The Recommended Reading Order for the New York Saints Series
Melanie Scott's contemporary sports romance series follows three college friends who purchase a struggling baseball franchise—the New York Saints, historically known as one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball—in a desperate bid to turn its fortunes around. Along the way, the owners, players, and staff find that winning on the field is nothing compared to winning in love.
Because the overarching narrative tracks the rehabilitation of the franchise and the evolving lives of the co-owners and players, the books are best enjoyed in their original release order. Below is the recommended reading path for the series:
- The Devil in Denim (2014): The series kicks off with co-owner Alex Winters and Maggie Jameson, the daughter of the Saints' former owner. Maggie is fiercely protective of the team's legacy and staff, leading to an immediate clash of wills with the modernizing Alex. Their high-friction, enemies-to-lovers chemistry sets the baseline for the series' trademark blend of sports drama and heat.
- Angel in Armani (2014): The second installment focuses on Lucas Angelo, the wealthy, reserved orthopedic surgeon and Saints co-owner. He finds his structured world disrupted when he crosses paths with Sara Charles, a talented helicopter pilot from a working-class background. The novel explores themes of class differences, trust, and vulnerability.
- Lawless in Leather (2015): The third book centers on the final co-owner, Malachi Coulter, the resident rebel of the trio. When he meets Raina Easton, a burlesque club owner who takes on the role of coordinator for the team's dance squad, sparks fly. This story combines a fiery opposites-attract dynamic with deep-seated personal secrets.
- Playing Hard (2016): Shifting the focus from the front office to the players, the fourth book follows Saints player Oliver Shields. After a wild night leads to an injury that threatens his career, Oliver is forced to reevaluate his life. He finds unexpected comfort and connection with Amelia Graham, a Wall Street economist who has spent her entire life playing it safe.
- Playing Fast (2016): The final book centers on Finn Castro, the team's notorious bad boy who has been sent down to the minor league Sarasota Springs Preachers to rebuild his reputation. There, he crosses paths with Eva Harlowe, a woman who has harbored a secret crush on him for years and now works for the Sarasota franchise.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
There are no complicated timelines, prequels, or side stories in the New York Saints universe. The publication order matches the chronological flow of events perfectly. The story begins with the purchase and initial restructuring of the team in The Devil in Denim, progresses through the personal lives of the co-owners, and eventually expands to focus on the locker room and minor league affiliates in the final two books. Readers will get the most satisfying narrative experience by following the linear release sequence, as characters from previous books frequently make guest appearances and team developments carry over from one novel to the next.
What to Know Before You Start
Melanie Scott is an Australian author based in Melbourne who is also widely recognized under her pen name, M.J. Scott, under which she publishes fantasy and romantasy novels (such as The Shattered Court). In 2024, Scott began self-publishing re-releases of the New York Saints series to make them widely available to a new generation of contemporary romance readers, though the core texts and story orders remain unchanged from their original 2014–2016 publishing run.
The series is celebrated for its strong, career-oriented heroines—ranging from corporate economists and helicopter pilots to dance coaches and burlesque entrepreneurs—who stand as equals to the wealthy owners and professional athletes. While the books feature plenty of steamy, high-heat romance, they also ground their plots in realistic details of baseball front offices, player rehabilitation, and the emotional stakes of professional sports.
Can the Books Be Read as Standalones?
Yes, each book in the New York Saints series features a self-contained romance with a clear resolution, meaning you will not encounter frustrating cliffhangers at the end of individual novels. However, reading them out of order is not recommended. The overarching story of the Saints' journey from league laughingstock to a respectably run franchise develops gradually. Key plot points, such as the fallout from player injuries, front-office decisions, and the evolving relationships of the core friendship group, are established early on and referenced throughout later books. Starting from the beginning ensures you fully appreciate the cameos and the camaraderie of the Saints family.