Firstly, hon, thank you so much for trusting my opinion enough to ask for recommendations as a newbie! Ain’t no such thing as a guilty pleasure, so Imma hook you up, sweetie! Now keeping in mind that no recommendation is a 100% guarantee, simply because each reader has different tastes. Also the mystery element makes it a bit hard, because I don’t seem to gravitate towards such books. BUT! I got you six to start with.
This book is the first that came to mind and it hits ALL four of your requests (mystery, history, trope subversion, realistic romance). It is an Americana Civil War historical about a white Northern spy posing as a Southern soldier and a free black woman spy posing as a slave in the South. The romance is phenomenal, the characters are next level, and the subject matter is treated realistically without being emotional torture to get through. Since there have always been interracial couples since the beginning of love, their HEA is also realistic and believable.
Regency England historical with a heroine who is the hired paid companion to the hero’s rich sisters. Bickering OTP, an on-the-run heroine with a secret, and a sudden kiss that results in a smexy bargain.
Regency England. He’s the “Murderous Duke” because he killed his wife 12 years ago…Except he didn’t. Or, he thinks he didn’t because he has no memory of the night in question. Til his dead wife reappears and is begging for his help. Her secrets and why she ran away and what REALLY happened all pop off as feels and horny pants are a thing.
Set in China during the Tang Dynasty, maidservant heroine and rich playboy titled hero are thrown together to solve a deadly mystery. Because of her status, all she could ever be to the hero is his concubine, BUT WILL LOVE CONCUR ALL? (Spoiler alert; it does.)
Regency England. Hero saw his parents murdered before his eyes Batman style as a kid. By day he’s does his politics job in parliament, by night he roams the slums of England dressed as “The Ghost of St Giles” searching for the murderer and meeting out justice. One night he rescues the heroine from bad guys, and she blackmails him over his real identity for his help.
Housekeeper heroine is on the hunt for something in the spooky mansion she services. There’s a ghost…UNTIL THERE IS? ISN’T? WHO KNOWS IT’S A MYSTERY! The mansion’s lord has never come by, UNTIL HE DOES! There are secrets and a gothic setting and so much atmosphere!
Since I could only find 6 solid recommendations, I’m going to post this live so that if any of my Romance Squad got suggestions that fit this criteria, PLEASE REBLOG WITH THEM! Ain’t no such thing as too many recommendations, LOL.