Where to Start Your Westmorelands Journey
With dozens of interconnected books spanning multiple decades, stepping into the world of the Westmorelands can feel like walking into a massive family reunion. Luckily, author Brenda Jackson designed this contemporary romance saga so that each book focuses on a different family member's quest for love. This means you can pick up almost any book as a standalone and enjoy it without getting lost.
However, if you want the absolute best reading experience, starting at the beginning with Delaney’s Desert Sheikh (2002) is highly recommended. Reading the books in order allows you to watch the sprawling Westmoreland family tree grow, see favorite characters return in cameo appearances, and follow the overarching family dynamics naturally.
For readers who prefer a more modern entry point or want to focus on specific branches of the family, you can also start with the distinct subseries. Beginning with The Rancher Returns (2016) introduces you to the next generation in the Westmoreland Legacy, while The Wife He Needs (2020) kicks off the rugged ranching romances of the Westmoreland Legacy: Outlaws.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
In the Westmorelands universe, publication order and chronological order are essentially the same. Brenda Jackson writes the books in a chronological timeline that matches their release years, making a publication-based reading order the most straightforward path. The only minor caveats are short novellas or special holiday releases that fit snugly between major novels, but following the release order remains the safest and most satisfying path for purists.
The Main Westmorelands Series
The core series spans 33 books (including novellas and collaborative projects) published between 2002 and 2020. This sequence introduces the primary siblings, cousins, and close friends who build the foundation of the Westmoreland empire across Atlanta, Denver, and Texas.
- Delaney's Desert Sheikh (2002)
- A Little Dare (2003)
- Thorn's Challenge (2003)
- Stone Cold Surrender (2004)
- Riding The Storm (2004)
- Jared's Counterfeit Fiancee (2005)
- The Chase Is On (2005)
- The Durango Affair (2006)
- Ian's Ultimate Gamble (2006)
- Spencer's Forbidden Passion (2007)
- Seduction, Westmoreland Style (2007)
- Taming Clint Westmoreland (2007)
- Cole's Red-Hot Pursuit (2008)
- Westmoreland's Way (2009)
- Tall, Dark... Westmoreland! (2009)
- Wrapped in Pleasure (2009)
- What a Westmoreland Wants (2010)
- Hot Westmoreland Nights (2010)
- A Wife for a Westmoreland (2011)
- The Proposal (2011)
- Tis the Season...For Romance (2011)
- Feeling the Heat (2012)
- Texas Wild (2012)
- One Winter's Night (2012)
- Canyon (2013)
- Stern (2013)
- Zane (2013)
- The Real Thing (2014)
- The Secret Affair (2014)
- Breaking Bailey's Rules / Reclaimed by the Rancher (2015)
- Bane (2015)
- Corey's Mountain (2016)
- Ravished by Desire (2020)
The Westmoreland Legacy Subseries
In 2016, Jackson expanded the universe with the Westmoreland Legacy subseries. These books continue the family tradition, focusing on new romances, deeper secrets, and the next generation of the clan finding their matches.
- The Rancher Returns (2016)
- His Secret Son (2017)
- An Honorable Seduction (2018)
- His to Claim (2019)
- Duty or Desire (2019)
- Taming a Heartbreaker (2024)
The Westmoreland Legacy: Outlaws
For readers who love rugged heroines, protective alpha heroes, and ranch-based drama, the Outlaws spin-off focuses on a specific branch of the family tree, delivering classic Brenda Jackson chemistry with a Western flair.
- The Wife He Needs (2020)
- The Marriage He Demands (2021)
- What He Wants for Christmas (2021)
- What Happens on Vacation... (2022)
- The Outlaw's Claim (2022)
- Second Time's the Charm (2023)
What to Know Before You Start
Brenda Jackson made history as the first African-American author to publish a novel for the Harlequin Desire line. Her Westmoreland series is celebrated for bringing much-needed cultural diversity and authentic representation to the contemporary romance genre. You can expect high steam, strong-willed heroines, protective heroes, and a heavy emphasis on family ties and loyalty. If you enjoy sprawling family dynamics where previous couples show up to offer advice or tease the new couple, this series will feel right at home.