Romance, clean & wholesome book series in reading order

by Linda Warren

Amish settings run through Vannetta Chapman's catalogue: the recorded subjects name the Amish, Amish and Mennonite life, clergy, Christian romance, Christian suspense and mystery and detective fiction. 69 books are listed, from A Simple Amish Christmas (2010) to The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow (2026). Indiana Amish Brides, Pebble Creek Amish, Shipshewana Amish Mystery, Amish Village Mystery and the Amish Bishop Mysteries are among the series under the Chapman name, and Chapman is still publishing.

Dana Mentink writes Christian romantic suspense, and the catalogue lists 76 books running to Raging Waters (2026). Early titles include Flashover (2008), Fog Over Finny's Nose (2008), Killer Cargo (2008) and Betrayal in the Badlands (2010). Series include Desert Justice, Security Hounds Investigations, Pacific Coast Private Eyes, Love Unleashed, Gold Country Cowboys, Roughwater Ranch Cowboys, South Dakota Badlands, Stormswept, Ice Cream Shop Mystery, Treasure Seekers and Winds of Danger. Subjects include missing persons, murder investigation and clean and wholesome romance.

Maggie K. Black has 37 catalogued books, from Killer Assignment (2013) to Uncovering Explosive Secrets (2026). Unsolved Case Files, True North Heroes, Protected Identities and True North Bodyguards are the listed series. Romantic suspense, Christian suspense, women journalists, Canada, kidnapping and blizzards appear among the subjects. Deadline (2014), Headline: Murder (2015), Kidnapped at Christmas (2016), Tactical Rescue (2016) and Rescue at Cedar Lake (2017) are other titles.

Melinda Curtis is a romance author whose books carry the subjects contemporary, small town and rural, clean and wholesome, and western romance. The catalogue lists 81 books, from Michael's Father (2003) to Winning the Bull Rider's Heart (2026). Series include Harmony Valley, Mountain Monroes, Bridesmaids, Sunshine Valley, Kissing Test, Cowboy Academy and Bennetts of Bentwood Creek. Single mothers, twins and family life also appear among the subjects. Melinda Curtis is still publishing.

Marta Perry writes Christian and inspirational romance, and Amish life and Pennsylvania appear in the subjects. The catalogue holds 82 books from A Father's Promise (1998) to The Amish Matchmakers (2025). Series include Brides of Lost Creek, the Flanagans, Brotherhood of the Raven, Caldwell Kin, Three Sisters Inn, Lowcountry Suspense, Promise Glen, River Haven and Lost Sisters of Pleasant Valley. Romantic suspense also appears in the subject tags.

Lee Tobin McClain writes Christian and clean and wholesome romance, with subject headings that also name small towns, animals, widowers, holidays and law enforcement. The catalogue lists 67 books from 2014 to 2026. His Baby Bond, A Christmas Bond, Her Reunion Bond and The Bride's Broken Bond all date from 2014, and A Brother's Bond and Engaged to the Single Mom from 2015. Series include Sacred Bond, Sacred Bond Guardians, Sacred Bond South, Rescue River, Rescue Haven, Off Season, Home to Orchard Springs, Hometown Brothers and Holiday Haven. Finally Home for Christmas (2026) is the newest.

The Amish and Christian inspirational romance appear in the subject headings for Patricia Davids, with widows, Christmas stories and Love Inspired also named. Davids was born in rural Kansas and worked as a nurse. The catalogue holds 48 books from 2006 to 2022, starting with Love Thine Enemy, Prodigal Daughter and His Bundle of Love (all 2006) and reaching Christmas on His Doorstep (2022); the listing is now dormant. Series include Brides of Amish Country, North Country Amish, Amish Bachelors, Amish of Cedar Grove, Matchmakers of Harts Haven and Mounted Color Guard.

Patricia Johns writes Christian and clean contemporary romance, with Amish and Mennonite settings, cowboys and Montana recurring in the subject tags. The catalogue holds 63 books from His Unexpected Family (2013) to Innocent Amish Target (2026). The Rancher's City Girl (2014), A Firefighter's Promise (2015) and Her Stubborn Cowboy (2016) are among the earlier titles. Series include Hope, Montana; Home to Eagle's Rest; Comfort Creek Lawmen; Montana Twins; Amish Country Matches; Butternut Amish B&B; Amish of Shepherd's Hill and Amish Chocolate Shop Brides. Western romance and small-town life are also tagged.

Gabrielle Meyer writes Christian romance, historical and contemporary, in small-town and frontier settings. Thirty-six catalogued books run from A Family Arrangement (2016) to Into a Golden Era, and To Marry a Marquess is scheduled for 2027. The American Brides Collection, the Dollar Princess books, the Little Falls Legacy and the Ladies of the Wilderness are the series lines. Minnesota and pioneer life recur as subjects.

T.I. Lowe writes contemporary Christian romance, tagged clean and wholesome, with subjects that include surfing, photographers and hope. The catalogue lists 21 books from Goodbyes and Second Chances (2014) to South of Somewhere (2026). Series include Resolutions, Bleu, Coming Home Again, Carolina Coast and Runaway Bride. Lulu's Cafe (2014), A Bleu Streak Christmas (2015) and Life Unwritten (2016) are among the titles.

Small-town romance is Annie Rains's territory. Rains has 27 catalogued books published between 2015 and 2026, opening with Welcome to Forever (2015) and reaching Hometown Home Run (2026). The Sweetwater Springs, Somerset Lake, Blushing Bay, Hero's Welcome and Love In Bloom series carry most of them. Subject headings point to clean and wholesome romance, small town and rural settings in North Carolina, friendship and holiday stories.

Shirlee McCoy writes Christian romance and inspirational romantic suspense, with subjects that include police, widows and single mothers. The catalogue lists 64 books from Still Waters (2003) to Blizzard Showdown (2021) and marks the author as dormant. Series include Heroes For Hire, Mission: Rescue, Lakeview, FBI: Special Crimes Unit, Apple Valley and Bradshaws. Die Before Nightfall (2005), Little Girl Lost (2007) and Lakeview Protector (2008) are among the titles.

Terri Reed has 60 catalogued books, from Love Comes Home (2004) to Montana Christmas Target (2026). Northern Border Patrol, McClains and Protection Specialists are the listed series. Romantic suspense, Christian romance, inspirational fiction, missing persons and witnesses appear among the subjects. A Sheltering Love (2005), Strictly Confidential (2006), Double Deception (2007), Her Christmas Protector (2007) and Double Cross (2008) are other titles.

Lenora Worth writes Christian and inspirational romance and romantic suspense, with 102 books catalogued from Carly's Song (1996) to Undercover in Amish Country (2025). Series include Men of Millbrook Lake, Amish Seasons, Pinecraft Seasons, Sunset Island, Driftwood Bay, Shadow Lake, Castles of Dallas and Brides of Blossom, Texas. Home Again (1997), The Wedding Quilt (1997), One Golden Christmas (2000) and Lacey's Retreat (2002) are among the earlier books. Texas and widows appear in the subjects.

Jo Ann Brown writes Christian romance, both historical and contemporary, with Amish and clean romance among the subject tags. The catalogue lists 42 books from 2010 to 2026. Time to Share and Secret in the Stitches date from 2010, followed by The House on Lookout Mountain (2011) and The Thousand Stories Quilt (2012). A Bride for the Baron (2014), Amish Homecoming (2015) and Family in the Making (2015) come later, and A Family for the Amish Orphans (2026) is the newest. Series include Amish Spinster Club, Green Mountain Blessings, Secrets of Bliss Valley, Amish of Lost River, Sanctuary Bay and Matchmaking Babies.

Sharon Dunn writes romantic suspense, including Christian suspense, with Montana, kidnapping victims and women detectives among the subjects. The 46 catalogued books run from Romance Rustlers and Thunderbird Thieves (2003) to Montana Ranch Crime Ring (2026). Ruby Taylor and Ginger Salinski are recurring characters. Dunn's series include Ruby Taylor Mysteries, Bargain Hunters Mystery, K-9 Unit and Texas Ranger Holidays.

Linda Warren, born Linda Pearl Siegert on 2 July 1945, is an American author of contemporary romance novels. Subject records cite Texas, western romance, romantic suspense, single mothers and police. The catalogue lists 56 books from Branded (1992) to A Texan's Christmas Baby (2021), with Swept Away (1993) and Deep in the Heart of Texas (2000) among them. Texas Rebels, Hardin Boys, Willow Creek, Texas, McCain Brothers and Belles of Texas are the listed series.

Deb Kastner writes Christian and inspirational romance, including western and contemporary stories with cowboys, single parents and Texas among the subjects. The catalogue holds 39 books from A Holiday Prayer (1998) to Bonding with the Babies (2024). Series include Cowboy Country, E-mail Order Brides, Serendipity Sweethearts and Rocky Mountain Family. Daddy's Home (1999) and Black Hills Bride (2000) are among the early titles.

Debby Giusti writes inspirational romance and suspense. Recorded subjects across the 29 catalogued books include Christian romance, the Amish, crime, murder, investigation, officers and medical research personnel. The run opens in 2007 with Countdown to Death, Nowhere To Hide and Scared to Death, and ends with Amish Blast Investigation (2023). Giusti's series are Military Investigators, Amish Protectors and Magnolia Medical, and all 29 titles are credited to Giusti alone.

Jill Elizabeth Nelson writes Christian romantic suspense. To Catch A Thief is the named series, and the catalogue opens with Reluctant Burglar (2006), Reluctant Runaway (2007) and Reluctant Smuggler (2008), with art thieves in the subjects. Nelson has 23 books, including Evidence of Murder, Witness to Murder and Betrayal on the Border, plus a writing guide, Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View (2012). Wyoming Wilderness Survival (2025) is the newest.

Contemporary romance is the recorded ground for Beth Carpenter, with subject headings for small town and rural settings, clean and wholesome romance, holiday romance, family life, animals and Alaska. The catalogue holds 21 books, from At the Turning Point (2012) to His Alaskan Christmas (2025), all credited to Carpenter alone. Choices is the series recorded under the name. Earlier titles include Last Flight from Flagstaff (2012), Detour on Route 66 (2013), Shades of Sedona (2013) and The Alaskan Catch (2017).

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.

Elizabeth Goddard writes Christian romantic suspense, with 60 books catalogued from Seasons Of Love (2007) to Deadly Currents (2026) and Where the Shadows Begin scheduled for 2027. Series include Mountain Cove, Wilderness, Inc., Oregon Outback, Coldwater Bay Intrigue, Mount Shasta Secrets, Missing in Alaska, Redwood Coast and Uncommon Justice. Subjects include clean and wholesome romance, missing persons, criminals and Alaska.

Lisa Harris is catalogued mainly for Christian romantic suspense and women-sleuth mysteries, with murder investigations and missing persons among the subjects. Series include Nikki Boyd Files, US Marshals, Southern Crimes, Fallout, Agents of Mercy, Mission Hope, Massachusetts Brides and Cozy Crumb Mystery. Listed titles include Michaela's Choice (2004), Recipe for Murder (2008) and The Truth We Seek (2025), the newest entry.