The Recommended Reading Order
The Blue Sky Hills series (sometimes referred to as the Blue Sky Hill series) is best read in publication order. While each book function as a standalone novel with its own set of main characters, reading them in order allows you to appreciate the neighborhood's subtle evolution and catch recurring character cameos.
- A Month of Summer (2008)
- The Summer Kitchen (2009)
- Beyond Summer (2010)
- Dandelion Summer (2011)
Exploring the Blue Sky Hills Books
1. A Month of Summer (2008)
The series begins with Rebecca Macklin, who returns to her childhood home in Dallas to care for her father and her stepmother, Hanna Beth, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. This opening story sets the tone for the series, focusing on family reconciliation, old betrayals, and finding forgiveness in unexpected places.
2. The Summer Kitchen (2009)
In the second book, Sandra Kaye Darden is trying to sell her late uncle's home in Blue Sky Hills. Her path crosses with a young runaway named Cass Blue, leading to the creation of a neighborhood kitchen that feeds both the stomachs and souls of a struggling community.
3. Beyond Summer (2010)
The third novel shifts focus to Tam Lambert, whose family faces foreclosure, forcing her to move to Blue Sky Hills. There, she connects with Shasta Reid-Williams, a new homeowner caught in a real estate scam. Together, they find strength in friendship and community resilience.
4. Dandelion Summer (2011)
The series concludes with Epiphany Salerno, a teen hired to assist J. Norman Alvord, a widowed retiree. An unexpected road trip leads them to uncover deep-seated family secrets and build a life-altering bond.
The Tending Roses Connection
If you are a fan of Lisa Wingate's other works, you will be happy to know that the Blue Sky Hills books exist in the same shared universe as her popular Tending Roses series. Characters from Tending Roses—most notably Dell—make crossover appearances in the Blue Sky Hills novels, providing long-time readers with welcome updates on their journeys.