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!
Candace Camp (already mentioned by @Enyri) tends to write older heroines. (I remember reading an author’s note in one of her books where she says she prefers older heroines). I just re-read most of her Mad Morelands series because she just started writing it again. The first two books, Mesmerized and Beyond Compare, have heroines in their late 20’s. In Beyond Compare, it is mentioned that Kyria is 28. I believe No Other Love from her Lost Heirs trilogy also involves a 28 year old heroine.
I feel like Julia Quinn’s heroines are usually close to 30. Penelope was in her late 20’s in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.
As for Contemporaries:
1. I just finished Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose and the heroine, Meredith, is 35-36. This book was so good, although I found the mystery aspect to be a little under developed (I figured out whodunit very quickly). Also, the heroine in Did You Miss Me was in her mid-late 30’s. I feel like most of her heroines are in their early-mid 30’s.
2. Julie James’s FBI/US Attorney series has 30-ish characters.
3. I think some of the more recent Nora Roberts books have characters in their late 20’s-early 30’s. I know the heroine of The Obsession was a fan of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and I think it was mentioned that she was in high school when the first Spiderman movie came out (the Tobey Maguire ones), so that would put her around 29-30 for the contemporary parts of the book. Also, the heroine in The Witness is described as being an early teen when Christina Aguilera was popular, so she was probably about 27-28 for the modern stuff.
4. The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell involved a heroine with a teenage son. She was also a federal judge. I don’t remember if she was late 30’s or early 40’s.
As Emily mentioned above, Elizabeth Kingston has an older heroine with a grown daughter in Fair, Bright and Terrible – it’s a medieval romance that made my best of 2017 list. Also, I would recommend the upcoming (Feb 20) historical romance by Kelly Bowen titled A Duke in the Night. The heroine is the headmistress of a school and she is around the age of 30 and has never been married.
I second the mention of Amanda Quick. Her books about Lavinia Lake and Tobias March in particular feature a heroine in her 30s. One of Courtney Milan’s novellas also features a mid-30s heroine – A Right Honorable Gentleman. For many others of hers, the age isn’t given, but the heroines read older than the late teen/early 20s cohort.
Also, Sarah Maclean has some late twenties at least heroines. The heroine in A Rogue by Any Other Name is 28, and in Fay of the Duchess, she’s at least late twenties.
My TBR list grew today….
I’ll add Grace Burrowes’ David: The Lord of Honor to the list. The heroine is late twenties or older and is the madam at the hero’s high-end bordello. Just looked up the book on Amazon and the old cover is so much better than the new!
Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase has a heroine in her thirties and a younger hero.
Try some of Anna Campbell’s Dashing Widows series? Some of her heroines are in their 30s definitely. And one of Christ Caldwell’s recent books had an older heroine/hero couple – the spy who seduced her.
No comment on older protagonists (except that I also prefer them to 20-somethings) but I totally agree with LauraL about the old cover of Grace Burrowes’ David that is one of my favorites (he’s so beautiful and they got his unmatched eyes right). The new cover is okay but not nearly as nice. As an additional comment, I am pretty unhappy with this new concept that books must get new covers all the time. It may be necessary for newer authors, especially since several of them have pretty bad original covers, but I don’t understand why established authors with professional covers are doing it (even Carly Phillips has done it). Is this some generational thing with people now having the attention span of a gnat and requiring everything be new, new, NEW? It drives me nuts because covers are very important to me and I buy one and then get another when I download it. Also, I remember books by their covers and end up trying to buy a book again just because I don’t recognize the cover (thank goodness, Amazon remembers for me that I already have a book or I’d be really broke). Sorry for the rant but it really bugs me.
Someone mentioned another book by Emily Larkin but her ‘Trusting Miss Trentham’ the heroine is nearing 30s and not a beauty. I really liked this book and picked it up on sale a few weeks back. Has a touch of para (the whole series) but I’m not a paranormal fan and still enjoyed it.
Someone mentioned another book by Emily Larkin but her ‘Trusting Miss Trentham’ the heroine is nearing 30s and not a beauty. I really liked this book and picked it up on sale a few weeks back. Has a touch of para (the whole series) but I’m not a paranormal fan and still enjoyed it.
I second or third the recs for And Then He Kissed Her; Fair, Bright, and Terrible; and I Love the Earl.
I immediately thought of Lady Elizabeth’s Comet, by Sheila Simonson. I believe Elizabeth is in her late 20’s, but she comes across as older to me.
I believe that Anna Bradley’s heroines are on the older side of things.
How about Claire from Outlander? Isn’t she in her late 20s/early 30s as the books go on?
Lady Isabella’s Ogre by Emily Larkin (Regency, heroine in upper 20s); Devil’s Waltz by Anne Stuart (Regency, bluestocking heroine around 30); True Story by Jayne Fresina (Victorian, thrice-widowed heroine in upper 20s); The Country Gentleman by Fiona Hill (Regency, heroine in her upper 20s).
Another vote for Jennifer Ashley’s MacKenzie series, I’m certain the ladies are older too. The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie has an experienced widow, a refreshing change to the blushing virgin.Also a non-typical hero, who has risen from his challenges of asperges (although it’s not labelled, as it wasn’t in historical times, it was lumped in the “madness” category) to find love. And then there’s his brothers…
Is early 40’s out of the time range for you? Monica Burns Pleasure Me and Love’s Revenge has heroines that are 41.
I’ve got LOTS of suggestions.
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne covers a long time period, so although the hero and heroine start out very young, by the conclusion they are both in their late 30s.
Hester Waring’s Marriage by Paula Marshall has an older spinster heroine, and it’s a wonderful book.
Cordelia’s Honor(Lois McMaster Bujold), which is sci-fi with romance, has a heroine in her 30s.
Nicola Cornick has a number of older heroines, over 30 in Claimed by the Laird, plus some of them in her Scandalous Women of the Ton series(it’s been a while since I read them but for sure the heroines of Desired, Whisper of Scandal, and One Wicked Sin).
Also, Vanessa Kelly’s My Favorite Countess, and in her novella Tall, Dark and Royal, the heroine has a grown-up son, who was the hero of a previous book. So she’s definitely 40-ish.
I don’t remember the exact ages of the heroines in Miranda Neville’s(may her memory be blessed) books, but they are usually older-for example The Importance of Being Wicked and The Duke of Dark Desires.
And I’m sure the heroines are older in Beverly Jenkin’s most recent Old West series, the titles I’m thinking of are Forbidden and Breathless.
Carla Kelly, The Admiral’s Penniless Bride.
Mary Jo Putney, No Longer a Gentleman, Never Less Than a Lady, The China Bride, and The Diabolical Baron( has 2 couples, one of which is older).
Jo Beverly(also blessed in memory) has plenty of older heroines: The Viscount Needs a Wife, Christmas Angel(heroine is widowed, with 2 kids), The Dragon’s Bride, Emily and the Dark Angel, Devilish, and The Demon’s Mistress(heroine is older than the hero).
Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas The heroine is turning 30 and hires herself a man to deal with that pesky virginity because she is a spinster.
Has anyone mentioned Jennifer Crusie? I think most of her heroines are in their thirties. In Anyone but You there is a 40 year old female with a 30 year old male protagonist.
Katie McAlister has one contemporary with Greek in the title with a heroine in her thirties. I think she also has a historical in the Noble series with an older heroine.
Hopefully I’m not repeating it, but Mary Balogh’s ONLY BELOVED’s heroine is in her late 30s (38, I think?)
Robin Schone’s A LADY’S PLEASURE and THE LOVER have Heroine’s in their 30s
Sara Donati’s Into the Wilderness has a heroine in her late 20’s. I can’t think of anyone who’s actually 30.
I just finished The Virgin and the Viscount by Charis Michaels, and the heroine, Elisabeth is 30.
Stephanie Laurens: A secret love – I think the heroine is 30 or slighty over. Jaci Burton – many of her heroines are over 30.
The Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn is more mystery than romance, but she’s 30 in the beginning of the series.
I’m pretty sure the heroine is at least late 20s in Grace Burrowes’ Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, and then I’m also fairly certain that Francesca is older in Julia Quinn’s When He Was Wicked. I also think some of the women in the Spindle Cove books by Tessa Dare are older.
Jo Beverly has a book, “In Praise of Younger Men”. The men are younger and the heroines a bit older. The heroine of Nancy Butler’s trad Regency “The Discarded Duke” is in her late 20s/early 30s.
Although not technically a romance series, but an action/murder mystery series, the Phryne Fisher books just qualify! Phryne goes through a new lover in almost every book (although she sticks with Lin Chung in an open relationship through several) and is 28-29 with a taste for beautiful men and a talent for catching criminals. The books are set in 1928-29 Melbourne, Australia (it is mentioned that Phryne was born in 1900). The tv series may help people forget this as Essie Davis is in her early 40s (although imho she is near-perfect in the role).
Does OUTLANDER count? I visualize Jamie at the outset as being about 19; based on Claire’s WWII experience, she’d need to be at least 25. And of course they add on years as the series continues.
Kind of historical more fantasy – ish but set in victorian england by CJ Archer its the Watchmakers daughter and she is 27 yr old competant and clever character, however doesn’t know her own looks (but should -dont know how I feel about that). Enjoyable read
Katie MacAlister’s The Trouble With Harry has a 45 yo widower with 5 kids whom he fears and a 40 yo spinster who’s not really as she had unknowingly married an already married man. Of course, the resulting scandal revolved more around her than him. Typical. The story is laugh out loud funny and comes highly recommended if you enjoy silliness.
Also, Jill Shalvis has a contemporary with a happily divorced librarian and a widowed fireman.
I believe Sarah Tolerance (from Madeleine Robbins’s series: Point of Honour, Petty Treason, and The Sleeping Partner) is in her 30s.