Al and JoAnna Lacy Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Al and JoAnna Lacy

For readers new to the prolific husband-and-wife writing team of Al and JoAnna Lacy, navigating their expansive catalog of over 100 historical Christian novels can feel like charting the untamed 19th-century American West. Their books are characterized by a unique blend of frontier action, meticulous historical research, romance, and an explicit focus on Christian salvation, trust in God, and redemption.

If you are looking for the best entry points into their combined bibliography, we recommend starting with one of their two most famous and beloved series:

• Hannah of Fort Bridger Series: Starting with Under the Distant Sky, this series is ideal if you prefer a continuous, character-driven saga. It follows the life, trials, and faith of Hannah Cooper and her family on the post-Civil War frontier.
• Mail Order Bride Series: Beginning with Secrets of the Heart, this is the perfect starting point if you enjoy romantic historical fiction. Each book is largely standalone, focusing on different courageous women traveling West to find love, purpose, and spiritual growth.

What to Know Before You Start

Al Lacy began his career writing Westerns individually in the early 1990s, but his collaboration with his wife, JoAnna Lacy, officially began in the late 1990s (starting with the launch of the Hannah of Fort Bridger series in 1997 and Mail Order Bride in 1998). JoAnna, a retired nurse, initially served as Al's advisor before becoming an active co-author. Together, they developed a signature style: fast-paced narratives, deeply emotional struggles, and a clear evangelistic message where characters face real-world historical challenges (such as the Trail of Tears or the orphan trains) and find hope through faith.

While most of their books are organized into distinct series, they are generally written to be accessible. However, reading them in publication order is highly recommended to appreciate character development and avoid minor spoilers, particularly in family sagas like Hannah of Fort Bridger and The Kane Legacy.

The Complete Reading Order of Co-Authored Series

Below is the detailed chronological and publication order for the collaborative series by Al and JoAnna Lacy, based on official bibliography data.

Hannah of Fort Bridger Books

Set in the rugged terrain of Wyoming, this series details the Cooper family's journey toward establishing a new life after the Civil War. Note that while some database indexes contain duplicate records for the fourth book, the series officially consists of eight unique novels:

1. Under the Distant Sky (1997)
2. Consider the Lilies (1997)
3. No Place for Fear (1998)
4. Pillow of Stone (1998)
5. The Perfect Gift (1999)
6. Touch of Compassion (1999)
7. Beyond the Valley (2000)
8. Damascus Journey (2001)

Mail Order Bride Books

This commercially successful series tells the stories of various women who travel to the American West as mail-order brides, navigating the difficulties of pioneer life and finding romance and spiritual renewal:

1. Secrets of the Heart (1998)
2. A Time to Love (1998)
3. The Tender Flame (1999)
4. Blessed Are the Merciful (1999)
5. Ransom of Love (2000)
6. Until The Daybreak (2000)
7. Sincerely Yours (2001)
8. Measure Of Grace (2001)
9. So Little Time (2002)
10. Let There Be Light (2002)

Shadow of Liberty Books

This series focuses on the dramatic stories of early immigrants from different countries fleeing religious and political persecution between 1852 and 1943 to seek a new life of freedom in America:

1. The Secret Place (2001)
2. Let Freedom Ring (2001)
3. A Prince Among Them (2002)
4. Undying Love (2002)

The Orphan Trains Trilogy Books

Inspired by the real-life Children's Aid Society that relocated homeless children from New York City to the West, this trilogy details the struggles of young orphans searching for a place to belong:

1. All My Tomorrows (2003)
2. The Little Sparrows (2003)
3. Whispers in the Wind (2003)

Frontier Doctor Trilogy Books

This trilogy follows the dedicated medical practice of Dr. Dane Logan (who was first introduced as a child waif relocated from New York) and his wife, Tharyn, as they treat frontier miners and face the challenges of medicine in the Old West:

1. One More Sunrise (2004)
2. Beloved Physician (2004)
3. The Heart Remembers (2004)

Dreams of Gold Books

Set against the backdrop of historical 19th-century gold strikes across North America, this trilogy highlights the dangerous pursuits of fortune hunters and the spiritual lessons they learn along the way:

1. Wings of Riches (2005)
2. The Forbidden Hills (2005)
3. The Golden Stairs (2006)

A Place to Call Home Books

This historically rich series documents the struggles of the Cherokee Nation and white settlers, spanning from the forced relocation of the Trail of Tears in the 1830s to the Oklahoma land rushes of 1889:

1. The Land of Promise (2005)
2. Cherokee Rose (2006)
3. Bright Are the Stars (2006)

The Kane Legacy Books

Set in nineteenth-century Texas, this trilogy follows the trials, romance, and spiritual growth of the Kane family as they establish their legacy on the ranchlands of the Lone Star State:

1. A Line in the Sand (2007)
2. Web of Destiny (2008)
3. High Is the Eagle (2008)

Return of the Stranger Books

A direct sequel series to Al Lacy’s solo Journeys of the Stranger series, these co-authored novels follow the continued frontier justice adventures of U.S. Marshal John "The Stranger" Brockman:

1. Outlaw Marshal (2009)
2. Deadlock (2009)
3. The Iron Wagon (2010)