dark forest. Who should she meet but the King of Goblins himself?

(Clean, not scary.)

Order Now

---

The Phantom Lover
by Elizabeth Mansfield

This book is a bit older, but it's a perfectly clean and wholesome romance. Elizabeth Mansfield is one of my favorite Regency authors, and I owe a lot of my interest in the genre to her books. 

Read the summary below!

After scandalizing London with her improper behavior and jilting two suitors, Nell Belden is about to do it again. This time she rejects the very wealthy, utterly insufferable nobleman her financially strapped guardians have been pressuring her to marry. Banished to their isolated Cornwall estate, Nell is awakened one night by an unusual apparition.
 
But her midnight visitor is no phantom. He is Captain Henry Thorne, sixth Earl of Thornbury. The new Lord of Thorndene has returned to his crumbling family seat to live in isolation, far from the horrors of war. Nell is intrigued by this wounded soldier who has no desire to take his rightful place in society. As the weeks pass and fascination flames into dangerous desire, Nell realizes she must leave—or risk losing her heart to the one man who can never belong to her.

Order Now

---

Power and Prestige
by Sarah L. McConkie

This is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice ...but with Dragons. I mean, Darcy is already pretty amazing, so giving him a dragon can only make matters more interesting!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a mage in possession of a vast fortune and refined magical abilities must be in want of a wife.

Yet High Mage Darkwood of Pemberley has no intention of marriage upon his arrival at Netherfield, especially not to the lowly Miss Cassia Retton. Accustomed to always getting his way, frustration reigns when his magical power against Cassia has no effect.

Read Now

---

The Lady and the Highwayman
by Sarah M. Eden

Yes, it's another book by Sarah. This one is so much fun. It's suspenseful, with two authors of Penny Dreadful novels dancing about each other, their stories are published right inside this book - both of which are spooky - while the authors themselves try to unravel other mysteries in the real world. 

You really cannot go wrong with this book, which features romance, mystery, and good deeds. 

Read Now

---

The Secret of Pembrooke Park
by Julie Klassen

​It's been a few years since I've read this one, but I well remember the creepy-factor of the (possibly) haunted house, as well as the twists and turns in the story... Here's part of the summary: 

​Facing financial ruin, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play...

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor's past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumors that Pembrooke Park contains a secret room filled with treasure.

---

Read More

---

Midsummer Night
A Timeless Romance Anthology
With novellas written by Charlie N. Holmberg (Paper Magician, anyone?), Julie Wright, Annette Lyon, Jane Redd, Amber Argyle, and Luisa Perkins

This one is cheating just a bit, to be on this list, as it's not strictly historical. But there is ONE time-traveling tale, and all these stories have something historical-ish about them. What better way to spend an autumn evening than curling up and reading tales of magic, mystery, and love? 

​I highly recommend this collection!

Get the Collection

---

What about you? Can you think of any other historical romances you would add to this Halloween list?