Cathy Marie Hake Books in Order

Recommended Starting Points

For readers new to Cathy Marie Hake’s clean, faith-filled frontier romances, deciding where to begin can be daunting due to her various interconnected series. There are three excellent starting points depending on your preference:

• Only in Gooding Series: Start with Fancy Pants (2007). This is widely considered Hake’s breakout novel and features a delightful mix of humor, mistaken identity, and high-spirited Texas frontier romance.
• The Chance Family Saga: Start with One Chance in a Million (2004). This kicks off the multi-series Chance Family universe, introducing the brothers in Reliable, California, and setting the stage for subsequent spin-offs.
• California Historical Series: Start with Letter Perfect (2006). If you prefer a slightly more traditional mid-19th-century California setting with a clumsy yet lovable heroine, this duology is the perfect introduction.

The Chance Family Universe: A Reading Roadmap

The most expansive and complex portion of Cathy Marie Hake’s bibliography centers on the Chance family. These stories span several subseries, multiple authors, and distinct geographic locations, yet they all share a common thread of family bonding, faith, and romance. The saga is broken down into three main blocks:

1. California Chances

Set in the frontier ranching community of Reliable, California, this series introduces the six Chance brothers. It was written in collaboration with Hake's daughter, Kelly Eileen Hake, and author Tracey V. Bateman. The reading order is:

1. One Chance in a Million (2004) by Cathy Marie Hake: Follows Miriam, who arrives in California to care for her late sister’s children, only to clash with the six stubborn Chance brothers who run the ranch.
2. Second Chance (2005) by Tracey V. Bateman: Focuses on Titus Chance and Alisa, navigating trust and love in the wake of a stagecoach robbery.
3. Taking a Chance (2005) by Kelly Eileen Hake: Wraps up the brothers' primary California romances.

2. Kentucky Chances

This subseries shifts the focus to Salt Lick Holler, Kentucky, and follows the Chance family as they find love far from home. It was co-authored by Cathy Marie Hake and Kelly Eileen Hake. It is also collected in the omnibus Kentucky Chances: Three Brothers Find Romance Far from Home (2006). The order includes:

1. Last Chance (2005) by Cathy Marie Hake: Follows widow Lovejoy Spencer as she meets grieving widower Daniel Chance.
2. Chance Adventure (2005) by Kelly Eileen Hake: Follows Bryce Chance's romance.
3. Chance of a Lifetime (2005) by Kelly Eileen Hake: Focuses on Paul Chance.

3. California Brides

Written solely by Cathy Marie Hake, this trilogy shifts the focus to the daughters and women of the Chance family in 19th-century California. The three novels can be read in publication order or together in the 2007 omnibus California Brides:

1. A Handful of Flowers (2006): Follows Polly Chance, a botanical healer whose rustic treatments conflict with the formal training of the town's new doctor, Eric Walcott.
2. Bridal Veil (2006): Follows Laurel Chance during a rugged family journey through Yosemite, where she tries to prove her resilience to the family guide, Gabriel Rutlidge.
3. No Buttons Or Beaux (2006): Centers on April Chance, an unconventional heroine who learns the rules of traditional courtship from Peter MacPherson.

Only in Gooding! Series

Set in the fictional town of Gooding, Texas, during the 1890s, this series showcases Cathy Marie Hake's signature comedic timing and clean Christian romance. The books are interconnected by recurring characters and the shared town setting, meaning they benefit from being read in publication order:

1. Fancy Pants (2007): British lady Sydney Hathwell is stranded in Texas, mistaken for a man, and forced to work alongside rancher Toby Fisher.
2. Forevermore (2008): Follows Hope Ladley, a woman with a reputation for disastrous luck, and farm owner Jakob Stauffer.
3. Whirlwind (2008): Features Millicent "Millie" McKinney, a milliner who clashes with the town's rugged blacksmith.
4. That Certain Spark (2009): Follows the romance of Taylor Vance, a mechanic, and town physician Dr. Collingsworth.
5. Serendipity (2010): The final book in the series, featuring the spirited Maggie Harmon and sheriff Joshua Slocum.

California Historical Series

This two-book historical romance series takes place in 1850s California. It is a separate narrative universe from the Chance family books:

1. Letter Perfect (2006): Introduces Ruth Caldwell, an endearing but clumsy heroine who travels west and gets mixed up in a mail-order bride situation with Samuel Henderson.
2. Bittersweet (2007): Focuses on Laney McCain, a young woman struggling to keep her family's farm, and deputy sheriff Logan Vance.

Virginia Brides Trilogy

The Virginia Brides trilogy is a collaborative project where Cathy Marie Hake wrote three novels, later collected with works by Vickie McDonough and Susan Page Davis in a 2008 anthology. Hake's contributions are:

1. Spoke of Love (2006)
2. Spinning Out Of Control (2006)
3. Weaving a Future (2006)

Cathy Marie Hake's Standalone Novels

In addition to her multi-book series, Hake wrote a substantial number of standalone historical romances. These are perfect for readers looking for quick, self-contained stories. They include:

• Redeemed Hearts (1999)
• Twin Victories (2000)
• Let Freedom Ring (2001)
• Precious Burdens (2002)
• Unexpected Delivery (2002)
• Love Is Patient (2003)
• The Restoration (2004)
• Ramshackle Rose (2004)
• Mixed Blessings (2004)
• Love Worth Finding (2005)
• In His Will (2006)
• Golden Dawn (2007)

In His Will is sometimes associated with the multi-author "Oklahoma Weddings" collection alongside Kelly Eileen Hake, but it functions perfectly as a standalone read.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Hake's books, there are a few practical pointers to keep in mind. First, her historical setting research is highly detailed, incorporating realistic elements of 19th-century homesteading, medicine, and travel (such as Yosemite carriage tours or mail-order logistics). Second, because she wrote during the peak of the Heartsong Presents era, many of her books are novellas or short novels. This explains why they are frequently packaged in omnibus editions or co-authored with family members. Lastly, the tone is consistently lighthearted, clean, and deeply rooted in Christian faith, making them comfortable reads for fans of inspirational romance.