Cathy Maxwell's Regency Marriage Games
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- Cathy Maxwell has published over 30 historical romances since her debut in the mid-1990s, most set during the British Regency period (1811–1820).
- Her Marriage Game series, beginning with Married in Haste (2000), centres on marriage-of-convenience plots that spiral into genuine desire.
- Maxwell's heroines are frequently widows, bluestockings, or women with agency — characters who negotiate their own futures rather than waiting to be rescued.
- You and No Other (1998) features a marriage-wager plot device that later became a Maxwell signature.
- Falling In Love Again (1999) pairs a rake with a widow who's sworn off romance — a classic forced-proximity setup Maxwell executes with dry humour.
- Maxwell's work sits comfortably alongside Lisa Kleypas, Mary Balogh, and Eloisa James in the witty-Regency subgenre.
Treasured Vows — Cathy Maxwell
A marriage-of-convenience romp where honour meets heat. This is Maxwell in full command of the trope: two people who marry for practical reasons (inheritance, scandal, social survival) and discover they've accidentally signed up for emotional devastation. The banter is sharp, the tension simmers, and the inevitable reckoning hits harder because the stakes started low. If you're the kind of reader who dog-ears pages where the hero realises he's in too deep, this one's a guaranteed earmark fest. Explore our current copy of Treasured Vows or browse more Romance books at Patina.You and No Other — Cathy Maxwell
The marriage wager that launched a thousand sighs. Maxwell takes the Regency wager plot — a staple of the genre since Georgette Heyer — and gives it emotional teeth. The heroine's not some pawn in a gentleman's bet; she's negotiating her own terms, thank you very much. The result is a story that balances frothy fun with genuine stakes, and Maxwell's pacing keeps the romance taut without sacrificing the historical texture. Think ballrooms, bruised pride, and the slow realisation that the person you married for show is the only one you want to wake up next to. Explore our current copy of You and No Other or browse more Romance books at Patina.Married in Haste — Cathy Maxwell
The first Marriage Game novel, where chaos is the only certainty. This 2000 release kicks off Maxwell's Marriage Game series with a bang: a headstrong heroine, a rushed wedding, and a hero who's slowly realising he's wildly out of his depth. The "haste" in the title isn't just setup — it's the engine of the entire plot, driving misunderstandings, assumptions, and the kind of emotional collision that makes Regency romance irresistible. As of August 2026, Patina's Romance collection includes rotating copies of Maxwell's Marriage Game titles, so if this one hooks you, there's more where it came from. Explore our current copy of Married in Haste or browse more Romance books at Patina.When Dreams Come True — Cathy Maxwell
A determined heroine meets a plot that won't let her settle. Maxwell's heroines are never passive, and this one's no exception. She's got a plan, she's got a spine, and she's about to discover that the universe has other ideas. The novel leans into the fantasy of the Regency — the gowns, the estates, the high-stakes social manoeuvring — while keeping the emotional core grounded in character. It's the kind of book you read in one sitting, then immediately text your group chat about. Explore our current copy of When Dreams Come True or browse more Romance books at Patina.Falling In Love Again — Cathy Maxwell
A rake, a widow, and a fake marriage that stops feeling fake. Published in 1999, this one's pure catnip for readers who love the "I'll never love again" arc colliding with a hero who refuses to take no for an answer. Major John is a rake with a redemption arc; Mallory's a widow who's armoured herself against exactly this kind of nonsense. Maxwell lets them circle each other for just long enough to build real tension, then delivers the kind of confession scene that makes you forget you're holding a twenty-year-old mass-market paperback. The physical book itself — creased spine, foxed pages — carries the weight of everyone who's fallen for this story before you. Explore our current copy of Falling In Love Again or browse more Romance books at Patina. Maxwell's Regency world is one where love is never convenient, marriage is rarely simple, and the slow burn is always worth the wait. If you're chasing ballroom drama, second chances, or heroines who negotiate their own happy endings, these titles deliver.Where can I buy secondhand Cathy Maxwell books in Australia?
Patina Paperbacks stocks rotating preloved copies of Maxwell's Regency romances, shipped Australia-wide from Sydney. Our Romance collection turns over regularly, so if a specific title's sold out, check back — or browse the section for comparable authors like Lisa Kleypas and Mary Balogh.
What's the reading order for Cathy Maxwell's Marriage Game series?
Married in Haste (2000) is the first entry in the Marriage Game series, followed by several sequels that each centre on different characters. Maxwell's standalones — like You and No Other and Falling In Love Again — can be read in any order without missing plot threads.
Are Cathy Maxwell's romances spicy or sweet?
Maxwell sits comfortably in the middle of the Regency heat spectrum — more emotionally intense than sweet, but not as explicit as modern "steamy" historicals. Expect slow-burn tension, charged dialogue, and bedroom scenes that close the door but make their point. If you like Eloisa James or early Julia Quinn, Maxwell's your speed.
Which Cathy Maxwell book should I start with if I'm new to Regency romance?
Honestly, Married in Haste is the gateway drug — it's got all the hallmarks of the genre (forced proximity, witty banter, a hero who's terrible at feelings) without requiring series knowledge. You and No Other is another solid entry point if you prefer a marriage-wager setup. Both are pulpy, fun, and extremely readable.
Does Patina Paperbacks ship Regency romances to regional Australia?
Yes — we ship Australia-wide from our Sydney base, with free shipping on orders over $29. Regional delivery times vary depending on your postcode, but Romance titles are lightweight and generally arrive within a week or so.