What is the recommended starting point for the de Montforte series?

You should start with The Wild One , which introduces the family, the setting of Georgian England, and the central dynamic of the brothers under the influence of their eldest brother, the Duke of Blackheath.

Is Lord Charles actually dead in the first book?

No. While Gareth and the rest of the de Montforte family believe Charles was killed in battle in The Wild One , his survival and recovery in Massachusetts are detailed in the second book, The Beloved One .

Do I need to read the novellas to understand the main story?

No, the novellas ( The Admiral's Heart , The Fox & the Angel , and My First Noel ) are companion stories. They focus primarily on friends and cousins of the family and are not required to follow the main siblings' romances.

Who is the matchmaker behind the siblings' romances?

Lucien de Montforte , the Duke of Blackheath, is the manipulative older brother who orchestrates the circumstances that force his siblings into finding love, before finally meeting his own match in The Wicked One .

Can these books be read as standalones?

Yes, each book contains a self-contained romance with a happy ending. However, because characters reappear and the family timeline progresses, they are much more satisfying when read in order.

How are the de Montforte books connected to the Heroes of the Sea series?

They share a universe. Characters like Lucien appear at social gatherings in the Heroes of the Sea books, and the naval officers of that series move in the same English and American colonial circles.

The de Montforte Brothers Books in Order

How to Read The de Montforte Brothers Series

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read The de Montforte Brothers series in its publication order. While the main books can technically be enjoyed as standalone romances, the overarching character growth—especially the Machiavellian matchmaking scheme of the eldest brother, Lucien—unfolds across the novels. Reading them in order preserves key plot twists, including a massive timeline revelation between the first and second books.

Here is the recommended reading path for the core novels and companion novellas:

The Wild One (Book 1 - 1997)
The Beloved One (Book 2 - 1998)
The Defiant One (Book 3 - 2000)
The Wicked One (Book 4 - 2001)
The Wayward One (Book 5 - 2016)
The Homecoming (Book 6 - 2023)

Where to Place the Novellas

If you want to read the holiday stories and side novellas exactly where they fit best in the timeline, insert them as follows:

The Admiral's Heart (2013) – Read after The Wicked One. Though set in 1774, it serves as a wonderful companion piece featuring the Duke of Blackheath hosting a grand ball.
The Fox & the Angel (2014) – Read between The Wicked One and The Wayward One. Set during Christmas 1779, it details the Duke's matchmaking efforts for his best friend, Roger Foxcote.
My First Noel (2016) – Read alongside The Wayward One. Also set during the winter of 1779, this holiday tale follows Lady Katharine Farnsley.

The Core Novels: Plot and Character Breakdown

1. The Wild One (1997)

The series opens with the story of Lord Gareth de Montforte, a charming, self-proclaimed black sheep of the family who has gained a reputation as a notorious rake. When Juliet Paige, a headstrong American rebel, arrives in England with her infant daughter, she seeks out the aristocratic de Montforte family. She claims her child is the daughter of Charles, Gareth's brother, who was believed to have been killed in the American Revolutionary War. Determined to protect Juliet and give the child a name, Gareth steps up, leading to an emotional and transformative romance.

2. The Beloved One (1998)

This installment contains the series' biggest surprise. Lord Charles de Montforte was believed by his family to have perished on the battlefield in Revolutionary Massachusetts. However, Charles actually survived his severe wounds and is nursed back to health in secret by Amy Leighton, an American woman desperate to escape a cruel step-family. As Charles recovers, he finds himself torn between his duty to the British Crown, a prior betrothal waiting for him back in England, and his deep feelings for the woman who saved his life.

3. The Defiant One (2000)

Focusing on the brilliant but hot-tempered inventor Lord Andrew de Montforte, this novel shifts the action back to England. The eldest brother, Lucien, orchestrates a forced marriage between the eccentric Andrew and the strong-willed Lady Celsiana Blake. What begins as a stubborn battle of wills quickly turns into a fiery, passionate connection as the two learn to look past their pride.

4. The Wicked One (2001)

The series reaches a peak with the story of the family patriarch: Lucien de Montforte, the cynical, powerful, and manipulative Duke of Blackheath. Having spent years pulling the strings of his siblings' love lives, Lucien finally meets his match in Eva de la Mouriére, a mysterious and equally cunning Frenchwoman. Their clash of intellects and passions forces the cold Duke to confront his own vulnerabilities and capacity for love.

5. The Wayward One (2016)

This novel centers on the youngest de Montforte sibling, Lady Nerissa de Montforte. Following a broken engagement, Nerissa is overprotected by her powerful brothers until she is suddenly abducted by Captain Ruaidri "Rory" O' Devir, an Irish captain serving in the American Continental Navy. Sent to steal a secret military explosive formula from Andrew de Montforte, Rory intends to use Nerissa as leverage. Instead, the chemistry between the Irish rogue and the highborn English lady ignites a dangerous romance set against the backdrop of war.

6. The Homecoming (2023)

Set in 1781, this novel picks up after the events of The Wayward One. Nerissa and Rory return to Blackheath Castle in England after Nerissa is officially cleared of treason charges. However, their reunion with the family is highly tense. Some of Nerissa's brothers struggle to forgive Rory for taking her away across the sea. Lucien must once again step in to navigate the family crisis and keep the de Montforte legacy intact.

The Companion Novellas and Festive Tales

Danelle Harmon has enriched the de Montforte universe with several shorter works that highlight side characters and festive settings:

The Admiral's Heart (2013): Set in 1774, this novella focuses on a second-chance romance between the heroic Royal Navy Admiral Sir Elliott Lord and Lady Philippa Ponsonby Hatfield. They are reunited at a lavish ball hosted by Lucien de Montforte.
The Fox & the Angel (2014): A Christmas novella set in 1779. Lucien de Montforte plays matchmaker for his grieving, reclusive best friend Sir Roger "Fox" Foxcote and his impoverished widowed cousin, Angela Holmes.
My First Noel (2016): Set during a snowy Christmas Eve in 1779, this story follows Lady Katharine Farnsley, who takes in a mysterious injured stranger. Lucien de Montforte makes a brief appearance to help guide the holiday romance.

Chronological Reading Order and the Timeline Twist

For readers who prefer a strict historical timeline, the chronological order differs slightly from publication. However, reading chronologically reveals Charles's survival in The Beloved One before the family learns of it in The Wild One. If you choose this path, the sequence is:

The Admiral's Heart (Set in 1774)
The Beloved One (Set in 1775, during Charles's recovery in America)
The Wild One (Set in 1775-1776, as Gareth marries Juliet in England, believing Charles is dead)
The Defiant One (Set around 1778)
The Fox & the Angel (Set in Christmas 1779)
My First Noel (Set in Christmas 1779)
The Wayward One (Set in 1779)
The Wicked One (Set in 1779-1780)
The Homecoming (Set in 1781)

The Heroes of the Sea Connection

Fans of Danelle Harmon's work will notice that the de Montforte world closely intersects with her maritime romance series, Heroes of the Sea. Both series exist in the same shared literary universe, moving between Georgian England and Revolutionary-era Massachusetts. Characters from the de Montforte family make cameo appearances in the naval stories, and the high-society social circles of London and the Royal Navy link the two worlds together. You do not need to read the Heroes of the Sea series to understand the de Montforte books, but doing so adds extra layers of depth to the setting.