Jody Hedlund Books in Order: From The Preacher’s Bride to A Marriage by the Sea

Her books include historical romance, medieval romance, contemporary ranch romance, and time-travel romance. This guide organizes her major series and standalone historical novels so you can find your next read easily.

Jody Hedlund is a bestselling author known for historical romances featuring strong characters, difficult choices, faith, family, and love that develops against challenging circumstances. Her stories range from nineteenth-century settings to medieval kingdoms and modern ranch communities.

Below, you’ll find her books arranged by series, with prequels identified where applicable. If you are new to her writing, start with a series that matches your preferred setting and read its books in the listed order.

1. Hearts of Faith Books in Order

The Hearts of Faith collection features historical romance inspired by real people, historical events, and the challenges faced by women who pursue love and purpose in restrictive societies.

1. The Preacher’s Bride (2010)
   This historical romance follows Elizabeth Whitbread, a widowed mother who finds herself caught between personal hardship and the expectations of her community. Her growing connection with a Puritan minister creates emotional and practical challenges as she tries to protect her family and build a new future.
2. The Doctor’s Lady (2011)
   Priscilla White dreams of serving as a missionary, but her plans become complicated when she marries Dr. Eli Ernest, a man whose ambitions and personality differ from her own. Their journey tests their relationship and forces them to confront the realities of life on the American frontier.
3. Rebellious Heart (2013)
   Inspired by the early lives of John and Abigail Adams, this novel follows a young woman who questions the restrictions placed on women and a lawyer who challenges injustice. Their growing relationship develops against the political tension of pre-Revolutionary America.

2. Michigan Brides Books in Order

The Michigan Brides books are historical romances set in Michigan, featuring women who must navigate difficult circumstances while searching for love, stability, and a place to belong.

1. Unending Devotion (2012)
   Lily Young travels through Michigan as a photographer while searching for her missing sister. Her investigation brings her into contact with Connell McCormick, a lumberman whose world exposes her to dangerous working conditions and the people who profit from them.
2. A Noble Groom (2013)
   Annalisa Werner is a German immigrant struggling to keep her farm and family together after her husband’s death. When a former nobleman becomes involved in her life, their growing attraction challenges the social expectations and hardships surrounding them.
3. Captured by Love (2014)
   Set during the War of 1812, this romance follows Angelique Labelle, who becomes entangled in the conflict between British forces and American settlers. Her relationship with a man connected to the opposing side forces her to reconsider her loyalties and what she is willing to risk for love.

3. Beacons of Hope Books in Order

Set around the Great Lakes during the nineteenth century, Beacons of Hope brings together historical romance, lighthouse communities, and characters facing danger and personal uncertainty. Read the prequel before the main novels for additional background.

1. Out of the Storm (2014, prequel novella)
   This short story introduces the historical world and characters connected to the series. It provides background for readers who want to begin with the earliest related story before moving to the full-length novels.
2. Love Unexpected (2014)
   Abigail and her fellow characters must face the risks and responsibilities associated with life near the Great Lakes. Their developing relationships are shaped by family expectations, difficult choices, and the dangers of the era.
3. Hearts Made Whole (2015)
   This novel follows characters whose lives are affected by loss, responsibility, and the demands of a lighthouse community. Romance develops as they work through personal struggles and discover the possibility of a different future.
4. Undaunted Hope (2016)
   Hope Prentiss faces uncertainty as she tries to establish a new life and make decisions about her future. The story combines a historical setting with questions of trust, courage, and the risks involved in opening one’s heart.
5. Forever Safe (2016)
   This installment continues the series’ focus on characters whose lives are shaped by the Great Lakes and the communities around them. Personal responsibility and the search for lasting love are central to the story.
6. Never Forget (2017)
   The final book in the series explores the lasting effects of past experiences and the difficulty of moving forward. Its characters must confront emotional challenges while deciding whether love can offer a new beginning.

4. Orphan Train Books in Order

The Orphan Train series draws on the historical practice of sending orphaned and vulnerable children from crowded eastern cities to new homes in the American West and Midwest. The stories combine family struggles, social history, and romance.

1. An Awakened Heart (2017, prequel novella)
   This prequel introduces characters and circumstances connected to the wider series. It is a useful starting point for readers who want additional background before beginning the main novels.
2. With You Always (2017)
   Elise Neumann is determined to protect her family after financial troubles threaten their future. When she becomes involved with the orphan train movement, she faces difficult choices about security, independence, and the possibility of love.
3. Together Forever (2018)
   Marianne Neumann wants to build a stable future while dealing with the responsibilities and expectations surrounding her family. Her journey brings questions of trust, personal ambition, and romance into focus against the backdrop of the orphan train movement.
4. Searching for You (2018)
   Sophie Neumann continues the family’s story as she searches for answers and a more secure future. The novel explores family ties, belonging, and the courage required to make a fresh start.

5. The Bride Ships Books in Order

Inspired by the historical bride ship movement, this series follows women who travel from England to the colonies in search of marriage and a new life. Each novel focuses on a different couple while sharing the same historical setting.

1. A Reluctant Bride (2019)
   Mercy Wilkins travels to the Canadian frontier as a mail-order bride, hoping to escape her difficult circumstances and create a better future. Her plans become complicated when the reality of her new life differs from what she expected.
2. The Runaway Bride (2020)
   A woman determined to escape an unwanted future finds herself on a journey that changes her understanding of love and independence. The story combines the risks of frontier life with the uncertainty of trusting someone new.
3. A Bride of Convenience (2020)
   This installment explores a marriage shaped by practical needs rather than a straightforward romantic choice. As the couple learns to live together, their relationship becomes more complicated than either initially expected.
4. Almost a Bride (2020)
   The final book follows characters whose plans for marriage and security become tangled with personal feelings and unexpected challenges. It brings the series’ themes of new beginnings, trust, and commitment together.

6. The Lost Princesses Books in Order

The Lost Princesses is a medieval romance series about royal sisters whose lives are shaped by political danger, family secrets, and the need to protect their identities. Read the prequel first if you want the background before the main novels.

1. Always (2019, prequel novella)
   This prequel introduces the royal family and the circumstances that place the princesses in danger. It helps establish the history behind the sisters’ struggles in the main series.
2. Evermore (2019)
   The story follows a princess whose future is affected by danger and the responsibilities associated with her royal identity. Romance develops as she faces the possibility of losing the life she once expected.
3. Foremost (2019)
   Another royal sister must confront threats to her safety while navigating questions of loyalty and love. Her journey continues the series’ themes of courage, family bonds, and personal sacrifice.
4. Hereafter (2019)
   The final installment brings the princesses’ larger story toward its conclusion. It explores the choices required to protect loved ones and the possibility of building a future beyond the dangers of the past.

7. The Noble Knights Books in Order

The Noble Knights series is set in a medieval world of royal expectations, dangerous journeys, and romance. A prequel novella introduces the story before the main novels.

1. The Vow (2015, prequel novella)
   This short story provides background to the events and characters in the series. It is best read before the main novels if you want to begin with the earliest related events.
2. An Uncertain Choice (2015)
   Lady Rosemarie is expected to make a decision that will affect her future and her family’s standing. When her plans take an unexpected turn, she must weigh duty against her own feelings.
3. A Daring Sacrifice (2016)
   A young woman faces a dangerous situation that demands courage and selflessness. As she becomes involved with a man whose responsibilities complicate their relationship, she must decide what she is willing to risk.
4. For Love & Honor (2017)
   This medieval romance centers on honor, loyalty, and the difficult choices that arise when personal feelings conflict with social expectations. The characters must decide whether they can trust one another in a world where reputation and duty carry great weight.
5. A Loyal Heart (2017)
   A young woman with a complicated past tries to find safety and belonging while facing the expectations of the people around her. Her relationship with a man connected to her new circumstances forces her to reconsider what loyalty truly means.
6. A Worthy Rebel (2018)
   A rebellious heroine challenges the expectations placed on her and becomes involved with a man whose own responsibilities make their relationship difficult. Their story explores independence, courage, and the cost of following one’s heart.

8. The Fairest Maidens Books in Order

The Fairest Maidens is a medieval romance collection that reimagines familiar fairy-tale elements through stories of courage, attraction, and difficult choices.

1. Beholden (2020)
   This story follows a heroine whose future is shaped by obligations and circumstances beyond her control. As she becomes closer to the man at the center of her story, she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for love.
2. Beguiled (2020)
   The characters in this installment must navigate uncertainty, attraction, and the possibility that appearances may not reveal the full truth. Their relationship develops as they confront the challenges surrounding them.
3. Besotted (2020)
   The final book in the collection explores the tension between expectations and genuine feelings. Its characters must work through misunderstandings and personal challenges before they can decide what kind of future they want.

9. Knights of Brethren Books in Order

Knights of Brethren is a medieval romance series featuring knights, danger, and relationships tested by loyalty and personal sacrifice. The books are best read in publication order.

1. Enamored (2021)
   The opening installment introduces characters whose lives become connected through duty, danger, and unexpected attraction. Their relationship develops as they face challenges that test their trust in one another.
2. Entwined (2021)
   This story follows another couple whose lives become closely connected despite difficult circumstances. Personal loyalties and the responsibilities of the medieval world complicate their growing feelings.
3. Ensnared (2022)
   The characters face threats that make it difficult to separate personal desires from their responsibilities. Their relationship develops through danger, uncertainty, and decisions that may change their futures.
4. Enriched (2022)
   This installment continues the series’ blend of medieval adventure and romance. The central characters must confront their pasts and decide what they are willing to risk for a lasting relationship.
5. Enflamed (2022)
   Attraction and duty collide as the characters face obstacles that threaten their plans. The story focuses on the choices required to build trust when circumstances make it difficult.
6. Entrusted (2022)
   The sixth book continues the series with a story about loyalty, responsibility, and love. Its characters must decide whether they can trust one another when their future remains uncertain.

10. Waters of Time Books in Order

Waters of Time combines romance with time travel and historical mystery. The series moves between different periods, allowing characters to confront the past while dealing with the consequences in the present.

1. Come Back to Me (2021)
   Marian Creighton becomes involved in a mystery that connects her present-day life with events from the past. The story blends historical elements, suspense, and romance as she tries to understand what is happening.
2. Never Leave Me (2022)
   The next installment continues the series’ mix of time travel, danger, and romantic tension. The characters must navigate the consequences of their discoveries while trying to protect the people they care about.
3. Stay With Me (2022)
   This novel continues the time-crossing storyline, bringing past and present into conflict. Romance and mystery develop together as the characters face difficult questions about identity and the choices that shape a life.
4. Wait for Me (2023)
   The fourth book continues the series’ exploration of connections across time. The characters must deal with uncertainty and the risks of changing or confronting the past while searching for answers and lasting love.

11. Bride Ships: New Voyages Books in Order

Bride Ships: New Voyages continues the historical romance world introduced in The Bride Ships series. The books follow new characters and relationships shaped by migration, marriage, and life in unfamiliar surroundings.

1. Finally His Bride (2024)
   This story follows a couple whose hopes for marriage and a secure future are complicated by personal circumstances. As they face the realities of building a life together, their relationship develops through trust and difficult choices.
2. His Treasured Bride (2024)
   The second book explores a relationship shaped by expectations and the need to adapt to a new life. The characters must learn to understand one another while facing the practical and emotional challenges of marriage.
3. His Perfect Bride (2025)
   This installment follows a couple whose ideas about the perfect marriage are tested by real-life complications. Their story explores the difference between expectations and the work required to build a genuine partnership.
4. His Unforgettable Bride (2025)
   The fourth book continues the series with a romance shaped by personal history, changing circumstances, and the hope of a lasting future. The characters must decide whether their feelings can overcome the challenges in their way.

12. A Shanahan Match Books in Order

A Shanahan Match is a historical romance series centered on matchmaking, relationships, and the unexpected ways people find love. Read the books in publication order to follow the recurring family and community connections.

1. Calling on the Matchmaker (2023)
   This opening novel introduces the matchmaking premise and the characters whose romantic lives become connected through it. The story explores the difference between planning for love and discovering an unexpected connection.
2. Saved by the Matchmaker (2024)
   The second installment follows characters who need help navigating the complications of romance and personal responsibility. As their relationship develops, they must decide whether they can trust the direction their lives are taking.
3. A Wager with the Matchmaker (2025)
   A wager complicates the path to romance in this installment. The characters must work through competing expectations and their own feelings before they can determine what they truly want.
4. Marrying the Matchmaker (2026)
   The fourth book brings the matchmaking theme into focus by placing a matchmaker’s own romantic future at the center of the story. It explores the challenge of finding love when the person who helps others with relationships must confront personal uncertainty.

13. High Country Ranch Books in Order

The High Country Ranch series moves into Western historical romance, following couples whose lives are connected to ranching, community, and the challenges of building a future in Colorado.

1. Waiting for the Rancher (2024)
   This opening story introduces the ranch setting and a relationship shaped by expectations about marriage and the future. The characters must learn whether they can build a stable life together despite the complications surrounding them.
2. Willing to Wed the Rancher (2024)
   The next couple faces the practical and emotional demands of marriage in a ranching community. Their relationship develops as they confront personal doubts and learn what commitment requires.
3. A Wife for the Rancher (2024)
   A rancher seeking a wife finds that building a household involves more than making a practical arrangement. The story explores how trust and affection can grow when two people share responsibilities and face uncertainty together.
4. Wrangling the Wandering Rancher (2024)
   This installment follows a relationship complicated by a restless spirit and the need to settle down. The characters must work through their differences before they can decide whether they want the same future.
5. Wishing for the Rancher’s Love (2024)
   The final book in the series centers on the hope of finding love and belonging within the ranching world. The characters face personal challenges as they decide whether to risk their hearts for a lasting relationship.

14. Colorado Cowgirls Books in Order

Colorado Cowgirls features women living and working in the West. Each book explores romance alongside the responsibilities, ambitions, and challenges that come with life in a ranching community.

1. Committing to the Cowgirl (2023)
   The opening novel introduces a heroine whose independence and responsibilities shape her view of relationships. Romance challenges her assumptions as she considers whether she can make room for someone else in her life.
2. Cherishing the Cowgirl (2023)
   This story follows a couple whose relationship develops through personal struggles and the demands of their community. They must decide whether their growing feelings can withstand the complications they face.
3. Convincing the Cowgirl (2023)
   The characters in this installment must overcome doubts and conflicting expectations before they can build a future together. The romance explores what it means to earn trust rather than simply expect it.
4. Captivated by the Cowgirl (2023)
   This book focuses on attraction that grows as the characters learn more about one another. Their plans are complicated by personal responsibilities and the realities of life in the West.
5. Claiming the Cowgirl (2023)
   The final book in the series continues its focus on independent women, romance, and the importance of choosing a partner who respects their ambitions. The characters must decide what they are willing to change for a shared future.

15. Colorado Cowboys Books in Order

Colorado Cowboys is another Western romance series, following men and women whose relationships are shaped by ranch life, family ties, and the need to build a secure future.

1. A Cowboy for Keeps (2021)
   This opening story introduces a cowboy whose life changes when romance enters the picture. The characters must work through personal baggage and practical challenges as they consider whether they can build a life together.
2. The Heart of a Cowboy (2021)
   The second book follows a cowboy whose responsibilities and past experiences affect his ability to trust. Romance gives him a reason to reconsider his plans and what he wants from the future.
3. To Tame a Cowboy (2022)
   A strong-willed character finds that changing another person’s mind is not as simple as it seems. The relationship develops through conflict, attraction, and the challenge of accepting someone as they are.
4. Falling for the Cowgirl (2022)
   This installment focuses on a relationship between two people whose plans and personalities do not always align. Their growing feelings force them to reconsider their assumptions about love and partnership.
5. The Last Chance Cowboy (2023)
   The final book follows a character facing a pivotal point in life. As romance offers the possibility of a fresh start, the characters must decide whether they are ready to take a chance on a different future.

16. Noble Ranch Books in Order

Noble Ranch is a Western historical romance series about ranchers, marriage, and the challenges of creating a new life in Colorado.

1. The Forever Cowboy (2025)
   This opening book introduces the Noble Ranch world and a cowboy whose future is shaped by both personal history and the possibility of romance. The story explores whether love can offer a new direction when life has not gone according to plan.
2. The Favored Cowboy (2025)
   The second installment follows a cowboy whose circumstances and relationships challenge his expectations. As the story develops, he must decide what matters most when duty and personal happiness compete.
3. The Fearless Cowboy (2026)
   This book continues the series with a romance involving courage, uncertainty, and the risks of opening up to another person. The characters must face the challenges in front of them before they can build a shared future.
4. The Faithful Cowboy (2026)
   The fourth book explores loyalty and commitment in the ranching world. Its characters must decide how to balance their responsibilities with the possibility of lasting love.

17. Healing Springs Ranch Books in Order

Healing Springs Ranch is a contemporary romance series set in a ranch community. It shifts Hedlund’s focus from historical settings to modern relationships, family connections, and new beginnings.

1. Spurs and Sparks (2025)
   The first book introduces the Healing Springs Ranch setting and the people whose lives become connected through it. Romance develops as the characters work through personal challenges and discover the possibility of a fresh start.
2. Broncos and Ballads (2025)
   This installment continues the series with another couple navigating attraction, responsibilities, and the expectations of their community. The story blends contemporary romance with the ranch setting.
3. Lassos and Lace (2026)
   The third book continues the ranch community’s romantic stories, bringing together characters whose plans are complicated by personal feelings and the need to trust someone new.
4. Horseshoes and Honeymoons (2026)
   This installment continues the series’ focus on relationships and new beginnings in the Healing Springs Ranch community. Its characters must navigate the practical challenges of love while deciding what they want from the future.
5. Rodeos and Roses (2027, upcoming)
   This title is listed as a future installment in the series. Its release is planned for 2027, so readers should check the author’s official book list for the latest publication details.

18. Bride Ships: New Voyages and Other Connected Historical Romances

Jody Hedlund has written several historical romance series with connected themes, but they should not be treated as one continuous series. The original Bride Ships books and Bride Ships: New Voyages have separate reading sequences.

For clarity, read The Bride Ships in this order:

1. A Reluctant Bride
2. The Runaway Bride
3. A Bride of Convenience
4. Almost a Bride

Then continue with Bride Ships: New Voyages:

1. Finally His Bride
2. His Treasured Bride
3. His Perfect Bride
4. His Unforgettable Bride

The two series share a historical premise, but each has its own central characters and storylines.

19. Standalone Historical Novels by Jody Hedlund

These novels can be read independently of the main romance series.

Luther and Katharina: A Story of Love and Rebellion (2015)

This historical novel explores the relationship between Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora during the Reformation. It combines religious and political history with the personal story of two people whose lives become closely connected during a period of major change.

Newton & Polly: A Story of Amazing Grace (2016)

This novel follows John Newton and Polly Catlett, exploring the relationship and events surrounding the man who would become associated with the hymn “Amazing Grace.” The story blends romance, faith, and the historical circumstances that shaped Newton’s life.

20. What Should You Read First by Jody Hedlund?

The best starting point depends on the kind of story you enjoy.

• For historical romance: Start with The Preacher’s Bride or The Doctor’s Lady.
• For a story inspired by the orphan train movement: Begin with An Awakened Heart, then read With You Always.
• For medieval romance: Start with The Vow before reading An Uncertain Choice and the connected Noble Knights books.
• For Western romance: Try Waiting for the Rancher or The Forever Cowboy.
• For contemporary ranch romance: Start with Spurs and Sparks.
• For time travel and historical mystery: Begin with Come Back to Me, the first Waters of Time novel.

If you prefer to follow publication order across all her books, use a complete bibliography. For most readers, however, reading one series at a time is simpler and makes the recurring settings and character connections easier to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Jody Hedlund written?

Jody Hedlund has written dozens of books across multiple romance series and standalone novels. The exact count can vary depending on whether a bibliography includes novellas, short stories, collections, and forthcoming releases.

Should I read Jody Hedlund’s books in publication order?

You do not have to read every book in overall publication order. It is generally more useful to read each series in its own sequence, especially when a prequel or novella introduces characters or events that connect to later novels.

Are Jody Hedlund’s books connected?

Some are. Books within a series may share characters, families, settings, or historical events. Her standalone historical novels can be read independently, and readers can usually choose a series based on their preferred setting.

Does Jody Hedlund write contemporary romance?

Yes. Alongside historical and medieval romance, she writes contemporary romance, including the Healing Springs Ranch series.

What is the first Jody Hedlund book?

The Preacher’s Bride, published in 2010, is generally considered her debut novel. It is also the first book in the Hearts of Faith collection.

What is the latest Jody Hedlund book?

The answer depends on the publication date and the format being counted. Her official book list includes releases from 2026 and titles scheduled for 2027. Check the author’s official bibliography for the latest release information.

Final Thoughts on Reading Jody Hedlund Books in Order

Jody Hedlund’s bibliography offers plenty of choices for readers who enjoy romance shaped by history, faith, family, and personal challenges. Her historical novels explore different periods and communities, while her medieval series add royal intrigue and adventure. Readers who prefer a modern setting can turn to her contemporary ranch romances, and those who enjoy mysteries that cross historical periods can try Waters of Time.

You do not need to read every book she has written to enjoy her work. Choose a series that fits your interests, start with its first book, and continue in order. If you want to explore her range as an author, try one historical romance, one medieval romance, and one contemporary ranch romance to discover which style you enjoy most.

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.