Rock Canyon Romance Books in Order

Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start in Rock Canyon

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Rock Canyon Romance series in publication order. While each book is a standalone contemporary romance focusing on a distinct couple's journey to a happily-ever-after, the characters are deeply interconnected. Characters introduced as background figures, rivals, or siblings in early books frequently step into the spotlight as the main protagonists of later novels.

If you prefer to start at the absolute chronological beginning, you should pick up the prequel novella, The Trouble With Sexy (Book 0.5), which sets up the town dynamics and introduces key recurring characters. However, if you want to jump straight into a full-length novel, the official first book, Things Good Girls Don't Do, is the perfect starting point to meet the town's beloved personalities and experience Codi Gary's signature blend of humor and emotional depth.

Rock Canyon Romance: Complete Publication Order

Below is the complete list of Codi Gary's Rock Canyon books in their order of release. Reading in this order allows you to watch the community grow, follow the recurring subplots of local families, and witness the evolution of the town's tight-knit social circles:

1. Things Good Girls Don't Do (2013) – The first full-length novel in the series, introducing Katie and Chase Trepasso.
2. Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (2014) – Follows Gemma and Travis's second-chance romance and surprise Vegas wedding.
3. Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (2014) – Focuses on Valerie Willis returning to town and reuniting with her former flame, Justin Silverton.
4. Return of the Bad Girl (2014) – Follows Caroline Willis and former inmate Gabe Moriarty as they share a double-booked apartment.
5. The Trouble With Sexy (2015 standalone / originally published in the 2013 Kiss Me anthology) – The prequel novella focusing on Ryan Ashton and her boss, Gregg Phillips.
6. Bad for Me (2015) – A deeper, emotional read following Callie Jacobsen's healing journey with former Marine Everett.
7. The Trouble with Attraction (2015) – A companion collection of behind-the-scenes moments between Gracie McAllister and Eric Henderson.
8. Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (2017) – A fake-relationship romance centering on Gracie McAllister and Eric Henderson.
9. Good at Being Bad (2017) – Follows Ellie Willis and Michael Stevens in a fun reputation-swap and tutoring agreement.

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

While the chronological timeline of the series largely mirrors the publication order, there are two notable exceptions that readers should keep in mind:

• The Trouble With Sexy (Book 0.5): Chronologically, this prequel novella takes place before the events of Things Good Girls Don't Do. Reading it first gives you an early look at characters like Gracie McAllister before they take center stage. However, because it was widely distributed as a standalone ebook in 2015, many readers read it after Book 4.
• The Trouble with Attraction (Book 5.5 / Book 6): Rather than a traditional chronological sequel, this release is a companion piece. It compiles scenes that occur parallel to the events of the earlier books (from The Trouble with Sexy through Bad for Me), specifically detailing the slow-burn history of Gracie and Eric before they officialize their romance in Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell.

For the smoothest narrative continuity, the chronological path is: The Trouble With Sexy → Things Good Girls Don't Do → Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars → Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines → Return of the Bad Girl → Bad for Me → The Trouble with Attraction → Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell → Good at Being Bad.

The Heart of Rock Canyon: Detailed Book Overviews

Things Good Girls Don't Do (Book 1)

Reeling from a public breakup, good-girl Katie decides she is done playing by the rules. She enlists the help of Rock Canyon's notorious bad boy, Chase Trepasso, to help her break out of her shell. The resulting fake relationship quickly sparks real, steamy consequences, establishing the series' theme of finding love by embracing your true self.

Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Book 2)

Gemma is determined to run her bakery and keep her life simple, but her past comes knocking in the form of rock star Travis. After a wild Vegas wedding years prior, secrets and unresolved feelings bubble to the surface, forcing them to decide if their second chance is worth the spotlight.

Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Book 3)

Valerie Willis has a reputation for wild choices, but after a messy public divorce, she returns to Rock Canyon to rebuild her life. She is shocked to run into Justin Silverton, a handsome Marine who returned home to run his family ranch. Justin is determined to prove to Valerie that she is worthy of a real, lasting love.

Return of the Bad Girl (Book 4)

Caroline Willis returns to Rock Canyon only to discover her new apartment has been double-booked. She is forced to share the living space with Gabe Moriarty, a ruggedly attractive man who has just finished serving a prison sentence. Their initial animosity melts into a passionate connection as they learn to look past each other's reputations.

Bad for Me (Book 5)

Offering a slightly more serious tone, this novel follows Callie Jacobsen, a woman working to heal from past trauma. She finds safety, patience, and a deep emotional bond in Everett, a former Marine who understands what it means to carry invisible scars. The book is widely praised by fans for its emotional depth and sensitive handling of healing.

Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Book 7)

Gracie McAllister is tired of casual dating and wants to find a lasting relationship. When she enters a fake relationship with her longtime rival Eric Henderson to help him secure a business opportunity, their constant bickering turns into undeniable attraction.

Good at Being Bad (Book 8)

Ellie Willis wants to clean up her reputation, while sweet IT guy Michael Stevens wants to learn how to be a brooding bad boy to attract his crush. They strike a deal to coach each other, but their lessons in romance quickly lead to genuine feelings.

What to Know Before You Start

Codi Gary, who also writes under the pen name Codi Hall, was inspired to create Rock Canyon after driving through the real-life town of Filer, Idaho. She wanted to capture the cozy, close-knit feeling of a small Idaho town while filling it with flawed, highly relatable characters who make mistakes, overreact, and eventually find redemption. Readers should be prepared for a high level of steam, plenty of humor, and recurring town events like Valentine's auctions and local bakery visits. There are no co-authored books or external spin-off series, making the Rock Canyon books a self-contained, satisfying universe to binge-read.