The Recommended Reading Order for Love Under the Big Sky
Set against the rugged, breathtaking backdrop of Cunningham Falls, Montana, Kristen Proby’s Love Under the Big Sky series has captured the hearts of contemporary romance readers. Combining small-town warmth, high emotional stakes, and steamy connections, the series focuses on the bonds of family, healing, and second chances. If you want to follow the core relationships as they develop, the best way to read the series is in its publication order, which closely matches the progression of the character relationships.
1. Loving Cara (2014)
The series begins with Loving Cara, which introduces readers to the Lazy K Ranch and the tight-knit community of Cunningham Falls. Josh King is a successful but stressed rancher struggling to raise his troubled twelve-year-old nephew, Seth. Desperate for help, he hires his former high school classmate Cara Donovan to tutor Seth for the summer. Cara is no longer the quiet girl Josh remembers; she is confident, fun, and headstrong. As they work together to help Seth, the sparks between Josh and Cara quickly turn into a passionate relationship, setting the emotional and romantic tone for the rest of the series.
2. Seducing Lauren (2014)
The second book shifts focus to Josh’s best friend, protective defense attorney Tyler "Ty" Sullivan, and Lauren Cunningham. Lauren is a romance novelist trying to rebuild her life while finalizing a messy divorce from her manipulative ex-husband, Jack. When Jack threatens her trust fund, Lauren turns to Ty for legal representation. Ty has secretly harbored feelings for Lauren for years, and as they work together to protect her from Jack’s schemes, their professional bond transforms into a deep and protective romance. Seducing Lauren combines sweet courtship with a touch of external suspense.
3. Falling for Jillian (2015)
The third novel features Ty’s sister, Jillian Sullivan, a self-proclaimed L.A. city girl who returns to her Montana roots to escape the sting of her ex-husband’s new life. While trying to establish her real estate business, she crosses paths with Zach King, Josh's brother. Zach is an Iraq War veteran raising his son, Seth, while dealing with severe PTSD. The bond that forms between Jillian and Zach is deeply emotional as they navigate their respective past heartbreaks and help each other heal.
4. Saving Grace (2015)
Originally published as a companion novella, Saving Grace focuses on Grace Douglas, a clumsy schoolteacher and close friend of Cara. During a girls' weekend ski trip ahead of Cara’s wedding, Grace mistakes the handsome British resort owner, Jacob "Bax" Baxter, for her ski instructor. Bax decides to play along with the mix-up, sparking a fast-paced, humorous, and steamy romance that highlights the lighter side of Cunningham Falls.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order Caveats
While the publication order lists Saving Grace as the fourth installment, its events actually take place concurrently with or slightly before the timeline of Falling for Jillian. Specifically, the novella takes place during Cara's bachelorette weekend, which leads up to the wedding mentioned in the main novels. Readers who prefer absolute chronological precision can read Saving Grace as Book 2.5 (after Seducing Lauren but before Falling for Jillian). However, reading it as Book 4 is perfectly fine and remains the most common way readers experience the series, as it functions as a sweet, standalone return to the community.
Expanding Into the Broader Big Sky Universe
The success of the initial Love Under the Big Sky books led Kristen Proby to expand her Montana setting into a massive, interconnected universe. Once you finish the core four books, you can dive into several spinoff series that feature recurring characters, family members, and the familiar small-town atmosphere of Cunningham Falls:
The Big Sky Series
This direct follow-up series continues to explore the romances of Cunningham Falls residents, focusing on new couples while keeping the original cast in the background as supportive friends and family:
- Charming Hannah (2018): Focuses on Hannah Babbitt, the local brewery owner, and her romance with investigator Max.
- Kissing Jenna (2018): Follows Jenna and her connection with the rugged Luke.
- Tempting Brooke (2018): A companion novella (often numbered 2.5) featuring Brooke and Caleb.
- Waiting for Willa (2018): Centers on Willa and her protective romance with bodyguard Clay.
- Soaring with Fallon (2019): Focuses on Fallon and her relationship with pilot Carter.
Big Sky Royals
For readers who enjoy a touch of royal intrigue mixed with small-town charm, this spinoff features members of a royal family finding refuge—and love—in Montana:
- Enchanting Sebastian (2019)
- Enticing Liam (2020)
- Taunting Callum (2020)
Heroes of Big Sky
This subseries shifts the spotlight to the first responders and military veterans serving the Cunningham Falls community:
- Honor (2021)
- Courage (2021)
- Shelter (2021)
The Kristen Proby Crossover Collection
In 2019, Proby teamed up with several bestselling romance authors (including Sawyer Bennett, Laura Kaye, and Monica Murphy) under the 1001 Dark Nights banner. In this collection, side characters introduced in Charming Hannah get their own standalone stories written by guest authors, blending Proby's Montana universe with the established series of other romance writers.
What to Know Before You Start
Kristen Proby's Big Sky books are celebrated for their strong focus on healing, emotional vulnerability, and deep family connections. The stories deal with realistic themes such as military PTSD, recovering from abusive relationships, and navigating single parenthood, balanced by high-heat romance and lighthearted small-town humor. While the books are interconnected and characters frequently make cameo appearances in later stories, each book contains a self-contained romance with a satisfying conclusion, meaning they can technically be read as standalones if you want to skip around.