Anna Jacobs Books in Order

The Best Starting Point for Anna Jacobs' Novels

With more than eighty novels spanning historical sagas, contemporary romance, and science fiction, diving into Anna Jacobs' bibliography can feel overwhelming. However, her books generally fall into distinct series or self-contained standalones, meaning you do not need to read her entire catalog in one single sequence. Instead, the best way to experience her work is to choose a starting theme and follow the individual series chronologically.

For new readers, we recommend starting with one of these entry points:

• For Historical Sagas: Start with the Preston Sisters series, beginning with the award-winning Pride of Lancashire (2005). It showcases her signature style: strong-willed women overcoming hardship in industrial Northern England.
• For Emigration Tales: Start with the Blake Sisters / Swan River Saga, beginning with Farewell to Lancashire (2009). This series beautifully captures the historic connection between the mills of Lancashire and the frontier life of Western Australia.
• For Contemporary Comfort: Start with the Peppercorn Street series, beginning with Peppercorn Street (2014), which explores modern community ties and secondary chances at love.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For nearly all of Anna Jacobs' historical and contemporary series, publication order is identical to chronological order. The narrative flows forward from the first book to the last, following the growth of families and communities. Reading these series out of order is not recommended, as late-entry books will spoil the fates and relationships of characters introduced earlier.

The notable exception to this rule is her science-fantasy series, the Chronicles of Tenebrak, written under her pseudonym Shannah Jay. For this series, readers have two paths:

• Chronological Order: Start with the prequel Tenebrak, the Founding (published in 2010, but set 20,000 years prior), followed by the original tetralogy starting with Quest.
• Publication Order (Recommended): Start with the original core novels (Quest, Lands of Nowhere, Shadow of the Serpent, The Price of Wisdom) published in the 1990s, and read the prequel Tenebrak, the Founding last to understand the lore with established context.

The Lancashire and Australian Migration Sagas

Reflecting the author's own life journey from Northern England to Australia, these series focus on families who flee the hardships of the English industrial revolution to build new lives down under during the 19th century. Although set in the same era, each series features a distinct cast of characters, but their shared historical themes make them perfect companion reads.

Blake Sisters / Swan River Saga

1. Farewell to Lancashire (2009)
2. Beyond The Sunset (2010)
3. Destiny's Path (2011)

The Traders Books

Set during the 1860s and 1870s, this series moves between Singapore and Western Australia, sharing minor thematic links with the Swan River Saga.

1. The Trader's Wife (2011)
2. The Trader's Sister (2012)
3. The Trader's Dream (2012)
4. The Trader's Gift (2013)
5. The Trader's Reward (2014)

The Lancashire Settlers Books

1. Lancashire Lass (2000)
2. Lancashire Legacy (2001)

Classic Historical Lancashire Sagas

These series remain centered in Northern England, depicting the grit, determination, and romance of working-class families navigating industrial change, post-war reconstruction, and personal trials.

The Preston Sisters / Preston Family Books

Set during the early days of the British music halls.

1. Pride of Lancashire (2005)
2. Star of the North (2006)
3. Bright Day Dawning (2006)
4. Heart of the Town (2006)

The Gibson Family Books

An epic saga tracing the Gibson family's rise from poverty to fortune in Lancashire between 1820 and 1866.

1. Salem Street (1994)
2. High Street (1995)
3. Ridge Hill (1996)
4. Hallam Square (1996)
5. Spinners Lake (1997)

The Kershaw Sisters Books

1. Our Lizzie (1999)
2. Our Polly (2000)
3. Our Eva (2002)
4. Our Mary Ann (2003)

The Ellindale Saga Books

1. One Quiet Woman (2017)
2. One Kind Man (2018)
3. One Special Village (2018)
4. One Perfect Family (2019)

Birch End Books

1. A Daughter's Journey (2019)
2. A Widow's Courage (2020)
3. A Woman's Promise (2020)

Backshaw Moss Books

1. A Valley Dream (2021)
2. A Valley Secret (2021)
3. A Valley Wedding (2023)

The Rivenshaw Books

Set in post-World War II Britain, focusing on community rebuilding and healing.

1. Time to Remember (2015)
2. A Time for Renewal (2015)
3. A Time to Rejoice (2016)
4. Gifts For Our Time (2017)

Other Period and Historic Sagas

The Wiltshire Girls Books

Starting in 1910, this trilogy follows three sisters escaping their tyrannical father.

1. Cherry Tree Lane (2010)
2. Elm Tree Road (2011)
3. Yew Tree Gardens (2012)

Greyladies Books

1. Heir to Greyladies (2013)
2. Mistress of Greyladies (2014)
3. Legacy of Greyladies (2015)

Honeyfield Books

1. The Honeyfield Bequest (2017)
2. A Stranger in Honeyfield (2017)
3. Peace Comes to Honeyfield (2019)

Hope Books

1. A Place of Hope (2013)
2. In Search of Hope (2013)
3. A Time for Hope (2015)

The Michaels Family Books

1. A Pennyworth of Sunshine (2003)
2. Twopenny Rainbows (2004)
3. Threepenny Dreams (2005)

The Staley Family Books

1. Down Weavers Lane (2002)
2. Calico Road (2005)

Lady Bingram's Aides Books

1. Tomorrow's Promises (2007)
2. Yesterday's Girl (2008)

Contemporary Sagas and Modern Series

In addition to historical fiction, Anna Jacobs writes contemporary family dramas. These series focus on friendship, neighborly support, and modern struggles in cozy English settings.

Peppercorn Street Books

1. Peppercorn Street (2014)
2. Cinnamon Gardens (2015)
3. Saffron Lane (2018)
4. Bay Tree Cottage (2018)
5. Christmas in Peppercorn Street (2019)

Penny Lake Books

1. Changing Lara (2019)
2. Finding Cassie (2020)
3. Marrying Simone (2020)

Jubilee Lake Books

1. Silver Wishes (2022)
2. Golden Dreams (2023)
3. Diamond Promises (2024)

Larch Tree Lane Books

1. Larch Tree Lane (2022)
2. Hawthorn Close (2023)
3. Magnolia Gardens (2024)

The Waterfront Books

1. Mara's Choice (2021)
2. Sarah's Gift (2022)
3. Paula's Way (2023)

The Fantasy Outlier: Chronicles of Tenebrak

Published under her pen name Shannah Jay, this series is a distinct departure from her signature historical and contemporary dramas, offering a science-fantasy adventure centered on psychic gifts on the planet Sunrise.

1. Quest (1993)
2. Lands of Nowhere (1995)
3. Shadow of the Serpent (1996)
4. The Price of Wisdom (1996)
5. Tenebrak, the Founding (2010 - Prequel)

What to Know Before You Start

Anna Jacobs' novels are famous for their strong, resilient heroines and comforting, optimistic endings. While her individual series contain tightly woven plots that require reading in order, her 30+ standalone novels (such as Persons of Rank, Envoy, or Kirsty's Vineyard) can be enjoyed at any time as completely independent stories. No matter where you begin, you can expect satisfying family sagas filled with heart and perseverance.