One bookish debutante.
Two dashing suitors.
And a season full of scandal.
Kindred Schemes
Schemes Book 1
by R. K. Harrington
Genre: Historical Regency Romance
One bookish debutante. Two dashing suitors. And a season full of scandal.
Lady Alaina Sinclair never expected London society to be so treacherous—or so tempting. She has always preferred books to ballrooms, but with a disastrous start to her first season, she’s determined to rewrite her fate. With her heart set on the respectable—and very eligible—Duke of Ashford, Alaina is ready to embrace society’s expectations… even if it means silencing her true desires.
Alaina’s world is set awry by Christopher Kendall, the Marquess of Rochester—sharp-tongued, maddeningly handsome, and inconveniently, the duke’s closest friend. Their first encounter is a disaster. Their next, a temptation. And every moment together after that, increasingly impossible to ignore. But with a web of secrets, jealous relatives, and mysterious threats unraveling around her, it soon becomes clear: this is no ordinary season.
Kindred Schemes is a modern take on a regency romance with glamour, a steamy love triangle, and enough mystery to keep readers turning the page.
What readers are saying:
“The story’s central love triangle will delight romance fans…Harrington excels in crafting multidimensional characters…[A] satisfying blend of romance, intrigue, and character-driven storytelling.” — Booklife
An entertaining period love story, nicely balancing breathless lust with social satire and high-mindedness.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The characters are colorful and sharply etched…the prose has a droll, Austen-esque verve to it, using pompously polite palaver to reveal the crassness of high society…In keeping with the style is the spirit of the book’s message—that true love triumphs over mercenary calculation. Readers will root for the feisty Alaina to overcome the stuffed shirts and find her heart’s desire.” — Kirkus Reviews
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London, 1809
Oh no, here he comes, the lascivious Lord Finch and his merry band of drunken fools. Alaina looked out at the crowded ballroom, her eyes connecting with the group of men making their way toward its center. Alaina had only been at the ball for a quarter hour before this particular disaster struck, the leers of the men making the hairs at the nape of her neck prickle. It did not escape Alaina’s attention that Lady Barbara, Lord Finch’s sister, accompanied the group, and wore a sly smile. Hopefully, this latest encounter would be short. Surely, Lord Finch would not want to be rejected twice, let alone in front of a large crowd.
Alaina looked to her right to find her parents close at hand, thankfully, and she stood a little straighter knowing she would not face this alone.
The group of men seemed to move in unison before coming to a halt a few paces before Alaina and her family. A group of onlookers formed a circle around them as if ready to enjoy the ensuing spectacle, Lady Barbara taking her place in the throng. Alaina struggled to focus on the faces of the onlookers as she held her head high, ready to meet Lord Finch and his friends with as much dignity as she could muster. She hoped to project a more serene exterior than she currently felt, her heartbeat accelerating to such a degree that she could feel the blood rushing in her ears.
Lord Finch stepped to the fore of the now halted group, and gallantly bowed to Alaina before speaking, his voice so loud that Alaina was sure people arriving in carriages outside could hear.
“My dearest beautiful Alaina,” he started, clearing his throat before continuing, “You have set upon me quite a conundrum. I fear I have fallen madly in love with the idea of having you as my wife, and I feel you should be happy with such an arrangement. I am quite the catch, you know, especially for someone from the country, and one who likes to read.”
From behind him, Lady Barbara piped up with an added insult, “Amazing, really, that Alaina found her way out of the library to be here.” Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Alaina cringed at his easy use of her given name, devoid of any honorific, and seethed at the mockery of her character. Lord Finch and his sister sounded ridiculous, pompous, and conceited.
Alaina was frozen in place, her lips trembling in rage, and when no comment ushered forth from her lips, Lord Finch rejoined, unfazed by the one-sided nature of their conversation. “I find myself at an impasse. Shall I continue to press my suit with decorum, or should I make my feelings known to the whole world, so that you may not so easily dismiss them as you have in the past?”
A warmth crept up Alaina’s neck and touched her cheeks, giving her pale skin a glow, although one not easily perceptible in the dim light of the ballroom. She turned once again to where her parents stood, only to find that her father had disappeared, and her mother’s pale face was drawn in embarrassment as she watched her eldest child with dismay. Oh, how Alaina wished her father would have stayed; his tall frame was intimidating to a crowd, and his familiar umber eyes were always reassuring to her.
Resolved to put a stop to this farce, Alaina turned back to Lord Finch and remarked, her voice distant and strange sounding in her ears, “Lord Finch, it seems my earlier rejection of your suit did not deter you in the least, but I ask you to have a care for your surroundings.”
As the words left her mouth, Alaina watched Lord Finch’s face change, his outwardly serene expression making way for something more sinister. His smile twisted into an outright leer, and his pale green eyes seemed to burn of their own accord, the candlelight no longer just a reflection in them. He lowered to one knee and reached out his hands in supplication as he sneered, “Please, will you marry me, my lady?” The emphasis on the last word ensured that Alaina felt the insult.
Lord Finch was quickly joined by his friends, their idiocy knowing no bounds, all of them dropping to their knees in a chorus of marriage proposals, each more mocking and infuriating than the last. Soon laughter rang loudly in Alaina’s ears as the men and then the onlookers seemed to find amusement in her predicament. Her world blurred through a sheen of tears, the faces of the laughing men—now resembling something like demons—the only clear points in her vision.
Alaina glanced about to find her mother and threw herself into her open arms, shielding her from the worst of the crowd. The two women made their way to the outer edge of the ballroom and quickly to the front entrance, only stopping a moment to gather their cloaks before heading out into the cool night. Her father, having had the forethought to make his way to the exit, met them in the front drive, where he had already called for their carriage to be brought around, and not a moment too soon.
The Sinclair family hastened into the carriage, a pall falling on them as the conveyance made its way onto the main thoroughfare and toward their London townhome. Alaina squeezed her eyes shut, focusing on the clip clop of the well-matched team of four, grateful for the silence of her parents, as she let tears make their way unchecked down her cheeks.
R.K. Harrington is a debut historical romance author, combining swoon-worthy romance with a bit of mystery. Her first novel, Kindred Schemes, is scheduled to be released February 2026.
In 2021, R. K. Harrington found that her daydreams were yearning to spill over to the written page, and, ever since, has been writing historical romance with a dash of mystery in hopes of publishing her work one day. After much editing, and long hours designing, she is gearing up to release her first novel, with many more to come!
R.K. Harrington grew up reading romance novels at a (maybe too) young age, and the stories entranced her. Give her a Happily Ever After (HEA) and there is no better book in the world. While romance books (namely historical romances) are her first love, R. K. Harrington is an avid reader of all genres. She has gone through many phases: medical mysteries, crime dramas, science fiction, romantasy, and is currently in a fantasy phase (she does do the occasional non-fiction book as well, namely history). Through every season of reading, romance books of all kinds are sprinkled liberally.
When R. K. Harrington is not writing or reading (or working her day job as an engineer), she is having fun with her husband, their kids, and her very cute dog, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Maximus. They all live in the DMV area, where the summers are hot, the winters are cold, and the two days of Spring and Fall are beautiful enough to open the windows!
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Looks very exciting Do you write in a daily journal?
I am so glad it looks intriguing 🤩 I am not great with a daily journal, but I do write my first drafts by hand (something I discovered as part of my process halfway through writing Kindred Schemes). It is so peaceful to write words and not be on a computer. Light a candle and I may be back in the Regency Era myself.
I love historical romance. This story sounds great!
I am so glad you like the premise! Maybe it will make it on your TBR, that would be my most fervent hope 😊 Cannot wait to share it with you and the world in a few short weeks!
I am so adding this book to my must read list sounds so so good.
I am SO honored, like seriously honored. To be on a TBR list is my ultimate dream. Hopefully you love reading it as much as I loved writing it. Email me with any notes / comments: info@rkharrington.com
I am always a little leery when someone 'puts a modern twist' on history, whether fictional or factual. That can lead to belief in a lot of lies and misdirection. It helps if the writer makes a point to explain what the 'modern twists' are.
Hi Carol! Happy to address your question / concern:
The modern twists in my book have to do with modern heroines and men who respect them (and a few other minor things). So many historical romances have older views on men and women, and I think that can be changed, certainly. I try my best to stay true to the feel of the regency era (and I hope I did a good job).
I hope that helps! Happy to discuss any other questions or concerns you may have.
the excerpt sounds amazing, and the cover is wonderful
Why, thank you so much! I am so glad my debut novel has you intrigued. I cannot wait to hear what you think!
I do like the cover. Congratulations on your new book.
Thank you so much! ebooklaunch.com made my cover design process so easy (and the end result amazing!). I am so glad you like it 😊
Can't wait to read it. Congratulations of your new book.
Thank you so much! I have been working the last few years to make my debut novel a reality and I am SO excited to share it with you. Please, please, please email me your thoughts once you read it: info@rkharrington.com.
This looks and sounds like the perfect read for cozying up near a warm fire and enjoying a hot cup of tea! It is perfection and love the cover so much!
Cozy reading by the fire: yes, please! I can only hope that it makes its way to your own bookshelf and keeps you company on a snowy (or rainy) day. I am so honored that you are intrigued! Email me with any questions / comments info@rkharrington.com
sounds like a great book to read!
If you read it, I hope you love it! 🤩 I have put so much work in over the last few years to make it a reality, and I am just SO excited to share it with readers like you.
I love the cover and the excerpt.
So glad you love the cover and description! Maybe it will make it on your TBR? I have been working years to make my debut novel a reality and I am so excited to share it with you and the world in the next few weeks!
Nice cover
Thank you! I have to say I was so fortunate to have ebooklaunch.com help me with my cover (they are amazing).
I love historical romance!! The cover is beautiful. The overturned wagon lets me know there's some drama!
Drama is certainly part of the story! It was either an overturned carriage or a shadowy figure on the London streets. So excited to hear you find it intriguing! I hope it will make it on your list to read!
This looks good.
Yay! I am so happy to hear you are intrigued. I have worked for years to make my debut novel a reality. Maybe it will make it on your TBR! That would be the most amazing honor 🤩
I like the cover.
I am so glad you like the cover! What do you think of the description? I am so excited to share my book with you and the world in just a few weeks, and I would love to hear what you think. Email me: info@rkharrington.com with any thoughts / questions. I would love to hear from you 😊
If you are curious: cover design was done by ebooklaunch.com (they were amazing through the whole process!).
Sounds like a good book. Love the cover.
I have to give credit where credit is due on the cover: ebooklaunch.com was amazing throughout the process! I am so glad you like the cover and the book details. I am so excited to share my debut novel with you (and the world) in just a few short weeks.
Hope its a great read!
I hope so too (maybe it's a good read for you??). If it makes it on your TBR, and you read it (I so hope you do), feel free to email me what you think, info@rkharrington.com
This is one of my favorite genres and I love the excerpt.
Oohh! Yay! I am so glad that my debut novel has caught your eye! Maybe it will make it on your TBR?
Do you have any advice for new writers?
My advice: follow your heart and write what YOU love to read! I am a pantser (not big on the planning), so once I know my characters and have a vague idea of where I am going to go, I let my characters guide me. If you are looking for writing craft resources, I cannot recommend K.M. Weiland enough (https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/). She writes speculative fiction, but has an amazing podcast and so many great writing craft books. Remember: your voice is unique, and people will love to hear it!
Scandalous romance read, love it!!
Thank you for the excerpt.
So glad you liked the description and details! Maybe it will make it on your TBR?
Love this cover.
I am so lucky that I found ebooklaunch.com to help me with the cover of my first novel! I know they tell you not to judge a book by its cover, but I *sometimes* do. If you love the details just as much, maybe it can make it on your TBR 😊 Email me with any questions!
The book details sound like a great read.
So excited that this book has YOU excited 😎 It is my debut novel and I am so excited to share it with the world in just a few short weeks. Email me with any questions / thoughts you may have!
This sounds like a real page turner.
I like to think it is! 🤩✨ So excited to share it with you. If Kindred Schemes makes it on your TBR, I would love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to email me info@rkharrington.com.
I love regency romance, can't wait to read this one. I really like the cover!
I am so glad you like the cover (ebooklaunch.com did such an amazing job!). If it makes your way onto your list to read, I would love to hear what you think. Feel free to email me info@rkharrington.com with any thoughts!
Adding this to my TBR list if possible!
Oooohhh! I am so excited to be on your TBR list 😁 When you read it, I would love to hear what you think! Feel free to email me: info@rkharrington.com. Only a few more weeks until its release!
Fabulous cover
I am so glad you like the cover! I used ebooklaunch.com and they did such a fantastic job ✨
Sounds like an interesting read.
😊 🤩 I am so glad you think it sounds interesting! I am truly honored to have captured your attention.
The book sounds very intriguing. Love the cover!
Fabulous cover
love it!
I love books set in the 1800s – can't wait to read it!
Looks like a great read.
like the cover