Badass Women in History: Feminist Historical Romance Books

Have you ever wondered about the tantalizing world of feminist historical romance novels? You’re in for a treat! These captivating books take us on a journey through time, interweaving love stories with powerful themes of female empowerment and independence. As modern women, we know the importance of recognizing and celebrating the strength and resilience of our historical sisters. Feminist historical romance novels offer a unique lens through which we can explore love stories that challenge traditional gender norms and showcase the triumphs of women who defied societal expectations. So grab a cup of tea, snuggle up in your favorite reading spot, and join me as we delve into the key features of feminist historical romance novels, trace their evolution over time, and, of course, share some irresistible recommendations to add to your must-read list! Let’s dive in, shall we?

Badass Women in History: Feminist Historical Romance Books

But wait, can romance be feminist?

The answer is a resounding yes! Feminist romance novels, including those set in historical periods, celebrate female agency, equality, and empowerment in both love and life. These stories focus on strong female characters who assert their independence, pursue their passions, and redefine societal expectations. In addition, they offer a space for women to see themselves and their potential reflected in the pages, while also promoting healthy, consensual, and equitable relationships. So, not only can a romance novel be feminist, but embracing feminism in the genre can lead to more inclusive, empowering, and inspiring stories for us all to enjoy.

The leading ladies in your favorite feminist historical romance

First and foremost, let’s talk about our fierce leading ladies. These novels feature strong, independent female characters who don’t shy away from taking their fate into their own hands. They’re smart, resourceful, and resilient, proving that they can hold their own in a world that often tries to keep them in check. And trust me, their passion and determination will have you cheering them on every step of the way! Feminist historical romance novels aren’t just about swoon-worthy love stories; they also challenge gender stereotypes and social norms. You’ll find heroines who defy the constraints of their time, pursuing careers, education, and personal freedom. And let’s not forget the heroes who aren’t afraid to embrace a more equal partnership and respect the women they love. Talk about relationship goals!

These empowering tales don’t stop at steamy romance; they also focus on female agency and the personal growth of the characters. You’ll see women making their own choices and standing up for themselves, even when the odds are stacked against them. As they navigate their relationships, they also discover their own worth and inner strength, inspiring us all to embrace our own power. Lastly, feminist historical romance novels address intersectionality, shining a light on the complexities of race, class, and sexuality. These stories showcase diverse characters and explore how different aspects of their identity impact their experiences, making for an incredibly rich and compelling read. So, if you’re looking for a romance novel that packs a punch, you’ve come to the right place!

Feminist Historical Romance Book Recommendations

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne

heroine:

archaeologist

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days

by Kerrigan Byrne

available on kindle unlimited

They are a dangerous duke, a fierce lord, and an infamous earl—dark, bold, brave men who know exactly what they want. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees…

Famed and brilliant, Lady Alexandra Lane has always known how to look out for to herself. But nobody would ever expect that she has darkness in her past—one that she pays a blackmailer to keep buried. Now, with her family nearing bankruptcy, Alexandra strikes upon a solution: Get married to one of the empire’s most wealthy eligible bachelors. Even if he does have the reputation of a devil.

LOVE TAKES NO PRISONERS

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is seeking revenge and the first step is securing a bride. Winning a lady’s hand is not so easy, however, for a man known as the Terror of Torcliff. Then, Alexandra enters his life like a bolt of lightning. When she proposes marriage, Piers knows that, like him, trouble haunts her footsteps. But her gentleness, sharp wit, independent nature, and incredible beauty awakens every fierce desire within him. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe in his arms.


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Hello Stranger

by Lisa Kleypas

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas delivers a scintillating tale of an unconventional beauty who finds passion with the spy who can’t resist her

A woman who defies her time


Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man—why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again.

A man who breaks every rule

As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett. Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet. When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett’s skill and courage to save him. As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he’s ever known.


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Well Known Feminist Historical Romances

You often find some of these amazing books when it comes to finding some badass leading ladies in historical romances. And although today we are trying to highlight some lesser talked about books, if you haven’t read these popular titles (and authors) you definitely should.

historical-romance-lady-claire-is-all-that-by-maya-rodale

heroine:

mathematician

Lady Claire Is All That

by Maya Rodale

In the third installment of Maya Rodale’s captivating, witty series, a marquess finds his fair lady—but must figure out how to keep her

HER BRAINS…

Claire Cavendish is in search of a duke, but not for the usual reasons. The man she seeks is a mathematician; the man she unwittingly finds is Lord Fox: dynamic, athletic, and as bored by the equations Claire adores as she is by the social whirl upon which he thrives. As attractive as Fox is, he’s of no use to Claire . . . or is he?

PLUS  HIS BRAWN . . .

Fox’s male pride has been bruised ever since his fiancée jilted him. One way to recover: win a bet that he can transform Lady Claire, Society’s roughest diamond, into its most prized jewel. But Claire has other ideas—shockingly steamy ones . . .

EQUALS A STUDY IN SEDUCTION . . .

By Claire’s calculations, Fox is the perfect man to satisfy her sensual curiosity. In Fox’s estimation, Claire is the perfect woman to prove his mastery of the ton. But the one thing neither of them counted on is love . . .


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A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

heroine:

scientist

A Week to be Wicked

by Tessa Dare

When a devilish lord and a bluestocking set off on the road to ruin… time is not on their side.

Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove’s confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland.

Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be… anywhere but Spindle Cove.

These unlikely partners have one week to

• fake an elopement
• convince family and friends they’re in “love”
• outrun armed robbers
• survive their worst nightmares
• travel four hundred miles without killing each other

All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.

What they don’t have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls.

Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe… just maybe… love.


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The Other Harlow Girl

by Lynn Mesina

Available on Kindle Unlimited

A woman in the British Horticultural Society!

The very idea horrifies everyone, including ardent horticulturalist Lavinia Harlow, whose own name has been put forth for membership by the provoking Marquess of Huntly. He does it as a joke, of course, to get back at her for an imagined slight—well, to be fair, she had insulted his writing—and Vinnie, older sister to the infamous Harlow Hoyden, is far too sensible to rise to his ridiculous challenge.

Determined to head off further scandal (her name has already been recorded in the betting book at Brooks’s!), Vinnie dashes off a polite note refusing the honor—which she has every intention of sending. Really. Only she can’t help but chafe at the way everyone keeps demanding that she decline at once, even the marquess. Oh, especially the marquess, whose perfection she finds intolerable. Who ever heard of a gentleman being so handsome and so intelligent and so well informed about foreign flora?

Clearly, the man needs to be taken down a peg, and somehow, despite all twenty-four years of faultless propriety, Vinnie is just the hoyden to do it.


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The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia White

heroine:

scientist

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics

by Olivia White

As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away.

Catherine St Day looks forward to a quiet widowhood once her late husband’s scientific legacy is fulfilled. She expected to hand off the translation and wash her hands of the project—instead, she is intrigued by the young woman who turns up at her door, begging to be allowed to do the work, and she agrees to let Lucy stay. But as Catherine finds herself longing for Lucy, everything she believes about herself and her life is tested.

While Lucy spends her days interpreting the complicated French text, she spends her nights falling in love with the alluring Catherine. But sabotage and old wounds threaten to sever the threads that bind them. Can Lucy and Catherine find the strength to stay together or are they doomed to be star-crossed lovers?


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Badass Women in Historical Fiction Books

If you want to step just a little bit outside of romance, or go a little lighter on the love aspect, then you’ll want to check these out!

A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe

heroine:

Architect

A Scandalous Deal

by Joanna Shupe

Joanna Shupe returns with another unforgettable novel set in the glittering world of New York City’s Gilded Age…
They call her Lady Unlucky…

With three dead fiancés, Lady Eva Hyde has positively no luck when it comes to love. She sets sail for New York City, determined that nothing will deter her dream of becoming an architect, certainly not an unexpected passionate shipboard encounter with a mysterious stranger. But Eva’s misfortune strikes once more when she discovers the stranger who swept her off her feet is none other than her new employer.
Or is it Lady Irresistible?

Phillip Mansfield reluctantly agrees to let the fiery Lady Eva oversee his luxury hotel project while vowing to keep their relationship strictly professional. Yet Eva is more capable–and more alluring–than Phillip first thought, and he cannot keep from drawing up a plan of his own to seduce her.

When a series of onsite “accidents” make it clear someone wants Lady Unlucky to earn her nickname, Phillip discovers he’s willing to do anything to protect her–even if it requires a scandalous deal…


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A Lady's Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett

heroine:

scientist

A Lady’s Formula for Love

by Elizabeth Everett

What is a Victorian lady’s formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humor and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry–it’s elemental.

Lady Violet is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England’s most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland.

Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally.

When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet’s laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test–and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart.


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The Devil Comes Courting

by Courtney Milan

Captain Grayson Hunter knows the battle to complete the first worldwide telegraphic network will be fierce, and he intends to win it by any means necessary. When he hears about a reclusive genius who has figured out how to slash the cost of telegraphic transmissions, he vows to do whatever it takes to get the man in his employ.

Except the reclusive genius is not a man, and she’s not looking for employment.

Amelia Smith was taken in by English missionaries as a child. She’s not interested in Captain Hunter’s promises or his ambitions. But the harder he tries to convince her, the more she realizes that there is something she wants from him. She wants everything. And she’ll have to crack the frozen shell he’s made of his heart to get it.


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Heartless

by Anne Stuart

A strong, resilient woman who learned to survive in a world of betrayal.
Emma Cadbury had been an innocent, a whore, a charity worker and a surgeon. She chose a life without love until she saved a dying soldier in a charity ward.

A scarred soldier who fought to redeem himself from the horrors he’d committed.
Brandon Rohan had lost himself to drugs and degradation, wanting to die, and only one person could save him. But she’d disappeared.

A love neither of them wants, and a passion so strong it could burn down the world.
Now they’ve come together again, but he doesn’t remember, and she doesn’t want to. But someone is trying to kill her, and Brandon is the one man who can save her.

England in 1840, where no one is what they seem.


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