Where to Start with Masters of Ménage
For the best reading experience, we highly recommend reading the Masters of Ménage series in publication order. While the authors designed each book to work as a standalone romance with its own self-contained romantic arc and happy-ever-after, reading them in order allows you to fully appreciate the world-building, recurring organizations, and character cameos. This is especially true for the Middle Eastern fantasy-inspired books in the middle of the series, which share tight continuity links.
If you prefer to jump straight to the absolute best starting point, start with the very first book, Their Virgin Captive. It perfectly establishes the series' signature blend of protective alpha heroes, BDSM themes, high-stakes suspense, and emotional healing.
Masters of Ménage Books in Publication Order
Between 2011 and 2015, Shayla Black and Lexi Blake published seven novels in the Masters of Ménage series. Here is the order in which they were released, along with the main characters and settings for each installment:
- Their Virgin Captive (2011): The series opens with the story of Hannah Craig, a small-town woman working as a secretary for wealthy Texas oil executives. Gavin, Slade, and Dex Carrington are three powerful brothers who are all deeply drawn to Hannah. When a dangerous predator begins stalking her, the brothers abduct her to an isolated hideaway to keep her safe, sparking a passionate affair.
- Their Virgin's Secret (2011): The second book shifts focus to the security industry. It features Jessa, a woman who finds herself caught between Cole and Burke Lennox, two security professionals who hide their true, high-risk identities from her. The story is packed with suspense, secrets, and trust-building.
- Their Virgin Concubine (2012): Moving to the fictional royal kingdom of Bezakistan, this novel follows virginal secretary Piper Glen. She is swept up in an ancient royal tradition where she must be shared by Princes Rafe, Kade, and Talib al Mussad. The four must navigate intense chemistry alongside political conspiracies and threats from a villainous cousin.
- Their Virgin Princess (2013): A direct thematic follow-up to the third book, this story centers on Princess Alea Binte al Mussad of Bezakistan. After surviving a traumatic abduction and torture in her past, Alea lives in isolation. Her recovery and path to love are guided by her three dedicated bodyguards, Dane, Cooper, and Landon.
- Their Virgin Hostage (2013): This entry features Kinley Kohl, who agrees to a marriage of convenience with the wealthy Greg Jansen to save her family from financial ruin. However, she finds herself entangled with three dominant men—Law Anders, Riley Anders, and Dominic Anthony—leading to a complex web of passion and protection.
- Their Virgin Secretary (2014): Set in New Orleans, this book follows administrative assistant Annabelle Wright. Realizing she has fallen for her three powerful bosses—Tate Baxter, Eric Cohen, and Kellan Kent—she flees to Louisiana to escape the complicated situation. The men follow her, forcing them to confront their feelings while protecting her from an emerging threat.
- Their Virgin Mistress (2015): The seventh book tells the story of Tori Glen, who finds herself protected by and romantically involved with Oliver, Rory, and Callum Thurston-Hughes, wrapping up the series with a heavy emphasis on suspense and BDSM dynamics.
Chronological Continuity & Reading Caveats
Since the series consists of standalone romances, there are no complex timeline shifts or chronological adjustments to worry about. The chronological order matches the publication order exactly.
However, there is one key continuity caveat: Their Virgin Concubine (Book 3) and Their Virgin Princess (Book 4) are closely linked by their setting in the fictional country of Bezakistan and the royal al Mussad family. While you can technically read them independently, you will get a much better sense of the political intrigue and character dynamics if you read Book 3 before Book 4.
The Authors: Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
The Masters of Ménage series is the product of a collaborative partnership between two powerhouse voices in contemporary romance: New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake. Both writers are widely celebrated for their solo series—Black for her emotional, high-heat Wicked Lovers books, and Blake for her espionage-tinged Masters and Mercenaries series.
Their collaboration on Masters of Ménage combines Black’s trademark emotional intensity with Blake's talent for fast-paced romantic suspense. In addition to this series, the duo teamed up to write The Perfect Gentlemen, a romantic suspense series centered on a group of elite friends who bonded at university. Because their shared projects are completely independent, you do not need to read any of their solo books or other collaborations to enjoy Masters of Ménage.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, readers should be aware that the Masters of Ménage series features explicit polyamorous relationships (specifically MFM and MMFF setups) with strong BDSM elements. The tone of the books leans heavily into romantic suspense, often involving stalking, kidnapping, corporate espionage, and royal conspiracies. The heroes are classic "alpha protectors"—possessive and dominant, yet deeply committed to the safety and emotional healing of the heroines, who are resilient women overcoming personal trauma or dangerous situations.
Clearing Up a Common Book Order Error
When searching for the Masters of Ménage reading order online, some readers encounter lists that include a book titled Their Famous Dominant, claiming it concludes the series in 2018. This is a common database error. Their Famous Dominant is actually a romance novel written by author Nicole Edwards. Because Edwards writes in the same erotic romance and BDSM subgenres, her works are frequently grouped with Black and Blake's books by automated algorithms, but it is not part of the Masters of Ménage universe.