Jessica Prince is an American contemporary-romance and romantic-suspense author. Her books feature close friendship groups, musicians, small towns, troubled families, second chances, and couples whose lives overlap across multiple series.
Her bibliography is not one continuous universe, but several series do branch directly from earlier books. The most useful connections are Colors into Locklaine Boys and Pembrooke, then Civil Corruption into Hope Valley, followed by Redemption, Whiskey Dolls, Whitecap, and Second Hope.
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Readers can understand most individual romances on their own. Following the connected route gives better context for returning characters and prevents later books from revealing earlier couples too soon.
Choose the Right Entry Point
There are four sensible places to begin:
- For Jessica Prince’s earliest connected romances: Start with Picking up the Pieces.
- For her largest small-town world: Start with Corrupt, then continue into Hope Valley.
- For a direct Hope Valley entry: Start with Out of My League.
- For her newest completed series: Start with The Little Things, Second Hope book one.
Readers interested in Ashland can begin with Dead to Rights. The series is separate enough to work as a fresh starting point, although its 2026 continuation was still being released at the time of this update.
Jessica Prince’s Connected Worlds
Prince’s catalog becomes easier when divided into three reading tracks.
The Early Spin-Off Track
- Colors
- Locklaine Boys
- Pembrooke
Locklaine Boys develops from Love Hate Relationship, Colors book three. Pembrooke develops from Wildflower, Colors book four.
The Hope Valley Track
- Civil Corruption
- Hope Valley
- Redemption
- Whiskey Dolls
- Whitecap
- Second Hope
These series share the strongest network of recurring characters. They have separate numbering, but publication order across the series preserves introductions and relationship developments.
Independent Series
The following can be read without completing either connected track:
- Cloverleaf
- Deadly Love
- Girl Talk
- Ashland
The standalone novels also require no broader series preparation, although two of them feature characters introduced elsewhere.
Cloverleaf Books in Order
Cloverleaf contains four interconnected contemporary romances.
- Picking up the Pieces (2013)
- Rising from the Ashes (2014)
- Pushing the Boundaries (2014)
- Worth the Wait (2015)
Each novel follows a different central relationship. The friendship and family group continues across the full series, so publication order is preferable.
Picking up the Pieces was Prince’s first published novel and remains a natural starting point for readers exploring her complete backlist.
Deadly Love Books in Order
The confirmed published sequence contains two books:
- Destructive (2014)
- Addictive (2014)
These books continue the same central relationship and should be read in strict order.
What Happened to Obsessive?
Obsessive has appeared in legacy catalog and reader-database records as a proposed third installment about Aldo and Carmen. However, Prince later stated that she did not plan to publish it, and her current official catalog describes Deadly Love as a duet.
The stable reading order therefore contains only Destructive and Addictive.
Uncertain or unpublished: Obsessive
Do not treat it as a normally available third book unless the author formally releases it.
Colors Books in Order
- Scattered Colors (2015)
- Shrinking Violet (2015)
- Love Hate Relationship (2015)
- Wildflower (2016)
Colors is a set of interconnected standalones, but two books also introduce later series.
Love Hate Relationship functions as an informal starting point for Locklaine Boys. Wildflower performs the same role for Pembrooke.
Readers planning to follow every crossover should complete Colors before either spin-off.
Locklaine Boys Books in Order
- Love Hate Relationship (2015), optional bridge from Colors
- Fire & Ice (2016)
- Opposites Attract (2016)
- Almost Perfect (2016)
The numbered Locklaine Boys series begins with Fire & Ice. Griffin was introduced earlier in Love Hate Relationship, so that Colors novel can be read as book 0.5.
Recommended Locklaine Boys Order
For full context:
- Read Colors through Love Hate Relationship.
- Continue with Fire & Ice.
- Read Opposites Attract.
- Finish with Almost Perfect.
Readers interested only in the trilogy can begin with Fire & Ice.
Pembrooke Books in Order
- Wildflower (2016), optional bridge from Colors
- Sweet Sunshine (2016)
- Coming Full Circle (2016)
- A Broken Soul (2017)
- Should Have Been Me (2024)
The original Pembrooke trilogy ran from Sweet Sunshine through A Broken Soul. Prince returned to the setting seven years later with Should Have Been Me.
Wildflower introduces Chloe before she appears in Pembrooke. It is not officially numbered as Pembrooke book one, but it provides the most complete introduction.
Best Pembrooke Placement
Read Wildflower first when following the crossover. Then continue through all four numbered Pembrooke novels.
The long gap before Should Have Been Me does not make it a reboot or separate continuity.
Girl Talk Books in Order
- Seducing Lola (2017)
- Tempting Sophia (2017)
- Enticing Daphne (2017)
- Charming Fiona (2018)
Girl Talk follows four connected women and their romances.
The books can be understood individually, but later installments revisit established relationships. Reading from Lola through Fiona gives the clearest progression.
Civil Corruption Books in Order
- Corrupt (2017)
- Defile (2018)
- Consume (2018)
- Ravage (2018)
Civil Corruption follows members of a rock band. Each book focuses on another musician, while the group’s professional and personal relationships continue across the series.
This series also supplies characters who later appear in Hope Valley and Redemption.
Why Civil Corruption Matters Later
Lincoln, the hero of Out of My League, first appears in Ravage.
Marco, who becomes central to Wrong Side of the Tracks, is introduced in Consume.
Stone, later featured in Wallflower, also appears in the Civil Corruption continuity.
Hope Valley can still be started independently, but Civil Corruption first gives the fullest character background.
Hope Valley Books in Order
- Out of My League (2019)
- Come Back Home Again (2019)
- The Best of Me (2019)
- Wrong Side of the Tracks (2019)
- Stay With Me (2019)
- Out of the Darkness (2019)
- The Second Time Around (2020)
- Waiting for Forever (2020)
- Love to Hate You (2020)
- Playing for Keeps (2021)
- When You Least Expect It (2022)
- Never for Him (2022)
Hope Valley is a twelve-book series of interconnected small-town romances.
Each couple receives a complete story, but former protagonists continue to appear. Later books reveal marriages, family changes, friendships, and the outcomes of earlier relationships.
Best Hope Valley Starting Point
Begin with Out of My League.
Readers who want Lincoln’s earlier introduction can first complete Civil Corruption, particularly Ravage. This is optional rather than essential.
Is Hope Valley Complete?
The original twelve-book sequence is complete.
The setting later continues through the Second Hope series, which follows another group of Hope Valley characters.
Redemption Books in Order
- Bad Alibi (2020)
- Crazy Beautiful (2020)
- Bittersweet (2020)
- Guilty Pleasure (2021)
- Wallflower (2021)
- Blurred Lines (2022)
- Slow Burn (2023)
- Favorite Mistake (2023)
- Sweet Spot (2023)
Redemption is a Hope Valley spin-off with additional Civil Corruption crossover.
Cannon, the hero of Bad Alibi, is introduced in Out of the Darkness. Stone, who receives his romance in Wallflower, first appears in Ravage.
Should Hope Valley Be Read Before Redemption?
Yes, for the fullest continuity.
Redemption can be understood as its own romantic-suspense series, but reading Hope Valley first prevents minor spoilers and gives several heroes a proper introduction.
Recommended Placement
Read at least the first six Hope Valley books before beginning Bad Alibi. Completionists can finish all twelve Hope Valley novels first.
Whiskey Dolls Books in Order
- Bombshell (2021)
- Knockout (2021)
- Stunner (2022)
- Seductress (2023)
- Temptress (2023)
- Vamp (2023)
Whiskey Dolls follows women connected to a bar and performance group introduced through the broader Hope Valley setting.
Marin, the central character in Bombshell, first appears in Playing for Keeps, Hope Valley book ten.
Best Whiskey Dolls Order
For full crossover context:
- Read Hope Valley through Playing for Keeps.
- Begin Whiskey Dolls with Bombshell.
- Continue through Vamp.
The six main romances remain understandable without the complete Hope Valley series, but returning-character context will be reduced.
Whitecap Books in Order
- Crossing the Line (2021)
- My Perfect Enemy (2022)
- Turn of the Tides (2024)
Whitecap is another Hope Valley spin-off.
Cheyanne, the heroine of Crossing the Line, is connected to Charlotte from Playing for Keeps. The books then develop Whitecap as their own coastal continuity.
Required Prior Reading
No Hope Valley book is strictly required.
Reading Playing for Keeps first provides the clearest family introduction. After that, complete the Whitecap trilogy in publication order.
Second Hope Books in Order
- The Little Things (2024)
- Tangled Up With You (2024)
- Twice in a Lifetime (2024)
- Chasing Forever (2025)
- Only Ever You (2025)
- Beautifully Broken Pieces (2026)
Second Hope returns to the Hope Valley setting with another group of interconnected romances.
The official 2026 update identifies this series as complete. Beautifully Broken Pieces is the sixth and concluding book.
Must Hope Valley Be Read First?
It is strongly recommended for readers who care about returning characters and community history.
Second Hope’s central romances can still be followed independently. However, beginning there may reveal where several original Hope Valley characters and relationships eventually ended up.
Complete Hope Valley Reading Route
- Civil Corruption
- Hope Valley
- Redemption
- Whiskey Dolls
- Whitecap
- Second Hope
This expanded route protects the greatest number of introductions and crossovers.
Redemption, Whiskey Dolls, and Whitecap overlap in publication rather than forming one continuous plot. Their placement after Hope Valley is more important than their order relative to one another.
Ashland Books in Order
- Dead to Rights (2024)
- Untamed Heart (scheduled for August 2026)
- True North (scheduled for October 2026)
- When Lightning Strikes (scheduled for December 2026)
Ashland began with Dead to Rights. The series was scheduled to expand with three further books during the second half of 2026.
As of July 24, 2026, only Dead to Rights was confirmed as already published. The remaining dates were still forthcoming.
Is Ashland Connected to Another Series?
No required prequel has been confirmed in the author’s current reading guidance.
Readers can begin directly with Dead to Rights. Follow the numbered series order as the later books become available.
Jessica Prince Standalone Novels
Nightmares from Within
- Nightmares from Within (2013)
This is an independent early novel and does not connect to Cloverleaf or the later small-town series.
Hustler
- Hustler (2016), written with Meghan Quinn
This coauthored romance stands alone. No Jessica Prince or Meghan Quinn series needs to be read first.
Chance Encounters
- Chance Encounters (2017)
This is published as a standalone but spins out of the Locklaine Boys world.
It is best read after the Locklaine Boys trilogy when preserving all character introductions matters.
One Knight Stand
- One Knight Stand (2018)
This standalone connects loosely to Civil Corruption.
Read it after the Civil Corruption series for the most natural placement. It does not receive an official numbered position within that series.
Stories and Charity Collections
Stories for Amanda (2013) is a multi-author charity collection containing work by Jessica Prince and other writers.
It is not part of one of her principal series. Any contribution inside it should be treated as separate short fiction unless an edition explicitly identifies a later series connection.
Chronological Order Versus Publication Order
Jessica Prince’s numbered series already follow their practical timelines. A separate within-series chronology is unnecessary.
The only meaningful chronological question concerns the spin-offs.
Colors Continuity
- Scattered Colors
- Shrinking Violet
- Love Hate Relationship
- Locklaine Boys
- Wildflower
- Pembrooke
This order moves Wildflower after Locklaine Boys, which separates it from its official Colors position. It is useful only as a crossover-focused route.
The safer standard remains:
- Complete Colors.
- Read Locklaine Boys.
- Read Pembrooke.
Hope Valley Continuity
- Civil Corruption
- Hope Valley
- Redemption
- Whiskey Dolls
- Whitecap
- Second Hope
Publication dates overlap across the spin-offs. There is no need to alternate individual books from different series.
Finish one named series at a time unless performing a strict publication-date reread.
Recommended Jessica Prince Reading Order
For the Complete Backlist
- Cloverleaf
- Deadly Love
- Colors
- Locklaine Boys
- Pembrooke
- Girl Talk
- Civil Corruption
- Hope Valley
- Redemption
- Whiskey Dolls
- Whitecap
- Second Hope
- Ashland
- Add the standalone novels near the series they reference
This route follows the broad development of Prince’s catalog while keeping each connected group together.
For the Hope Valley Universe Only
- Corrupt
- Complete Civil Corruption
- Out of My League
- Complete Hope Valley
- Bad Alibi
- Complete Redemption
- Bombshell
- Complete Whiskey Dolls
- Crossing the Line
- Complete Whitecap
- The Little Things
- Complete Second Hope
This is the strongest continuity-first route.
For a Short Completed Series
Choose one of these:
- Cloverleaf, four books
- Colors, four books
- Girl Talk, four books
- Civil Corruption, four books
- Locklaine Boys, three books
- Whitecap, three books
Locklaine Boys and Whitecap have earlier crossover introductions. Cloverleaf and Girl Talk are simpler independent choices.
For a New Reader Who Wants One Book
Begin with Out of My League.
It introduces Hope Valley cleanly, completes its main romance, and leads into Prince’s largest network of connected series.
Readers seeking an earlier emotional contemporary romance can instead choose Picking up the Pieces.
Latest Jessica Prince Book
As of July 24, 2026, the newest confirmed published Jessica Prince novel is Beautifully Broken Pieces, Second Hope book six.
It concludes the Second Hope series. Readers should begin that sequence with The Little Things rather than entering with the final book.
Some retailer records may show newer dates for rereleases, alternate covers, box sets, or refreshed editions. Those dates do not make the older story a new installment.
Upcoming Jessica Prince Books
The next confirmed books belong to Ashland:
- Untamed Heart, scheduled for August 2026
- True North, scheduled for October 2026
- When Lightning Strikes, scheduled for December 2026
All three follow Dead to Rights.
The author’s current update states that Second Hope is finished and that the 2026 focus is returning to Ashland. Release dates remain scheduled until each book is published.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jessica Prince’s first book?
Picking up the Pieces was published in 2013. It begins the Cloverleaf series.
What is the best Jessica Prince series to start with?
Hope Valley is the most useful general introduction. Begin with Out of My League.
Readers who want every crossover introduction should read Civil Corruption first.
Are Jessica Prince’s books standalones?
Most are interconnected standalones. Each book usually completes one principal romance, but characters and earlier couples recur.
Publication order remains the best way to protect relationship outcomes.
Do I need to read Colors before Locklaine Boys?
No, but Love Hate Relationship introduces Griffin before Fire & Ice.
Read Colors first for the full experience.
Do I need to read Colors before Pembrooke?
It is recommended.
Wildflower introduces Chloe and functions as an informal Pembrooke prequel.
Should Civil Corruption be read before Hope Valley?
It is optional but useful.
Several Hope Valley and Redemption characters first appear in Civil Corruption.
Should Hope Valley be read before Redemption?
Yes, preferably.
Cannon is introduced in Out of the Darkness, and other crossover characters appear throughout the two series.
Is Whiskey Dolls connected to Hope Valley?
Yes.
Marin first appears in Playing for Keeps. Read that Hope Valley novel before Bombshell for the clearest introduction.
Is Whitecap connected to Hope Valley?
Yes.
The connection runs through Cheyanne and Charlotte. Reading Playing for Keeps before Crossing the Line provides additional family context.
Is Second Hope a sequel to Hope Valley?
It is a later series set in the same community.
The books have separate numbering, but original Hope Valley readers will recognize the setting and returning characters.
Is Second Hope complete?
Yes. It concludes with Beautifully Broken Pieces, published in 2026.
How many Hope Valley books are there?
The original Hope Valley series contains twelve books.
Second Hope is a separate six-book continuation and should not be numbered as Hope Valley books thirteen through eighteen.
Is Pembrooke a trilogy?
It began as a trilogy, but Should Have Been Me expanded the series to four numbered books in 2024.
Is Whitecap complete?
The confirmed sequence contains three books, ending with Turn of the Tides.
Is Deadly Love a duet or trilogy?
The current official catalog treats it as a duet containing Destructive and Addictive.
Obsessive remains an old or unreleased third-book listing and should not be presented as a normally published installment.
Does Destructive end on a cliffhanger?
Yes. Read Addictive immediately afterward to complete the central story.
Where does Chance Encounters belong?
Read it after Locklaine Boys.
It is a standalone spin-off rather than a numbered fourth book.
Where does One Knight Stand belong?
Read it after Civil Corruption.
It is a connected standalone, not Civil Corruption book five.
What is Jessica Prince’s newest series?
Ashland is her newest active series.
It begins with Dead to Rights, followed by three books scheduled for the second half of 2026.
Conclusion
Jessica Prince’s books are easiest to navigate as connected branches rather than one universal list. Read Colors before Locklaine Boys and Pembrooke, then use Civil Corruption as the gateway to Hope Valley and its later spin-offs.
The clearest first book is Out of My League. Completionists should begin earlier with Picking up the Pieces, while readers interested in the newest setting can start with Dead to Rights.
Within every series, publication order is the safest choice. It preserves character introductions, protects previous relationship outcomes, and keeps each spin-off attached to the book that created it.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.