The Recommended Reading Path
To experience the full emotional weight of C.J. Bishop's M/M crime romance saga, it is highly recommended to read the series in publication order. The main story tracks the intense and complex relationship between Clint 'The Cowboy' Maddox, a ruthless enforcer for the Sanitini crime family, and Axel Anders, a vulnerable young man with a dark past. Reading the books sequentially ensures you witness their relationship evolve alongside the mounting stakes of the criminal underworld.
Publication Order of the Cowboy Gangster Books
The core series follows the central arc of Clint and Axel and should be read in this sequence:
- Shot Through the Heart (2015)
- Gunnin' for Love (2015)
- Outlaws of Love (2015)
- Wanted Hearts (2016)
- Beneath the Bullets & Blood (2016)
- Precious Jules (2017)
- The Innocent (2018)
- Cowboy Love (2018) - Companion short story
- Hope (2019)
- Reaper (2019)
- Cowboy Up (2019) - Companion short story
- A Show of Love (2024) - Erotic short story
Chronological Caveats & Companion Stories
While publication order is the easiest path, there are some chronological details that enhance the reading experience. The books Hope and Reaper intertwine closely with The Innocent, forming a tightly knit arc centered around Clint and Cochise. Additionally, the short stories Cowboy Love and Cowboy Up act as emotional bridges that fill in gaps between the main novels and are best read in their publication slots.
Cowboy Gangster Subseries & Crossovers
Once you finish the main books, the universe expands into several distinct subseries and crossover events:
The Lost Books
This subseries shifts the characters into a brutal prison setting, focusing on themes of survival and endurance. The books in this group are:
- Paradise Lost (2020)
- Innocence Lost (2020)
- Lost World (2020)
- Lost & Found (2020)
Cowboy Gangster: Regulators
Picking up after the events of the Lost series, this high-octane trilogy follows Clint, Cochise, and the Santiago crew collaborating with Agent Javier Alvarez on dangerous missions:
- Recruitment (2021)
- Highwaymen (2021)
- Refuge (2021)
The Base Crossover Series
C.J. Bishop partnered with author H.M. Wolfe to co-author a crossover series linking the worlds of Cowboy Gangster and The Base. This includes the high-stakes Island novels, such as The Island: The Vanished and The Island: The Lost Boys.