There’s nothing more dangerous than a woman with a plan. Whether she’s seeking revenge, getting justice, or fighting for everything she deserves, she’s going to make it happen. These five historical fiction books set in England are full of determined women who don’t let anything get in their way. Laws are no object when these rulebreakers have a moral code to follow. Check out these titles for your fill of iconic female characters who will inspire you to make the world a better place.
Bombshell by Sarah MacLean
Lady Sesily Talbot is not ashamed to be the source of scandal, especially when it gives her the freedom to lure men into dark corners. Not always to seduce them — sometimes it’s about seeking revenge. Bombshell combines both romance and suspense, following a tightly-knit and secret network of women working behind the scenes to save vulnerable individuals, particularly women, from the cruelties of powerful men.
The four women, the Hell’s Belles of the series title, are dedicated to righting wrongs and dispensing justice. And, Lady Sesily Talbot just might find love with her older sister’s best friend, someone who might be harboring secrets of his own.
Stolen Brilliance by Michael G Colburn
“Can breaking the law ever be the right thing to do?” For young Edie Black, a noblewoman with a hidden past living in Victorian London, the answer is yes. Inspired by her love interest, Benji Diamond, who steals from the rich to give to the poor, Edie becomes a master criminal in her own right.
A chance with a band of women thieves known as the Forty Elephants puts Edie in the midst of a major heist aboard a steamship. There’s nothing like bags of priceless diamonds gone missing to wreak havoc among the players, launching them into a world of international intrigue. While Edie is drawn into this risky business and exotic life, she begins questioning her loyalty to the gang’s leader, her own involvement in the dangerous lifestyle, and starts laying the groundwork to set up her own operation.
The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore
Catriona Campbell keeps her head down, focusing on her studies at Oxford and the ongoing fight for women’s suffrage. Her father’s new colleague should be nothing but an annoyance. So as soon as she realizes Elias Khoury is a handsome young gentleman, Catronia is caught off guard. Especially when he catches her unaware and exposed after a lake swim.
But Elias is hiding the motive behind his arrival at Oxford — to return stolen artifacts to his home in the East. And to make it happen and get Catronia’s help, the two of them will have to break some rules. How will Elias’ mission affect Catronia’s goal of obtaining votes and rights for women in a country built on imperialism? Together, they will question the world they were brought up in, and plan for a future that will benefit them both.
Betrayal at Ravenswick by Kelly Oliver
When men have been absent from the workforce, drafted into wars, who steps forward to pick up the slack and keep the world turning? Women. Fiona Figg has just walked in on her husband canoodling with his secretary in his office, but with the weight of the First World War looming over Europe, this is the least of her worries.
Once her divorce sets in, Fiona goes undercover as a physician named Dr. Vogel to investigate a person of interest to the London War Office. When her sleuthing leads her to a murder and the War Office asks her to back off, Fiona isn’t ready to give up. She has pieces of the puzzle that could mean the difference between life and death.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
It’s possible to be an ideal Victorian lady and a thief at the same time. In fact, Cecilia Bassingwaite is doing quite well in the Wisteria Society, where she dabbles in blackmail and thievery. When the handsome assassin Ned Lightbourne shows up under direct orders to kill Cecilia, his instant attraction to her is an inconvenience.
But Ned’s boss has made it clear: he must eliminate women like Celicia who step out of line and act outside the realm of what society considers appropriate. Of course, the men underestimate what the Wisteria Society is capable of, and soon Cecilia and Ned team up to defeat the dangerous pirate who wants them dead.
