Can the Westmoreland books be read as standalones?

Yes, each full-length novel focuses on a different couple and has a complete romantic resolution. However, because characters from Whitney, My Love play significant roles in Until You , reading them in order is highly recommended for context.

Where should I start reading the Westmoreland series?

The best starting point is A Kingdom of Dreams if you want to follow the chronological lineage, or Whitney, My Love if you want to experience the series in the order it was originally published.

Is A Holiday of Love a separate book in the Westmoreland series?

No. A Holiday of Love is a 1994 multi-author holiday anthology. It is notable for containing Judith McNaught's novella Miracles , which serves as the final entry in the Westmoreland series.

Who does Nicholas DuVille end up with in the series?

Nicholas DuVille finds his match in Julianna Skeffington, a character introduced in Until You . Their love story is told in the novella Miracles .

How does the Sequels trilogy relate to the Westmoreland Saga?

While they are technically separate series, the Sequels trilogy shares the same Regency London setting and features minor crossovers, cameos, and social circles that overlap with the Westmoreland family.

Westmoreland Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Paths for the Westmoreland Saga

Judith McNaught’s Westmoreland Dynasty Saga is a cornerstone of modern Regency and historical romance. It introduces readers to a powerful family lineage defined by headstrong heroes, resilient heroines, and intense emotional stakes. Because the series spans multiple centuries, you have two primary ways to approach the books: chronologically or by publication order.

Option 1: Chronological Order (Recommended)

Reading the series chronologically allows you to follow the Westmoreland family lineage from its medieval roots up through the Regency era. This is the path most fans recommend, as the ancestral history established in the prequel enhances the emotional weight of the later books.

A Kingdom of Dreams (1989) – Set in the late 15th century, this medieval prequel details the clash of wills between Scottish captive Jennifer Merrick and Royce Westmoreland, the feared "Wolf" of Claymore.
Whitney, My Love (1985) – Set in the Regency era (circa 1816), this is the book that launched McNaught's career. It follows the fiery romance between Whitney Stone and Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore.
Until You (1994) – Set shortly after the events of Whitney, My Love, this novel focuses on Clayton's brother, Stephen Westmoreland, the Earl of Langford, who falls for an American schoolteacher with amnesia, Sheridan Bromleigh.
Miracles (1995) – Originally published in the 1994 holiday anthology A Holiday of Love, this novella provides a happy ending for the infamous rake Nicholas "Nicki" DuVille and Julianna Skeffington, a young debutante introduced in Until You.

Option 2: Publication Order

If you prefer to read the books in the exact order Judith McNaught wrote them, you will start in the Regency era before stepping back in time to discover the family's origins, and then returning to the Regency period. This order reveals how McNaught's writing style and the overall universe evolved over a decade.

Whitney, My Love (1985)
A Kingdom of Dreams (1989)
Until You (1994)
Miracles (1995, contained within the 1994 anthology A Holiday of Love)

A Closer Look at the Westmoreland Novels

1. A Kingdom of Dreams (1989)

Set during the Anglo-Scottish conflicts of the late 15th century, this medieval romance lays the foundation for the entire Westmoreland dynasty. Royce Westmoreland is a ruthless warrior who has never met his match until he abducts the spirited Jennifer Merrick. Their passionate, stormy romance establishes the family's signature trait: fierce loyalty hidden behind a proud exterior.

2. Whitney, My Love (1985)

Widely considered a classic that helped define the modern Regency historical romance genre, this book tells the story of Whitney Stone. Desperate to win back her childhood sweetheart, Whitney returns from Paris only to find she has been betrothed to the cold, arrogant Clayton Westmoreland. The novel features intense emotional conflict, high stakes, and the dramatic hallmarks of 1980s romance.

3. Until You (1994)

Stephen Westmoreland, Clayton's brother, has resolved never to love again after a tragic loss. His life is turned upside down when he takes in Sheridan Bromleigh, an American chaperone who is left stranded and amnesiac in England. This novel offers a softer, highly emotional story of redemption and healing, featuring heavy appearances from the characters of Whitney, My Love.

4. Miracles (1995)

Nicholas DuVille was the secondary suitor and close friend to the family in the previous novels. In this novella (which was also reprinted in the 1997 anthology Simple Gifts), Nicholas finally gets his own spotlight. Julianna Skeffington, a mischievous debutante, schemes to ruin her own reputation at a masquerade ball to escape an arranged marriage, leading to a delightful, fast-paced romance with Nicholas.

The Sequels Trilogy Crossovers

Judith McNaught's historical romance universe is highly interconnected. In addition to the core Westmoreland books, she wrote the Sequels trilogy, which consists of Once and Always (1987), Something Wonderful (1988), and Almost Heaven (1990). While these books focus on different aristocratic families, characters from both series frequently cross paths at social events, balls, and family gatherings. To experience the complete Regency-era tapestry, many dedicated readers recommend inserting the Sequels books between A Kingdom of Dreams and Whitney, My Love.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into the Westmoreland Saga, readers should be aware that Whitney, My Love was written in the mid-1985 era. Like many historical romances of its time, it contains elements of non-consensual behavior, force, and intense alpha-hero dynamics that some modern readers may find dated or distressing. However, McNaught's subsequent books, such as Until You and the medieval prequel A Kingdom of Dreams, feature a shift toward more modern, emotionally balanced relationships while retaining her signature sweeping drama.