Introduction: The Regency World of Celeste Bradley
Celeste Bradley has long been a favorite for historical romance readers who prefer their Regency tales with a heavy dose of humor, sparkling wit, and highly unconventional characters. Unlike traditional historical romances that focus purely on the prim and proper ballrooms of the ton, Bradley specializes in writing about lovable misfits, undercover spies, and eccentric families who find love in the most chaotic circumstances. If you are looking for engaging, fast-paced, and sensuous romances, her books are the perfect escape.
Because many of her series share characters, settings, and overlapping timelines, it can be tricky to know where to begin or how the books connect. This guide outlines the best starting points, details her famous interconnected spy universe, and provides a complete publication checklist so you can track your reading journey.
Where to Start Reading Celeste Bradley
For the best reading experience, we recommend choosing one of two primary entry points depending on what type of romance plot you enjoy most:
Option 1: The Liar's Club Series (For Spy Intrigue & Banter)
If you love stories about secret agents, double lives, and high-stakes adventure mixed with romance, start with The Pretender (2003), the first book in the Liar's Club series. This book introduces the concept of a secret spy ring operating under the guise of an elite club and features a delightful fake-marriage plot between a lady looking for her brother and a spy disguised as a chimney sweep.
Option 2: The Wicked Worthingtons (For Quirky Family Warmth)
If you prefer family-centric stories filled with eccentric siblings, warm humor, and sweet emotional depth, start with When She Said I Do (2013), the opening novel of the Wicked Worthingtons series. It follows the independent-minded Worthington siblings and starts with a passionate, unconventional bargain between a desperate thief and a reclusive landowner.
The Connected Spy Universe: Liar's Club, Royal Four & Vauxhall Vixens
One of the highlights of Celeste Bradley's bibliography is her expansive spy universe. These series are set in the same world, share secondary characters, and detail the operations of England's most elite undercover agents.
The Liar's Club Series
The cornerstone of her spy network, the Liar's Club follows five agents who pose as regular citizens while serving the Crown. The books are best read in publication order to track the overarching mystery of the club's leadership and the spies' efforts to root out traitors:
- The Pretender (2003)
- The Impostor (2003)
- The Spy (2004)
- The Charmer (2004)
- The Rogue (2005)
The Royal Four Series
Directly spinning off from the events of the Liar's Club, the Royal Four series focuses on the four mysterious leaders who direct the spy network behind the scenes. Reading the Liar's Club series first is highly recommended to understand the setup and cameos in these books:
- To Wed a Scandalous Spy (2005)
- Surrender to a Wicked Spy (2005)
- One Night with a Spy (2006)
- Seducing the Spy (2006)
Vauxhall Vixens
This companion series currently features a festive novella, A Liar Under the Mistletoe (2020), which directly reconnects with characters and themes from the original Liar's Club series. It is a perfect quick holiday read for fans of the spy universe.
The Wicked Worthingtons Series
Moving away from espionage, the Wicked Worthingtons series centers around the lives and loves of the Worthington siblings. Bradley's talent for crafting quirky, mismatched couples shines in this series. The books should be read in order to appreciate the family dynamics and recurring characters:
- When She Said I Do (2013)
- And Then Comes Marriage (2013)
- With This Ring (2014)
- I Thee Wed (2016)
- Wedded Bliss (2017)
- On Bended Knee (2019)
The Runaway Brides Trilogy
This trilogy begins with a unique premise: a mysterious little girl named Melody is abandoned on the steps of "Brown's Club for Distinguished Gentlemen" with a note stating that one of the members is her father. Three aristocratic friends must search their pasts and confront the women they left behind to uncover the truth. The story unfolds across three novels:
- Devil In My Bed (2009)
- Rogue In My Arms (2010)
- Scoundrel In My Dreams (2010)
The Heiress Brides Trilogy
A fun and lighthearted trilogy, the Heiress Brides series follows three cousins who are tasked with finding suitable dukes to marry in order to secure their family inheritances. The books are packed with humor, competition, and sweet romance:
- Desperately Seeking a Duke (2008)
- The Duke Next Door (2008)
- Duke Most Wanted (2008)
Co-Authored & Seasonal Collections
The Courtesans Series (Co-Authored with Susan Donovan)
In a unique collaboration, Celeste Bradley teamed up with contemporary romance author Susan Donovan to write a dual-timeline romance series. These books blend historical Regency secrets with modern-day art investigations:
- A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man / Unbound (2012)
- Breathless (2018)
Haven Holiday Series
Set in the charming village of Haven in Staffordshire, these warm, festive historical romances offer cozy standalone stories inspired by classic movie tropes:
- Sleepless in Staffordshire (2019)
- While You Were Dreaming (2019)
Complete Publication Order Checklist
If you prefer to read Celeste Bradley's books exactly as they were published, follow this timeline:
- Fallen (2001) [Standalone debut]
- The Pretender (2003) [Liar's Club #1]
- The Impostor (2003) [Liar's Club #2]
- The Spy (2004) [Liar's Club #3]
- The Charmer (2004) [Liar's Club #4]
- The Rogue (2005) [Liar's Club #5]
- To Wed a Scandalous Spy (2005) [Royal Four #1]
- Surrender to a Wicked Spy (2005) [Royal Four #2]
- One Night with a Spy (2006) [Royal Four #3]
- Seducing the Spy (2006) [Royal Four #4]
- Desperately Seeking a Duke (2008) [Heiress Brides #1]
- The Duke Next Door (2008) [Heiress Brides #2]
- Duke Most Wanted (2008) [Heiress Brides #3]
- Devil In My Bed (2009) [Runaway Brides #1]
- Rogue In My Arms (2010) [Runaway Brides #2]
- Scoundrel In My Dreams (2010) [Runaway Brides #3]
- A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man / Unbound (2012) [The Courtesans #1]
- When She Said I Do (2013) [Wicked Worthingtons #1]
- And Then Comes Marriage (2013) [Wicked Worthingtons #2]
- With This Ring (2014) [Wicked Worthingtons #3]
- I Thee Wed (2016) [Wicked Worthingtons #4]
- Wedded Bliss (2017) [Wicked Worthingtons #5]
- Breathless (2018) [The Courtesans #2]
- On Bended Knee (2019) [Wicked Worthingtons #6]
- Sleepless in Staffordshire (2019) [Haven Holiday #1]
- While You Were Dreaming (2019) [Haven Holiday #2]
- A Liar Under The Mistletoe (2020) [Vauxhall Vixens #1]