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Order of Johanna Lindsey Books
When it comes to the sweeping world of historical romance, few names command more reverence—and nostalgia—than Johanna Lindsey. With a career that spanned more than four decades and a bibliography bursting with more than 50 novels, Lindsey didn’t just write books—she built empires of passion, castles of defiance, and heroines who weren’t afraid to demand what they wanted. All while making her readers swoon, blush, and secretly wish they were sailing off into the sunset with a pirate lord or a Highlander.
A Life Woven with Fiction, Fire, and Fierce Heroines
Born as Johanna Helen Howard on March 10, 1952, in Frankfurt, West Germany, she wasn’t your typical romance writer. Her father was a U.S. Army soldier stationed in Germany at the time of her birth. After his passing in 1964, her family moved to Hawaii, where she would spend much of her formative years—a setting as dreamy and exotic as her novels.
She graduated from high school in Hawaii, and though she didn't follow a formal higher education path in literature, Lindsey’s real schooling came through imagination, storytelling, and a keen understanding of the romantic psyche. She married at the age of 18 and raised three sons—writing her first novel as a young mother, not in some ivory tower, but right in the thick of real life’s chaos.
Her debut novel, “Captive Bride” (1977), was never intended to start a legacy. It was written “just for fun,” according to Lindsey. But when it hit the publishing world, readers lost their minds—and hearts. That debut turned her into an overnight sensation, and she never looked back. She became a New York Times bestselling author time and again, with over 60 million copies sold worldwide, translated into multiple languages.
The Lindsey Formula: Sensual Tension + Historical Swagger
Johanna Lindsey had a very specific kind of magic in her writing. Her stories weren’t just about love—they were about the battle for it. They were drenched in drama, filled with rebellious women, powerful alpha men, mistaken identities, lavish ballrooms, windswept moors, and sometimes, a good old-fashioned kidnapping. And somehow, she made all of it feel like destiny.
Her series—especially the Malory-Anderson Family Saga—became iconic, chronicling generations of roguish gentlemen and spirited ladies whose chemistry threatened to burn down every manor house they entered. With pirates, Vikings, Regency lords, and frontier cowboys, Lindsey refused to be boxed into any one subgenre. She was the subgenre.
And let’s not forget those legendary covers—often featuring Fabio, whose flowing locks became synonymous with the bodice-ripping glam of Lindsey’s legacy.
Death of a Legend—But Not Her Legacy
On October 27, 2019, the romance world lost a titan. Johanna Lindsey passed away due to stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 67. And yet, even in death, she left behind a canon so full of heart, humor, and heat that new generations continue to discover her today.
What’s almost ironic is that Lindsey herself was shy, rarely gave interviews, and didn’t much like the spotlight. And yet her characters were bold, unrelenting, and absolutely unforgettable. She wasn’t writing for acclaim—she was writing for love. Real, messy, fiery love.
Why Johanna Lindsey Still Matters
In an age where romances are dissected for tropes and “problematic heroes,” Lindsey’s works remain unapologetically themselves. She never pretended to write literature for the academy. She wrote books that people devoured under the covers, books that made you miss your train stop, books that made you believe in love that could cross oceans and centuries.
Johanna Lindsey wasn’t just a romance novelist—she was a fearless dream weaver. And if you haven’t picked up Gentle Rogue or Love Only Once, you're missing out on some of the most addictive historical escapism ever put to paper.
Because once you read Johanna Lindsey, every other romance feels just a little less bold.
Publication Order of Series Books
Publication Order of Reid Family
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The Heir | 2000 | Amazon |
| The Devil Who Tamed Her | 2007 | Amazon |
| A Rogue of My Own | 2010 | Amazon |
| Let Love Find You | 2012 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Callahan-Warren
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| One Heart to Win | 2013 | Amazon |
| Wildfire In His Arms | 2015 | Amazon |
| Marry Me By Sundown | 2018 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Cardinia's Royalty
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Once a Princess | 1991 | Amazon |
| You Belong to Me | 1994 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Glorious Angel
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Glorious Angel | 1982 | Amazon |
| Heart of Thunder | 1983 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Haardrad Family
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Fires of Winter | 1980 | Amazon |
| Hearts Aflame | 1987 | Amazon |
| Surrender My Love | 1994 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Ly-San-Ter Family
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior's Woman | 1990 | Amazon |
| Keeper of the Heart | 1993 | Amazon |
| Heart of a Warrior | 2001 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Malory-Anderson Family
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Love Only Once | 1985 | Amazon |
| Tender Rebel | 1988 | Amazon |
| Gentle Rogue | 1990 | Amazon |
| The Magic of You | 1993 | Amazon |
| Say You Love Me | 1996 | Amazon |
| The Present | 1998 | Amazon |
| A Loving Scoundrel | 2004 | Amazon |
| Captive of My Desires | 2006 | Amazon |
| No Choice But Seduction | 2008 | Amazon |
| That Perfect Someone | 2010 | Amazon |
| Stormy Persuasion | 2014 | Amazon |
| Beautiful Tempest | 2017 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Shefford's Knights
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Defy Not the Heart | 1989 | Amazon |
| Joining | 1999 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Sherring Cross
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Man of My Dreams | 1992 | Amazon |
| Love Me Forever | 1995 | Amazon |
| The Pursuit | 2002 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Straton Family
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| A Heart So Wild | 1986 | Amazon |
| All I Need Is You | 1997 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Wyoming
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Brave the Wild Wind | 1980 | Amazon |
| Savage Thunder | 1989 | Amazon |
| Angel | 1992 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Temptation's Darling | 2019 | Amazon |
| Make Me Love You | 2016 | Amazon |
| When Passion Rules | 2011 | Amazon |
| His Ruthless Heart | 2006 | Amazon |
| Marriage Most Scandalous | 2005 | Amazon |
| A Man to Call My Own | 2003 | Amazon |
| Home for the Holidays | 2000 | Amazon |
| Until Forever | 1995 | Amazon |
| Prisoner of My Desire | 1991 | Amazon |
| Silver Angel | 1988 | Amazon |
| Secret Fire | 1987 | Amazon |
| When Love Awaits | 1986 | Amazon |
| Tender is the Storm | 1985 | Amazon |
| So Speaks the Heart | 1983 | Amazon |
| A Gentle Feuding | 1983 | Amazon |
| Paradise Wild | 1981 | Amazon |
| A Pirate's Love | 1978 | Amazon |
| Captive Bride | 1977 | Amazon |