Dorothy Garlock Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Dorothy Garlock?

With a career spanning decades and millions of books in print, Dorothy Garlock is celebrated for her heartland historical romances. If you are new to her work, there are three primary entry points recommended by longtime fans:

• The Jazz Age Series: Best started with The Edge of Town. This series is ideal for readers who love 1920s atmosphere, small-town secrets, Prohibition drama, and a touch of mystery.
• The Dolan Brothers Series: Best started with Ribbon in the Sky. This sequence offers strong family bonds, emotional grit, and heartland settings that showcase Garlock's talent for building long-running character arcs.
• The Wyoming Frontier Series: Best started with Midnight Blue. This series is perfect for readers who enjoy Western settings, rugged frontiers, and classic historical romance tropes.

The Wyoming Frontier Order: Publication vs. Chronological

The Wyoming Frontier series is one of the few places where publication order and chronological story order diverge. While most of these books work well as standalones, purists will want to pay attention to the placement of Sweetwater. The book was published early in the sequence (1990 according to local data, though some bibliographic catalogs list it as 1998), but it is chronologically situated as the final chapter of the frontier saga.

Wyoming Frontier: Recommended Chronological Order

1. Midnight Blue (1989)
2. Nightrose (1990)
3. Sins of Summer (1994)
4. The Listening Sky (1996)
5. Larkspur (1997)
6. Sweetwater (1990)

Wyoming Frontier: Publication Order

1. Midnight Blue (1989)
2. Nightrose (1990)
3. Sweetwater (1990)
4. Sins of Summer (1994)
5. The Listening Sky (1996)
6. Larkspur (1997)

Dorothy Garlock's Historical Romance Series

Dorothy Garlock organized many of her novels into interconnected series. While the romantic pairs wrap up their stories in each book, characters often reappear as background support or family members in later installments.

Annie Lash / Missouri Series

This series blends historical wilderness adventure with intense romance, taking readers back to early pioneer days.

• Wild Sweet Wilderness (1985)
• Annie Lash (1985)
• Almost Eden (2001)

Colorado Wind Series

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Colorado territory, this trilogy is known for its sweeping atmospheric style.

• Restless Wind (1986)
• Wayward Wind (1986)
• Wind of Promise (1987)

Wabash River Series

A multi-generational look at life, love, and community along the banks of the Wabash River.

• Lonesome River (1987)
• Dream River (1988)
• River of Tomorrow (1988)
• Yesteryear (1995)

Dolan Brothers Series

Often referred to by fans as the "Hearts" series due to the titles of the later volumes, this family saga follows the emotional lives of the Dolan family.

• Ribbon in the Sky (1991)
• With Hope (1998)
• With Song (1999)
• With Heart (1999)
• After the Parade (2000)

Jazz Age Series

Set in 1920s Missouri, this fan-favorite series introduces elements of Prohibition bootlegging, speakeasy culture, and light mystery alongside traditional romance.

• The Edge of Town (2001)
• High on a Hill (2002)
• A Place Called Rainwater (2003)
• River Rising (2004)

Route 66 Series

This series captures mid-20th-century Americana, highlighting the classic American highway and the travelers seeking new beginnings along its path.

• Mother Road (2003)
• Hope's Highway (2004)
• Song of the Road (2004)

Tucker Family Series

One of Garlock's later series, focusing on contemporary romance themes set in cozy heartland communities.

• Stay a Little Longer (2010)
• Keep a Little Secret (2011)
• Come a Little Closer (2011)

Dorothy Garlock's Standalone Novels

For readers who do not want to commit to a series, Garlock wrote a massive selection of standalone romances spanning various historical periods. Her very first novel, Love and Cherish, is a standalone that remains a highly recommended starting point for new readers.

• Love and Cherish (1980)
• Gentle Torment (1981)
• This Loving Land (1981)
• Strange Possession (1982)
• The Searching Hearts (1982)
• Glorious Dawn (1982)
• Passion's Song (1982)
• Hidden Dreams (1983)
• A Love for All Time (1983)
• Forever Victoria (1983)
• The Planting Season (1984)
• Sunshine Every Morning (1985)
• Sing Softly to Me (1986)
• She Wanted Red Velvet (1986)
• Marriage to a Stranger (1987)
• The Hell Raiser (1990)
• Homeplace (1991)
• A Gentle Giving (1993)
• Tenderness (1993)
• More Than Memory (2001)
• Amber Eyed Man (2006)
• Train from Marietta (2006)
• On Tall Pine Lake (2007)
• A Week from Sunday (2007)
• Leaving Whiskey Bend (2008)
• The Moon Looked Down (2009)
• By Starlight (2012)
• Under a Texas Sky (2013)
• Take Me Home (2014)
• Twice in a Lifetime (2015)
• Sunday Kind of Love (2016)
• The Nearness of You (2017)