Cheryl Douglas Books in Order

How to Start Reading Cheryl Douglas

If you are diving into Cheryl Douglas’s extensive catalog of contemporary romance, the sheer volume of her work—spanning over 80 novels and more than a dozen series—can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, her books are structured into distinct series that focus on different themes, settings, and tropes. You do not need to read her entire bibliography in a single chronological sequence. Instead, the best approach is to pick a thematic "world" that appeals to you and read that specific series from the beginning.

Here are the recommended starting points depending on your favorite romance subgenres:

• For Country Music & Nashville Glamour: Start with Shameless, the first book in the original Nashville Nights series. This is Douglas's signature universe and provides the perfect introduction to her emotional, dialogue-driven style.
• For Sports Romance & Alpha Athletes: Start with Strike Out, which kicks off the Texas Titans sports romance series.
• For Billionaire Family Sagas: Start with Ryker, the opening novel of the Steele Brothers series, or Deacon, the start of the Starkis Family books.
• For Small-Town Romance & Second Chances: Start with Rough Terrain, the first book in the Vista Falls series.

The Nashville Nights Universe Reading Order

Cheryl Douglas’s most famous and sprawling universe is centered on the Nashville music scene. This universe is split into three main series that should ideally be read in order, as characters from the original series appear as mentors, parents, or background figures in the later installments.

1. Nashville Nights (Original Series)

This series introduces the glitz, glamour, and emotional struggles of country music stars and their love interests. You should read these in their publication order to follow the overlapping social circles of the characters:

1. Shameless (2012)
2. Fearless (2012)
3. Ruthless (2012)
4. Reckless (2012)
5. Relentless (2012)
6. Heartless (2012)
7. Hopeless (2012)
8. Careless (2012)
9. Breathless (2013)
10. Imagine (2013)

2. Nashville Nights: Next Generation

This spin-off series follows the children and younger relatives of the characters from the original series. Although it began publishing in 2012 while the original series was still wrapping up, it is chronologically set later and is best enjoyed after the main series:

1. High Stakes (2012)
2. Trade Off (2012)
3. Holiday Homecoming (2012)
4. Game On (2012)
5. Burn Out (2013)
6. Fast Track (2013)
7. Time Out (2013)
8. Face Value (2013)
9. Blown Away (2013)

3. Nashville Nights: Take Two

A modern continuation of the Nashville Nights world. This series brings readers back to the music city with fresh stories and updated contemporary themes:

1. Speechless (2023)

Sports Romance Series

For readers who love athletic heroes and high-stakes romance, Douglas has two major series focused on sports and the athletes who play them.

Texas Titans

This series follows the lives and loves of professional athletes. It is best read in order of release:

1. Strike Out (2013)
2. End Zone (2014)
3. First Down (2014)
4. Cheap Shot (2014)
5. Wild Card (2015)
6. Free Agent (2015)
7. Going For It (2015)
8. Possession (2015)

Summer Rush

Another sports-themed romance series featuring high-stakes competition and passionate relationships:

1. Sweet Spot (2016)
2. Hit and Run (2016)
3. Make Up Call (2017)
4. Down the Line (2019)
5. Wild One (2019)
6. Payback (2019)

Billionaire and Family Sagas

If you prefer wealthy heroes, high-society drama, and close-knit family connections, Douglas has two major contemporary sagas. While they do not cross over directly, they share similar themes and a fast-paced publishing timeline in 2015-2016.

Steele Brothers

This series focuses on the romance and lives of the wealthy Steele brothers:

1. Ryker (2015)
2. Nex (2015)
3. Seb (2015)
4. Steele Brothers Christmas (2015)
5. Brody (2016)
6. Kane (2016)
7. Gabe (2016)

Starkis Family

A companion-style billionaire family series released in parallel with the Steele Brothers:

1. Deacon (2015)
2. Damon (2015)
3. Tiana (2015)
4. Kara (2015)
5. Darius (2015)
6. Catia (2015)

Small-Town and Standalone Series

Beyond sports and billionaires, Douglas writes character-driven contemporary romance focusing on healing, second chances, and starting over.

Vista Falls

Set in a charming mountain town, this series follows characters searching for peace and new beginnings:

1. Rough Terrain (2016)
2. Lost and Found (2016)
3. Letting Go (2016)
4. Coming Home (2017)
5. Sticks and Stones (2017)
6. Picture Perfect (2018)

The Exes

A unique series structure that focuses on former couples finding their way back to each other or navigating complex dynamics:

1. Perfect Storm (2017)
2. Down and Dirty (2017)
3. Fast and Loud (2017)
4. Slow Burn (2017)
5. Bring It On (2017)
6. Take It Off (2017)
7. In Too Deep (2018)

Nashville Outlaws

A gritty, emotional small-town romance series set around the local motorcycle club culture and law-defying romance:

1. Bad Habits (2019)
2. Dirty Mind (2019)
3. Heaven & Hell (2021)
4. Better Man (2021)
5. Road Trip (2021)
6. Angel Eyes (2021)
7. Too Late (2021)

Liar Liar

A lighthearted and steamy fake-relationship romance series:

1. Sexy Fake Fiancé (2023)
2. Wild Fake Daddy (2023)
3. Hot Fake Husband (2023)

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order Caveats

For readers who want to follow the absolute publication order of Cheryl Douglas's bibliography, it is important to note that she is an extremely prolific writer who often publishes multiple books and series within the same year. For example, in 2012, she published books across both Nashville Nights and Nashville Nights: Next Generation simultaneously, and in 2015 she published the entire Starkis Family series alongside several Steele Brothers novels.

Because of this, reading in strict publication order is not recommended. It will cause you to jump back and forth between different settings and family groups (e.g., leaving a football field in the Texas Titans series to visit a country music stage in Nashville, and then jumping to a corporate boardroom in the Steele Brothers series). For the best experience, complete one series before moving on to the next.