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Bridgewater Ménage Books in Order

12 Books
2015 – 2019 Published
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How to Read the Bridgewater Ménage Series

Vanessa Vale’s Bridgewater Ménage series is set in the historical Montana Territory during the late 19th century. The books follow ex-soldiers from the same army regiment who practice an unconventional style of marriage, where two (or sometimes three) devoted cowboys share and cherish one bride. While each book focuses on a different romance and can technically be read as a standalone, the recurring characters, town dynamics, and overarching relationships make reading them in order highly rewarding.

Recommended Starting Point

For the best reading experience, you have two options depending on your preference for timeline consistency:

  • Start with Book 1 (Their Kidnapped Bride): This is the recommended route. Starting with the first published novel allows you to learn about the town’s unique marriage customs and the background of the ex-soldiers alongside the main characters.
  • Start with the Prequel (Their Runaway Bride): Published later as Book 0.5, this novella serves as a prequel. Reading this first gives you the earliest chronological event in the series, but starting with Book 1 remains the most popular choice among fans.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

The series is largely chronological, with the exception of the prequel novella. Here is the full breakdown of how to read the books in order of their release:

  1. Their Kidnapped Bride (2015)
  2. Their Wayward Bride (2015)
  3. Their Captivated Bride (2015)
  4. Their Treasured Bride (2015)
  5. Their Christmas Bride (2015)
  6. Their Reluctant Bride (2016)
  7. Their Conquered Bride (2016)
  8. Their Stolen Bride (2016)
  9. Their Brazen Bride (2016)
  10. Their Runaway Bride (2017) — Note: Chronologically, this is Book 0.5.
  11. Their Rebellious Bride (2019)
  12. Their Reckless Bride (2019)

Spinoffs and the Wider Bridgewater Universe

If you cannot get enough of the Bridgewater world, Vanessa Vale has expanded this universe with several spinoff series:

  • Bridgewater County: A contemporary romance spinoff set in modern-day Bridgewater. It features the descendants of the original characters and brings the town’s hot menage traditions into the modern era, starting with Ride Me Dirty.
  • Bridgewater Brides World: An umbrella universe that includes other interconnected series, such as the Lenox Ranch Cowboys series, which overlap with the characters and locations established here.

Frequently Asked

QDo I need to read the Bridgewater Ménage books in order?

While each book features a standalone romance with a happy ending, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The recurring characters, town lore, and overlapping events build a richer experience when read sequentially starting with Their Kidnapped Bride.

QWhat is the chronological order of the Bridgewater Ménage series?

Chronologically, the series begins with the prequel novella Their Runaway Bride (Book 0.5), followed by Their Kidnapped Bride (Book 1), and then proceeds in publication order through to Their Reckless Bride (Book 12).

QWhere is the Bridgewater Ménage series set?

The series is set in the fictional frontier town of Bridgewater, Montana, during the late 19th century (specifically the 1880s).

QHow does the contemporary Bridgewater County series relate?

Bridgewater County is a modern-day spinoff of the historical Bridgewater Ménage series. It takes place in the same fictional Montana location but features contemporary cowboys and modern polyamorous relationships.

QWhat is the relationship dynamic in these books?

The series focuses on polyamorous M-F-M (Male-Female-Male) and occasionally M-F-M-M relationships, inspired by a custom adopted by ex-soldiers in the story, where one bride is loved and protected by multiple husbands.

QWho is the author of the Bridgewater Ménage series?

The series is written by Vanessa Vale, a USA Today bestselling author known for her steamy historical and contemporary western romances.