The Recommended Reading Order for Sherring Cross
To get the most out of the Sherring Cross series, we highly recommend reading the books in their publication order. While each novel features a standalone love story with its own resolution, the characters share direct familial connections that develop sequentially. Specifically, the couple from the second book are the parents of the heroine in the third book, making chronological and publication orders identical.
- Man of My Dreams (1992) – Set in Regency England, this first installment introduces the headstrong Megan Penworthy and Devlin, a Duke disguised as a horse breeder to find a woman who loves him for himself, not his title.
- Love Me Forever (1995) – The focus shifts to Kimberly Richards, an English heiress who meets the impoverished Scottish laird Lachlan MacGregor at the Sherring Cross estate. Forced into close quarters, they must navigate mutual suspicion and cultural clashes.
- The Pursuit (2002) – The trilogy concludes with Melissa MacGregor, the daughter of Lachlan and Kimberly. Melissa travels from her home in Scotland to London for her debut, where she falls for Lincoln Ross Burnett, Viscount Cambury, but must contend with her sixteen overprotective Scottish uncles.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
There is no conflict between publication order and chronological order for the Sherring Cross series. The events of the books follow a linear path. Man of My Dreams establishes the Regency setting and tone, Love Me Forever introduces the cross-border romance between England and Scotland, and The Pursuit takes place years later, focusing on the next generation as Lachlan and Kimberly's daughter Melissa reaches marriageable age.
What to Know Before You Start
Johanna Lindsey is a legendary name in historical romance, and the Sherring Cross series stands out for its lighter, comedic elements blended with high-stakes passion. The transition from the ballrooms of London in Book 1 to the rustic Scottish Highlands in Book 2 and Book 3 adds geographical variety and introduces the classic romance trope of culture clashes between the English aristocracy and Scottish clansmen.
Readers should note that Melissa's sixteen overprotective maternal uncles (the MacFearsons, six of whom are named Ian) serve as the primary source of comedic frustration and conflict in the final book, highlights Lindsey's knack for lively family dynamics.
Crossovers, Spin-offs, and Tie-ins
While the Sherring Cross series remains a self-contained trilogy with no direct spin-off series, readers who enjoy Johanna Lindsey's signature style of interconnected character networks will find a similar atmosphere in her famous, much larger Malory-Anderson Family Saga. Unlike the Malory series, Sherring Cross does not require a complex family tree chart, making it an easy, satisfying weekend read for historical romance fans.