Where to Start Reading the Sex and Lies Series
For the best reading experience, you should start the Sex and Lies series (also known as the Moonlight and Magnolias series) with the very first book, Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea. While some books in the series pivot to follow different couples and federal agents, the overarching narrative, character relationships, and minor subplots carry over from one book to the next. Starting at the beginning allows you to watch the core relationship between FBI Agent Mac Callahan and Samantha Peterson develop naturally, while meeting the secondary characters who eventually get their own spotlight novels.
Sex and Lies Books in Recommended Reading Order
Here is the complete path through the series based on the established publication order, which also matches the chronological sequence of the main events.
1. Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea (2013)
The series kicks off with the story of FBI Agent Mac Callahan, a dedicated bachelor who returns to his Southern roots in Alabama to bust a white-collar crime ring. He meets Samantha Peterson, a steel-magnolia Southern belle who holds the evidence he needs to crack the case. As they navigate danger and a sizzling mutual attraction, the stage is set for the rest of the series at the beautiful Lone Oak plantation.
2. Sex, Lies & Lipstick (2014)
Mac and Samantha return in this direct sequel. Just as they are settling into an idyllic life together at Lone Oak, their peace is shattered by Hector Quintes, a psychotic stalker with a deep-seated grudge. This high-stakes thriller tests their loyalty and pits them against a threat that blurs the lines between friends and foes.
3. Sex, Lies & Pearls (2014)
The third installment shifts the focus from Alabama to the historic streets of New Orleans. Here, readers follow Polly Benson and FBI profiler Leo Xanthus. Together, they must navigate a web of secrets, passion, and danger in the Big Easy, showing that romance and peril are never far apart in Mac Callahan's circle.
4. Sex, Lies & Lace (2016)
This entry introduces Dr. King Giles, a charming researcher who leads a double life as a secret Non-Operational Cover (NOC) agent tracking terror cells. When an ex-girlfriend is found dead on his lawn with lace panties in her mouth, FBI Academy graduate Reagan Weatherford is assigned to investigate him. The two must work against the clock to stop a major attack while dealing with their own complicated trust issues.
5. Sex, Lies & Bourbon (2016)
This novel centers on Special Agent Virginia "Ginny" Grace as she returns to her Kentucky roots to investigate a high-stakes deal gone wrong. As she digs into the powerful Winterbourne family, she must confront her late father's unsolved case and her former lover, Win Holloway, in a high-society world where murder is an inside job.
6. Sex, Lies & Black Tie (2016)
Mac Callahan returns to the forefront in this action-packed novel. Now retired from active duty and enjoying family life, Mac is pulled back in to manage security for a massive charity gala hosted by Samantha at their plantation, which the U.S. President is scheduled to attend. But when his assistant Micah's sister is kidnapped, Mac uncovers a dark human trafficking ring that reaches the highest levels of government.
7. Fate, Snow & Mistletoe (2016)
This festive holiday novella serves as a bridge (often designated as Book 6.5) between the dramatic events of the sixth book and the international espionage that follows. It provides a lighter, romantic interlude for the series' recurring cast during the winter season.
8. Sex, Lies & Diamonds (2018)
The series takes an international turn by introducing Tristan Bleu, a playboy FBI agent who finds himself in France. Tristan must navigate complex mafia ties, undercover operations, and a fiery romance that threatens to disrupt his smooth-talking exterior.
9. Sex, Lies & Champagne (2018)
Tristan Bleu returns in this follow-up, working undercover once again to track down a dangerous double agent. The high-stakes glamour of Champagne regions meets espionage as Tristan faces a complex web of deceit where one wrong move could be fatal.
10. Sex, Lies & Leather (2019)
In this dramatic crossover event, Mac Callahan is framed for murder in Washington, D.C., after a dead woman falls out of a closet at a senator's secret apartment. To clear his name, Mac and Samantha must team up with Dr. King Giles and Reagan Weatherford, who are tracking an online hacker named "Monarch" through the dark web, geolocations, and a white-hat hacking crew called Tartarus.
The Chronological Reading Path and Novella Placement
Fortunately, reading the Sex and Lies series in publication order is identical to reading it chronologically. The only major choice readers have to make is when to slot in the holiday novella, Fate, Snow & Mistletoe. Because it is set directly after the high-stakes security crisis at the North Star Gala in Sex, Lies & Black Tie, it is best read immediately after Book 6. This prepares readers for the shift in focus to Tristan Bleu's European missions in Sex, Lies & Diamonds.
Subseries and Recurring Character Duos
To help you track the characters across books, the series can be grouped into smaller character arcs:
- The Mac & Samantha Arc: Sex, Lies & Sweet Tea, Sex, Lies & Lipstick, Sex, Lies & Black Tie, and Sex, Lies & Leather. This forms the spine of the series.
- The King & Reagan Arc: Sex, Lies & Lace and Sex, Lies & Leather.
- The Tristan Bleu Arc: Sex, Lies & Diamonds and Sex, Lies & Champagne.
- Standalone Investigations: Sex, Lies & Pearls (Polly & Leo) and Sex, Lies & Bourbon (Ginny & Win).
What to Know Before You Start
Kris Calvert’s writing style blends the slow, atmospheric charm of Southern literature with the rapid pacing of modern romantic thrillers. Expect a healthy dose of Southern hospitality, sweet tea, and bourbon mixed with intense stalker plots, international mafia operations, and dark web conspiracies. While the romance is central, the mystery and suspense plots are fully realized and often quite gritty, meaning you get a true thriller experience alongside the romance.