Johanna Lindsey became one of historical romance’s biggest names, writing across Regency romance, Viking romance, medieval romance, Western romance, and futuristic romance. If you’re looking for the Johanna Lindsey books in order, the easiest way to sort her bibliography is by series first, then standalones.
Her books often use big, dramatic romance setups. Some of her earlier titles include captivity, revenge, forced proximity, and very aggressive heroes, which were more common in older historical romances. If you’re new to Lindsey, it helps to know which kind of story you’re picking up before you start.
Jump to:
- Where to Start with Johanna Lindsey
- Johanna Lindsey Books by Series
- Johanna Lindsey Standalone Books
- About Johanna Lindsey
Where to Start with Johanna Lindsey
With a bibliography this large, I wouldn’t send every reader to the same starting point. It depends on what kind of romance you want.
- Start with Love Only Once if you want the Malory-Anderson family saga, which is her signature series.
- Start with Fires of Winter if you want her Viking romances.
- Start with Captive Bride if you want to read from the beginning of her career.
- Start with Warrior’s Woman if you want her futuristic sci-fi romance side.
If you already know you want a specific family or setting, use the series sections below. Lindsey’s connected books are best read in publication order because family members and earlier couples can reappear later.
Johanna Lindsey Books by Series
These are Johanna Lindsey’s connected series in publication order. Most of them follow a different couple in each book, but the family ties and recurring characters make the order worth following.
Viking Haardrad Family Books
The Viking Haardrad books follow different members of the Haardrad family. The series starts with Brenna, a Celtic woman taken by Vikings, and continues with other members of the family in later books.
- Fires of Winter (1980)
- Hearts Aflame (1987)
- Surrender My Love (1994)
Southern Books
The Southern books are a two-book historical romance series set in the American South. Some bibliography sources group these around Glorious Angel, but the order below is the simple reading order.
- Glorious Angel (1982)
- Heart of Thunder (1983)
Wyoming Books
The Wyoming books move Lindsey into Western historical romance. These books are connected through the frontier setting, family conflict, and recurring Western romance elements.
- Brave the Wild Wind (1984)
- Savage Thunder (1989)
- Angel (1992)
Malory-Anderson Family Books
The Malory-Anderson family books are Lindsey’s best-known connected series. They begin with Love Only Once and follow members of the Malory and Anderson families through Regency romance, sea travel, family drama, and plenty of rogues.
- Love Only Once (1985)
- Tender Rebel (1988)
- Gentle Rogue (1990)
- The Magic of You (1993)
- Say You Love Me (1996)
- The Present (1998)
- A Loving Scoundrel (2004)
- Captive of My Desires (2006)
- No Choice But Seduction (2008)
- That Perfect Someone (2010)
- Stormy Persuasion (2014)
- Beautiful Tempest (2017)
Straton Family Books
The Straton Family books return to the American West. The first book follows Courtney Harte and Chandos, while the second moves into the next generation.
- A Heart So Wild (1986)
- All I Need Is You (1997)
Shefford’s Knights Books
The Shefford’s Knights books are medieval historical romances. Each book follows a different couple tied to arranged marriage, power, duty, and stubborn attraction.
- Defy Not the Heart (1989)
- Joining (1999)
Ly-San-Ter Family Books
The Ly-San-Ter books are Lindsey’s futuristic romance series. They mix science fiction settings with the same bold romantic drama that runs through much of her historical work.
- Warrior’s Woman (1990)
- Keeper of the Heart (1993)
- Heart of a Warrior (2001)
Cardinia’s Royalty Books
Cardinia’s Royalty is a two-book series built around royal romance, mistaken expectations, and arranged marriage.
- Once a Princess (1991)
- You Belong to Me (1994)
Sherring Cross Books
The Sherring Cross books are Regency historical romances centered around Sherring Cross, mistaken identity, matchmaking, and second chances.
- Man of My Dreams (1992)
- Love Me Forever (1995)
- The Pursuit (2002)
Reid Family / Locke Family Books
These books follow the Reid and Locke families. The series begins with The Heir and continues with more Regency romance pairings tied to the same family circle.
- The Heir (2000)
- The Devil Who Tamed Her (2007)
- A Rogue of My Own (2009)
- Let Love Find You (2012)
Callahan-Warren Books
The Callahan-Warren books are Western romances. These are sometimes grouped as Lindsey’s Montana books, but Callahan-Warren is the usual series label in major bibliography sources.
- One Heart to Win (2013)
- Wildfire In His Arms (2015)
- Marry Me by Sundown (2018)
Johanna Lindsey Standalone Books
Johanna Lindsey also wrote many standalone romances. This list starts with her debut novel and moves through the rest of her standalone books in publication order.
- Captive Bride (1977)
- A Pirate’s Love (1978)
- Paradise Wild (1981)
- So Speaks the Heart (1983)
- A Gentle Feuding (1984)
- Tender Is the Storm (1985)
- When Love Awaits (1986)
- Secret Fire (1987)
- Silver Angel (1988)
- Prisoner of My Desire (1991)
- Until Forever (1995)
- Home for the Holidays (2000)
- A Man to Call My Own (2003)
- Marriage Most Scandalous (2005)
- When Passion Rules (2011)
- Make Me Love You (2016)
- Temptation’s Darling (2019)
About Johanna Lindsey
Johanna Lindsey was born in Germany and grew up in a military family before later settling in the United States. She began writing romance in the 1970s, and her first published novel was Captive Bride.
Her work became a major part of the historical romance boom, especially for readers who liked bold heroes, dramatic setups, family sagas, and sweeping settings. She wrote Regency romances, Viking romances, Westerns, medieval romances, and futuristic romances, which is why her bibliography has so many different entry points.
Her Malory-Anderson family books remain the most recognizable part of her catalog, but her standalone books and shorter series are also a big part of why readers kept coming back to her work for decades.
Lindsey died in 2019, the same year Temptation’s Darling was published.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more romance authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Romance Books in Order index.
One thought on “Johanna Lindsey Books in Order: Complete Book & Series List”
I would love to have Books 1&2 of Ly-San-Ter series on audible.