Where to Start with Cora Brent
For readers new to Cora Brent's emotional and steamy contemporary romance novels, the absolute best place to begin is the Gentry family universe. This sprawling saga is divided into two main eras: the original Gentry Boys series and the next-generation spin-off, Gentry Generations. Starting here gives you the perfect introduction to her trademark writing style—flawed, rough-around-the-edges characters, deep family bonds, emotional redemption, and nostalgic nods to 1980s pop culture.
While most of her books can technically be enjoyed as standalone novels, reading them in their intended order preserves major character developments, cross-generational spoilers, and the overarching timeline of the families in her fictional Arizona desert setting.
The Gentry Boys Series: Recommended Reading Order
The Gentry Boys series follows three rugged, protective brothers—Cord, Chase, and Creed—as they overcome traumatic pasts and find love. We recommend reading them in publication order to experience the natural evolution of the family dynamics:
- Draw (2014) – Focuses on Cord Gentry and Saylor McCann. (This is the ideal starting point!)
- Risk (2014) – Focuses on Creed Gentry and Jenny.
- Game (2014) – Focuses on Chase Gentry and Stephanie.
- Fall (2015) – A crucial crossover novel. The hero is the Gentry cousin, Deck, and the heroine is Grace, a key character tied to the Defiant MC series.
- Hold (2016) – Focuses on Abram and Lily.
- Cross (2016) – A companion novella (Gentry Boys Book 5.5).
- Walk (2016) – Focuses on Saylor's brother, Ethan McCann.
- Edge (2016) – Focuses on the story of Cord, Chase, and Creed's mother, Stephanie, and their stepfather, Silas.
- SNOW (2016) – A festive Gentry Boys Christmas story.
The Spinoff: Gentry Generations
After wrapping up the original Gentry Boys, Cora Brent launched Gentry Generations. This spin-off series shifts the focus to the children of the original Gentry couples as they grow up, face their own challenges, and fall in love. You will see recurring appearances from the original characters as older, protective parents.
The recommended reading order for this next-gen series is:
- Strike (2017) – Features Camille (Cami) Gentry, the twin daughter of Cord and Saylor.
- Turn (2018)
- Keep (2018)
- Test (2018)
- Clash (2019)
- Wreck (2020) – Features Thomas Gentry, the youngest son of Chase and Stephanie.
Defiant Motorcycle Club (Defiant MC)
Running parallel to the early Gentry novels is the Defiant Motorcycle Club series. It features a gritty biker setting and crosses over directly with the Gentry universe in the book Fall. If you want the full crossover experience, read the Defiant MC books right before or alongside Fall.
- Know Me (2014)
- Promise Me (2014)
- Remember Me (2014)
Wicked West Rejects: The Retellings
If you want a break from the Gentry universe, Brent's Wicked West Rejects series offers a modern, gritty, and dark contemporary romance reimagining of the classic Wizard of Oz. Read this series in order:
- Hateful (2022)
- Brave (2022)
- Wise (2023)
Other Series and Co-authored / Shared Worlds
Brent has also written smaller, self-contained contemporary romance series, as well as contributing to popular multi-author projects:
The Ruins of Emblem
Set in the town of Emblem, Arizona, this series focuses on emotional second chances and small-town secrets.
- Tristan (2019)
- Jedson (2019)
Worked Up
A short, fun workplace contemporary romance duology.
- Fired (2017)
- Nailed (2018)
Shared-World Series Contributions
Many lists group shared-world collections together. However, you do not need to read the other authors' books in these series to enjoy Cora's contributions, though they are set in the same fictional universes:
- Black Mountain Academy: Cora Brent contributed The Pretender (2020), an enemies-to-lovers high school romance. Other books in this setting include titles like Midnight Sommelier, Taken at Midnight, and Deviant by various authors.
- Coming Home: Cora Brent wrote the debut book, Whatever Will Be (2022). The other titles in this multi-author list (such as Ready for Moore and Shattered Secrets) are written by different authors.
- Cards of Love: Brent contributed The Hermit (2019) to this tarot-themed collaborative series. The local database lists other titles in the collection, such as The Moon, The Hanged Man, and Queen of Wands, which are authored by other writers in the collaboration.
Cora Brent's Standalone Novels
When you want standalone stories that do not require any series commitment, Cora Brent has written several powerful contemporary romances. They can be read at any point in your reading journey:
- Unruly (2015)
- Born Savages (2015)
- Hickey (2017)
- In This Life (2018) – A highly recommended standalone detailing loss, grief, and healing.
- Syler McKnight (2019)
- Long Lost (2020)
- Till It Hurts (2021)
- Gentry Rules (2023)
What to Know Before You Start
Cora Brent's books are known for dealing with heavy themes, including childhood trauma, abuse, loss, and recovery. Despite the gritty realities her characters face, they are balanced by intense family loyalty, passionate romance, and an eventual happily-ever-after. Readers should also look out for her playful inclusions of 1980s pop culture markers, retro music, and the beautiful, dry backdrops of the Arizona desert where she lives and sets many of her stories.