Books On Board
series Reading Order

Chapel Springs Books in Order

4 Books
2013 – 2015 Published
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Reading order
01
Barefoot Summer
Barefoot Summer
2013
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02
Dancing with Fireflies
Dancing with Fireflies
2014
Amazon
03
The Wishing Season
The Wishing Season
2014
Amazon
04
Married 'til Monday
Married 'til Monday
2015
Amazon

The Recommended Reading Order

While each full-length novel in Denise Hunter's Chapel Springs series follows a different McKinley sibling and can be read as a standalone, we recommend reading them in order of publication. This allows you to best follow the overlapping family dynamics, recurring character arcs, and small-town events. To get the complete story, you should also read the companion holiday novella, A December Bride, which fits perfectly after the first book.

  1. Barefoot Summer (2013) – Follows Madison McKinley as she tries to honor her late twin brother's memory by entering a sailing regatta, needing the help of Beckett O'Reilly.
  2. A December Bride (Novella, 2013) – Focuses on Beckett's sister, Layla O'Reilly, who enters into a fake engagement with Seth Murphy to save her business, only to find real feelings developing.
  3. Dancing with Fireflies (2014) – Centers on Jade McKinley, who returns home pregnant and guarded, only to find support and romance with the town mayor, Daniel Dawson.
  4. The Wishing Season (2014) – Follows PJ McKinley, an aspiring chef competing with contractor Cole Evans over ownership of a historic house.
  5. Married 'til Monday (2015) – Concludes with Ryan McKinley and Abby, who fake a marriage for a family event, rekindling their past romance.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

The chronological order matches the publication order exactly. The main books and the companion novella were published between 2013 and 2015. In 2015, Thomas Nelson released the Chapel Springs Romance Collection omnibus, which includes all four main novels but typically excludes the companion novella, A December Bride.

The McKinley Siblings and Settings

Set in the fictional small town of Chapel Springs, Indiana, the series is anchored by the tight-knit McKinley family. Denise Hunter drew from her own Indiana roots to design this charming Midwestern riverside community. Each story explores themes of faith, forgiveness, grief, and new beginnings, offering clean Christian romance with relatable personal journeys.

Hallmark Movie Connection

The companion novella, A December Bride, was adapted into a popular Hallmark Channel original movie in 2016, starring Jessica Lowndes and Daniel Lissing, bringing the cozy atmosphere of Chapel Springs to the screen.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended reading order for the Chapel Springs series?

The best way to read the series is: Barefoot Summer, the companion novella A December Bride, Dancing with Fireflies, The Wishing Season, and finally Married 'til Monday.

QWho are the main characters of the Chapel Springs series?

The series follows the McKinley siblings (Madison, Jade, PJ, and Ryan) in the town of Chapel Springs, Indiana, along with Beckett O'Reilly and his sister Layla.

QIs A December Bride part of the Chapel Springs series?

Yes, A December Bride is a companion holiday novella set in the Chapel Springs universe. It features Layla O'Reilly, the sister of the hero from the first book, Barefoot Summer.

QIs there a Chapel Springs Hallmark movie?

Yes, the companion novella A December Bride was adapted into a Hallmark Channel movie in 2016, starring Jessica Lowndes and Daniel Lissing.

QCan the Chapel Springs books be read as standalones?

Yes, each full-length novel features a different romance and can be read on its own, but reading them in order helps you follow the overarching McKinley family story.

QWhere is the Chapel Springs series set?

The series is set in the fictional small town of Chapel Springs, Indiana, inspired by author Denise Hunter's own Midwestern roots.