Vanessa Riley Popular Books
Vanessa Riley Biography & Facts
Vanessa Riley is an author of historical fiction, romance fiction, and mystery fiction. Early life and education Riley's mother encouraged her to read the works of Jane Austen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. Riley earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. She started reading romance fiction when she was at Stanford. She lives in Atlanta. Career Riley writes multicultural romance. Some of her works are of the Regency romance genre. Her early works were published digitally. Her print debut novel, A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby (2020), was inspired by the film The First Wives Club (1996). Island Queen (2021), a novel of historical fiction about enslaved-turned-landowner Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, was optioned for film by Julie Ann Robinson. Riley has written for The Washington Post. Critical reception Riley's books Sister Mother Warrior (2022); The Duke, The Lady, and a Baby (2020); An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler (2021); and A Duke, the Spy, an Artist, and a Lie (2022) have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Publishers Weekly called A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby a "bewitching Regency series opener". It criticized An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler for its "choppy writing" that "slightly undermines the otherwise riveting romance". Publishers Weekly wrote of the final book in the Rogues and Remarkable Women series, "Riley masterfully plays up the will-they-won’t-they between husband and wife as the emotionally charged romance twists to its conclusion. This sends out the series on a high note." Library Journal called Sister Mother Warrior a "sweeping, powerful historical novel based on two remarkable real women". Her mystery debut, Murder in Westminster (2022), was reviewed positively by Publishers Weekly, which wrote, "Riley offers a vibrant picture of the roles Black and mixed-race people played in Regency life," though Publishers also noted, "the backstory introducing series characters sometimes feels clumsy and the modern language can be distracting". Carole V. Bell of The New York Times wrote positively of Island Queen: "Though Dorothy’s life is extraordinary, the reason her triumphs and stumbles hit so hard is that Riley does a brilliant job of connecting those events to something bigger... Evocative and immersive, Riley’s narrative bears that weight with grace." Selected works Unmasked Heart: A Regency Romance. Gallium Optronics, 2016. Island Queen. William Morrow, 2021. Sister Mother Warrior. William Morrow, 2022. Lady Worthington mysteries Murder in Westminster. Kensington, 2022. Rogues and Remarkable Women series The Duke, the Lady, and a Baby. Zebra, 2020. An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler. Zebra, 2021. A Duke, the Spy, an Artist, and a Lie. Zebra, 2022. References External links Official website Vanessa Riley on Goodreads Interview with Publishers Weekly Interview with Library Journal. Discover the Vanessa Riley popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Vanessa Riley books.
Best Seller Vanessa Riley Books of 2024
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The Boxing Baroness
Minerva SpencerInspired by true history and perfect for fans of Bridgerton, the acclaimed author sparkles with this brilliantly imagined story of romance between an undercover spy and an educated...
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The Wildflowers
Harriet Evans'I adored The Wildflowers. A sweeping, epic, moving read' Marian KeyesThe new novel by Sunday Times bestseller Harriet Evans will transport you to a Dorset beach house, where you c...
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Murder in Drury Lane
Vanessa RileyOffering “a vibrant picture of the roles Black and mixed‑race people played in Regency life” (Publishers Weekly), this unique historical mystery series, featuring a mixedrace heroi...
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The Dueling Duchess
Minerva SpencerPerfect for fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books, this fresh and unique Regencyset romance series features heroines who aren’t afraid to compete in a man’s world. A new generatio...
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The Bewildered Bride
Vanessa RileyRuth Croome, a Blackamoor heiress, was supposed to get married in a gorgeous wedding gown, made from her father’s exquisite fabrics. Instead, she eloped to Gretna Green with a man ...
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A Gamble at Sunset
Vanessa RileyAwardwinning author Vanessa Riley turns all convention on its head for the first in an enchanting, dazzlingly diverse new Regency romance trilogy featuring a duke, three sisters, a...
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Murder in Berkeley Square
Vanessa RileyOffering “a vibrant picture of the roles Black and mixedrace people played in Regency life” (Publishers Weekly), this unique historical mystery series, featuring a mixedrace heroin...
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An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler
Vanessa RileyAn OMag.com & Bibliolifestyle Most Anticipated Romance of 2021A PopSugar Best Romance of AprilA Publishers Weekly Top 10 Romance of Spring 2021 A witty and moving story fr...
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The German Boy
Tricia WastvedtA moving, interwar family saga The German Boy from Patricia Wastvedt, the Orange Prize Longlisted author of The River.In 1947, Elisabeth Mander's German nephew comes to stay: Stefa...
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A Duke, the Spy, an Artist, and a Lie
Vanessa RileyFounded by the ton's most ingenious countess, the secret society The Widow’s Grace comes to the aid of illtreated widows and wives and helps them regain their fortunes, their famil...
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The Garden of Lost and Found
Harriet EvansDon't miss the STUNNING new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author, Harriet Evans THE BELOVED GIRLS is available to buy now!'Spellbinding' Independent'My top book of 2019' DI...
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Murder in Westminster
Vanessa RileyPerfect for readers looking for a darker twist on Bridgerton, this first in a vibrant, inclusive historical mystery series from an acclaimed author Vanessa Riley portrays the true ...
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The Cutthroat Countess
Minerva SpencerPerfect for fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books, this fresh and unique Regencyset romance series features heroines who aren’t afraid to compete in a man’s world. A new generatio...
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Queen of Exiles
Vanessa Riley“You may not know MarieLouise Christophe but once you have met her, you won’t forget her. Vanessa Riley’s historical novel feels timely and relevant, commemorating a time when Blac...