This Rec League comes from Taryn, who is looking for a specific age-range of heroines:
I’m on the lookout for romances with heroines in their 30’s (or even late 20s), particularly historical romances, but also contemporary. I’ve read a number that I have loved (Mary Balogh, Elizabeth Hoyt, Lisa Kleypas, Sherry Thomas, etc…) but I’m always looking to add to my collection.
I find that many historical romances have heroines who are in their teens and early twenties, and I’ve also found some sources for heroines who are in their 40s and older, but I’d love to find a good list of books with heroines that are in the same stage of life as I am.
Amanda: Admittedly, this has us at SBTB HQ rather stumped. A lot of the historical romances we thought of were by authors that Taryn already mentioned.
Can you think of historical heroines in their thirties that aren’t written by the authors above?
So please, help us, Bitchery! You’re our only hope!
The only one I can think of is Jennifer Crusie. Most of her heroines are in their late 30’s.
Damn, I was so excited at the prospect of knowing one I sailed right past the ‘historical’ part.
Ok, then, with that in mind, I got nothin’. Nevermind.
There’s always Persuasion by Jane Austen, if you want a really historical historical. Poor Anne, the bloom of youth withered, washed up at the advanced age of 28. Even if it’s not as snappily written as modern books, Captain Wentworth’s letter at the end is lovely. I note that the word autofill thingy on my phone suggested Wentworth after I’d typed Captain, which implies I’ve recommended it before. Obviously I really like this book.
Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody starts out in her 30’s.
The heroine of Georgette Heyer’s The Talisman Ring is 28.
The Stud Club Books by Tessa Dare the first Heriorine is mid twenties but the next couple are 30ish.
Pam Rosenthal’s The Edge of Impropriety has a 30-something heroine, and I liked it a lot. It’s set in the late regency era.
I, too, love Persuasion, but it’s a late twenties thing. Ditto Blue Castle (29) and most of the ‘advanced age’ spinsters in historicals i remember are similarly 27 or 28. This is a stumper.
I recently started From Duke till Dawn by Eva Leigh, and I seem to recall the heroine’s age being established somewhere in the late 20s/ early 30s range. I haven’t finished the book yet, so I can’t vouch for it, but I really liked Leigh’s Wicked Quills series. Although I don’t remember ages being established in that series, at least two of the heroines (book 1 and 2) struck me as being older-than-ingenue, based on their personalities and where they were in their career paths.
One that immediately comes to mind is The Admiral’s Penniless Bride by Carla Kelly (heroine is 34, hero is 45, if I recall correctly).
Also, the age is never specified I don’t think, but I always pictured the heroine of Connie Brockway’s All Through the Night as being in her late 20s at the youngest.
There’s also Black Sheep and Lady of Quality by Heyer. Very similar on the surface — a spinster living in Bath who tangles with a rake over a teenage ward wanting to marry someone unsuitable. IIRC both were described as being 29.
For contemporaries, there’s also Elizabeth Peters’ Jacqueline Kirby books. She has grown children. Not so much a romance as a mystery series. She tends to love ’em and leave ’em.
And I think Vicki Bliss would qualify as well — a college professor with a PhD implies at least late 20’s. Definitely a romance series, starting with the second book. I do love John Smythe.
Oooo… I have few (and will add more if I think any others)!
The Earl’s Dilemma – Emily Larkin (she has a couple of others with heroines in her late 20s, early 30s)
Spinster and the Rake – Anne Stuart
I love the earl – Caroline Linden
Almost a gentleman – Pam Rosenthal
The Lady who came in from the cold – Grace Callaway (a favourite!)
Seduced by a Pirate – Eloisa James
Victoria Alexander- A Little Bit Wicked- the heroine is explicitly in her 30s (not many additional details as I’ve just started reading it myself)
The Courtship Dance (Matchmakers #4) by Candace Camp, the heroine is 34.
I’m just going to plant the seed so someone with a better memory than mine can fill in the blanks, but I think some Loretta Chase books might work here. Specifically, Mr Impossible, Lord Perfect, and The Last Hellion.
Do correct me if I’m wrong. Also, it would be great to have a romance novel database that included the age of the protagonists in its metadata.
I think Mary Jo Putney’s The Rake had a heroine in her late twenties or early thirties. I think the heroines in her books Shattered Rainbows and The Bartered Bride were older, too.
Elizabeth Murray’s The Heroine’s Sister has the sister of the heroine (it’s complicated) described as “on the threshold of the thirties.” The heroine is described as usually cleaning up her sister’s messes, so they are at least close in age, and I always read her as the older sister taking care of the younger, so she’s somewhere in the 25-35 age range (not exactly specified, but obvious). She’s been working for some time, and has no problems supervising late teenagers, so she’s at least ten years their senior.
I can’t remember for sure, but I think by Elizabeth Kingston has a heroine, Helen, who is in her 30’s. I listened on audio and can’t flip back through the pages to be sure! (Loved the audiobook!)
Someone else mentioned this author, but I just finished “The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen” by Victoria Alexander, and the heroine is 29-very-close-to-30. This book was SOOOO GOOD. Enemies to friends to lovers, travel to the Paris Exposition, mystery, banter, a lot of older female secondary characters who are feisty and wonderful… hits nearly all my buttons. Stacking up more of her books on my TBR.
I remembered another! I never got around to reading more than the sample, but Tis the Season To Be Sinful by Adrienne Basso has a 29-year-old heroine, I believe.
One of my favorite historicals is A Gentleman Undone by Cecelia Grant. The heroine is a courtesan who’s about to retire because she’s approaching 30.
Most of Amanda Quick’s are older heroines. Amanda Quick is the name Jaye Ann Krentz uses for her historicals. She is fantastic!
Most of Amanda Quick’s are older heroines. Amanda Quick is the name Jayne Ann Krentz uses for her historicals. She is fantastic!
@Rachel–I thought of Eva Leigh’s From Duke Till Dawn too. The heroine is 31 and the hero is 38.
If I can be forgiven for mentioning my own books–the heroines of To Charm a Naughty Countess, Scandalous Ever After, and My Scandalous Duke are 30. A couple others are 28 and 29.
I think Laura Lee Gurhke’s Girl Bachelor series, perhaps? I think all the heroines are at minimum late twenties.
How old is the Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Ann Long? I haven’t read it in a while so perhaps I’m misremembering, but I seem to recall her being on the older side.
regarding the Laura Lee Gurhke’s Girl Bachelor series: I’ve only read And Then He Kissed Her, but it indeed has a 30-year old heroine. Pretty sure the book opens on her birthday.
I believe Violet, heroine in The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan, is in her early 30s, or at least late 20s.
Eva Leigh’s “Forever Your Earl” and “Scandal Takes the Stage.” Caroline Linden’s “Blame it on Bath.” Courtney Milan’s “Once Upon a Marquess.” “Scandalous Summer” by Meredith Duran.
The Passion of the Purple Plumeria by Lauren Willig. I can’t remember exactly how old the heroine is but she is certainly older/has been a chaperone/described as a spinster and the hero has grown children. It is the 10th in the Secret History of the Pink Carnation series.
…I think Valancy is late 20s, but I do want to add a pitch for LM Montgomery’s The Blue Castle.
Judith Ivory definitely has a few heroines in their thirties. Sleeping Beauty for sure. I think Edwina from The Proposition is too as well as the heroines from Untie My Heart and Black Silk. To me her books always seem a trifle more sophisticated than most historicals. The Proposition is a favorite as it’s a very funny reverse Pygmalion story.
Also Thalia from The Bedding Proposal by Tracy Anne Warren
Elisa Braden’s novella Twelve Night’s as His Mistress has a heroine who is turning thirty and the hero is close to forty. I think it’s also free on Amazon.
Kerrigan Byrne – the victorian rebels series. all heroines are 30s. bonus is that the series and author are fantastic!!!!!
What about Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie series? I think most of her heroines are older. This reminds me that I haven’t visited with Lord Ian in a while…
Are Sarah MacLeans heroines older? The woman in the second book struck me as 26, maybe older, but I can’t recall. Regardless, I don’t think I’ve seen Sarah mentioned here and her historical are great.
My tablet is at home so I can’t verify for sure, but I think Carla Kelly’s collection of short stories Here’s to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army has a few heroines older than their 20’s. Not all the stories are strictly romance and some are quite gritty (it’s about the Indian Wars, after all), but they are superbly written. One of my all-time favorites.
Georgette Heyer has a few heroines in their late 20s/30s:
Sprig Muslin
Black Sheep
The Talisman Ring
(would not recommend Lady of Quality, but the heroine qualifies age-wise)
Historical Heroines in their early/mid 30’s
The Bedding Proposal, Tracy Ann Warren
Proof by Seduction and Countess Conspiracy, Courtney Milan
My Lady QuickSilver, Bec McMaster
I think these are late 20’s early 30’s maybe?
Silk is for Seduction, Loretta Chase
It Takes Two to Tangle, Theresa Romain
A Dangerous Invitation, Erica Monroe
Clockwork Agents series by Kate Cross all have heros and heroines in their early and mid 30’s and their romances definitely reflect their more experienced personas, and are a refreshing change of pace. Girl Bachelors series by Laura Lee Guhrke also have older heroines, the first one is 33 when the book starts, hope these help!
Lavyrle Spencer has some older heroines. There are a few American Historicals set in the mid-west and west. Early Victorian era if I remember correctly. Try The Gamble or Hummingbird. The ladies are definetly considered “old maids” for their time. Most of her books were written in the 80’s and 90’s, so new readers may not have found her yet. I have ALL her books – pre kindle. I’ve found her books hold up better than many of the books written around the same time. I re-read a “contemporary” of hers and really enjoyed it. The only thing kind of odd was the lack of technology, but it wasn’t a big deal. A great historical never has those issues!
I don’t always pay attention to this in historicals but I just read His Convenient Marchioness by Elizabeth Rolls and both h’s are older and have lost their spouses.