How to Read the Drakes of California Series
For the best reading experience, we recommend reading the Drakes of California series in its original publication order. The series follows the siblings and heirs of the wealthy Drake family dynasty, who run a successful winery and luxury resort empire. Because the siblings' lives are deeply interconnected, characters from earlier books frequently appear in later volumes. Reading the books sequentially allows you to watch the family grow, understand the background politics, and avoid spoilers for previous couples' happy endings.
Drakes of California Books in Order
Here is the complete list of the ten novels in their original release sequence, which also serves as the ideal chronological reading path:
- Diamond Dreams (2012) – The series kicks off with Diamond Drake, the dynasty's devoted daughter, who meets construction millionaire Jackson Wright and sparks a whirlwind romance.
- Champagne Kisses (2012) – Winery heir Donovan Drake is a commitment-shy bachelor whose fast-paced lifestyle slows down when he falls for employee Marissa Hayes.
- Platinum Promises (2013) – Playboy resort mogul Dexter Drake finds himself reconsidering his ways when he crosses paths with Dr. Faye Buckner.
- Solid Gold Seduction (2013) – Focuses on Warren Drake, the family's middle son, who must team up with his gorgeous equestrian neighbor Charli Reed to catch thieves threatening their land.
- Secret Silver Nights (2014) – Follows Nico Drake as he navigates the high stakes of a local campaign and finds himself falling for his fierce competitor, Monique "Mo" Slater.
- Crystal Caress (2015) – Budding journalist Teresa Drake travels to Alaska for a story, where she is rescued by and falls for local mogul Atka Sinclair.
- Silken Embrace (2015) – Features Terrell Drake, a billionaire businessman and heir, who falls for anesthesiologist and single mother Aliyah Robinson.
- Sapphire Attraction (2016) – Real estate mogul Ike Drake Jr. meets his match in the gorgeous and independent Quinn Taylor.
- Lavish Loving (2017) – Supermodel London Drake retreats to the family resort spa in Southern California to escape the fashion world, only to rekindle a flame with international playboy Ace Montgomery.
- Decadent Desire (2017) – The series wraps up with the youngest Drake heir, Julian Drake, who finally tries to claim the heart of his longtime love, Nicki Long.
What to Know Before You Start
Zuri Day (who also writes under the pen name Lutishia Lovely) originally published the Drakes of California series under Harlequin’s Kimani Romance imprint. The series is celebrated for providing rich, diverse representation in the contemporary romance genre, centering on an affluent African-American family. Readers can expect a balance of high-society luxury, family loyalty, light suspense, and steamy, heartfelt love stories. While the series takes readers to exotic locales like Alaska, the heart of the saga remains rooted in California’s wine country.
Starting Point and Standalone Potential
If you want the full experience of the Drake family dynamics, you should start with the first book, Diamond Dreams. However, if you happen to pick up a later book in the series, each novel features a self-contained romance with its own Happily Ever After (HEA) and can technically be read as a standalone. The author does an excellent job of providing enough context in each installment so that new readers will not feel lost.
Spin-offs and Related Series
While the Drakes of California series concluded with Decadent Desire and does not have any official spin-off series, fans of Zuri Day's writing style will find plenty to love in her other works. If you are looking for similar contemporary romance series featuring wealthy dynasties, strong family bonds, and high-stakes drama, consider picking up her Morgan Men trilogy, the Blue-Collar Lover series, or The Eddington Heirs.