Debra Clopton Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

Bestselling author Debra Clopton is famous for her sweet, wholesome romances filled with small-town charm, meddling matchmakers, and rugged cowboys. Because her books are divided into distinct geographic and thematic series, you have two primary options for starting your reading journey:

• The Mule Hollow Route (Western Romance): If you want classic cowboy romance, start here. Mule Hollow is a fictional Texas town where a group of persistent matchmakers works to find wives for the local bachelors. Start with the core series, Texas Matchmakers, beginning with Dream with Me, Cowboy (originally published as The Trouble with Lacy Brown).
• The Coastal Route (Contemporary Beach Romance): If you prefer coastal settings and family dramas, start with the Windswept Bay series, beginning with From This Moment On, or the Star Gazer Inn series.

Most of Clopton's books function well as standalone romances, meaning you can jump in anywhere. However, reading them in order allows you to watch the town of Mule Hollow grow, follow recurring characters (and the town's mascot, Samantha the donkey), and see families evolve over time.

The Complete Mule Hollow Chronology

The Mule Hollow universe spans over thirty books across five interconnected subseries. Reading them in chronological order provides the best experience as characters from early books frequently cameo in later ones. Here is how the subseries fit together:

1. Texas Matchmakers (Mule Hollow Matchmakers)

This is the foundation of the Mule Hollow universe. It introduces the small Texas town, its colorful citizens, and the matchmakers determined to save the town by importing single women.

1. Dream with Me, Cowboy / The Trouble With Lacy Brown (2005)
2. Be My Love, Cowboy / And Baby Makes Five (2006)
3. This Heart's Yours, Cowboy / No Place Like Home (2006)
4. Hold Me, Cowboy / Dream a Little Dream (2007)
5. Be Mine, Cowboy / Meeting Her Match (2007)
6. Marry Me, Cowboy / Operation: Married by Christmas (2007)
7. Cherish Me, Cowboy / Next Door Daddy (2008)
8. Surprise Me, Cowboy / Her Baby Dreams (2008)
9. Serenade Me, Cowboy / The Cowboy Takes a Bride (2008)
10. Return to Me, Cowboy / Texas Ranger Dad (2009)
11. Ride With Me, Cowboy / His Cowgirl Bride (2009)
12. Love Me, Cowboy (2017)
13. Dance With Me, Cowboy / A Mule Hollow Match (2020)

2. Men of Mule Hollow (Turner Creek Ranch)

Originally published under the Men of Mule Hollow banner, this spin-off trilogy shifts the focus slightly to the cowboys working on the nearby Turner Creek Ranch, though the town matchmakers are still highly active.

1. Treasure Me, Cowboy / Her Forever Cowboy (2009)
2. Rescue Me, Cowboy / Cowboy for Keeps (2010)
3. Sweet Talk Me, Cowboy / Yuletide Cowboy (2010)

3. Mule Hollow Homecoming

This trilogy follows people returning to the small town to heal, find second chances, and inevitably fall in love under the matchmakers' watchful eyes.

1. Her Rodeo Cowboy (2011)
2. Her Lone Star Cowboy (2012)
3. Her Homecoming Cowboy (2012)

4. New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow

This series expands the universe to the nearby New Horizon Ranch, founded by a group of former foster brothers who have made it their mission to create a safe haven for others. It features a mix of ranch life and classic Mule Hollow comedy.

1. Her Texas Cowboy / Her Mule Hollow Cowboy (2014)
2. Rafe (2015)
3. Chase (2015)
4. Ty (2015)
5. Dalton / Family For A Cowboy: Dalton (2016)
6. Treb (2016)
7. Maddie's Secret Baby (2016)
8. Austin (2016)

5. Texas Matchmakers At It Again

This modern continuation returns the focus directly to the original town and its matchmaking scheme, showing how the next generation handles small-town romance.

1. The Trouble with a Small Town Cowboy (2023)
2. The Trouble with an Everlasting Cowboy (2023)
3. The Trouble with a Valentine’s Cowboy (2024)
4. The Trouble With A Mistletoe Cowboy (2024)

The Coastal Romance Series

If you prefer ocean breezes to dusty ranches, Debra Clopton has written three major contemporary series set along the sunny coastlines of Florida and Texas.

Windswept Bay

Set on the beautiful shores of Florida, this 11-book series follows the Sinclair family as they run a coastal resort, heal from past heartbreaks, and find love.

1. From This Moment On (2016)
2. Somewhere With You (2016)
3. With This Kiss (2016)
4. Forever and For Always (2016)
5. Holding Out For Love (2016)
6. With This Ring (2017)
7. With This Promise (2017)
8. With This Pledge (2017)
9. With This Wish (2017)
10. With This Forever (2018)
11. With This Vow (2018)

Sunset Bay Romance

This series brings readers to another beautiful coastal sanctuary, focusing on emotional recovery and small-town community vibes.

1. Longing for Forever (2019)
2. Longing for a Hero (2019)
3. Longing for Love (2019)
4. Longing for Ever After (2019)
5. Longing for You (2019)
6. Longing for Us (2020)

Star Gazer Inn of Corpus Christi Bay

Blending the beachside setting of Corpus Christi with ranch elements, this series begins with a 55-year-old widow starting over by opening an inn, making it an excellent choice for readers who enjoy mature protagonists and second-chance stories.

1. What New Beginnings Are Made Of (2020)
2. What Dreams are Made of (2020)
3. What Hopes are Made of (2021)
4. What a Heart’s Desire is Made of (2021)
5. What True Love Is Made Of (2021)
6. What a "Glamping" Christmas Is Made Of (2022)

Standalone Cowboy & Ranch Series

Clopton has also penned several shorter, self-contained Western romance series that can be read independently of the Mule Hollow books:

• Cowboys of Ransom Creek: A seven-book series featuring a close-knit group of brothers and friends on a ranch. Note that the first book, Her Cowboy Hero, was also released as part of the multi-author Rodeo Knights continuity.
• Cowboys of Dew Drop, Texas: A five-book series following a rugged group of brothers working their family ranch.
• Four of Hearts Ranch / Gotta Have Hope: A five-book series focusing on faith, family, and romance in a tight-knit ranch community.
• Texas Brides & Bachelors: A trilogy that delivers classic sweet contemporary Western romances.

Collaborations and Multi-Author Continuities

Throughout her career, Debra Clopton has participated in several collaborative book series published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired imprint or Thomas Nelson. In these series, different authors write individual novels set in a shared universe:

• Alaskan Bride Rush: Clopton wrote Book 4, Yukon Cowboy (2010), in this 6-book series about women traveling to Alaska for love.
• Rodeo Knights: Her book Her Cowboy Hero (2017) served as her contribution to this multi-author Western romance lineup.
• A Bride for All Seasons & Four Weddings and a Kiss: Historical romance novella collections co-authored with Margaret Brownley, Mary Connealy, and Robin Lee Hatcher. Clopton contributed An Ever After Summer and A Cowboy for Katie respectively.
• Year of Weddings: A monthly holiday-themed romance series where Clopton contributed novellas like A June Bride.

What to Know Before You Start

Many of Debra Clopton's books have two different titles. This is because she originally published them through traditional Christian publishers (like Harlequin Love Inspired), and later acquired the indie publishing rights. When she republished them under her own imprint, DCP Publishing, she updated the titles to emphasize the 'Cowboy' themes (for example, The Trouble with Lacy Brown became Dream with Me, Cowboy). When shopping for her books, always check the original publication year or character names to ensure you do not accidentally purchase the same story twice.