The journal
Notes from the ballroom
Short reads about the eras, customs and story tricks behind our sagas.
What are vertical micro-dramas? A guide to one-minute period romance
Vertical micro-dramas tell a full love story in chapters of about a minute, filmed for a phone held upright. Here is how they work and why they are so hard to put down.
The Regency marriage season explained: balls, dowries and scandal
Why did a single ball decide a young woman’s future in 1810s England? A short guide to the London Season, dowries, chaperones and the scandals that could ruin a family.
Seven period romance tropes fans can’t resist (and where to find them)
Arranged marriage, the secret heir, the masked ball, the stolen bride — the classic tropes of historical romance, why they work, and stories to watch for each.
Why cliffhangers work: the psychology of “just one more chapter”
Unfinished stories stay on our minds. A short look at the Zeigarnik effect, curiosity gaps and why a well-placed cliffhanger makes the next chapter irresistible.
Now showing
The Wrong BrideHe lifted the veil and saw the wrong sister.
The Heiress From the SeaThe ocean took the heiress. The seamstress took her name.
The Masked CountessHe pushed her off a cliff. She came back for the ball.
The Secret HeirShe left Versailles pregnant. She came back with his son.
The Stolen BrideHe stole her from the altar. Then he stole her heart.
Bride for One WinterShe signed for one winter. He never planned to let her go.