Where to Start with Annabelle Winters
With a bibliography spanning over eighty steamy novellas and suspense novels, entering the world of Annabelle Winters can feel like diving into a whirlwind of possessive alpha heroes, quick-burning passion, and dramatic twists. Fortunately, because Winters writes fast-paced, high-heat standalone stories within her series, you do not need to follow a strict chronological sequence across her entire catalog. However, choosing the right entry point will help you appreciate her signature blend of 'insta-love' and over-the-top romance.
For the classic Annabelle Winters experience, the best starting point is Curves for the Sheikh (originally published as The Waitress from Wisconsin in 2016). This debut book established her signature style: a voluptuous heroine, a hyper-possessive billionaire hero, and a plot filled with high-stakes drama. If you prefer high-octane romantic suspense with military themes, start with Avenging Amy (2021), the book that kicks off the action-packed Team Darkwater series.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Annabelle Winters' books are designed to be enjoyed as standalones. This means there is no complex chronological timeline to worry about, and you can pick up almost any book that catches your eye. That said, reading within her major series in publication order is highly recommended for the best experience. Reading in order allows you to catch subtle references to previous couples and watch the author's writing style evolve.
This is particularly true for the Team Darkwater series. Winters utilizes an alphabetical naming convention for this series (starting with A for Amy, B for Brenna, and so on). While each book features a different couple and a self-contained romantic arc, the overarching operations of the military and security team develop across the titles. Reading them out of order may spoil minor background subplots and character relationships.
The Core Series Breakdown
To help you navigate her extensive collection, we have broken down her books into their respective thematic series below, presented in their recommended reading order.
Curves for the Sheikhs Books
This is Winters' flagship series, focusing on curvy American women who find themselves swept off their feet by powerful, wealthy sheikhs. These stories are fast, dramatic, and filled with escapist fantasy.
- The Waitress from Wisconsin (2016)
- Flames for the Sheikh (2016)
- Hostage for the Sheikh (2016)
- Single for the Sheikh (2016)
- Stockings for the Sheikh (2016)
- Untouched for the Sheikh (2017)
- Surrogate for the Sheikh (2017)
- Stars for the Sheikh (2017)
- Shelter for the Sheikh (2017)
- Shared for the Sheikh (2018)
- The Agent from Alabama (2018)
- The Librarian from Louisiana (2018)
- The Gangster from Georgia (2018)
- The Vintner from Virginia (2018)
- Haunted for the Sheikh (2018)
- Grateful for the Sheikh (2018)
- Mistletoe for the Sheikh (2018)
- Fake for the Sheikh (2019)
Team Darkwater Books
A departure from her royal romances, the Team Darkwater series combines intense military suspense with high-heat romance. It follows a group of elite Navy SEALs and security operatives who go to extreme lengths to protect the women they love.
- Avenging Amy (2021)
- Breaking Brenna (2021)
- Capturing Cate (2022)
- Delivering Diana (2022)
- Extracting Emma (2022)
- Finding Fay (2022)
- Guarding Gale (2023)
- Hiding Hannah (2023)
- Interrogating India (2023)
- Jacking Jill (2023)
- Keeping Kylie (2023)
Curvy for Him Books
This series features everyday heroines paired with intense, protective professionals—ranging from quarterbacks to bikers. These are classic 'insta-love' tropes elevated to Winters' signature high-drama style.
- The Teacher and the Trainer (2019)
- The Librarian and the Cop (2019)
- The Lawyer and the Cowboy (2019)
- The Princess and the Pirate (2019)
- The CEO and the Soldier (2019)
- The Astronaut and the Alien (2019)
- The Quilter and the Quarterback (2019)
- The Botanist and the Biker (2019)
- The Psychic and the Senator (2019)
Curvy for Keeps Books
Featuring forced proximity, arranged marriages, and intense protective instincts, this series dives deep into possessive heroes who claim their curvy mates quickly.
- Given to the Groom (2020)
- Traded to the Trucker (2020)
- Punished by the Principal (2020)
- Stranded with the Psycho (2020)
- Wifed by the Warlord (2020)
- Late for the Landlord (2020)
- Vanquishing the Viking (2020)
- Disciplined by the Duke (2020)
- Saving the Sinner (2020)
Dragon's Curvy Mate Books
Winters' foray into paranormal romance features protective dragon shifters finding their fated mates in curvy, modern women. These stories combine office romance setups with fantasy elements.
- Dragon's Curvy Assistant (2020)
- Dragon's Curvy Banker (2020)
- Dragon's Curvy Counselor (2020)
- Dragon's Curvy Doctor (2020)
- Dragon's Curvy Engineer (2020)
- Dragon's Curvy Firefighter (2020)
- Dragon's Curvy Gambler (2020)
Curves for Shifters Books
Another beloved paranormal romance series, featuring a variety of shifters—including dragons, bears, wolves, lions, and tigers—each finding their fated curvy mates.
- Curves for the Dragon (2019)
- Born for the Bear (2019)
- Witch for the Wolf (2019)
- Tamed for the Lion (2019)
- Taken for the Tiger (2019)
Curvy in College Books
This series brings the classic 'opposites attract' and college-aged tropes to life, matching different campus personalities with high-steam outcomes.
- The Jock and the Genius (2020)
- The Rockstar and the Recluse (2020)
- The Dropout and the Debutante (2020)
- The Player and the Princess (2020)
- The Fratboy and the Feminist (2020)
Billionaire's Curvy Bride Books
Focusing on marriage-of-convenience, contract relationships, and high-society bets, this trilogy is perfect for fans of billionaire romance.
- Billionaire's Curvy Arrangement (2020)
- Billionaire's Curvy Bet (2020)
- Billionaire's Curvy Contract (2020)
Curvy for the Holidays Books
A fun collection of holiday-themed romances that deliver quick, seasonal steam, ranging from Thanksgiving hostage scenarios to Valentine vampires.
- Taken on Thanksgiving (2019)
- Captive for Christmas (2019)
- Night Before New Year's (2019)
- Vampire's Curvy Valentine (2020)
- Flagged on the Fourth (2020)
- Home for Halloween (2020)
Standalones and Novellas
Winters has also published independent stories that do not belong to a larger series but carry the exact same hallmarks of high-steam, possessive romance.
- Summoned by the CEO (2020)
- Push Me (2021)
What to Know Before You Start
Before jumping into Annabelle Winters' library, it helps to understand the conventions of her subgenre. Winters writes 'instalove' romantic suspense and contemporary romance novellas. The plots move incredibly fast, the chemistry is instant, and the heroes are often described as obsessive, over-the-top, and aggressively protective. Characters often commit to each other within pages, and a happily-ever-after (often complete with a baby or marriage epilogue) is guaranteed. If you enjoy realistic, slow-burn relationship development, these books might not be your cup of tea; but if you crave escapist drama, possessive alpha heroes, and unapologetic steam, Winters is a master of the craft.