Books like The Beauty Within by Marguerite Kaye

Lady Cressida Armstrong, clever and self‑aware, is considered plain by her family and disheartened when her father declares she will never marry. In Regency England, she turns to science and self‑discovery rather than a traditional marriage. Disillusioned artist Giovanni di Matteo is making a name for himself with technically brilliant portraits, but his work has become routine. Their worlds collide when Giovanni meets Cressida, a woman whose intelligence and insecurity captivate him. The enclosed, intimate milieu of his studio becomes a place where both artist and muse awaken renewed passion—Cressida's face and spirit becoming his most compelling subject. This romance explores man‑woman relationships in a historical setting, blending wit, artistic ambition, and the search for a deeper connection beyond conventional expectations.

First publish date: 2013