Candice Hern Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide
A meticulous historian of the Regency and a gifted storyteller, Candice Hern writes with the wit and period flavour of Georgette Heyer — plus, in her later work, more warmth and heat. From her sweet traditional Regencies to the beloved Merry Widows, here is her romance work in order, and exactly where to start.
Do you need to read Hern in order? Not really. Every book stands alone with its own couple and happy ending. Her two main series each follow a group of friends, so reading those in order deepens the connections, but her traditional Regencies are true standalones you can enjoy in any sequence. One useful thing to know: her books span two moods. The earlier titles are classic traditional Regencies — sweet, witty, sensuality rarely beyond a kiss — while the Merry Widows are warmer and sexier. Pick by the vibe you want.
The Regency Rakes Trilogy in order
Three friends — an earl, a marquess, and a viscount — each meet their match in this trio of traditional Regencies. Elegant, funny, and steeped in period detail, they are Hern in full Heyer mode.
- A Proper Companion (1995) — Robert, Earl of Bradleigh, and the quiet companion who is anything but ordinary. All three friends are introduced here.
- A Change of Heart (1995) — Jack, Marquess of Pemerton, and a marriage that begins as anything but a love match.
- An Affair of Honor (1996) — Sedge, Viscount Sedgewick, and the woman who upends his careful bachelor life.
The Merry Widows series in order
Hern's most popular series follows a circle of widowed friends who vow to enjoy their newfound freedom — including, scandalously, the pursuit of pleasure. Warmer and sexier than her traditional Regencies, these are full-length historical romances.
- In the Thrill of the Night (2006) — A widow seeks a discreet affair and asks an old friend for advice, with predictable and delightful complications.
- Just One of Those Flings (2007) — A duchess determined to keep things casual meets a man who wants much more.
- Lady Be Bad (2007) — A reformed-rake romance that closes out the trio.
A fourth Merry Widow got her happy ending by popular demand in the novella From This Moment On, published in the anthology It Happened One Night.
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The traditional Regency standalones
Alongside her series, Hern wrote a run of standalone traditional Regencies in the Heyer tradition — sweet, sharp, and rich with authentic period detail. They can be read in any order:
- A Garden Folly (1997) — A house party, a fortune-hunting scheme, and a heroine who falls for the wrong (right) man. First of the loosely linked Country House Party pair.
- The Best Intentions (1999) — A companion story to A Garden Folly, following a hero glimpsed in that book to his own happy ending.
- Miss Lacey's Last Fling (2001) — A young woman who believes she is dying decides to live boldly first. Bittersweet and charming.
Where to start
If you want Hern's most popular, warmest work, begin with In the Thrill of the Night and read the Merry Widows in order. If you love a classic, sweet, Heyer-style traditional Regency, start with A Proper Companion and follow the Regency Rakes. And if you only read one to sample her voice? In the Thrill of the Night shows off both her wit and her warmth in a single sitting.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start with Candice Hern?
Start with In the Thrill of the Night, the first Merry Widows book, for her most popular series. If you love classic traditional Regencies, begin with A Proper Companion, the first Regency Rakes book.
Are Candice Hern's books sweet or spicy?
It depends on the series. Her earlier traditional Regencies are sweet and witty, with sensuality rarely beyond kissing. Her Merry Widows series is warmer and sexier, closer to mainstream historical romance.
Do Candice Hern's books need to be read in order?
No — each book is a complete standalone. The Merry Widows and Regency Rakes each follow a group of friends, so those are more satisfying in order, but her standalone traditional Regencies can be read any way.