Theresa Romain Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide
Theresa Romain writes the kind of Regency romance that feels like a warm room on a cold night: witty, tender, and full of characters you would happily follow across a whole series. With more than twenty historicals to her name, she has built several tidy, connected sets — holiday romances, matchmaking schemes, treasure hunts, and racing stables. Here is every Theresa Romain series in order, with a clear place to begin.
Does order matter? Within each series, a little. Every Romain novel is a complete standalone with its own couple and happily ever after, so you can jump in anywhere. But she writes in short, linked series where side characters reappear and set up future books, so reading each set in publication order gives you the full ensemble pleasure. Below, her main series are laid out in the order she wrote them.
The Holiday Pleasures series (2011–2014)
Cozy, Christmas-adjacent Regency romances with sparkling banter and big-hearted endings. A perfect starting point, especially if you love a country house party.
- Season for Temptation (2011) — A bride-to-be realises she may be engaged to the wrong brother. Warm, funny, and the book that introduced Romain's voice.
- Season for Surrender (2012) — A wager, a snowbound house party, and a bookish heroine who refuses to be won easily. A fan favourite.
- Season for Scandal (2013) — A hasty marriage built on secrets slowly thaws into something real.
- Season for Desire (2014) — A transatlantic treasure hunt and a slow-burn romance close out the series.
The Matchmaker trilogy (2014–2015)
Three interlinked romances about scheming, second chances, and the perils of arranging other people's love lives.
- It Takes Two to Tangle (2013) — A wounded war hero and the woman who ghost-writes his love letters, only to fall for him herself.
- To Charm a Naughty Countess (2014) — A reclusive duke and a widowed countess reignite an old spark.
- Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress (2015) — A widow with a plan and the man who upends it. A witty close to the set.
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The Royal Rewards series (2015–2017)
A fresh, adventurous set centred on a hunt for stolen royal gold and the unlikely people caught up in it.
- A Gentleman's Game (2015) — A visually impaired Royal Navy lieutenant and a horse trainer's daughter cross paths in the world of racing and intrigue.
- Scandalous Ever After (2016) — A widow, a charming rogue, and a prize racehorse worth risking everything for.
The Romance of the Turf series (2016–2018)
Set in the glamorous, cutthroat world of Regency horse racing, following characters bound to the sport and to each other.
- The Sport of Baronets (2016) — A short enemies-to-lovers novella that opens the series.
- A Gentleman's Game (2015) — The racing romance that anchors this world.
- Scandalous Ever After (2016) — Friends-to-lovers among the stables.
- The Way to a Gentleman's Heart (2017) — A second-chance novella.
Where to start
For most readers, the easiest on-ramp is Season for Surrender — a snowbound house party, a slow-burn wager, and a heroine who loves books as much as you do. If you would rather begin at the very beginning of a series, start with Season for Temptation and read the Holiday Pleasures books in order. And if you love a bit of adventure with your romance, A Gentleman's Game is a bright, distinctive place to jump in.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to read Theresa Romain's books in order?
Each novel is a standalone romance, so you can start anywhere. Her books come in short linked series, so reading each series in publication order is the best way to enjoy the recurring cast, but it is never required.
What is the best Theresa Romain series to start with?
The Holiday Pleasures series, especially Season for Surrender. For adventure, try the Royal Rewards opener, A Gentleman's Game.
Are Theresa Romain's books set in the Regency?
Yes. She writes traditional Regency-set historical romance, often around a warm seasonal or ensemble hook such as a Christmas house party or Regency horse racing.