If you’ve fallen in love with one of my cowboys and want to know where to ride next, you’re not alone. Many readers write to ask which book to read first, especially when a story is part of a multi‑author project or a loosely connected world. A clear reading order guide lets you follow the emotional arc, character growth, and town history the way I wrote it.
This post focuses on multi‑author western series and connected collections where my books appear alongside stories from other writers. Think of it as your shortcut to avoiding confusion, skipping spoilers, and catching every cameo as characters wander in and out of each other’s stories.
How to Use This Guide
Before we dive into specific series, here’s how to get the most out of this guide.
- Start with the series that matches your mood (holiday, small town, cowboys on the run, widows finding second chances, etc.).
- Follow the reading order listed so you experience character introductions, friendships, and town secrets unfolding in sequence.
- Look for notes about where my book fits in a larger multi‑author world—sometimes it’s a great entry point even if you haven’t read the rest yet.
You can absolutely read my books as standalones if you prefer to dip in and out. If you enjoy seeing relationships, families, and communities deepen over time, following the series order is especially satisfying.
Multi‑Author Western Series Featuring Caroline
Multi‑author series are collaborations where several writers build stories around a shared theme, town, agency, or trope. Each book stands on its own, but they’re more fun when you read them in order and watch the world expand.
Below is a simple overview of key multi‑author western romance series where I have contributed books. The exact titles and number of books in each project may vary over time, so always check the series page or retailer listing for the most current lineup.
Angel Creek Christmas Brides
Angel Creek Christmas Brides gathers stories set in a festive small‑town western setting, all circling around holiday weddings, hope, and found family. The series is designed as a Christmas treat: warm, heart‑tugging, and perfect for binge reading as the snow falls—whether real or imagined.
When you read the Angel Creek books in order, you’ll notice side characters stepping into the spotlight and town traditions deepening from story to story. My contribution fits within that tapestry, adding new lovers to the choir of carols, misunderstandings, and happily‑ever‑afters.
Best way to read:
- Start with Book 1 to see how Angel Creek is introduced.
- Continue in numerical order so you don’t miss subtle references, returning couples, and town events.
Mistaken Identity Mail Order Brides
This multi‑author collection leans into one of my favorite tropes: mail‑order brides and mistaken identities. Expect swapped names, mixed‑up letters, and brides and grooms who aren’t quite who the other expected—at least on paper.
Each book in the series introduces a new couple navigating secrets, misunderstandings, and sometimes danger before they earn their happily‑ever‑after. My story in this world blends humor and heart with the very real stakes of starting over in the West with a stranger.
Best way to read:
- Begin with the first release in the series to understand the core premise.
- Read forward by release order; many authors plant small nods to earlier couples and events.
Pinkerton Matchmaker
Pinkerton Matchmaker combines western romance with mystery and a touch of intrigue. Heroes and heroines connected to the famed Pinkerton agency confront danger, solve crimes, and—of course—fall in love along the way.
Across the series, you’ll see recurring elements such as the agency itself, shared contacts, and overlapping investigations. My Pinkerton story weaves personal stakes into the broader fight for justice on the frontier.
Best way to read:
- Follow the series order so you see how the Pinkerton world grows, mission by mission.
- If you pick up my book first, you can always circle back to earlier volumes later.
Widows of Wildcat Ridge
Widows of Wildcat Ridge centers on women rebuilding their lives after devastating loss in a rough western mining town. Each book features a different widow facing grief, danger, financial insecurity, or social pressure—and finding unexpected love.
Reading in order lets you watch the town of Wildcat Ridge itself change as new businesses open, new families settle, and old wounds slowly heal. My story in this series introduces a heroine who must decide whether to cling to the past or risk her heart one more time.
Best way to read:
- Start at the beginning to meet the first wave of widows and understand the tragedy that binds them.
- Continue in sequence; you’ll see earlier couples reappear and support later heroines.
Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies
If you enjoy high‑emotion stories packed into short, intense western romances, Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies might be your next stop. These multi‑author tales revolve around second chances, surprise children, and marriages forged under pressure.
The books are connected by theme more than by a single town, so you can read them in order or follow your favorite trope. My contribution focuses on a couple whose shared responsibility for a child forces them to confront the past—and imagine a future.
Best way to read:
- Choose whether you want to read straight through in release order or pick by premise.
- If you start with my book, consider exploring neighboring titles to see how other authors handle the same themes.
Where These Fit with Caroline’s Own Series
Alongside these multi‑author projects, I also write longer, closely connected series such as Men of Stone Mountain, Bride Brigade, Loving A Rancher, Pearson Grove, Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides, The McClintocks, Texas Time Travel, and more. Those series are set primarily in worlds I control from book one to the final page, which makes their reading order especially important if you want to track families, friendships, and long‑running feuds.
For those, I have a separate reading order page on my website that lists each main series in order, including novellas and short stories. You can use that page together with this guide: start with a multi‑author world that intrigues you, then move into the companion or thematically similar “Caroline‑only” series.
Quick Reading Order Tips for New Caroline Readers
If you’re new to my western romances or returning after a break, here are some simple ways to choose your path.
- Love shared worlds and discovering new authors? Start with one of the multi‑author series above, then follow your favorite writers into their solo series.
- Want one cohesive world you can sink into for several books? Use my Reading Order page to pick a main series like Men of Stone Mountain or Loving A Rancher and read straight through.
- Craving holiday stories or second‑chance romances? Angel Creek Christmas Brides, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, and Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies are especially strong choices.
No matter where you begin, the goal is the same: give you a clear path to follow so you aren’t left wondering which book comes next—or whether you’ve accidentally skipped a key story.
Simple Reading Order Table
Here is a compact snapshot you can reference when choosing where to start.
| Series name | Type | Best for readers who love… |
| Angel Creek Christmas Brides | Multi-author | Holiday westerns and small‑town Christmas |
| Mistaken Identity Mail Order Brides | Multi-author | Mail‑order brides and identity mix‑ups |
| Pinkerton Matchmaker | Multi-author | Romantic suspense with Pinkerton agents |
| Widows of Wildcat Ridge | Multi-author | Widows rebuilding life in a mining town |
| Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies | Multi-author | Secret babies, widows, and high emotion |
| Men of Stone Mountain, Bride Brigade, Loving A Rancher, etc. | Caroline-only series | Deep dives into one world and family arcs |
Use this table as a quick reference when you’re choosing your next read or sharing recommendations with fellow western‑romance fans.
