Passion book series in reading order

by Maureen Child

by John F. MacArthur Jr.

Penny Jordan is one of the pen names of Penelope Halsall, born Penelope Jones, an English novelist who lived from 24 November 1946 to 31 December 2011. Halsall produced more than 200 romance novels: contemporary romance as Penny Jordan, Regency romance as Caroline Courtney and historical romance as Annie Groves, the maiden name of Halsall's mother. Melinda Wright and Lydia Hitchcock were two further pen names. Sales passed 70 million copies, with translations into many languages. The catalogue lists 210 books from 1979 to 2019, and the earliest entries, such as A Wager For Love (1979), carry the Caroline Courtney name. Series include Perfect Crightons, Jet Set Wives, Leopardi Brothers, Parenti Dynasty and Russian Rivals.

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.

Lynne Graham, born 30 July 1956 in Northern Ireland, has written more than 100 romance novels for Mills & Boon since 1987. The catalogue lists 151 books from Bittersweet Passion (1987) to King's Promised Princess (2026), with Italian's Heir Before Vows scheduled for 2027. Series include International Playboys; Virgin Brides, Arrogant Husbands; Secretly Pregnant, Conveniently Wed; and Stefanos Legacy. Billionaires, Greeks, marriage and pregnancy recur among the subjects.

Sarah Morgan writes contemporary and medical romance, with 119 books catalogued from Expectant Bride (1999) to The Best Christmas Ever (2026). Physicians, nurses, billionaires and Italians are among the recorded subjects, and early titles include The Doctor's Engagement (2001), The Midwife's Child (2001) and The Greek Tycoon's Bride (2002). Series lines include From Manhattan With Love, Lakeside Mountain Rescue, Glenmore Island Doctors, Cornish Consultants, O'Neil Brothers and Miller Sisters.

Vicki Lewis Thompson, born 11 October 1950, is an American romance novelist who has also published as Cory Kenyon and, with Mary Tate Engels, as Corey Keaton. The catalogue holds 174 books from Mingled Hearts (1984) to When a Cowboy Falls Hard (2026), including Promise Me Sunshine (1984), When Angels Dance (1985) and The Fix-It Man (1986). Sons of Chance, McGavin Brothers, NERDS, Rowdy Ranch, Thunder Mountain Brotherhood, Buckskin Brotherhood, Wild About You and Hex are among the series. Cowboys, westerns, Harlequin Blaze, paranormal romance and werewolves appear in the subjects.

Maureen Child, born in Southern California in 1951, writes romance and has published under the pen names Ann Carberry, Kathleen Kane, Sara Hart and Regan Hastings. This listing gathers 149 books dated 1992 to 2021, including titles issued under those other names. Contemporary, historical, western and erotic romance all appear in the recorded subjects, alongside billionaires, angels and California settings. Bachelor Battalion, Kings of California, Candellano Family, Marconi Sisters and Queen of the Otherworld are among the series.

Brenda Streater Jackson, born February 2, 1953, is an American author of contemporary multicultural romance. Jackson was the first African-American author published in the Silhouette Desire line, and in October 2013 became the first African American to publish a 100th novel. The site lists 154 books from Tonight And Forever (1995) to Beneath The Dawn (2026). Madaris Family & Friends, Westmoreland Legacy, Forged of Steele, Catalina Cove and Grangers are among the series. Subjects include African American women, ranchers and romantic suspense.

Stephanie Bond

130 books• 25 series

Stephanie Bond is an American author of commercial romance and mystery fiction who also publishes as Stephanie Bancroft. Irresistible? came out through Harlequin Enterprises in 1997, and Bond later gave up a corporate computer programming job to write full-time. Publishers include Harlequin, HarperCollins and Random House, and since 2011 Bond has self-published through the NeedtoRead Books imprint. The catalogue holds 130 books, opening with Love Me, Love My Bed (1996). The Body Movers series was licensed to Amazon's Kindle Worlds program in 2015, and other series include Southern Roads and the Girl books such as Temp Girl and Lottery Girl.

Carol Marinelli writes contemporary romance, including medical romance, and has 137 books in the catalogue from The Outback Nurse (2001) to Italian's Cinderella Temptation (2025). Born in England to Scottish parents, Marinelli emigrated to Australia and lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. Marinelli first tried writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon while training as a nurse in London and gathered rejections for years before studying the detailed feedback in them. Early titles include The Emergency Assignment and The Pregnant Intern (both 2002). Series include House of Kolovsky, Irresistible Russian Tycoons, Tennengarrah Clinic, Playboys of Sicily and Ruthless Royal Sheikhs.

Jane Porter's 74 catalogued books span 2001 to 2026, opening with Christos's Promise (2001) and reaching A Soldier's Promise (2026). Subjects place the work in contemporary romance and romantic suspense, with arranged marriage, princesses, kings and rulers, and single mothers among the listed themes. Series include Wyatt Brothers of Montana, Taming of the Sheenans, Galvan Brides, Desert Kings, Brennan Sisters, Bellevue Wives and Disgraced Copelands. Jane Porter is still publishing.

Lucy Monroe writes contemporary and historical romance, with Harlequin among the recorded subjects alongside billionaires, marriage, seduction, Greeks and werewolves. Ninety books are catalogued from The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress (2003) to Honorable Sins (2026). Series include Royal Brides, Princesses by Royal Decree, Children of the Moon, the Goddard Project, Syndicate Rules, the Mercenary Trilogy, the Petronides Brothers and Northern Fire.

Susan Stephens writes romance, with 85 books catalogued from The Italian Prince's Proposal (2003) to Christmas with Angel (2024). Stephens was once a professional singer and has also written several non-fiction books. Stephens met a future spouse on the Mediterranean island of Malta and has three children. Series include Acostas!, Blood and Thunder, Skavanga Diamonds, Hot Brazilian Nights!, Young, Hot & Royal and Maktabi Brothers. Subjects include contemporary romance, inheritance and succession, polo players and Italians.

Sarah Mayberry is an Australian author of contemporary romance and a television screenwriter. Mayberry has written novels for Harlequin Mills and Boon and scripts for the soap opera Neighbours, worked as a storyliner on the New Zealand medical drama Shortland Street, and co-created the teen series Karaoke High with Kirsty McKenzie. In 2015 Mayberry won Favourite Erotic Romance at the Australian Romance Readers Awards. The 48 catalogued books run from Can't Get Enough (2005) to Sweetheart (2021), and Neighbours Novellas and Carmody Brothers are among the series.

Yvonne Lindsay is a New Zealand romance novelist, born in New Zealand to Dutch immigrant parents. The catalogue lists 46 books from The Boss's Christmas Seduction (2006) to Rags to Riches Reunion (2023). Series include Master Vintners, Clashing Birthright, New Zealand Knights, Rogue Diamonds, Marriage at First Sight, Wed At Any Price and Courtesan Brides. Subjects include contemporary romance, billionaires, widows and family secrets.

Nalini Singh

124 books• 10 series

Paranormal romance is the field of Nalini Singh, a New Zealand writer of Indo-Fijian descent born in 1977. The catalogue lists 124 books from Desert Warrior (2003) to Archangel's Eternity (2026). Slave to Sensation (2006) and Caressed by Ice (2007) are early titles. Series include Guild Hunter, Psy-Changeling Trinity, Rock Kiss, Hard Play and Zulheina, with subjects such as vampires, angels, archangels and assassins.

Lori Wilde is the current pen name of Laurie Blalock Vanzura, a Texas-born American writer of contemporary romance who first published as Laura Anthony. The catalogue counts 156 books from Look Alike Bride (1997), issued as Laura Anthony, to A Perfect Christmas Night (2025). Twilight, Texas, Cupid, Texas, Kringle, Texas, Texas Rascals and Moonglow Cove are among the series. Small towns, Christmas, cowboys and Texas recur in the subject tags.

Nicola Marsh is a romance author with 109 books catalogued between 2004 and 2025. The Wedding Contract (2004) is listed as the first title, alongside The Tycoon's Dating Deal from the same year. Subjects include contemporary romance, erotic romance, businessmen, marriage and Australia. Series include Hot Sydney Nights, Bollywood Billionaires, Outer Banks Secrets, Love on Ceto Island, Bombshells and Redeeming a Bad Boy. Our Perfect Family (2025) is the newest title.

Charlene Sands writes western romance in both historical and contemporary settings, according to the catalogue subjects, which also include ranchers, cowboys and widows. The catalogue lists 59 books, from Fortune's Vengeful Groom (1999) to One Night in Texas (2021). Titles in between include Lily Gets Her Man (2001), The Heart Of A Cowboy (2003) and The Courting of Widow Shaw (2004). Series include Suite Secrets, Worths of Red Ridge, Napa Valley Vows, Forever Texan, Boone Brothers of Texas, Slades of Sunset Ranch, Moonlight Beach Bachelors and Texas Tremaines. The catalogue marks Sands as dormant.

Trish Morey is an award-winning, bestselling author for Harlequin Presents who works out stories while walking through the bushland of the Adelaide Hills. In 2002 Morey became a finalist in the short contemporary section of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest, and Mills & Boon bought the same manuscript in June 2003. The catalogue lists 48 books from The Italian's Virgin Bride (2004) to After-Hours Proposal (2025). Series include Desert Brothers, Arranged Brides, Lombardi Royals, Faradays and With Love, Cornwall. Subjects include contemporary romance, marriage, pregnancy, princesses, Greeks and widowers.

Cindi Myers writes romantic suspense and romance, with 125 books in the catalogue from Patchwork Hearts (1999) to K-9 in Pursuit (2026). Early titles published as Cynthia Sterling include A Willing Spirit (1999), Great Caesar's Ghost (2000) and A Husband by Law (2001). Myers series include Ranger Brigade, Eagle Mountain Murder Mystery, Eagle Mountain: Search and Rescue, Eagle Mountain: Critical Response, Men of Search Team Seven, Crested Butte, Titled Texans and Eureka, Colorado. Subjects include Colorado, police procedurals, law enforcement romance and missing persons.

Catherine Mann is an American author of romance fiction and a winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, with books at Berkley, Sourcebooks and Harlequin Desire. Mann holds a master's degree in theatre from UNC-Greensboro and a fine arts degree from the College of Charleston. The catalogue holds 87 books, from Grayson's Surrender (2002) to The Sweet Tea Odyssey (2026), and the 2010s are the heaviest decade. Wingman Warriors, Dark Ops, Elite Force, Alaskan Oil Barons, Top Dog Dude Ranch and Landis Brothers are among the series credited to Mann. Suspense, undercover operations and the United States Air Force appear in the subject records.

Cathy Williams, born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1957, is a British romance novelist who has written for Mills & Boon since 1990. The catalogue lists 117 books from 1991 to 2023, with Shadow Heart, A Powerful Attraction and Caribbean Desire among the 1991 titles. Tags cover contemporary romance, billionaires, seduction and pregnancy. Secrets of the Stowe Family, After Hours with the Greek and Italian Titans are the named series, and Unveiled as the Italian's Bride (2023) is the latest entry.

Joanne Rock writes contemporary and historical romance, with billionaires, knights and the Middle Ages among the subjects. The 98 catalogued books span 2002 to 2026, from Learning Curves, In Hot Pursuit and Wild and Willing in 2002 to The Last Book Club. Joanne Rock's series include Murphy Brothers, McNeill Magnates, Dynasties: Mesa Falls, Single in South Beach, Kingsland Ranch and Brooklyn Nights.

Contemporary romance is the territory of Jill Shalvis, an American novelist whose work includes the Lucky Harbor books. The catalogue records 140 books, opening with Summer of Fire in 1996 and extending to Falling into You in 2026. Heartbreaker Bay, Wildstone, Animal Magnetism, Sunrise Cove, Cedar Ridge and Sky High Air are among the series. Firefighters, bush pilots, sisters, California and Washington state appear in the subject tags, and Shalvis is still publishing.