Heroines in Pursuitladypursuit

Each heroine in this list knows the man of her dreams when she sees him, and she is confident enough to act on it, with eventual success. Such a heroine takes the initiative in furthering the emotional and physical relationship with the hero, for example by asking him out, seducing him, compromising him, even proposing to him. She either pursues him for greater parts of the novel, or she shows her love in a major, decisive step towards true commitment. She won’t put up with anything less. In the rare cases she sends him packing for a time, it’s never because she feels she is not good enough for him or that he may feel at some point in the future that he was coerced – she knows she is the best thing that has ever happened to him, and that their love is worth fighting for.

(List begun 06/13, updated 07/13)

  • Roselynde (1978) by Roberta Gellis – Lady Alinor Devaux
  • Crusader Captive (2011) by Merline Lovelace – Lady Jocelyn of Fortemur
  • Georgina (1971) by Clare Darcy – Georgina Power
  • The Grand Sophy (1950) by Georgette Heyer – Sophia Stanton-Lacy (A at AAR)
  • Venetia (1956) by Georgette Heyer – Venetia Lanyon (A at AAR)
  • Minerva’s Marquess (1988) by Sheila Walsh – Minerva Braithwaite
  • The Secret Mistress (2011) by Mary Balogh – Lady Angeline Dudley (A- at AAR)
  • Forbidden (1994) by Jo Beverley – Serena, Lady Riverton (A at AAR)
  • Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë – Jane Eyre (A at AAR)
  • Lord of Scoundrels (1995) by Loretta Chase – Jessica Trent (A/B- at AAR)
  • A Week to Be Wicked (2012) by Tessa Dare – Minerva Highwood (B+ at AAR)
  • The Sergeant’s Lady (2010) by Susanna Fraser – Anna Arrington (B at AAR)
  • The Leopard Prince (2007) by Elizabeth Hoyt – Lady Georgina Maitland (A- at AAR)
  • Sinful Surrender (2010) by Beverley Kendall – Millicent Armstrong
  • Uncertain Magic (1997) by Laura Kinsale – Roderica Delamore (A at AAR)
  • Love in the Afternoon (2010) by Lisa Kleypas – Beatrix Hathaway (B at AAR)
  • Scandal in Spring (2006) by Lisa Kleypas – Daisy Bowman (B at AAR)
  • Seduce Me at Sunrise (2008) by Lisa Kleypas – Winifred Hathaway (A- at AAR)
  • Promise Me Tonight (2010) by Sara Lindsey – Isabella Weston
  • The Governess Affair (2012) by Courtney Milan – Serena Barton (A- at AAR)
  • Unclaimed (2011) by Courtney Milan – Jessica Farleigh
  • Scandal (1991) by Amanda Quick – Emily Faringdon
  • Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (2008) by Julia Quinn – Lady Amelia Willoughby (B- at AAR)
  • Upon a Wicked Time (1998) by Karen Ranney – Tessa Astley (A- at AAR)
  • Private Arrangements (2008) by Sherry Thomas – Gilberte Rowland (A- at AAR)
  • Lessons from a Scarlet Lady (2010) by Emma Wildes – Brianna Northfield, Duchess of Rolthven (B at AAR)
  • Brody (2012) by Emma Lang – Olivia Graham (B+ at AAR)
  • Garters (1992) by Pamela Morsi – Esme Crabb
  • Geek Girl (2011) by Cindy C. Bennett – Jen (young adult) (B at AAR)
  • The Admiral’s Bride (1999) by Suzanne Brockmann – Dr. Zoe Lange (B+ at AAR)
  • Over the Edge (2001) by Suzanne Brockmann – Lieutenant Teri Howe (A at AAR)
  • Three-Alarm Love (2/1998) by Carole Buck – SD-1127 – Keezia Carew
  • Last Man Standing (2012) by Cindy Gerard – Stephanie Thompkins
  • Tall, Dark and Cowboy (2011) by Joanne Kennedy – Lacey Bradford (A- at AAR)
  • Grand Passion (1997) by Jayne Ann Krentz – Cleopatra Robbins (A-/C+ at AAR)
  • Lady’s Choice (9/1989) by Jayne Ann Krentz – HT-270 – Juliana Grant
  • Lost Warriors (12/1993) by Rachel Lee – SIM-535 – Wendy Tate (A at AAR)
  • Perfect Double (2/1996) by Merline Lovelace – SIM-692 – Maggie Sinclair
  • Undercover Wife (10/2008) by Merline Lovelace – SRS-1531 – Gillian Ridgway
  • This Heart of Mine (2002) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Molly Somerville (A/B- at AAR)
  • Bed of Roses (2009) by Nora Roberts – Emmaline Grant (B+ at AAR)
  • Rising Tides (1998) by Nora Roberts – Grace Monroe (A/B+ at AAR)
  • Tears of the Moon (2000) by Nora Roberts – Brenna O’Toole (A- at AAR)
  • Waiting for Nick (3/1997) by Nora Roberts – SSE-1088 – Frederica Kimball
  • Nothing More to Lose (2005) by Kathryn Shay – Lisel Loring; Faith McPherson (secondary romance) (A- at AAR)
  • A Town Like Alice (1950) by Nevil Shute – Jean Paget (classic fiction)
  • Yours to Keep (2011) by Shannon Stacey – Emma Shaw (B- at AAR)
  • Can’t Stop Believing (2013) by Jodi Thomas – Nevada Britain (A at AAR)
  • Games of Command (2007) by Linnea Sinclair – Captain Tasha Sebastian (A- at AAR)
  • Caressed by Ice (2007) by Nalini Singh – Brenna Kincaid (B+ at AAR)

This list is currently closed for submissions.