Experienced Heroines and Femmes Fatalesmaewest

Whatever the circumstances, the experienced women definitely know what they’re doing, and there’s not a shrinking violet or blushing virgin among them. They are, in short, comfortable with their sexuality. The femmes fatales mainly use their sexual allure to manipulate. The list has been divided into two categories, widows and non-widows. The only contemporary experienced women included are those who, even by modern standards, have an enormous amount of experience.

(List begun 04/03, differentiated from Courtesans, Mistresses, and Prostitutes list 10/09, updated 10/13)

Widows

  • A Widow’s Kiss (2001) by Jane Feather (Renaissance) – Lady Guinevere Mallory (A- at AAR)
  • Fire Song (1984) by Roberta Gellis – Fenice d’Aix
  • Lucrezia Borgia and the Mother of Poisons (2003) by Roberta Gellis (Renaissance historical mystery) – Lucrezia Borgia (B at AAR)
  • His Lady’s Ransom (1993) by Merline Lovelace – HH-275 – Madeline de Courcey
  • Secret Thunder (1997) by Patricia Ryan – Faithe of Hauekleah (B- at AAR)

  • Dedication (2005) by Janet Mullany – Fabienne Craigmont (B at AAR)
  • Four in Hand (1993) by Margaret Westhaven – Lady Jane Aversham
  • The Arrangement (1997) by Joan Wolf – Gail Saunders

  • The Dangerous Mr. Ryder (2008) by Louise Allen – Eva, Grand Duchess of Maubourg (B+ at AAR)
  • A Lady’s Pleasure (2006) by Renee Bernard – Merriam Everett (B at AAR)
  • The Impostor (2003) by Celeste Bradley – Clara Simpson (A at AAR)
  • The Devil to Pay (2005) by Liz Carlyle – Sidonie Saint-Godard (B+ at AAR)
  • No True Gentleman (2002) by Liz Carlyle – Lady Catherine Wodeway (A- at AAR)
  • A Woman Scorned (2000) by Liz Carlyle – Jonet Rowland, Marchioness of Mercer (B/C at AAR)
  • Silk is for Seduction (2011) by Loretta Chase – Marcelline Noirot (B at AAR)
  • The Stranger I Married (2007) by Sylvia Day – Isabel, Countess of Pelham (C+ at AAR)
  • That Scandalous Summer (2013) by Meredith Duran – Elizabeth Chuddeley (B at AAR)
  • Lord Sin (2007) by Kalen Hughes – Georgianna Exley (B- at AAR)
  • Untie My Heart (2002) by Judith Ivory – Emma Hotchkiss (A- at AAR)
  • Brazen (1995) by Susan Johnson – Countess Angela de Grae
  • A Talent for Sin (2009) by Lavinia Kent – Violet, Lady Carrington (B at AAR)
  • What a Woman Needs (2005) by Caroline Linden – Charlotte, Contessa de Griffolino (B- at AAR)
  • Someone to Love (2001) by Kasey Michaels – Abigail Backworth Maldon
  • The Dangerous Viscount (2010) by Miranda Neville – Diana, Lady Fanshawe (B+ at AAR)
  • The Importance of Being Wicked (2012) by Miranda Neville – Caro Townsend (B+ at AAR)
  • A Spear of Summer Grass (2013) by Deanna Raybourn – Delilah Drummond (set in Kenya) (B+ at AAR)
  • The Wicked Lover (2004) by Julia Ross – Sylvia Georgiana, Countess of Montevrain (B+ at AAR)
  • Beguiling the Beauty (2012) by Sherry Thomas – Venetia Easterbook (B+ at AAR)
  • Princess Charming (2001) by Elizabeth Thornton – Gwyn Barrie (B+ at AAR)

  • Tiger Lil (1997) by Ellen Archer – Lilian Teague
  • Desert Hearts (1999) by Anna Gerard – Jessamine Satterly
  • Pure Sin (1994) by Susan Johnson – Lady Flora Bonham
  • A Stranger’s Wife (1999) by Maggie Osborne – Lily Dale
  • That Camden Summer (1996) by LaVyrle Spencer – Roberta Jewett

  • True Love and Other Disasters (2009) by Rachel Gibson – Faith Duffy (B at AAR)

  • Outlander (1991) by Diana Gabaldon (time travel) – Claire Randall (A at AAR)

Non-Widows

  • Across a Moonlit Sea (1993) by Marsha Canham (Renaisssance) – Isabeau Spence (B+ at AAR)
  • The Iron Rose (2003) by Marsha Canham (Renaissance) – Juliet Dante (A at AAR)
  • Heart of Deception (1999) by Taylor Chase (Renaissance) – Vivian Swift

  • Teller of Tales (1993) by Laurel Ames – HH-163 – Jenner Page
  • The Controversial Countess (1988) by Mary Jo Putney – Countess Magda Janos aka Margot Ashton

  • Winter Garden (2000) by Adele Ashworth – Madeleine DuMais (A at AAR)
  • Rosalba (1982) by Sheila Bishop – Rosalba Carlow York
  • Brazen Angel (1997) by Elizabeth Boyle – Lady Sophia d’Artiers (A at AAR)
  • The Forbidden Rose (2010) by Joanna Bourne – Marguerite de Fleurignac (A at AAR)
  • Never Lie to a Lady (2007) by Liz Carlyle – Xanthia Neville (B- at AAR)
  • Bliss (1995) by Judy Cuevas (Judith Ivory) – Hannah Van Evan (A at AAR)
  • Dance (1996) by Judy Cuevas (Judith Ivory) – Marie Du Gard (A- at AAR)
  • A Kiss of Spice (2004) by Andrea DaRif (Cara Elliott/Andrea Pickens) – Lady Olivia Marquand (B- at AAR)
  • Written on Your Skin (2009) by Meredith Duran – Mina Masters
  • Almost a Lady (2006) by Jane Feather – Meg Barratt (B at AAR)
  • The Bachelor List (2004) by Jane Feather – Constance Duncan (B- at AAR)
  • The Bride Hunt (2004) by Jane Feather – Prudence Duncan (B- at AAR)
  • Velvet (1994) by Jane Feather – Gabrielle de Beaucaire
  • Violet (2005) by Jane Feather – Tamsyn
  • The Wedding Game (2004) by Jane Feather – Chastity Duncan (B at AAR)
  • Lessons of Desire (2007) by Madeline Hunter – Phaedra Blair (A-/B at AAR)
  • The Wicked One (2001) by Danelle Harmon – Eva de la Mouriere (A- at AAR)
  • Lady Sophia’s Lover (2002) by Lisa Kleypas – Lady Sophia Sydney (A at AAR)
  • Then Came You (1993) by Lisa Kleypas – Lily Lawson (A at AAR)
  • Perfidia (2007) by Elspeth McKendrick (Morag McKendrick Pippin) – Sophie de Havilland (B+ at AAR)
  • Petals in the Storm (1993), rev. ed. of The Controversial Countess (1988) by Mary Jo Putney – Countess Magda Janos aka Margot Ashton
  • The Black Angel (1999) by Barbara Samuel – Lady Adrianna St. Ives (A at AAR)
  • Delicious (2008) by Sherry Thomas – Verity Durant aka Lady Vera Drake (C+ at AAR)
  • Almost a Princess (2003) by Elizabeth Thornton – Jane Mayberry (A- at AAR)
  • Twice Fallen (2012) by Emma Wildes – Regina Doudet (secondary character) (B at AAR)

  • The Tiger’s Woman (1981) by Celeste De Blasis – Sarah aka Mary Smith
  • Forbidden (1991) by Susan Johnson – Daisy Black (A at AAR)
  • Susannah Morrow (2002) by Megan Chance – Susannah Morrow
  • Never Love a Cowboy (2000) by Lorraine Heath – Jessye Kane (A at AAR)
  • Still Life with Murder (2003) by P.B. Ryan – Nell Sweeney

  • Simply Irresistible (1998) by Rachel Gibson – Georgeanne Howard (B at AAR)
  • Kiss Me While I Sleep (2005) by Linda Howard – Lily Mansfield (B+ at AAR)
  • She’s Got It Bad (4/2009) by Sarah Mayberry – HB-464 – Zoe Ford (A- at AAR)
  • Can’t Buy Me Love (2012) by Molly O’Keefe – Tara Jean Sweet (B+ at AAR)
  • First Kiss (2000) by Marilyn Pappano – Holly McBride (A at AAR)
  • It Had to Be You (1994) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Phoebe Somerville (A at AAR)

  • Demon Angel (2007) by Meljean Brook – Lilith (B- at AAR)
  • Demon Moon (2006) by Meljean Brook – Savitri Murray (A- at AAR)
  • Kiss of a Demon King (2009) by Kresley Cole – Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions (B at AAR)
  • The Warlord Wants Forever (2006) in Playing Easy to Get by Kresley Cole – Myst the Coveted
  • The Skypirate (1995) by Justine Davis – Califa Claxton (A at AAR)
  • Ritual of Proof (2001) by Dara Joy – Marquelle Green Tamryn (B+ at AAR)

This list is closed for submissions.