Christian, western book series in reading order

by Janette Oke

by Al Lacy / Bill Reno

Stephen Bly has 98 books in the catalogue, published from 1981 to 2013, and the list is likely complete. Radical Discipleship (1981) is the earliest, followed by Devotions with a Difference (1982) and God's Angry Side (1982), with Crystal's Blizzard Trek (1986) among the titles that followed and When the Cowboys Come to Town (2013) the newest. Bly series include Legend of Stuart Brannon, Code of the West, Crystal Blake Adventures, Adventures of Nathan T. Riggins, Fortunes of the Black Hills, Austin-Stoner Files, Hidden West, Old California and Heroines of the Golden West. Subjects include westerns, Christian life, women pioneers and the American West.

Tracie Peterson, born 1959, writes Christian fiction, mostly historical novels carrying romance and faith themes. Peterson used the pen name Janelle Jamison early on and has written joint novels with other Christian authors; Bethany House publishes many of the titles. Several Peterson series feature Harvey Girls, the waitstaff of the Fred Harvey Company. The catalogue lists 153 books from A Kingdom Divided (1991) to Devoted to Love (2026), across series such as Heirs of Montana, Westward Chronicles, Ribbons West, Yukon Quest, Shannon Saga and Desert Roses. Peterson lives in Montana and runs Peterson Ink with husband Jim.

Mary Connealy, born 1956, is an American Christian fiction author who specialises in romantic comedy set in the cowboy era of the American West. Connealy's catalogue holds 70 books, opening with Petticoat Ranch (2006). Series include Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, Trouble in Texas, Cimarron Legacy, High Sierra Sweethearts, Brides of Hope Mountain and Wyoming Sunrise. The Heart's Most Wanted came out in 2026, and Heart of an Outlaw is listed for 2027.

Janette Oke, born Janette Steeves on 18 February 1935, is a Canadian author of inspirational fiction, often set in pioneer times with women as the lead characters. Bethany House published Love Comes Softly, the first Oke novel, in 1979. When Calls the Heart (1983) opened the Canadian West series and became the basis for a television series with the same title. The catalogue holds 79 Oke books, with The Pharisee's Wife (2025) the newest. Series include Love Comes Softly, Prairie Legacy, Women of the West, Song of Acadia and Janette Oke's Animal Friends. Subjects include women pioneers, Canada and Christian fiction.

Christian historical romance is Tamera Alexander's form, with frontier and pioneer life, Colorado settings and widows among the subjects. Rekindled (2006) opens the Fountain Creek Chronicles, and Timber Ridge Reflections follows. The Belmont Mansion, Belle Meade Plantation and Carnton series come later. Nineteen titles are catalogued, reaching In These Hills in 2026.

Gilbert Morris produced Christian historical fiction at length: 248 catalogued books between 1977 and 2014. The House of Winslow follows one family across American history; the Appomattox Saga and Bonnets & Bugles take up the Civil War; Cheney Duvall, M.D. follows a woman physician; the Seven Sleepers, Dixie Morris and Too Smart Jones series sit alongside, with children's fiction among the subjects. The catalogue opens with Race Against Time (1977), reaches Raina's Choice, and is listed as likely complete.

Al Lacy / Bill Reno is a catalogue entry holding 63 books published between 1980 and 2011. The earliest titles, such as Dead Man's Noose and Twin Colts (1980), carry the name Morgan Hill. Series include Badge, Angel of Mercy, Battles of Destiny and Journeys of the Stranger. Subjects include Christian westerns, the American Civil War, the Battle of Shiloh, nurses, frontier and pioneer life and women pioneers.

Lauraine Snelling is an American author of Christian fiction who has published since 1982. Snelling's historical series draw on Norwegian immigration and the author's own heritage. The Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame inducted Snelling in 2012 at Norsk Høstfest, and sales exceed 5 million copies. The catalogue counts 102 books, from Tragedy on the Toutle (1982) to Fair Are the Meadows (2026). Series include Golden Filly, High Hurdles, Red River of the North, Dakota Plains, Daughters of Blessing and Leah's Garden, with horses, pioneer life and North Dakota among the subjects.

Robin Lee Hatcher writes Christian and historical romance, with 103 books in the catalogue from Stormy Surrender (1983) to To Find Where She Belongs (2026). Hatcher has been a RITA Award finalist eleven times and has won it twice, and has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Series include Women of Hope, King's Meadow, Coming To America, Hart's Crossing, Sisters Of Bethlehem Springs, Where The Heart Lives and Legacy Of Faith. Subjects include frontier and pioneer life, Idaho and young women.

Women pioneers on the American frontier are Jane Kirkpatrick's subject, written as Christian historical fiction and often set in Oregon. Kinship and Courage, Tender Ties, Change and Cherish, Portraits of the Heart and Women of Cannon Beach are among her series, with non-fiction alongside. Sixty-five catalogued books run from Homestead (1991) to With the Enduring Tides in 2026.

Stephanie Grace Whitson is an American writer of historical fiction who has lived in Nebraska since 1975 and took her subject from the lives of pioneer women in the West. Walks The Fire (1994) opens a catalogue of 36 books reaching 2024, and the series include Prairie Winds, Dakota Moons, Keepsake Legacies, Quilt Chronicles and Pine Ridge Portraits. Women pioneers, Dakota Indians, women missionaries, quilts and Christian historical romance recur as subjects.

Jane Peart wrote suspense, historical fiction and romance for both secular and Christian readers, and died in 2007. Before writing full time, Peart attended college in New England and worked as an airline attendant. Brides of Montclair heads the series list, with Westward Dreams, American Quilt, Orphan Train West and Edgecliffe Manor completing five recorded lines. Plantation life and Virginia appear in the subject record alongside orphans, women pioneers and Christian life. The catalogue holds 51 titles dated 1980 to 2004, averaging 230 pages.

Linda Chaikin, born 1943, writes Christian historical fiction and sometimes publishes as L. L. Chaikin. Recovery of the Lost Sword (1990) opens a catalogue of 38 books that closes with Jewel of the Pacific in 2013. Nine series divide it, including Dawn of Hawaii, Heart of India, Royal Pavilions, the Egypt Trilogy, Trade Winds and Silk House. The Crusades, pirates, the Second World War and frontier pioneer life supply the historical settings, and the 1990s were Chaikin's peak decade.