Bluestockings, Independent Misses, & Feministskate

Romances starring heroines who are considered bluestockings, intellectuals, independent misses, or strongly feminist are featured here. Different criteria are used to judge whether an historical versus a contemporary heroine would appear on the list. For example, in an historical setting, a woman who opens her own business might be judged quite independent; in contemporary settings this would be commonplace. Likewise, in an historical setting, a heroine who reads her brother’s textbooks from his first year at university might be considered a bluestocking while in a contemporary setting a heroine would need to have a graduate degree, truly be an intellectual, or be an academic researcher to be placed on the list. Note: This list was once part of the Nerds, Geeks,and absent-Minded Professors list.

(List begun 09/97, updated 05/13)

  • The Prize (1991) by Julie Garwood – Lady Nicholaa (A at AAR)
  • Shadowheart (2004) by Laura Kinsale – Princess Elena of Monteverde (B- at AAR)
  • Highland Barbarian (1990) by Ruth Langan – HH-41 – Meredith MacAlpin
  • Highland Fire (1991) by Ruth Langan – HH-91 – Megan MacAlpin
  • Highland Heather (1991) by Ruth Langan – HH-65 – Brenna MacAlpin
  • Crusader Captive (2011) by Merline Lovelace – Lady Jocelyn
  • Untamed (1993) by Elizabeth Lowell – Lady Margaret of Blackthorne (A at AAR)
  • A Flame Run Wild (1988) by Christine Monson – Liliane del Pinal
  • Heaven´s Fire (1996) by Patricia Ryan – Constance of Loux
  • The Sun and the Moon (2000) by Patricia Ryan – Phillipa de Paris (B+ at AAR)
  • A Lady of Independence (1982) by Helen Argers – Astera Claybourne
  • Pride and Prejudice (1813) by Jane Austen – Elizabeth Bennet (A+ at AAR)
  • A Christmas Bride (1997) by Mary Balogh – Lady Helena Stapleton
  • The Notorious Rake (1992) by Mary Balogh – Mary, Lady Mornington (A at AAR)
  • His Noble Promise (2000) by Adrienne Basso – Anne Paget
  • An Unwilling Bride (1992) by Jo Beverley – Beth Armitage (B+ at AAR)
  • Castaway Hearts (2004) by Nancy Butler – Lydia Peartree (B+ at AAR)
  • Reclaiming Lord Rockleigh (2001) by Nancy Butler – Mercy Tavistock (B+ at AAR)
  • The Devil’s Delilah (1990) by Loretta Chase – Delilah Desmond (A- at AAR)
  • Crossed Quills (1998) by Carola Dunn – Pippa Lisle (B at AAR)
  • A Singular Lady (2005) by Megan Frampton – Titania Stanhope
  • The Wedding Wager (2001) by Deborah Hale – Leonora Freemantle
  • Devil’s Cub (1930) by Georgette Heyer – Mary Challoner (A+ at AAR)
  • Frederica (1965) by Georgette Heyer- Frederica Merriville (A at AAR)
  • The Grand Sophy (1950) by Georgette Heyer – Sophy Stanton-Lacy (A at AAR)
  • The Irish Rogue (1999) by Emma Jensen – Ailis O’Neill (B+/B at AAR)
  • Miss Grimsley’s Oxford Career (1992) by Carla Kelly – Ellen Grimsley
  • The Wily Wastrel (1999) by April Kihlstrom – Juliet Galsworthy (C+ at AAR)
  • A Grand Deception (1988) by Elizabeth Mansfield – Georgianna Verney (C+ at AAR)
  • Married by Mistake (1992) by Melinda McRae – Florrie Washburn (A at AAR)
  • Dedication (2005) by Janet Mullany – Fabienne Craigmont (B at AAR)
  • An Inconvenient Wife (1998) by Patricia Oliver – Lady Pamela Hancock (B at AAR)
  • A Spirited Bluestocking (1992) by Joan Overfield – Elinore Denning
  • The Diabolical Baron (1987) by Mary Jo Putney – Caroline Hanscombe (B at AAR)
  • The Rake and The Reformer (1989) by Mary Jo Putney – Lady Alys Weston (A at AAR)
  • Poetic Justice (1994) by Alicia Rasley – Jessica Seton
  • Lady Elizabeth’s Comet (1985) by Sheila Simonson – Lady Elizabeth Conway (A at AAR)
  • The Ideal Bride (2003) by Nonnie St. George – Lady Nola Grenville (A at AAR)
  • Bluestocking Bride (1987) by Elizabeth Thornton – Catherine Harland
  • Lord Richard’s Daughter (1983) by Joan Wolf – Julianne
  • The Husband List (2000) by Victoria Alexander – Lady Gillian Marley (B+ at AAR)
  • The Importance of Being Wicked (2013) by Victoria Alexander – Lady Miranda Garrett (B+ at AAR)
  • Love with the Proper Husband (2003) by Victoria Alexander – Gwendolyn Townsend (A- at AAR)
  • The Perfect Mistress (2011) by Victoria Alexander – Lady Julia Winterset (B at AAR)
  • My Darling Caroline (1998) by Adele Ashworth – Lady Caroline Grayson (A- at AAR)
  • Slightly Scandalous (2003) by Mary Balogh – Lady Freyja Bedwyn (B at AAR)
  • Slightly Tempted (2004) by Mary Balogh – Lady Morgan Bedwyn (B at AAR)
  • Simply Magic (2007) by Mary Balogh – Susanna Osbourne (B+ at AAR)
  • As You Desire (1997) by Connie Brockway – Desdemona Carlysle (set in Egypt) (A at AAR)
  • My Dearest Enemy (1998) by Connie Brockway – Lily Bede (A at AAR)
  • The Other Guy’s Bride (2011) by Connie Brockway – Genisse Braxton (set in Egypt) (B+ at AAR)
  • Beauty Like the Night (2000) by Liz Carlyle – Helene de Severs (B+/C- at AAR)
  • Never Lie to a Lady (2007) by Liz Carlyle – Xanthia Neville (B- at AAR)
  • My False Heart (1999) by Liz Carlyle – Evangeline van Artevalde (B+ at AAR)
  • The Last Hellion (1998) by Loretta Chase – Lydia Grenville (A/C at AAR)
  • Lord of Scoundrels (1995) by Loretta Chase – Jessica Trent (A/B- at AAR)
  • Mr. Impossible (2005) by Loretta Chase – Daphne Pembroke (set in Egypt) (A at AAR)
  • A Thing of Beauty (2000) by Casey Claybourne – Belinda Croft (B at AAR)
  • Dance (1996) by Judy Cuevas (aka Judith Ivory) – Marie Du Gard (A- at AAR)
  • A Night to Surrender (2011) by Tessa Dare- Susanna Finch (A at AAR)
  • A Week to be Wicked (2012) by Tessa Dare- Minerva Highwood (B+ at AAR)
  • Bound by Your Touch (2009) by Meredith Duran – Lydia Boyce (A at AAR)
  • Scoundrel (1996) by Elizabeth Elliott- Lady Lilly Walters (A at AAR)
  • A Matter of Scandal (2001) by Suzanne Enoch – Emma Grenville (B+ at AAR)
  • The Least Likely Bride (2000) by Jane Feather – Olivia Granville (B+ at AAR)
  • Devil Takes a Bride (2004) by Gaelen Foley – Lizzie Carlisle (B at AAR)
  • All I Ever Needed (2003) by Jo Goodman – Lady Sophia Colley (A at AAR)
  • To Catch a Bride (2009) by Anne Gracie – Ayisha (partially set in Egypt) (B+ at AAR)
  • A Gentleman Undone (2012) by Cecilia Grant- Lydia Slaughter (B+ at AAR)
  • Guilty Pleasures (2004) by Laura Lee Guhrke – Daphne Wade (B at AAR)
  • With Seduction in Mind (2009) by Laura Lee Guhrke – Daisy Merrick (B+ at AAR)
  • The Defiant One (2000) by Danelle Harmon – Celsiana Blake (B+ at AAR)
  • Innocent Passions (2003) by Brenda Hiatt – Rowena Riverstone (B- at AAR)
  • The Suitor (2002) by Sandy Hingston – Lady Katherine Deveraux (A- at AAR)
  • The Leopard Prince (2007) by Elizabeth Hoyt- Lady Georgina Maitland (A- at AAR)
  • Dangerous in Diamonds (2011) by Madeline Hunter- Daphne Joyes (A-/D+ at AAR)
  • Lessons of Desire (2007) by Madeline Hunter – Phaedra Blair (A-/B at AAR)
  • The Sins of Lord Easterbrook (2009) by Madeline Hunter – Leona Montgomery (B at AAR)
  • The Proposition (1999) by Judith Ivory – Lady Edwina Bollash (A at AAR)
  • Untie My Heart (2002) by Judith Ivory – Emma Hotchkiss (A- at AAR)
  • A Song for Summer (1998) by Eva Ibbotson – Ellen Carr
  • How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (2011) by Sabrina Jeffries- Minerva Sharpe (B+ at AAR)
  • Lord Ruin (2002) by Carolyn Jewel – Anne Sinclair (B- at AAR)
  • Midsummer Moon (1987) by Laura Kinsale – Merlin Lambourne (A/C at AAR)
  • Against the Odds in Where’s My Hero anthology (2003) by Lisa Kleypas – Lydia Craven (B at AAR)
  • Dreaming of You (1994) by Lisa Kleypas – Sara Fielding (A at AAR)
  • Suddenly You (2001) by Lisa Kleypas – Amanda Briars (B at AAR)
  • Then Came You (1993) by Lisa Kleypas – Lily Lawson (A at AAR)
  • It Happened One Autumn (2005) by Lisa Kleypas – Lillian Bowman (A- at AAR)
  • The Book of the Seven Delights (2005) by Betina Krahn – Abigail Merchant (B- at AAR)
  • The Last Bachelor (1994) by Betina Krahn – Lady Antonia Paxton
  • The Mermaid (1997) by Betina Krahn – Celeste Ashton
  • Devil’s Bride (1998) by Stephanie Laurens – Honoria Anstruther-Wetherby (A/B+ at AAR)
  • How the Marquess was Won (2012) by Julie Anne Long – Phoebe Vale (B at AAR)
  • One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (2013) by Sarah Maclean – Lady Phillipa Marbury (B- at AAR)
  • Seven Secrets of Seduction (2010) by Anne Mallory – Miranda Chase (A- at AAR)
  • Wedding of the Year (2001) by Victoria Malvey – Elizabeth Everly (B at AAR)
  • Sweet Rewards (1996) by Melinda McRae – Julia Sydney
  • The Bride and the Beast (2000) by Teresa Medeiros – Gwendolyn Wilder (B+ at AAR)
  • For the Love of Lila (2002) by Jennifer Malin – Lila Covington (B at AAR)
  • Confessions from an Arranged Marriage (2012) by Miranda Neville – Minerva Montrose (A-/D at AAR)
  • Follow My Lead (2011) by Kate Noble – Winnifred Crane (B+ at AAR)
  • Crocodile on the Sandbank (1975) by Elizabeth Peters – Amelia Pembroke (set in Egypt) (A at AAR)
  • Angel Rogue (1995) by Mary Jo Putney – Maxie Collins (A at AAR)
  • Affair (1997) by Amanda Quick – Charlotte Arkendale (C+ at AAR)
  • Deception (1993) by Amanda Quick – Olympia Wingfield
  • Mischief (1996) by Amanda Quick – Imogen Waterstone (B at AAR)
  • Mistress (1994) by Amanda Quick – Iphiginia Bright
  • Ravished (1992) by Amanda Quick – Harriet Pomeroy (A- at AAR)
  • Reckless (1992) by Amanda Quick – Phoebe Layton
  • Rendezvous (1991) by Amanda Quick – Augusta Ballinger (A- at AAR)
  • Surrender (1990) by Amanda Quick – Victoria Huntington (B- at AAR)
  • With This Ring (1998) by Amanda Quick – Beatrice Poole (B-/B- at AAR)
  • Dancing at Midnight (1995) by Julia Quinn – Lady Arabella Blydon (B- at AAR)
  • Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (2002) by Julia Quinn – Penelope Featherington (B+ at AAR)
  • Silent on the Moor (2009) by Deanna Raybourn – Lady Julia Grey (A- at AAR)
  • A Study in Seduction (2012) by Nina Rowan – Lydia Kellaway (B at AAR)
  • The Devil Earl (1996) by Deborah Simmons – HH-317 – Prudence Lancaster (B+/B at AAR)
  • Bed of Roses (1995) by Suzanne Simmons – Alyssa Gray
  • Tempt Me Twice (2001) by Barbara Dawson Smith – Kate Talisford (B+ at AAR)
  • Scarlet Lady (1997) by Marlene Suson – Arabella Penford
  • Vanquished (2006) by Hope Tarr – Caledonia Rivers (B+ at AAR)
  • In My Heart (2004) by Melody Thomas – Lady Alexandra Marshall (B- at AAR)
  • Must Have Been the Moonlight (2004) by Melody Thomas – Brianna Donally (B at AAR)
  • Sin and Scandal in England (2007) by Melody Thomas – Bethany Munroe (B at AAR)
  • Not Quite a Husband (2009) by Sherry Thomas – Bryony Asquith (partially set in India (A at AAR)
  • Tempting the Bride (2012) by Sherry Thomas – Helena Fitzhugh (A- at AAR)
  • Almost a Princess (2003) by Elizabeth Thornton – Jane Mayberry (A- at AAR)
  • Bluestocking Bride ( 1987) by Elizabeth Thornton – Catherine Harland
  • Blind Fortune (2008) by Joanna Waugh – Lady Fortuna Morley (B+ at AAR)
  • Rebellious Bride (1993) by Donna Fletcher – Lillian
  • Crooked Hearts (1994) by Patricia Gaffney – Grace Russell (A at AAR)
  • Breathless (1999) by Laura Lee Guhrke – Lily Morgan (A- at AAR)
  • Captain of My Heart (1992) by Danelle Harmon – Mira Ashton
  • Homeward Hearts (2010) by Alexis Harrington – Chloe Maitland
  • Kiss Me Katie (1998) by Robin Lee Hatcher – Katie Jones
  • Sweet Talking Man (2000) by Betina Krahn – Beatrice von Furstenburg (B- at AAR)
  • Marry Me (2002) by Susan Kay Law – Emily Bright (B at AAR)
  • The Bad Man’s Bride (2001) by Susan Kay Law – Anthea Bright (A- at AAR)
  • The Woman Question (1957) by Dorothea Malm – Mary Whitby
  • A Reason to Live (2006) by Mauren McKade – Laurel Covey (A at AAR)
  • Runabout (1994) by Pamela Morsi – Tulsa May Bruder
  • Sing My Name (2010) by Ellen O’Connell – Sarah Hanson (A at AAR)
  • Somebody Wonderful (2004) by Kate Rothwell – Timona Calverson (B at AAR)
  • Vows (1988) by LaVyrle Spencer – Emily Walcott
  • Caroline Rose (1999) by Tracy Sumner – Charlie Whitney
  • Colorado Dawn (2012) by Kaki Warner – Maddie Wallace (B+ at AAR)
  • Open Country (2010) by Kaki Warner – Molly McFarlane (B+ at AAR)
  • Daddy-Long-Legs (1912) by Jean Webster – Jerusha “Judy” Abbott
  • Dear Enemy (1915) by Jean Webster – Sallie McBride
  • The Charm School (1999) by Susan Wiggs – Isadora Peabody (B at AAR)
  • Heart of the West (1995) by Penelope Williamson – Clementine Kenicut (A at AAR)
  • How to Trap a Tycoon (2000) by Elizabeth Bevarly – Dorsey MacGuinnes (A/B at AAR)
  • What the Librarian Did (2010) by Karina Bliss – Rachel Robinson (B+ at AAR)
  • No Easy Way Out (12/1982) by Elaine Raco Chase – CER-100 – Dr. Virginia Farrell
  • A Weekend With Mr. Darcy (2011) by Victoria Connelly – Katherine Roberts (A- at AAR)
  • Dangerous Tides (2006) by Christine Feehan – Dr. Libby Drake (B- at AAR)
  • Shadow Game (2003) by Christine Feehan – Dr. Lily Whitney (B- at AAR)
  • Man by the Fire (9/1986) by Victoria Glenn – SR-455 – Sarah Weiss
  • Mackenzie’s Mission (9/1992) by Linda Howard – SIM-445 – Caroline Evans
  • Hard and Fast (2009) by Erin McCarthy – Imogene Wilson (C+ at AAR)
  • River of Eden (2002) by Glenna McReynolds – Dr. Annie Parrish (B+ at AAR)
  • Meltdown (8/1992) by Ruth Owen – LS-558 – Melanie Rollins
  • Breathing Room (2002) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Dr. Isabel Favor (B at AAR)
  • Nobody’s Baby But Mine (1997) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Dr. Jane Darlington (A at AAR)
  • No Cure for Love (12/1994) by Tara Taylor Quinn – HSR-624 – Marie Richmond
  • Midnight Kisses (2000) by Kimberly Raye – Dr. Josephine Farrington (A/A- at AAR)
  • The Fall of Shane MacKade (4/1996) by Nora Roberts – SSE-1022 – Dr. Rebecca Knight
  • To Die For (2/1993) by M.J. Rodgers – HI-214 – Jane Hardesty
  • First You Run (2008) by Roxanne St. Claire – Dr. Miranda Lang (B- at AAR)
  • A Gentle Rain (2007) by Deborah Smith – Kara Whittenbrook (B+ at AAR)
  • Cinderman (3/1994) by Anne Stuart – HAR-525 – Suzanna Molloy (A at AAR)
  • Ice Storm (2007) by Anne Stuart – Isobel Lambert (B+ at AAR)
  • The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (2005) by Lauren Willig – Eloise Kelley (B at AAR)
  • The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (2009) by Lauren Willig – Eloise Kelley/Lady Charlotte Landsdowne (B+ at AAR)
  • Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs.? (6/1997) by Linda Randall Wisdom – HAR-681 – Casey Larson
  • Son of the Morning (1997) by Linda Howard – Grace St. John (B+ at AAR)
  • One Magic Moment (2011) by Lynn Kurland – Tessa Alexander (B+ at AAR)
  • Touch of Enchantment (1997) by Teresa Medeiros – Tabitha Lennox (B+ at AAR)
  • Archangel (2001) by Sharon Shinn – Rachel (A at AAR)

This list is closed.