Kimberla Lawson Roby Books in Order: The Reverend Curtis Black Series and Every Standalone Novel
Kimberla Lawson Roby is a New York Times bestselling author of contemporary fiction about faith, family, betrayal and redemption. Her best-known creation is the charismatic and flawed Reverend Curtis Black, whose story spans fifteen novels.
This guide lists every Kimberla Lawson Roby book in order, with short notes on each series and standalone, and shows where to begin.
Reverend Curtis Black Series in Order (15 Books, 2000 to 2018)
The Reverend Curtis Black series follows a gifted, charismatic pastor whose temptations and mistakes threaten his family and his church. Later books shift focus to his children and the next generation, so reading in order pays off.
Casting the First Stone (2000)
Tanya Black discovers that her pastor husband, Curtis, has been unfaithful and mishandling money. She must decide whether to save the marriage or rebuild her own life. The book won the Blackboard Fiction Book of the Year Award for 2001.
Too Much of a Good Thing (2004)
Curtis returns to the pulpit with a new wife, but his hunger for power and women leads to lies that endanger his family and church. The women he has used begin to turn against him.
The Best-Kept Secret (2005)
Curtis launches Deliverance Outreach with his wife, Charlotte, but her craving for glamour and her affair with his best friend threaten the marriage. His own weaknesses put the church at risk too.
Love & Lies (2007)
Curtis appears to have reformed, but Charlotte doubts him and keeps secrets of her own. Family troubles could undo the life they have rebuilt.
Sin No More (2008)
Curtis promises faithfulness, but his former mistress arrives with their baby daughter. An ambitious interim pastor threatens blackmail, and old sins come into the open.
The Best of Everything (2009)
Curtis’s daughter Alicia, who vowed never to repeat her father’s mistakes, runs up debt chasing a lavish lifestyle. Her overspending and poor choices put her marriage to assistant pastor Philip Sullivan at risk.
Be Careful What You Pray For (2010)
After a failed first marriage, Alicia weds Pastor JT Valentine. Rumours of his affairs and hidden motives force her to face the truth about him.
Love, Honor, and Betray (2010)
Curtis’s longtime mistress dies, leaving their toddler daughter in his and Charlotte’s care. Charlotte’s resentment pushes her toward an old flame.
The Reverend’s Wife (2012)
Months after Charlotte’s infidelity, Curtis plans to divorce her once their son graduates. She fights to save the marriage while a churchgoer eyes her place.
A House Divided (2013)
Matthew and Racquel’s pregnancy ignites a feud between Charlotte and Racquel’s mother. The young couple is placed under dangerous strain, and the family splits into sides.
The Prodigal Son (2014)
Curtis is estranged from Matthew, who left Harvard to start a family. When Curtis’s newly revealed son Dillon seeks a place in the family, jealousy and secrets lead to a clash.
The Ultimate Betrayal (2015)
Alicia remarries her ex-husband Philip, but her former lover Levi’s release from prison brings trouble. Her best friend Melanie’s crisis adds fresh betrayals.
A Sinful Calling (2016)
Dillon, Curtis’s once-hidden son, becomes a successful pastor whose appetite for money, attention and women mirrors his father’s past. His secrets pull the family into a new crisis.
Sin of a Woman (2017)
Raven Black and Porsha Harrington build a flashy megachurch driven by greed and ego. Their rivalry escalates until a social media lie puts careers and lives at risk.
Better Late Than Never (2018)
Curtis’s estranged sister falls seriously ill, forcing him to confront the abuse and neglect of his childhood. His daughter Curtina’s rebellion shows how his past shaped his family.
Standalone Novels in Order
Roby’s standalone novels explore marriage, friendship, family secrets and faith with the same page-turning drama. Each can be read on its own, in any order.
Behind Closed Doors (1996)
Two best friends’ picture-perfect marriages unravel when they learn secrets about their husbands. It was her debut, originally self-published through her own company, Lenox Press.
Here and Now (1999)
A single mother in a Chicago housing project and her comfortably married sister envy each other’s lives. Their jealousy strains both their marriages and their bond.
It’s a Thin Line (2001)
Three siblings with old resentments reunite when their mother suffers a stroke. Buried family secrets surface as they sit at her bedside.
A Taste of Reality (2003)
Anise is passed over for a promotion and faces her husband’s affair. She has to decide how hard to fight for her career and her marriage.
Changing Faces (2006)
Three best friends hide their struggles behind polished images. Violence and long-buried secrets eventually break their friendship open.
One in a Million (2008)
Kennedi’s hopes for her marriage collapse when her husband, Blake, makes a shocking announcement of his own. She has to rebuild her sense of who she is.
A Deep Dark Secret (2009)
Twelve-year-old Jillian hides abuse by her stepfather behind a perfect-daughter image. She slowly finds the courage to speak up. The subject is serious and handled with care.
Secret Obsession (2011)
Paige, envious of her sister Camille, schemes to pull apart Camille’s marriage. Her obsession spirals out of control.
The Perfect Marriage (2013)
Denise and Derrek Shaw look ideal from the outside but hide a deepening addiction to cocaine and painkillers. Their image cannot hold forever.
A Christmas Prayer (2014)
Alexis dreads the holidays five years after her mother’s death. Her growing distance from her sister complicates her wedding plans.
Best Friends Forever (2016)
Celine faces her husband’s betrayal and a cancer diagnosis. She leans on her brother and her best friend as she rethinks love and faith.
Copycat (2017)
Aspiring novelist Simone becomes obsessed with bestselling author Traci and begins to mimic her. The obsession threatens them both.
Sister Friends Forever (2022)
Four friends in their forties, who have met for lunch since childhood, lean on each other and their faith through heartbreak and new beginnings. It is a warm story about long friendship.
Non-Fiction
The Woman God Created You to Be (2020)
This inspirational book mixes Roby’s memoir of divorce, grief and career change with Bible-based encouragement for women. It is a good pick for readers who want her own voice rather than a novel.
Where to Start With Kimberla Lawson Roby
- For her signature series: Casting the First Stone.
- For a standalone: Behind Closed Doors or The Perfect Marriage.
- For a holiday read: A Christmas Prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kimberla Lawson Roby’s Books
What is Kimberla Lawson Roby’s first book?
Behind Closed Doors, published in 1996.
What is her most famous series?
The Reverend Curtis Black series, which starts with Casting the First Stone.
Do I need to read the Curtis Black series in order?
Yes. The books build on each other.
How many books has Kimberla Lawson Roby written?
About 29 unique books, according to our catalog.
What should I read if I like Kimberla Lawson Roby?
Readers often try Eric Jerome Dickey, Terry McMillan, Victoria Christopher Murray, Tamara Alexander and Michele Andrea Bowen.
About Kimberla Lawson Roby
Kimberla Lawson Roby is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels have appeared on lists including the Washington Post, Essence and Barnes & Noble. Behind Closed Doors and Casting the First Stone each reached #1 on the Blackboard bestseller list for four consecutive months. Casting the First Stone won the 2001 Blackboard Fiction Book of the Year Award, and she was named Author of the Year (Female) in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
My Take as a Reader
If you like family drama with real stakes, start the Curtis Black series from the beginning.
Final Note
Kimberla Lawson Roby has built a loyal readership with stories about faith, family and second chances. Start with Casting the First Stone, follow the order above and bookmark this page.
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