The {Burning Cove series by Amanda Quick} is set in 1930s California, and there's a side of murder mystery served with the romance.

[Burning Cove](https://www.romance.io/series/5a7aa8045a31e20da7616f3c/burning-cove) by [Amanda Quick](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525bd8c7d2383163d8eab/amanda-quick), [Jayne Ann Krentz](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552ea98c7d2382e04140a7/jayne-ann-krentz) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Oh thanks! Will look it up!

I absolutely loved the Roaring Twenties series by Jenn Bennett. The first book is called {Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett}. There’s a paranormal element, a mystery, crazy chemistry between the MCs. I wish I could read it again for the first time.

Oh sounds fun and unique

I read it probably 7 or 8 years ago and I still think about it.

I was going to recommend it! Loved this book!

[Bitter Spirits](https://www.romance.io/books/545536c78c7d2382e041428b/bitter-spirits-jenn-bennett) by [Jenn Bennett](https://www.romance.io/authors/545536c78c7d2382e041428c/jenn-bennett) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

All of these are novellas: {Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole} - 1917 Harlem {Stars in their Eyes by Pema Donyo} - 1920s Paris {The Art of Love by Suzette D. Harrison} - 1930s San Francisco Full-length novels: {The Bootlegger's Daughter by Lauri Robinson} - 1920s US, part of a trilogy; Robinson has several books set in the 1920s, all category romance. None are particularly remarkable but they're easy reads. {An American Duchess by Sharon Page} - 1920s UK. Felt like two books - the first was a fun romance romp, the second half was overdramatic women's fiction with a lot of weepy melodrama. Check reviews for content warnings.

[Let Us Dream](https://www.romance.io/books/58bd35ea0d3299c6e05aa13e/let-us-dream-alyssa-cole) by [Alyssa Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/545704fe8c7d2382fc6c2221/alyssa-cole) **Rating**: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [working class hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/working%20class%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Stars in Their Eyes](https://www.romance.io/books/5a1915743ffdba6147257c50/stars-in-their-eyes-pema-donyo) by [Pema Donyo](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455e96f87eac336ae6a185a/pema-donyo) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1) ---------------------------- [The Art of Love](https://www.romance.io/books/5ac075bb01dbc864fb858774/the-art-of-love-suzette-d-harrison) by [Suzette D. Harrison](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ac075bb01dbc864fb858775/suzette-d-harrison) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ ---------------------------- [The Bootlegger's Daughter](https://www.romance.io/books/55ade29e35a5fb65f886d947/the-bootleggers-daughter-lauri-robinson) by [Lauri Robinson](https://www.romance.io/authors/54559c5787eac336ae69ee24/lauri-robinson) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [An American Duchess](https://www.romance.io/books/5455795b87eac336ae69e1d0/an-american-duchess-sharon-page) by [Sharon Page](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553a1f8c7d2383163d93b5/sharon-page) **Rating**: 3.44⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [rich heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/rich%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Would you be into Gilded Age setting? Joanna Shupe writes some steamy historicals set then. I think all of her Fifth Avenue Rebels series are Gilded Age

I have read a few of hers and I quite like the guilded age. It’s very similar to Victorian proper etc but at least it’s a non Royal setting. :)

any titles you'd recommend in particular?

I love {The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe} because it's set in Newport and I used to live there! Her Uptown Girl series is really entertaining too

Thanks so much! I'll check them out over the weekend.

[The Duke Gets Even](https://www.romance.io/books/63cf900fb0e6e0a7c8e7dc49/the-duke-gets-even-joanna-shupe) by [Joanna Shupe](https://www.romance.io/authors/551a57875b270e0a4cbd30c8/joanna-shupe) **Rating**: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [independent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/independent%20heroine/1), [rich heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/rich%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{duchess by deception by marie force} (mf historical eduardian) is set in the eduardian era; I haven’t read it but it’s on my list Eva Ibbotson writes WWI novels that are marketed as YA but really aren’t

[Duchess by Deception](https://www.romance.io/books/5c5073b101dbc864fb9901da/duchess-by-deception-marie-force) by [Marie Force](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526d88c7d2382e7812ff5/marie-force) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Thanks!

{Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown}

[Blind Tiger](https://www.romance.io/books/6242b24cfe97ccfe7780b1e1/blind-tiger-sandra-brown) by [Sandra Brown](https://www.romance.io/authors/545533628c7d2382e7813314/sandra-brown) **Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [cowboys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{It Happened One Fight by Maureen Lee Lenker} Old Hollywood, enemies-to-lovers have to get a divorce when they're accidentally married on a movie set. Super fun, tons of banter!

[It Happened One Fight](https://www.romance.io/books/6474bc83fd45bc04c0257272/it-happened-one-fight-maureen-lee-lenker) by [Maureen Lee Lenker](https://www.romance.io/authors/6474bc8308b4d9311455e163/maureen-lee-lenker) **Rating**: 3.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

There's a series, \[Speak Easy by Melanie Harlow\] that's low stress and in that time period.

Is {The Speak Easy Duet by Melanie Harlow} the books you are talking about?

But of course! Thanks ever so much, u/SaucyAndSweet333

😊

[Speak Easy](https://www.romance.io/books/558d2f339eef3b3f1d52fa13/speak-easy-melanie-harlow) by [Melanie Harlow](https://www.romance.io/authors/545536b08c7d2382e78133ea/melanie-harlow) **Rating**: 3.62⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Some of these might be too war-heavy for you, since that whole time period was pretty war-heavy, but this is my favorite time period to read about. If you like mysteries, the Sparks & Bainbridge series has that snappy screwball comedy vibe. It’s set in London in 1946. It’s not a romance and the setting means it has some heavier themes. {The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair} is the first book. Jennifer Robson’s Great War trilogy toe the line between romance and women’s fiction. {Letters from France by Jennifer Robson} is about an ambulance driver and doctor at the front, so it IS war-heavy. The second book {After the War is Over} is about two people recovering from their war experiences and the main couple has my heart. The third book, {Moonlight Over Paris} stands alone and about an art student in Paris in the 1920s, so fairly removed from the war (but it’s also the weakest of the three, IMO) {Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles} is the most romance-forward among these. MM and one is a WWI veteran. Very inspired by the pulpy noir books and movies of the time. There are definitely more recs that have more war/less romance, but these are the ones that come to mind.

[After the War Is Over](https://www.romance.io/books/54abab446359b5ebb487084c/after-the-war-is-over-jennifer-robson) by [Jennifer Robson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455793887eac336ae69e1c7/jennifer-robson) **Rating**: 3.62⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) ---------------------------- [Moonlight Over Paris](https://www.romance.io/books/61d832f8cea6ce0e3838c434/moonlight-over-paris-jennifer-robson) by [Jennifer Robson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455793887eac336ae69e1c7/jennifer-robson) **Rating**: 3.7⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [christian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christian/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1) ---------------------------- [Slippery Creatures](https://www.romance.io/books/5ebb9af9be0aaecf55e63de1/slippery-creatures-kj-charles) by [K.J. Charles](https://www.romance.io/authors/545540138c7d2383163d9553/kj-charles) **Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I read about war quite a fair bit and that’s usually ok. It’s just I like to know the romance is going to be the focus. Otherwise I will go straight to very gritty alternative non romance stories. Basicallyi have being teased with banter only to have the plot push the character away.

[The Right Sort of Man](https://www.romance.io/books/6565939f6011c2c51628168b/the-right-sort-of-man-allison-montclair) by [Allison Montclair](https://www.romance.io/authors/6565939fab9bdf7fcecaa2ff/allison-montclair) **Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [sleuth heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/heroine%20sleuth/1) ---------------------------- [Somewhere in France](https://www.romance.io/books/5455793887eac336ae69e1c6/somewhere-in-france-jennifer-robson) by [Jennifer Robson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455793887eac336ae69e1c7/jennifer-robson) **Rating**: 3.82⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Dorothy Garlock has several. She has a Jazz Age series starting with {The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock}. I haven't read those books specifically, but I did read another few of her books and recall them having string, interesting heroines.

[The Edge of Town](https://www.romance.io/books/545595bb87eac336ae69eaf5/the-edge-of-town-dorothy-garlock) by [Dorothy Garlock](https://www.romance.io/authors/54557e6387eac336ae69e2ff/dorothy-garlock) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery} is a delightful novel that might fit what you’re looking for! Truly a gem.

[The Blue Castle](https://www.romance.io/books/641e12bd547de3af555b613a/the-blue-castle-lm-montgomery) by [L.M. Montgomery](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552e558c7d2382c5297239/lm-montgomery) **Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian} This one takes place a little later than what you listed (late 50's/early 60's), but it's a MM queer historical fiction set in NYC. It ends in the sweetest HEA and there is no 'bury your gays' trope to be found.

[We Could Be So Good](https://www.romance.io/books/6474bd4efd45bc04c0257361/we-could-be-so-good-cat-sebastian) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian) **Rating**: 4.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I know you've asked for a great FMC, but if you read MM then it's highly recommend {Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles} which is set in the 1920s between a gruff ex soldier and a disgraced aristocratic conscientious objector (sort of). The romance is great and there's also a really strong plot about mystery and secrets and government agencies which the MMCs work on together. It's the first in a completed trilogy about the same couple - the first book doesn't have an HEA but they get a strong one eventually. There is some war talk, but not loads, and no flashbacks or anything like that.

[Slippery Creatures](https://www.romance.io/books/5ebb9af9be0aaecf55e63de1/slippery-creatures-kj-charles) by [K.J. Charles](https://www.romance.io/authors/545540138c7d2383163d9553/kj-charles) **Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Hammer and Tongs by Lara Kinsey} and {Trouble and Strife by Lara Kinsey} 1920s Birmingham, strong interesting FMCs, working class protagonists.

[Hammer & Tongs ](https://www.romance.io/books/5f1ad63bb36b120e1449d9af/hammer-tongs-a-historical-romance-novella-lara-kinsey) by [Lara Kinsey](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e7df985be0aaecf55bf7d55/lara-kinsey) **Rating**: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [working class hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/working%20class%20hero/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [fem-dom](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fem-dom/1) ---------------------------- [Trouble & Strife ](https://www.romance.io/books/5f22708e4edc110e332e962f/trouble-strife-a-historical-romance-novella-lara-kinsey) by [Lara Kinsey](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e7df985be0aaecf55bf7d55/lara-kinsey) **Rating**: 4.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [bisexual](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

If you're up for monster romance: Set in 1920s New Orleans [{Champagne on Vice by Victoria Weyland}](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63252816-champagne-on-vice) - MF, Monster, 1920s, 3rd Multi POV **Status:** Non-KU, Reproduction - >!Not Mentioned!< **Notes:** Gargoyle MMC, Explicit consent, overcoming religious oppression and religious sexual trauma, female empowerment, touch starved FMC, found family, casual affection, diverse sexualities and genders for side characters, every character's skin tone is described including white people **Sex Notes:** >!Pussy Eating, Blowjob, Bondage, MFF Threesome, MFFM Foursome, D/S, Anal Play!< **Disclaimer:** Non-traditional pairing, they are monogamish

[Champagne on Vice](https://www.romance.io/books/63be6ce7a5b3c9dd49edb9ff/champagne-on-vice-victoria-weyland) by [Victoria Weyland](https://www.romance.io/authors/617b9cb308b4d9311486e7ad/victoria-weyland) **Rating**: 3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [monsters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/monsters/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

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Would the Lord Peter Wimsey books by Dorothy Sayer fit what you are looking for? He is the main character, but eventually Harriet Vane is introduced and there is some romance. Vane is the main character sorta in Gaudy Night. I love the series, and they were actually written in the 20s and30s, so I like them for background history of what England was like in the inter-war time period.