The Long, Tall Texans Books in Order

Welcome to Jacobsville: The Appeal of the Long, Tall Texans

For decades, romance readers have flocked to the fictional town of Jacobsville, Texas. Created by bestselling author Diana Palmer (the pen name of Susan Kyle), the Long, Tall Texans series has grown into a massive contemporary romance phenomenon, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide. The series is famous for its signature elements: tall, stoic, and sometimes gruff cowboys, Texas Rangers, and local lawmen who find themselves completely disarmed by independent, spirited heroines. While the books are largely standalone romances focusing on one couple at a time, the recurring appearances of townspeople, local law enforcement officers, and ranching families create a rich, interconnected community that makes reading them in order highly rewarding.

How to Start: Your Best Entry Points

With dozens of novels, novellas, and short stories, looking at the massive list of Long, Tall Texans books can feel overwhelming. If you want to experience the series the way it was originally built, we highly recommend starting with the very first book published, Calhoun (1988). This short, passionate novel introduces you to the Ballenger family and establishes the rustic charm and emotional dynamics of Jacobsville. Reading the first few trilogies in their publication order helps you get familiar with the core cast before the universe expands into suspenseful law enforcement plots in the later years.

Alternatively, if you prefer a chronological flow, you can start with the prequel novel, The Founding Father (published in 2003), which goes back in time to tell the story of the town's early days and the ancestors of the families featured in the modern books.

Recommended Reading Path: Publication Order

Reading in publication order is the easiest way to watch the town of Jacobsville grow, as characters introduced as background players or sidekicks in one book frequently step into the spotlight as the main protagonists of subsequent novels. Below is the primary publication order of the main novels:

• Calhoun (1988)
• Justin (1988)
• Tyler (1988)
• Sutton's Way / Quinn (1989)
• Ethan (1990)
• Connal (1990)
• Evan (1991)
• Harden (1991)
• Donavan (1991)
• Emmett (1993)
• Regan's Pride (1994)
• Coltrain's Proposal / Coltrain (1995)
• That Burke Man (1995)
• Paper Husband / Grant (1996)
• Tom (1997)
• Drew (1997)
• Jobe (1997)
• Christmas Cowboy (1997)
• The Princess Bride / Marshall (1998)
• Beloved (1998)
• Callaghan's Bride (1999)
• Luke (1999)
• Christopher (1999)
• Guy (1999)
• Matt Caldwell (2000)
• The Texas Ranger (2001)
• A Man of Means (2002)
• Desperado (2002)
• Lionhearted (2002)
• Lawless (2003)
• Man In Control (2003)
• The Founding Father (2003)
• Renegade / One Night in New York (2004)
• Hank / Redbird (2004)
• Cattleman's Pride (2004)
• Carrera's Bride (2004)
• Blake / Boss Man (2005)
• Heartbreaker (2006)
• Outsider (2006)
• Lawman (2007)
• Winter Roses (2007)
• Fearless / Rodrigo (2008)
• Iron Cowboy (2008)
• Heart of Stone / Boone (2008)
• Heartless (2009)
• The Maverick / The Cowboy Code / Harley (2009)
• Tough To Tame / Bentley (2010)
• Dangerous (2010)
• Merciless (2011)
• Rick / True Blue (2011)
• Courageous (2012)
• Protector (2013)
• Texas Born (2014)
• Invincible (2014)
• Untamed (2015)
• Defender (2017)
• Undaunted (2017)
• Unbridled (2018)
• Tony / Silent Night Man (2019)
• Unleashed (2020)
• Notorious (2020)
• Texas Proud (2020)
• The Loner (2023)

Chronological Reading Order and Timeline Caveats

For readers who want to follow the timeline of events within Jacobsville step-by-step, the chronological order shifts a few titles. Most notably, The Founding Father moves to the very beginning, and Hank / Redbird moves up earlier in the timeline. However, you should note that because Diana Palmer has written these stories over a span of several decades, minor timeline inconsistencies and retcons regarding characters' ages, histories, or local events occasionally crop up. Do not worry too much about perfect continuity—each book is designed to function as an independent romance. Here is the chronological sequence:

1. The Founding Father (2003)
2. Calhoun (1988)
3. Justin (1988)
4. Tyler (1988)
5. Sutton's Way / Quinn (1989)
6. Ethan (1990)
7. Connal (1990)
8. Harden (1991)
9. Evan (1991)
10. Donavan (1991)
11. Emmett (1993)
12. Regan's Pride (1994)
13. That Burke Man (1995)
14. Hank / Redbird (2004)
15. Coltrain's Proposal / Coltrain (1995)
16. Paper Husband / Grant (1996)
17. Drew (1997)
18. Tom (1997)
19. Jobe (1997)
20. Christmas Cowboy (1997)
21. The Princess Bride / Marshall (1998)
22. Beloved (1998)
23. Callaghan's Bride (1999)
24. Luke (1999)
25. Christopher (1999)
26. Guy (1999)
27. Matt Caldwell (2000)
28. The Texas Ranger (2001)
29. A Man of Means (2002)
30. Desperado (2002)
31. Lawless (2003)
32. Lionhearted (2002)
33. Man In Control (2003)
34. Cattleman's Pride (2004)
35. Renegade / One Night in New York (2004)
36. Carrera's Bride (2004)
37. Blake / Boss Man (2005)
38. Heartbreaker (2006)
39. Outsider (2006)
40. Lawman (2007)
41. Winter Roses (2007)
42. Iron Cowboy (2008)
43. Fearless / Rodrigo (2008)
44. Heart of Stone / Boone (2008)
45. Heartless (2009)
46. The Maverick / The Cowboy Code / Harley (2009)
47. Dangerous (2010)
48. Tough To Tame / Bentley (2010)
49. Merciless (2011)
50. Rick / True Blue (2011)
51. Courageous (2012)
52. Protector (2013)
53. Invincible (2014)
54. Texas Born (2014)
55. Untamed (2015)
56. Defender (2017)
57. Undaunted (2017)
58. Unbridled (2018)
59. Unleashed (2020)
60. Tony / Silent Night Man (2019)
61. Texas Proud (2020)
62. Notorious (2020)
63. The Loner (2023)

Subseries, Collections, and Key Spin-offs

In addition to the main line of novels, Diana Palmer has expanded the Jacobsville universe through targeted mini-series and seasonal anthologies. A notable subseries is the Long, Tall Texans: Most Wanted trilogy, which was published in 1992. These three books focus on distinct romantic mysteries in Jacobsville:

• The Case Of The Confirmed Bachelor (1992)
• The Case of the Mesmerizing Boss (1992)
• The Case of The Missing Secretary (1992)

Readers looking to read everything in the universe should also keep an eye out for collections like A Long, Tall Texan Summer (1997) and Love with a Long, Tall Texan (1999), which bundle novellas and short stories featuring characters who interact with the main cast. Additionally, Diana Palmer’s other series (such as Hutton & Co. and the Wyoming Men series) sometimes feature minor character crossovers, tying her broader romance catalog into a loosely shared setting.

What to Know Before You Start

Diana Palmer’s romance novels feature distinct thematic styles. Her male leads are traditional 'alpha' heroes—often stubborn, protective, and emotionally guarded—which may feel polarizing to some modern readers. However, fans adore the intense emotional tension, small-town charm, and the ultimate softening of these hardened lawmen and ranchers. If you enjoy dramatic plots, high emotional stakes, and classic Western romance elements, Jacobsville is the perfect place to get lost in a book.