How to Read the Getaway Series in Order
The Getaway series is best read in its publication order. While each book focuses on a different couple and can technically be read as a standalone romance, the background plots—including the development of the Warner family dude ranch, the sheriff's department politics, and recurring character dynamics—evolve sequentially. Reading them in order ensures you won't spoil the major relationships or the overarching suspense plotlines.
- Retreat (2016) - Features Cyrus Warner and Leora "Leo" Harper
- Shelter (2017) - Features Sutton Warner and Emrys
- Escape (2018) - Features Lane Warner and Brynn
- Runaround (2018) - Features Webb Bryant and Tennyson "Ten" McKenna
- Detour (2019) - Features Wyatt Bryant and Rodie Collins
Chronological vs. Publication Order
There is no difference between the chronological order and the publication order for the Getaway series. The timeline moves forward chronologically from the launching of the Warner Ranch in Retreat through to the small-town sheriff conflicts in Detour. Stick to the publication order for the smoothest reading experience.
The Getaway Books: Character and Story Breakdown
1. Retreat (2016)
The series begins with Retreat, introducing us to Cyrus Warner, a gruff, stubborn trail guide, and Leora "Leo" Harper, a city girl trying to piece herself back together after a devastating betrayal. When Leo books a week-long wilderness excursion at the newly opened Warner dude ranch in Wyoming, she clashes immediately with the brooding Cyrus. Forced together by the harsh elements and sudden danger, their fiery chemistry develops into a deeply emotional romance.
2. Shelter (2017)
The second book shifts focus to Sutton Warner, a single father and sheriff's deputy dealing with guilt and loss, and Emrys, a local artist and Leo's resilient best friend. As Sutton tries to protect Emrys from a threat in her past, they are forced to confront their own emotional wounds. This installment leans heavily into the protective hero trope and features a high-stakes, suspenseful subplot.
3. Escape (2018)
The third installment follows the youngest Warner brother, Lane, and Brynn, a woman with whom he shares a complicated and emotionally charged history. This is a classic friends-to-lovers story blended with second-chance elements, wrapping up the core trilogy focused on the Warner brothers' direct ranch struggles.
4. Runaround (2018)
With Runaround, the series expands beyond the Warner family to focus on Webb Bryant, a charming but troubled drifter running from a dark past, and Tennyson "Ten" McKenna, a cautious and guarded forest ranger. When Webb is falsely accused of a crime, Ten becomes his only alibi and ally. Their story is a suspense-heavy chase that tests their trust and forces them to overcome their differences.
5. Detour (2019)
The final book, Detour, features Webb's older brother, Wyatt Bryant, a former special agent searching for peace, and Rodie Collins, the local sheriff of Sheridan, Wyoming. This installment is a male/male (M/M) romance that deals with small-town judgment, deep emotional scars, and the struggle to move past traumatic memories. It brings a satisfying and emotional conclusion to the series' themes of redemption and healing.
What to Know Before You Start
Jay Crownover is widely known for her gritty, urban romances like the Marked Men series. With Getaway, she swaps tattoos and city streets for the rugged wilderness of Wyoming. The tone remains signature Crownover—raw, emotional, and intensely passionate—but with a distinct survivalist and romantic suspense edge.
Keep in mind that the series makes a genre shift in the final book, Detour, which is an M/M romance, whereas the first four books are M/F romances. The books are set in and around a fictionalized dude ranch and the small town of Sheridan, Wyoming, offering a fresh, modern cowboy experience that avoids traditional clichés.