I did not have a nonbinary queer Regency archaeologist romance novel on my bingo card for 2025, but I am so glad one dropped into my lap.
A Rare Find tells the story of Elfreda Marsden, a woman with dreams of becoming a member of a prestigious archaeologic society through the discovery of Viking artifacts on her property. She believes that wish has come true when she uncovers an ancient amulet. That dream is quickly snuffed out when, after a collision with a nemesis from her youth, she drops the amulet in a pond, losing it forever. Georgie Redmayne is an aristocrat who has been freshly exiled from London after a recent scandal and was the last person Elfreda wanted to run into. The two find themselves having to join forces to find a trove of Viking gold. So that Elfreda can get her recognition and Georgie can get the funds to return to the city self sufficient. The two don’t get along, but the adventure will take them to new places and force them to confront feelings they have tried to bury.
The book is marvelously written with flowing descriptions that make one think of any great Jane Austen book. My favorite part of the book is the deft handling of Georgie and her gender identity. Georgie is probably best described as non-binary or maybe gender fluid, but none of those terms would have been in use at this time in history. Hell, homosexual was not introduced as a term until 1868. But even using historical terms and categories, Georgie still feels fully valid and valued.
The heart of any romance is, of course, the relationship. The book follows an enemies-to-lovers path, though that is a little strong, as while it takes Elfreda a while to come around, Georgie is never truly opposed to the connection. But I really liked the slow-blooming aspects of the pairing, and once they got together, the two were a force that could be stopped.
This one has earned a place on my bookshelf, and I encourage you to check it out.
Paper Phoenix ink 