Eight sisters. Eight curves of fate. One unforgettable promise.
That’s how the Harrington sisters’ story begins – each of them standing at a crossroads, holding a letter from their late father that changes everything. Raised under the suffocating rules of propriety, they were taught to stay quiet, proper, and invisible. But their father’s last wish is a rebellion in ink: live boldly, love recklessly, and never hide the curves of your lives or your bodies.
That’s the heart of The Busty Bodice Club – a shared world created by eight authors who adore writing sensual, empowering historical romance. Each book tells the story of one Harrington sister as she breaks free from her gilded cage, steps into her own desires, and claims her version of happily ever after. From scandalous wagers to forbidden portraits, each story celebrates the lush, the daring, the unapologetically female.
Why I’m Writing This Series
When the idea for The Busty Bodice Club came up, I didn’t hesitate. I’ve written my share of feisty heroines and brooding heroes over the years, but this project struck a different chord. It wasn’t just about romance, it was about reclamation. About writing women who take up space in every sense of the word.
The women of the Busty Bodice Club are the antidote to narrow ideals. They are clever, mischievous, complicated, and gloriously human. They come in every shape and size, and they aren’t waiting for permission to live or love.
When I began my book in the series, I knew I wanted to show a heroine who was both sensual and self-doubting, strong yet still learning how to wield that strength. Georgiana doesn’t find confidence because a man tells her she’s beautiful; she discovers it because she finally believes it herself. The romance becomes a mirror—not a rescue.
The Power of the Curve
The title The Busty Bodice Club makes people smile, but underneath the humor is something serious. The “busty bodice” isn’t just about cleavage and corsets. It’s about reclaiming the body as part of the heroine’s emotional arc. Every curve tells a story—of restriction, rebellion, desire, and freedom.
I grew up reading romance at a time when the heroines were often described as willowy, petite, fragile. And while those stories still hold a place in my heart, I wanted to write women who might tug their corsets tighter in frustration, not to be smaller but to be taken seriously. Women who understand that sensuality isn’t a size, it’s a state of mind.
In The Busty Bodice Club, the heroines are aware of the gazes around them—the judgment, the whispers—and they choose to defy them anyway. That’s sexy. That’s power. That’s romance.
Writing Independence in an Age of Restriction
Historical romance has always been a playground for rebellion. Within the polished drawing rooms and ballroom waltzes, it offers a safe space to challenge the limits society placed on women. And for me, that tension—the push between duty and desire—is irresistible.
Every heroine in this series is handed a challenge designed to test her independence. It might be a scandalous commission, a wager that threatens her reputation, or a passion she’s been told to suppress. In taking those risks, each woman learns that independence isn’t granted, it’s claimed
The Joy of Collaboration
One of the most delightful parts of this project is sharing it with seven other authors who bring their unique voices, heat levels, and heroines to life. We wanted the series to feel like a community, just as the sisters themselves are bound together by love and loyalty. You’ll see their stories overlap, their lives intertwine, their secrets ripple through each book. It’s one of those worlds where you finish a story already eager to step into the next.
And yes, there’s plenty of passion. But there’s also friendship, found family, and the kind of sisterhood that says: you’re not alone in your story.
Why Body Positivity Matters in Historical Romance
Romance, at its core, is about worthiness. It’s about every person, regardless of shape, age, or circumstance—deserving love that sees them, chooses them, and stays. Body positivity in romance isn’t about politics; it’s about truth. It’s about looking at the past and giving voice to the women who were always there but rarely centered.
When I write, I’m not trying to “modernize” history so much as illuminate what’s timeless in us all. Women have always been sensual, curious, bold. They’ve always yearned for passion and partnership. The Busty Bodice Club simply dares to show that fullness—of figure, of feeling, of life.
If a reader finishes one of our books and sees a bit of herself reflected in the heroine’s confidence, or finds herself smiling at the mirror instead of apologizing to it, then we’ve done what we set out to do.
So, whether you come for the corsets or the confessions, for the scandal or the sisterhood, I hope you’ll stay for the heart. The Busty Bodice Club isn’t just a series. It’s a celebration—of women’s bodies, women’s bravery, and the beautifully messy path to self-acceptance.
Because every woman deserves a love story that fits her perfectly.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Tracy Sumner’s storytelling career began when she picked up a historical romance on a college beach trip, and she fondly blames LaVyrle Spencer for her lifelong obsession with the genre. She’s a recipient of the National Reader’s Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, and Georgia Romance Writers’ MAGGIE Award, among others.
When she’s not writing sizzling love stories about feisty heroines and their temperamental-but-entirely-lovable heroes, Tracy enjoys reading, snowboarding, yoga, travel, and cheering on her college football team (Go Tigers!)
About Tracy Sumner
USA Today bestselling author Tracy Sumner’s storytelling career began when she picked up a historical romance on a college beach trip, and she fondly blames LaVyrle Spencer for her lifelong obsession with the genre. She’s a recipient of the National Reader’s Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, and Georgia Romance Writers’ MAGGIE Award, among others.
When she’s not writing sizzling love stories about feisty heroines and their temperamental-but-entirely-lovable heroes, Tracy enjoys reading, snowboarding, yoga, travel, and cheering on her college football team (Go Tigers!)
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