The Recommended Reading Order
Pam Godwin’s bestselling Deliver series is a dark romantic suspense saga set in a dangerous underworld of cartels, captivity, and redemption. Although each book features a different couple and concludes with a resolved romance (Happily Ever After, no cliffhangers), the books are deeply interconnected. An overarching narrative thread runs through the series, and key characters reappear as the plot progresses. Because of this, the author strongly recommends reading the books in publication order to fully appreciate the world-building and character arcs.
Why the Tangled Lies Crossover Matters
A unique element of the Deliver universe is its connection to another of Pam Godwin’s popular series, the Tangled Lies trilogy. The character Cole Hartman, who is introduced in Tangled Lies, crosses over into the Deliver series beginning with Book 4, Devastate. He becomes a significant recurring figure throughout the later novels, and his personal journey finally concludes in Book 9, Complicate.
To get the most out of Cole’s background, the author suggests reading the Tangled Lies trilogy before starting the Deliver series (or at least before reaching Devastate). Reading both series in this order provides complete context for Cole's actions, motivations, and his eventual romance at the end of the series.
The Core Reading Path
To experience the story as Pam Godwin intended, follow this combined publication order covering both the Tangled Lies trilogy and the Deliver series:
Phase 1: The Tangled Lies Trilogy (Recommended Prequel)
- One is a Promise (2017): The first book in the trilogy, introducing the complex dynamic between Danni, Trace, and Cole.
- Two is a Lie (2017): The middle chapter of the trilogy, deepening the secrets and the emotional tension.
- Three is a War (2017): The final book in the trilogy, wrapping up the central conflict and setting the stage for Cole’s journey.
Phase 2: The Deliver Series
- Deliver (2014): The book that started it all. It introduces Liv Reed, a "Deliverer" who lures men into captivity, and Joshua Carter, the captive who challenges her hardened exterior and sparks a transformative romance.
- Vanquish (2014): Centers on the ruthless, possessive anti-hero Van Quiso (who first appeared in Deliver) and Amber, the woman who forces him to confront his dark nature.
- Disclaim (2016): Follows Camila, a survivor haunted by her past capture by Van Quiso, who decides to infiltrate a human trafficking ring to shut it down. Her path crosses with Matias, a seductive but untrustworthy figure from her past.
- Devastate (2018): Tate Vades embarks on a dangerous rescue mission to find Lucia Dias, who was abducted eleven years prior. This installment marks the entry of Cole Hartman into the Deliver narrative.
- Take (2019): Focuses on Kate, who is kidnapped by a ruthless crime lord and must navigate a high-stakes environment where the boundaries between survival, fear, and desire blur.
- Manipulate (2019): Set in a brutal, cartel-controlled prison. Tula Gomez must secure her survival by seducing two new inmates, Martin Lockwood and Ricky Saldivar, leading to a complex and emotional relationship.
- Unshackle (2020): Focuses on Luke Sanch, an undercover operative infiltrating the La Rocha Cartel. Tasked with handling Vera Gomez, he is distracted by a feral captive who upends his mission.
- Dominate (2021): Tells the story of Rylee Sutton, who is rebuilding her life after betrayal. She finds an intense, dark connection with a stranger named Tomas.
- Complicate (2021): The series finale that brings the overarching storyline to a close, focusing on Cole Hartman and Danielle (Danni) as they resolve their complicated past.
Chronological vs. Publication Order
For this series, publication order and chronological order run parallel. There are no major time jumps, flashbacks, or prequels that require you to alter the order in which the books were released. Simply reading them from Deliver through to Complicate will keep you perfectly aligned with the timeline of events. The only decision readers need to make is whether to read the Tangled Lies trilogy first—a step that is highly recommended for readers who want a complete understanding of Cole Hartman's backstory before he enters the scene in Devastate.
What to Know Before You Start
The Deliver series is firmly categorized as dark romantic suspense. Because the books deal with heavy themes—including abduction, physical and psychological trauma, cartel violence, human trafficking, and intense power dynamics—they contain elements that may be sensitive or triggering for some readers. The romance in these books is hard-won, often growing out of extreme survival situations and psychological distress. While the character growth and redemption arcs are powerful, the journey to get there is raw and intense. Readers should check content warnings for individual books if they are sensitive to specific dark romance tropes.
Spin-offs and Co-authored Works
The Deliver series is written entirely by Pam Godwin and does not feature any co-authored books. Aside from the character crossover with the Tangled Lies trilogy, the series remains self-contained. While Godwin has written other dark romance series (such as the cowboy-focused Trails of Sin trilogy and the pirate romance Sea of Ruin), these works are set in separate universes and do not feature any crossovers with the characters or events of the Deliver books.