Barbara Monajem Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Barbara Monajem

American author Barbara Monajem is celebrated for her versatility, seamlessly shifting between lighthearted Regency romance, high-stakes romantic suspense, and gritty paranormal mysteries. Because she writes across multiple distinct universes, there is no single chronological order for her entire catalog. Instead, the best path forward depends on your favorite subgenre:

• For Historical Romance with a Touch of Mystery: Start with the Rosie and McBrae Regency Mysteries, beginning with Lady Rosamund and the Poison Pen. This series blends clever investigative plots with slow-burn historical romance.
• For Spicy Regency Romances: Start with the Scandalous Kisses series, beginning with To Kiss a Rake. This series focuses on witty characters defying strict societal norms.
• For Paranormal Mystery and Urban Fantasy: Start with the Bayou Gavotte series, beginning with Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil. This series is set near New Orleans and features hereditary vampires, crime-solving, and sultry romances.

The Bayou Gavotte Series

Set in Louisiana, this series blends paranormal mystery, romance, and gritty urban crime. It follows hereditary vampires and complex, supernatural figures. While the individual mysteries are resolved in each book, the character dynamics and overarching lore build on one another, so reading in order is recommended.

1. Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil (2010) – Introduces vigilante rock star Constantine Dufray and the supernatural elements of the bayou.
2. Tastes of Love and Evil (2010) – Follows vampire Rose Fairburn as she grapples with her past and new dangers.
3. Heart of Constantine (2012) – Delves deeper into Constantine's backstory and his quest for redemption.
4. Back To Bite You (2014) – Concludes major character arcs with a mix of suspense and romance.

The Scandalous Kisses Series

This series delivers classic Regency romance with a playful twist, focusing on bold, unconventional heroines and the charming, often reformed rakes who fall for them. To follow the social circles and recurring characters, read them in this order:

1. To Kiss a Rake (2015)
2. The Rake's Irish Lady (2017)
3. Love and the Shameless Lady (2017)

Reader Tip: A fourth book in this series, titled The Redemption of the Shrew, was published in 2018. It wraps up the series' final threads and is a must-read for fans of the main trilogy.

The Rosie and McBrae Regency Mysteries

Blending historical romance with cozy historical mystery, this series features Lady Rosamund and her partner, McBrae, as they solve strange, sometimes magically-tinted crimes during the Regency era. The books rely heavily on character progression and are best read in order:

1. Lady Rosamund and the Poison Pen (2020)
2. Lady Rosamund and the Horned God (2021)

Note: The series continues with the third book, Lady Rosamund and the Plague of Suitors (2022), and the novella Lady Rosamund Confesses (2025), which picks up immediately after the events of the third book.

The Perilous Secrets Series

This series showcases Barbara Monajem's knack for romantic intrigue and historical suspense, featuring hidden identities, dangerous secrets, and passionate relationships. The core books include:

1. The Smuggler's Escape (2020)
2. His Lordship's Incorrigible Wife (2021)

Universe Connections: While the first two books set up the primary storyline, Monajem expanded this world with The Infidelity Curse (2022) and Return of the Scandalous Lady (2023), which are closely tied to the themes and character networks of the Perilous Secrets series.

A Most Peculiar Season (Multi-Author Series)

This is a collaborative, multi-author Regency romance project featuring standalone novellas centered around a magical or unusual social season. While the books are listed under publication order, you only need to read Monajem's specific contribution to follow her personal bibliography, though the entire series is delightful for fans of magical historicals.

1. A Viking For The Viscountess (2014) – Written by Michelle Willingham.
2. Scandal on His Doorstep (2014) – Written by Deborah Hale.
3. Lady of the Flames (2015) – Written by Barbara Monajem.
4. To Tempt A Thief (2015) – Written by Gail Ranstrom.
5. Lady Sybil's Vampire (2015) – Written by Ann Lethbridge.
6. A Viking Maiden for the Marquess (2016) – Written by Michelle Willingham.

Holiday and Seasonal Duologies

Monajem has also published quick-read, high-passion historical romance novellas under Harlequin's Historical Undone imprint. These are grouped into thematic duologies that can be read in publication order:

May Day Mischief!

1. The Magic of His Touch (2013)
2. Bewitched by His Kiss (2013)

Wicked Christmas Wishes

1. Under a Christmas Spell (2013)
2. Under a New Year's Enchantment (2014)

Standalone Novels and Collections

If you prefer standalone stories that do not require any series commitment, Monajem has written several independent novels, novellas, and short story collections:

• Notorious Eliza (2009) – An award-winning Regency novella that serves as an excellent introduction to her historical voice.
• Lord Bellweather's Lady (2020) – A full-length standalone Regency romance filled with humor and misunderstandings.
• Yuletide Nights (2019) – A collection of holiday-themed historical romance stories, perfect for seasonal reading.