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Cover of The Ideal Wife

Brides & Wives books in order A series by Mary Balogh

The Brides & Wives series by Mary Balogh has 7 books, from The Ideal Wife (1991) to A Christmas Bride (1997). Read it in order, starting with The Ideal Wife.

Reading order: 1 The Ideal Wife (1991) · 2 A Precious Jewel (2007) · 3 Dark Angel (1994) · 4 Lord Carew's Bride (1995) · 5 The Famous Heroine (1996) · 6 The Plumed Bonnet (1996) · 7 A Christmas Bride (1997)

Updated September 2026

All 7 Brides & Wives books in order

  1. 1.

    The Ideal Wife (1991)

    254 pages★ 3.8 (5 ratings)

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  2. 2.

    A Precious Jewel (2007)

    285 pages★ 3.6 (5 ratings)

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  3. 3.

    Dark Angel (1994)

    271 pages

    Buy
  4. 4.

    Lord Carew's Bride (1995)

    223 pages★ 4.2 (5 ratings)

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  5. 5.

    The Famous Heroine (1996)

    222 pages

    Buy
  6. 6.

    The Plumed Bonnet (1996)

    224 pages★ 4.3 (6 ratings)

    Buy
  7. 7.

    A Christmas Bride (1997)

    223 pages

    Buy

Brides & Wives FAQ

How many Brides & Wives books are there?
There are 7 Brides & Wives books, as of September 2026.
What order should I read the Brides & Wives books in?
In publication order, starting with The Ideal Wife (1991): 1 The Ideal Wife (1991) · 2 A Precious Jewel (2007) · 3 Dark Angel (1994) · 4 Lord Carew's Bride (1995) · 5 The Famous Heroine (1996) · 6 The Plumed Bonnet (1996) · … all 7 below.
What is the first Brides & Wives book?
The Ideal Wife (1991).
What is the latest Brides & Wives book?
A Christmas Bride (1997).
Is the Brides & Wives series finished?
There have been no new Brides & Wives books since 1997.
Did Mary Balogh write other series?
Yes: Waite, Sullivan, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Trilogy, Mistress Trilogy and Bedwyn Saga.

More series by Mary Balogh

All Mary Balogh books

Sources: series order and dates from Wikidata and Open Library. Last updated September 2026.