Joanna Bourne Books In Order

Publication Order of Spymasters Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Joanna Bourne

Largely focusing on historical romance novels, Joanna Bourne is well known for writing historical romance novels that really draw the reader in. An American writer, she’s highly regarded for her sense of realism and authenticity, paying close attention to detail when it comes to the period setting of the era. Combining witty humor and intelligent dialogues, she creates compelling storylines and narratives that really make the most of the form. This is something that she does exceptionally well, reaching readers from all over the world with her exciting and interesting narratives.

Drawing from her own experiences too, Joanna Bourne has travelled extensively throughout her life, as she has a wealth of experience to draw from. Constantly on the lookout for her next big idea, she’s continually looking for new and exciting subjects to write about. An extremely gifted writer, she always knows how to create an appealing atmosphere and ambiance for her audience too. Reaching readers from all over the world, her books may be set in a singular place in time, but they’re still universal in their nature.

Often taking place in England and in France, she looks at periods such as the Napoleonic Wars, using them as the backdrop to epic romance stories. Creating a series of novels too, she’s no stranger to writing ongoing stories that ensure the reader continues to come back for more. She’s also written with other authors, along with creating compelling characters that really make a strong impact upon the reader. There’s a lot more planned on the horizon too, as she’s definitely got plenty more titles set for release in the near future.

Early and Personal Life

Growing up in the United States, she’d develop a keen interest and passion in reading and writing from an early age. Building upon this over time, she would begin to find her own voice, allowing her to ultimately become the writer she wanted to be. Learning the tools of her trade, she would graduate from Goucher College, later followed by Georgetown University as well.

After this she would go on to work for the Congressional Research Service as a research analyst, living in Washington DC, before going on to teach English in Africa. Joining the State Department to serve as a Foreign Service Officer, she would live in numerous different countries, including Germany, Nigeria, England, France, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Now living in the Blue Ridge mountains in America, she continues to write to this current day, living with her family.

Writing Career

The first book that Joanna Bourne would write was titled ‘Her Ladyship’s Companion’ and this would come out back in 1983. Working as a stand-alone historical romance novel, it would set the template for what was to come in the future, as she would release another novel twenty-five years later. This would be titled ‘The Spymaster’s Lady’ coming out in 2008, which would also begin her ‘Spymaster’s Lady’ collection of books.

Following on from that in the same year, the second book in the series titled ‘My Lord and Spymaster’ would also come out in 2008. In 2010 the third book titled ‘The Forbidden Rose’ would come out, followed by ‘The Black Hawk’ in 2011, ‘Rogue Spy’ in 2014, and ‘Beauty Like the Night’ in 2017. Winning the RITA Award on numerous occasion, she’d become a hugely successful romance author, being listed as one of the best romances of 2014 in the Library Journal.

Beauty Like the Night

Originally brought out through the ‘Headline Eternal’ publishing label, this would first come out back in 2017 on the 6th of May. Marking the sixth title in the Spymasters series of books, it would continue on from the previous novels with its own story. Set in and around the French Revolution, there’s many different stories intersecting in the series, but standing on their own with their own characters.

There’s a lot of heart and humor here, as it’s definitely a story that really makes the most of its compelling premise and setting. The previous books are referred to, but it’s not completely necessary to know them all, as this is a stand-alone mystery and romance. It’s an engaging story with plenty to offer, and it always keeps the reader guessing for single step of the way.

Devoting her entire life to solving crimes in London, whilst helping those falsely accused, Severine de Cabrillac has put the spy life behind her. An orphan of the French Revolution, as well as previously a British intelligence agent, she’s now working on a case for the mysterious Spanish individual Raoul Deverney. Hoping to find his missing fourteen year old daughter, Raoul turns to Severine for assistance, and Severine reluctantly agrees to help. The only problem is that she’s initially attracted to Raoul, but she must put all that aside in order to help find the missing girl, as they both attempt to put their chemistry to one side.

Her Ladyship’s Companion

First written back in 1983 on the 28th of March, this would initially be a stand-alone title, although it would become a precursor to the later ‘Spymasters’ series of novels. First brought out through Avon Books, it would introduce readers to the writing of Joanna Bourne for the very first time. Using a historical setting once more, it would also be set around the time of the French Revolution too, drawing on many ideas that would become familiar to fans of Bourne in later years.

Taking place in Cornwall, England, this sees the ever beautiful Melissa Rivenwood leaving behind the Daughters of Gentleman and Mrs. Brody’s Seminary for an entirely new life. Becoming a companion to Lady Dorothy, it would see Melissa become embroiled in a web of passion in the remote Vinton Manor. With Giles Tarsin, her extremely handsome employer, attracted to her, along with a number of other mysterious gentleman, Melissa soon finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and lies. Then there’s Robbie, the seven-year-old future Earl of Keptford, an orphan like Melissa, who’s extremely terrified of a dark family secret that’s set to unravel.