Anna J. McIntyre Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Anna J. McIntyre

Before diving into individual series lists, the most critical decision a reader must make is choosing which of the author's two distinct literary worlds to enter first. Because Anna J. McIntyre (the pen name of Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes) writes in vastly different genres and age ratings, your starting point depends entirely on your reading preferences:

• For sweeping historical drama and steamy romance: Start with Coulson's Wife, the first book in the multi-generational Coulson Family Saga. Written under the Anna J. McIntyre pseudonym, these books contain mature themes, strong language, and R-rated romance.
• For G-rated, cozy paranormal mysteries: Start with The Ghost of Marlow House, the opening volume of the massive Haunting Danielle series. These mysteries are published under her primary pen name, Bobbi Holmes, and are suitable for cozy mystery fans of all ages.
• For light, contemporary standalones: Start with Sundered Hearts, the first installment of the Unlocked Hearts series, which offers sweet-to-spicy contemporary love stories with guaranteed happy endings.

What to Know Before You Start: The Pen Name Divide

Understanding the author's background is key to avoiding confusion when tracking down her books. Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes originally established herself as a writer of family-friendly paranormal mysteries. However, when she decided to write stories with explicit, mature romance and historical drama, she created the pseudonym Anna J. McIntyre to ensure her young or cozy-mystery readers wouldn't accidentally pick up her adult-rated books.

Despite the separation of pen names, the local town settings are often inspired by the author's real life in Lake Havasu, which translates into the recurring atmospheres of her settings, such as Hasavu Palms. Additionally, her adult historical romances are characterized by deep character studies—drawing on her self-described nature as an "amateur psychologist" and people-watcher.

1. The Coulson Family Saga Reading Order

This series is a sweeping, multi-generational saga that begins in 1918 and moves forward to modern times, tracking the lives, secrets, and romantic struggles of the Coulson family. While the author has noted that each book has enough self-contained resolution to be read on its own, reading them out of order will spoil major family secrets and character developments. To get the full emotional impact of the multi-generational timeline, you should follow the publication order, which aligns perfectly with the chronological narrative.

1. Coulson's Wife (2013) – Set in 1918, this book introduces Mary Elizabeth, a young woman who enters a marriage of convenience with wealthy shipbuilder Randall Coulson, only to find herself trapped in a web of secrets and forbidden desire.
2. Coulson's Crucible (2014) – Follows the next generation of the family as they navigate the trials, secrets, and emotional crucibles of the mid-20th century.
3. Coulson's Lessons (2014) – Focuses on the younger members of the family learning hard-won lessons about love, betrayal, and loyalty.
4. Coulson's Secret (2014) – Brings long-buried family secrets to the forefront, threatening to tear the modern Coulson legacy apart.
5. Coulson's Reckoning (2014) – The emotional conclusion of the saga, where past decisions are finally reckoned with and the family's future is cemented.

Reader Tip: If you prefer audiobooks, the entire saga is narrated by Reagan West, whose emotional delivery brings the historical and contemporary drama of the Coulson family to life.

2. The Unlocked Hearts Series Reading Order

If you are looking for contemporary romance that is lighter than the Coulson Family Saga, the Unlocked Hearts series is your best choice. These books deliver satisfying, sweet-to-spicy romances that culminate in happy endings. Unlike the Coulson Family Saga, these books are true standalones and can be read in any order. However, the female leads from the subsequent books are introduced together in the first book, so reading them in order provides the best character continuity.

1. Sundered Hearts (2014)
2. After Sundown (2014)
3. While Snowbound (2014)
4. Sugar Rush (2014)

3. The Haunting Danielle Series Reading Order

Though published under her primary pen name, Bobbi Holmes, this incredibly popular paranormal cozy mystery series is highly sought after by fans of the author. The series follows Danielle Boatman, who inherits a historic house in Oregon, only to discover it is occupied by the ghost of its former owner, Walt Marlow. Together, they solve local mysteries. Because this series features a continuous overarching plot involving Walt's death and Danielle's evolving relationships, you must read these books in publication order. Reading them out of order will significantly disrupt the timeline and spoil character arcs.

1. The Ghost of Marlow House (2014)
2. The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (2014)
3. The Ghost Who Wasn't (2015)
4. The Ghost Who Wanted Revenge (2015)
5. The Ghost of Halloween Past (2015)
6. The Ghost Who Came for Christmas (2015)
7. The Ghost of Valentine Past (2016)
8. The Ghost from the Sea (2016)
9. The Ghost and the Mystery Writer (2016)
10. The Ghost and the Muse (2016)
11. The Ghost Who Stayed Home (2016)
12. The Ghost and the Leprechaun (2017)
13. The Ghost Who Lied (2017)
14. The Ghost and the Bride (2017)
15. The Ghost and Little Marie (2017)
16. The Ghost and the Doppelganger (2018)
17. The Ghost of Second Chances (2018)
18. The Ghost Who Dream Hopped (2018)
19. The Ghost of Christmas Secrets (2018)
20. The Ghost Who Was Says I Do (2019)
21. The Ghost and the Baby (2019)
22. The Ghost and the Halloween Haunt (2019)
23. The Ghost and the Christmas Spirit (2019)
24. The Ghost and the Silver Scream (2020)
25. The Ghost of a Memory (2020)
26. The Ghost and the Witches’ Coven (2020)
27. The Ghost and the Mountain Man (2021)
28. The Ghost and the Birthday Boy (2021)
29. The Ghost and the Church Lady (2022)
30. The Ghost and the Medium (2022)
31. The Ghost and the New Neighbor (2022)
32. The Ghost and the Wedding Crasher (2023)
33. The Ghost and the Twins (2023)
34. The Ghost and the Poltergeist (2024)
35. The Ghost Who Sought Redemption (2024)

4. Standalone Short Stories and Anthologies

In addition to her main series, the author has published a few shorter works and contributed to anthologies. These are optional companion pieces that do not impact the continuity of her main sagas.

• American Bondage (2012) – Originally published under the pen name Sallie Holt, this controversial adult short story was later re-released under the Anna J. McIntyre name.
• End of the Road (2013) – A multi-author anthology containing short fiction.
• The Kiss: An Anthology of Love and Other Close Encounters (2014) – A collection of romantic short stories featuring a contribution from the author.