The Recommended Reading Path for April Hunt
April Hunt has built a strong reputation in the contemporary romance community by writing in two distinct subgenres. Under her own name, she delivers high-octane romantic suspense novels featuring rugged military veterans, private security agents, and the fiercely independent women who match them step for step. Under her pen name, April Asher, she writes lighthearted paranormal romantic comedies centered around supernatural beings, magical mishaps, and family bonds in urban environments. Because these two styles are completely separate, your reading path depends entirely on which vibe you are looking for.
For readers who love military heroes, bodyguards, and heart-pounding action, the best path is to start with the Alpha Security series before moving on to the Steele Ops series. If you prefer witty banter, fake dating, witches, and shifters, you should bypass the suspense novels and start directly with the Supernatural Singles series written under the April Asher pseudonym. The books within each series are closely connected by overarching character dynamics and familial ties, so reading them in order is highly recommended to avoid major spoilers.
Where to Start: Best Entry Points
If you are diving into April Hunt's romantic suspense catalog, the absolute best starting point is Heated Pursuit, the debut novel that launched the Alpha Security series. This book introduces the fundamental operational style and tone of Hunt's writing: fast-paced danger, gritty stakes, and high-intensity physical and emotional chemistry. It also establishes characters who recur throughout the rest of the series.
For those interested in her paranormal romantic comedies, the ideal starting point is Not the Witch You Wed, published under the April Asher name. This book kicks off the Supernatural Singles series by introducing the Maxwell triplets and the magical, shifter-filled version of New York City where the trilogy takes place. Starting here allows you to understand the magical rules of the universe and the complex family dynamics of the Maxwell sisters before their individual stories unfold.
Alpha Security Series Reading Order
The Alpha Security series follows a group of elite private security operatives who handle high-risk rescue missions, asset protection, and counter-cartel actions. The stories are set against a backdrop of intense danger, with the romantic partners often forced into close proximity while surviving life-or-death scenarios. The series is best read in publication order, which matches the chronological progression of the team's operations:
- Heated Pursuit (2016): Focuses on bounty hunter Penny Kline and Alpha Security operative Rafe Ortega. When Penny's niece is kidnapped by a cartel in Honduras, Rafe steps in to assist. This book sets the stage for the team's operational style.
- Holding Fire (2017): Follows operative Trey Hanson as he is assigned to protect a senator's daughter who has become the target of a dangerous threat. It builds on the team's internal camaraderie.
- Hard Justice (2017): Centers on former Navy SEAL Vince Jenkins and fierce operative Charlie Vance. The pair goes undercover in a high-stakes sex club sting operation to flush out a target, forcing them to confront their mutual attraction.
- Hot Target (2018): A companion novella (often numbered as Book 3.5). The story follows Rachel Kline as she heads to Las Vegas to rescue a missing friend, only to end up in a jail cell. She is bailed out by Logan Callahan, an ex-Marine and Alpha Security operative who must keep her safe when a sniper targets her.
Steele Ops Series Reading Order
The Steele Ops series is a direct thematic successor to Alpha Security, focusing on an elite security firm owned and operated by the close-knit Steele siblings. The series features heavy military romance elements, bodyguard tropes, and investigative puzzles. Like her previous series, the Steele Ops novels should be read in order to appreciate the development of the family business and the relationships between the siblings:
- Deadly Obsession (2019): Focuses on Knox Steele, a former Army Ranger who is helping his brothers establish their new security firm. When his childhood crush, CSI agent Zoey Wright, is targeted by a killer, Knox steps in as her personal protector.
- Lethal Redemption (2019): Follows operative Cade Wright and FBI profiler Grace Steele. Grace returns home to help with a case, only to find herself working closely with Cade, leading to a tense partnership where professional boundaries blur.
- Fatal Deception (2020): Centers on Roman Steele, a decorated war veteran, and Dr. Isabel Santiago, a brilliant virologist. When a deadly pathogen is stolen, Roman must protect Isabel while they race against the clock to prevent a catastrophic outbreak.
The April Asher Persona: Supernatural Singles
For readers looking for something lighter, April Hunt writes the Supernatural Singles series under the pseudonym April Asher. This trilogy shifts the setting to New York City and replaces military operations with magic, werewolf packs, and demonic curses. The series centers on the Maxwell triplets, three powerful witch sisters navigating love and supernatural politics. The books must be read in order because the sisters' lives and the political balance of the Supernatural Council evolve significantly across the titles:
- Not the Witch You Wed (2022): Features Violet Maxwell, the eldest triplet who was long thought to be magic-less, and Lincoln Thorne, an alpha werewolf shifter who also happens to be her ex. To appease the Council, they agree to a fake-dating arrangement that quickly reignites real feelings.
- Not Your Ex's Hexes (2023): Focuses on Rose Maxwell, the middle triplet who walked away from her role as the Prima Apparent of the Supernatural Council. After a magical mishap lands her in community service at a supernatural animal sanctuary, she cross paths with Damian Adams, a cursed half-demon veterinarian.
- Not Your Crush's Cauldron (2024): Centers on Olive Maxwell, the youngest triplet and a magic history professor who wants nothing to do with Council politics. Her life is upended when Baxter "Bax" Donovan, a tattooed Guardian Angel, becomes her roommate and protector.
What to Know Before You Start
While the romantic suspense novels (Alpha Security and Steele Ops) and the paranormal romantic comedies (Supernatural Singles) do not share a shared universe, they both showcase Hunt's signature approach to character development: strong-willed, capable heroines and protective, dedicated heroes.
Within the individual series, the romantic stories are self-contained, meaning each book concludes with a satisfying Happily Ever After (HEA) for the main couple. However, the overarching plotlines, security missions, and family dynamics carry over from one book to the next. If you read them out of order, you will immediately learn which characters ended up together and how previous high-stakes crises were resolved. Therefore, adhering to publication order within each specific series is highly recommended for the best reading experience.