Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start
If you are new to Anna Bennett's witty and emotionally resonant historical romances, the best place to start is with the Wayward Wallflowers series. Beginning with her debut novel, My Brown-Eyed Earl, allows you to experience the author's writing style as it first charmed Regency romance readers. The series introduces Bennett's signature blend of strong-willed, independent heroines and swoon-worthy, reformable rogues. Since characters from previous books frequently make guest appearances, reading them in order ensures you won't encounter minor spoilers about earlier couples' happily-ever-afters.
Alternatively, if you prefer a school-academy setting filled with academic charm and lively banter, you can start with the Rogues to Lovers series, beginning with Girls Before Earls. This series showcases a more mature side of Bennett's writing, featuring the establishing of a girls' academy and the protective, reformed rakes who fall for its independent faculty.
Anna Bennett Books in Publication Order
For readers who want to follow the evolution of Anna Bennett’s storytelling, here is the complete publication order of her work under this name. All of her series are set within the Regency era and offer standalone romance arcs, but they are best enjoyed in order due to recurring characters and shared social circles.
The Wayward Wallflowers Series
This beloved trilogy established Bennett as a rising star in historical romance. The stories follow the spirited Lacey sisters and their close friends as they navigate London's high society, defying expectations along the way.
- My Brown-Eyed Earl (2016): Introduces Margaret Lacey, a penniless governess trying to maintain her independence, and William Ryder, an earl returning to London with a complicated past.
- I Dared the Duke (2017): Features Elizabeth Lacey, who finds herself in a battle of wits and hearts with a brooding, protective duke.
- The Rogue Is Back in Town (2018): Concludes the series by focusing on a reformed scoundrel seeking redemption and finding love in the process.
The Debutante Diaries Series
Focusing on the diaries of independent young women making their way through the marriage mart, this trilogy is packed with humor, secrets, and high-society scandals.
- First Earl I See Tonight (2018): Follows Fiona MacKay as she strikes a bargain with a handsome earl who needs to protect his reputation.
- The Duke Is But a Dream (2019): Focuses on a dreamer heroine who catches the eye of a seemingly stern duke.
- When You Wish Upon a Rogue (2020): Wraps up the diary-themed stories with an intriguing match filled with banter and emotional depth.
Rogues to Lovers Series
This series centers around Bellehaven Academy, a school for young ladies, and the rogues who are drawn to the women running the institution.
- Girls Before Earls (2021): Features school headmistress Hazel Lively and Gabriel Beckett, the Earl of Bladenton, who needs her help with his unruly niece.
- One Duke Down (2023): Tells the story of a duke seeking order and a lively heroine who upends all his structured plans.
- It Takes a Rake (2024): Follows a notorious rake who meets his match in an intelligent, independent woman.
The Holiday Anthology Connection
In addition to her full-length novels, Bennett contributed to a festive holiday anthology that serves as an excellent companion piece to her main library.
- Kissing Under the Mistletoe (2021): Features the novella My Mistletoe Beau, telling the story of Miss Eva Tiding and Jack Hardwick, the Earl of Frostbough, who agree to a fake engagement during Christmas.
The Suzanne Enoch Connection: Wild Wicked Highlanders
In many book listings, the Wild Wicked Highlanders series by Suzanne Enoch is grouped alongside Anna Bennett’s books. However, it is important to note that Anna Bennett did not write this series. The connection stems from the 2021 holiday anthology Kissing Under the Mistletoe, which featured Bennett's novella alongside Enoch's Highlander story, "Great Scot!" While both series are brilliant Regency romances, they are set in different universes and written by different authors.
The Anne Barton Pen Name: The Honeycote Series
Before publishing under the name Anna Bennett, the author won the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award in 2011 and wrote as Anne Barton. Under this pen name, she authored the popular Honeycote series, which offers the same warm, humorous, and passionate tone found in her later books.
- To All the Rakes I've Loved Before (2013): A prequel novella that sets the stage for the main series.
- When She Was Wicked (2013): The first full-length Honeycote novel, focusing on a passionate and scandalous romance.
- Once She Was Tempted (2013): The second book, continuing the family and romantic developments in Regency London.
- Scandalous Summer Nights (2013): The third installment, filled with high-society secrets and intense chemistry.
- One Wild Winter's Eve (2014): A cozy, winter-themed romance that brings the Honeycote saga to a heartwarming finish.
What to Know Before You Start
Anna Bennett’s novels are highly praised for their modern, feminist sensibilities wrapped in traditional Regency trappings. Her heroines are educated, ambitious, and actively resist the rigid social constraints of the era. The steam level in her books is moderate to high, balancing emotional intimacy with sensual encounters. While each book features a self-contained love story with a definitive happy ending, the companion characters and running subplots make reading each series in publication order highly recommended.