Colleen Faulkner Books in Order

Where to Start with Colleen Faulkner

With a writing career spanning decades and crossing multiple genres, Colleen Faulkner has written over a hundred books. Because she writes under her own name as well as several popular pseudonyms, deciding where to start can feel a bit overwhelming. The best entry point depends entirely on what kind of story you are in the mood for:

• For Emotional Family Dramas: Start with her breakout general fiction novel, Just Like Other Daughters (2013). It is a deeply moving standalone story about a mother navigating the joys and challenges of raising a daughter with Down syndrome. It showcases Faulkner’s gift for capturing the messy, beautiful reality of family life.
• For Coastal Thrillers and Suspense: Begin with the Albany Beach Trilogy, written under her pen name Hunter Morgan. The series starts with She’ll Never Tell (2004) and delivers fast-paced romantic suspense set against the moody backdrop of the Delaware shore.
• For Vampire and Paranormal Romance: Start with Eternal (2007), the first book in the Clare Point series, which she wrote under the pseudonym V.K. Forrest. It is a perfect blend of gothic atmosphere, vampire lore, and high-stakes romance.
• For Classic Historical Romance: Pick up the Grayson Twins duology, starting with Temptation’s Tender Kiss (1990), or dive into early standalones like Raging Desire (1987) to experience her early roots in the historical romance genre.

The Albany Beach Trilogy (Written as Hunter Morgan)

Writing under the name Hunter Morgan, Faulkner crafted a gripping trilogy centered around the fictional coastal town of Albany Beach, Delaware. These books blend small-town secrets, romance, and psychological suspense. While they were republished as eBooks in 2019, they were originally published in 2004.

We recommend reading these in publication order, as the suspenseful atmosphere builds from one book to the next:

1. She’ll Never Tell (2004)
2. She'll Never Know (2004)
3. She’ll Never Live (2004)

Fun connection for readers: Faulkner's contemporary standalone novel, As Close As Sisters (2013), is also set in Albany Beach, Delaware. While it is a family drama rather than a romantic thriller, reading it alongside the trilogy offers a fascinating look at how the author uses the same coastal setting across different genres and pseudonyms.

The Clare Point Series (Written as V.K. Forrest)

Under the V.K. Forrest pen name, Faulkner took a detour into paranormal romance and urban fantasy with the Clare Point series. Set in a hidden, exclusive Delaware community populated by vampires, this series follows the supernatural challenges, romance, and mysteries surrounding the local vampire families.

Because there is an ongoing narrative arc across the series, you must read these books in strict publication order:

1. Eternal (2007)
2. Undying (2008)
3. Immortal (2009)
4. Ravenous (2011)
5. Voracious (2012)

The Scottish Fire Series (Highland Books)

Faulkner has also contributed to the popular historical Highlander romance genre. Her Scottish Fire series features passion, clan loyalty, and historical drama. Note that while Highland Bride was published first in 2000, the narrative order recommended by readers flows best when you read them chronologically by setting rather than original release dates.

Here is the recommended narrative order for the trilogy:

1. Highland Lady (2001)
2. Highland Lord (2002)
3. Highland Bride (2000)

Bachelors, Inc. Series

For readers looking for lighthearted, fun, and emotional contemporary romances from the turn of the millennium, the Bachelors, Inc. trilogy is a fantastic option. Published in 2000 by Zebra Books, these stories follow three independent men who find their lives turned upside down by love.

The publication and reading order is straightforward:

1. Marrying Owen (2000)
2. Tempting Zack (2000)
3. Taming Ben (2000)

The Grayson Twins & Destiny's Daughters

Faulkner's early career in the historical romance genre features the Grayson Twins duology, which consists of:

1. Temptation’s Tender Kiss (1990)
2. Patriot’s Passion (1991)

Important Republication Note: The first book, Temptation's Tender Kiss, also served as the launchpad for a trilogy known as Destiny's Daughters. In 2019, these historical romances were repackaged and re-released under the name Colleen French (another variant of her name, playing on her mother Judith E. French's legacy). They were retitled as: The Printer's Daughter: Rebellion (originally Temptation’s Tender Kiss), The Bootmaker's Daughter: Revolution, and The Fur Trader's Daughter: Rendezvous. Keep this in mind when hunting down physical copies so you don't buy the same story twice!

The Stephen Kill Murders (Written as Hunter Morgan)

Another suspenseful project under her Hunter Morgan pseudonym is the Stephen Kill series. Set in the fictional, eerie town of Stephen Kill, Delaware, this duology centers on solving dark crimes and uncovering hidden motives in close-knit communities.

Read them in this order:

1. Unspoken Fear (2006)
2. Are You Scared Yet? (Originally published around 2007, reprinted in 2019)

Colleen Faulkner's Standalone Novels

In addition to her series, Faulkner has written dozens of standalone novels. These are divided into two distinct eras of her career: her modern contemporary women's fiction and her early historical romances.

Modern Contemporary & Family Dramas

These standalones do not have any continuity connection to each other and can be read in any order. They focus on emotional, character-driven family dynamics:

• Maggie's Baby (2000)
• Barefoot and Pregnant? (2004)
• As Close As Sisters (2013)
• Just Like Other Daughters (2013)
• Julia's Daughters (2015)
• What Makes a Family (2017)
• Finding Georgina (2018)
• Our New Normal (2019)

Early Historical Romances

If you enjoy classic historical romances filled with adventure, drama, and passion, these standalones can also be enjoyed in any order:

• Raging Desire (1987)
• Forbidden Caress (1987)
• Snowfire (1988)
• Traitor's Caress (1989)
• Passion's Savage Moon (1989)
• Love's Sweet Bounty (1991)
• Savage Surrender (1992)
• Sweet Deception (1992)
• Forever His (1993)
• Flames of Love (1993)
• Captive (1994)
• O'Brian's Bride (1995)
• Destined to Be Mine (1996)
• To Love a Dark Stranger (1997)
• Fire Dancer (1997)
• Once More (1998)
• Angel in My Arms (1998)
• If You Were Mine (1999)
• A Shocking Request (2002)

Hunter Morgan Suspense Standalones

Under the Hunter Morgan pseudonym, she also published three standalone romantic suspense thrillers:

• The Other Twin (2003)
• What She Can't See (2005)
• Don't Turn Around (2008)