Jane Ashford Books in Order: The Complete Regency Reading Guide
If you fell for Georgette Heyer's wit and glitter and wished someone were still writing exactly that today, meet Jane Ashford — an author who found her calling in Heyer's Regency world and has been building her own ever since. Dukes, their many sons, and the clever women who bring them to heel fill her charming series. Here is how they connect and where to begin.
Does the order matter? Not much. Every Jane Ashford novel is a complete standalone romance — one couple, one happy ending — so you can start almost anywhere. Her series each follow a connected family, so reading in publication order lets you enjoy the siblings, friends, and recurring faces developing across books. She has a long backlist, so below are her two most popular modern Regency series, in order, as the cleanest place for a new reader to dive in.
The Duke's Sons (a great starting series)
Six brothers, one formidable ducal family, and a run of love stories that show off Ashford's classic Regency charm. This is the series most new readers meet first.
- Heir to the Duke (2016) — the eldest son's story and the ideal first Jane Ashford book.
- What the Duke Doesn't Know (2016)
- Lord Sebastian's Secret (2017)
- Nothing Like a Duke (2017)
- The Duke Knows Best (2017)
- A Favor for the Prince (2020) — a later addition to the family's world.
The Way to a Lord's Heart
A connected series following a group of lords, widows, and their tangled hearts, with the same warm, witty, traditional feel. A natural next stop once the Gresham brothers have won you over.
- Brave New Earl (2018)
- A Lord Apart (2019)
- How to Cross a Marquess (2019)
- A Duke Too Far (2020)
- Earl's Well that Ends Well (2020)
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A deep backlist of standalones
Beyond these two series, Jane Ashford has been writing beloved Regency romance for decades, with dozens of connected and standalone titles — many of her earlier novels have been reissued for new readers. They all share the same DNA: Heyer-inspired wit, glittering period detail, and character-driven romance at a sweet-to-warm heat level. Because her catalogue is so large and continues to be reissued, the surest way to confirm the newest editions and any additional series is Ashford's own site — but the two series above are the friendliest front door.
Where to start
Start with Heir to the Duke. It opens The Duke's Sons, introduces the Gresham family you will happily follow for five more books, and captures Ashford's traditional, Heyer-flavoured charm from the first page. If you would rather begin with the second series, Brave New Earl launches The Way to a Lord's Heart and stands completely on its own. From either, read the series in order and enjoy watching the family grow.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to read Jane Ashford's books in order?
No. Each novel is a standalone Regency romance with its own couple and ending. Within a series the books follow a connected family, so reading in order lets you enjoy the siblings in sequence — but any book works as a first read.
Where should I start with Jane Ashford?
Heir to the Duke, the first Duke's Sons book, is a great starting point — it introduces the Gresham brothers and captures her classic, Heyer-inspired Regency voice.
What kind of Regency romance does Jane Ashford write?
Traditional Regency romance in the tradition of Georgette Heyer, whose work first drew her to the genre — wit, glittering period detail, sweet-to-warm heat, and character-driven love stories.