Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
If you are diving into the books of USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Autumn Jones Lake, the best place to start is the beginning of her massive, interconnected universe. The best starting point is Slow Burn, the first book in the main Lost Kings MC series. This book introduces Rochlan "Rock" North, the President of the Lost Kings Motorcycle Club, and Hope Kendall, a strong-willed attorney. Their romance serves as the foundation for the entire series.
Because the series features a tightly knit club where characters grow, marriages happen, secrets are revealed, and children are born over years of continuity, it is highly recommended to follow the publication order. While some readers prefer to group the books by specific couples, reading out of order will spoil major club subplots, character deaths, and relationship milestones. The author herself advises against trying to read only by specific character points of view, as the overarching plot moves forward chronologically with each publication.
The Lost Kings MC Couple and Character Arcs
To help you keep track of the sprawling cast of the Lost Kings MC, the series can be broken down into distinct character-focused story arcs. While club business and secondary characters weave through every book, these are the couples that take center stage in each volume:
Rock & Hope (The Foundation)
The President and his lawyer lady love are the anchor of the early series, and their story spans several books and novellas as they navigate the club's chaotic lifestyle.
- Slow Burn (2014) - Rock and Hope's first meeting.
- Corrupting Cinderella (2014) - The couple tries to bridge their very different worlds.
- Three Kings, One Night (2014) - A special bridge novella focusing on Rock, Hope, and the club.
- Strength from Loyalty (2015) - Their relationship deepens amid rising club threats.
- White Heat (2016) - Continued focus on their chemistry and struggles.
- Between Embers (2016) - Rock and Hope navigate internal and external pressures.
- After Burn (2018) - The couple deals with the aftermath of massive club drama.
- After Glow (2018) - Rock and Hope find their footing in a changed club dynamic.
Wrath & Trinity (The Protector's Path)
Wrath is the club's fiercely possessive protector, and his story with Trinity is filled with deep emotional history, second chances, and high-stakes danger.
- Tattered on My Sleeve (2015) - Explores the intense, emotional past and present of Wrath and Trinity.
- White Knuckles (2017) - Set right before their wedding, Wrath must make an impossible choice to protect Trinity from an old enemy.
Murphy & Heidi (Loyalty & Truth)
Murphy, the club's road captain, and Heidi, who is also Teller's sister, share a slow-burn connection that tests the boundaries of club loyalty.
- More Than Miles (2016) - Explores their chemistry and Murphy's personal growth.
- White Lies (2019) - The couple approaches their highly anticipated wedding, but secrets and truths threaten to tear them apart.
Teller & Charlotte (The Treasurer and His Sunshine)
Marcel "Teller" Whelan is the club's analytical treasurer, whose life is changed by the arrival of Charlotte.
- Beyond Reckless (2017) - The beginning of Teller and Charlotte's duet.
- Beyond Reason (2017) - The resolution of their initial story.
- Reckless Truths (2022) - A later installment featuring their wedding and the exposure of a life-altering secret.
Zero & Lilly (The Vice President's Secrets)
Zero, the Vice President of the club, is a player who finally meets his match in Lilly, leading to a dramatic, multi-book saga.
- Zero Hour (2019) - A prequel novella showing how they first met.
- Zero Tolerance (2019) - Lilly returns after a three-year disappearance with a major secret: their son, Chance.
- Zero Regret (2019) - Zero fights to uncover the remaining secrets Lilly is keeping.
- Zero Apologies (2019) - The emotional resolution of their turbulent journey.
Rooster & Shelby (The Singer and the Biker)
Logan "Rooster" Cogburn, who rises to Vice President, finds himself falling for Shelby, a sassy singer from Texas. Their relationship spans a novella, a duet, and a trilogy.
- Swagger and Sass (2019) - A Texas-set novella where Rooster rescues and falls for Shelby.
- Rhythm of the Road (2020) - Their relationship gets tested as their two worlds collide.
- Lyrics on the Wind (2021) - Rooster and Shelby navigate outside threats with the help of the club.
- Diamond in the Dust (2021) - The start of their follow-up trilogy.
- Crown of Ghosts (2021) - The middle book of their extended journey.
- Throne of Scars (2022) - The final conclusion of Rooster and Shelby's main arc.
Dex & Emily (Second Chance Protection)
Dex is a road captain who swore off love after a tragic loss in his youth, but he is forced to confront his past when tasked with protecting Emily.
- Rust or Ride (2023) - Dex is assigned to protect Emily, sparkign a deep chemistry.
- Agony to Ashes (2023) - The conclusion to Dex and Emily's duet.
Jigsaw & Margot (The Vigilante and the Mortician)
Jigsaw, a road captain with a dark streak, meets his match in Margot, a quirky mortician with ties to the club.
- Twist the Knife (2024) - Jigsaw and Margot's initial connection.
- Collect the Pieces (2025) - The second book in their planned three-book arc, dealing with shattered trust.
Lost Kings MC Universe Expansion: Prequels and Standalones
Beyond the numbered entries of the main series, Autumn Jones Lake has written books that expand the lore of the club without requiring deep knowledge of the main timeline:
- Renegade Path (2021) - Set chronologically before the events of Slow Burn, this prequel standalone (originally published as Knight of Swords) follows Roman "Vapor" Hawkins and Juliet in their high school years.
- One Empire Night (2017) - A holiday novella set in the middle of the series that updates readers on the club's main couples.
Other Worlds and Spin-Off Series
While the Lost Kings MC is Autumn Jones Lake's signature universe, she has successfully branched out into other romance subgenres, including rock star, paranormal, and contemporary fighter romances.
Hollywood Demons (Formerly the Kickstart Trilogy)
Set in 1989, this complete rock star, mafia, and MC hybrid romance spin-off series follows Chaser, a rising musician with ties to the biker world, and Mallory, an actress on the run from a dark past.
- Kickstart My Heart (2020)
- Blow My Fuse (2020)
- Wheels of Fire (2020)
Ruthless & Royal Duet
This gritty, underground fighter romance series focuses on Griff "Stonewall" Royal and his forbidden romance with Molly, the younger sister of his best friend and fighting partner, Remy Holt. Though the books are listed separately in some databases, they must be read together as a continuous duet.
- Fighting the Forbidden (2024)
- Repairing the Wreckage (2024)
Catnip & Cauldrons Series
For readers who enjoy a paranormal twist, this fantasy romance series features cat-shifter characters, supernatural secrets, and steamy romance.
- Onyx Night (2012) - Focuses on Onyx Knight and her history professor, Cole Radcliff.
- Onyx Shadows (2016) - Continues Onyx and Cole's magical journey.
- Feral Escape (2016) - Follows the cat-shifter Molly and her rescuer, a lynx-shifter named Ivan.
Standalone Novels
If you want to experience the author's writing style without committing to a series, these standalones are perfect choices:
- Bullets & Bonfires (2017) - A small-town, best friend's sister romance featuring deputy sheriff Liam Hollister and Bree Avery.
- Warnings & Wildfires (2018) - A single-dad romance following gym owner Sullivan "Sully" Wallace and Aubrey Dorado.
What to Know Before You Start
The Lost Kings MC series is known for its high level of detail, authentic biker club terminology, and deep character development. Since the books are heavily serialized, starting anywhere other than Slow Burn or the standalone prequels is not recommended. The tone is steamy, emotional, and protective, with alpha heroes who are completely devoted to their partners. The books feature mature themes, including violence, crime, and explicit romance, fitting for the motorcycle club genre.