Actually, I’m stumped with noir films and romance novels. There are some romance novels with noir style or as tributes to noir films*, but I couldn’t think of any rom that can be classified as a noir romance including having a femme fatale protagonist. Like those in these films: The Last Seduction and Body Heat.
Well, there are some, but these heroines tend to pretend they’re the femme fatale type. Mostly as a seductive tactic. I think the US Romance genre’s idea of anti-heroine is sex, which is what a femme fatale is essentially about. Using their sexuality to get men to do what they want. This is widely unacceptable in the US Romance genre, I think.
More than anything, the femme fatale type is what heroes believe heroines are, e.g. Harlequin Presents, but of course, they fall in love once they realise these heroines aren’t what they thought they were.
So, there isn’t any I could think of that has the hero accepting the anti-heroine as part of his HEA. I need to think more about this as I’m basically stumbling about in the dark. It’s mostly to do with not knowing that much about noir films, I admit.
Blade Runner is a neo-noir film, for instance, but why? What elements it has that files this film under neo-noir? Visual style? Tone? Classic noir elements? Rain, anti-hero in a mac, mystery element, femme fatale in form of Rachel, that certain attitude, and the general dark atmosphere?
Plus, my colleagues often tell me that the Noir genre is essentially a genre for men. It does make sense in a way. A noir film tends to be from the male protagonist’s POV.
SF / Fantasy / Action / Sports genres are traditionally seen as men’s genres as well, but the US Romance genre doesn’t shy from absorbing these genres. I think having heroine as the femme fatale type is the issue. That’s probably why I couldn’t think of a romance novel that can be grouped with a noir film. Hm.
Like I say, I need to ponder on this a little more. Or at least when my brain decides to work properly.
*Examples: What the Lady Wants by Jennifer Cruise and Soft Focus by Jayne Ann Krentz. Both focus on style and a selection of genre conventions more than character types, and both are done with humour. Almost a parody.