A.M. McCoy Books in Order (Updated April 10, 2026)

A.M. McCoy writes dark and contemporary romance across several short series plus a few standalones. The important reading-order point is that her catalog is series-based, not one long connected universe, so the best approach is to pick the corner of the catalog that fits your mood and read that sequence straight through.

For readers who want the cleanest modern entry point, Twisted Ink is the strongest place to begin because Beauty In The Ink is short, current, and easy to follow. If you want a longer completed run, Stalker starts Line Walkers, which currently has three books.

Quick answer

Best place to start: Twisted Ink
Best choice for a fuller completed trilogy: Stalker
Newest active series: Cedar Bluff Penalties, with Sugar On Ice listed for May 2026.

Recommended reading order

This order favors the most reader-friendly path rather than strict publication sequence.

1. Twisted Ink (2023): A newer entry point that opens Beauty In The Ink and works well as a first taste of McCoy’s darker romance style without asking you to commit to a long backlist.
2. Twisted Lace (2024): The direct follow-up to Twisted Ink, best read second because it completes the current two-book Beauty In The Ink sequence.
3. Stalker (2024): After that, move into Line Walkers, a darker three-book run that gives you a fuller sense of McCoy’s series work.
4. Psycho (2025): The middle Line Walkers book builds on the same continuity and is best read in order rather than treated as a standalone.
5. Bully (2025): The third Line Walkers novel closes the currently listed trilogy and gives this part of the catalog its natural stopping point.
6. Claiming What’s His (2022): Then go back to Kings of Hawthorn, another compact trilogy that should be read from book one.
7. Indulging His Desire (2022): The second Kings of Hawthorn book continues that sequence and fits best immediately after the opener.
8. Earning His Eden (2023): The trilogy concludes here, making this the clean end of that series block.
9. Elora Dax (2022): Next, start Shadeport Crew at the beginning rather than jumping to the later 2025 release.
10. Carly James (2022): Read second to preserve the series flow and recurring setup from the first book.
11. Laila Manning (2025): This is the newest listed Shadeport Crew novel and the current endpoint of that sequence.
12. Overtime Positions (2025): Then move to Cedar Bluff Penalties, which appears to be McCoy’s newest ongoing series.
13. Sugar On Ice (2026): Listed for May 2026 as book two in Cedar Bluff Penalties, so it follows directly after Overtime Positions.
14. Lessons To Learn (2019): After the newer material, you can circle back to McCoy’s earlier Lessons series and read it from the start.
15. Lessons We’ve Learned (2022): The second and currently final Lessons book should be read immediately after book one.
16. Bailey Dunn (2022): Then read the main Bailey Dunn & Co. novel.
17. Christmas With The Camdens (2022): This is best treated as an optional follow-up because Goodreads lists it as book 1.5, not a full numbered sequel.
18. Guilty For You (2023): A standalone novel, best saved for whenever you want a break from the series reading.
19. Sinister Vows (2023): Another standalone slot in the bibliography, separate from the named series above.
20. Secrets Within Us (2024): Also listed as a standalone novel rather than part of a numbered sequence.

Publication order by series

Beauty In The Ink

A short two-book series and the easiest place for many readers to begin.

1. Twisted Ink (2023): The series opener introduces one of McCoy’s best-known current entries and serves as the cleanest modern on-ramp to her work.
2. Twisted Lace (2024): The follow-up continues the same continuity and should be read second to complete the duology.

Line Walkers

A three-book sequence for readers who want a darker and more sustained run. Fantastic Fiction lists it as Line Walkers, while Goodreads shows The Line Walkers; the book order matches across both.

1. Stalker (2024): The first Line Walkers book opens the trilogy and is the right place to start this arc.
2. Psycho (2025): The middle book continues the series progression rather than resetting it.
3. Bully (2025): The third listed book currently acts as the endpoint of the trilogy.

Kings of Hawthorn

A compact trilogy that should be read in sequence.

1. Claiming What’s His (2022): The opening book establishes the series and should not be skipped.
2. Indulging His Desire (2022): Book two continues the same run and belongs directly after the opener.
3. Earning His Eden (2023): The third book completes the currently listed trilogy.

Shadeport Crew

A three-book sequence with a noticeable gap before book three.

1. Elora Dax (2022): The starting point for the series and the proper introduction to this corner of the catalog.
2. Carly James (2022): The second book follows the opening novel and should be read in order.
3. Laila Manning (2025): The newest listed Shadeport Crew title, best read after the first two.

Cedar Bluff Penalties

This looks like McCoy’s newest active series.

1. Overtime Positions (2025): Book one opens the hockey-romance sequence and is the right starting point here.
2. Sugar On Ice (2026): Listed for May 2026 as book two, so it follows directly after Overtime Positions.

Lessons

An earlier two-book series.

1. Lessons To Learn (2019): McCoy’s earliest currently listed series opener and the starting point for this duet.
2. Lessons We’ve Learned (2022): The second book continues the same line and should be read after book one.

Bailey Dunn & Co.

This is the one place where it helps to separate main novel from optional follow-up. Fantastic Fiction lists two entries in the series, while Goodreads counts one primary work and two total works, with Christmas With The Camdens specifically marked as #1.5.

Main entry

Bailey Dunn (2022): The core novel and the proper starting point for this series grouping.

Optional
2. Christmas With The Camdens (2022): Best treated as a holiday side entry or bridge book rather than a full second main installment.

Standalone novels

These are listed by Fantastic Fiction under Novels, not under a numbered series.

1. Guilty For You (2023): A standalone romance outside the named series.
2. Sinister Vows (2023): Another standalone entry, separate from McCoy’s recurring sequences.
3. Secrets Within Us (2024): A later standalone novel and not currently listed as part of a series.

Where should you start?

There are three sensible entry points, depending on what you want.

Start with Twisted Ink if you want the simplest modern introduction and a short commitment. Start with Stalker if you want a darker completed trilogy. Start with Overtime Positions only if you specifically want to jump into the newest active series rather than a completed block.

Do you need a chronological order?

Not really. Nothing in the verified listings suggests a separate internal-timeline order that matters more than publication order within each series. The practical rule is straightforward: read each series in numbered order, and treat the standalones separately.

Latest release status

At the time of writing, such as April 10, 2026, the newest clearly listed upcoming title is Sugar On Ice, scheduled for May 2026 as Cedar Bluff Penalties book 2. That makes Cedar Bluff Penalties the most obviously active series in McCoy’s catalog right now.

FAQ

What is the best A.M. McCoy book to start with?

Twisted Ink is the best starting point for most readers because it opens a short, current series and does not require navigating a larger backlist first.

What is A.M. McCoy’s most complete series?

Several are currently complete at the catalog level shown in the sources, including Line Walkers with three books and Kings of Hawthorn with three books. Beauty In The Ink is shorter at two books.

Is Christmas With The Camdens required?

Probably not for most readers. It is best treated as optional because Goodreads labels it Bailey Dunn & Co. #1.5, which usually signals an in-between or side entry rather than a core sequel.

Are the A.M. McCoy series connected to each other?

The verified listings present them as separate series groupings, not one master continuity. That means you can choose the series that interests you most and read that one first.

Final recommendation

For the smoothest reading experience, begin with Twisted Ink and Twisted Lace, then move to Stalker, Psycho, and Bully. After that, branch into Kings of Hawthorn or Shadeport Crew, and save the standalones for whenever you want a break from numbered series.