The Recommended Reading Path
Deloris Packard’s contemporary novels are deeply grounded in character development, sisterly relationships, and the realistic challenges of the hospitality industry. Because her series follow continuous storylines and recurring characters, the absolute best way to experience her work is in publication order. Skipping ahead will lead to major spoilers regarding the fate of the family resort, marriage choices, and career transitions.
We recommend starting with the completed Cedar Grove Resort Trilogy before moving on to the newer B&B Trilogy, which follows one of the central characters, Debbie, into her next chapter of life.
1. The Cedar Grove Resort Trilogy
This is the series that put Deloris Packard on the map for fans of family-centric contemporary fiction. Set in the lush cottage country of Ontario’s Muskokas, it follows the complicated lives of the three Delanie sisters—Debbie, Susan, and Janice—as they are thrust together by a surprising inheritance. The trilogy is a cohesive story that must be read in sequence to fully appreciate the character growth and evolving family dynamics.
- The Inheritance of the Cedar Grove Resort (2021): The trilogy opens with the sudden passing of the sisters' mother. In her will, she leaves them the beloved Cedar Grove Resort, but with a major catch: they must manage and run the resort together as business partners for five years before they can make any decisions about selling or dissolving the property. Forced into close quarters, the sisters must navigate their differing visions, old rivalries, and the sheer physical demand of lodge operations. This book establishes the distinct personalities of the three sisters: Debbie, the responsible caretaker; Susan, who has a more corporate outlook; and Janice, who is searching for her own path.
- The Nuptials at the Cedar Grove Resort (2022): With the resort running and their forced partnership underway, the sisters face personal challenges. The central focus turns to Janice, who decides to walk down the aisle for a second time. Susan and Debbie harbor deep concerns about Janice's choice of groom, forcing them to balance their protective sisterly instincts with their desire to support her happiness. The beautiful Muskoka backdrop serves as a romantic yet stressful setting for a high-stakes resort wedding, highlighting the operational chaos behind the scenes.
- The Sale of the Cedar Grove Resort (2022): The climax of the trilogy arrives as the five-year deadline outlined in their mother's will looms. An impasse divides the sisters: Susan and Janice are ready to cash out and sell the property, while Debbie has fallen in love with the resort and is determined to save it. Their sisterly bond is pushed to its absolute limit as they decide the final fate of Cedar Grove, bringing the trilogy to a satisfying and emotional conclusion.
2. The B&B Trilogy
After wrapping up the saga of the resort, Deloris Packard introduced a new series that builds directly on the themes and characters established in her first trilogy.
- New Beginnings (2025): This novel kicks off the B&B Trilogy. It follows Debbie as she embarks on a brand-new adventure in the hospitality world, establishing a cozy bed and breakfast. While it acts as the start of a new series, reading this after the Cedar Grove Resort Trilogy is highly recommended, as Debbie's personal growth and professional motivations are heavily influenced by the events of the original trilogy. The book introduces new characters and a fresh setting, while maintaining the warm, welcoming atmosphere that Packard's fans adore.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Fortunately for readers, there are no confusing timelines, prequels, or historical flashbacks to navigate in Deloris Packard’s bibliography. The chronological order of events matches the publication order exactly. The narrative flows linearly from the reading of the will in The Inheritance through the marriage struggles of The Nuptials, the resort's final fate in The Sale, and finally into Debbie's new chapter in New Beginnings. For the most satisfying reading experience, stick strictly to the order in which the books were released.
What to Know Before You Start
Deloris Packard’s writing is heavily influenced by her own life and career in Ontario, Canada. Growing up as the youngest of eight children on a hobby farm in Harcourt, near Algonquin Provincial Park, Packard was surrounded by the complex, crowded family dynamics that she depicts so accurately in her novels. Furthermore, her decades of real-world experience in the hospitality industry—ranging from working summers at the Elephant Lake Lodge to earning a degree in Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Management from Canadore College and eventually running her own catering business—gives her resort settings an unmatched level of realism. Readers will find that the day-to-day operations, the chaotic guest interactions, and the professional challenges of running a lodge are written with authentic detail, rather than as mere window dressing.
Her books are perfect for readers who enjoy cozy, emotional family sagas in the style of Elin Hilderbrand, Kristin Hannah, or Robyn Carr. While the books deal with grief, business disputes, and marital concerns, the overall tone remains warm, comforting, and ultimately optimistic, celebrating the enduring strength of family bonds. For local readers in Ontario, her works are frequently celebrated at community hubs like Ashlie's Books in Bancroft, making her a beloved voice in regional Canadian fiction.
Can These Books Be Read as Standalones?
While some contemporary fiction series feature books that can easily be read out of order, the Cedar Grove Resort Trilogy is not one of them. The books function as consecutive chapters of a single, larger story. Reading The Sale of the Cedar Grove Resort without having read The Inheritance would spoil the mystery of the mother's will and the gradual growth of the sisters' relationships. However, the B&B Trilogy's first book, New Beginnings, is designed to welcome new readers, though returning fans will get much more out of seeing Debbie's continued journey.