Book Haven discussion

I don't know about anyone else, but one of my favorite theme's is when a character is an "ugly duckling", and is then transformed into a "beautiful swan". I especially love it when the hero is completely shocked by the transformation. hahaha
Does anyone know of any great books with this theme?

Not an historical romance, but Desert Rain by Elizabeth Lowell is about a plain jane who turns into a model- the hero is also very shocked by the transformation. Its one of my favorites- pretty steamy too :)

A book I LOVED that featured the "Ugly Duckling Syndrome" was Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley. I'm not very fond of the first two books in the series, but I LOVED this one!

Ugly Duckling by Iris Johanson is another good one.

Emily wrote: "Ugly Duckling by Iris Johanson is another good one."

i loved that book.

Sonya wrote: "Emily wrote: "Ugly Duckling by Iris Johanson is another good one."

i loved that book."

Me to, one of my favorites.

I enjoyed this one. Diary of an Ugly Duckling

It's not exactly a historical romance, but Beauty, by Robin McKinley, has a similar theme. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and Beauty is the main character's nickname, though she's not, at first, even pretty.

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden
This is kind of like a Beauty and the Beast theme that takes place in the early 1800s in England. I liked it because it was so relatable. No ones looks are perfect and even if they are, they don't last. It's all about personality.

I also liked Melanie Dickerson's retelling of Beauty and the Beast called The Merchant's Daughter. This one has more of a Christian theme unlike McKinley's retellings, which are more about strong feminine characters.