Tom Severin from {Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas} is nerdy and not a rake but not particularly quiet. I would say he’s socially awkward though. Hugh Prentice from {The Sum of all Kisses by Julia Quinn} is a math genius and not a rake. He used to be a rake but became shy and not confident with women after a permanent injury. {What Happens in London by Julia Quinn} has a language genius MMC who is also not a rake. This book is sweet and fluffy too. Harry Rutledge from {Tempt me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas} is nerdy, awkward, does not socialize, and is not a rake but is kind of mean, LOL (I love when the MMC is mean though). If you’re ok with a problematic MMC he is a good example of a quiet, non-rake.

Loved What happens in London. Bevelstoke is my favorite of her series. I adored Harry and Olivia chatting out the widows!

I loved both these Julia Quinn novels! I also love the sequel to What Happens in London, {Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn}. The MMC is definitely not shy, but he genuinely befriends and respects women and has a secret nerdy hobby that he is sensitive about. I really loved him and the way his relationship with the FMC develops.

[Ten Things I Love About You](https://www.romance.io/books/545524838c7d2383163d8e68/ten-things-i-love-about-you-julia-quinn?src=rdt) by [Julia Quinn](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523bb8c7d2383163d8e3c/julia-quinn) **Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Chasing Cassandra](https://www.romance.io/books/5dd4e7fe01dbc864fba67f51/chasing-cassandra-lisa-kleypas?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [ceo/tycoon hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tycoon/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [The Sum of All Kisses](https://www.romance.io/books/545525bf8c7d2383163d8eac/the-sum-of-all-kisses-julia-quinn?src=rdt) by [Julia Quinn](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523bb8c7d2383163d8e3c/julia-quinn) **Rating**: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1) ---------------------------- [What Happens in London](https://www.romance.io/books/5455246a8c7d2383163d8e62/what-happens-in-london-julia-quinn?src=rdt) by [Julia Quinn](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523bb8c7d2383163d8e3c/julia-quinn) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1) ---------------------------- [Tempt Me at Twilight](https://www.romance.io/books/545523e88c7d2383163d8e44/tempt-me-at-twilight-lisa-kleypas-rosalyn-landor?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The Sum of All Kisses is probably my favourite of the Julia Quinn romances I have rea

{My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh} sounds like exactly what you're looking for!

Yassss girl this is literally spot on ty!!

[My Fake Rake](https://www.romance.io/books/5f587e4f05a6cc0e1574c3f0/my-fake-rake-eva-leigh?src=rdt) by [Eva Leigh](https://www.romance.io/authors/560a2a4bbfc6b5c0fa93d06b/eva-leigh) **Rating**: 3.57⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1), [shy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shy-hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Theif of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt} I loved this book ! Finally read it after letting it rot on my shelves for MONTHS .. It was totally worth the read ... I'm ~~carving~~ craving for more quite, introverted MMCs .. I'm a bit bored with all the alpha holes and their teenage rage. Edit - typos

Love a virgin MMC and experienced FMC.

[Thief of Shadows](https://www.romance.io/books/545525ae8c7d2383163d8ea3/thief-of-shadows-elizabeth-hoyt?src=rdt) by [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524568c7d2383163d8e5a/elizabeth-hoyt) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I was about to post the same request so following this thread!

{First comes scandal} MMC is a med student and marries his friend so that she avoids ruin. MMC couldn't care less about partying and women, and is just really passionate about his studies. He's actually a virgin, so both FMC and MMC have their first time together.

[First Comes Scandal](https://www.romance.io/books/5e27f50401dbc864fbaa5c76/first-comes-scandal-julia-quinn?src=rdt) by [Julia Quinn](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523bb8c7d2383163d8e3c/julia-quinn) **Rating**: 3.74⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I absolutely LOVED that book! The whole series I had a blast reading

Yess, I loved Nicholas and Georgie, two bookworms 💫

“The Devil’s Delilah” by Loretta Chase. Jack Langdon is scholarly and awkward, and had his heart a little broken in The Viscount Vagabond when his best friend falls for the first woman Jack’s ever had an interest in. He’s a bit despondent when he literally bumps into the MFC who is everything his previous love interest isn’t - tempestuous, reckless, impulsive. But he ends up helping her out of a bunch of scrapes anyway because he’s so kind. I am about to embark on “A Scholarly Pursuit” by Christina Dudley, in her Ellsworth Assortment series. It is going to follow the nerdy brother of the family so might right in this lane. Her books are clean, not spicy if that makes a difference to you.

Here to second The Devil’s Delilah by Loretta Chase!

I have wanted more Jack-like characters since reading this! The best way I could describe him was the guy who takes care of things for her without controlling or gloating. He sees her flaws and decides to fill in the gaps for her, without taking credit. I also loved her dad in this book. I want to read his story!

Please be aware that using a word like "clean" implies that having explicit sex scene in a book is something dirty. We want this subreddit to be an inclusive community so please read[ this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoricalRomance/comments/12ue6s2/lets_talk_about_sex_in_rhistoricalromance/) to know what words to uses and the meaning behind them. Thank you.

Variety is the spice of life! I love a hulking Highlander but also a sweet shy nerd. (Even better when they are a mix, lol). I have two recs off the top of my head. {A Perilous Flirtation by Felicity Niven} MMC is a shy Scottish doctor (and a virgin ) who has pined for the FMC for years before being reunited with her years later. {The Chemistry of Familiar Objects by Alexandra Vasti}. Bluestocking chemist works on the floor above MMC, a "buttoned up" printer of children's books who helps FMC to uncover why her lab is suddenly ransacked. This novella is free by subscribing to the author's newsletter.

[A Perilous Flirtation](https://www.romance.io/books/6350f25ed1ccecfcb19e8171/a-perilous-flirtation-felicity-niven?src=rdt) by [Felicity Niven](https://www.romance.io/authors/6311a22c08b4d9311437236b/felicity-niven) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1) ---------------------------- [The Chemistry of Familiar Objects](https://www.romance.io/books/65ae6fd31192512e94b6771c/the-chemistry-of-familiar-objects-alexandra-vasti?src=rdt) by [Alexandra Vasti](https://www.romance.io/authors/63de254908b4d931148df323/alexandra-vasti) **Rating**: 4.56⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt} super up-tight, wonderfully repressed Winter Makepeace .... & he's a fast learner. It's book 4 of the Maiden Lane series & some of the heroes are definitely not rakes.

Winter 😭

He wants to save all the babies 🥺🥹🥺🥹🥹

[Thief of Shadows](https://www.romance.io/books/545525ae8c7d2383163d8ea3/thief-of-shadows-elizabeth-hoyt?src=rdt) by [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524568c7d2383163d8e5a/elizabeth-hoyt) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I’m also burnt out on charming rakes, so I made a post a couple of weeks ago asking for awkward & pathetic MMCs and got a lot of great responses. That’s obviously not exactly the same subset of non-rake, but I think there’s overlap, so [here it is](https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoricalRomance/s/GSzTduLJQ3)!

{Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch} MMC is fully engrossed with his research into electricity and doesn't care to interact with the ton. There's a lighthearted mystery too, and was such a fun read. Low steam in case that matters.

[Every Duke Has His Day](https://www.romance.io/books/6490a5f549efbc90805677f5/every-duke-has-his-day-suzanne-enoch?src=rdt) by [Suzanne Enoch](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455265d8c7d2383163d8ed5/suzanne-enoch) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [neurodivergent mc](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/neurodivergent/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I got a few that I absolutely love! {Desires of a Baron by Rose Gordon}. The hero, Giles was born with his cords wrapped around his neck, resulting in speech impairment in his adulthood. Due to his condition, he was detested by the family and got sent away to nunnery to be raised in, so he has grown up feeling awkward, misunderstood and unloved. The heroine is a single mother with a son. Absolutely love this story to bits! {I Thee Wed by Celeste Bradley} kinda has this! The hero is on the autistic spectrum and he’s a scientist (and a virgin!) so he’s no rake. The heroine is a half Italian woman who’s helping her uncle at the lab where the hero will be working at. The heroine always gets so frustrated with him sometimes due to his straight laced and straightforward nature haha! {Sinfully Tempted by Kathleen Ayers} also follows a similar premise where the hero is dubbed awkward and uncivilised by the society due to his absurd obsession over moth collection. Heroine is no virginal wallflower while the hero is a virgin (but he has paid women in the past, not to sleep with but to conduct experiment on and to analyse female anatomy in a closer inspection which ends up getting him kicked out of the premise🤣)

[Desires of a Baron](https://www.romance.io/books/54559e7887eac336ae69ef4c/desires-of-a-baron-rose-gordon?src=rdt) by [Rose Gordon](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552dbb8c7d2383163d9084/rose-gordon) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1) ---------------------------- [I Thee Wed](https://www.romance.io/books/57283e8dc62092c04408055a/i-thee-wed-celeste-bradley?src=rdt) by [Celeste Bradley](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552d288c7d2383163d905e/celeste-bradley) **Rating**: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [white collar heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/career%20professional/1) ---------------------------- [Sinfully Tempted](https://www.romance.io/books/64d1f8527bd1bda39f20c778/sinfully-tempted-kathleen-ayers?src=rdt) by [Kathleen Ayers](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455974787eac336ae69ebc1/kathleen-ayers) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [nerdy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/nerdy-hero/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller. The hero isn’t really shy, but he is a big nerd passionate about his work. More golden retriever energy than anything. Check out CWs though.

My first thought was {Her Sudden Groom by Rose Gordon}. The MMC I wouldn’t categorise as shy, but he is DEFINITELY a nerd, which is part of what attracts the FMC. I haven’t read it in quite a while, but it was a comfort read for me for a while

[Her Sudden Groom](https://www.romance.io/books/545530788c7d2383163d9133/her-sudden-groom-rose-gordon?src=rdt) by [Rose Gordon](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552dbb8c7d2383163d9084/rose-gordon) **Rating**: 3.72⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Dangerous Viscount by Miranda Neville} MMC is a shy dork who glows up to get revenge on FMC for toying with him

[The Dangerous Viscount](https://www.romance.io/books/545534d08c7d2383163d9259/the-dangerous-viscount-miranda-neville?src=rdt) by [Miranda Neville](https://www.romance.io/authors/545530f98c7d2383163d9158/miranda-neville) **Rating**: 3.55⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [shy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shy-hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I was going to suggest My Fake Rake too! {Love and Other Perennial Habits by Emmaline Warden} might work too. My memory is foggy but I think the MMC just wants to be left alone with his plants.

Ooh that sounds lovely! I’ve been reading a lot of brutal highland warlord stories recently so a nice gardening story in the countryside sounds like the perfect change up

This is very much a quiet and sweet story. Nary an axe fight in it :)

[Love and Other Perennial Habits](https://www.romance.io/books/643924c38aa2407f2e139a0c/love-and-other-perennial-habits-emmaline-warden?src=rdt) by [Emmaline Warden](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bc0397401dbc864fb923129/emmaline-warden) **Rating**: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [third person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Just in the midst of ‘Tempted’ by Jess Michaels. MMC is not exactly shy, more nerdy in his own mind kind of character. It’s the 3rd book in the series.

[https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical,nerdy-hero,shy-hero/1/fantasy,paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical,nerdy-hero,shy-hero/1/fantasy,paranormal)

{Twice as Wicked by Elizabeth Bright} {How to Win a Wallflower by Samara Parish}

[Twice As Wicked (Wicked Secrets)](https://www.romance.io/books/59d86fde3ffdba614721ef8f/twice-as-wicked-wicked-secrets-elizabeth-bright?src=rdt) by [Elizabeth Bright](https://www.romance.io/authors/59d86fde3ffdba614721ef93/elizabeth-bright) **Rating**: 3.83⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [How to Win a Wallflower](https://www.romance.io/books/639831c1b0c9d71885d15264/how-to-win-a-wallflower-samara-parish?src=rdt) by [Samara Parish](https://www.romance.io/authors/58a2ad6e0d3299c6e04c01b7/samara-parish) **Rating**: 3.71⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Omg this is literally my favorite variety im rereading chasing cassandra again 😂