The Best Way to Read Conard County: Publication Order
Because the Conard County series is so expansive, readers often wonder where to start. The safest and most rewarding path is to read the books in publication order. While each novel functions as a standalone romance focusing on a specific couple, the background plotlines, local law enforcement details, and recurring character cameos build upon one another over time. Starting from the beginning allows you to watch the community grow naturally.
The Core Starting Points
- The Ultimate Beginning: Start with Exile's End (1992). This book sets the stage for the entire series, establishing the fictional town of Conard City, Wyoming, and introducing the key thematic elements of trauma, healing, and romantic suspense.
- Subseries Transition: If you want to jump into the modern era, you can begin with Protector of One (2009), which marks the official start of the Conard County: The Next Generation subseries.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
There is no official chronological reading list that differs significantly from the publication order. Rachel Lee wrote the books in a linear timeline where characters age, get married, and eventually have children who grow up to become the protagonists of the later novels. Reading them out of order won't ruin the suspense plots, but it will expose you to spoilers regarding which characters end up together and how the local families are interconnected.
The Major Subseries and Collections
The saga is divided into two distinct eras based on the local database records:
1. The Original Conard County Era (1992–2008)
This era introduces the original generation of heroes—sheriffs, deputies, and veterans dealing with physical and emotional scars. It begins with Exile's End (1992) and winds through titles like Cherokee Thunder and Lost Warriors, concluding with A Soldier's Homecoming (2008).
2. Conard County: The Next Generation (2009–Present)
Starting with Protector of One (2009), the series shifts its focus to the next generation of residents, including the children and younger relatives of the original characters. This subseries continues to release new romantic suspense thrillers, with recent titles extending through Conard County: Murderous Intent (2024) and Conard County: Covert Avenger (2024).
Tie-ins and Shared Universes
Rachel Lee is the sole author of the Conard County books, writing under a pen name for Sue Civil-Brown. While these books were published under Harlequin and Silhouette imprints (such as Silhouette Intimate Moments and Harlequin Romantic Suspense), and are occasionally packaged in holiday anthologies alongside other authors, the primary Conard County timeline remains entirely Lee's work. You do not need to read any books by other authors to understand the events in Conard County.