I’ve made no secret of my appreciation for virgin romance novel heroes on this blog and I have no intention of that ever changing. But, you might wonder what it is I love about the virgin hero and therefore I’m going to beat you to your question and simply offer you a bunch of reasons completely unprompted. Now, I don’t have anything against experienced heroes - I appreciate sluttiness wherever I can get it - but virgin heroes just provide a freshness that you don’t see much in romancelandia. It forces the author to deal with our conceptions of what makes a man, what masculinity is and, more importantly, what it can be.  It usually involves a sexually experienced heroine (which I also love) and it sort of follows naturally for the hero to be more fleshed out and realized as a person when he can’t use his sexual prowess as a crutch. The author also needs to find other solutions to the heros feelings other than “maybe if I fuck her these feelings I can’t name will go away?” You still get the “this is a brand new and exciting experience” BUT we get to experience it through this person’s POV but without all the baggage of the last millennia of controlling women’s sexuality. So - neat! It also (usually) makes the woman lead the dance between the sheets, which is also something you don’t see every day if you mostly read historicals (like yours truly). It’s not about dominance, it’s about guidance and taking the lead and more often than not - that sexy communication.  The author is forced to seek out another source for the hero’s confidence  and it’s always exciting to see where the author draws that from. It’s also fun how sexual inexperience can stump the heroine and force her (and us as readers) to question our own ideas of what masculinity is, what our own biases are and so on.  And this is why I love virgin heroes.

truth

Firstly, hon, thank you so much for trusting my opinion enough to ask for recommendations as a newbie! Ain’t no such thing as a guilty pleasure, so Imma hook you up, sweetie! Now keeping in mind that no recommendation is a 100% guarantee, simply because each reader has different tastes. Also the mystery element makes it a bit hard, because I don’t seem to gravitate towards such books. BUT! I got you six to start with.

 An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole. 

This book is the first that came to mind and it hits ALL four of your requests (mystery, history, trope subversion, realistic romance). It is an Americana Civil War historical about a white Northern spy posing as a Southern soldier and a free black woman spy posing as a slave in the South. The romance is phenomenal, the characters are next level, and the subject matter is treated realistically without being emotional torture to get through. Since there have always been interracial couples since the beginning of love, their HEA is also realistic and believable. 

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas  

Regency England historical with a heroine who is the hired paid companion to the hero’s rich sisters. Bickering OTP, an on-the-run heroine with a secret, and a sudden kiss that results in a smexy bargain. 

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean

Regency England. He’s the “Murderous Duke” because he killed his wife 12 years ago…Except he didn’t. Or, he thinks he didn’t because he has no memory of the night in question. Til his dead wife reappears and is begging for his help. Her secrets and why she ran away and what REALLY happened all pop off as feels and horny pants are a thing.

The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin

Set in China during the Tang Dynasty, maidservant heroine and rich playboy titled hero are thrown together to solve a deadly mystery. Because of her status, all she could ever be to the hero is his concubine, BUT WILL LOVE CONCUR ALL? (Spoiler alert; it does.)

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

Regency England. Hero saw his parents murdered before his eyes Batman style as a kid. By day he’s does his politics job in parliament, by night he roams the slums of England dressed as “The Ghost of St Giles” searching for the murderer and meeting out justice. One night he rescues the heroine from bad guys, and she blackmails him over his real identity for his help.

The Temptation of Your Touch by Teresa Medeiros 

Housekeeper heroine is on the hunt for something in the spooky mansion she services. There’s a ghost…UNTIL THERE IS? ISN’T? WHO KNOWS IT’S A MYSTERY! The mansion’s lord has never come by, UNTIL HE DOES! There are secrets and a gothic setting and so much atmosphere!

If the review says “nice book except for the cursing and explicit sex.”