Francine Rivers Books in Order: Complete List of Series & Standalones

By Anna Marie CarrollChristian

Reading the Francine Rivers books in order can be a little tricky because her career has two very different sides. She began with general-market historical romance, then shifted into Christian fiction with Redeeming Love, Mark of the Lion, Marta’s Legacy, and several standalone novels.

I’d start with the Christian fiction if you’re new to her work. That’s where most readers discover her today. But I’ve included her earlier romances too, so you can see the full list by series, standalone titles, nonfiction, children’s books, and out-of-print historical romances.

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Francine Rivers Christian Fiction Standalone Books

Francine Rivers’s Christian fiction standalones include contemporary stories, historical novels, and Western romance. They don’t need to be read as a series, so publication order is the simplest way to see how this part of her career developed.

  1. Redeeming Love (1991)
  2. The Scarlet Thread (1996)
  3. The Atonement Child (1997)
  4. The Last Sin Eater (1998)
  5. Leota’s Garden (1999)
  6. And the Shofar Blew (2003)
  7. Bridge to Haven (2014)
  8. The Masterpiece (2018)
  9. The Lady’s Mine (2022)
  10. The Woman Between (2027)

Is Redeeming Love Part of a Series?

Redeeming Love is a standalone novel. You don’t need to read anything before or after it to get the full story.

That said, readers who love the California-set historical romance side of Rivers’s work may also enjoy The Lady’s Mine and The Woman Between. They share a similar Western historical feel, but they are not a formal series.

I’d still read Redeeming Love first if that’s the kind of story you’re looking for. It’s the book that introduced many readers to Rivers’s Christian fiction, and it gives you a good feel for the themes she returns to throughout her later novels.

Francine Rivers Books by Series

Mark of the Lion Books

Next is a Christian historical trilogy that takes place within the Roman Empire during the first Jewish-Roman War. The focus of the first book is Hadassah’s faith as well as her romance as a slave with the brother of her owner, Marcus, who is also a handsome aristocrat. These Francine Rivers books should be read in order of publication.

  1. A Voice in the Wind (1993)
  2. An Echo in the Darkness (1994)
  3. As Sure as the Dawn (1995)

Lineage of Grace Books

The Lineage of Grace books are slim biblical Christian fiction novellas. Each book focuses on one woman and their contribution to the lineage of Christ. It is not necessary to read these books in order of publication as each story is self-contained, but it is recommended since this follows the chronological order.

  1. Unveiled: Tamar (2000)
  2. Unashamed: Rahab (2000)
  3. Unshaken: Ruth (2001)
  4. Unspoken: Bathsheba (2001)
  5. Unafraid: Mary (2001)

Sons of Encouragement Books

Similar to the previous series in our list of the Francine Rivers books in order, this is a companion series of novellas. Each title focuses on one man this time and their contribution to the legacy of Christ. Just like the Lineage of Grace books, it is not necessary to read the Sons of Encouragement in order of publication, but it is recommended as this will match the chronology.

  1. The Priest: Aaron (2004)
  2. The Warrior: Caleb (2005)
  3. The Prince: Jonathan (2005)
  4. The Prophet: Amos (2006)
  5. The Scribe: Silas (2007)

Marta’s Legacy Books

The final series in our list of the Francine Rivers books in order is Marta’s Legacy which is a duology that spans four generations down a maternal line. Her Mother’s Hope begins near the turn of the 20th century into the Second World War while Her Daughter’s Dream continues through the 1950s into the present day. For that reason, these books should absolutely be read in order of publication.

  1. Her Mother’s Hope (2010)
  2. Her Daughter’s Dream (2010)

Francine Rivers Other Works

Francine Rivers has also written a holiday novella, The Shoe Box, as well as a collection of bible stories for children.

  1. The Shoe Box (1999)
  2. Bible Stories for Growing Kids (2007) (Out of Print)

Francine Rivers Nonfiction Books

Rivers has also collaborated on three nonfiction books with fellow Christian authors. The first two titles below are devotionals, while the third title is a more in-depth look at her novel Redeeming Love.

  1. Earth Psalms (2016) (With Karin Stock Buursma)
  2. A Path to Redeeming Love: A Forty-Day Devotional (2020) (With Karin Stock Buursma)
  3. Redeeming Love: The Companion Study (2020) (With Angela Hunt)

Francine Rivers Historical Romance Standalone Books

Francine Rivers began her career with general-market historical romance. These books are out of print, and Rivers no longer recommends them for readers coming to her through her Christian fiction. I’m still including them here because they are part of her full bibliography.

Second Chance at Love

These three early romances are usually grouped under the Second Chance at Love line. They are separate stories, so publication order is enough.

  1. Hearts Divided (1983)
  2. Heart in Hiding (1984)
  3. Pagan Heart (1985)

Other Historical Romances

  1. Kathleen (1979)
  2. Rebel in His Arms (1981)
  3. This Golden Valley (1983)
  4. Sarina (1983)
  5. Not So Wild a Dream (1985)
  6. Sycamore Hill (1985)
  7. Outlaw’s Embrace (1986)
  8. A Fire in the Heart (1987)

About Francine Rivers

Francine Rivers began writing general-market historical romance before shifting to Christian fiction. After that shift, she published Redeeming Love, a Hosea-inspired historical romance that became the book many readers still associate with her name.

From there, Rivers continued with biblical fiction, family sagas, contemporary Christian fiction, and historical standalones. Her best-known series include Mark of the Lion, Lineage of Grace, Sons of Encouragement, and Marta’s Legacy.

Rivers has also spoken openly about buying the rights to her earlier romance novels so they would not be reprinted. That’s why those books are harder to find and why I’ve kept them separate from the Christian fiction lists above.

A film adaptation of Redeeming Love was also released, starring Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis, Eric Dane, and Nina Dobrev.

Looking for similar books in order?

If you want more Christian fiction and family-saga reading-order guides like this one, start with my Christian Books index.

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