Order of Julie Garwood Books

If there’s one name that echoes like a sweet symphony through the corridors of historical romance and romantic suspense fiction, it’s Julie Garwood. An author whose pen was mightier than a sword and whose characters could make your heart skip a beat, Julie Garwood didn’t just write books—she created entire worlds where love could bloom amidst danger, honor clashed with desire, and heroines were as fiercely intelligent as they were relatable.

Born as Julie Elizabeth Murphy on December 26, 1944, in Kansas City, Missouri, Garwood grew up in a large Irish-American family—six siblings, to be precise. Her upbringing was rich with storytelling, Catholic values, and the hustle and bustle of a noisy but nurturing household. One might say her future was written in the stars (or perhaps in the pages of her own imagination), but it didn’t begin with writing. In fact, Julie was a late bloomer in terms of literacy—she didn’t even learn to read until the age of 11, due to a medical condition that went undiagnosed for years. But once she cracked the code of letters and sentences? The world better watch out.

She attended St. Teresa's Academy and later went on to study at Clarkson College, where she majored in nursing. But as fate would have it, literature would eventually become her true calling. Julie first began writing when she took a creative writing course at a local college while juggling motherhood—talk about multitasking magic! It was a professor’s encouragement that made her consider publication seriously. And thank goodness for that, because what followed was nothing short of a literary storm.

Julie Garwood published her first book, Gentle Warrior, in 1985. From that moment on, she carved her place in the literary hall of fame. With over 35 million books in print and many hitting the New York Times Best Seller list, her work transcended genre barriers. Whether it was her medieval historical romances like The Bride and The Secret, or her edge-of-your-seat suspense novels like Heartbreaker and Killjoy, Garwood’s books had one thing in common: a voice that pulled you in, characters that stayed with you, and stories that wouldn’t let you go.

Her signature style? Witty banter, irresistible tension between leads, and heroines who weren’t just damsels in distress but often the smartest people in the room. And the men? Fierce, loyal, and just the right amount of emotionally unavailable until—bam!—love disarms them.

Julie Garwood passed away on June 8, 2023, at the age of 78, leaving behind not just a bibliography, but a treasure chest of emotions, intrigue, and romantic ideals that generations of readers will continue to uncover. Her passing was a heartbreak felt across the romance and thriller communities. But as any devoted reader will tell you, authors never truly die. Their words, once printed, live forever.

To read Julie Garwood is to step into a realm where every glance could spark a lifelong love, and every page might just lead to the moment that changes everything. Her legacy lives on not only in her bestselling novels, but in the hearts of readers who learned what it means to fall dangerously—and deliciously—in love.

So, are you ready to lose sleep over a Julie Garwood novel? Don’t say I didn’t warn you—once you open that first page, there’s no going back.