If you’ve ever picked up a Regency romance and felt like the hero was a little too "perfect" or the heroine was a bit too "damsel-y," you probably haven't met Loretta Chase. Honestly, she’s the gold standard. She writes characters who are messy, brilliant, and often incredibly stubborn. But if you’re trying to figure out the Loretta Chase books in order, it can get a little tricky.
She doesn't just write one long series. Instead, she’s built this sprawling, interconnected universe where a side character from a book written in 1992 might suddenly pop up as a father figure in a book from 2010. It’s glorious. It’s also confusing if you don't have a map.
The Scoundrels Series: Where Most People Start
Look, we have to talk about Lord of Scoundrels. It’s basically the law of romance reading. Even though it’s technically the third book in the Scoundrels series, most people read it first. Sebastian Ballister, the Marquess of Dain, is the ultimate "ugly-hot" hero with a nose that’s been broken too many times and a temper to match.
But if you want to be a completionist, you should really start from the beginning. The world-building is subtle but worth it.
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- The Lion’s Daughter (1992): This one is wild. It’s got Albania, bandits, and a very tough heroine named Esme.
- Captives of the Night (1994): Focuses on Leila and the enigmatic Comte d'Esmond. It’s darker and more atmospheric than her later stuff.
- Lord of Scoundrels (1995): The masterpiece. Jessica Trent is a legend for a reason.
- The Last Hellion (1998): This follows Vere Mallory. It’s big, loud, and hilarious.
- The Mad Earl’s Bride (Novella): Often tucked into anthologies like Three Weddings and a Kiss. It features a hero who thinks he’s going mad, which sounds grim, but Chase makes it work.
The Carsington Brothers: Family Chaos at Its Best
After a bit of a break, Chase came back with the Carsington family. These books are lighter than the Scoundrels but just as witty. The Earl of Hargate is trying to marry off his five sons because they are, frankly, a lot of trouble.
Miss Wonderful (2004) kicks it off with Alistair Carsington. He’s a war hero who just wants to be left alone but ends up in a canal-building dispute with a bluestocking. Then comes Mr. Impossible (2005), which is basically The Mummy (the Brendan Fraser version) but in book form. Rupert Carsington is big, gorgeous, and not nearly as dim as he pretends to be.
Lord Perfect (2006) gives us Benedict, the "perfect" son, who gets caught up in a road trip with a scandalous widow. Not Quite a Lady (2007) features Darius, and finally, Last Night’s Scandal (2010) follows the next generation—Peregrine and Olivia.
Kinda fun fact: Olivia is the daughter of the couple from Lord Perfect, and Peregrine is the nephew of the hero from Lord of Scoundrels. See? Everything is connected.
The Dressmakers Series: High Fashion and Low Morals
This is where Chase really leaned into her love of historical detail. She’s a "nerdy history girl," and it shows. This series follows the Noirot sisters—three women running a high-end London dress shop who are not above a little blackmail to get their way.
- Silk Is for Seduction (2011): Marcelline Noirot goes after the Duke of Clevedon. It’s a battle of wills.
- Scandal Wears Satin (2012): Sophy Noirot and the Earl of Longmore. He’s huge; she’s tiny and terrifyingly smart.
- Vixen in Velvet (2014): Leonie Noirot finally gets her story.
- Dukes Prefer Blondes (2015): This one features Lady Clara Fairfax (who we met as a kid in the Carsington books) and Oliver "Raven" Radford. It is a fan favorite for a reason.
The Difficult Dukes: The Newest Chapter
Most recently, Chase has been working on the Difficult Dukes. These are men who are, well, difficult. As of early 2026, the trilogy is complete.
A Duke in Shining Armor (2017) is a "runaway bride" story that is actually funny. Ten Things I Hate About the Duke (2020) is a loose Taming of the Shrew riff, but with more politics and better clothes. The latest release, My Inconvenient Duke (2025), finally tells the story of Alice and the Duke of Blackwood. People waited years for this one. Some fans found it a bit of a departure, but Chase’s signature wit is still there.
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Sorting Through the Standalones and Early Works
If you really want to go deep into the Loretta Chase books in order, you have to look at her "Traditional Regencies" from the late 80s. These are shorter and follow the older tropes of the genre, but you can see her voice developing.
- Isabella (1987)
- The English Witch (1988)
- Viscount Vagabond (1989)
- The Devil’s Delilah (1989)
- Knaves’ Wager (1990)
- The Sandalwood Princess (1990)
There’s also the Fallen Women series (Your Scandalous Ways and Don’t Tempt Me), which takes place partly in Venice. It’s very sexy, very lush, and a bit more "international intrigue" than her London ballroom scenes.
How to Actually Read Them
If you’re a newbie, don't feel pressured to start in 1987. Honestly? Start with Lord of Scoundrels. If you love it, move to The Last Hellion. Then jump to the Carsington Brothers.
The beauty of Chase’s writing is that while characters reappear, the plots are self-contained. You won't be lost if you skip around, but you’ll miss those little "aha!" moments when a familiar name pops up on the page.
What to do next:
- Check your local library: Many of her older titles are being re-released as e-books.
- Follow her blog: She often shares "nerdy history" snippets that inspired specific scenes in her books.
- Watch for the spinoffs: In her latest 2026 updates, Chase mentioned working on a spinoff from the Difficult Dukes world. Keep an eye out for news on the Duke of Doveridge or the Earl of Lynforde.
The best way to enjoy Loretta Chase is to take your time. Her prose is dense with humor and historical texture. You don't want to skim; you want to savor.