Books like The valiant fool by Valerie Holmes

Captain Jack Aubrey and ship surgeon Stephen Maturin begin their storied partnership on a Royal Navy man‑of‑war during the Napoleonic Wars, offering an intimate look at life aboard ship.

A historical fiction story set aboard a 19th‑century vessel transporting emigrants to Australia.

Ensign Richard Sharpe finds himself amid the famed Battle of Trafalgar, 1805, as a thrilling naval adventure set during the Napoleonic Wars.

Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey‑Maturin series, celebrated for its masterful historical detail, is being re‑issued by Harper Perennial with new jackets.

A spirited young woman named Valerie is sent to her eccentric aunt's country estate, where she unwinds a web of high‑society intrigue, secret passages, and clandestine fortunes amid Regency‑era romance.

Richard Sharpe faces a daring siege during the Peninsular War, navigating political intrigue and battlefield danger while thwarting a French offensive that threatens Wellington’s plans.

SHE NEEDED A WEALTHY HUSBAND... Blissfully unaware of what Fate holds in store, Miss Caroline Parker has happily spent her days training her beloved ponies and ignoring more ladylike pursuits. But her carefree country life comes to an abrupt halt when her widowed mother insists she embark upon a London Season for the express purpose of snaring a well-heeled husband. Suddenly, the spirited beauty is thrust into a world of glittering balls and elegant soirees with no hope of rescue in sight...until she meets a dashing young captain who seems to understand her dilemma implicitly, a man who becomes her staunchest ally overnight... HE NEEDED A WELL-TO-DO WIFE... On the battlefield, Thomas Ogden had acquitted himself with courage, and he'd brought home the way wounds to prove it. But now, faced with the prospect of trolling the marriage mart for a rich wife, he is filled with foreboding. Thank goodness for Caroline. Becoming her partner in this business of finding a mate makes life tolerable, even pleasurable...Until Thomas realizes he's finding fault with every man Caroline flirts with...until he discovers he's harbouring a desire to do violence to every man who asks her to dance...until he begins to sense that he will never accept any man as Caroline's husband...any man but himself...

A 1941 espionage thriller set in post-war Paris, featuring a reluctant spy trying to survive in the dangerous world of resistance and sabotage.

A spy thriller set against the backdrop of World War II Paris, focusing on Jean Casson's tumultuous romance and moral compromises during the occupation.

Miss Abigail Hammond, as the adopted daughter of Lord Hammond, struggles to uncover the truth of her past and escape a dangerous situation involving forced marriage.

Set during the Napoleonic wars, the novel follows a young woman's choice between three suitors: a sailor, a trumpetmajor, and the cowardly son of a local squire.

A thrilling tale of espionage and love in wartime Paris, featuring a foreign correspondent who must navigate the treacherous politics of Europe as he races to protect a clandestine newspaper and its brave editors, journalists, and scientists who risk everything for a free Italy.