With so many books in print, and so many having gone through republications, it may be confusing to know where to begin with reading the Susan Mallery books in order. This guide features everything Mallery has written with the original publication date as well as the best way to read her books.
There are many themes that reappear in Mallery’s writing. She loves to write about a second chance at love or an unexpected pregnancy being the catalyst for happily-ever-after. These common threads will become apparent throughout this list of all her works.
Jump to:
- Susan Mallery Standalone Books
- Standalone Books as Susan Macias
- Susan Mallery Series
- Susan Mallery Anthologies
- About Susan Mallery
Susan Mallery Standalone Books
Our list of the Susan Mallery books in order begins with her standalones. Of course, you can read these books in whichever order you choose because they are standalones, but reading the books in order of publication does have a few added perks.
With this reading order you’ll be able to see the evolution of Mallery’s career as an author as well as her trajectory from romance into women’s fiction.
- Tender Loving Care (1991)
- More Than Friends (1993)
- A Dad for Billie (1993)
- Cowboy Daddy (1994)
- Justin’s Bride (1995)
- Surrender in Silk (1997)
- The Christmas Wedding Ring (1998)
- The Millionaire Bachelor (1998)
- Sweet Success (2001)
- Lucas’s Convenient Bride (2001)
- Married for a Month (2001)
- Living on the Edge (2005)
- There’s Always Plan B (2005)
- Accidentally Yours (2007)
- Sunset Bay (2009)
- The Best of Friends (2010)
- Already Home (2011)
- Shelter in a Soldier’s Arms (2014)
- Spirit of the Wolf (2015)
- Secrets of the Tulip Sisters (2017)
- Baby, It’s Christmas (2017)
- California Girls (2019)
- The Summer of Sunshine and Margot (2019)
- The Friendship List (2020)
- The Vineyard at Painted Moon (2021)
- Before Summer Ends (2021)
- The Stepsisters (2021)
- The Summer Getaway (2022)
- The Boardwalk Bookshop (2022)
- The Sister Effect (2023)
- The Happiness Plan (June 2023)
- Summer Book Club (February 2024)
- Home with You (March 2024)
- For the Love of Summer (June 2024)
- One Big Happy Family (October 2024)
- Beach Vibes (March 2025)
- Otherwise Engaged (November 2025)
- The Bookstore Diaries (March 2026)
- Secrets of Summer (June 2026)
- Mingle All the Way (October 2026)
Standalone Books as Susan Macias
Next are a few more standalone books, however, these were published with Susan Mallery credited as Susan Macias. These books fall more within the standard romance genre and all are now out of print.
- Frontier Flame (1992)
- First Mate (1992)
- Tender Victory (1993)
- Master of the Chase (1993)
- Sweet Escape (1994)
- Fire in the Dark (1995)
- Honeysuckle Devine (1996)
- Courtney’s Cowboy (1996)
Susan Mallery Series
Fool’s Gold Books
This is Susan Mallery’s most popular series and the books for which she is the most well-known. These books take place in the small town of Fool’s Gold, California. Each book is written as a standalone with Mallery saying she wanted readers to be able to begin with whichever book they picked up first.
However, because these books take place in the same small town, the books will be interconnected with former main characters making reappearances in later books. So, if you intend to read all the books it would be best to start at the very beginning and avoid any potential spoilers.
- Chasing Perfect (2010)
- Almost Perfect (2010)
- Finding Perfect (2010)
- Only Mine (2011)
- Only Yours (2011)
- Only His (2011)
- Summer Days (2012)
- Summer Nights (2012)
- All Summer Long (2012)
- Just One Kiss (2013)
- Two of a Kind (2013)
- Three Little Words (2013)
- When We Met (2014)
- Before We Kiss (2014)
- Until We Touch (2014)
- Hold Me (2015)
- Kiss Me (2015)
- Thrill Me (2015)
- Marry Me at Christmas (2015)
- Best of My Love (2016)
Fool’s Gold Short Stories and Novellas
There are also many Fool’s Gold short stories and novellas to enjoy. These are shorter little reads which follow new or secondary characters in their pursuit of love.
- Sister of the Bride (2010)
- A Fool’s Gold Christmas (2012)
- A Christmas Bride (2012)
- Almost Summer (2012)
- Halfway There (2013)
- Christmas on 4th Street (2014)
- Yours for Christmas (2014)
- Sweeter With You (2016)
- A Kiss in the Snow (2016)
- A Fool’s Gold Wedding (2020)
Fool’s Gold Cookbook
Finally, within the Fool’s Gold universe is a cookbook. In addition to recipes from favorite characters throughout the series, Mallery has also woven in a love story between two chefs within the small town.
The cookbook includes more than 150 recipes, including how to make Denise’s Summer Berry Pie. Fans of the series will love all the in-universe references alongside the banter of two characters falling in love.
- Fool’s Gold Cookbook (2013)
Safe Haven Book
This next book dates back closer to the start of Mallery’s career and it was a Silhouette category romance. This means the book is shorter than average and it was published within a much larger series that is often connected only loosely by theme.
Tempting Faith follows an agent who is a lone wolf that doesn’t let himself get close to anyone, but then he starts to realize there are gaps in his memory. So now he must learn to trust a woman who walked on the wild side.
- Tempting Faith (1994)
Category Romance Books
These are books which were first published as category romances but have been more recently published in digital format as an e-book.
The Only Way Out is a story of revenge, vengeance, and love. Andie Cochran thought she had escaped from her ex-husband, but then he abducted the child she loved more than anything. Now she must turn to Jeff Markum for help, who was intent on his own revenge before Andie started to make him feel things he never anticipated.
- The Only Way Out (1995)
- Full-Time Father (1996)
- Lone Star Millionaire (1999)
Hometown Heartbreakers Books
Like with many romance series, the Hometown Heartbreakers books are interconnected through theme and setting, but each book follows a different love interest. The series begins in Glenwood where each male lead is a rugged bachelor who falls hard for the leading lady in their own life.
- The Best Bride (1994)
- Marriage on Demand (1995)
- Father in Training (1995)
- Part-Time Wife (1996)
- Holly and Mistletoe (1996)
- Husband by the Hour (1997)
- Good Husband Material (2002)
- Completely Smitten (2003)
- One in a Million (2003)
- Quinn’s Woman (2003)
Beth Davis Books
The first book in this series introduces Mike Blackburne and Cindy Jones. Mike is a daring bodyguard who has been sent to the suburbs to heal from injuries obtained while on the job and Cindy is helping him learn the politics of suburbia. But then sparks begin to fly and Mike begins to crave Cindy’s love and the affection from her two young kids.
Meanwhile, the second book in this loosely connected duology follows Beth Davis, a middle-aged suburban mother, and Todd Graham, a millionaire bachelor.
- The Bodyguard & Ms. Jones (1995)
- Beth and the Bachelor (1999)
36 Hours Books
This is another category romance series that Mallery contributed to alongside many other authors, including Lisa Gardner. Each book follows different characters during a 36-hour blackout in a small town and what takes place.
- The Rancher and the Runaway Bride (1997)
- Cinderella for a Night (2000)
- A Thanksgiving to Remember (2000)
Triple Trouble Books
These three romances were all published by Silhouette and feature three different couples. Each book features a love interest that must take a risk with a leap of faith for their happily-ever-after.
- The Girl of His Dreams (1997)
- The Secret Wife (1997)
- The Mysterious Stranger (1997)
Prescription: Marriage Book
This is another multi-author series from Silhouette in which each book features love blossoming within the healthcare field. Mallery contributed one book to this six-book series. It features the second-chance at love trope as Dana Rowan refuses to fall for her high school sweetheart Dr. Trevor MacAllister a second time…
- Prince Charming M.D. (1998)
Montana Mavericks Books
The next titles on our list of the Susan Mallery books in order are part of a very large multi-author series. There are also many subseries within the Montana Mavericks universe, which results in dozens of books within this setting. The main series describes itself as being about bold men and daring women in Whitehorn, Montana.
- Wild West Wife (1998)
- Cowgirl Bride (1998)
- A Montana Mavericks Christmas (1999)
- Christmas in Whitehorn (2001)
That’s My Baby Books
With a series name like That’s My Baby, it should come as no surprise that this is a category romance series that revolves all around pregnancy and parenthood.
The first of Susan Mallery’s contributions is Surprise Delivery, which is exactly what happens when Heather Fitzpatrick finds herself lurching into labor in a stalled elevator. But thankfully a tall, dark, and handsome stranger is trapped with her and he dotes on her new baby. It all sends Heather’s heart flying, even though she’s sworn off men.
Mallery’s second contribution is about a surprise pregnancy between a boss and his employee.
- Surprise Delivery (1999)
- A Little Bit Pregnant (2003)
Royally Wed Book
This is another series which has subseries, but the story at the center of these books is four royal sisters searching for their missing brother, the Crown Prince. However, along the way they each find their own Prince Charming
Susan Mallery’s contribution is the first book in this multi-author series.
- A Royal Baby on the Way (1999)
Lone Star Canyon Books
Each book in this next series features a common romance trope. The first is an unexpected pregnancy after a passionate night, while the second is forbidden romance between two feuding families and a second chance at love. The final book also plays within the second chance at love trope with an ex-wife disguising herself to woo back her former flame.
- Unexpectedly Expecting! (2000)
- The Rancher Next Door (2000)
- Wife In Disguise (2001)
Desert Rogues Books
Since the original publication of this series, these Susan Mallery books in order have since been republished with updated titles. It is the newer titles which we’ve included first below, followed by the original title.
- Desert Rogues: The Kidnapped Bride / The Sheik’s Kidnapped Bride (2000)
- Desert Rogues: The Arranged Marriage / The Sheik’s Arranged Marriage (2000)
- Desert Rogues: The Secret Bride / The Sheik’s Secret Bride (2000)
- Desert Rogues: The Runaway Princess / The Sheik and the Runaway Princess (2001)
- Desert Rogues: The Virgin Princess / The Sheik and the Virgin Princess (2002)
- Desert Rogues: The Pregnant Princess / The Prince & The Pregnant Princess (2002)
- Desert Rogues: The Princess in Waiting /The Sheik & The Princess in Waiting (2004)
- Desert Rogues: The Princess Bride / Sheik & The Princess Bride (2004)
- Desert Rogues: The Bride Who Said No / The Sheik & The Bride Who Said No (2005)
- Desert Rogues: The Virgin Secretary / The Sheik and the Virgin Secretary (2005)
- Desert Rogues: The Christmas Bride / The Sheik and the Christmas Bride (2007)
- Desert Rogues: The Pregnant Bride / The Sheik and the Pregnant Bride (2008)
- Desert Rogues: The Bought Bride / The Sheik and the Bought Bride (2009)
Related Desert Rogues Book
While this book takes place within the same universe as the other Desert Rogues books, it isn’t a part of the main series. However, it features many of the same themes and tropes.
- The Sheik’s Virgin (2009)
Marcelli Books / Marcelli Sisters of Pleasure Roads Books
Even though these books fall within the romance genre, with this series you can see Mallery begin to dip her toes into women’s fiction. Each book in this series follows a new member of the Marcelli family as they navigate love and life while living in California wine country.
An bind-up within this world has been published, A Marcelli Wedding, which includes the later two books within the series, The Marcelli Bride and The Marcelli Princess.
- The Sparkling One (2003)
- The Sassy One (2003)
- The Seductive One (2003)
- The Marcelli Bride (2006)
- The Marcelli Princess (2007)
Merlyn County Midwives Book
This is a five-book series from multiple authors with Susan Mallery writing the first book in the series. Mallery sets the scene for Merlyn County and follows the themes of this series of an unexpected pregnancy leading to everlasting love.
- Expecting! (2004)
Logan’s Legacy Books
This is another category romance series with multiple authors, but a much longer series than the previous one Susan Mallery contributed to and with two contributions by Mallery. Mother By Design is the series anthology in which Mallery’s short story was first collected.
- Lily’s Expecting (2004) (Short Story)
- To Love and Protect (2004)
- Mother By Design (2004)
Los Lobos Books
Once more a small town forms the backdrop to this series by Susan Mallery. The first two books feature a second chance at love with former crushes getting another chance to flourish, while the third book features four different journeys of love as three sisters walk their own path with romance in the lead up to their mother’s wedding.
- Someone Like You (2004)
- Falling for Gracie (2005)
- Daughters of the Bride (2016)
Positively Pregnant Books
This is another series which marks a transitional stage in the Susan Mallery books in order. The Positively Pregnant series is a romance series with classic tropes such as marriage of convenience and unexpected pregnancies. However, each of these books are loosely connected through the protagonists being friends as they each navigate their pregnancy.
- Having Her Boss’s Baby (2006)
- The Ladies’ Man (2006)
- Her Last First Date (2007)
Buchanans Books
This is another contemporary romance series which follows a cast of interconnected characters. Each book follows a new member of the Buchanan family. While they may have sworn off their chance at love, fate has different plans and they must learn to trust again.
- Delicious (2006)
- Irresistible (2006)
- Sizzling (2007)
- Tempting (2007)
The Million Dollar Catch Books
Each Nelson sister finds themselves entangled with a million-dollar catch in this series with the millionaire trope at its core. The first sister must overcome the lie of her catch pretending to be someone he’s not, the second must convince the man who rescued her that soulmates exist, and then the third must reconcile a playboy millionaire with the man she is falling for.
- The Substitute Millionaire (2006)
- The Unexpected Millionaire (2006)
- The Ultimate Millionaire (2007)
Family Business Book
This is another multi-author romance series that Mallery wrote the first novel to with Prodigal Son. There are six books in the series following a different member of the Hanson family. However, if you plan on reading all the books, you should definitely read them in order of publication.
- Prodigal Son (2006)
Millionaire of the Month Book
Mallery revisits the millionaire trope in another multi-author romance series with In Bed With The Devil. Each novel in the six-book series features a new millionaire and a tempting passionate woman. Mallery’s millionaire is Jack Howington III, whose fortune derives from an international security corporation.
Jack made a promise a decade ago, but now his best friend’s little sister isn’t so little and she’s determined to take him to bed.
- In Bed With The Devil (2007)
Bakery Sisters Books
Next is a contemporary romance series which is loosely connected to Mallery’s Fool’s Gold series. That’s because a character from these books reappears in Fool’s Gold and their story continues. Each book in this series follows a Keyes sister and the family bakery.
- Sweet Talk (2008)
- Sweet Spot (2008)
- Sweet Trouble (2008)
Man of the Month Book
This is another category romance from Susan Mallery which features fake dating in order to improve the public image of a powerful CEO. However, once Duncan Patrick meets kindergarten teacher Annie McCoy, he wants to make things a reality. This short romance takes place during the holiday season.
- High-Powered, Hot-Blooded (2009)
Lone Star Sisters Books
Mallery depicts the fictional small southern town of Titanville in this series. Each main character is a member of the Titan family except for in Hot on Her Heels, which follows a close family friend who will do anything to protect the Titan family, but then her heart gets involved.
- Wild Hearts (2009) (Prequel Short Story)
- Under Her Skin (2009)
- Lip Service (2009)
- Straight from the Hip (2009)
- Hot on Her Heels (2009)
Blackberry Island Books
This series follows the stories of four different groups of women brought together by fate, choice, or familial ties. Each book contains a heartfelt story of love, family, and friendships through the hardships and turmoil of life. While each book follows a different group of women, the best reading experience would be to read these books in order of publication to avoid any potential spoilers.
- Barefoot Season (2012)
- Three Sisters (2013)
- Evening Stars (2014)
- Sisters by Choice (2020)
Brides of Bradley House Book
Dream Wedding contains both Dream Groom and Dream Bride, which were previously published as separate books in 1999. Both books center around wedding bells and happily ever after.
- Dream Wedding (2013)
Mischief Bay Books
This next series in the list of Susan Mallery books in order shifts from romance into women’s fiction. While each book does contain a subplot concerning love and marriage, the main focus of this series are the women in each book who are close friends and each are on the brink of a new life. These books should be read in order of publication.
- The Girls of Mischief Bay (2015)
- The Friends We Keep (2016)
- A Million Little Things (2017)
- Sisters Like Us (2018)
Happily Inc. Books
The Happily Inc. books take place within the same universe as the Fool’s Gold books, but in a small town called Happily Inc., California. It is a small wedding destination town where love abounds in unlikely places if these characters are willing to take the risk.
- You Say It First (2017)
- Second Chance Girl (2017)
- A Very Merry Princess (2017) (Novella)
- Why Not Tonight (2018)
- Not Quite Over You (2018)
- Meant to Be Yours (2019)
- Happily This Christmas (2020)
- Once Upon a Holidate (October 7, 2025)
Malcolm, Callie & Kiera Book
This series is about an unlikely family who learn the strongest bonds are made through choice. Malcolm is the CEO of a family-owned food company who is learning to trust two half-sisters he’s never met. Delaney Holbrook has caught his eye and her affections will help show him how to embrace Callie and Kiera into his life.
- When We Found Home (2018)
- It Started One Christmas (2018) (Short Story)
Wishing Tree Books
The magic of Christmas is alive and twinkling in Wishing Tree, Washington, where these Susan Mallery books in order take place. The prequel novella sets the scene of this small town where love can blossom against the odds, while the subsequent full-length novels depict more in-depth love stories against a backdrop of the holiday season and family bonds.
- Say You’ll Stay (2021) (Prequel Novella)
- The Christmas Wedding Guest (2021)
- Home Sweet Christmas (2022)
Susan Mallery Anthologies
Finally, if you’re looking for a quick dose of love and happily-ever-after, Susan Mallery has also contributed to a handful of anthologies throughout her career.
- Shotgun Grooms (2000)
- More Than Words (2004)
- Summer Brides (2010)
- All For You (2014)
About Susan Mallery
Susan Mallery’s career as an author is vast. Her debut was published in the 1990s and she has written a tremendous amount since then.
Many of her earliest works were category romances, many of which have since gone out of print in physical format. However, most of these older category romances are now available in digital format as e-books following recent republications.
Mallery shifted from writing romances to writing women’s fiction, but romance still holds a fond place in her heart and her more recent novels still contain elements of romance as plotlines.
Her shift into women’s fiction features a much larger focus on female friendships and familial relationships. Even though Mallery is an only child, many of her books feature sisters and siblings because she finds the opportunity to explore that dynamic so interesting.
Collectively, Mallery has sold more than 40 million copies of her books around the world in 28 languages.
She says she was a born storyteller, but she never realized it was a possible career option until she was in college studying accounting. She signed up for a course on how to write a romance novel and before the course was complete, she knew she had found her calling.
However, Mallery was too practical to drop out, so she graduated with her degree but never worked in accounting. That’s because she published her debut novel straight out of college.
She grew up in California, which is the setting for many of her books, but now lives in Seattle.
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.