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Deep Haven Collection Books in Order

7 Books
2021 – 2022 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order for the Deep Haven Collection

The Deep Haven Collection is a collaborative series published by Sunrise Publishing. Led by Christy Award-winning author Susan May Warren, this collection features emerging Christian romance authors writing stories set in Warren's beloved, pre-existing fictional town of Deep Haven, Minnesota. While every novel is written to be enjoyed as a standalone romance, the books share secondary characters, local businesses, and family trees. Reading them in their publication order ensures you catch every fun cameo and follow the town's timeline naturally.

Here is the recommended reading path for the Deep Haven Collection:

  1. Only You (Prequel Novella, 2020) – By Susan May Warren
  2. Still the One (Book 1, 2021) – By Rachel D. Russell and Susan May Warren
  3. Can't Buy Me Love (Book 2, 2021) – By Andrea Christenson and Susan May Warren
  4. Crazy for You (Book 3, 2021) – By Michelle Sass Aleckson and Susan May Warren
  5. Then Came You (Book 4, 2021) – By Rachel D. Russell and Susan May Warren
  6. Hangin' by a Moment (Book 5, 2021) – By Andrea Christenson and Susan May Warren
  7. Right Here Waiting (Book 6, 2021) – By Michelle Sass Aleckson and Susan May Warren
  8. Once Upon a Winter Wonderland (Christmas Anthology, 2022) – By Susan May Warren, Rachel D. Russell, Michelle Sass Aleckson, and Andrea Christenson

Deep Haven Collection: Book-by-Book Breakdown

Only You (Prequel Novella)

This introductory novella serves as the official launchpad for the collection. It focuses on Seth Turnquist, a character fans of Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series will recognize. Nursing a broken heart after being rejected by Amelia Christiansen, Seth spent years away working as a smokejumper. Upon returning to Deep Haven to pack up his life, he crosses paths with Ree, a local woman who has quietly loved him from afar for years. It is a story of healing, closure, and new beginnings that perfectly sets the tone for the town's cozy community vibe.

Still the One (Book 1)

Co-authored with Rachel D. Russell, this first full-length novel centers on Cole Barrett, a former Army Ranger who returns to Deep Haven to sell his late grandfather's rundown property. He is surprised to find Megan Carter, a high-energy wedding planner and his childhood crush, living in the garage apartment. As Megan tries to save the local historic estate and Cole struggles to move past his military trauma, the two must decide if their rekindled connection is worth fighting for amidst small-town chaos.

Can't Buy Me Love (Book 2)

Co-authored with Andrea Christenson, this story plays on the classic disguised-billionaire trope. Adrian Vassos is a wealthy businessman attempting to escape his public reputation as a reckless party boy. He flees to Deep Haven under an assumed identity to work on a local estate. There, he meets Ella Bradley, an independent house cleaner and aspiring entrepreneur who is fiercely protective of her heart and her family. Their unexpected chemistry forces them to confront issues of trust, financial security, and faith.

Crazy for You (Book 3)

Co-authored with Michelle Sass Aleckson, this novel highlights the large, loud Dahlquist family. Peter Dahlquist is Deep Haven's local fire chief, feeling overwhelmed and isolated by his well-meaning but overbearing family. Veronica "Ronnie" Morales is a newly arrived paramedic who moves to town to find a safe haven for her troubled younger brother. When local emergencies draw Peter and Ronnie together, they must learn to lean on each other and trust in God's timing to find true redemption.

Then Came You (Book 4)

Co-authored with Rachel D. Russell, this book follows Detective Daniel "Boone" Buckam, a big-city police officer ordered to take a mandatory vacation to recover from burnout and a critical error in judgment. Hoping for peace and quiet in Deep Haven, Boone is instead swept up in the whirlwind life of Vivien Calhoun, a Hollywood actress hiding out from her manipulative step-family. When Boone is drafted into participating in a local parade with Vivien, their paths merge in a journey about breaking down emotional walls.

Hangin' by a Moment (Book 5)

Co-authored with Andrea Christenson, this emotionally complex novel features Jack Stewart, a man looking to start fresh in a place where nobody knows his past as a convicted felon. As he tries to rebuild his life, he crosses paths with Colleen Decker, a local woman battling her own history of regret and grief. When a sudden disaster strikes the small community, Jack and Colleen are forced to rely on their faith and each other to survive, proving that second chances are always possible.

Right Here Waiting (Book 6)

Co-authored with Michelle Sass Aleckson, this romance is a winter-themed, small-town homage to You've Got Mail. Nick Dahlquist is an outdoor vlogger and sled dog musher who finds solace in the freezing wilderness. For months, he has been chatting online with a friend known only as "LadyJHawk." What Nick doesn't know is that his digital confidante is Jae Washington, the helicopter pilot who recently joined Deep Haven's Crisis Response Team. When a massive winter blizzard hits the area, Jae must keep her online identity secret while proving herself to Nick in the field.

Once Upon a Winter Wonderland (Christmas Anthology)

This festive holiday collection brings the authors together to write four interconnected novellas that serve as a grand finale to the series. The plot centers around the winter wedding of Vivien Calhoun and Boone Buckam (from Then Came You). When a historic blizzard threatens to ruin the wedding, the town of Deep Haven pulls together. The collection includes: A Beautiful Sight by Rachel D. Russell, We're Happy Tonight by Michelle Sass Aleckson, The Snow is Glistening by Susan May Warren, and Sleigh Bells Ring by Andrea Christenson.

The Deep Haven Multiverse: How the Series Connect

Readers new to Susan May Warren's work should know that Deep Haven is a highly interconnected universe. Before the collaborative Deep Haven Collection launched in 2020, Warren had already written two major series set in the same town:

  • The Original Deep Haven Series: An eight-book series written solely by Susan May Warren between 2003 and 2017, beginning with Happily Ever After.
  • The Christiansen Family Series: A six-book series starting with Take a Chance on Me. While focused on one specific family, it is set in Deep Haven and features many of the same town landmarks and residents.

The Deep Haven Collection acts as a soft relaunch of the town. Because characters like Seth Turnquist (the protagonist of the prequel Only You) originate in the Christiansen Family series, reading the older books will enrich your experience, though it is not strictly necessary. The new Collection stands perfectly well on its own for readers wanting a modern starting point.

Practical Reading Advice

If you want the absolute full history of the town and all its long-running families, start with Susan May Warren's 2003 release Happily Ever After. However, if you want to jump straight into the newer collaborative books, you should start with the prequel novella Only You, followed by Still the One. Because the final Christmas anthology wraps up Boone and Vivien's romance from Then Came You and features cameos from the other protagonists, you should definitely save Once Upon a Winter Wonderland for last.

Frequently Asked

QDo I need to read the original Deep Haven books before starting the Deep Haven Collection?

No, you do not. While the Deep Haven Collection is set in the same fictional town as Susan May Warren's original series and shares some recurring characters, it is designed as a fresh starting point. You can read it independently without getting lost.

QWhat is the best book to start with in the Deep Haven Collection?

The best place to start is the prequel novella, Only You, which introduces the town's updated setting and characters. If you prefer to start with a full-length novel, Still the One is the official Book 1.

QAre the books in the Deep Haven Collection standalones?

Yes, each of the main six novels features a complete, self-contained romance with a happy ending. However, characters from previous books frequently make guest appearances, and the Christmas anthology Once Upon a Winter Wonderland serves as a grand crossover event.

QWho are the co-authors of the Deep Haven Collection?

The collection is a collaborative project led by Susan May Warren, who mentored and co-authored the books alongside writers Rachel D. Russell, Andrea Christenson, and Michelle Sass Aleckson.

QHow does the Christiansen Family series connect to the Deep Haven Collection?

Both series are set in the fictional town of Deep Haven, Minnesota. The prequel novella to the Collection, Only You, stars Seth Turnquist, a character whose heartbreak was originally detailed in the Christiansen Family series.

QWhat order should I read the novellas in Once Upon a Winter Wonderland?

The stories in the Once Upon a Winter Wonderland anthology are interconnected and should be read in the printed order: A Beautiful Sight, followed by We're Happy Tonight, then The Snow is Glistening, and finally Sleigh Bells Ring.