Elizabeth / Beth Harbison Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Elizabeth / Beth Harbison

Ha szereted a romantikus történeteket és a divatos cipőket, Elizabeth Harbison (vagy ahogy a mainstream női fikciók borítóján szerepel: Beth Harbison) könyvei tökéletes kikapcsolódást nyújtanak. De hol is érdemes kezdened az olvasást? Attól függően, hogy a könnyed, humoros „chick-lit” műveket vagy a klasszikus, rövidebb szerelmes regényeket kedveled, az alábbi kiindulópontokat javasoljuk:

• For Chick-Lit & contemporary women's fiction fans: Start directly with Shoe Addicts Anonymous (2007). It is her breakout hit under the name Beth Harbison, introducing four women bonded by friendship, life struggles, and a shared shoe size.
• For classic, sweet category romance lovers: Start with Plain Jane Marries the Boss (1999), which kicks off her popular Cinderella Brides series written under the name Elizabeth Harbison for Silhouette Books.
• For cozy food-centric reads: Grab a copy of The Cookbook Club (2020), a heartwarming standalone that celebrates the bonds of friendship and great recipes.

The Two Faces of the Author: Elizabeth vs. Beth

Before diving into the specific series, it is helpful to understand the author's two writing identities. If you see Elizabeth Harbison on the cover, you are reading her earlier category romance novels (mostly written for Silhouette Romance and Special Edition lines in the late 1990s and early 2000s) or her cookbooks. When she writes as Beth Harbison, she is delivering thicker, contemporary women's fiction novels that began with her bestseller Shoe Addicts Anonymous in 2007.

The Famous Shoe Addict Series

This is the series that put Beth Harbison on the map. The books follow women navigating debt, career crises, and relationship woes, finding solace and strength in their friendships (and a shared obsession with fabulous footwear). While they are highly enjoyable as standalone reads, reading them in order lets you appreciate the development of the recurring themes and holiday cheer.

Publication Order of the Shoe Addict Books

1. Shoe Addicts Anonymous (2007) – Introduces Lorna, Helene, Sandra, and Joss. These four D.C. women form a weekly support group based on their shared size 7½ shoes, helping each other step out of bad situations.
2. Secrets of a Shoe Addict (2008) – A spiritual follow-up that dives into the wild, funny, and emotional misadventures of women moonlighting as phone-sex operators to pay off debts.
3. A Shoe Addict's Christmas (2016) – A festive, magical standalone novella that follows Noelle, a department store worker locked in on Christmas Eve, who gets to explore her past, present, and future through magical shoes. This book was adapted into a highly successful Hallmark Channel movie in 2018.

The Cinderella Brides Series

Written under her full name, Elizabeth Harbison, this sweet category romance quartet follows women who find their unexpected happily-ever-afters with wealthy, powerful, or noble men. These are short, fast-paced, and highly comforting romances.

Publication Order of Cinderella Brides

1. Plain Jane Marries the Boss (1999)
2. Emma and the Earl (1999)
3. Annie and the Prince (2000)
4. His Secret Heir (2001)

Silhouette Series & Shared-World Contributions

During her time writing category romance, Elizabeth Harbison was a frequent contributor to Harlequin/Silhouette's multi-author continuity series. In these projects, a group of authors collaborates to write individual books set within a shared world, featuring a overarching plot line. Because of this, the chronological reading order of the entire series involves books by other writers, but Harbison’s contributions can still be read as individual romance stories.

Shakespeare in Love Series

This three-book series features modern spins on classic Shakespearean tropes. Elizabeth Harbison contributed the second volume:

• Book 1: Much Ado About Matchmaking by Myrna MacKenzie (2005)
• Book 2: Taming of the Two by Elizabeth Harbison (2005)
• Book 3: Twelfth Night Proposal by Karen Rose Smith (2005)

Lone Star Country Club Series

This massive, multi-author Texas soap-opera style series features ranching dynasties and scandalous mysteries. Harbison contributed one of the key entries in the 2002/2003 storyline:

• Elizabeth Harbison's Contribution: Mission Creek Mother-To-Be (2002)

Fabulous Fathers Series

A beloved Silhouette Romance line featuring dedicated single dads and men stepping up to fatherhood. Harbison contributed one book to this extensive line:

• Elizabeth Harbison's Contribution: Wife Without a Past (1997)

Greatest Texas Love Stories of All Time

Her standalone category romance Two Brothers and a Bride (originally published in 1998) was so popular that it was repackaged and featured as part of this promotional multi-author collection.

Standalone Women's Fiction Novels (as Beth Harbison)

If you prefer chunky, standalone contemporary novels that blend humour, nostalgia, and women's friendships, Beth Harbison has a fantastic library of standalone fiction. They do not require any prior reading and can be enjoyed in any order:

• Hope in a Jar (2009) – A story about school reunions, old rivalries, and cosmetic-counter secondary chances.
• Thin, Rich, Pretty (2010) – Explores the pressures women face to have it all, set against the backdrop of a summer retreat.
• Always Something There to Remind Me (2011) – A nostalgic trip down memory lane featuring a woman confronting her first love. (Don't miss the digital short, Lost Chapter from Always Something There to Remind Me, released in 2019).
• When in Doubt, Add Butter (2012) – Combines a charming romance with the life of a professional chef, nodding to the author's real-life culinary background.
• Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger (2013) – A hilarious look at wedding mishaps and choosing the right path in life.
• Driving with the Top Down (2014) – A road-trip novel about two unlikely allies finding renewal on the highway.
• A Girl Like Her (2015) – A story of second chances, small-town gossip, and self-acceptance.
• If I Could Turn Back Time (2015) – A fun, magical realism twist where a woman wakes up in her teenage body with all her adult knowledge intact.
• One Less Problem Without You (2016) – Follows three women managing a boutique store in Cape Cod, overcoming past baggage.
• Every Time You Go Away (2018) – A bittersweet story about letting go of grief and finding love again.
• The Cookbook Club (2020) – A cozy novel detailing a group of women who meet monthly to cook and share life updates.
• Confessions of the Other Sister (2022) – A family drama focusing on sibling rivalries, secrets, and reconciliation.

Non-Fiction and Cookbooks

Before achieving New York Times bestseller status for her novels, Beth Harbison worked as a private chef in Washington, D.C. She wrote several popular cookbooks sharing her culinary knowledge:

• A Taste for Love (1996)
• The Bread Machine Baker (1999)
• Four Seasons with the Bread Machine Baker (2001)