Janet Dailey published 130 novels, 1 children's book and 8 other books, beginning with No Quarter Asked (1974). The 3 series include Calder (11 books, starting with This Calder Sky), New Americana (5 books, starting with Sunrise Canyon) and Cord and Stacy (3 books, starting with No Quarter Asked). The best-known is The Hostage Bride (1981).
Updated September 2026
Calder books in order (11)Series page
Reading order: 1 This Calder Sky (1981) · 2 This Calder Range (1982) · 3 Stands a Calder Man (1983) · 4 Calder Born, Calder Bred (1983) · 5 Calder Pride (1999) · 6 Green Calder Grass (2002) · 7 Shifting Calder Wind (2003) · 8 Calder Promise (2004) · 9 Lone Calder Star (2005) · 10 Calder Storm (2006) · … all 11 below
- 1.
This Calder Sky (1981)
- 2.
This Calder Range (1982)
- 3.
Stands a Calder Man (1983)
- 4.
Calder Born, Calder Bred (1983)
- 5.
Calder Pride (1999)
- 6.
Green Calder Grass (2002)
- 7.
Shifting Calder Wind (2003)
- 8.
Calder Promise (2004)
- 9.
Lone Calder Star (2005)
- 10.
Calder Storm (2006)
- 11.
Santa in Montana (2010)
New Americana books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Sunrise Canyon (2016) · 2 Refuge Cove (2017) · 3 Letters from Peaceful Lane (2019) · 4 Hart's Hollow Farm (2019) · 5 Paradise Peak (2020)
- 1.
Sunrise Canyon (2016)
- 2.
Refuge Cove (2017)
- 3.
Letters from Peaceful Lane (2019)
- 4.
Hart's Hollow Farm (2019)
- 5.
Paradise Peak (2020)
Cord and Stacy books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 No Quarter Asked (1974) · 2 Fiesta San Antonio (1983) · 3 For Bitter or Worse (1990)
- 1.
No Quarter Asked (1974)
- 2.
Fiesta San Antonio (1983)
- 3.
For Bitter or Worse (1990)
Where to start with Janet Dailey
Start here
The Hostage Bride
Janet Dailey's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Lord of the High Lonesome: North Dakota
One of the most-read, at about 187 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Boss Man from Ogallala (1975)
Something Extra (1975)
Dangerous Masquerade (1976)
Land of Enchantment (1976)
Night of the Cotillion (1976)
Show Me (1976)
Sweet Promise (1976)
Big Sky Country (1977)
Reilly's Woman (1977)
The Indy Man (1977)
The Ivory Cane (1977)
To Tell the Truth (1977)
Darling Jenny (1978)
Giant of Mesabi (1978)
Green Mountain Man (1978)
Summer Mahogany (1978)
The Bride of the Delta Queen (1978)
Tidewater Lover (1978)
Kona Winds (1979)
Touch the Wind (1979)
Difficult Decision (1980)
One of the Boys (1980)
Ride the Thunder (1980)
The Mating Season (1980)
The Rogue (1980)
The Thawing of Mara (1980)
A Lyon's Share (1981)
Dakota Dreamin' (1981)
For the Love of God (1981)
Night Way (1981)
The Hostage Bride (1981)
The Lancaster Men (1981)
The Traveling Kind (1981)
Valley of the Vapours (1981)
With a Little Luck (1981)
A Tradition of Pride (1982)
Foxfire Light (1982)
North Carolina (1982)
Northern Magic (1982)
Terms of Surrender (1982)
That Carolina Summer (1982)
Wildcatter's Woman (1982)
Mistletoe and Holly (1983)
Separate Cabins (1983)
Six White Horses (1983)
The Best Way to Lose (1983)
The Master Fiddler (1983)
The Matchmakers (1983)
The Second Time (1983)
The Widow and the Wastrel (1983)
Beware of the Stranger (1984)
For Mike's Sake (1984)
J.Dailey Coll Ed # (1984)
Leftover Love (1984)
Silver Wings, Santiago Blue (1984)
Sonora Sundown (1984)
Strange Bedfellow (1984)
Western Man (1984)
Sentimental Journey (1985)
The Glory Game (1985)
The Pride of Hannah Wade (1985)
Fire and Ice (1986)
The Great Alone (1986)
The Travelling Kind (1986)
Valley Of The Vapour (Valley of the Vapours-Arkansas) (1986)
Heart Of Stone (Janet Dailey Americana) (1987)
Heiress (1987)
Lord Of The High Lon (1987)
Lord of the High Lonesome: North Dakota (1987)
Louisiana, the Bride of the Delta Queen (1987)
Maryland, Bed of Grass (1987)
Massachusetts, That Boston Man (1987)
New York, Beware of the Stranger (1987)
Oklahoma, Six White Horses (1987)
After The Storm (Americana Colorado #6) (1988)
Bluegrass King (Janet Dailey Americana - Kentucky, Book 17) (1988)
Texas Savage Land (1988)
Wisconsin, with a Little Luck (1988)
Rivals (1989)
Masquerade (1990)
Aspen Gold (1991)
Christmas Magic (1991)
Homeplace (Iowa) (Janet Dailey Americana No. 15) (1991)
Tangled Vines (1992)
The Proud And The Free (1994)
Legacies (1995)
Notorious (1996)
Illusions (1997)
Unmasked (1997)
Homecoming (1998)
Enemy in Camp (1999)
Savage Land (1999)
Southern Nights (2000)
That Boston Man (2000)
A Capital Holiday (2001)
Always With Love (2002)
Because Of You (2002)
Happy Holidays (2004)
Evergreen Dust (2005)
Eve's Christmas (2006)
Ranch Dressing (2006)
Mistletoe and Molly (2007)
Something More (2007)
Yes, I Do (2008)
Santa in a Stetson (2009)
Close to You (2010)
You're Still the One (2013)
Texas True (2014)
Texas Tough (2015)
Christmas on My Mind (2016)
Calder at Heart (2023)
Children's books in order
BOYS: CLARRISA EXPLAINS IT ALL (CLARISSA ): BOYS: CLARRISA EXPLAINS IT ALL (Nickelodeon) (1995)
Other books in order
Wild and Wonderful (1981)
Boss Man From Ogalla (Janet Dailey Americana) (1987)
Low Country Liar (Janet Dailey Americana) (1987)
A Land Called Deseret (Janet Dailey Americana - Utah, Book 44) (1988)
Illusions Low Price (2002)
Calder Pride Low Price (2003)
Calder Grit (2022)
Quicksand (2022)
Janet Dailey FAQ
- How many books has Janet Dailey written?
- Janet Dailey published 130 novels, 1 children's book and 8 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Janet Dailey's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Calder with This Calder Sky, New Americana with Sunrise Canyon and Cord and Stacy with No Quarter Asked. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Janet Dailey's last book?
- Texas Tough (2015).
- What is Janet Dailey's most famous book?
- The Hostage Bride (1981) is Janet Dailey's most widely read book.
- Are Janet Dailey's books connected?
- 19 books belong to 3 series (Calder, New Americana and Cord and Stacy); the other 120 books stand alone.
Authors like Janet Dailey
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.