Cheyenne McCray Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Cheyenne McCray

With over a hundred novels and novellas across multiple genres, Cheyenne McCray offers several distinct entry points depending on your favorite tropes. Here are the three best paths to begin your journey:

• For Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Fans: Start with The Forbidden (originally published as Forbidden Magic), the first book in the Dark Sorcery series. It features a rich world of D'Anu witches, Tuatha D'Danann warriors, and steamy, high-stakes romance.
• For Contemporary Cowboy Romance Lovers: Dive into Branded for You, the book that kicks off her ultra-popular Riding Tall series. It delivers classic ranch-life drama, rugged protective heroes, and plenty of emotional heat.
• For Romantic Suspense Seekers: Start with Zack, the opening novel of the Armed & Dangerous series, focusing on former military personnel and lawmen finding love in dangerous situations.

Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Series

Dark Sorcery Series (Formerly the "Magic" Series)

Originally published in the mid-2005s as the Magic series, McCray eventually edited, updated, and re-released these books under the Dark Sorcery banner with slightly modified titles. The series follows the magical battles of San Francisco witches and Fae warriors against dark forces. The recommended reading order is:

1. The Forbidden (formerly Forbidden Magic) (2005)
2. The Seduced (formerly Seduced by Magic) (2006)
3. The Wicked (formerly Wicked Magic) (2007)
4. One Breath (formerly Breath of Magic / The Enchanted: One Breath) (2018)
5. The Shadows (formerly Shadow Magic) (2008)
6. The Dark (formerly Dark Magic) (2018)

Night Tracker Series

This gritty urban fantasy series is set in New York City and follows Nyx, a fierce tracker who hunts down rogue supernatural beings. The series should be read in publication order:

1. Demons Not Included (2009)
2. No Werewolves Allowed (2010)
3. Vampires Not Invited (2010)
4. Zombies Sold Separately (2011)
5. Vampires Dead Ahead (2011)

The Seraphine Chronicles

Often confused with the Dark Sorcery series due to similar thematic elements, this is a completely separate paranormal romance saga that should be read in order:

1. Forbidden (2002)
2. Bewitched (2003)
3. Spellbound (2003)
4. Untamed (2003)
5. Possessed (2013)

Wonderland & Return to Wonderland

Co-authored with Mackenzie McKade, this series offers spicy, fantasy-laden retellings of classic fairy tales. Read the main series first, followed by the spin-off books:

• Wonderland Series: King of Spades (2003), King of Diamonds (2003), King of Clubs (2004)
• Return to Wonderland: Lord Kir of Oz (2005), Kalina’s Discovery (2006)

Contemporary Cowboy Romance Series

Riding Tall & Riding Tall 2

Set on rugged Arizona ranches, McCray's signature contemporary western romance series is packed with alpha cowboys and small-town charm. While they can function as standalones, reading them in order helps you appreciate the community ties.

Riding Tall (Original Series Order):

1. Branded for You (2012)
2. Roping Your Heart (2012)
3. Fencing You In (2012)
4. Tying You Down (2013)
5. Playing with You (2013)
6. Crazy for You (2013)
7. Hot for You (2013)
8. Made for You (2013)
9. Held by You (2014)
10. Belong to You (2014)

Riding Tall 2 (Next Generation/Spin-off Order):

1. Amazed by You (2017)
2. Loved by You (2017)
3. Midnight with You (2018)
4. Wild for You (2018)
5. Sold on You (2019)

King Creek Cowboys

Another beloved cowboy romance series featuring rugged ranch hands and small-town dynamics in King Creek:

1. Country Heat (2020)
2. Country Thunder (2020)
3. Country Storm (2020)
4. Country Rain (2021)
5. Country Monsoon (2022)
6. Country Mist (2023)
7. Country Lightning (2024)

Romantic Suspense & Action Series

Armed & Dangerous

Centering on the Flying M ranch, this series features elite federal agents, military men, and protective heroes. Several entries were expanded from previous short anthologies:

1. Zack (2008)
2. Luke (2009)
3. Kade (originally Wild Borders) (2015)
4. Clay (2015)
5. Alex (originally Wild Hearts) (2015)
6. Eric (2022)

Deadly Intent (Formerly the "Lawmen" Series)

Originally published under the title Lawmen, this series of high-stakes protective agent romances was rebranded as Deadly Intent:

1. Hidden Prey (2014)
2. No Mercy (2015)
3. Slow Burn (2015)
4. Point Blank (2018)

Recovery Enforcement Division (Code R.E.D. / Formerly "Lexi Steele")

This series follows Lexi Steele, a top operative working for a clandestine NSA branch targeting human trafficking. In 2021, the series was revised and republished with new titles:

1. Ruthless (formerly The First Sin) (2021)
2. Fractured (formerly The Second Betrayal) (2021)
3. Vendetta (formerly The Temptation) (2021)

Cozy Mysteries (Written as Debbie Ries)

Shawna Taylor Cozy Mysteries

Under her pen name Debbie Ries, McCray takes a break from steamy romance to write lighthearted cozy mysteries set in Bisbee, Arizona. They follow amateur sleuth Shawna Taylor and should be read in order:

1. Cooking up Murder (2021)
2. Recipe for Killing (2022)

Practical Reader Advice

Most of Cheyenne McCray's romance novels—especially the westerns like Riding Tall and the action-packed Deadly Intent—are written as complete, standalone romantic pairings. You do not need to read them in order to understand the romance plot. However, reading them in publication order is highly recommended for the urban fantasy series (like Dark Sorcery and Night Tracker) because they share overarching fantasy plotlines, recurring villains, and world-building that develops significantly from book to book.