Western romance book series in reading order

by Jodi Thomas

Diana Palmer is the pen name of Susan Kyle, born Susan Spaeth on December 11, 1946, an American novelist publishing romance since 1979. Kyle spent sixteen years as a journalist under the name Susan Spaeth before turning to fiction, and has also written as Diana Blayne, Katy Currie and Susan Kyle, with a science fiction novel as Susan S. Kyle. The catalogue lists 199 books from 1979 to 2026, opening with titles such as Dream's End and Sweet Enemy and reaching Blaze of Glory (2026). Wyoming Men, Soldiers of Fortune, Men of Medicine Ridge and Morcai Battalion are among the series, and Long, Tall Texans is a listed grouping. Diamond Girl became a 1998 television film. Subjects name ranchers, cowboys, Texas, Wyoming and western romance.

Cowboys, ranchers and ranch life run through Linda Lael Miller's 134 catalogued books, in historical, contemporary and western romance alike. Miller's families and places include the McKettricks, the Montana Creeds, Stone Creek, Springwater Seasons, Painted Pony Creek and the Brides of Bliss County, with a Tremayne vampire sequence off to one side. Desire and Destiny (1983) is the earliest title and The Silver Hills Boarding House the newest.

Delores Fossen writes romantic suspense and Western romance, much of it set in Texas. The catalogue counts 183 books, from Unbridled (1998) and Saddled (2001) to Crossfire Creek Takedown (2026). Series include Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch, Appaloosa Pass Ranch, Sweetwater Ranch, Wrangler's Creek, Coldwater Texas, Lone Star Ridge, Last Ride, Texas, Marshals of Maverick County and several Hard Justice lines. Sheriffs, pregnant women and amnesia recur across the subjects.

Carolyn Brown, born Carolyn Louise Brown on October 22, 1948, is an American writer of romance and women's fiction. Brown has written more than 100 novels and 8 novellas and has contributed to anthologies. The catalogue holds 153 books from Love Is (1999) to The Purple Thistles (2026), with Taking Sides due in 2027. Texas, Oklahoma, cowboys and ranchers run through the subject headings, and the series include Spikes & Spurs, Longhorn Canyon, Broken Roads, Honky Tonk and Cadillac, Texas.

Cathy Gillen Thacker is an American romance novelist. The catalogue lists 153 books published from 1982 to 2025, from Island of Desire to Stand-In Texas Dad. Texas appears among the subjects, alongside cowboys, ranchers, physicians, single fathers and single mothers, and the romance is tagged as both contemporary and western. Family series under the Thacker name include McCabes of Texas, McCabe Multiples, Lockharts of Texas, Deveraux Legacy and Texas Legacies: The Carrigans.

Montana features in the names of B.J. Daniels's series, including Cahill Ranch/Montana Cahills, Buckhorn, Montana, Beartooth, Montana, Montana Hamiltons, Cardwell Ranch: Montana Legacy and the Whitehorse, Montana sets. B.J. Daniels writes romantic suspense and western romance, with 150 books catalogued from Outlawed (1995) to Calling His Bluff (2026). Colt Brothers Investigation is another series. Subject tags include cowboys, sheriffs, murders and mystery.

Maisey Yates is the author of 184 catalogued books, from His Virgin Acquisition (2010) to First Witches Club (2026), with Challenging Her Cowboy scheduled for 2027. Subject headings cover contemporary and western romance, cowboys, ranchers, Oregon, princes and princesses. Series include Gold Valley, Gold Valley Vineyards, Copper Ridge, Four Corners Ranch, Jasper Creek, Mustang River, Deacons of Bourbon Street and Once Upon a Seduction. A Mistake, a Prince and a Pregnancy (2010), The Argentine's Price (2011) and A Royal Without Mercy (2012) are early titles.

Brenda Minton writes Christian and western romance, clean and wholesome, often featuring cowboys, single mothers and Oklahoma. The catalogue counts 43 books from The Strongest Cord (2006) to A Valentine's Day Return (2024). Trusting Him (2007), His Little Cowgirl (2008), The Cowboy Next Door (2009) and The Cowboy's Courtship (2010) are among the earlier titles. Series include Cowboy, Martin's Crossing, Mercy Ranch and Bluebonnet Springs.

Marie Ferrarella is an American romance writer, born Marie Rydzynski in Germany on 28 March 1948. Ferrarella has also written as Marie Nicole, Marie Michael and Marie Charles, and the novels have been translated into at least seven languages. The catalogue lists 328 books from 1983 to 2024, beginning with Scenes from the Heart, issued as Marie Charles. Series include Cavanaugh Justice, Matchmaking Mamas, Forever Texas, Baby of the Month Club and ChildFinders, Inc. Subjects include contemporary, western and suspense romance, police, physicians, single fathers and single mothers. Cavanaugh Justice: Cold Case Squad (2024) is the newest title.

Donna Alward is a romance novelist who writes for Harlequin's Romance line. Alward earned an Arts degree in English Literature in 1994, finished a first full-length novel in 2001 and sold a first manuscript in 2006. That debut, Hired by the Cowboy (2006), took the 2008 Booksellers Best Award for Best Traditional Romance. The catalogue lists 82 books through 2025, with subjects including western, contemporary and billionaire romance, ranchers, cowboys, single fathers and Maine. Series include Cadence Creek Cowboys, Jewell Cove, Darling, VT, Crooked Valley Ranch and South Shore Billionaires.

Jodi Thomas is the pen name of Jodi Koumalats, an American author of historical romance born in Amarillo, Texas. Most of the novels are set in Texas, and Romance Writers of America inducted Thomas into its Hall of Fame in 2006. The catalogue records 70 books, from Beneath The Texas Sky (1988) to Silverleaf Rapids (2025). Ransom Canyon, Whispering Mountain, Texas Brothers, Wife Lottery, Honey Creek, McQuillen and Someday Valley are among the Thomas series. Ranch life, women pioneers and western romance appear in the subject tags.

Barb Han writes romantic suspense, with catalogue subjects spanning western romance, police and law enforcement, kidnapping, witnesses, ranchers and Texas. The catalogue counts 113 books, opening with Seducing Avery (2012) and reaching Betrayal at Close Range (2026). Ambush at Close Range is scheduled for 2027. Han's series include Texas Firebrand, Don't Mess With Texas Cowboys, Cowboys of Cattle Cove, Rescue Ridge, Cattlemen Crime Club, Marshals of Mesa Point and Ree and Quint.

Montana Heat, McBrides, Wild Rose Ranch, Wyoming Wilde and Dark Horse Dive Bar are romance series catalogued under Jennifer Ryan, whose subject headings name Montana, ranchers, cowboys, western romance and romantic suspense. Chasing Morgan, Saved by the Rancher and The Right Bride date from 2013, followed by Falling for Owen (2014), The Return of Brody McBride (2014) and At Wolf Ranch (2015). She's Mine is a further series in the listing, and abused women also appear among the subjects.

Lorelei James is a romance author whose subjects cover erotic, contemporary and western romance, ranchers, cowgirls and Wyoming. The 66 catalogued books run from Dirty Deeds (2006) to Back in the Saddle (2024). Series include Rough Riders, Rough Riders Legacy, Blacktop Cowboys, Need You, Want You and Wild West Boys. Long Hard Ride (2007), Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (2007) and Cowgirl Up and Ride (2008) are among the early titles.

Sweet Savage Love (1974) opened Rosemary Rogers's career and the historical romance line the subject tags call bodice ripper. Rogers wrote 27 catalogued titles through to SAPPHIRE (2020), among them the Legend of Morgan-Challenger books, the Russian Connection and the Logan-Campbell duology. Dark romance, western settings, nobility and alpha male leads mark the subject tags. No new Rogers title has appeared since 2020.

Janet Dailey

161 books• 16 series

Janet Anne Haradon Dailey (1944-2013) was an American author of romance novels, translated into nineteen languages and sold in the hundreds of millions of copies. The Dailey catalogue holds 161 books opening with No Quarter Asked (1974), followed by state-titled entries including Savage Land: Texas (1974), Darling Jenny: Wyoming (1975) and Dangerous Masquerade: Alabama (1976). Subjects cover contemporary and historical romance, western romance, ranch life, love stories, Christmas stories and the Calder family. Series listed include the Calder Saga, New Americana, Tylers of Texas, Bannon Brothers and Christmas Tree Ranch. The listing also carries titles dated after 2013, running to Kill for a Million (2026).

Ranchers, frontier life and women pioneers recur in the subjects of Joan Johnston's books, which cover historical, western and contemporary romance. Johnston, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, is an American romance author. The catalogue lists 68 Johnston books between A Loving Defiance (1985) and Winter Magic (2020), and the run is marked as likely complete. Series include Hawk's Way, Bitter Creek, Benedict Brothers, Captive Hearts, Sisters of the Lone Star and Frontier Brides.

Linda Ford writes Christian historical romance, and the catalogue counts 125 books from The Heart Seeks a Home (2000) to Christmas in Golden Valley (2026). Cowboys, ranchers, widows, orphans and Montana are among the recorded subjects. Series include Big Sky Country, Glory, Montana, Montana Mail-Order Brides, Stagecoach to Golden Valley, Wagon Train Romance, Cowboys of Eden Valley and Dakota Brides. Early titles include Crane's Bride (2001) and Darcy's Inheritance (2007).

Christine Rimmer, born January 28 in California, is a USA Today and Waldenbooks bestselling American romance novelist who began publishing novels in 1987. Rimmer has also placed poems and short stories in small literary journals. The catalogue counts 130 books, from The Road Home (1987) to The Maverick's Homecoming (2026). Several series carry the Bravo name, including Bravo Family, Bravos of Valentine Bay, Bravo Royales and Bravos of Justice Creek, alongside the Jones Gang, Viking Brides and Wild Rose Sisters. Contemporary and western romance, single parents, pregnancy and small-town life are recorded subjects.

Kaki Warner writes historical western romance, set on ranches and in the towns around them across Colorado and Texas. Three series carry the work: Blood Rose, opening with Pieces of Sky (2009), then Heroes of Heartbreak Creek and the Brides of Rough Creek Texas. Thirteen titles close with Home to Texas (2021), and the catalogue is dormant.

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.

Cassie Edwards wrote historical romance set on the American frontier. Her 117 catalogued titles open with four books in 1982, Rapture's Rendezvous among them, and are organised into long runs: Savage, Savage Secrets, Wild Tribes, Wild Arizona, Chippewa and the Dreamcatcher Indian novels. Native American subjects, Ojibwa settings and women pioneers recur throughout. Edwards published with Dorchester, Signet, Kensington and Harlequin, and her output stopped after it emerged that she had extensively plagiarised other writers. The catalogue records titles through 2015.

Nicole Helm writes romantic suspense and western romance, with subjects covering law enforcement, cowboys, ranchers, Montana and Colorado. The catalogue holds 75 books from Flight Risk (2013) to Eyewitness in Danger (2026). Series include Hudson Sibling Solutions, Badlands Cops, North Star Novel, Covert Cowboy Soldiers, Bent County Protectors, Big Sky Cowboys and Navy SEAL Cowboys. Early titles include Too Close to Resist (2014), Bride by Mistake (2015) and Keep Me, Cowboy (2015).

Historical western romance is Rosanne Bittner's field, set on the American frontier among pioneers, outlaws and the Indians of North America, the Dakota among them. Savage Destiny, Blue Hawk Saga, Westward America, Outlaw Trail and the Arizona Saga carry the longer stories. Sixty-eight books run from Sweet Prairie Passion (1983) to Shadow Trail (2023), several of the early ones published as F. Rosanne Bittner.