Judith McNaught is an American romance author known for two main bodies of work: sweeping historical romance (notably the Westmoreland books) and high-stakes contemporary romance/suspense (often grouped around Paradise).
Most connections are light (shared families, familiar surnames, cameo-level overlap), but within each sequence the emotional payoffs work best in order.
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This article may contain affiliate links. If you click one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
How her books are organized
Shelf A – Historicals (connected through Westmoreland names):
- Westmoreland Dynasty / Westmoreland Saga
- Sequels series (a separate historical mini-sequence)
Shelf B – Contemporaries (a loose “Paradise / Second Opportunities” line):
- Paradise / Second Opportunities series (including the suspense-leaning entries)
Shelf C – Smaller/standalone items:
- Early single novels
- Short fiction/anthology pieces (optional)
Best starting point (pick the vibe)
If you want classic historical romance: start with Whitney, My Love (then continue Westmoreland).
If you want modern, emotionally intense contemporary romance: start with Paradise (then continue that line).
If you just want to sample without committing to a long arc: start with Perfect only if you’re okay entering mid-world; otherwise, start with Paradise.
Historical Romance Reading Order
Westmoreland Dynasty / Westmoreland Saga (read as a set)
- Whitney, My Love: A Regency-era romance that introduces the Westmoreland name and the tone of McNaught’s big historical storytelling.
- A Kingdom of Dreams: A medieval-set romance that’s often treated as the earliest-in-time Westmoreland story, even though it was not published first.
- Until You: A later historical entry that returns to the Westmoreland orbit and reads best once you’ve seen the earlier family context.
- Miracles: A shorter Westmoreland-linked story (commonly published via anthology/collection formats) that is best treated as a bonus after the main historical novels.
Continuity note: Some lists present a chronological order that begins with A Kingdom of Dreams; if you prefer timeline-first, that’s workable, but publication-style reading preserves how readers originally learned the family lore.
Sequels series (separate historical mini-sequence)
- Once and Always: A historical romance that begins a distinct trilogy with its own central characters and tone.
- Something Wonderful: The middle installment continues the same social world and relationship-driven stakes.
- Almost Heaven: The third book completes the series’ main arc and is best saved until you’ve read the first two.
Contemporary Romance Reading Order
Paradise / Second Opportunities series (core contemporary line)
- Paradise: A second-chance romance built around family power, corporate conflict, and a long emotional history.
- Perfect: A romance with a strong “protective hero / rebuilding trust” spine that assumes you understand McNaught’s contemporary tone set by Paradise.
- Night Whispers: A romantic suspense entry where investigation and danger take a larger role alongside the romance.
- Someone to Watch Over Me: A contemporary romantic suspense that fits the same general world and reads best after the earlier contemporary books.
- Every Breath You Take: A later contemporary installment that closes out the main published run of this line and is best read after the prior four.
Short fiction and collections (Optional)
- Double Exposure: A shorter work that has circulated in multi-author collections and is usually best approached as bonus material after you’ve tried at least one full-length contemporary novel.
- A Holiday of Love: A multi-author holiday collection that includes McNaught’s Westmoreland-linked piece (Miracles) and is optional for main-series reading.
Recommended reading orders
The “one clean path” plan (minimal second-guessing)
- Whitney, My Love
- A Kingdom of Dreams
- Until You
- Miracles
- Once and Always
- Something Wonderful
- Almost Heaven
- Paradise
- Perfect
- Night Whispers
- Someone to Watch Over Me
- Every Breath You Take
The “contemporary-first” plan (if you’re here for modern settings)
- Paradise
- Perfect
- Night Whispers
- Someone to Watch Over Me
- Every Breath You Take
(Then circle back to the historical shelf whenever you want.)
FAQs
Do I have to read the Westmoreland books in strict timeline order?
No. If you prefer to read as most readers encountered them, start with Whitney, My Love. If you prefer earliest-history-first, start with A Kingdom of Dreams.
Are the historical and contemporary books one shared universe?
Not in a way that requires cross-reading. Treat them as separate shelves unless you enjoy catching recurring surnames and small nods.
What about “The Sweetest Thing”?
A book by that title has had shifting/unclear publication status across listings. Until there is a stable, publisher-confirmed release, it’s safest to treat it as unconfirmed rather than part of the reading order.
Latest Releases:
The Sweetest Thing is listed with 2018 editions (commonly shown as November 1, 2018 for at least one Simon & Schuster UK edition). It’s described in coverage as an expanded reworking of her earlier short story “Double Exposure.”
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.