How to Read the Edilean Series: Recommended Paths
Jude Deveraux’s Edilean series is a captivating blend of historical romance, contemporary love stories, and light mystery. Because the series spans multiple generations—ranging from the founding of the town in the late 1700s to modern-day romances—readers often debate the best way to approach the books. You can read the series in one of two main ways: Publication Order or Chronological Timeline Order.
The Publication Order (Recommended)
For most readers, reading in the order of release is the best choice. This path allows you to uncover the secrets and history of Edilean alongside the modern-day characters, preserving the sense of mystery and discovery that Deveraux intended. Here is the publication order:
- Lavender Morning (2009)
- Promises (2009) — Novella
- Days of Gold (2009)
- Scarlet Nights (2010)
- The Scent of Jasmine (2010)
- Heartwishes (2011)
- Moonlight in the Morning (2011)
- Stranger in the Moonlight (2012)
- Moonlight Masquerade (2013)
- Change of Heart (2014)
The Chronological Timeline Order
If you prefer to read the history of the town and its founding families in a linear fashion, you can read the books chronologically. This path starts with the 18th-century prequels that establish the town's namesake and historical legacy before moving into the contemporary eras. Here is the chronological order:
- Days of Gold (Historical: set in 1766)
- The Scent of Jasmine (Historical: set in 1799)
- Promises (Historical Novella: set in 1800)
- Lavender Morning (Contemporary: featuring key 1940s flashback mysteries)
- Scarlet Nights (Contemporary)
- Heartwishes (Contemporary)
- Moonlight in the Morning (Contemporary)
- Stranger in the Moonlight (Contemporary)
- Moonlight Masquerade (Contemporary)
- Change of Heart (Contemporary: serving as the series finale)
Chronological Order Caveats and Reader Advice
While the chronological order provides a neat timeline of Edilean’s history, it does come with a major caveat. Reading the historical prequels first removes the air of mystery surrounding the town's origins that contemporary characters like Jocelyn Minton in Lavender Morning spend their time trying to solve. For this reason, we recommend starting with Lavender Morning. You will get to know the town in its modern state, fall in love with its charm, and then dive back into the past with Days of Gold to see how the legend began.
Understanding Subseries and the Montgomery/Taggert Crossover
Within the broader Edilean series, there is a dedicated contemporary subseries known as the Moonlight Trilogy. This trilogy focuses on the Aldredge family and includes Moonlight in the Morning (Tristan's story), Stranger in the Moonlight (Kim's story), and Moonlight Masquerade (Reede's story). These three books are tightly knit and are best read sequentially.
Additionally, Deveraux fans will be thrilled to know that the Edilean series shares a connection with her massive, legendary Montgomery/Taggert family saga. This crossover is cemented in the final book, Change of Heart. The first half of this novel is an expanded version of a classic novella originally published in the 1994 anthology A Holiday of Love, which features Frank Taggert. By integrating these characters into the Edilean timeline, Deveraux officially bridged the two universes together, offering a delightful treat for long-time readers.
What to Know Before You Start
Although the Edilean books share a common setting, recurring families, and historical lore, almost all of them can be read as standalones. Each book features a distinct romance with a self-contained plot and a satisfying resolution. However, the recurring townspeople, ongoing family legacies, and developing friendships across the contemporary books make reading them in order a much richer and more rewarding experience.
Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. Lavender Morning (2009)
The series opens in the modern day. Jocelyn Minton is a young woman who inherits a historic estate in Edilean, Virginia, from her elderly mentor, Edilean Harcourt. Along with the house, Jocelyn inherits a mystery dating back to 1941, leading her to cross paths with a handsome local lawyer and uncover the deep roots of the town's history.
2. Promises (2009)
Set in South Carolina in the year 1800, this historical novella follows Ethne McTern, an independent writer who meets the adventurous Jamie Armitage. Together, they are swept up in a dangerous murder mystery and an unexpected romance. Although set outside of Virginia, it shares historical ties to the McTern family tree.
3. Days of Gold (2009)
This historical epic transports readers to 1766 Scotland and early America. It details the origins of the town's name, following laird Angus McTern and the spirited heiress Edilean Talbot as they escape danger, flee to the American colonies, and lay the foundations of Edilean, Virginia.
4. Scarlet Nights (2010)
Back in the modern era, Sara Shaw is engaged to a man who isn't what he seems. Undercover detective Mike Newland is sent to Edilean to investigate, leading to a high-stakes contemporary romance filled with suspense and small-town gossip.
5. The Scent of Jasmine (2010)
Set in 1799, this historical novel centers on Catherine Edilean "Cay" Harcourt, who finds herself helping a wrongly accused man, Alexi McDowell, escape to safety. Their journey takes them through the wilderness of early America, filling in crucial gaps in the town's early history.
6. Heartwishes (2011)
Gemma Ranford is hired by the wealthy Frazier family to organize their historical papers. Her research leads her to search for a legendary family talisman—and into the arms of the local sheriff, Colin Frazier, in a romance that blends mystery and modern charm.
7. Moonlight in the Morning (2011)
The first book of the Moonlight Trilogy introduces Jecca Layton, a city girl visiting Edilean, who falls for the dedicated town doctor, Tristan Aldredge. This contemporary story kickstarts the focus on the Aldredge family tree.
8. Stranger in the Moonlight (2012)
The second installment of the Moonlight Trilogy focuses on Kim Aldredge, a talented jewelry designer, and her childhood friend Travis Merritt. As secrets from the past resurface, the two must decide if their bond can weather the storm.
9. Moonlight Masquerade (2013)
Concluding the Moonlight Trilogy, this book follows Dr. Reede Aldredge and Elizabeth Connelly. When Elizabeth arrives in town under a false identity, Reede must look past her secrets to help her heal and find love.
10. Change of Heart (2014)
The final book acts as the ultimate bridge. Part One recounts the matchmaking efforts of young best friends Eli Harcourt and Chelsea Hamilton to bring Eli's mother, Miranda, together with Frank Taggert. Part Two jumps forward twenty years, following Eli and Chelsea as adults as they return to Edilean to solve a family mystery and discover their own romance.