Carly Phillips Books in Order (2026 Update)

Carly Phillips is a contemporary romance author best known for her interconnected Dare family universe, alongside several smaller, self-contained series.

Most books work as standalones for the central couple, but reading in order preserves character introductions and crossover payoffs.

Quick answer

1. Start with Dare to Love (2013) for the main interconnected world
2. Start with The Bachelor (2000) for a fully separate small-town entry
3. Read each series in publication order

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The Dare World (Core Reading Path)

This is the primary continuity. If you want the full experience, stay in this sequence.

Dare to Love Series

1. Dare to Love (2013): Billionaire Ian Dare meets a woman tied to a scandal that threatens his family, setting up the central Dare legacy.
2. Dare to Desire (2013): Alex Dare’s guarded life unravels when a fake relationship begins to feel real under family pressure.
3. Dare to Touch (2014): Olivia Dare faces her past when a man connected to old trauma forces her to confront buried trust issues.
4. Dare to Hold (2014): Police officer Nicholas Dare balances duty and love when a woman tied to his past reappears.
5. Dare to Rock (2015): Rockstar Avery Dare navigates fame, addiction recovery, and unexpected love that challenges his control.
6. Dare to Take (2015): Detective Brody Dare becomes entangled with a woman whose secrets threaten both his case and his heart.
7. A Very Dare Christmas (2015, optional): A holiday reunion that ties together multiple Dare couples and reinforces family bonds.

New York Dares

1. Dare to Surrender (2014): A power struggle between a strong-willed heroine and a dominant hero sets the tone for this edgier sub-series.
2. Dare to Submit (2014): Emotional vulnerability clashes with control as a relationship tests personal limits.
3. Dare to Seduce (2015): A guarded man must open up when a bold heroine challenges his carefully structured life.

Sexy Series

1. More Than Sexy (2015): A surprise inheritance forces two strangers into close quarters, where attraction complicates expectations.
2. Twice As Sexy (2016): A woman rebuilding her life meets a man who challenges her independence and trust.
3. Better Than Sexy (2016): A friends-to-lovers dynamic develops under emotional pressure and past baggage.
4. Always Sexy (2017): A second-chance romance where unresolved history resurfaces with higher emotional stakes.

Knight Brothers

1. Take Me Again (2017): A divorced couple is forced back together professionally, reopening unresolved feelings.
2. Take the Bride (2017, optional): A fake engagement spirals into real emotions under family expectations.
3. Take Me Down (2017): A journalist and a guarded man collide when truth and attraction intertwine.
4. Dare Me Tonight (2018): A crossover romance linking the Knight and Dare families through emotional risk.
5. Take Me Now (2019, optional): A later-life romance proves it’s never too late for connection and change.

Dare Nation

1. Dare to Resist (2019): A temporary arrangement between opposites becomes complicated when feelings deepen.
2. Dare to Tempt (2019): A widower and a woman seeking independence struggle against emotional timing.
3. Dare to Play (2020): A sports agent and a football player’s sister face professional and personal boundaries.
4. Dare to Stay (2020): A fake relationship evolves into something real under family and media pressure.
5. Dare to Tease (2021, optional): A lighter romance that expands side characters within the Dare network.

The Kingston Family

1. Just One Night (2020): A chance encounter leads to a high-stakes relationship tied to family expectations.
2. Just One Scandal (2020): A PR crisis forces two people into proximity, where image and truth collide.
3. Just One Chance (2021): A second-chance romance shaped by past mistakes and present consequences.
4. Just One Spark (2021): A workplace connection turns personal, challenging professional boundaries.
5. Just Another Spark (2021, optional): A short continuation that deepens the Kingston family dynamic.
6. Just One Wish (2022, optional): A holiday-focused romance centered on hope and emotional renewal.

Dirty Dares

1. Just One Dare (2022): A bold proposition leads to a relationship built on risk and unexpected vulnerability.
2. Just One Kiss (2022): A fake dating scenario complicates real emotional stakes.
3. Just One Taste (2023): A chef and a critic clash professionally while building undeniable chemistry.
4. Just One Fling (2023): A temporary romance turns into something neither expected nor planned for.
5. Just One Tease (2024): A playful dynamic masks deeper emotional needs and personal growth.
6. Just One Summer (2024, optional): A seasonal romance focused on healing and second chances.

The Sterling Family

1. Just One More Moment (2023): A reunion forces two people to confront unresolved love and timing.
2. Just One More Dare (2023): A risk-taking romance where emotional walls are gradually dismantled.
3. Just One More Mistletoe (2024): A holiday romance centered on forgiveness and reconnection.
4. Just One More Temptation (2025): A slow-burn relationship complicated by personal and professional stakes.
5. Just One More Affair (2025): A secret relationship challenges loyalty and long-term consequences.
6. Just One More Time (2025): A second-chance story driven by regret and renewed hope.
7. Just One More Date (2026): A fresh start romance that tests whether timing can finally align.

Crossover Expansions

1. Just a Little Crush (2025): A crossover romance linking families through new relationships and shared history.
2. Just a Little Hookup (2024): A casual connection becomes complicated within the larger Dare network.
3. Just a Little Secret (2024): Hidden truths threaten a developing relationship.
4. Just a Little Promise (2024): Commitments are tested as emotional stakes rise.
5. Just a Little Taste (2025): A flirtation evolves into a deeper connection within familiar circles.

Dare to Fall Series

1. Falling for Trouble (2026): A high-conflict romance introduces a new branch while maintaining Dare-world ties.
2. Falling for Real (2026): Emotional authenticity becomes central as characters confront past defenses.
3. Third 2026 title (unconfirmed): Listed for late 2026 but not consistently verified; treat as forthcoming but uncertain.

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Separate Continuities (Read Independently)

The Chandler Brothers

1. The Bachelor (2000): A confirmed bachelor’s routine is disrupted when love challenges his independence.
2. The Playboy (2000): A notorious flirt faces emotional consequences when a real relationship forms.
3. The Heartbreaker (2001): A guarded man must confront vulnerability when love threatens his defenses.

Serendipity Series

1. Serendipity (2009): A small-town romance where fate brings two people together unexpectedly.
2. Kismet (2010): A reunion story driven by timing and unresolved feelings.
3. Destiny (2010): A relationship shaped by long-term emotional stakes and personal growth.
4. Fated (2011): A love story built on second chances and life-altering decisions.
5. Karma (2011): Consequences of past actions shape a new romantic future.

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Final recommendation

If you want the clearest, most rewarding path:

1. Start with Dare to Love (2013)
2. Continue through the Dare World in order
3. Treat everything else as optional side reading

This approach keeps character introductions intact and avoids losing the emotional continuity that defines Carly Phillips’ interconnected series.