Cara McKenna Books in Order

Where to Start with Cara McKenna

Cara McKenna is widely celebrated in the romance community for her raw, emotionally intense, and character-driven erotic romances. Because her books span different tones, tropes, and even pen names, the best place to start depends on what you are looking for:

• For the classic McKenna experience: Start with After Hours or Hard Time. Both feature blue-collar heroes, intense emotional development, and high-heat passion.
• For something dark and taboo: Start with Willing Victim, her breakout hit that explores consensual non-consent (CNC) and fight roleplay.
• For romantic suspense: Start with Lay It Down, the first book in her Desert Dogs series, which blends motorcycle club vibes with small-town mystery.
• For something experimental: Read Badger (written under C.M. McKenna), which focuses heavily on dark, literary themes of addiction.

The Flynn and Laurel Duology

This is McKenna's most famous and polarizing work. It is an intense, high-heat contemporary romance that deals with consensual non-consent (CNC) and fight roleplay. The series must be read in order:

1. Willing Victim (2010)
2. Brutal Game (2016)

Willing Victim was originally published as a standalone novella but was later expanded. Brutal Game picks up later in Flynn and Laurel's relationship, exploring how their unconventional dynamic evolves over time.

Desert Dogs Series

Set in the dusty, economically struggling desert town of Fortuity, Nevada, this series follows a close-knit group of mechanics and motorcycle riders. While they bond over bikes, readers should note that this is not a traditional outlaw Motorcycle Club (MC) romance series; it is much more of a gritty, character-driven romantic suspense series.

The recommended reading order is:

1. Drive It Deep (2015) — Note: This is a prequel novella (numbered 0.5) that can be read first or as a companion later, though starting here sets up the local town dynamics well.
2. Lay It Down (2014)
3. Give It All (2015)
4. Burn It Up (2015)
5. Ride It Out (2017)

Sins in the City Series

This contemporary erotic trilogy is set in New York City. The books function as standalones focusing on different couples, but they share a common setting and thematic focus on voyeurism, exhibitionism, and alternative relationship structures.

1. Crosstown Crush (2015)
2. Downtown Devil (2016)
3. Midtown Masters (2017)

The Wilinski's Series (Written as Meg Maguire)

Under the pen name Meg Maguire, McKenna wrote category romances for Harlequin Blaze. The Wilinski's series is centered around a boxing and MMA gym in Boston. These books have a slightly lighter, classic category romance feel compared to her self-published works, though they still feature her signature emotional depth.

These books were later reissued with alternative self-published titles. The order is:

1. Making Him Sweat / All or Nothing (2013)
2. Taking Him Down / Going the Distance (2013)
3. Driving Her Wild / Takedown (2013)

The Curio Series

Curio is a unique series that began as a novel and was followed by a sequence of short story follow-ups called the Curio Vignettes. You should read the main novel first before moving to the vignettes, or purchase Curio: The Complete Series which bundles them all together.

1. Curio (2015) — The main novel.
2. Curio Vignettes (2015) — A collection of five short follow-up stories: Coercion, Craving, Reversal, Confession, and Exposure.

Standalone Novels & Collections

Many of McKenna's best-loved works are standalones. These can be read in any order, though they are listed below by publication year:

• Off Limits (2010)
• Skin Game (2011)
• Stray Hearts (2011)
• Lessons in Letting Go (2011)
• Caught on Camera (2011)
• The Reluctant Nude (2011)
• Headstrong (2011)
• Trespass (2011)
• The Wedding Fling (2012)
• After Hours (2013) — A gritty psychiatric hospital nurse-orderly romance.
• Unbound (2013) — A kinky self-discovery romance set in the isolated Scottish Highlands.
• Hard Time (2014) — A library outreach worker and inmate pen-pal romance.
• Her Best Laid Plans (2014)
• Badger (2015) — Written under the name C.M. McKenna; a dark, experimental story about addiction and obsession.
• Strange Love (2016) — A short story collection.
• Way Down Deep (2017) — Co-written with Charlotte Stein, told entirely through text messages.