If you’re trying to read the Julie Garwood books in order, I’d start with the lists below based on what you’re actually reading. Garwood wrote standalone historical romances, several connected romance series, romantic suspense, and a couple of young adult books, so it helps to keep everything separated by series.
Her romances move from medieval Scotland and Regency England to frontier Montana and modern-day Louisiana. But the heart of her books stays pretty consistent. You’ll find family, loyalty, honor, sharp banter, and big romantic stakes running through her work.
Jump to:
- Julie Garwood Standalone Books
- Julie Garwood Books by Series
- Are Julie Garwood’s Books Connected?
- About Julie Garwood
Julie Garwood Standalone Books
The first book Julie Garwood published under her own name was Gentle Warrior. Her standalone novels are a good place to go if you want one complete story without following a connected series.
You can read these wherever you want, but I’d read them in publication order if you want to see how her historical romance style developed over time.
- Gentle Warrior (1985)
- Rebellious Desire (1986)
- Honor’s Splendour (1987)
- The Prize (1991)
- Saving Grace (1993)
- Prince Charming (1994)
Julie Garwood Books by Series
If you’re only reading one series, follow the individual lists below. Most of Garwood’s romance series follow a new main couple in each book, but the character connections are still part of the fun.
Girls of Canby Hall Book
What’s a Girl to Do? was published under the Emily Chase name, which was a shared pseudonym used by multiple authors for the Girls of Canby Hall series. I include it here for a complete Julie Garwood guide, but you can treat it as optional if you only want books published under her own name.
- What’s a Girl to Do? (1985) (as Emily Chase)
Wildfire Book
A Girl Named Summer is Julie Garwood’s contribution to the multi-author Wildfire series. The series is connected by age range and general style rather than one ongoing plot, so you don’t need to read the whole Wildfire line first.
- A Girl Named Summer (1986)
Crown’s Spies Books
The Crown’s Spies books are Regency romances with espionage, danger, and plenty of romantic tension. Each book follows a different couple, but I’d still read them in publication order because the world and character references build as you go.
- The Lion’s Lady (1988)
- Guardian Angel (1990)
- The Gift (1991)
- Castles (1993)
Lairds’ Fiancées Books
The Bride and The Wedding are medieval Scottish romances built around arranged marriage and marriage of convenience setups. They can stand on their own, but they make the most sense in this order.
- The Bride (1989)
- The Wedding (1996)
Highlands’ Lairds Books
The Highlands’ Lairds books also lean into Garwood’s medieval Scotland setting. Each book has a different couple, but the series is still best read in order.
- The Secret (1992)
- Ransom (1999)
- Shadow Music (2007)
Clayborne Brides / Rose Hill Books
The Clayborne Brides books shift Garwood’s historical romance into the American West. Start with For the Roses, since that book introduces the Clayborne family and the Blue Belle, Montana setting.
- For the Roses (1995)
- One Pink Rose (1997)
- One White Rose (1997)
- One Red Rose (1997)
- Come the Spring (1997)
The Clayborne Brides collects One Pink Rose, One White Rose, and One Red Rose in one volume. I wouldn’t count it as a separate step in the reading order, but it’s worth knowing about if you’d rather read those three novellas together.
Buchanan-Renard/MacKenna Books
The Buchanan-Renard/MacKenna books are Julie Garwood’s romantic suspense novels. Each book has its own central romance and suspense plot, but the family ties and returning characters work best when you read the series in order.
- Heartbreaker (2000)
- Mercy (2001)
- Killjoy (2002)
- Murder List (2004)
- Slow Burn (2005)
- Shadow Dance (2006)
- Fire and Ice (2008)
- Sizzle (2009)
- The Ideal Man (2011)
- Sweet Talk (2012)
- Hotshot (2013)
- Fast Track (2014)
- Wired (2017)
- Grace Under Fire (2022)
Are Julie Garwood’s Books Connected?
Some of them are. Her standalone historical romances can be read on their own, and A Girl Named Summer doesn’t require the rest of the Wildfire series.
For her main romance series, I’d stick with the order listed above. Crown’s Spies, Lairds’ Fiancées, Highlands’ Lairds, Clayborne Brides, and Buchanan-Renard/MacKenna all have shared worlds, family ties, or returning characters. The Buchanan-Renard/MacKenna books have the most crossover, so that’s the one I’d be most careful to read from the beginning.
About Julie Garwood
Julie Garwood was an American author best known for historical romance and romantic suspense. She grew up in a large Irish family in Kansas City, and storytelling was part of her life early on.
Garwood had a late start with reading because of childhood illness and long absences from school. Once she learned to read, books became a major part of her life.
She began writing while her children were in school. After her early young adult books, she moved into historical romance and became especially known for her medieval Highland romances.
Garwood later shifted into contemporary romantic suspense with Heartbreaker, the first Buchanan-Renard/MacKenna book. She continued writing both passion and danger into that series through Grace Under Fire. Julie Garwood died in 2023.
Her novel For the Roses was adapted as Rose Hill, a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie.
Looking for Similar 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 “Julie Garwood Books in Order: Series & Standalones”
I have enjoyed reading all of her books. I am sorry to hear of her passing.