Below is the complete list of Denise Hunter books in order. For each series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Big Sky Romance Books
Publication Order of Bluebell Inn Romance Books
Publication Order of Blue Ridge Books
Publication Order of Chapel Springs Books
Publication Order of Kansas Brides Books
Publication Order of Nantucket Love Story Books
Publication Order of New Heights Books
Publication Order of Riverbend Books
Publication Order of Smitten Books
Publication Order of Summer Harbor Books
Publication Order of Year Of Weddings Books
- An April Bride (2014)
(By Lenora Worth)
An April Bride was first published in 2014; within the Year Of Weddings series, it is listed as book #5. 
- A June Bride (2014)
(By Marybeth Mayhew Whalen)
Published in 2014, A June Bride is listed as book #7 in the Year Of Weddings series. 
Publication Order of Standalone Books
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas Books
Publication Order of Smitten Short Stories/Novellas Books
with Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt
About Denise Hunter
Denise Hunter is an American bestselling novelist known for her inspirational contemporary romances, emotionally compelling characters, and stories set in welcoming small-town communities. With more than forty novels published, she has developed a substantial body of fiction exploring love, forgiveness, family relationships, and second chances. Her best-known series include Nantucket Love Story, Big Sky Romance, Chapel Springs, Summer Harbor, Blue Ridge, Bluebell Inn, and Riverbend, while several of her novels have been adapted into Hallmark television movies.
Hunter began writing in 1996 following the death of her grandfather, an experience that prompted her to pursue a long-standing interest in storytelling. At the time, she was raising young children and wrote during their afternoon naps, gradually developing the manuscript that would launch her literary career.
Her first book was published in 1998, beginning a career that would eventually encompass historical romance, contemporary Christian fiction, and standalone love stories. Her early novels include the Kansas Brides books, beginning with Stranger’s Bride (1999), which explore romantic relationships within historical settings.
Hunter subsequently developed the New Heights series, beginning with Mending Places (2004). These novels examine personal struggles, reconciliation, and the role of faith in overcoming difficult circumstances. The series helped establish the emotional themes that would become central to her later work.
A significant development came with the Nantucket Love Story series, beginning with Surrender Bay (2007). Set against the coastal atmosphere of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the novels explore complicated relationships, past disappointments, and the possibility of emotional renewal.
The Convenient Groom (2008), one of the series’ best-known novels, follows a relationship complicated by an unusual marriage arrangement and conflicting expectations about love. The book was adapted into a Hallmark Channel movie in 2016.
Hunter expanded her readership with the Big Sky Romance series, beginning with A Cowboy’s Touch (2011). Set in Montana, the trilogy combines ranch life, family responsibilities, and romantic relationships shaped by personal loss and emotional uncertainty.
Her Chapel Springs series, launched with Barefoot Summer (2013), follows interconnected characters living in a small lakeside community. The novels explore grief, family tensions, and unexpected love, using recurring characters to develop a sense of continuity between individual romances.
In the Summer Harbor trilogy, beginning with Falling Like Snowflakes (2015), Hunter introduced the Callahan brothers, whose lives become entwined with women seeking safety, forgiveness, and new beginnings. The Maine coastal setting provides an atmospheric backdrop for stories involving family loyalty and emotional healing.
The Blue Ridge series, beginning with Blue Ridge Sunrise (2017), moves to the mountains of North Carolina. Its stories examine unresolved relationships, family obligations, and the difficulty of rebuilding trust after painful experiences.
Hunter continued exploring interconnected families with the Bluebell Inn series, beginning with Lake Season (2019). The novels follow three siblings who transform their late parents’ home into a bed-and-breakfast, each discovering unexpected romantic possibilities while confronting grief and uncertainty.
Her Riverbend Romance series, introduced with Riverbend Gap (2021), centres on the Robinson family and other residents of a North Carolina mountain town. Its four novels combine romantic complications with themes of belonging, personal responsibility, and reconciliation.
Alongside her series fiction, Hunter has written numerous standalone novels, including Summer by the Tides, Bookshop by the Sea, and A Novel Proposal. Her later works, such as Before We Were Us (2024), The Summer of You and Me (2025), and The Second Story Bookshop (2025), continue examining relationships affected by difficult histories and unexpected changes.
Her 2026 releases include More Than Friends and Falling Into Us, while Right Where We Belong is scheduled for 2027.
Hunter has also participated in collaborative fiction, particularly the Smitten series, written with Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, and Diann Hunt. These interconnected stories explore friendship and romance within a shared fictional community.
Her novels have earned several literary honours, including the Carol Award, the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s Choice Award, and the Foreword Book of the Year Award. She has also been a finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award.
Three of her works have been adapted into Hallmark movies, including The Convenient Groom and A December Bride, introducing her storytelling to television audiences.
Hunter lives in Indiana with her husband, with whom she raised three sons. Outside writing, she enjoys travelling, reading, drinking coffee, and playing drums.
Her fiction is distinguished by its compassionate treatment of characters confronting realistic emotional difficulties. Faith frequently informs their decisions without eliminating the complexity of their struggles. Through stories of reconciliation, unexpected love, and personal growth, Hunter has established a recognisable voice in contemporary inspirational romance, portraying lasting relationships as the result of trust, forgiveness, and the courage to embrace change.