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series Reading Order

Bad Luck Wedding Books in Order

11 Books
2 Reading orders
1996 – 2007 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

If you want to experience the McBride family’s romantic misadventures the way they were intended, we highly recommend reading the Bad Luck Wedding series in publication order. Because characters reappear, families grow, and storylines overlap across the books, following the publication timeline prevents spoilers and keeps the family connections clear.

Bad Luck Wedding Books in Publication Order

The main series consists of eight historical romance novels published between 1996 and 2007 under the pseudonym Geralyn Dawson (who also writes contemporary romance as Emily March):

  1. The Bad Luck Wedding Dress (1996) – Jenny Fortune and Trace McBride kick off the series with a cursed dress that brings unexpected love.
  2. The Bad Luck Wedding Cake (1998) – Claire Donovan and Tye McBride enter a marriage of convenience threatened by a questionable cake.
  3. Simmer All Night (1999) – Christina Delaney and Colin Campbell feature in the first book of the Bad Luck Abroad trilogy.
  4. Sizzle All Day (2000) – The second adventure in the Bad Luck Abroad trilogy.
  5. The Bad Luck Wedding Night (2001) – The final chapter in the Bad Luck Abroad trilogy.
  6. Her Bodyguard (2005) – The beginning of the McBride Sisters (Bad Luck Brides) trilogy.
  7. Her Scoundrel (2005) – The second McBride Sisters story.
  8. Her Outlaw (2007) – Emma McBride Tate's adventure wraps up the saga.

Understanding the Subseries and Spin-Offs

As the series grew, Dawson grouped certain books into distinct thematic trilogies. Depending on how you want to read, you can dive into these subseries on their own:

The Bad Luck Abroad Trilogy

This subseries shifts the setting from Fort Worth, Texas, to the grand estates and dusty trails of England and Scotland, following characters who travel across the Atlantic. It includes:

  • Simmer All Night (1999)
  • Sizzle All Day (2000)
  • The Bad Luck Wedding Night (2001)

The Bad Luck Brides (McBride Sisters) Trilogy

The final three books focus specifically on the independent, strong-willed daughters of the McBride family (originally introduced as the mischievous "McBride Menaces" in the first book). If you want to follow their grown-up romantic adventures, read these three in order:

  • Her Bodyguard (2005)
  • Her Scoundrel (2005)
  • Her Outlaw (2007)

Chronological Caveats and Reading Advice

While the publication order matches the chronological flow of the McBride family timeline, you don't strictly have to read the Bad Luck Abroad trilogy to understand the final McBride Sisters trilogy. However, starting with The Bad Luck Wedding Dress is highly recommended, as it introduces the core family relationships and the humorous superstitions that define the entire series.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Bad Luck Wedding series?

You should start with the first novel, The Bad Luck Wedding Dress (1996), which introduces the McBride family and sets up the central themes of love overcoming quirky curses.

QWho is the author behind the Bad Luck Wedding books?

The series was written by Geralyn Dawson, which is a pseudonym used by the bestselling romance author Emily March (widely known for her Eternity Springs series).

QWhat is the difference between the Bad Luck Brides and Bad Luck Abroad trilogies?

The Bad Luck Abroad trilogy follows characters traveling to England and Scotland, while the Bad Luck Brides trilogy focuses specifically on the romantic lives of the grown-up McBride sisters back in Texas and the American West.

QCan I read the McBride Sisters books as a standalone trilogy?

Yes, you can read the final three books (Her Bodyguard, Her Scoundrel, and Her Outlaw) as their own self-contained story arc, but reading the early books first gives valuable context on the sisters' childhoods.

QAre there any novellas in the Bad Luck Wedding series?

While some guides mention a novella, the core reading order consists of eight full-length historical romance novels published between 1996 and 2007.

QIs the Bad Luck Wedding series related to the Eternity Springs series?

No, they are separate series. However, both are written by the same author (Geralyn Dawson / Emily March), and she has another spin-off series called Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas which features similarly named characters but is a contemporary romance series.