Texas Grooms Books in Order

Where to Start Reading the Texas Grooms Series

If you are planning to visit the fictional town of Turnabout, Texas, the best way to do so is in publication order. While every single novel in the series is a standalone romance with its own satisfying, faith-filled resolution, reading them in the order they were published offers the most rewarding experience. Doing so allows you to watch Turnabout grow, feel the passage of the seasons, and enjoy cameos from couples who found their happily-ever-afters in previous books.

Your journey should begin with Handpicked Husband, which establishes the community spirit of Turnabout. From there, you can follow the town's expansion, its holiday celebrations, and the arrival of new bachelors and spirited heroines who shape the local community.

The Rebranding: Texas Grooms vs. Turnabout Hearts

Readers researching this series online will quickly encounter a common source of confusion: the series is known by two different names, and several books have different titles depending on which edition you purchase. Here is what you need to know:

• The Original Run: The series was originally published between 2012 and 2017 under Harlequin's Love Inspired Historical line, where it was marketed as the Texas Grooms series.
• The Rebrand: After author Winnie Griggs reacquired the rights to these books, she began reissuing them independently. During this transition, she rebranded the collection as the Turnabout Hearts series to highlight the town that binds all the stories together.
• Title Modifications: Along with the rebranding, three of the books received new titles to match their independent releases. The Holiday Courtship became His Christmas Matchmaker, A Tailor-Made Husband became Her Tailor-Made Husband, and Once Upon a Texas Christmas was retitled His Holiday Deadline. Additionally, the first book, Handpicked Husband, has an older history, having been originally published in a different form as Lady's Choice in 2005 before being revised and released in 2012.

Texas Grooms / Turnabout Hearts Reading Order

Here is the complete chronological publication order for the series, including the original Harlequin titles and their updated independent release names:

1. Handpicked Husband (2012) – Originally published in a different form as Lady's Choice in 2005. Regina Nash must find a husband quickly to maintain custody of her orphaned nephew, leading her to draft a list of candidates, only to find the local sheriff, Mitch Parker, complicates everything.
2. The Bride Next Door (2013) – Daisy Johnson relocates to Turnabout to start fresh by turning a poker-won building into a restaurant, finding herself at odds—and in love—with her buttoned-up neighbor, Everett.
3. A Family for Christmas (2013) – A heartwarming holiday romance featuring Eve Pickering and Chance Dawson, who are brought together to care for an abandoned baby during the festive season.
4. Lone Star Heiress (2014) – Adventurous Ivy Feagan travels to Turnabout to claim an unexpected inheritance, clashing with the cautious and protective Mitch Parker (different from the sheriff in book one).
5. Her Holiday Family (2014) – A touching story of healing and second chances, following a widow and a reserved handyman who find comfort in each other during the holidays.
6. Second Chance Hero (2015) – A story about redemption where a reformed outcast returns to Turnabout, determined to prove he has changed to the woman he never stopped loving.
7. The Holiday Courtship (2015) – Reissued as His Christmas Matchmaker. A charming story of mismatched townspeople who find themselves pushed together by local matchmakers during the Christmas season.
8. Texas Cinderella (2016) – Maud Overstreet dreams of a life beyond her stepmother's demands, finding an unexpected path to freedom and love with a handsome local rancher.
9. A Tailor-Made Husband (2017) – Reissued as Her Tailor-Made Husband. Seamstress Hazel Andrews is determined to establish her independence in Turnabout, but her plans are disrupted by the town's charming sheriff, Ward Gleason.
10. Once Upon a Texas Christmas (2017) – Reissued as His Holiday Deadline. Seth Reynolds and Abigail Fulton must work together under a tight deadline to renovate a local historic hotel in time for Christmas, finding romance along the way.

Chronological Flow and Continuity Caveats

Because the series follows the evolution of a single community, the internal timeline runs parallel to the publication order. The books are set in the late 19th-century American West (specifically the 1880s and 1890s). Minor characters from early novels—such as local merchants, deputies, and friends—frequently appear as main characters in later books.

For instance, reading Second Chance Hero before the earlier books won't ruin the plot, but you will miss the subtle build-up of the town's social dynamics and will see previously unmarried couples happily settled, which acts as a minor spoiler. If you appreciate rich world-building in historical romance, stick strictly to the release order.

What to Know Before You Start

Winnie Griggs' work is highly regarded in the Christian historical romance genre for its gentle faith elements, wholesome tone, and focus on emotional intimacy. You won't find explicit content here; instead, the stories emphasize character growth, forgiveness, community, and second chances. If you enjoy authors like Cheryl St. John or Regina Jennings, you will feel right at home in Turnabout. The town itself acts as a character, complete with gossip, church socials, and frontier struggles that ground the romance in an authentic historical setting.