Caroline Linden Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Caroline Linden

Caroline Linden is celebrated in the historical romance community for crafting intelligent, sensory, and emotionally rich Regency romances. Before she began writing, she graduated from Harvard University with a math degree and wrote actuarial software. This background shines through in her sharp dialogues, intricate plots, and unconventional, clever heroines. While most of her books can be enjoyed as standalone novels, they are set in interconnected universes where characters drop by, family secrets unravel across volumes, and recurring hubs like London and Bath tie the narratives together.

For readers new to Linden’s work, there are three recommended starting points:

• The Scandalous Series: Start with Love and Other Scandals. This is widely considered her most famous and beloved series. It revolves around a group of characters influenced by a scandalous, banned pamphlet titled 50 Ways to Sin.
• The Wagers of Sin Series: Start with My Once and Future Duke. This series offers high-stakes drama, gambling clubs, and complex emotional conflicts, making it an excellent introduction to her slightly darker, high-passion storytelling.
• Desperately Seeking Duke Series: Start with About a Rogue. This series is perfect for readers who love family dynamics, inheritance dramas, and Scottish settings.

The Scandalous Series Reading Order

The Scandalous series features a group of high-society characters whose lives are disrupted by the publication of an anonymous, controversial manual on seduction. Because of the overlapping timelines and novellas, readers often debate between two reading paths: publication order and chronological order.

Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended for First-Time Readers)

Reading in the order of publication allows you to experience the overarching mystery of the pamphlet's author as it was originally revealed to the public. Novellas and collections fill in the gaps between the main novels.

1. Love and Other Scandals (2013)
2. It Takes a Scandal (2014)
3. Love in the Time of Scandal (2015)
4. All's Fair In Love and Scandal (2015)
5. A Touch of Scandal (2015)
6. A Study in Scandal (2016)
7. Six Degrees of Scandal (2016)
8. The Secret of My Seduction (2017)

Option 2: Chronological Order

If you prefer following the timeline of events within the fictional universe step-by-step, follow this chronological sequence:

1. Love and Other Scandals (2013)
2. It Takes a Scandal (2014)
3. Love in the Time of Scandal (2015)
4. Six Degrees of Scandal (2016)
5. All's Fair In Love and Scandal (2015)
6. A Touch of Scandal (2015)
7. A Study in Scandal (2016)
8. The Secret of My Seduction (2017)

Note: "A Touch of Scandal" serves as a companion compilation containing novellas, historical tidbits, and snippets from the fictional book "50 Ways to Sin" that ties directly into the series.

Desperately Seeking Duke Series

This series moves from the ballrooms of London to the rugged landscapes of Scotland, detailing the search for the rightful heir to a prestigious dukedom. It features a mix of full-length novels and bridging novellas that keep the family saga moving forward.

1. About a Rogue (2020)
2. About a Kiss (2020) - Novella (Book 1.5)
3. A Scot to the Heart (2021)
4. How the Scot Was Won (2021) - Novella (Book 2.5)
5. All the Duke I Need (2022)

The Wagers of Sin Series

Centering around a high-stakes club and the desperate measures members take to secure their fortunes, this series is packed with romantic tension, secrets, and redemptive character arcs.

1. My Once and Future Duke (2018)
2. An Earl Like You (2018)
3. When the Marquess Was Mine (2019)
4. Fortune Favors the Viscount (2023)

The Truth About the Duke Series

This series focuses on the Carlyle family secrets and the fallout when the legitimacy of the late duke's heirs is called into question. It is a fantastic blend of romance and domestic mystery.

1. I Love the Earl (2011) - Novella (Book 0.5/1.5)
2. One Night in London (2011)
3. Blame It on Bath (2012)
4. The Way to a Duke's Heart (2012)

Note: While "I Love the Earl" was published as a digital-first novella and won the RITA Award in 2012, it is best read either as a prequel to set the stage or right after "One Night in London" to enrich the family mystery.

The Reece Family Trilogy

As one of Linden's earliest series, this trilogy follows the Reece siblings as they navigate romance, societal pressures, and the charms of the Regency era.

1. What a Gentleman Wants (2006)
2. What a Rogue Desires (2007)
3. A Rake's Guide to Seduction (2008)

The Bow St. Agents: Spies in Love Series

Mixing espionage, danger, and romance, this series follows Bow Street Agents who find love while investigating complex criminal networks in historical London.

1. A View to a Kiss (2009)
2. For Your Arms Only (2009)
3. You Only Love Once (2010)

Standalones and Other Shorter Works

For readers looking for quick, independent stories or single-volume reads, Linden has published standalones, short story collections, and contributed to popular romance anthologies.

Standalone Novels

• What a Woman Needs (2005) - Linden's debut novel, introducing her trademark witty style.
• Map of a Lady's Heart (2017)

Short Stories, Novellas, and Collections

• Like None Other (2010)
• When I Met My Duchess (2013)
• Written in my Heart (2013)
• Will You Be My Wi-Fi? (2015) - A rare modern romance deviation from her historical works.
• A Fashionable Affair (2016)
• A Kiss for Christmas (2019) - A collection of festive Regency holiday stories.

Anthologies

• The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance (2010)
• At the Duke's Wedding (2013)
• Dressed to Kiss (2016)
• Snowflakes and Scandals (2024)