🎯 Where Should I Start?
Best Starting Point
Publication Order of Dressed for Death Mystery Books
Start with: Gunfight At Grace Gulch (2008)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Newport, Rhode Island Books
Start with: Beacon Of Love (2009)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Green Mountain Brides Books
Start with: The Prodigal Patriot (2010)
ⓘ About Darlene Franklin
Award winning writer and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in Oklahoma, cowboy country, and she enjoys writing about American West. The state of Oklahoma has the honor of being home to her son, his wife, and the four gorgeous kids they have. She loves needlework, reality television, music, and reading. Talia, who is a Lynx point Siamese kitty cat, claims Darlene as her person. Her first novel, “Romanian Rhapsody”, was published in the year 2005. It took her fourteen years to get a book published, and it would be two years after this first book came out that someone gave her another contract. Besides stand alone novels, she writes the “Holidays of the Heart” series and “Dressed for Death Mystery” series.
All Book Series by Darlene Franklin
1
Gunfight At Grace Gulch
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
2
A String Of Murders
Book 2 of 3 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
3
Paint Me a Murder
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
1
Beacon Of Love
Single-title series · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
1
The Prodigal Patriot
Single-title series · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
1
Christmas Visitors
Series opener · book 1 of 4 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
2
My Candy Valentine
Book 2 of 4 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
4
Holidays of the Heart
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
1
Angel in Disguise
Single-title series · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
1
Mermaid's Song
Single-title series · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
1
Romanian Rhapsody
Series opener · book 1 of 14 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
5
A Bride's Rogue in Roma, Texas
Book 5 of 14 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
8
Homefront Dreams
Book 8 of 14 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
9
Colorado Melodies
Book 9 of 14 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
10
Small-Town Bachelor
Book 10 of 14 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
11
A Bride's Rogue
Book 11 of 14 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
12
Lawmen and the Lawless
Book 12 of 14 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
13
Merry Christmas with Love
Book 13 of 14 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
14
Love Comes Calling
Latest in the series · book 14 of 14 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
1
Pride's Fall
Series opener · book 1 of 9 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
2
Lucy Ames, Sharpshooter
Book 2 of 9 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
3
The Face of Mary
Book 3 of 9 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
6
Her Rocky Mountain Highness
Book 6 of 9 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
7
All Roads Lead Home
Book 7 of 9 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
8
Of Cash and Cats
Book 8 of 9 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
9
A Cat Appuurred Romance
Latest in the series · book 9 of 9 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
1
Maple Notch Brides
Series opener · book 1 of 6 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
2
When Pines Whisper
Book 2 of 6 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
3
Courting Cortlands
Book 3 of 6 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
4
Love's Turning Point
Book 4 of 6 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
5
Maple Notch Days
Book 5 of 6 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
6
New England Courtships
Latest in the series · book 6 of 6 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
1
It Is Well with My Soul
Series opener · book 1 of 7 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
2
A Reader's Journey through Matthew
Book 2 of 7 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
3
An Advent Journey through Matthew
Book 3 of 7 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
4
Beginnings: 30 Days in Genesis-Exodus
Book 4 of 7 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
5
3-Minute Devotions for a Cat Lover's Heart
Book 5 of 7 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
6
A 12-Month Guide to Better Prayer for Women
Book 6 of 7 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
7
Pray through the Bible in a Year Journal
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
1
Lone Star Trail
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
2
Cowgirl Trail
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2012 Anthology · Susan Page Davis
Buy on Amazon2012
1
The Reversal
Series opener · book 1 of 6 · published 2015 Anthology · T.I. Lowe
Buy on Amazon2015
2
Lured by Love
Book 2 of 6 · published 2015 Anthology · Debby Mayne
Buy on Amazon2015
3
On Thin Ice
Book 3 of 6 · published 2015 Anthology · Janice Thompson
Buy on Amazon2015
4
Tobogganing for Two
Book 4 of 6 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
5
Taking the Plunge
Book 5 of 6 · published 2016 Anthology · Angela Breidenbach
Buy on Amazon2016
6
Love Over Par
Latest in the series · book 6 of 6 · published 2018 Anthology · Cynthia Hickey
Buy on Amazon2018
1
Never Too Late
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 2016 Anthology · Debby Mayne
Buy on Amazon2016
2
His Eyes Told Her So
Book 2 of 5 · published 2016 Anthology · Debra Ullrick
Buy on Amazon2016
3
Just One Kiss
Book 3 of 5 · published 2017 Anthology · Debra Lynn Collins
Buy on Amazon2017
4
Rescue Me
Book 4 of 5 · published 2017 Anthology · Mary Alford
Buy on Amazon2017
5
Cinderella's Boot
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
1
The New England Romance Collection
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
2
The Farmer's Daughter Romance Collection
Book 2 of 5 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
3
Love Is Patient Romance Collection
Book 3 of 5 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
4
The Valiant Hearts Romance Collection
Book 4 of 5 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
5
The Rails to Love Romance Collection
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
1
Handcarved Christmas
Series opener · book 1 of 8 · published 2014 Anthology · Cynthia Hickey
Buy on Amazon2014
2
Sadie's Gift
Book 2 of 8 · published 2014 Anthology · Niki Turner
Buy on Amazon2014
3
The Fruitcake Challenge
Book 3 of 8 · published 2014 Anthology · Carrie Fancett Pagels
Buy on Amazon2014
4
An Apple for Christmas
Book 4 of 8 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
5
Christmas Lessons
Book 5 of 8 · published 2014 Anthology · Patty Smith Hall
Buy on Amazon2014
6
A Nutcracker Christmas
Book 6 of 8 · published 2014 Anthology · Jennifer AlLee
Buy on Amazon2014
7
Holly Daze
Book 7 of 8 · published 2014 Anthology · Gina Welborn
Buy on Amazon2014
8
Eleven Pipers Piping
Latest in the series · book 8 of 8 · published 2015 Anthology · Angela Breidenbach
Buy on Amazon2015
1
Christmas Gold
Series opener · book 1 of 9 · published 2015 Anthology · Cynthia Hickey
Buy on Amazon2015
2
The Reliable Cowboy
Book 2 of 9 · published 2015 Anthology · Susan Page Davis
Buy on Amazon2015
3
The Evergreen Wreath
Book 3 of 9 · published 2015 Anthology · Tanya Stowe
Buy on Amazon2015
4
Mistletoe Mistake
Book 4 of 9 · published 2015 Anthology · Lynette Sowell
Buy on Amazon2015
5
Cooking Up Christmas
Book 5 of 9 · published 2015 Anthology · Teresa Ives Lilly
Buy on Amazon2015
6
Jacob's Christmas Dream
Book 6 of 9 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
7
A Christmas Belle
Book 7 of 9 · published 2017 Anthology · Anne Greene
Buy on Amazon2017
8
A Christmas Rose
Book 8 of 9 · published 2017 Anthology · Brandi Boddie
Buy on Amazon2017
9
Christmas Blessing
Latest in the series · book 9 of 9 · published 2023 Anthology · Martha Rogers
Buy on Amazon2023
1
Margaret's Quest
Series opener · book 1 of 30 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
3
Red Hills Stranger
Book 3 of 30 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
5
Florida Weddings: Merely Players
Book 5 of 30 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
6
Picket Fence Pursuit
Book 6 of 30 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
7
Heart Of The Matter
Book 7 of 30 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
8
Pursuing the Goal
Book 8 of 30 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
9
In Pursuit of Peace
Book 9 of 30 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
10
Monterey Memories
Book 10 of 30 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
11
Black Hills Blessing
Book 11 of 30 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
12
Sierra Weddings
Book 12 of 30 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
13
Hawaiian Dreams
Book 13 of 30 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
14
Windy City Brides
Book 14 of 30 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
15
Michigan Brides
Book 15 of 30 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
16
The Lady's Maid
Book 16 of 30 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
18
Oregon Weddings
Book 18 of 30 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
20
Georgia Brides
Book 20 of 30 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
21
Christmas Belles of Georgia
Book 21 of 30 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
22
Gateway Weddings
Book 22 of 30 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
23
Cherry Blossom Capers
Book 23 of 30 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
24
Highland Crossings
Book 24 of 30 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
25
The Midwife's Legacy
Book 25 of 30 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
26
Postmark: Christmas
Book 26 of 30 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
27
Yellowstone Memories
Book 27 of 30 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
28
Threads of Love
Book 28 of 30 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
29
Bluegrass Bachelors
Book 29 of 30 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
30
Arkansas Weddings
Latest in the series · book 30 of 30 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
1
The Homestead Brides Collection
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
2
A Texas Christmas
Book 2 of 5 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
3
Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands
Book 3 of 5 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
4
A Small Town Christmas
Book 4 of 5 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
5
The Heart of the Midwife
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Darlene Franklin?
Award winning writer and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in Oklahoma, cowboy country, and she enjoys writing about American West. The state of Oklahoma has the honor of being home to her son, his wife, and the four gorgeous kids they have. She loves needlework, reality television, music, and reading.
Which Darlene Franklin series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Dressed for Death Mystery series, the earliest of Darlene Franklin's multi-book series: it opens with Gunfight At Grace Gulch (2008) and runs to 3 books across 2008–2015, ending with Paint Me a Murder (2015). Darlene Franklin's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Darlene Franklin written?
Darlene Franklin has 117 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1999 and 2023. 76 of them belong to 13 named series — the largest being the Christmas Mail Order Angels series with 9 books — and 41 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Darlene Franklin's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Darlene Franklin's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Dressed for Death Mystery (2008–2015, 3 books), Newport, Rhode Island (2009, 1 book) and Green Mountain Brides (2010, 1 book), plus 8 more.
How are Darlene Franklin's books organised into series?
This guide splits Darlene Franklin's 117 books into 13 named series and 41 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Christmas Mail Order Angels (9 books, 2015–2023); Christmas Traditions (8 books, 2014–2015); Love's Sporting Chance (6 books, 2015–2018); Runaway Bride Novella (5 books, 2016–2017); Holidays of the Heart (4 books, 2014–2015), plus 8 further series.
