Elizabeth Boyle Books in Order

Where to Start with Elizabeth Boyle’s Novels

Elizabeth Boyle is known for writing historical romance novels filled with humor, secret identities, and sharp banter. Because her major series are generally independent of one another, you do not need to read her entire bibliography in a single sequence. Instead, the best approach is to choose the series that appeals most to your tastes and read the books within that specific collection in order.

For the absolute best starting point, most fans recommend beginning with one of two series:

• Rhymes with Love Series: If you enjoy witty village romances, fairy-tale motifs, and lighthearted charm, start with Along Came a Duke.
• The Bachelor Chronicles: If you prefer fast-paced, high-stakes romantic adventures, matchmaking schemes, and spy-tinged Regency intrigue, start with Something About Emmaline.

If you want to read her books from the very beginning of her career, you can start with her debut novel and series, Brazen Angel (1997).

The Danvers Family Series: Recommended Reading Order

The Danvers Family series presents a classic reading order dilemma. Although Elizabeth Boyle published the first book, Once Tempted, in 2001, she did not originally plan to write a full family saga. As she developed the subsequent books, the timeline shifted, leading her to recommend a chronological reading order that differs from the order of publication.

To follow the family's story as it unfolds chronologically, use the author's recommended order:

1. One Night of Passion (Published in 2002)
2. Stealing the Bride (Published in 2003)
3. Once Tempted (Published in 2001)
4. It Takes a Hero (Published in 2004)
5. Hero, Come Back (2005 anthology; features the Danvers-related novella The Matchmaker's Bargain)

Reading in this sequence ensures you follow the character development and overarching subplots in their proper narrative timeline.

The Bachelor Chronicles: Wit, Mischief, and Matchmaking

This is Elizabeth Boyle's longest and perhaps most popular series. The series centers around three school friends who create a secret list—a specialized version of Debrett’s Peerage—to keep track of the most eligible (and dangerous) bachelors in London. This list sparks various matchmaking schemes, scandals, and espionage.

The Bachelor Chronicles should be read in publication order to appreciate the recurring characters and evolving relationships:

1. Something About Emmaline (2005)
2. This Rake of Mine (2005)
3. Love Letters From a Duke (2007)
4. How I Met My Countess (2009)
5. Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress (2009)
6. Confessions of a Little Black Gown (2009)
7. Mad about the Duke (2010)
8. Lord Langley Is Back in Town (2011)
9. Mad About the Major (2015)

Rhymes With Love Series: Regency Retellings and Village Scandals

Set in the quaint English village of Kempton, the Rhymes with Love series centers on a group of spirited young women determined to escape a local curse that supposedly dooms Kempton girls to spinsterhood. The series features clever dialogue, charming settings, and themes inspired by classic nursery rhymes and fairy tales.

The recommended reading order is the publication order:

1. Along Came a Duke (2012)
2. And the Miss Ran Away with the Rake (2013)
3. Have You Any Rogues? (2013)
4. If Wishes Were Earls (2013)
5. The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane (2014)
6. The Knave of Hearts (2016)
7. Six Impossible Things (2017)

The Brazen Series (The d'Artiers Family)

The Brazen Series (also known as the d'Artiers family trilogy) is where Elizabeth Boyle’s publishing journey began. This trilogy follows the d'Artiers siblings as they navigate romance, war, and political intrigue during the Napoleonic era. These novels lean a bit more into espionage and high stakes than her later village-set romances, showing off her background hunting software pirates and working in legal circles.

Read them in order of publication:

1. Brazen Angel (1997)
2. Brazen Heiress (1998)
3. Brazen Temptress (1999)

The trilogy was also collected in a single volume titled The Brazen Trilogy in 2012.

The Marlowes Series

A short, two-book series focusing on the Marlowe family. While the author originally had larger plans for the Marlowes, the series concluded after two novels. They are fast-paced historical romances that stand perfectly well on their own:

1. His Mistress By Morning (2006)
2. Tempted By the Night (2008)

The "Governess Brides" Conflation: Clearing Up Database Confusion

If you search for Elizabeth Boyle online, you will frequently see a series called the Governess Brides listed under her name. This list includes titles like That Scandalous Evening, Rules of Surrender, and Rules of Engagement.

In reality, the Governess Brides series is written by fellow historical romance author Christina Dodd. The reason Elizabeth Boyle's name is attached to the series in many book databases is due to a single volume: the 2005 anthology Hero, Come Back. This collection featured three novellas: one by Christina Dodd (set in her Governess Brides universe), one by Stephanie Laurens, and one by Elizabeth Boyle (titled The Matchmaker's Bargain, which connects to her own Danvers Family series). Because of this anthology crossover, online cataloging systems often display Dodd's entire series under Boyle's profile.

Standalone Novels, Collections, and Anthologies

In addition to her major series, Elizabeth Boyle has published several standalone works and collaborative anthologies:

• No Marriage of Convenience (2000): Her only full-length standalone novel, featuring a classic enemies-to-lovers setup.
• Cynders & Ashe (2010): A Cinderella-inspired Regency novella originally published in The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance.
• Four Weddings and a Sixpence (2016): A collaborative anthology written with Julia Quinn, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Stefanie Sloane. Elizabeth Boyle contributed the novella Something Borrowed, which follows the adventures of four school friends and a lucky sixpence.