This Rec League comes from a comment made by DiscoDollyDeb in a Books on Sale post:
I sense another Rec League topic being born: Romances where the heroine imparts the knowledge/is the boss/has the billions/acts as the mentor. Not just competence porn (although that’s obviously part of it), but—by dint of knowledge/experience/wealth—is in the position of imparting the wisdom.
A fantastic idea, don’t you think?
Sarah: Gentleman in the Street by Alisha Rai ( A | BN | K | AB ) – she schools the hero on many levels. Ahem.
Elyse: Veronica Speedwell series!
Sarah: Act Like It by Lucy Parker – she teaches the hero how to be more a person and less a grumpy tool.
But wow, I’m struggling at the moment to come up with “she’s the boss” romances. That’s a really good question.
What heroines would you suggest? Let us know in the comments!
Sophy, in Heyer’s The Grand Sophy, has managed a large household and widowed father, lived and entertained in a world of high diplomacy, and even lived at the edge of the Peninsular War, as well as having a proactive attitude. So she has greater practical and social knowledge than anyone else in the book, and uses it to ruthlessly settle every problem she encounters, despite the passivity expected of an unmarried woman. (Caveat: the completely stereotypical portrayal of a Jewish loanshark is offensive, despite its intended comic and dramatic effect.)
Cecilia Grant’s “A Lady Awakened” has the heroine teach the hero about estate and land management in a quid pro quo arrangement to get her pregnant in order to avoid a wastrel heir inheriting the estate.
Would ‘The Countess Conspiracy’ by Courtney Milan count? Although she is not literally his boss, she is certainly his superior in terms of her scientific knowledge and that is something explicitly mentioned in the book? For that matter, from The Duchess War to The Suffragette Scandal, most of the books in this series are populated by heroines who are far superior in intellect (in the former case) or activism (in the latter case) than the hero.
Mr Impossible by Loretta Chase where Rupert is totally in awe of Daphne’s brain. Although he’s not near as dumb as he pretends to be. And I’ve always wished for a book about her brother, who was willing to be his sister’s front, without claiming all the credit.
I’d like to second Lucy Parker (actually anything in that series is awesome). As far as other, she’s the boss — what about Nobody’s Baby But Mine? She’s a genius who wants to have an athlete’s baby? The Kiss Quotient is along those lines; heroine has the smarts but needs help in the lovin’ area. Can’t wait to read more ideas, especially those that are contemporaries.
Just thought of another: the Jax series from Ann Aguirre — the heroine is the leader of a group of outlaw-ish space explorers and her love interest ends up “staying at home” to raise his nephew (I think that’s right).
So I was going to recommend “A Duke by Default” and then decided to link back to the original post where the Rec was made, and realized it was in fact a comment about “A Duke by Default.” I actually think that one qualifies because I love how Portia comes in and schools Tavish on how to run a viable business in the 21st century. And I loved that Portia knew her shit will still being kind of a mess because I identified so hard.
HOWEVER, I would also strongly recommend the rest of the Reluctant Royals series, especially “Can’t Escape Love” in which Regina has to teach Gus about the nerd-dom over which she masterfully reigns.
I know I’m always recommending Charlotte Gray, but… Charlotte Gray! It’s a historical set in 1940/41. Charlotte is scouted as a potential intelligence agent because of her bilingualism (English/French.) She proceeds to become part of the SOE, teaching French to her absolutely delicious, surprisingly diffident, unsurprisingly somewhat damaged RAF lover along the way.
Recent read, The Magnolia Chronicles by Kate Canterbary comes to mind. Magnolia is expert in all things DIY house reno and a neighbor / to be love interest is incompetent to say the least.
Darlene Marshall’s WHAT a PARROT SAW fits the “she’s the boss/has a wealth of knowledge to impart” and Mattie is oh so competent training Oliver both in and out of the bedroom. I would also consider THE SWORD DANCER by Jeannie Lin to fall into this category, and it’s beautifully written. Would Shery Thomas NOT QUITE A HUSBAND fit? Bryony is a doctor and certainly has to teach Leo how to manage Leo’s illness.
On the whole, these books are few and far between and I WANT more. Heck, I get salty these days when I see titles that reduces the female MC to a possession of the male MC, and nine times out of 10 will not buy.
I would reco the entire Phyrne Fisher Series by Kerry Greenwood – she can handle everything while rescuing strays and those in peril, all the while eating, dressing, and living extravagantly.
While there are always have a HEA/HFN, the books are not romance. I love that she is a complete, happy, glorious person without being in a dependent romantic relationship.
For Historical I second Mr. Impossible by Chase (loved that book!). For contemporary how about Nobody’s Baby but Mine by S.E.Phillips? Jane is a brilliant physicist and she wants to have a child. She’s so frightened it might be too smart (and suffer from it like she did growing up) that she looks for a “dumb” jock to father it and balance it out. She mistakes the hero for being stupid and hijinx ensue.
For paranormal I like “Dark Desires After Dusk” by Kresley Cole. Wonderful brainy heroine who keeps the hero in awe of her brain.
Jodie in Caught by Janet Elizabeth Henderson, an expert in martial arts and Krav Maga, who has to teach Mitch how to defend himself.
Also Sophy in The Grand Sophy.
In Mina V. Esguerra’s “Better At Weddings Than You”, the heroine and hero are both wedding planners, but the heroine is the more experienced at the job, and the hero looks up to her professionally and actually wants to learn from her.
I really agree with the Veronica Speedwell series. I’d add Sherry Thomas’s Lady Sherlock series as well.
I loved in Eloisa James’ When the Duke Returns that when the duke does return he’s got some really weird ideas about how to handle his responsibilities. Isidore, the duchess, points out quite rightly that she’s been running the show very successfully and he needs to hush up and let grown people get some work done.
Yes, Mr. Impossible!! A perennial favorite. Brainy Daphne and dreamboat Rupert, who is a good deal smarter than he lets on. Lady Claire is All That, by Maya Rodale is pretty terrific — Lady Claire is awkward but brainy, and Lord Fox, while a hottie is not the sharpest knife in the drawer (and fully admits it). But she’s not exactly the boss and schooling him on something…
Adding to the Sophy love – she’s completely masterful and I love it!
“I’ve Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm” by Kelly Bowen fits the bill. The heroine hires the hero as “muscle”. He’s been drowning in the bottle since returning from the wars, and she needs help with her business of rescuing women in peril from abusive partners. I’ve only just started reading it, but she is definitely the brains of the operation.
Besides the Alyssa Cole books already mentioned, two came to mind for me immediately:
How She Likes It by Carla de Guzman- a stay at home dad & a CEO have a one night stand at a hotel & the next day he is interviewing to be her assistant. I really enjoyed how the trope was gender flipped in this book
Pink Slip (and the rest of the Spies series) by Katrina Jackson. These are FFM ménage stories about spies and the woman who is initially their PA. Monica is absolutely the woman in charge of the spy activities and she’s amazing. She runs into some issues as a woman in a leadership role that I found very well written. There’s a LOT of sex in these stories. It’s maybe a bit OTT but somehow it all works very well for me.
I will also say YES! to Lady Sherlock and Veronica Speedwell. Two of my favorite knowledgeable heroines are Diana Bishop and Kate Daniels, I love learning through reading romance, in fact Mary Jo Putney and Georgette Heyer taught me more than I ever learned in high school about the Napoleonic Wars, especially Waterloo. Ilona Andrews and Deborah Harkness have educated me in world myth and cultures I knew nothing about that were enlightening and value changing. I adore the brilliant minds of Kate and Diana.
Julie James’ heroines are always interesting and educated which is very important to me when reading contemporary romance.
Kit the scientist in Beginners Luck, she is marvelous and the book adorable.
It’s amazingly difficult to come up with rec’s for this that go beyond competence porn. It seems to be hesitancy on the part of romance writers in portraying men in positions of weakness vis-`a-vis a woman, more than a reluctance to represent women as strong or brilliant etc.
So often if a woman is in a position of strength at the beginning of the book something happens which allows the man to assert dominance somewhere e.g. he can prevent her brilliant important project from happening, or he threatens to wrest a child or loved one away from her, or discombobulates a virgin with his mad sex skills…
So I don’t really have suggestions for wealthy/boss/mentor heroines but I do gravitate towards books where the female lead is more focused and driven, possibly even mentally tougher than the male lead without attempts on the part of the author to re-align or have the characters overcompensate or undercompensate in gendered ways.
Sandra Antonelli – In Service series
Anna Cowan – Untamed
Julie Anne Long – The Perils Of Pleasure
Sherry Thomas – Lady Sherlock series
Lynn Messina – Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries
Holly Black – The Folk of the Air series
Kelly Hunter – The Spy Who Tamed Me, because DiscoDollyDeb has mentioned a fondness for Harlequin Presents.
@Iris—thank you!
Mr. Impossible!!! Lost count of how many times I’ve read it.
In “Desire” by Amanda Quick, it is made clear that the heroine is the source of her community’s wealth, through her knowledge of how to raise flowers and herbs, turn them into products such as perfumes, and market them. There are several scenes where she is educating the hero, who has been sent to marry/protect her (and all that lovely income for her liege lord), about how it all works.
Seconding Courtney Milan and Mr. Impossible. Also, definitely the Alyssa Cole historical (A Hope Divided and An Extraordinary Union). Sort of mad at myself that I can’t think of books where the heroine is literally the boss, and in particular where she’s the boss and that’s not, you know, A Problem for the hero.
I think this might be something Nora Roberts does, but I haven’t read much of her stuff (I tend to love it instantly or hate it). Come Sundown comes to mind, although I feel like the “main” romance was actually not a dominant force in that book, and I know a lot of folks don’t like that.
Rise by Karina Bliss — heroine, Elizabeth, is History prof who specializes in writing award-winning scholarly historical bios, while the hero, Zander, is is rock star, who never went to college. He admires her work and wants her to write a bio on him. Although Elizabeth is a fish-out-of-water at first in Zander’s crazy rock-n-roll world, her intelligence and emotional maturity allow her to quickly adapt and are definitely what Zander values and loves.
Nora Robert’s Chasing Fire. He’s a rookie and she is helping train him and also is line boss on fires. Also, Come Sundown. She is running the resort and he is working with the horses.
Take the Lead – Alexis Daria – she’s the one who knows how to dance and present them.
No Proper Lady – Isabel Cooper – sure, she has to learn how to be a lady, but only she has the knowledge to save the world.
Maybe/kinda Laura Kinsale’s For My Lady’s Heart, for the politicking, though it’s been a while since I read it.
Ilona Andrews’ Innkeeper series, where she’s the one who knows how things work.
The Search by Nora Roberts has a dog trainer heroine and a bespoke carpenter come to her for help with a puppy that his mother gave him. She also runs the local search and rescue group and he goes out with her on a couple of searches.
The Witness (also NR) has a genius heroine on the run and a police chief who helps her, but their work lives don’t really intersect. He does admire her brilliant and quirky brain, though.
The Player – Claire Contreas – He’s a famous football player and she works on neighbourhood development projects for kids. She definitley brings the hero down to size!
Hold Me – Courtney Milan – He’s the son of a mega tech tycoon who is struggling with an eating disorder (trigger warning!) and she is the daughter of Chinese refugee’s. She definitley teaches him some stuff!. The second one in the series is also great!
Susannah Nix’s Chemistry Lessons series has this formula a lot!!
I recommend Tangled in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell. It’s a second chances romance, book 2 in her Texas Rodeo series. Hero is a rodeo star who has suffered what everyone thinks is a career ending knee injury. The heroine has moved back to the area and coincidentally is the physical therapist protégée of the sports medicine doc who did the hero’s surgery. She plans his recovery, and by analyzing his movement she challenges him to modify his technique. I don’t want to give away too many details, but there are a lot of layers. Dell knows how to write authentic and compelling characters, poignant emotional growth, and unapologetically strong, real women with flaws.
This was the first book that I read by the author (I think it was recommended during a SBTB sale post!!). While it is book 2, she does a decent job of weaving enough back story so it works as a standalone. The hero appears as a secondary character in book 1 (his actual injury takes place there), which I read recently. But I’m a sucker for a good comeback story, so I think I actually prefer meeting him in book 2 when he’s at a low point, because it works with the second chances storyline.
Julie McElWain’s excellent series…Caught in Time, Murder In Time, Twist in Time. genius heroine is FBI profiler who stumbles back in time and has to solve murders without the tools of her trade…just her mind. Betrayal In Time arrives in July. Great for fans of Sherry Thomas and Deborah Harkness.
This one popped into my brain in the middle of the night. I’d lump Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas in with this category, as the heroine teaches the hero how to manage an estate.
Linnea Sinclair – particularly “The Accidental Goddess” .
Several Meljean Brook books – including “Heart of Steel”, “Demon Forged” , “Demon Angel” and “Demon Bound”
Now that you mention it >>
With This Fling… by Kelly Hunter.
They’re archaeologists. She’s not his boss – not in the same institution, they’re outside each other’s chain of command – but the heroine has more money and a higher position in academia.
She’s a boss who really knows how to delegate and the set pieces with side characters are funny and substantial. Actually, I wish characters in other books would rehearse how to phrase things with friends like that – less mess.
I see that Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole and Mina Esguerra (I love Better at Weddings Than You) are already mentioned.
Susannah Nix’s Chemistry Lessons.
Earthbound by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner (they are BOTH experts in their respective fields though – does that count?)
Not Your Prince Charming by Kate Johnson has a heroine who teaches the hero survival skills (on a desert island)
Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn
I just read The Tutor by Meg Brooke that has a single society woman tutoring a new duke in how to get by during the session- politics, history, procedures. It was really interesting! Unfortunately the tutoring part kind of got swept under the rug when the romance heated up.
“Dangerous Kiss” by Crystal Kaswell. She wants to go into the field of genetics, but she’s tagging along on her spring break with her rock star ex-boyfriend on tour. Crystal Maxwell has super sexy stories that are a fun read. I don’t even mind that her books are in first person.
Shelly Laurenston has some heroines that fit this mold to varying degrees. Genius Professor Irene Conridge who is married to Niles Van Holtz and appears in a number of the Pride books came to mind immediately. Then a bunch of others popped into my mind: human cop, Dez McDermott in Mane Event; jackal shifter, and master organizer, Toni Jean-Louis Parker in Wolf with Benefits; badger shifter Stevie in the recent In a Badger Way. These women all inspire their partners with a certain amount of shock and awe and sometimes entertainment as well.
I’d also like to mention Loretta Chase’s second dressmaker book as having a similar dynamic to Mr. Impossible. The heroine is extremely competent while the hero comes across as less than brilliant though he’s not as dumb as he seems either. It’s probably my favorite of this series.
Finally, I think my favorite of these of the smart and competent heroines is the inimitable Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan. She doesn’t precisely school Aral, but when she takes matters into her own hands, shit gets done. And-uh-heads roll.
@PamG – I had to google Cordelia Naismith. I’m not normally a big sci fi reader, but I happened to just finish the new Amanda Bouchet so… maybe I will pick up Shards of Honour and go on a little space opera binge!