Barbara Samuel / Barbara O’Neal / Ruth Wind Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Barbara Samuel / Barbara O’Neal / Ruth Wind

With a career spanning several decades and more than forty novels, this beloved author has written under three distinct names, each representing a different flavor of storytelling. To make your journey easier, we recommend choosing a starting path based on the genre you enjoy most:

• For Emotional Women's Fiction (Writing as Barbara O'Neal): Start with The Lost Recipe for Happiness (2008). It is the perfect introduction to her signature style: a sensory-rich story of healing, second chances, and culinary magic. Alternatively, if you want a gripping mystery about family secrets, pick up the massive bestseller When We Believed in Mermaids (2019).
• For Cozy Contemporary Romance (Writing as Ruth Wind): Start with Marriage Material (1997), the first book in the fan-favorite Red Creek Brothers series (also known as the Last Roundup series). It delivers classic romance tropes with deep, emotional stakes.
• For Lush Historical Romance (Writing as Barbara Samuel): Start with A Bed of Spices (1993). This forbidden love story set in medieval Germany showcases her ability to blend intense sensuality with deep historical detail.

Understanding the Pen Names

Before diving into the reading lists, it helps to understand why the author uses three names and how they differ in tone and style:

Ruth Wind: This was the author's debut pseudonym, primarily used for contemporary category romances published in the late 1980s and 1990s (most notably for Silhouette). These books are shorter, highly focused on the central romantic relationship, and feature rugged western settings, small towns, and emotional healing.

Barbara Samuel: Using her real name, she transitioned into historical romances and early mainstream women's fiction in the 1990s and early 2000s. These works are longer and focus on historical accuracy, social issues, and highly evocative settings ranging from medieval Europe to Regency England.

Barbara O'Neal: This name represents her contemporary women's fiction. These novels focus on multi-generational family dynamics, women rebuilding their lives after trauma, travel, and a deep appreciation for food and cooking. Recipes are frequently integrated directly into the text.

The Complete Series Reading Order

Below is the breakdown of the author's books organized by series under each pen name, helping you track the continuity of her fictional worlds.

As Ruth Wind (Contemporary Romance)

Most of the Ruth Wind series are contemporary romances set in the American West and are best read in publication order to appreciate recurring side characters.

The Red Creek Brothers / Last Roundup Series

Set in a rugged western town, this series follows the romantic journeys of the Red Creek siblings as they find love and reconcile with their pasts.

1. Marriage Material (1997)
2. Reckless (1997)
3. Her Ideal Man (1997)
4. Beautiful Stranger (2000)

Men of the Land Series

A duo of contemporary romances focusing on hard-working men and the women who capture their hearts.

1. Meant To Be Married (1998)
2. Rio Grande Wedding (1999)

Rainsinger Series

These emotionally intense novels blend romance with elements of Native American heritage and spiritual healing.

1. Walk In Beauty (1994)
2. Rainsinger (1996)

Sisters of the Mountain Series

This trilogy follows three sisters dealing with family secrets, danger, and romance in a mountain setting.

1. Juliet's Law (2006)
2. Desi's Rescue (2007)
3. Miranda's Revenge (2007)

As Barbara Samuel (Historical Romance)

While many of Barbara Samuel's historical novels are standalones, she did write one notable family duology.

St. Ives Family Series

A richly detailed historical romance series tracking the passionate lives of the St. Ives family.

1. The Black Angel (1999)
2. Night of Fire (2000)

As Barbara O'Neal (Mainstream Women's Fiction)

All books published under the name Barbara O'Neal are standalone novels. Because they do not share character continuities, you can read them in any order. The publication order is as follows:

• The Scent of Hours (2006) - Note: Also published as Madame Mirabou's School of Love
• The Lost Recipe for Happiness (2008)
• The Secret of Everything (2009)
• How to Bake a Perfect Life (2010)
• The Garden of Happy Endings (2012)
• The Sleeping Night (2012)
• The All You Can Dream Buffet (2014)
• The Art of Inheriting Secrets (2018)
• When We Believed in Mermaids (2019)
• The Lost Girls of Devon (2020)
• Write My Name Across the Sky (2021)
• This Place of Wonder (2022)
• The Starfish Sisters (2023)
• Memories of the Lost (2024)

Shared Worlds and Collaborative Projects

In addition to her solo works, the author has contributed to several multi-author projects. These series have specific orders that involve books written by other authors:

Firstborn Sons: A collaborative contemporary romance continuity. Under the name Ruth Wind, she wrote the first book, Born Brave (2001). While it is part of a larger multi-author series, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone romance.

Athena Force: A thriller/romance series centering on female graduates of an elite academy. Ruth Wind wrote Countdown (2005), which is book 8 in the initial run. Because this series features an overarching mystery, it is best read in sequence with the other authors' books.

Whitehall: A serial historical fiction project set in the court of Catherine of Braganza, published by Serial Box. The author contributed to the writing team for Season One, which is compiled in Whitehall - Season One Volume One (2016) and Volume Two (2016).