Jo Beverley Books In Order

Publication Order of Renfrew/Kyle Books

Publication Order of Company of Rogues Books

Publication Order of Dark Champion Books

Publication Order of Mallorens Books

Publication Order of Three Heroes Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Anthologies

Jo Beverley is a very well-known and beloved name in the historical romance world. She is one of eighteen members of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Jo has over thirty published historical romances as well as many other small pieces. Even though she has left this world, she is still in our hearts and minds every time we read one of her captivating books.

Who is Jo Beverley? Early Life
Jo Beverley, born Mary Josephine Dunn, was born on the twenty second of September in 1947, in Blackpool, England. Jo loved to write ever since she could start writing; she just never thought of it as a career until later in life. She attended an all-girls boarding school, where, at sixteen years old, she wrote her first romance in parts.

Mid Life
After boarding school, Jo got a degree in English history at Keele University in Staffordshire. She met her husband at Keele University and they got married about a year after she graduated. Her husband, Ken, was a scientist.

After graduating from Keele, she accepted a job as a youth employment officer, she worked for a couple of different employers before moving on. In 1976, Jo’s husband Ken received an offer to take a job in Canada. Since she wasn’t qualified to really work in her field in Canada, Jo decided to finally pursue her writing.

Jo and Ken moved to Montreal for a period of time, where she attended a seminar at a library. At this seminar, she met an agent that was so impressed with her work, they decided to become her agent. The Beverley family moved to Ottawa in 1984.

1985 was a busy year for Jo. This is the year that Jo became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association. Jo also completed her first novel in 1985. Even though her first novel got declined a few times, Jo never gave up. It was finally published in 1988 by Walker, and named Lord Wraybourne’s Betrothed.

Lord Wraybourne’s Betrothed became the first novel in her Lovers and Ladies series. The books in this series were published between 1988 and 1993. The only way Walker would publish her first book was if she wrote a historical regency as well. She agreed, and that is what started the Malloren series. The Malloren series is probably the most popular series Jo has written.

After battling cancer in 2012, she remained healthy and in remission. The cancer returned in 2016. On the twenty third of May in 2016, Jo Beverley passed away peacefully in a care home in Yorkshire with her husband by her side.

Books by Jo Beverley An Arranged Marriage
An Arranged Marriage was published in July of 1991. It is the first book in the Company of Rogues series. This series contains sixteen books, the last of which being published in April of 2016.

This novel follows Eleanor Chivenham, whose parents had just died. Before they passed away, her questionable brother, Lionel, convinced them to make him her guardian. With Eleanor’s inheritance untouchable until she either turns twenty-five, or marries a man that her brother agrees to, it seems she’s stuck. Although there have been many offers from her brother’s friends, who are also questionable, she has declined.

After having her reputation completely destroyed, Eleanor is forced into a quick marriage. Her new husband did not want to marry a woman with a bad reputation, but he did so in the sake of his family’s name. While also having a mistress, her new husband also begins to care for his new wife.

With adultery, among a lot of other twists, this is not your typical romance novel. There is a lot more dynamic to it. Jo Beverley went into great detail with this novel. I don’t want to ruin it for you; read it for yourself for a never ending twist.

Lord Wraybourne;s Betrothed
Lord Wraybourne’s Betrothed was originally published in 1988; it is also the first novel in the Lovers and Ladies series. The Lovers and Ladies series has seven books in total; the last book was published in 1993.

Jane has always been considered cold, and kept to herself. So, when she is getting married to a man that she knows is only marrying her for her money, she’s surprised that she develops feelings. As much as Jane tried to keep her distance and not be charmed by her new husband, she couldn’t help but be drawn to him.

The Lord didn’t appreciate everyone gossiping that he was marrying Jane for her money. He wanted to marry a woman who wasn’t like all of the others that he was used to. He wanted a faithful woman who wasn’t interested in wealth and other superficial things in life. To his surprise, Lord Wraybourne started to fall in love with his smart, funny, and passionate wife.

This book will have you in awe. With its simple, but not too basic, take on falling in love against your own intentions, you’re sure to fall in love with this novel. If you enjoy this book, continue the series!

Awards and Recognitions
Jo Beverley has won numerous awards; some of them including: The Golden Leaf, An Award of Excellence, and the National Readers’ Choice. Among those, she has also won other awards and has won the RITA five times!

She is on best seller’s lists all around the world. Many of her books have been republished and translated into many different languages. She has also received two career achievement awards from Romantic Times.

In 2000, she won the All About Romance Reader Award (top one hundred romances) for the book Devilish. Many of her books have won the All About Romance Reader Award, many in different categories. Depending on what type of romance she wrote, Jo Beverley has won an award for almost every novel she has published.

Publisher’s Weekly has said that Jo Beverley is “arguably today’s most skillful write of intelligent historical romance.”

Conclusion
Jo Beverley has definitely made her mark on this world. She is known worldwide for being an exceptional historical romance writer. Although she loved to express herself through writing her whole life, her professional career lasted from the mid-1980s to 2016. She has lived in England and Canada with her husband Ken. After battling cancer for a second time, Jo passed away with her husband by her side in May of 2016.

3 Responses to “Jo Beverley”

1. Loranne Johnston: 6 months ago

   A very sad loss when Jo Beverley left us. She had a perfect way to involve her readers in the world she wrote so brilliantly of.
   Her books improve with rereading.

   Reply
2. Meg Barber: 9 months ago

   When you get to the end, start again. You will have forgotten so much and books always have more in them than you notice first time through. That is what I am going to do! But I have a way to go yet, thank goodness.

   Reply
3. Jenny Russell: 2 years ago

   Thank you for this list!!! I’ve referred to it many times. Very helpful!!!! I’m gradually making my way through them. I’ll hate it when I’ve read them all!! Thank you!!!!

   Reply