Hotelkeepers book series in reading order

by Hugh Pentecost

by Tim Myers

Hugh Pentecost is a pseudonym of Judson Pentecost Philips (August 10, 1903 to March 7, 1989), an American writer of more than 100 mystery and detective novels published as Hugh Pentecost, as Philip Owen and as Judson Philips. As Judson Philips, Philips also wrote pulp sports novels in the 1930s. The Pentecost catalogue opens with Cancelled in Red (1939) and The 24th Horse (1940). Series include Pierre Chambrun Mystery, Julian Quist Mystery, Uncle George Mystery and John Jericho Mystery, with hotelkeepers and New York among the subjects.

Cozy mystery is Tamar Myers's form, and 49 catalogued books carry her name across three series: Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery, Den of Antiquity and Amanda Brown. Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth (1993) opens the catalogue and Cousins From a Distant Sun (2026) is the newest entry. The recurring sleuths are Magdalena Yoder and Abigail Timberlake, and the books' subjects take in Mennonites, hotelkeepers, antique dealers, women detectives and cooking.

Karen MacInerney is an American novelist with several series to date. Three are cozy mysteries: one about a bed and breakfast owner on an island off Maine, one about a homesteader in rural Texas, and one about a bookseller on the Maine coast. A humorous paranormal series follows an accountant trying to ignore an inherited werewolf gene, and a comic mystery series follows a suburban mother who turns private investigator. MacInerney graduated from Plano Senior High School and Rice University and lives in Austin, Texas. The catalogue lists 44 books from Murder on the Rocks (2006) to Rigged for Murder (2026), with series including Gray Whale Inn Mystery, Dewberry Farm Mystery and Snug Harbor Mysteries.

Tim Myers writes mysteries, and the subjects name North Carolina, lighthouses, hotelkeepers and the fictional Alex Winston. The catalogue holds 109 books from Innkeeping with Murder (2001) to The Last Donut (2023). Series include Lighthouse Inn Mystery, Candlemaking Mystery, Soapmaking Mystery, Pizza Lovers, Cardmaking Mysteries and Paranormal Kids. Reservations for Murder (2002), Murder Checks Inn (2003) and At Wick's End (2004) are among the early titles.

Debbie Macomber

245 books• 35 series

Debbie Macomber, born October 22, 1948, is an American author of romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Six Macomber novels became made-for-TV movies, and the Cedar Cove novels became a television series of the same name, with Macomber serving as executive producer on the adaptations. Macomber won the first fan-voted Quill Award for romance in 2005 and holds a RITA Award and a lifetime achievement award from the Romance Writers of America. The catalogue counts 245 books between Starlight (1983) and A Date with Santa (2026). Series include Heart of Texas, Midnight Sons, Navy, Those Manning Men, Orchard Valley and Angels Everywhere.

Jayne Ann Krentz, born Jayne Castle on 28 March 1948 in Cobb, California, is an American romance novelist with New York Times bestsellers under seven pseudonyms. Three names remain in use: Krentz for contemporary romantic suspense, Amanda Quick for historical romantic suspense and Jayne Ann Castle for futuristic and paranormal romantic suspense. More than 35 million copies are in print. The catalogue lists 205 books, from Vintage of Surrender (1979, as Jayne Castle) to Enter the Nightmare (2026), with The Book Hunter due in 2027. Early titles also appeared as Jayne Bentley, Jayne Taylor and Stephanie James. Series include Burning Cove, Eclipse Bay and the Dreamlight Trilogy.

Mollie Hardwick (1916–2003), also known as Mary Atkinson, was an English author best known for the books accompanying the television series Upstairs, Downstairs. Hardwick started as a BBC radio announcer in the 1940s and worked in the BBC drama department until 1962. Other work includes Thomas & Sarah, The Duchess of Duke Street, three Juliet Bravo books and the Doran Fairweather novels. The catalogue lists 51 books from The Sherlock Holmes Companion (1962) to Come Away, Death (1995), including Charles Dickens Encyclopedia (1973).

Nora Roberts

279 books• 37 series

Nora Roberts, born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950, is an American writer of romance under that name. As J. D. Robb, Roberts writes police procedurals with science-fiction elements, and has also published as Jill March and, in the UK, as Sarah Hardesty. This listing carries 280 Roberts books, opening with Irish Thoroughbred (1981); The Missing is scheduled for 2027. Series on the page include the In Death Universe, the MacGregors, Night Tales, the Calhoun Women, the Chesapeake Bay Saga, Irish Hearts and the O'Hurleys.

Sherryl Woods is an American writer of romance and mystery, born July 23, 1944, in Arlington, Virginia, who has also used the pen names Alexandra Kirk and Suzanne Sherrill. The Chesapeake Shores novels became a six-season Hallmark Channel series, and Netflix's Sweet Magnolias is based on Woods' books, with Woods as an executive producer. The catalogue lists 157 titles from Restoring Love (1982) to Starlit Secrets (2024). Other named series include Calamity Janes, Devaney Brothers and the Amanda Roberts and Molly DeWitt mysteries.

Ilona Andrews is the pen name of a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona was born in Russia, and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army; the two met in college and live in Oregon. The pair co-authored the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series and the romantic urban fantasy of The Edge. The catalogue lists 65 books from Magic Bites (2007) to Beast Business (2026), and other series include Hidden Legacy, Innkeeper Chronicles, Iron Covenant and Grey Wolf. Magic, shapeshifting, werewolves and Atlanta feature among the subjects.

Melody Carlson, born March 2, 1956 in San Francisco, is an American author of more than 250 books for women, teens and children, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. The catalogue lists 298 books from 1995, when Contemplative Bible Reading and How to Start a Quality Childcare Business in Your Home appeared, to All Booked Up (2026). Series include Carter House Girls, On The Runway, TrueColors, 86 Bloomberg Place, Secret Life of Samantha McGregor, Beary Patch Bears and Fruit Troops. Subjects include Christian life, high schools, friendship, Bible stories and stories in rhyme. Carlson grew up in Springfield, Oregon, attended Lane Community College and lives in Sisters, Oregon.

Rochelle Alers, born August 7, 1943, is an American romance novelist who has also written as Susan James and Rena McLeary. The catalogue lists 95 books from Careless Whispers (1988) to A Maverick of Honor (2026). Subjects cover African American romance, contemporary and historical romance, widows and New Orleans. Series include Hideaway Legacy, Eatons, Wickham Falls Weddings, Cavanaugh Island, Blackstones of Virginia and Whitfield Brides. Hideaway (1995) is among the titles.

Ellen Hart writes mystery novels around two recurring sleuths, Jane Lawless and Sophie Greenway. Women detectives, Minneapolis, restaurateurs and lesbian characters are standing subjects, and culinary detail runs through the books: Hart worked as a professional chef for 14 years. The catalogue holds 35 titles published between 1989 and 2020, opening with Hallowed Murder (1989) and continuing through Vital Lies (1991), Stage Fright (1992), A Small Sacrifice (1994) and The Oldest Sin (1995). In a Midnight Wood (2020) is the last catalogued book.

Carole Mortimer, born in England in 1960, is a British romance novelist who has written more than 150 novels since 1978 and was one of the youngest authors at Mills & Boon. The catalogue lists 291 books, starting in 1979 with The Passionate Winter, Only Lover, Savage Interlude and Tempted By Desire, and reaching Linus (2026), with Amanda and the Lord scheduled for 2027. Series include Regency Unlaced, Regency Sinners, Regency Scandal, Regency Lovers, Dangerous Dukes, Ruthless Regency Dukes, Scandalous St. Claires, Knight Security, Steele Protectors, Dragon Hearts and Wynter Hearts. Subjects cover contemporary and Regency romance, nobility, marriage and businessmen.

Gina Ferris Wilkins, born Gina Vaughan on December 20, 1954, in Little Rock, Arkansas, is an American romance novelist with more than 85 novels. Wilkins publishes as Gina Ferris, Gina Wilkins and Gina Ferris Wilkins. The catalogue records 94 books starting with Hero in Disguise (1987), with Hero by Nature and Hero for the Asking following in 1988. Subjects include contemporary romance, single fathers, physicians, medical students, private investigators, twins and weddings. Series include Family Found, Southern Scandals, Doctors in Training, McClouds of Mississippi, Bride Mountain and Soldiers and Single Moms.

Eva Marie Everson writes Christian fiction and non-fiction. Catalogue subjects record Christianity, marriage, parenting, mothers and daughters, family life and Georgia. The listing holds 35 books published between 1999 and 2022, from Pinches Of Salt, Prisms Of Light (1999) to The Third Path (2022), and records three series: Shadow Of Dreams, the Potluck Club and the Potluck Catering Club. Everson holds the sole credit on all 35 titles.