Amanda Ashley Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Amanda Ashley?

Amanda Ashley is a powerhouse of paranormal romance, best known for her emotionally resonant vampire novels. Because she writes across multiple distinct series and a vast array of standalone books, readers often wonder where to begin. Fortunately, there is no single overarching timeline that connects every book. Instead, her work is divided into independent series and standalone novels.

For the best experience, we recommend starting with one of these three entry points:

• The Fan Favorite: Children of the Night. This is Ashley's most popular and expansive series. It begins with Night's Kiss (2005) and offers the perfect introduction to her signature style of blending high-stakes supernatural conflict with intense, everlasting romance.
• The Classic 90s Gothic Vibe: Embrace the Night. If you want to experience the book that helped launch her paranormal career, pick up Embrace the Night (1998). It is the first book in her Embrace trilogy and showcases her talent for atmospheric, slow-burn vampire love stories.
• The Standalone Route: Desire the Night. If you prefer a self-contained story without committing to a series, Desire the Night (2012) is a highly praised standalone novel featuring a captive woman and a protective vampire protector.

Amanda Ashley's Series in Detail

To help you track your progress, here is the official publication order for each of Amanda Ashley's main series. Within each series, it is highly recommended to read the books in order, as characters and storylines build upon previous events.

Children of the Night Series

This is Amanda Ashley's flagship series, focusing on vampires finding their true mates under difficult, often dangerous circumstances. The books are best read in publication order:

1. Night's Kiss (2005)
2. Night's Touch (2007)
3. Night's Master (2008)
4. Night's Pleasure (2009)
5. Night's Mistress (2013)
6. Night's Promise (2014)
7. Night's Surrender (2015)
8. Night's Illusion (2021)

Morgan Creek Series

Set in a mysterious, hidden town in Wyoming where vampires live away from human eyes, the Morgan Creek series deals with mortals who accidentally stumble into this supernatural sanctuary and find themselves unable—or unwilling—to leave.

1. As Twilight Falls (2013)
2. Twilight Dreams (2015)
3. Twilight Desires (2018)

The Vampire Trilogy

An early fan-favorite trilogy that features recurring characters like the ancient vampire Grigori Chiavari. These books should definitely be read in order due to continuing plot lines:

1. Shades of Gray (1998)
2. After Sundown (2003)
3. Desire After Dark (2006)

Embrace Series

A trilogy focusing on ancient vampires and the human women who capture their hearts. The books span over a decade in publication dates but maintain a consistent tone:

1. Embrace the Night (1998)
2. Midnight Embrace (2002)
3. His Dark Embrace (2012)

Brynn Tor Series

For readers who enjoy historical settings mixed with paranormal romance, this trilogy transports the reader to the medieval era, blending knights, castles, and vampire lore:

1. Donovan's Woman (2016)
2. Quinn's Lady (2016)
3. Quinn's Revenge (2016)

Everlasting Series

A passionate series about love that literally lasts forever, defying time and mortality:

1. Everlasting Kiss (2010)
2. Everlasting Desire (2010)
3. Everlasting Embrace (2020)

Bound Series

A fast-paced vampire duology focusing on dark secrets and fated attractions:

1. Bound by Night (2011)
2. Bound by Blood (2011)

Enchant Series

Her newer series exploring magic, twilight, and ancient desires:

1. Enchant the Dawn (2022)

Standalone Novels

Amanda Ashley has written a wealth of standalone novels. Since these books are not part of any series continuity, you can read them in any order you choose. They are perfect for reading between series or sampling her style:

• Beneath a Midnight Moon (1994) - Written under her Madeline Baker name, but widely cataloged with her Amanda Ashley works.
• Deeper Than the Night (1996)
• A Darker Dream (1997)
• The Captive (2000)
• A Whisper of Eternity (2004)
• Dead Sexy (2007)
• Dead Perfect (2008)
• Immortal Sins (2009)
• Desire the Night (2012)
• Midnight and Moonlight (2013)
• Maiden's Song (2013)
• Moonlight (2014)
• Beauty's Beast (2014)
• Sunlight Moonlight (2016)
• A Fire in the Blood (2017)
• Hold Back the Dawn (2019)
• Enchant the Night (2020)
• Dark of the Moon (2020)
• Surrender the Dawn (2021)
• Secrets in the Night (2022)

Short Stories, Novellas, and Anthologies

If you want quick bites of Amanda Ashley's writing, her short fiction is highly recommended. Many of these originally appeared in anthologies alongside other legendary romance authors like Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Maggie Shayne.

Novellas and Short Stories

• The Music of the Night (2010)
• Jessie's Girl (2011)
• Sandy's Angel (2011)
• Masquerade (2013)
• Seasons of Change (2018)

Short Story Collections

• Seasons of the Night (2018)

Anthologies

• After Twilight (2001) - Featuring Christine Feehan and Ronda Thompson
• Midnight Pleasures (2003) - Featuring Sherrilyn Kenyon, Maggie Shayne, and Lora Leigh
• Blood & Moonlight (2011)

What to Know Before You Start

Before you dive into Amanda Ashley's universe, it helps to understand her background. Amanda Ashley is the pen name of Madeline Baker, who originally achieved success writing Native American historical romances. In the mid-1990s, Baker wanted to write about vampires, leading her to adopt the Amanda Ashley pseudonym. Because she writes both historical romance and paranormal romance, you will occasionally see crossover styles, such as the medieval setting of the Brynn Tor series.

Her books are heavily character-focused. While there is plenty of action, suspense, and lore, the emotional connection between the hero and heroine is always the driving force. Furthermore, her vampires are generally romanticized; they struggle with their dark natures but ultimately choose love and protection over mindless violence.