A Clean Bridgerton Type Read: The Lancaster Family
Updated: Sep 9
The Lancaster Family Series by Sarah M. Eden is a wonderful regency romance filled with humor and heart pounding romances without any spice.
Quick Summary
Genre: Historical Romance
Age: 18+
Possibly Concerning Content (Details below)*
🤬 Language: None
❤️ Romance: Kisses only
🛡️Violence: Mild Injuries
‼️Heads-up: See individual books
Who is this for?
The Tropes: no-spice romance, friends to more (books 2 and 3), arranged marriages (book 1), Beauty and the beast / Hades and Persephone retelling (book 1).
The Vibe: Romances that make you swoon but stays kisses only, Georgian World and manners, laugh out loud humor, men being friends, supportive family, Christian Fiction.
For Fans of: Clairvoir Castle Series, Bridgerton without the spice
Jump To
Review
As someone who read Bridgerton back before I stopped reading books with foul language and open door scenes, I can confidently say that I actually enjoyed Sarah M. Eden's Lancaster Series better than Bridgerton. There was all the allure of the Georgian ballrooms, the gossip and rumors of the Ton, and romance so swoony you need to fan yourself! But none of the open-door scenes or language that unfortunately pepper these historical romance novels. But more enchanting than that, Sarah M. Eden has a sense of humor that comes through in her writing and never fails to make me smile and laugh out loud. I adore these books!
And I'm not alone. It's no wonder that Seeking Persephone now has its own mini-series on Amazon! (And ya'll...it's just as good as the book! My mother and I sighed happily when it was over. There were a few things left out but overall we really enjoyed the movie).
I highly recommend this series and am eager to continue reading books by Sarah M. Eden.
Possibly Concerning Content*
Click on 'possible spoilers' for details.
🤬 Q: Is there profanity in the Lancaster Family series?
A: No, there is no profanity but there are mentions of cursing, ie. 'The Duke cursed.'
❤️ Q: Is there a romance in the Lancaster Family series?
A: There are sweet romance that remain kisses only, no mention of lust or roaming hands.
🛡️Q: What kind of violence is there in the Lancaster Family series?
A: There are mild injuries. Death off page.
Possible Spoilers
Book 1: A character is attacked by wolves and the leg injury and treatment of it are described. A man is beaten for attempting harm to another. A horse is injured by wolves but survives.
Book 2 and 3: There's a lot of threats issued but Adam probably doesn't intend to go through with them. Probably.
‼️ Q: Are there any heavy themes, or iffy subjects in the Lancaster Family series?
A: Past: death of parent Present: A character perishes off page. A parent perishes of natural causes. Unwanted kiss. A parent has dementia like symptoms.
Possible Spoilers
Book 1: A character is killed in battle (off page). The family is notified by letter. This loss is felt throughout the series.
Book 2: A man kisses a woman against her will. It does not go further than kissing (no groping, etc.) He is 'dealt with' by her family. It is not described but implied that it was violent.
Affiliate Disclaimer: As an Amazon, Libro.fm and Bookshop.org affiliate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog.
Seeking Persephone
Take the tale of Beauty and the Beast set it in Georgian England, add a dash of mystery and all the brooding your heart can handle and you've got this magnificent gem of a story! I saw that it was becoming a movie and had to read it before it released. I'm so glad I did.
Official Blurb (Drop down)
"When Persephone Lancaster receives a marriage proposal from the ill-tempered Duke of Kielder, she refuses—and then reconsiders. The obscene sum of money he’s offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger.
Lodged deep in a thick forest infested with wild dogs, the Duke’s castle is as cold and forbidding as the Duke himself, a man with terrible scars on his body and his soul. But the Duke’s steely determination to protect his heart at all costs is challenged by his growing attachment to his lovely and gentle bride. With caring persistence, Persephone attempts to pierce the Duke’s armor and reach the man beneath. Yet he cannot tolerate such exposure, and his repeated rejections take their toll. But when grave danger arises, the Duke realizes he must face the risk of revealing his true feelings or lose the woman he cannot live without." - from Amazon
Grab a Copy
Courting Miss Lancaster
I have to say, I ADORE Adam and am so glad he's in all the books. But my absolutely favorite (so far) has been Harry and Athena in Courting Miss Lancaster. It should probably come as no surprise that Harry is my favorite considering Henry Tilney of Northanger Abby is my favorite Austen hero. Something about a man that can make you laugh. I'm so glad this book is now getting a film adaptation!
I was already a fan of the friendship between Adam and Harry so when I saw he was the MMC for this book, I grabbed it faster than you can say 'clean romance.' I adored this friends to more romance! There were moments I laughed out loud, literally, which is not common, I can tell you! I loved Athena and Harry and I was so happy that Adam and Persephone weren't just minor side characters in this.
Official Blurb (Drop down)
"Harry Windover adores blonde, green-eyed Athena Lancaster, but alas, a penniless man like himself has no hope of winning a young noblewoman’s hand. To add insult to injury, Athena’s brother-in-law and guardian, the Duke of Kielder, has asked Harry to assist Athena in finding the gentleman of her dreams. But the lovesick Harry is cunning as well: as the weeks pass, he introduces Athena to suitors who are horrifically boring, alarmingly attached to their mothers, downright rude, astoundingly self-absorbed, and utterly ridiculous.
Athena can’t comprehend why she is having so little success meeting eligible and acceptable gentlemen. Indeed, her circle of admirers couldn’t be less admirable — nothing like the loyal, gentle friend she’s found in Harry. But how long can Harry’s scheme be hidden before it is discovered? And what will Athena do when she uncovers Harry’s deception? Escape into a charming regency world in this delightfully romantic comedy of manners that will entertain you to the very last word." - from Amazon
Grab your copy on Amazon*
Romancing Daphne
I was very excited to continue reading the Lancaster family romances (Especially given how much I adore Adam and Harry). I really enjoyed this book but, perhaps, not as much as the other two. Daphne was a much younger protagonist than the others (almost putting this book into a YA category for me). She wrestles with depression quite a bit though she does overcome it with James' help.
I liked the second chance romance aspect of this and Adam was, as always, my favorite part (some serious overprotective dad-figure vibes here!) but I was surprised by how much I liked Linus, especially his relationship with Daphne! Artemis is older in this book as well and I cannot wait for her book!
Overall I recommend it!
Official Blurb (Drop down)
"As her first London Season looms before her, the thought of the impending social whirl fills Daphne Lancaster’s timid heart with dread. She hasn’t her sisters’ beauty nor their talent for conversing easily. Even her family’s enviable connections may not be enough to prevent disaster. But Daphne’s misery turns to surprised delight when the first event of her Season brings an unexpected visitor to her door—James Tilburn, whose tender kindness stole her heart in her youth. When the handsome young gentleman expresses his desire to court her, Daphne is elated. Their feelings for each other quickly grow, and it appears that, much to Daphne’s disbelief, her happily ever after is within reach.
Yet nothing is as it seems. The couple finds themselves caught in a tangled web of greed and deceit, leaving James and Daphne to determine whether they are willing to risk everything for true love. “Sarah M. Eden has a knack for just the right pacing in her books while endearing the characters to us and showcasing a more universal human dilemma." - from Amazon
Grab your copy on Amazon*
📍*Possibly Concerning Content Disclaimer: I try my best to include all relevant content notes, or possibly concerning content, but I may not catch everything and/or you may feel things are concerning that I do not. Please research individually if you’re sensitive to specific topics/subjects! 📍
Have you read these yet? Excited for the show? Want to add some P.C.C. we may have missed? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!
Don't forget to click on the tags below to find more books like these!
Comments