Al Lacy / Bill Reno Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Al Lacy

With a massive bibliography spanning over a hundred novels, deciding where to begin with Al Lacy depends on what type of frontier story you prefer. Because his works range from gritty, traditional Westerns to gentle Christian romances, the best entry point varies by reader preference:

• For Action and Mystery: Start with Legacy, the first book in the Journeys of the Stranger series. It introduces John Stranger, a mysterious hero traveling the frontier to stand up for justice. This series represents Lacy's signature solo style, combining fast-paced adventure with faith-based themes.
• For Historical Romance: Start with Secrets of the Heart, the opening novel of the famous Mail Order Bride series. Co-authored with his wife, JoAnna Lacy, this series focuses on women seeking fresh starts and love on the American frontier.
• For Episodic Lawman Tales: Start with Sundance, the first book in The Badge series, published under his pseudonym Bill Reno. This series focuses on various lawmen upholding the peace across the Wild West.

The Three Eras: Al Lacy, Bill Reno, and Morgan Hill

To understand the reading order and tone of these books, it helps to understand the pen names Al Lacy utilized throughout his career. While all were penned by Lacy (often with JoAnna collaborating in later years), they targeted different markets and styles:

1. The Morgan Hill Era (Early 1980s)

Writing as Morgan Hill, Lacy published traditional, secular Westerns for the general paperback market. These books, such as Dead Man's Noose and Twin Colts, are standalone action novels. They lack the explicit Christian themes and message of redemption that later defined Lacy's signature works, but they showcase his deep passion for frontier history.

2. The Bill Reno Era: The Badge Series (1987–1991)

Under the pen name Bill Reno, Lacy wrote the 24-volume series The Badge. These books bridge the gap between his early secular Westerns and his later Christian fiction. They focus heavily on historical detail, gunfights, and law enforcement. Every book in this series is a standalone adventure featuring a different protagonist wearing a lawman's badge, meaning you can read them in any order without losing continuity.

3. The Al Lacy & JoAnna Lacy Era (1993–2011)

Starting in the early 1990s, Lacy began publishing under his real name, focusing fully on Christian fiction. When he teamed up with his wife JoAnna, a retired nurse, their collaborative works took on a warmer, family-centered tone, heavily featuring romance, orphan sagas, and family dynamics. Their joint efforts include the Mail Order Bride series, the Hannah of Fort Bridger series, and the Orphan Trains Trilogy.

Major Series Breakdown and Reading Orders

Journeys of the Stranger & Return of the Stranger

This is Al Lacy's most famous Western adventure saga. The original series follows John Stranger, a mysterious figure who shows up where help is needed most. Years later, Lacy followed this up with the Return of the Stranger series. You should read the original seven books first, followed by the sequel series:

1. Legacy (1994)
2. Silent Abduction (1994)
3. Blizzard (1995)
4. Tears of the Sun (1995)
5. Circle of Fire (1996)
6. Quiet Thunder (1996)
7. Snow Ghost (1997)
8. Outlaw Marshal (Return of the Stranger Book 1 - 2009)
9. Deadlock (Return of the Stranger Book 2 - 2009)
10. The Iron Wagon (Return of the Stranger Book 3 - 2010)

Mail Order Bride Series

Co-authored with JoAnna Lacy, this 10-book series features different women who travel West to marry. While each book is a self-contained romance, they are best read in order of publication to appreciate the evolving frontier backdrop:

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)

Hannah of Fort Bridger

This series follows the lives and challenges of Hannah Cooper and her family in Wyoming. It is a continuous narrative, meaning readers should strictly follow the publication order:

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)

Battles of Destiny

For history buffs, this series explores fictional stories set against the backdrop of real Civil War battles. These books are standalone historical romances, but reading them in publication order provides a chronological tour of the war:

1. A Promise Unbroken (1993)
2. A Heart Divided (1993)
3. Beloved Enemy (1994)
4. Shadowed Memories (1994)
5. Joy from Ashes (1994)
6. Season of Valor (1995)
7. Wings of the Wind (1996)
8. Turn of Glory (1998)

Chronological Dynamics and Caveats

With Al Lacy's works, chronological order is rarely a source of confusion because almost all of his multi-book series are released in strict chronological order. The main exception lies in his pen names and standalone projects:

• The Badge (Bill Reno): Do not worry about chronology here. Characters do not carry over between books, so you can freely jump around based on which synopsis appeals to you.
• Morgan Hill Standalones: These early books are completely separate from his Christian fiction universe. They are shorter, traditional Western pulp books and do not share continuity with Al Lacy's later work.
• Legends of the West vs. Return of the Stranger: Although Al Lacy published a book titled The Iron Wagon in his 2002 Legends of the West series, he published a completely different book with the exact same title in 2010 to conclude the Return of the Stranger series. Keep this in mind when collecting his works to avoid buying duplicate titles with differing contents.