Welcome to Shadows Landing
For readers who love their romance served with a side of high-stakes danger and tight-knit small-town charm, Kathleen Brooks’ Shadows Landing series is a must-read destination. Originating as a spin-off from the author's popular Kentucky-based Bluegrass series, Shadows Landing shifts the action to the picturesque, salty shores of South Carolina, just outside of Charleston. The stories center around the extended family of Marcy Davies, bringing a fresh, coastal breeze to the beloved formula of family loyalty, protective heroes, daring heroines, and page-turning suspense.
While each book delivers a complete romance with its own satisfying happily-ever-after, the recurring characters, family connections, and evolving town dynamics mean that reading the books in order provides the richest experience. Below is the complete reading guide to navigating both the original series and its Townsend family spin-off.
Shadows Landing Recommended Reading Order
To avoid spoilers regarding who ends up with whom and to fully appreciate the recurring appearances of the meddlesome Faulkner family, it is highly recommended to read the series in publication order. The main series is followed directly by the spin-off, Shadows Landing: The Townsends.
The Original Shadows Landing Series
The original run consists of ten novels, primarily following the Faulkner family and their close friends as they confront conspiracies, art heists, family secrets, and local crime:
- Saving Shadows (2018) – Gavin Faulkner, a doctor with a heroic streak, teams up with Ellery St. John to expose a dangerous conspiracy threatening their coastal home.
- Sunken Shadows (2019) – Coast Guard rescue swimmer Wade Faulkner finds himself entangled in a deadly treasure hunt and falling for prime murder suspect Darcy Delmar.
- Lasting Shadows (2019) – Ridge Faulkner, a luxury home builder won at a charity auction, works alongside Savannah Ambrose to renovate a fixer-upper while dodging mysterious accidents.
- Fierce Shadows (2020) – Undercover ATF agent Dare Reigns uses a blind date with bar owner Harper Faulkner as cover for an investigation, only to uncover a threat reaching deep into the community.
- Broken Shadows (2020) – Custom furniture maker Trent Faulkner protects Hollywood star Skye Jessamine as she flees a dark threat and seeks refuge in the small town.
- Framed Shadows (2021) – Artist and gallery owner Tinsley Faulkner teams up with FBI Special Agent Paxton Kendry when a decades-old art heist lands on her doorstep.
- Endless Shadows (2021) – Powerful businessman Ryker Faulkner finds his vulnerability when night-shift nurse Kenzie Carys saves his life, drawing her into his dangerous world.
- Fading Shadows (2022) – Grieving widow Edie Wecker returns home to rebuild her life, only to find that her neighbor is actually Tristan Durand, a covert operative fleeing a international threat.
- Damaged Shadows (2022) – Small-town Sheriff Granger Fox must face his past physical and emotional scars when lawyer Olivia Townsend arrives, shaking up the town.
- Escaping Shadows (2023) – Sheriff's deputy Kordell King steps up to protect bartender Georgina "Georgie" Grey when her wealthy and powerful pharmaceutical family tracks her down.
Shadows Landing: The Townsends
After the events of Damaged Shadows and Escaping Shadows, the focus shifts to the Townsend siblings (originally introduced through Olivia Townsend). This spin-off series maintains the exact same mix of romantic suspense and coastal charm:
- Face-Off (2023) – Injured professional hockey player Stone Townsend works to rehabilitate his career with sports academy owner Natalie Novak while uncovering a threat.
- Targeted (2024) – Special Forces operative Hunter Townsend and Olympic sharpshooter Maggie Bell must put aside their banter when a shadowy threat targets the town.
- Rescued (2024) – Kane Townsend, a former FBI analyst turned private security contractor, is hired to rescue kidnapped chief scientist Waverly Davenport.
- Heated (2025) – Nightclub owner Wilder Townsend falls for Bexley Moretti, an undercover detective investigating his establishments.
- Escaped (2025) – Forrest Townsend protects researcher Jordana Alves after she escapes from captors in the Amazon rainforest and seeks safety in South Carolina.
- Fractured (2026) – Pediatric surgeon Dr. Rowan Townsend and school psychologist Nellie Katherine Hale work together to save Nellie's sister from a dangerous marriage.
- Claimed (2026) – The youngest sibling, Penelope Townsend, falls for Nico Saccone, prompting her protective brothers to team up with the reformed mafia family to rescue her.
What to Know Before You Start
Because Shadows Landing shares its DNA with Kathleen Brooks’ earlier work, readers often wonder if they need to read the Bluegrass series first. While characters from the Bluegrass world make cameos, Shadows Landing functions perfectly as a standalone starting point. You will not feel lost if you jump straight into Saving Shadows.
The key to enjoying this series is understanding its tone. Brooks blends lighthearted family meddling and humorous small-town antics (such as local alligator removals and gossiping neighbors) with genuine danger, including murder, kidnapping, and corporate sabotage. Reading in publication order ensures that you understand the web of relationships and the layout of the town as the community grows.