Can Barbara Dunlop's books be read as standalones?

Yes. Almost all of Barbara Dunlop's novels are written to be read as standalones, even if they are part of a larger family series. However, reading them in publication order within their respective series will help you appreciate recurring characters and running background plots.

What is the correct order for the Paradise, Alaska series?

The Paradise, Alaska series should be read in publication order: Match Made in Paradise , followed by Finding Paradise , and concluding with Strangers in Paradise .

How do the Match series books connect?

The Match series books are connected by a shared premise: a group of grandparents using custom computer software to match their heirs. While each book features a new couple, they are best read in order starting with An Unlikely Match .

Did Barbara Dunlop write all of the Texas Cattleman's Club books?

No. The Texas Cattleman's Club series (including both the Heir Apparent and Diamonds & Dating Apps arcs) is a collaborative project written by multiple Harlequin authors. Dunlop only wrote specific volumes, such as The Texan's Secrets and Bidding on a Texan .

What is the connection between the Montana Merricks and the Bull Riders Tour?

Dunlop's novel The Bull Rider's Redemption (also published under the title Chase ) serves as both the first book in her Montana Merricks series and a contribution to the multi-author American Extreme Bull Riders Tour series.

Barbara Dunlop Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Barbara Dunlop

With an extensive bibliography of contemporary romances, romantic comedies, and western sagas, diving into Barbara Dunlop's work can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, her books are written as standalones or standalone-compatible series, meaning you can jump in almost anywhere. Depending on your favorite romance subgenre, here are the three best entry points:

For Small-Town and Wilderness Romance: Start with Match Made in Paradise, the first book in the Paradise, Alaska series. It features city women adapting to the rugged Yukon-adjacent frontier and falling for charming bush pilots.
For Witty, Tech-Driven Romantic Comedies: Start with An Unlikely Match, the opener of the self-published Match series. The series centers on tech-savvy Florida grandparents who code matchmaking software to meddle in their grandchildren's love lives.
For High-Society, Steamy Drama: Start with The Twin Switch, launching the Gambling Men series, which delivers Harlequin Desire-style billionaire romance filled with family secrets and high stakes.

Major Barbara Dunlop Series and Reading Orders

To experience the character arcs and settings as Dunlop intended, it is best to follow the publication order within each individual series.

Paradise, Alaska Series

Set in a remote Alaskan town, this trilogy combines cozy, small-town vibes with the challenges of wilderness survival and sudden storms. The books should be read in order:

Match Made in Paradise (2021)
Finding Paradise (2021)
Strangers in Paradise (2022)

The Match Series

This lighthearted, comedic series is driven by the antics of meddling elders and their unsuspecting heirs. Read them in publication order:

An Unlikely Match (2014)
An Impractical Match (2014)
An Extraordinary Match (2014)
An Astonishing Match (2014)
An Unpredictable Match (2016)

Colorado Cattle Barons

If you love classic Western romance featuring wealthy, rugged ranchers, this six-book series is a fan favorite. Read them in this order:

A Cowboy Comes Home (2012)
A Cowboy in Manhattan (2012)
An Intimate Bargain (2012)
Millionaire in a Stetson (2013)
A Cowboy's Temptation (2013)
The Last Cowboy Standing (2014)

High Country Hawkes

A newer Western romance series following the lives and loves of the Hawkes family, starting with rodeo stars and ranch life. The reading order is:

Breakaway Cowboy (2023)
From Highrise to High Country (2023)

Gambling Men Series

Focused on powerful families, secret agreements, and second chances, this series delivers dramatic, emotional contemporary romance:

The Twin Switch (2019)
The Dating Dare (2020)
Midnight Son (2022)
Husband in Name Only (2022)

Chicago Sons

This series follows wealthy, high-powered CEOs and the independent women who challenge them. Read them in order:

Sex, Lies and the CEO (2015)
Seduced by the CEO (2015)
A Bargain with the Boss (2016)
His Stolen Bride (2016)

Whiskey Bay Brides

Set in a scenic coastal community, this trilogy delivers emotional depth, secret pregnancies, and family drama:

From Temptation to Twins (2017)
Twelve Nights of Temptation (2017)
His Temptation, Her Secret (2018)

Understanding Multi-Author Continuity Series

As a prolific contributor to Harlequin and Silhouette lines, Barbara Dunlop has written books that belong to larger, multi-author collaborative universes. You do not need to read the entire multi-author run to enjoy her books, but reading them in sequence with the other authors' books helps preserve the overarching plot lines. Here is how her specific contributions fit in:

Texas Cattleman's Club: Diamonds & Dating Apps: Dunlop wrote the eighth and final book, The Texan's Secrets (2023). The series centers on a tech-driven dating app feud in Royal, Texas.
Texas Cattleman's Club: Heir Apparent: Dunlop wrote the eighth book, Bidding on a Texan (2021).
Dynasties: The Lassiters: Dunlop contributed the seventh book, Reunited with the Lassiter Bride (2014), to this family dynasty saga.
The Hudsons of Beverly Hills: Dunlop wrote the third book, Transformed Into the Frenchman's Mistress (2009).
The Highest Bidder: Dunlop wrote the sixth and final book, A Golden Betrayal (2012).
Hotel Marchand: Dunlop contributed the tenth book, A Secret Life (2007).
NASCAR: Dunlop wrote Overheated (2008), set in the high-octane stock car racing circuit.
American Extreme Bull Riders Tour: Dunlop contributed The Bull Rider's Redemption / Chase (2017), which crossover links with her own Montana Merricks duology.