Recommended Reading Order: Where to Start
If you are diving into the magic-infused canyons and desert towns of Christine Pope’s paranormal romance universe, the best way to read the series is in publication order. The narrative begins with a tight trilogy focusing on the primary couple, Addie and Jake, before branching out into standalone romances featuring other members of the Wilcox clan. By following the release order, you will watch the overarching plot of government conspiracies, newly discovered witches, and clan politics unfold exactly as the author intended.
The Main Addie & Jake Trilogy
To get the complete story without missing key world-building or character introductions, you should start with the first three books. This initial story arc establishes the setting, the magic system, and the central conflict with the government's supernatural hunters:
- Storm Born (Book 1): Introduces Adara "Addie" Grant, whose weather-wielding moods summon literal storms, and Jake Wilcox, a warlock and protector who must save her from government agents.
- Thunder Road (Book 2): Follows Addie on the run to protect the Wilcox clan, testing her bond with Jake as they dodge relentless trackers.
- Winds of Change (Book 3): Concludes the main trilogy as Jake pulls out all the stops to rescue Addie from a high-security government facility designed to contain magical beings.
The Complete Publication Order
Once you finish the initial trilogy, the series expands its scope. Each subsequent book features a new couple, shifting the spotlight to different Wilcox family members and allies while continuing the timeline. Here is the complete list of all books in the series:
- Storm Born (2020): The introduction to the series. Addie Grant discovers her emotional outbursts cause destructive weather events. When she crosses paths with Jake Wilcox, she is thrust into a hidden world of magic, clan rivalries, and government agents who want to weaponize her powers.
- Thunder Road (2020): Addie and Jake's story continues as they go on the run. The focus shifts to protecting the Wilcox clan in Flagstaff, Arizona, from the federal agents tracking them.
- Winds of Change (2020): The dramatic finale to Addie and Jake's romance arc. Addie has been captured and imprisoned in a secret government research facility, forcing Jake and his allies to plan a daring prison break.
- Mind Games (2020): Shifting focus to Jeremy Wilcox, the clan's tech expert. Jeremy tracks down Sloane Kennedy, a witch with the power of disguise and luck manipulation, who is running from her own past.
- A Wheeler Park Christmas (2020): A cozy holiday novella. Set during Addie and Jake's first Christmas together, Jake plans to propose under a snowy Flagstaff sky. However, the weather refuses to cooperate, leading to a magical butterfly effect when the clan tries to force a white Christmas.
- Blood Ties (2021): Focusing on Joanna Wilcox, a weather-controlling witch running an alpaca farm. When she needs help with repairs, she is paired with Randall Lenz, the former government agent who once hunted her family. As they work together, sparks fly, but a sudden disappearance puts their trust to the test.
- Healing Hands (2021): Follows Laurel Wilcox on her first solo tracking mission to Lake Tahoe. She is searching for a reclusive healer who vanishes into the woods after curing those in need, leading to an emotional and magical journey of self-discovery.
- Wishful Thinking (2021): Autumn Garnett possesses the rare and chaotic ability to make her spoken wishes come true. After a heated argument with warlock Michael McAllister, an accidental wish changes the fate of two entire clans, forcing them to team up to reverse the magical fallout.
- Smoke and Mirrors (2022): Skyler Fields, a recently kidnapped witch who can manipulate fire and sense other magical beings, escapes captivity and seeks refuge with the Wilcox clan. There, she teams up with warlock Jasper Wilcox, and their investigation into her heritage sparks both romance and dangerous secrets.
Chronological Order and Universe Connections
The Witches of Wheeler Park is a direct spin-off of Christine Pope's popular The Witches of Cleopatra Hill series. If you want a complete chronological experience of this shared magical universe, you can read both series together. The timeline of Wheeler Park begins roughly three years after the events of Darktide (Book 14 of the Cleopatra Hill series).
Do You Need to Read Cleopatra Hill First?
No. While characters from the Cleopatra Hill series make occasional crossover appearances and the magical lore is identical, The Witches of Wheeler Park is designed to be completely standalone. Christine Pope crafted the Wilcox clan's story in Flagstaff as a fresh entry point, so new readers can start directly with Storm Born without feeling lost.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, here are a few structural and stylistic details that will help you enjoy the series:
- The Setting: The books are set in the American Southwest, primarily around Flagstaff, Arizona, and the rugged, scenic landscapes of Utah and Lake Tahoe. The settings play a major role in the atmosphere and magic of the series.
- Romance Tropes: The series features popular tropes including fated mates, enemies-to-lovers (especially in Blood Ties), forced proximity, and fake identity (in Mind Games).
- The Magic System: Witches in this universe belong to established clans or are born "wild" without knowing their heritage. Witches and warlocks possess specific elemental or mental abilities, such as weather control, healing, fire manipulation, and wish-granting.