Deborah Smith Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Deborah Smith

Deborah Smith is celebrated for her ability to weave the landscape, culture, and heart of the American South into rich, emotional stories of redemption, family bonds, and romance. Because she has written everything from contemporary Loveswept category romances to sweeping mainstream women's fiction and magical realism, knowing where to start can be daunting. Here are the three best entry points depending on your reading tastes:

• For Mainstream Southern Fiction: Begin with A Place to Call Home (1997). This standalone bestseller is widely considered Smith's masterpiece, detailing a poignant story of class, tragedy, and enduring love in a small mountain town.
• For Interconnected Small-Town Romance: Start with The Crossroads Cafe (2006). This Kindle bestseller serves as the anchor for a lovely universe of mountain romance, leading directly into the delightful MacBrides spin-off trilogy.
• For Cozy Collaborative Sagas: Start with Mossy Creek (2001). As a co-founder of BelleBooks, Smith spearheaded this warm, multi-author series set in a charming Georgia mountain town where she and other Southern writers contribute linked stories.

The Crossroads Cafe Universe & The MacBrides

If you love stories about wounded souls finding healing in quirky, tight-knit mountain communities, the Crossroads Cove stories are essential. The reading order here is simple but rewarding, as characters transition from the primary novels into their own spin-off novellas.

Start with the full-length novel, The Crossroads Cafe, which introduces the scarred actress Delta Whittlespoon and the healing power of the local community. Following the success of the novel, Smith expanded this world with standalone novellas (The Yarn Spinner and The Apple Pie Knights) and a direct spin-off trilogy focusing on the MacBride family. These books are best read in order of release to appreciate the recurring townspeople.

The Crossroads Cafe Main Sequence

1. The Crossroads Cafe (2006)
2. The Yarn Spinner (2014)
3. The Apple Pie Knights (2014)

The MacBrides Spin-off Series

1. The Biscuit Witch (2013)
2. The Pickle Queen (2013)
3. The Kitchen Charmer (2017)

The Cherokee Trilogy

Originally published as part of the popular Loveswept romance line in the late 1980s and early 1990s, this series is often referred to as a trilogy but actually features four interconnected books. The stories weave elements of Cherokee heritage, family legends, and passionate romance in the modern South. For the best experience, read them in chronological order of their publication:

1. Sundance and the Princess (1989)
2. Tempting the Wolf (1989)
3. Kat's Tale (1989)
4. The Beloved Woman (1991)

The Collaborative Mossy Creek Series

In 2000, Deborah Smith co-founded BelleBooks, a small press dedicated to Southern voices. Through BelleBooks, she launched the collaborative Mossy Creek series. Rather than traditional novels, these books are curated anthologies and shared-world novellas featuring a recurring cast of small-town Georgia characters. While different authors write individual chapters and stories, the series progresses chronologically, making it best to read them in order from the beginning:

1. Mossy Creek (2001)
2. Reunion at Mossy Creek (2002)
3. Summer in Mossy Creek (2003)
4. Blessings of Mossy Creek (2004)
5. A Day in Mossy Creek (2006)
6. At Home in Mossy Creek (2007)
7. Gone But Not Forgotten (Novella, 2008)
8. Critters of Mossy Creek (2009)
9. Homecoming in Mossy Creek (2011)
10. Closer Than They Appear (Novella, 2014)
11. Christmas in Mossy Creek (2017)

The Waterlilies Series (Magical Realism)

For readers who enjoy a touch of fantasy mixed with their Southern drama, Smith's Waterlilies duology is a must-read. The books introduce a secret, tight-knit society of descendants of ancient mermaids living in the Georgia mountains. The stories follow their struggles to protect their lineage and keep their aquatic abilities hidden from the modern world.

1. Alice at Heart (2001)
2. Diary of a Radical Mermaid (2004)

Early Contemporary Romance Series

Before transitioning to larger, mainstream Southern fiction, Smith penned several contemporary romance series in the late 1980s. While these books are lighter category romances, they carry the early hallmarks of her characteristic humor and emotional depth.

Dinah / Rucker Series

A fun, humorous trilogy tracking the relationship between Dinah Sheridan (an ex-beauty queen and small-town mayor) and journalist Rucker McClure, kicked off by a legendary baby-possum incident.

1. Hold on Tight (1988)
2. Caught by Surprise (1988)
3. Never Let Go (1989)

Douglas Kincaid Series

A loosely linked sequence of four contemporary romances following different couples connected by blood and corporate drama, originally published in the early 1990s.

1. The Silver Fox and the Red-Hot Dove (1990)
2. The Silver Fox (1990)
3. Legends (1990)
4. Heart of the Dragon (1991)

In a Nutshell Duology

Two companion novellas published in 2014 that explore small-town relationships and healing.

1. Saving Jonquils (2014)
2. Hearing Wings (2014)

Deborah Smith's Acclaimed Standalone Novels

Many of Smith's most impactful and beloved stories are her standalone novels. These are deep, emotional, and atmospheric family dramas that showcase her signature Appalachian settings. They do not require any prior reading and can be enjoyed in any order. The publication order is listed below:

• Jed's Sweet Revenge (1988)
• California Royale (1988)
• Hot Touch (1989)
• Follow the Sun (1991)
• Stranger in Camelot (1991)
• Miracle (1991)
• Blue Willow (1993)
• Silk and Stone (1994)
• A Place to Call Home (1997)
• When Venus Fell (1998)
• On Bear Mountain (2001)
• The Stone Flower Garden (2002)
• Sweet Hush (2003)
• Charming Grace (2004)
• A Gentle Rain (2007)