The Tragic Catalyst: Rebuilding the Pittsburgh Titans
The Pittsburgh Titans series doesn't start like your average sports romance. Instead of a championship victory or a simple trade, this series is born out of a devastating fictional tragedy: a team plane crash that wipes out the entire roster, coaching staff, and management of the franchise. What follows is an emotional, high-stakes journey of resilience, hope, and healing as the organization is rebuilt from scratch. Under the guidance of owner Brienne Norcross, the new Titans rise from the ashes, and each book follows a different player, coach, or staff member finding love and redemption amid their personal and professional struggles.
Because the overarching narrative follows the rebuilding of the franchise, there is a distinct timeline progression. While each romance is a standalone story with its own happily-ever-after, reading them in order allows you to watch the team come together, heal from shared trauma, and recruit new players who eventually get their own spotlight.
The Recommended Reading Order (Publication Order)
To experience the rebuilding of the team and the emotional recovery of the survivors in the way Sawyer Bennett intended, you should read the Pittsburgh Titans books in their publication order. Here is the complete list of books in the series:
- Baden (2022): Focuses on goalie coach Baden Oulett and Sophie Winters. As the series opener, it sets the emotional foundation as they navigate shared trauma.
- Stone (2022): Follows minor-league player Stone Dumelin, who lost his brother in the crash, as he clashes and falls for attorney Harlow Alston.
- Gage (2022): Features veteran player Gage Heyward as he steps up to lead the new team on and off the ice.
- Coen (2022): Follows Coen Highsmith, a player dealing with intense pressure and unexpected romantic complications.
- Drake (2023): Highlights Drake McGinn and team owner Brienne Norcross in a high-stakes, front-office romance.
- Cannon (2023): Focuses on the head coach, Cannon West, dealing with the stress of the new team and a complicated personal life.
- Hendrix (2023): Features Hendrix Bateman, one of "The Lucky Three" players who survived the tragedy simply because they weren't on the plane.
- Camden (2023): Follows Camden, another member of "The Lucky Three," dealing with survival guilt and finding love.
- Bain (2023): Centered on Bain, who brings grit to the ice and finds his match in a steamy setup.
- Van (2023): (Often listed as Van2 to distinguish from the character in Cold Fury) Follows the defensive powerhouse Van and his romantic journey.
- Boone (2024): A deeply emotional story pairing star player Boone Rivers with Lilly Hoffman.
- Callum (2024): Explores Callum's story as he tries to secure his place on the roster while falling hard off the ice.
- Foster (2024): Follows Foster as he balances professional athlete pressures with personal commitments.
- King (2024): Features King, a player who guards his heart as fiercely as the goal.
- Rafferty (2025): Deals with Rafferty's journey through second chances and emotional healing.
- North (2025): Focuses on North Paquette and Farren Abrams in a friends-to-benefits romance that gets complicated.
- Penn (2025): Explores Penn's story, bringing new energy to the team's ongoing legacy.
- Lucky (2025): Follows the charming player nicknamed "Lucky" as his fortunes change on and off the ice.
- Atlas (2026): Focuses on Atlas, proving that even the strongest players need support to heal.
- Kace (2026): The twentieth installment, highlighting Kace's path to redemption and romance.
Going Deeper: The Broader Sawyer Bennett Hockey Universe
The Pittsburgh Titans series does not exist in a vacuum. Sawyer Bennett has built an expansive, interconnected sports romance universe. If you want the ultimate reading experience, you can trace the franchise back to its roots across two other major series:
The Cold Fury Hockey Series
This is where it all began. The Carolina Cold Fury is Bennett’s original, highly successful hockey romance series spanning 11 books (beginning with Alex and ending with Marek). While it is set in a different city, it establishes the authentic tone, fast-paced action, and interconnected family-like dynamics that Bennett perfected.
The Arizona Vengeance Series
The direct predecessor to the Titans is the Arizona Vengeance series. Not only do characters cross over, but Baden Oulett (the hero of the first Titans book) is actually introduced in the seventh Vengeance book, Wylde. Events in the Vengeance series set the stage for Baden's transition to coaching and his eventual move to Pittsburgh. To fully appreciate his backstory, starting with Arizona Vengeance is highly recommended.
Practical Reader Advice
Are you wondering if you need to read every single book? Here are a few tips to help you navigate the series:
- Can they be read as standalones? Yes. Each book features a self-contained romance with a clear happily-ever-after. You won't be left on a cliffhanger regarding the main couple.
- Best Starting Point: If you want to jump straight into the rebuilding story, start with Baden. If you want the complete character arcs, start with Wylde (Arizona Vengeance #7) or begin the entire universe with Bishop (Arizona Vengeance #1).
- Understanding "The Lucky Three": Pay special attention to the books focusing on Hendrix and Camden. These stories explore the complex psychology of survivor's guilt, which is a major recurring theme throughout the early half of the series.