Christina Dodd Books in Order: Every Series, Novel, and Reading Guide
Christina Dodd has spent decades writing romance and suspense stories with distinctive characters, complicated relationships, family secrets, supernatural threats, and unexpected twists. Her earlier career established her as a historical romance author, while later books expanded into contemporary suspense and paranormal romance.
Because Dodd has written across several genres, there is no single reading order that works for every book. Some titles belong to closely connected series, others are companion novellas, and several are standalone novels. This guide organizes her major series in reading order and separates related stories from books that can be read on their own.
Christina Dodd Books by Series
1. Daughter of Montague Books in Order
The Daughter of Montague series reimagines the world of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet through their daughter, Rosie Montague. Combining historical fiction, mystery, humor, and romance, the series follows Rosie as she faces danger and intrigue in Verona.
Read the books and companion stories in this order:
1. A Daughter of Fair Verona (2024)
Rosie Montague is a clever, independent young woman living in a world shaped by the legacy of her famous parents. When mystery and danger enter her life, she must rely on her own intelligence rather than accept the role society expects her to play.
1.5. What Dreams May Come (2025)
This companion novella returns readers to the Daughter of Montague world between the first and second novels. It offers an additional story for readers who want to spend more time with the series’ characters.
2. Thus with a Kiss I Die (2025)
The second full-length novel continues Rosie’s adventures in a Verona where romance, danger, and secrets are never far apart. It develops the series’ blend of Shakespearean inspiration and modern storytelling sensibilities.
2.5. Much Ado About Mistletoe (2025)
This Christmas novella is a shorter return to the Daughter of Montague setting. Read it after the second novel for the intended series sequence.
3. Teach the Torches to Burn (2026)
The third full-length novel continues the story of Rosie Montague and the world introduced in A Daughter of Fair Verona. It was published in June 2026.
3.5. A Winter Wedding Night Dream (December 2026)
This announced companion story is scheduled for December 15, 2026. Because it has not yet been released as of October 2026, readers should treat it as forthcoming rather than an available book.
2. Last Seen in Gothic Books in Order
Last Seen in Gothic is a contemporary suspense series set in Gothic, a small California town with a mysterious reputation. The books mix dangerous secrets, suspense, and complicated personal histories.
1. Point Last Seen (2022)
The first novel introduces the Gothic setting and its atmosphere of mystery. The story explores lost identity, unsettling discoveries, and secrets that threaten to change the lives of the people involved.
1.5. Welcome to Gothic (2023)
This shorter companion story offers another visit to the town and its unusual atmosphere. It is best read after Point Last Seen.
2. Forget What You Know (2023)
The second full-length entry continues Dodd’s exploration of secrets, identity, and suspense in the Gothic setting. It is a natural next choice for readers who enjoy the town’s mysterious history.
Related novels: Every Single Secret (2025) and Girl Anonymous (2025)
These two suspense novels are associated with the broader Gothic world but are not numbered installments in the main Last Seen in Gothic sequence. They can be read independently and are useful additions for readers who want more of Dodd’s contemporary suspense fiction.
3. Right Motive, Wrong Alibi Books in Order
This Alaska-set mystery series follows investigations in a remote environment where danger can come from both the landscape and the people living in it.
0.5. Right Motive (2020)
This prequel introduces the series’ world and establishes the circumstances leading into the main mystery. Reading it first provides useful context for the next novel.
1. Wrong Alibi (2021)
The first full-length novel follows an investigation in Alaska, where a woman with a complicated past becomes entangled in a dangerous situation. The story combines suspense with questions about trust, identity, and survival.
4. Cape Charade Books in Order
Cape Charade is a romantic suspense series and a spin-off of Virtue Falls. It follows Kellan Adams, a woman trying to rebuild her life while living with gaps in her memory and fears about her past.
0.5. Hard to Kill (2018)
This short prequel introduces the dangerous atmosphere surrounding the series. It provides additional context before Kellan’s main story begins.
1. Dead Girl Running (2018)
Kellan Adams takes a job at a remote resort while trying to escape a past she cannot fully remember. Her attempt to find safety becomes complicated when murder and danger enter her new life.
1.5. Families and Other Enemies (2019)
This companion novella expands the Cape Charade world and its web of personal connections. It is an optional but useful addition between the first and second main novels.
2. What Doesn’t Kill Her (2019)
The second full-length book continues the series’ exploration of dangerous secrets and the consequences of past events. Readers can expect a mix of suspense, relationship tension, and unexpected revelations.
2.5. Hidden Truths (2019)
This shorter installment adds another story to the Cape Charade setting. It fits between the second and third full-length novels in the numbered series order.
3. Strangers She Knows (2019)
The third main novel brings another suspense-filled investigation into the series. It continues the recurring themes of hidden identities, dangerous relationships, and the difficulty of knowing whom to trust.
5. Virtue Falls Books in Order
Virtue Falls is one of Dodd’s major romantic suspense series. Its stories revolve around a coastal community, troubled relationships, and mysteries that expose the darker side of seemingly ordinary lives.
0.5. The Listener (2014)
This short prequel introduces the atmosphere and characters connected to Virtue Falls. It is an optional starting point for readers who want the additional background.
1. Virtue Falls (2014)
The first full-length novel introduces the town and the people whose lives become entangled in a dangerous mystery. The story establishes the series’ combination of romance, psychological tension, and suspense.
1.5. The Relatives (2015)
This companion story expands the Virtue Falls world with another mystery involving its interconnected characters. Read it after the first novel.
2. Obsession Falls (2015)
The second full-length installment explores obsession, danger, and the secrets that can turn personal relationships into threats. It continues the suspenseful tone of the series.
2.5. Love Never Dies (2016)
This shorter story offers another visit to the Virtue Falls setting. It is an optional addition between the second and third main novels.
3. Because I’m Watching (2016)
The third main novel continues Dodd’s exploration of danger, surveillance, and the fear that someone may be watching from the shadows. It suits readers who enjoy psychological suspense.
3.5. The Watcher (2017)
This companion story adds another piece to the Virtue Falls collection. It is best read after Because I’m Watching.
4. The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream (2017)
The fourth full-length novel brings another mystery to the series, exploring fear, secrets, and the consequences of violence. It is the final numbered full-length Virtue Falls novel currently listed in the main sequence.
Companion collection: A Dark and Stormy Night (2016)
This collection brings together three stories associated with Virtue Falls. It is an additional reading option rather than a numbered full-length novel, and its stories can supplement the main series.
6. Bella Terra Deception Books in Order
Also known as the Scarlet Deception series in some bibliographies, Bella Terra Deception follows the close-knit Di Luca family as they investigate an old mystery involving family conflict, valuable wine, and a precious diamond.
1. Secrets of Bella Terra (2011)
The first novel introduces the Di Luca family and the long-running mystery surrounding their history. Family loyalties and hidden information complicate the search for answers.
2. Revenge at Bella Terra (2011)
The second installment continues the family’s struggles with the past. Old grudges and the desire for revenge put relationships and the truth at risk.
3. Betrayal (2012)
The final numbered novel brings the central family mystery forward, exploring how secrets and broken trust affect the people involved.
7. Fortune Hunters Books in Order
Fortune Hunters is a contemporary romantic suspense series about a family of lost brothers, complicated pasts, and a fortune worth fighting over.
1. Trouble in High Heels (2006)
The first novel introduces the series’ mix of romance, family secrets, and danger. It establishes the larger story surrounding the brothers and their fortunes.
2. Tongue in Chic (2007)
The second book continues the family-centered romantic suspense storyline, with another relationship complicated by secrets and unexpected events.
3. Thigh High (2008)
The third installment brings another romance into the series’ interconnected world. As with the earlier novels, personal attraction and unresolved problems create complications.
4. Danger in a Red Dress (2009)
The fourth novel continues the Fortune Hunters stories and follows another character whose romantic life becomes tangled with danger and family history.
Companion story: Gabriel’s Gift (2014)
This additional story offers an epilogue-style return to the Lost Hearts and Fortune Hunters characters. It is a supplementary read rather than a numbered Fortune Hunters novel.
8. Lost Hearts Books in Order
Lost Hearts is a contemporary romance series about a family separated by tragedy and the siblings who try to reconnect as adults.
1. Just the Way You Are (2003)
The first book introduces the family relationships at the heart of the series. Romance develops alongside the emotional challenges of separation, memory, and rebuilding connections.
2. Almost Like Being in Love (2004)
The second novel continues the family’s story with another romance and further developments in the characters’ lives. Reading the first book beforehand provides useful context.
3. Close to You (2005)
The third novel continues the series’ themes of family, love, and reconnection. It gives readers another perspective on the relationships that link the characters.
3.5. Gabriel’s Gift (2014)
This shorter companion story returns to the Lost Hearts world after the main trilogy. It is a good optional extra for readers who want more time with the characters.
9. The Chosen Ones Books in Order
The Chosen Ones is a paranormal romance series built around an ancient conflict between supernatural forces. Its characters inherit powers and responsibilities connected to a struggle between good and evil.
1. Storm of Visions (2009)
The opening novel introduces the supernatural conflict and the people drawn into it. It establishes the mythology and stakes that carry into later books.
2. Storm of Shadows (2009)
The second installment expands the series’ supernatural world and continues the conflict introduced in the first book.
3. Chains of Ice (2010)
The third novel develops another part of the larger battle, combining paranormal danger with romantic relationships.
4. Chains of Fire (2010)
The fourth book continues the connected stories of the Chosen and their enemies, building on the series’ mythology.
4.5. Stone Angel (2012)
This shorter companion story adds background to the series and is best read after Chains of Fire.
5. Wilder (2012)
The fifth main installment continues the supernatural storyline and its characters’ struggle against dark forces.
10. Darkness Chosen Books in Order
Darkness Chosen is a paranormal romance series centered on a family whose ancestors made a terrible bargain. The descendants must confront the supernatural consequences of that decision.
1. Scent of Darkness (2007)
The first book introduces the family curse and the dangerous legacy passed from one generation to the next. It establishes the central conflict of the series.
2. Touch of Darkness (2007)
The second novel continues the paranormal storyline, exploring the family members’ attempts to confront their inherited fate.
3. Into the Shadow (2008)
The third installment deepens the supernatural conflict and introduces further challenges for the characters.
4. Into the Flame (2008)
The fourth novel continues the connected story of the family and its battle against the darkness threatening it.
4.5. Wilder Family Halloween (2012)
This shorter companion story revisits the family in a seasonal setting. It is an optional addition rather than a full-length main novel.
11. Lost Princesses Books in Order
Lost Princesses is a historical romance trilogy about three royal sisters sent to England after revolution threatens their homeland. Their lives become complicated by danger, political intrigue, and romantic relationships.
1. Some Enchanted Evening (2004)
The first novel introduces the royal family and the danger surrounding the sisters. It sets up the political and personal conflicts that shape the trilogy.
2. The Barefoot Princess (2006)
The second installment follows another of the sisters as she confronts danger and the challenges of finding love while living under the threat of political enemies.
3. The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (2006)
The final novel completes the trilogy’s focus on the royal sisters, bringing another romance into the story of their efforts to survive and find their own futures.
12. Governess Brides Books in Order
Governess Brides is one of Christina Dodd’s best-known historical romance series. The books feature women who work as governesses and find themselves caught up in romance, social expectations, and unexpected adventures.
1. That Scandalous Evening (1998)
This earlier-set story introduces important background to the world of the Governess Brides novels. It is a useful starting point for readers who want the broader context.
2. Rules of Surrender (2000)
The next novel continues the series’ focus on strong-willed women and complicated romantic situations. It introduces another heroine whose future changes through an unexpected relationship.
3. Rules of Engagement (2000)
This installment brings another romance into the series, with social obligations and personal desires pulling the characters in different directions.
4. Rules of Attraction (2001)
The fourth book continues the connected historical romance stories, combining attraction, conflict, and the social pressures of the period.
5. In My Wildest Dreams (2001)
The fifth novel follows another heroine as she confronts the gap between her expectations and the life she actually wants.
6. Lost in Your Arms (2002)
This story explores romance complicated by secrets and uncertainty. It continues the series’ interest in women finding independence and love on their own terms.
7. My Favorite Bride (2002)
The seventh installment adds another romantic pairing to the series, with mistaken assumptions and personal challenges shaping the relationship.
8. My Fair Temptress (2005)
This novel combines historical romance with secret missions and a dangerous earl. It is another entry in the series’ world of independent heroines and complicated courtships.
9. Hero, Come Back (2005)
This multi-author anthology includes a story connected to Dodd’s historical romance work. Because it is a shared collection rather than a standalone Dodd novel, readers can treat it as an optional companion.
10. In Bed with the Duke (2010)
This installment brings another romance into the Governess Brides world, with a duke and a heroine whose relationship develops through unexpected circumstances.
10.5. The Third Suitor (2005)
This related short work is associated with the Governess Brides setting. Its placement in bibliographies varies, so readers interested in every companion story may want to consult the author’s categorized list.
11. Taken by the Prince (2011)
The story continues the series’ blend of historical romance, social expectations, and personal independence. It is a natural choice after the earlier Governess Brides novels.
12. A Pirate’s Wife for Me (2015)
The later entry brings a pirate into the historical romance setting, adding adventure and danger to the romantic storyline.
13. Switching Places Books in Order
Switching Places is a historical romance duology built around a deception involving two women who exchange identities.
1. Scandalous Again (2003)
The first book introduces the identity-switching premise and the romantic complications that follow. The characters’ deception creates unexpected consequences.
2. One Kiss from You (2003)
The second novel continues the series’ interest in mistaken identity, romantic tension, and the difficulties of maintaining a carefully constructed deception.
14. Princess Books in Order
The Princess series contains two connected historical romances, with characters and events linking the stories.
1. The Runaway Princess (1999)
The first book follows a librarian whose life takes an unexpected turn when adventure arrives. Her ability to draw on the books she has read becomes part of her response to the challenges she faces.
2. Someday My Prince (1999)
The second novel features a character connected to the earlier story and develops a new romance. It is best read after The Runaway Princess.
15. Good Knights Books in Order
Good Knights is a historical romance duology set in medieval England.
1. Once a Knight (1996)
The first book introduces the series’ medieval setting and a romance shaped by the expectations and dangers of the period.
2. A Knight to Remember (1996)
The second novel offers another medieval romance in the connected series world. It is a natural follow-up for readers who enjoyed the first book.
16. Well Pleasured Books in Order
Well Pleasured is a historical romance series known for its sensual tone and strong romantic conflicts.
1. A Well Pleasured Lady (1997)
The first book introduces the series’ romantic world and the characters whose desires challenge conventional expectations.
2. A Well Favored Gentleman (1998)
The second novel continues the series with another romance and a new set of personal complications.
Related anthology: Scottish Brides (1999)
This multi-author collection includes historical romance stories and can be read as a supplementary title rather than a numbered novel in the main sequence.
17. Castle Books in Order
The Castle books are among Dodd’s early historical romances, set in a medieval world of danger, loyalty, and passionate relationships.
1. Candle in the Window (1991)
Dodd’s debut novel introduces a historical romance shaped by hardship, personal courage, and the challenge of finding love in a difficult world.
2. Castles in the Air (1993)
The second book returns to a medieval romance setting, combining strong characters with the dangers and social expectations of the period.
18. Standalone Christina Dodd Novels
The following novels can be read independently. They do not require readers to complete another series first.
Treasure of the Sun (1991)
An early historical romance that helped establish Dodd’s career. It is a standalone choice for readers interested in her earlier work.
Priceless (1992)
This historical romance centers on a relationship shaped by personal ambitions and unexpected complications.
Lady in Black (1993)
A standalone novel that offers a different side of Dodd’s storytelling beyond her longer series.
The Greatest Lover in All England (1994)
This historical romance focuses on love, reputation, and the complications that arise when expectations collide with real feelings.
Outrageous (1994)
An independent historical romance featuring strong personalities and romantic conflict.
Move Heaven and Earth (1995)
This standalone romance follows characters whose lives change through love, difficult choices, and the pressures of their circumstances.
Right Motive (2020)
Although associated with the Right Motive, Wrong Alibi world, this title is numbered as a prequel. Read it before Wrong Alibi if you want that series’ chronological sequence.
Forget What You Know (2023)
A contemporary suspense novel associated with the broader Gothic setting. It is a good choice for readers who prefer mysteries and psychological tension over historical romance.
Every Single Secret (2025)
A standalone suspense novel connected to the broader Gothic world. It can be read without completing the Last Seen in Gothic sequence.
Girl Anonymous (2025)
A dark contemporary thriller that explores dangerous relationships and hidden motives. It is a standalone option for readers interested in Dodd’s more suspenseful work.
19. Lost Texas Heart: An Alternative Series Label
Some bibliographies group the contemporary romance books Just the Way You Are, Almost Like Being in Love, and Close to You under Lost Texas Heart, while the author’s current site presents them as Lost Hearts. To avoid counting the same books twice, use the Lost Hearts reading order above.
The related title Gabriel’s Gift is an optional companion story.
20. Other Short Stories, Novellas, and Anthologies
Christina Dodd has also published shorter works and contributed to multi-author collections. These titles can be useful for readers who want to explore more of her writing, but they do not all belong to a single series.
- The Smuggler’s Captive Bride (2004): A historical romance novella.
- Wild Texas Rose (1994; later ebook edition): A shorter romance associated with Dodd’s contemporary romance work.
- Once Upon a Pillow: A multi-author historical romance anthology and related collection.
- Kidnapped (2013): A shorter story associated with the Once Upon a Pillow collection.
- Last Night (2013): A short work included in the broader Once Upon a Pillow group.
- Dangerous Ladies: A collection associated with the Fortune Hunters stories.
- A Dark and Stormy Night (2016): A collection of three Virtue Falls stories.
- Hero, Come Back (2005): A shared anthology featuring contributions by Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, and Elizabeth Boyle.
Some older titles have appeared in revised editions, ebook reissues, or different collections. The original publication year may therefore differ from the date shown for a newer edition.
What Is the Best Christina Dodd Series to Start With?
The best starting point depends on what kind of story you want to read.
- For historical romance: Start with Governess Brides or Daughter of Montague. Governess Brides offers traditional historical romance, while Daughter of Montague adds mystery and a playful Shakespearean premise.
- For contemporary suspense: Start with Virtue Falls or Cape Charade. Both combine mysteries with complicated relationships and dangerous secrets.
- For paranormal romance: Begin with Darkness Chosen if you want a family curse and supernatural conflict, or The Chosen Ones for a broader battle between supernatural forces.
- For a short series: Try Switching Places, Princess, or Good Knights, each of which has two main novels.
- For a standalone mystery: Try Wrong Alibi after its prequel, Right Motive, or explore Girl Anonymous as an independent thriller.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Christina Dodd written?
Christina Dodd’s bibliography includes dozens of novels, novellas, short stories, and anthology contributions across multiple series. The total depends on whether reissues, companion stories, shared anthologies, and separately categorized related novels are counted.
What was Christina Dodd’s first book?
Her debut novel was Candle in the Window, published in 1991. It is the first book in her early Castle series.
Should I read Christina Dodd’s books in publication order?
For most readers, reading each series in its numbered order is the simplest approach. Standalone novels can generally be read at any time, while connected series benefit from following the author’s intended sequence.
What is Christina Dodd’s most popular series?
Governess Brides is one of her best-known historical romance series. Readers who prefer suspense often gravitate toward Virtue Falls and Cape Charade, while paranormal romance readers may enjoy Darkness Chosen and The Chosen Ones.
Are Christina Dodd’s historical romances connected?
Some of her historical romances share characters, settings, or family connections, while others are standalone novels. The series lists above identify the main reading sequences and related companion stories.
Is Daughter of Montague finished?
No definitive end to the series has been announced in the current bibliography. Teach the Torches to Burn was published in June 2026, and A Winter Wedding Night Dream is scheduled for December 2026 as a companion story.
Can I read Cape Charade without reading Virtue Falls?
Yes. Cape Charade is a spin-off, and its main story can be followed independently. Reading Virtue Falls first may add background to the shared world, but it is not essential to understand Kellan Adams’s story.
Are The Chosen Ones and Darkness Chosen the same series?
No. They are separate paranormal romance series with different central storylines. Both explore supernatural conflict, but their books should be read in their own series order.
Is Girl Anonymous part of Last Seen in Gothic?
It is associated with the broader Gothic world in the author’s bibliography, but it is not a numbered installment in the main Last Seen in Gothic sequence. It can be read independently.
Final Note
Christina Dodd’s bibliography offers a wide range of reading choices, from medieval and Regency-inspired romance to paranormal stories and contemporary suspense. Rather than attempting to read every book in the order it was first published, choose a series that matches your interests and follow its numbered sequence.
For a historical romance starting point, try Governess Brides. For suspense, begin with Virtue Falls. And for her newer Shakespeare-inspired historical mystery series, start with A Daughter of Fair Verona and continue through the companion stories in order.
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