Adelaide Forrest Books in Order

Where to Start with Adelaide Forrest

If you are new to Adelaide Forrest, the best entry point depends on which of her two writing personas you want to explore. For dark, gritty, and intense mafia romance, you should start with Bloodied Hands, the first book in the Bellandi Crime Syndicate series. This is the cornerstone of her contemporary dark romance universe and introduces the major power players of her interconnected underworld.

If you prefer magical, high-stakes fantasy romance (often called romantasy), you should switch over to her pen name, Harper L. Woods, and start with What Lies Beyond the Veil, which kicks off the popular Of Flesh & Bone series featuring fae, forbidden bonds, and high-tension slow burns.

The Recommended "Bellandi World" Interconnected Reading Order

While the Bellandi Crime Syndicate and Beauty in Lies series can technically be read independently, they share the same universe, overlap during a major gang war in Chicago, and feature characters who cross over into each other's stories. For the most cohesive timeline and to avoid spoilers, it is highly recommended to read them in a combined chronological order. Below is the ultimate Bellandi world reading order:

1. Bloodied Hands (Bellandi Crime Syndicate Book 1) - 2020
2. Forgivable Sins (Bellandi Crime Syndicate Book 2) - 2020
3. Grieved Loss (Bellandi Crime Syndicate Book 3) - 2020
4. Shielded Wrongs (Bellandi Crime Syndicate Book 4) - 2020
5. Until Memory Fades (Beauty in Lies Book 0.5 / Prologue Novella) - 2021
6. Scarred Regrets (Bellandi Crime Syndicate Book 5) - 2021
7. Settled Scores (Bellandi Crime Syndicate Book 6) - 2025
8. Until Tomorrow Comes (Beauty in Lies Book 1) - 2021
9. Until Forever Ends (Beauty in Lies Book 2) - 2021
10. Until Retribution Burns (Beauty in Lies Book 3) - 2021
11. Until Death Do Us Part (Beauty in Lies Book 4) - 2021

Breakdown of Adelaide Forrest’s Dark Romance Series

To help you understand the structures of her contemporary works, here is a detailed breakdown of each major series and subseries under her primary name:

Bellandi Crime Syndicate

This six-book series is centered around a powerful and dangerous Italian crime family. Each book focuses on a different couple, blending intense danger, deep trauma, and ultimate redemption. It establishes the power dynamics of the Chicago and Philadelphia syndicates, making it the perfect foundation for her broader dark romance world.

Beauty in Lies

Beginning with the prologue novella Until Memory Fades and continuing through four full-length novels, this subseries focuses on a darker, highly obsessive mafia romance set against the backdrop of the Bellandi crime war in Chicago. Readers should be prepared for a much darker tone and a slow-burn progression that carries across the entire tetralogy.

Massacred Dreams

A separate dark mafia romance series that focuses on the gritty reality of revenge and survival. According to local database records, this series consists of:

• Dreams of the Vengeful (2021)
• Dreams of the Deadly (2022)
• Dreams of the Wicked (2022)

Note that while the series contains three installments, readers often discuss its open-ended nature and potential future continuations as a duet or triplet depending on release availability.

The Men of Mount Awe

For a quick, high-intensity read, Deliver Me from Evil (2020) is a dark contemporary romance novella. It features a woman escaping a religious cult who finds refuge with an obsessively protective mountain man. It is currently the only entry in this series.

Kings of Conquest (Co-Authored)

Co-authored with Lyric Cox, this series offers quick, steamy, royal "instalove" novellas. It consists of:

• Claiming His Princess (2020)
• Stealing His Princess (2020)

Heaven & Hell Collaboration

Adelaide Forrest participated in the multi-author Heaven & Hell project, where different authors wrote standalone stories connected to a mysterious club called Purgatory. You do not need to read the entire series to enjoy Adelaide's contribution, but the publication order is:

• Heaven by Darcy Rose (2021)
• Hell by C. Hallman & J.L. Beck (2021)
• Hitman by C. Hallman & Isabella Starling (2021)
• Poisoned Paradise by Lucy Smoke (2021)
• Possessive by Vivian Wood (2021)
• Wrong by Adelaide Forrest (2021)
• Descent by Sam Mariano (2022)

Harper L. Woods: The Fantasy Romantasy Realms

Under her pen name Harper L. Woods, Adelaide Forrest writes dark fantasy romance with magic, fae, witches, and high stakes. These series are entirely separate from her mafia universe.

Of Flesh & Bone Series

An immersive fae romance series featuring intense world-building, high heat, and heavy emotional conflict. The books should be read in strict order:

1. What Lies Beyond the Veil (2022)
2. What Hunts Inside the Shadows (2022)
3. What Lurks Between the Fates (2023)
4. What Sleeps Within the Cove (2025)

Coven of Bones Series

A dark, witch-themed romantasy series full of gothic atmosphere, secrets, and dangerous magic. The books follow a continuous story and should be read in order:

1. The Coven (2023)
2. The Cursed (2023)

What to Know Before You Start

Adelaide Forrest's books are classified as dark romance and romantic suspense. They feature alpha males who are often possessive, morally grey, or outright villainous, alongside resilient heroines who fight for survival. Because of the intense themes—including graphic violence, non-consensual situations, and psychological trauma—it is highly recommended to check the author's official website for content and trigger warnings before starting any of her contemporary or fantasy books.