Pennyroyal Green Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path: Follow the Feud

Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green series is a masterpiece of Regency romance, built around a fierce, generations-old rivalry between two Sussex families: the wild, aristocratic Everseas and the wealthy, industrious Redmonds. Because the overarching mystery of the star-crossed lovers Lyon Redmond and Olivia Eversea develops in the background of every single book, reading the series in publication order is highly recommended. The publication order and chronological order are identical, making it incredibly simple for readers to follow the timeline of the village and the developing tension between the families.

While every novel features a self-contained romance with a satisfying happily-ever-after, skipping around too much will spoil the slow-burn suspense of the series-wide story. If you want the full, emotionally resonant experience of the Sussex country lanes, the London drawing rooms, and the eventual resolution of the grand family feud, start at the beginning and work your way through the saga.

The Complete Pennyroyal Green Reading Order

Here is the complete list of books in the Pennyroyal Green series, including their original publication years, main couples, and key storylines:

1. The Perils of Pleasure (2008)

   The series kicks off with Colin Eversea, a charming rogue sentenced to hang for a crime he didn't commit, and Madeleine Greenway, the mysterious and deadly mercenary hired to rescue him. As they flee across England, their forced proximity sparks intense passion. This book establishes the Sussex village of Pennyroyal Green and introduces the legendary Eversea-Redmond feud.

2. Like No Other Lover (2008)

   This installment follows Miles Redmond, the pragmatic explorer and second son of the Redmond family, who is pressured to find a wealthy wife. Instead, he finds himself fascinated by Cynthia Brightly, a beautiful but desperate former darling of the ton who is hiding a ruinous social scandal.

3. Since the Surrender (2009)

   Focusing on Colin's brother, Captain Charles "Chase" Eversea, this story deals with the lingering trauma of war. Chase is tasked with finding a suspected traitor, leading him to Maria Winter, a resilient woman with her own dangerous secrets who challenges his jaded outlook on life.

4. I Kissed an Earl (2010)

   The spotlight shifts to Violet Redmond, a headstrong heroine who refuses to be tamed, and Asher Flint, the Earl of Ardmay, a ruthless pirate hunter. Violet boarded Asher's ship to locate her missing brother, launching an adventure on the high seas filled with witty banter and sparkling chemistry.

5. What I Did For a Duke (2011)

   Widely considered a crown jewel of the historical romance genre, this fan-favorite features Alexander Moncrieffe, the powerful and cynical Duke of Falconbridge. Seeking revenge against Ian Eversea for a past insult, the Duke plans to seduce Ian’s younger sister, Genevieve Eversea. However, Genevieve's sharp wit and emotional depth soon turn the tables on the calculating Duke.

6. How the Marquess Was Won (2011)

   Julian Spenser, the cold and precise Marquess of Dryden, is determined to marry for societal status. He sets his sights on a Redmond heiress, but his plans are completely upended by Phoebe Vale, a clever and sharp-tongued teacher at a local girls' school who has no time for arrogant noblemen.

7. A Notorious Countess Confesses (2012)

   Evie Duggan, the widowed Countess of Wareham and a former actress with a scandalous past, moves to Pennyroyal Green in search of peace. Instead, she finds herself facing the judgment of the local community—and an undeniable, forbidden attraction to Adam Sylvaine, the handsome and deeply devoted local vicar.

8. It Happened One Midnight (2013)

   Jonathan Redmond, the dutiful heir of the Redmond dynasty, has his life path mapped out until he encounters Thomasina "Tommy" de Ballesteros. Tommy is independent, unconventional, and entirely unconcerned with English high society, forcing Jonathan to choose between family expectations and true love.

9. Between the Devil and Ian Eversea (2014)

   Ian Eversea is the village's premier golden boy, accustomed to getting whatever he wants. His charm fails him, however, when he meets Titania "Tansy" Danforth, the sharp-witted ward of the Duke of Falconbridge, who sees right through his smooth facade.

10. It Started With a Scandal (2015)

    This novel features Philippe, Lord Lavay (the Comte de Valençay), an exiled French Bourbon prince living in Sussex who is struggling with physical pain and lost fortune. He hires Elise Fountain, a resilient single mother and former teacher, as his housekeeper, leading to a tender and healing romance.

11. The Legend of Lyon Redmond (2015)

    The epic grand finale of the historical series. For ten books, readers watched the devastating fallout of the star-crossed romance between Lyon Redmond and Olivia Eversea. Here, the long-lost Lyon returns to England to claim Olivia once and for all, bringing the central Eversea-Redmond conflict to its emotional climax.

The Modern Epilogue: Malcolm & Isabel (2018)

In 2018, Julie Anne Long published a surprise contemporary novella titled Malcolm & Isabel. Set in modern-day Pennyroyal Green, it follows Isabel Redmond, a direct descendant of the historical family, and a local doctor, Malcolm Coburn. It serves as a heartwarming nod to the legacy of the town and its original founders.

Standalones and Best Entry Points

Can you read these books out of order? The short answer is yes. Every book works as a standalone romance with a complete plot and resolution. If a specific trope or character catches your eye, you can safely pick up that volume without being completely lost. For example, if you love older-hero/younger-heroine dynamics and intense romantic tension, What I Did For a Duke is widely considered one of the best historical romances ever written and can easily be enjoyed on its own.

However, because the recurring characters are highly active in each other's books and the town of Pennyroyal Green itself grows with every story, jumping directly to the finale, The Legend of Lyon Redmond, is not recommended. The payoff of Lyon and Olivia’s reunion relies heavily on the emotional groundwork laid throughout the previous ten books.

What to Know Before You Start

Julie Anne Long's writing style is celebrated for its poetic prose, sparkling humor, and psychological depth. Her heroines are rarely typical Regency damsels; they are often women with complex pasts, single mothers, teachers, or actresses trying to survive in a rigid society. The Redmonds and Everseas are bound together not just by their mutual hatred, but also by a legendary family curse that claims one couple in each generation is doomed to heartbreak. This curse looms heavily over the series, particularly regarding Lyon and Olivia, providing a rich layer of mystery that elevates the series beyond standard historical romance.