Below is the complete list of Julie Klassen books in order. For each series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Tales from Ivy Hill Books
Publication Order of On Devonshire Shores Books
Publication Order of Standalone Books
About Julie Klassen
Julie Klassen is an American bestselling author of historical romance and inspirational fiction, best known for novels set in Regency-era England. Drawing inspiration from Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and the traditions of classic British literature, she combines romantic relationships with family secrets, social expectations, and atmospheric mysteries. Her books are distinguished by carefully researched historical settings, emotionally complex heroines, and themes of faith, forgiveness, and second chances.
Klassen graduated from the University of Illinois and spent sixteen years working in publishing before becoming a full-time novelist. Her editorial career included working at Bethany House Publishers, where she developed a detailed understanding of manuscript development, historical fiction, and the publishing industry.
Her longstanding interest in English literature influenced her decision to write historical novels. Particularly drawn to the novels of Jane Austen and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, she became fascinated by the social customs, domestic relationships, and restrictions experienced by women in nineteenth-century Britain.
Klassen’s debut novel, Lady of Milkweed Manor (2008), follows Charlotte Lamb, a young woman whose reputation is threatened after a personal mistake forces her to leave her familiar surroundings. Set partly within a London institution for unmarried mothers, the novel explores social disgrace, compassion, and the possibility of redemption.
Research has remained central to Klassen’s writing process. She has travelled to England to examine historic houses, villages, coastlines, and other locations associated with her fictional settings. These visits help her recreate the domestic routines, architecture, landscapes, and social conventions of Regency life.
Her second novel, The Apothecary’s Daughter (2008), explores the experiences of Lilly Haswell, a young woman caught between family obligations and her desire for a different future. The story reflects Klassen’s interest in women whose ambitions conflict with the expectations of their communities.
Her growing reputation was strengthened by The Silent Governess (2009), which won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The novel follows Olivia Keene, a young woman whose knowledge of a dangerous secret complicates her employment within an aristocratic household.
Klassen subsequently received the same award for The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall (2012), establishing her as a prominent figure in inspirational historical romance. The Silent Governess was also a finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award.
Her standalone novels frequently feature women facing economic uncertainty, damaged reputations, or family obligations that leave them with limited choices. The Tutor’s Daughter, The Dancing Master, and The Secret of Pembrooke Park explore these concerns through romance, mystery, and the complications of social class.
The Secret of Pembrooke Park (2014) received the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Its combination of family secrets, a mysterious estate, and romantic intrigue exemplifies Klassen’s approach to Gothic-influenced historical storytelling.
In 2016, Klassen introduced her first major interconnected series with The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill. Set in an English village, the Tales from Ivy Hill series follows several women whose personal and financial circumstances become closely connected with the fortunes of their community.
The trilogy continues with The Ladies of Ivy Cottage and The Bride of Ivy Green, while An Ivy Hill Christmas revisits the setting through a seasonal romantic story. Unlike her earlier standalone novels, these books allow supporting characters and relationships to develop across several instalments.
Klassen later launched the On Devonshire Shores series with The Sisters of Sea View (2022). Set in the coastal town of Sidmouth, the novels follow the Summers sisters as they transform their family home into a boarding house following financial difficulties.
The series continues with A Winter by the Sea and The Seaside Homecoming, while A Sea View Christmas (2025) offers a festive return to the family’s world. The coastal setting allows Klassen to explore changing family relationships, romantic expectations, and the opportunities available to women seeking greater independence.
Her recent standalone fiction includes Shadows of Swanford Abbey (2021), a romantic mystery set in a former abbey converted into a hotel, and Whispers at Painswick Court (2025), which combines village life with secrets and intrigue. The Widow of Woodlark Cottage is scheduled for publication in December 2026.
Klassen has received additional recognition through the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Her historical novels have attracted readers who appreciate traditional romance, detailed period settings, and stories in which faith forms part of the characters’ emotional development.
She lives near St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband, and they have two sons. Outside writing, her interests include travel, walking, and British period dramas.
Klassen’s fiction is distinguished by its sympathetic portrayal of women navigating restrictive social circumstances. Through carefully developed relationships and historically grounded conflicts, she explores how courage, integrity, and unexpected opportunities can transform lives shaped by convention and personal hardship.