Catherine Bilson Books in Order (Updated May 10, 2026)

Catherine Bilson writes historical romance under her own name, including Regency romance, Pride and Prejudice variations, and pioneer romance. She also writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Caitlyn Lynch, but this guide focuses on books published as Catherine Bilson.

Her catalogue has several separate shelves. The Pride and Prejudice variations are not one continuous timeline, while Crime and Consequences, Blushing Brides, The Bookshop Belles, and The Brides of Belle Haven each have their own order.

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The safest first book depends on what you want. Start with The Best of Relations for Austen variation, An Earl for Ellen for original Regency romance, or Malice and Misfortune for the connected Austen mystery trilogy.

Order Rules Before You Start

Read Crime and Consequences in order. It is a connected trilogy about Elizabeth and Darcy after a scandal, marriage, and murder.
Read Blushing Brides, The Bookshop Belles, and The Brides of Belle Haven in series order if you like recurring family settings.
Treat the main Pride & Prejudice Variation titles as separate “what if?” stories unless they are clearly part of a named sequence.

Collections and anthologies are optional. Check contents before buying because some collect shorter works or multi-author material.

Crime and Consequences Books in Order

This is the most important continuity-specific Catherine Bilson order. It blends Pride and Prejudice romance with Regency mystery, and the books follow Elizabeth and Darcy through connected consequences.

Malice and Misfortune (2025): Wickham retaliates against Elizabeth after she returns from Kent with the truth about him, setting off scandal, a rescue attempt, and the first murder mystery of the trilogy.
Rivalry and Ruination (2025): Newly married but still uncertain, Elizabeth and Darcy try to settle into Pemberley before Bingley, Caroline, Jane, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and another suspicious death pull them back into danger.
Intrigue and Inheritance (2025): Elizabeth and Darcy manage Anne de Bourgh, Georgiana Darcy, and Kitty Bennet during the London Season, only for poisoning and inheritance motives to threaten the household.

Reading note: Do not start with book 2 or book 3. The emotional state of Elizabeth and Darcy, Lydia’s hidden circumstances, and the murder consequences all build from Malice and Misfortune.

Pride & Prejudice Variation Books in Order

These books share Jane Austen’s characters, but they are mostly separate alternate versions of Pride and Prejudice. Publication order is the neatest way to read them.

The Best of Relations (2015): Elizabeth learns important truths about Wickham earlier, allowing her judgment of Darcy and the wider Bennet-Darcy family circle to shift before the usual ending.
Infamous Relations (2016): A darker Hunsford variation in which Elizabeth is attacked by Mr. Collins, forcing Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Charlotte, and Jane into a protective alliance around her.
Mr Bingley’s Bride (2017): A Jane-and-Bingley continuation that explores their married life at Netherfield, with Caroline’s jealousy and Jane’s new role as mistress of the estate creating the main pressure.
A Christmas Miracle at Longbourn (2018): Georgiana Darcy’s attempt to find Wickham brings Darcy to Longbourn at Christmas, where illness and forced proximity give Darcy and Elizabeth another chance to understand each other.
Grief and Grievances (2023): A Kent-set variation where an accident involving Anne de Bourgh changes Elizabeth’s view of Darcy, Charlotte, and Lady Catherine’s world.
The Second Mrs. Bennet (2024): Charlotte Lucas becomes Mr. Bennet’s second wife, changing the Bennet household’s discipline, reputation, and Elizabeth’s path toward Darcy.
A Loss at Longbourn (2024): Mr. Bennet dies after the Netherfield ball, leaving the Bennet women vulnerable to Mr. Collins and pushing Darcy into a more direct role in Elizabeth’s future.
The Meddling Matlocks (2024): The Earl and Countess of Matlock arrive in Meryton, notice the Bennet sisters, and interfere cheerfully in Darcy and Elizabeth’s stalled romance.
Possession and Prejudice (2025): A later Pride and Prejudice variation in the author’s current catalogue; read it as a standalone unless a specific edition states otherwise.
Lydia and the Colonel (2026): A newer variation focused on Lydia Bennet and a military romantic thread, best treated as separate from the main Darcy-and-Elizabeth continuities.
The Ghosts of Pemberley (scheduled for May 20, 2026): An upcoming paranormal Pride and Prejudice variation that appears to bring ghostly elements into the Pemberley setting.

Reading note: These are alternate timelines, not sequels to one another. Mr Bingley’s Bride is the clearest continuation-style title because it follows Jane and Bingley after marriage.

Blushing Brides Books in Order

Blushing Brides is original Regency romance. The books are connected by social world and family links, but individual romances can be understood on their own.

An Earl for Ellen (2019): Thomas Havers unexpectedly inherits an earldom and must choose a countess, while penniless Ellen Bentley discovers that affection may matter more than rank.
A Marquis for Marianne (2019): Widow Marianne tries to protect her independence after a painful marriage, while Alexander Rotherhithe must decide whether he can forgive the past and love her again.
A Duke for Diana (2022): Diana’s embarrassing London debut follows her to Venice, where the duke who once mocked her must learn whether she is far more than the nickname he gave her.
A Captain for Clarissa (2024): Clarissa receives her own Regency romance, continuing the Blushing Brides family sequence with a military hero and a later-stage series courtship.

Reading note: A Marquis for Marianne can stand alone, but the series reads best from An Earl for Ellen because the family relationships begin there.

The Bookshop Belles Books in Order

This series is co-written with Ebony Oaten. It follows the Baxter sisters, who manage a Regency bookshop in Hatfield while their father is away.

Estelle’s Ardent Admirer (2025): Estelle Baxter is left to run the family bookshop and protect her sisters, only for charming Felix Yates to unsettle her plans for independence.
Marie’s Merry Gentleman (2025): Marie Baxter travels through winter weather to deliver rare books, then finds herself stranded at a remote castle with a difficult but intriguing earl.
Louise’s Christmas Champion (2025): Louise Baxter manages the bookshop during the Christmas rush while a former soldier with secrets becomes her ally against family trouble and local threats.
Bernadette’s Dashing Doctor (2025): Bernadette Baxter’s herbal healing practice is challenged by a new doctor, turning professional rivalry into reluctant respect and romance.
Matthew’s Willing Widow (2025): A prequel novella about Matthew Baxter’s wartime journey in France and the second-chance romance that shapes the family before the sisters’ stories.

Reading note: For first reading, begin with Estelle’s Ardent Admirer and read the sisters in order. Read Matthew’s Willing Widow either first as a prequel or last as background.

The Brides of Belle Haven Books in Order

This series follows the adopted daughters of Belle Haven Estate. The official series description centers on young women born in scandal who refuse to be defined by it.

A Bride for Belle Haven (2024): A prequel novella in which governess Theresa Wilkes comes to Belle Haven and helps Richard Bell create an unconventional household built on acceptance and chosen family.
Good Golly, Miss Molly (2025): Molly Bell, a gifted horsewoman, works with Major Timothy Blair-Fortescue at Sandhurst and must prove that her skill matters more than her scandalous origins.
Miss Clara and the Marquess (2025): Clara Bell enters London society through her talent with horses, while a marquess’s mistaken belief about her birth keeps him from admitting his interest.
Miss Anna’s Mistake (2026): The third numbered Belle Haven romance, continuing the adopted-daughter structure with Anna’s own social and romantic complication.
Miss Eliza Takes the Reins (2026): The fourth Belle Haven book, giving Eliza her turn in a horse-centered Regency romance.

Reading note: Read A Bride for Belle Haven first if you want the family origin. Readers who prefer main-series novels can begin with Good Golly, Miss Molly.

Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge Books by Catherine Bilson

These are part of a multi-author pioneer romance series. Catherine Bilson’s entries can be read as standalones, though Returning from Rhode Island works better if you know what happened to Grant Watson in Coming from California.

Coming from California (2019): Daisy Jackson arrives in Rattlesnake Ridge as the new schoolmistress, facing prejudice, inexperience, and two very different men competing for her future.
Returning from Rhode Island (2021): Former deputy Grant Watson returns to Rattlesnake Ridge seeking redemption, only to find his new role as a banker tied to Astrid Anderssen’s desperate fight to save her ranch.

Standalone Regency and Shorter Romance

These titles sit outside the main series or are listed as novellas and short works.

Phoebe and the Pea (2020): A Regency holiday tale with a fairy-tale-style setup, best read as a light standalone.
The Captain’s Runaway Bride (2021): A short Regency romance built around flight, pursuit, and a military hero.
Kidnapping Lord Blaymire (2022): A short Regency romance in which abduction or mistaken control creates the central courtship complication.
The Wassail Wager (2023): A Christmas or festive Regency romance where a wager gives the couple their romantic turning point.
The Bride Said No (2024): A Regency romance about a bride refusing the expected path, forcing the courtship to restart on different terms.
His Darling Duchess (2024): A standalone Regency romance about Lady Aurelia Lymsey, whose polished social future is complicated by secrets, status, and a duke-centered match.
Greystone’s Legacy (2025): A contribution to the multi-author To All the Earls I’ve Loved Before project, best read as a separate Regency romance unless following that shared line.

Collections, Anthologies, and Multi-Author Projects

These are optional. They are not the best place to start unless you specifically want short stories or multi-author collections.

A Longbourn Quartet (2019): An Austenesque short-story collection, useful for readers who want compact Pride and Prejudice pieces rather than a full novel.
Weird & Wonderful Holiday Romance Anthology (2019): A multi-author holiday romance anthology with Catherine Bilson included among other writers.
12 Rogues of Christmas (2020): A multi-author omnibus of Christmas romance stories, useful as seasonal reading rather than core Bilson continuity.
Sweet Christmas Secrets (2021): A multi-author Christmas collection with one Bilson contribution among several sweet romance stories.
Sweet Secrets of Swain Cove (2022): A multi-author sweet romance collection; treat it as anthology reading, not a Catherine Bilson series entry.
Austen Tea Party (2023): A multi-author Austen-themed collection, best for readers looking for short Austenesque material.
The Regency Kidnappers’ Club (2023): A multi-author Regency project, separate from Bilson’s main series.
Christmas Courting (2023): A collection of seasonal courtship stories, best read as optional Christmas romance.
The Regent’s Menagerie: Volume 1 (2024): A multi-author Regency collection with an animal or menagerie theme, separate from her core series.

Buying note: Anthologies and omnibus editions may overlap with shorter works or include many authors. Do not count them as main novels unless you are building a complete bibliography.

Publication Order

This order is useful if you want to follow Catherine Bilson’s work from early Austen variations into original Regency, pioneer romance, and later mystery-romance series.

The Best of Relations (2015): Elizabeth learns the truth about Wickham earlier, giving Darcy a better chance before resentment hardens.
Infamous Relations (2016): A dark Hunsford variation forces Elizabeth into danger and Darcy into urgent protection.
Mr Bingley’s Bride (2017): Jane and Bingley’s marriage becomes the center of a post-canon continuation.
A Christmas Miracle at Longbourn (2018): Georgiana’s dangerous loyalty to Wickham brings Darcy and Elizabeth together at Christmas.
An Earl for Ellen (2019): The Blushing Brides series begins with an unexpected earl and an overlooked poor relation.
A Marquis for Marianne (2019): A widow and her former love confront the truth behind a painful old separation.
Coming from California (2019): Daisy Jackson begins her pioneer romance as Rattlesnake Ridge’s new schoolmistress.
A Longbourn Quartet (2019): A short-story collection for readers who want brief Austenesque variations.
Weird & Wonderful Holiday Romance Anthology (2019): A multi-author holiday anthology with a Bilson contribution.
Phoebe and the Pea (2020): A standalone Regency holiday tale with fairy-tale echoes.
12 Rogues of Christmas (2020): A multi-author Christmas romance omnibus.
The Captain’s Runaway Bride (2021): A short Regency romance about a runaway bride and a captain.
Returning from Rhode Island (2021): Grant Watson returns to Rattlesnake Ridge in a redemption-focused pioneer romance.
Sweet Christmas Secrets (2021): A multi-author sweet Christmas romance collection.
A Duke for Diana (2022): Diana’s Blushing Brides romance follows a humiliating debut and an Italian second chance.
Kidnapping Lord Blaymire (2022): A short Regency romance built around a kidnapping premise.
Sweet Secrets of Swain Cove (2022): A multi-author sweet romance anthology.
Grief and Grievances (2023): A Kent accident changes Elizabeth’s understanding of Anne de Bourgh, Darcy, and Rosings.
The Wassail Wager (2023): A festive Regency short work shaped by a wager.
Austen Tea Party (2023): A multi-author Austen-themed collection.
The Regency Kidnappers’ Club (2023): A multi-author Regency collection.
Christmas Courting (2023): A seasonal romance collection centered on courtship.
The Second Mrs. Bennet (2024): Charlotte Lucas becomes the stabilizing second wife of Mr. Bennet.
A Loss at Longbourn (2024): Mr. Bennet’s death makes Longbourn’s inheritance crisis immediate.
The Meddling Matlocks (2024): Darcy’s relatives intervene in Meryton and change the courtship landscape.
A Captain for Clarissa (2024): The fourth Blushing Brides title gives Clarissa her military romance.
A Bride for Belle Haven (2024): The Belle Haven prequel shows how the unconventional family begins.
His Darling Duchess (2024): A standalone Regency romance with a high-status heroine and a duke-centered match.
The Bride Said No (2024): A Regency romance about refusal, independence, and a changed wedding path.
The Regent’s Menagerie: Volume 1 (2024): A multi-author Regency anthology with a Bilson contribution.
Possession and Prejudice (2025): A later standalone Pride and Prejudice variation.
Malice and Misfortune (2025): The Crime and Consequences trilogy begins with Wickham, scandal, and murder.
Rivalry and Ruination (2025): The trilogy continues with newly married Darcy and Elizabeth facing another death.
Intrigue and Inheritance (2025): The trilogy concludes with poisoning, society debuts, and inheritance danger.
Estelle’s Ardent Admirer (2025): The Bookshop Belles series begins with the eldest Baxter sister and a charming gentleman.
Marie’s Merry Gentleman (2025): Marie Baxter is stranded at a castle with a brooding earl.
Louise’s Christmas Champion (2025): Louise Baxter finds a former soldier ally during the Christmas rush.
Bernadette’s Dashing Doctor (2025): Bernadette Baxter clashes with a new doctor over healing, authority, and attraction.
Matthew’s Willing Widow (2025): A Bookshop Belles prequel about Matthew Baxter’s journey through postwar France.
Good Golly, Miss Molly (2025): The first numbered Brides of Belle Haven novel sends Molly Bell into a horse-training romance at Sandhurst.
Miss Clara and the Marquess (2025): Clara Bell’s London debut and equestrian skill bring her into a misunderstanding-heavy marquess romance.
Greystone’s Legacy (2025): A standalone Regency contribution to a multi-author earl-themed project.
Lydia and the Colonel (2026): A newer Pride and Prejudice variation centered on Lydia and a military romance thread.
Miss Anna’s Mistake (2026): The third Brides of Belle Haven romance gives Anna her own mistaken-path love story.
Miss Eliza Takes the Reins (2026): The fourth Brides of Belle Haven book continues the horse-centered family romance line.
The Ghosts of Pemberley (scheduled for May 20, 2026): A paranormal Pride and Prejudice variation set around Pemberley.

Chronological Order

A single chronological order is not useful for Catherine Bilson’s full catalogue.

The Pride and Prejudice variations are alternate versions of the same Austen source. One book changes Hunsford, another changes Longbourn after the Netherfield ball, another changes Charlotte’s place in the Bennet household, and another adds mystery or paranormal elements.

Use chronology only inside connected series:

Crime and Consequences:

Malice and Misfortune (2025): Starts the connected scandal and murder arc.
Rivalry and Ruination (2025): Follows Elizabeth and Darcy after marriage.
Intrigue and Inheritance (2025): Continues into the London Season and closes the trilogy.

Blushing Brides:

An Earl for Ellen (2019): Opens the family/social setting.
A Marquis for Marianne (2019): Follows with Marianne’s second-chance romance.
A Duke for Diana (2022): Continues the family-linked romance line.
A Captain for Clarissa (2024): Completes the current numbered sequence.

The Bookshop Belles:

Matthew’s Willing Widow (2025): Chronological prequel.
Estelle’s Ardent Admirer (2025): First sister’s main story.
Marie’s Merry Gentleman (2025): Second sister’s main story.
Louise’s Christmas Champion (2025): Third sister’s main story.
Bernadette’s Dashing Doctor (2025): Fourth sister’s main story.

The Brides of Belle Haven:

A Bride for Belle Haven (2024): Prequel and family foundation.
Good Golly, Miss Molly (2025): First main romance.
Miss Clara and the Marquess (2025): Second main romance.
Miss Anna’s Mistake (2026): Third main romance.
Miss Eliza Takes the Reins (2026): Fourth main romance.

Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge:

Coming from California (2019): Introduces Daisy and Grant’s earlier role in Rattlesnake Ridge.
Returning from Rhode Island (2021): Gives Grant his redemption story.

Latest Catherine Bilson Book

As of May 10, 2026, the latest confirmed Catherine Bilson release I found is Miss Eliza Takes the Reins, listed for April 2026 as book 4 in The Brides of Belle Haven.

The next listed upcoming title is The Ghosts of Pemberley, scheduled for May 20, 2026. It is listed as a paranormal Pride and Prejudice variation.

FAQs

What Catherine Bilson book should I read first?

Start with The Best of Relations if you want Pride and Prejudice variation. Start with An Earl for Ellen if you want original Regency romance. Start with Malice and Misfortune if you want the connected Austen mystery trilogy.

Are Catherine Bilson’s Pride and Prejudice variations connected?

Most are not connected. They are separate alternate versions of Austen’s story. Crime and Consequences is the important exception because it is a connected trilogy.

What is the order of Crime and Consequences?

Read Malice and Misfortune, then Rivalry and Ruination, then Intrigue and Inheritance.

What is the order of Blushing Brides?

Read An Earl for Ellen, A Marquis for Marianne, A Duke for Diana, and A Captain for Clarissa.

What is the order of The Bookshop Belles?

Read Estelle’s Ardent Admirer, Marie’s Merry Gentleman, Louise’s Christmas Champion, Bernadette’s Dashing Doctor, and then Matthew’s Willing Widow as a prequel extra. Chronologically, the prequel comes first.

What is the order of The Brides of Belle Haven?

Read A Bride for Belle Haven, Good Golly, Miss Molly, Miss Clara and the Marquess, Miss Anna’s Mistake, and Miss Eliza Takes the Reins.

Does Catherine Bilson write under another name?

Yes. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Caitlyn Lynch. Those books are separate from this Catherine Bilson reading order.

Are the anthologies required?

No. Anthologies and collections are optional. They are best for completists or readers who want short seasonal or themed stories.

Is The Ghosts of Pemberley out?

Not yet as of May 10, 2026. It is listed as scheduled for May 20, 2026.

Conclusion

Catherine Bilson’s books are easiest to navigate when you separate Austen variations from original Regency romance and pioneer romance.

For Austen readers, begin with The Best of Relations or go straight to Malice and Misfortune if you want the connected mystery trilogy. For original Regency romance, begin with An Earl for Ellen. For bookshop-centered sweet romance, start The Bookshop Belles with Estelle’s Ardent Admirer.

The main continuity warning is simple: read Crime and Consequences in order, but treat the other Pride and Prejudice variations as separate “what if?” stories.

Frank

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Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.

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