The Essex Sisters
historical romance
Series · romance
Samantha Jellicoe
The Samantha Jellicoe series by Suzanne Enoch has 6 known books (6 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Flirting with Danger (2005).
- Books
- 6 known books (6 novels)
- Published
- 6
- First published
- 2005
- Status
- completed
- Shelved under
- Romance
- Last checked
Start here: Flirting with Danger (2005) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Flirting with Danger
Flirting with Danger is the novel that opens Samantha Jellicoe, by Suzanne Enoch, first published in 2005. It's followed in the reading order by Don't Look Down, in a series of 6 books that ran from 2005 to 2018.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Flirting with Danger - Book 2:
Don't Look Down
Don't Look Down is the 2nd entry in Samantha Jellicoe, by Suzanne Enoch, published in 2005. It follows Flirting with Danger and precedes Billionaires Prefer Blondes in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Don't Look Down - Book 3:
Billionaires Prefer Blondes
Billionaires Prefer Blondes is the 3rd entry in Samantha Jellicoe, by Suzanne Enoch, published in 2006. It follows Don't Look Down and precedes Twice the Temptation in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Billionaires Prefer Blondes - Book 4:
Twice the Temptation
Twice the Temptation is the 4th entry in Samantha Jellicoe, by Suzanne Enoch, published in 2007. It follows Billionaires Prefer Blondes and precedes A Touch of Minx in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Twice the Temptation - Book 5:
A Touch of Minx
A Touch of Minx is the 5th entry in Samantha Jellicoe, by Suzanne Enoch, published in 2007. It follows Twice the Temptation and precedes Barefoot in the Dark in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Touch of Minx - Book 6:
Barefoot in the Dark
Barefoot in the Dark is the 6th entry in Samantha Jellicoe, by Suzanne Enoch, published in 2018. It follows A Touch of Minx and closes out the 6-book series, which ran from 2005 to 2018.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Barefoot in the Dark
About the Samantha Jellicoe series
Samantha Jellicoe is Suzanne Enoch's contemporary romantic-suspense series -- a sharp departure from her Regency historical romance -- following a professional jewel thief turned reluctant security consultant in Palm Beach, Florida. Flirting with Danger (2005) opens the series when Samantha rescues billionaire Richard Addison from a bombed heist and finds herself both a murder suspect and the object of his determined pursuit. Don't Look Down (2005) follows her attempt to go straight as a security consultant, derailed when her first client turns up dead. Billionaires Prefer Blondes (2006), Twice the Temptation (2007) and A Touch of Minx (2007) continued the run at a fast pace, before Barefoot in the Dark arrived over a decade later in 2018 to close out the series.
Each entry pairs a fresh heist-adjacent mystery with the ongoing relationship between Samantha and Richard, giving the series a serialized romantic arc layered on top of its standalone-mystery structure -- closer to contemporary romantic suspense than the marriage-mart plotting of Enoch's Regency work.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Samantha Jellicoe series?
Six: Flirting with Danger (2005), Don't Look Down (2005), Billionaires Prefer Blondes (2006), Twice the Temptation (2007), A Touch of Minx (2007), and Barefoot in the Dark (2018).
Is Samantha Jellicoe different from Suzanne Enoch's historical romance?
Yes -- it's a contemporary romantic-suspense series set in modern-day Palm Beach, Florida, a significant departure from the Regency historical romance that makes up most of her bibliography.
Do I need to read Samantha Jellicoe in order?
Yes -- the relationship between Samantha and billionaire Richard Addison develops across the series, so reading in publication order is recommended even though each book's mystery plot is self-contained.
Why is there such a long gap before Barefoot in the Dark?
Suzanne Enoch returned to the series in 2018, over a decade after A Touch of Minx (2007), to give Samantha and Richard's story a proper close.
Is a seventh Samantha Jellicoe book planned?
None has been announced as of August 2026; Barefoot in the Dark appears to be the series' conclusion.
If you like the Samantha Jellicoe series
Reading order last verified .