Beth White Books in Order

Recommended Reading Paths: Where to Start?

With a bibliography spanning historical family sagas, contemporary romance, and suspense, Beth White (who also publishes under her full name, Elizabeth White) offers multiple entry points for readers. Choosing where to begin depends entirely on your preferred genre:

• For Historical Romance Lovers (Recommended): Start with The Pelican Bride, the first book in the Gulf Coast Chronicles. This is White's most celebrated work, introducing readers to her signature blend of meticulous historical research, strong-willed heroines, and Christian faith themes along the early American Gulf Coast.
• For Reconstruction-Era Fans: Start with A Rebel Heart, the opening novel of the Daughtry House series. It is perfect for readers who enjoy post-Civil War settings, mystery, and family drama.
• For Contemporary Romance Readers: Start with Miracle on Beale Street, the first book of the Gonzales series. This series offers lighthearted, humorous, and heartwarming stories set in the modern South.
• For Romantic Suspense Seekers: Start with Under Cover of Darkness, the first book of the Texas Gatekeepers series (written under the name Elizabeth White), which delivers fast-paced mystery and faith-filled romance.

Gulf Coast Chronicles

The Gulf Coast Chronicles is a historical romance trilogy that spans over a century of Southern history, tracking generations of families along the Gulf Coast. While each book features a standalone romance, they share recurring familial and historical threads, making it best to read them in order of publication (which also aligns with their chronological timeline):

1. The Pelican Bride (2014): Set in 1704, this novel follows Genevieve Gaillain, a French woman sent to the Louisiana colony as a mail-order bride. In the untamed wilderness of Mobile, she crosses paths with Tristan Lanier, a French-Canadian trader, sparking a romance fraught with cultural tension and survival struggles.
2. The Creole Princess (2015): Moving forward to 1776 during the American Revolution, this story follows Lyse Billet, a woman of mixed heritage in Spanish-controlled Mobile. When she meets American patriot military officer Rafael Gonzales, they must navigate espionage, family secrets, and shifting loyalties.
3. The Magnolia Duchess (2016): Set during the War of 1812, the final book in the trilogy follows Fiona Larsson, who runs her family's shipyard in Mobile. When she matches wits with British spy Lawrence Bradley, they are caught between their duty and an unexpected romance.

Daughtry House Series

Set in post-Civil War Mississippi, the Daughtry House series focuses on three sisters attempting to save their family estate during the Reconstruction era. Because of the overlapping character arcs and the progression of the family's struggles, readers should follow the publication order:

1. A Rebel Heart (2018): Selah Daughtry is determined to keep her family's plantation afloat. When federal authorities establish a presence nearby, she clashes with—and falls for—Drake Castleton, a Pinkerton agent investigating a local conspiracy.
2. A Reluctant Belle (2019): The second book follows Joelle Daughtry, a fiery writer and educator dedicated to helping freedmen. She finds herself working closely with childhood friend Thomas Campbell, leading to a slow-burn romance complicated by social upheaval.
3. A Reckless Love (2020): The trilogy concludes with Aurora Daughtry, who attempts to revitalize the family estate by starting a new business. Her path crosses with federal marshal Zane Taylor, leading to a high-stakes adventure involving outlaws and redemption.

The Gonzales Series

For readers looking for a contemporary change of pace, the Gonzales series features modern Southern settings filled with humor, matchmaking grandmothers, and sweet romance. While the books are loosely connected, they can easily be read as standalones:

1. Miracle on Beale Street (2011/2012): Originally released in 1999 as a shorter work and later published in full, this contemporary romance follows Miranda Gonzales and Tony Mullins as their grandmothers conspire to reunite them in Memphis, Tennessee.
2. The Trouble With Tommy (2020): This story, centering on a sweet contemporary romance, was originally published in the 2000 anthology Sweet Delights (alongside stories by Terri Stockstock and Ranee McCollum) before its standalone digital release.

Texas Gatekeepers Series (Writing as Elizabeth White)

Writing under the name Elizabeth White, the author penned the Texas Gatekeepers series for the Love Inspired Suspense line. These novels combine romantic suspense with a strong Christian worldview. They are best read in order of publication:

1. Under Cover of Darkness (2005): Introduces the high-stakes world of border patrol agents and local authorities solving mysteries along the Texas-Mexico border.
2. Sounds of Silence (2005): Continues the romantic suspense thread with a focus on local law enforcement tackling crime and finding faith.
3. On Wings of Deliverance (2006): Concludes the trilogy with a focus on search-and-rescue operations and healing from past trauma.

The Kincade Family & Standalone Novels

Beyond her main series, White has written several standalone historical and contemporary novels, primarily under the name Elizabeth White. Notably, she wrote a two-book contemporary family series featuring the Kincade sisters:

• Off the Record (2007): Follows Alabama judge Laurel Kincade and journalist Cole McGaughan as they navigate political secrets and romance.
• Tour de Force (2009): Focuses on Laurel's sister, Gillian Kincade, a ballet dancer in Birmingham, Alabama, who finds love and faith with an artistic director.

Notable Standalones & Historicals:

• Fireworks (2006): A contemporary romantic mystery set in Mobile, Alabama, involving an insurance investigation and Mardi Gras celebrations.
• Fair Game (2007): A sweet contemporary romance set in Vancleave, Mississippi, detailing a widow's fight to save her land.
• Redeeming Gabriel (2008): A Love Inspired Historical novel following a former Union spy and a woman working for the Underground Railroad.
• Controlling Interest (2008): A Carol Award-winning contemporary romantic comedy about rival partners running a private detective agency.
• Crescent City Courtship (2009): A Love Inspired Historical set in New Orleans, focusing on an aspiring female doctor and a privileged medical student.
• Reforming Seneca Jones (2000/2014): A historical novella originally published in the Prairie Christmas anthology (2000) and later released as a standalone e-book in 2014.

What to Know Before You Start

Beth White's novels are known for their historical accuracy and deep roots in Gulf Coast history. Her writing avoids heavy-handed preachiness, choosing instead to let the characters' struggles and faith grow naturally from the historical conflicts of their eras. Because the author frequently writes under both Beth White and Elizabeth White, readers searching online databases should check both names to locate her complete catalog.