Catherine Lanigan Books in Order
Explore Catherine Lanigan books in order, with short summaries, series guides, background on Indian Lake and Lilli and Zane, and easy where-to-start picks.
Last updated: July 12, 2026
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Catherine Lanigan books in publication order
51 books
Bound by Love
by Catherine Lanigan
1981
A historical romance built around duty, desire and the ties that can protect a life or trap it. Lanigan leans into hard choices, family pressure and love that comes at a cost.
Admit Desire
by Catherine Lanigan
1983
A contemporary romance about attraction that refuses to stay under control. Lanigan pairs emotional tension with the complications that start once two people stop pretending they do not want each other.
Romancing the Stone
by Catherine Lanigan
1984
New York romance novelist Joan Wilder heads to Colombia after a treasure map arrives and her sister is kidnapped. Thrown together with adventurer Jack Colton, she finds real danger far messier than fiction.
The Jewel Of The Nile
by Catherine Lanigan
1985
Joan Wilder and Jack Colton are pulled into another globe-spanning chase, this time involving a charismatic leader and a legendary jewel. Romance, danger and comic chaos drive the sequel at full speed.
Sins of Omission
by Catherine Lanigan
1986
Renee Dubois rises from poverty to the glittering heights of Paris fashion, determined to make a life on her own terms. But envy and obsession follow her upward, threatening the empire she builds.
Web of Deceit
by Catherine Lanigan
1987
Amanda Granger claws her way from the London slums into the high world of turn-of-the-century fashion. Poverty, betrayal and dangerous entanglements shadow every step of her rise.
All or Nothing
by Catherine Lanigan
1989
Maureen McDonald leaves the city for a new life in the country and finds herself caught between two very different men. Love, power and possession tangle quickly, and half measures will not be enough.
A Promise Made
by Catherine Lanigan
1990
Driven from her Louisiana home by betrayal, Lisa Parrish gives up almost everything for a vision of a different life. Passion, obsession and hard-won determination shape this sweeping historical drama.
Way of the Wicked
by Catherine Lanigan
1993
The children of self-made tycoon Patrick Killian inherit wealth built on lies, greed and ruthless ambition. This big family saga follows what happens when old sins refuse to stay buried.
At Long Last Love
by Catherine Lanigan
1994
Childhood sweethearts Lilli Mitchell and Zane McAllister were separated by tragedy and time. Years later, they get another chance, if they can face the past that first pulled them apart.
Dangerous Love
by Catherine Lanigan
1996
Richard Bartlow seems irresistible to the women around him, but his charm hides calculation and deceit. As his schemes tighten, his wife and lovers are forced to see the dangerous man behind the polished surface.
Seduced
by Catherine Lanigan
1996
At a costume ball, Valentine St. James is swept away by a masked stranger, only to discover he is the very nobleman she is meant to marry. Attraction, mistrust and wounded pride drive this historical romance.
Elusive Love
by Catherine Lanigan
1997
Susannah Parker thought marriage into wealth would bring security, but instead finds betrayal and emotional isolation. As Wall Street titan Michael West searches for something real, both are drawn toward the possibility of authentic love.
Montana Bride
by Catherine Lanigan
1998
City-bred Austin Sinclair collides with tough Montana rancher Monica Skye, who guards both her land and her independence. Their chemistry is instant, but Monica has no intention of letting another man run her life.
Tender Malice
by Catherine Lanigan
1998
Karen creates a powerful computer program called Mastermind and suddenly finds herself in a world of money, attention and deadly risk. What begins as professional triumph quickly turns into a dangerous game.
The Texan
by Catherine Lanigan
1998
Angela Morton's birthday wish comes true in the form of one unforgettable night with a mystery Texan. When she tracks him down and discovers she's pregnant, cowboy Rafe Whitten has to prove he can offer more than desire.
The Legend Makers
by Catherine Lanigan
1999
Geologist M. J. Callahan takes an assignment in the Amazon hoping to outrun her past. Instead she finds danger, high stakes and a journey that tests her nerve as much as her guarded heart.
Wings of Destiny
by Catherine Lanigan
1999
A sweeping family saga traces the legacy of a powerful San Francisco clan through greed, ambition and scandal. As old histories surface, personal loyalties collide with the darker truths that built a fortune.
California Moon
by Catherine Lanigan
2000
Nurse Shannon Riled cares for a coma patient who may also be a murder suspect. With a police officer on guard outside and danger closing in, she is pulled into a tense triangle of suspicion, duty and desire.
The Evolving Woman
by Catherine Lanigan
2000
This nonfiction book looks at abuse, recovery and the difficult work of reclaiming self-worth. Through candid stories and reflections, it focuses on survival, clarity and moving beyond damaging relationships.
Angel Watch
by Catherine Lanigan
2001
Lanigan collects true stories of dreams, warnings, signs and near-impossible rescues that people experienced as angelic intervention. It is an inviting blend of comfort, mystery and spiritual curiosity.
The Christmas Star
by Catherine Lanigan
2002
Susie and Tommy fall in love under a rare Christmas sky in 1965, then war and time pull them apart. Thirty years later, hope, memory and the promise of a miracle bring their story full circle.
Becoming
by Catherine Lanigan
2005
After escaping an abusive marriage, Susan flees with her young son, changes their names and tries to build a new life in Houston. It's a survival story about fear, recovery and learning how to become whole again.
Divine Nudges
by Catherine Lanigan
2006
Lanigan explores the small signs, sudden intuitions and uncanny moments that can feel like guidance from beyond ordinary life. Part inspirational reflection, part true-story collection, it asks readers to pay closer attention.
Writing the Great American Romance Novel
by Catherine Lanigan
2006
A practical guide to planning, drafting and sharpening romantic fiction, from story structure to character chemistry. Lanigan writes for working writers who want clear advice and a better handle on the genre.
Billionaire's Love Suite
by Catherine Lanigan
2010
Hotel tycoon Justin Yates treats women like a weekend diversion until he collides with his fiery operations director, Shana Jackson. Power, glamour and genuine feeling turn this workplace romance into a reckoning.
Angel Tales
by Catherine Lanigan
2011
This nonfiction collection gathers true stories of strange rescues, timely signs and moments people believe were touched by angels. Lanigan mixes reader accounts and her own reflections into an easy, hopeful read.
Miracles Are Golden
by Catherine Lanigan
2011
Eight-year-old Jimmy Longwood wants nothing more than a golden retriever puppy, then tragedy reshapes his world. This warm, emotional story follows a child finding comfort, healing and hope through love and loyalty.
Rivers of Gold
by Catherine Lanigan
2011
Lilli Mitchell and Zane McAllister head to Machu Picchu for an adventure charged with danger, old mysteries and unfinished feelings. The journey tests their courage and asks whether lost magic, and lost love, can return.
The Golden Flute
by Catherine Lanigan
2012
Fourteen-year-old Lilli Mitchell is haunted by dreams about her dead mother and a broken flute that may hold clues to her murder. When danger follows her to England, Zane joins the hunt for answers and ancient secrets.
Heart's Desire
by Catherine Lanigan
2014
Cafe owner Maddie Strong finally has her future mapped out, until former sweetheart Nate Barzonni comes home eleven years after breaking her heart. His return forces her to choose between the life she's built and the love she thought was over.
Love Shadows
by Catherine Lanigan
2014
Widower Luke Bosworth is stuck in grief and barely keeping his family together when Sarah Jensen crashes into his life. Both are carrying loss, and both have to decide whether love is worth risking again.
The Sweetest Heart
by Catherine Lanigan
2014
Maddie Strong is ready to grow her cupcake business until her first love, Nate Barzonni, returns to Indian Lake after years away. Torn between the life she's building and the man she never forgot, Maddie has a hard choice ahead.
A Fine Year for Love
by Catherine Lanigan
2015
Liz Crenshaw lives for her family's vineyard and has every reason to distrust Gabe Barzonni. When Gabe starts circling both her land and her heart, old warnings and new attraction make for a stubborn, slow-burning clash.
Katia's Promise
by Catherine Lanigan
2015
Chicago insurance ace Katia Stanislaus heads to Indian Lake to win a reclusive millionaire as a client, and finds her first love instead. Austin McCreary may still matter far too much for this deal to stay strictly business.
Fear of Falling
by Catherine Lanigan
2016
Olivia is drawn to Rafe Barzonni, but his link to horse racing stirs painful memories of her father's gambling addiction. The more she tries to keep her distance, the harder it is to ignore what she feels.
Friday Papers
by Catherine Lanigan
2016
Chicago fashion journalist Friday Fitzhugh chases a story through Monte Carlo glamour and dangerous diamond smuggling linked to the Ivory Coast. The deeper she digs, the more her career, safety and heart are all on the line.
Sophie's Path
by Catherine Lanigan
2016
ER nurse Sophie Mattuchi can't forget the night Jack Carter lost his friend, or the blame he puts on her. Anger, guilt and attraction collide as both try to figure out what really happened and what comes next.
Zing
by Catherine Lanigan
2016
Public relations rising star Jesse Deveraux meets ambitious restaurateur Oliver Harnett and gets swept into the launch of his Manhattan hot spot. But jealousy, politics and a dangerous rival turn their glamorous romance into something far riskier.
Family of His Own
by Catherine Lanigan
2017
Scott Abbott has loved Isabelle Hawks for years, but her growing art career keeps pulling her away from Indian Lake. As Scott starts thinking about home and family, both must decide whether friendship is enough.
His Baby Dilemma
by Catherine Lanigan
2017
Grace Railton returns from Paris with life-changing news for Mica Barzonni, he is a father. Still recovering from a devastating accident, Mica sees a chance to build the family he wants, if he can persuade Grace to stay.
Protecting the Single Mom
by Catherine Lanigan
2017
Cate Sullivan built a safe life in Indian Lake for herself and her young son, until her dangerous ex-husband resurfaces. Detective Trent Davis wants to protect them, but both carry secrets that make trust hard.
Rescued by the Firefighter
by Catherine Lanigan
2018
When a fire tears through her children's camp, Beatrice Wilcox is saved by firefighter Rand Nelson. His help may also threaten the camp she loves, leaving them to balance attraction, risk and a future neither planned for.
Hers to Protect
by Catherine Lanigan
2019
Police officer Violet Hawks arrests a speeding celebrity and discovers he may be tied to a local investigation. Josh Stevens is charming, but as sparks fly, Violet has to decide whether her instincts or her heart can be trusted.
Home for Christmas
by Catherine Lanigan
2019
Joy Boston returns to Indian Lake to sell her grandfather's beloved poinsettia greenhouse and finds old feelings waiting for her. Widowed dad Adam Masterson wants a second chance before Christmas, if Joy can imagine a future back home.
Eagles Gold
by Catherine Lanigan
2025
When Lilli's missing mother begins reaching her through dreams across dimensions, Lilli and Zane follow the clues into another perilous search. Family loss, ancient mystery and relentless pursuit keep the story moving.
Joshua's Trumpet
by Catherine Lanigan
2025
Lilli returns to Jericho after her missing mother appears in a dream and asks her to go back to the place where everything changed. With Zane beside her, she faces thieves, ancient forces and dangerous clues.
Stone of Destiny
by Catherine Lanigan
2025
Lilli and Zane hunt a powerful relic while staying one step ahead of people who want it for darker reasons. It is another fast adventure driven by clues, danger and the series' bigger unanswered questions.
Temple at Dendera
by Catherine Lanigan
2025
In Egypt, Lilli and Zane chase answers through an ancient temple where history and danger seem to press in from every side. The deeper they go, the more the past refuses to stay buried.
The Bermuda Triangle
by Catherine Lanigan
2025
Lilli and Zane plunge into a mystery shaped by vanishing routes, strange forces and clues tied to Arlette Mitchell's disappearance. This adventure leans hard into suspense, travel and the unknown.
The Goddess Hathor
by Catherine Lanigan
2025
A new trail leads Lilli and Zane into Egyptian legend and a search linked to Hathor. Rival hunters, old beliefs and the shadow of Lilli's family mystery raise the stakes again.
Where to start with Catherine Lanigan
If you want small-town romance: Love Shadows → Heart's Desire → A Fine Year for Love
If you want the full Indian Lake arc: Love Shadows → Heart's Desire → Katia's Promise → Home for Christmas
If you want treasure-hunt adventure: The Golden Flute → Joshua's Trumpet → The Bermuda Triangle → Stone of Destiny
If you want classic romantic adventure: Romancing the Stone → The Jewel Of The Nile
If you want inspirational nonfiction: Angel Watch → Divine Nudges → Angel Tales
Catherine Lanigan sub-series and character series
Adventures of Lilli and Zane books in order
Explore this series
Rivers of Gold
by Catherine Lanigan
2011Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 1
The Golden Flute
by Catherine Lanigan
2012Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 2
Eagles Gold
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 3
Joshua's Trumpet
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 4
Stone of Destiny
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 8
Temple at Dendera
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 6
The Bermuda Triangle
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 5
The Goddess Hathor
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 7
Adventures of Lilli and Zane books in chronological order

Rivers of Gold
by Catherine Lanigan
2011Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 1
The Golden Flute
by Catherine Lanigan
2012Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 2
Eagles Gold
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 3
Joshua's Trumpet
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 4
The Bermuda Triangle
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 5
Temple at Dendera
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 6
The Goddess Hathor
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 7
Stone of Destiny
by Catherine Lanigan
2025Adventures of Lilli and Zane, Book 8
Joan Wilder books in order
Explore this seriesShores of Indian Lake books in order
Explore this series
Heart's Desire
by Catherine Lanigan
2014Shores of Indian Lake, Book 3
Love Shadows
by Catherine Lanigan
2014Shores of Indian Lake, Book 1
The Sweetest Heart
by Catherine Lanigan
2014Shores of Indian Lake, Book 2
A Fine Year for Love
by Catherine Lanigan
2015Shores of Indian Lake, Book 4
Katia's Promise
by Catherine Lanigan
2015Shores of Indian Lake, Book 5
Fear of Falling
by Catherine Lanigan
2016Shores of Indian Lake, Book 6
Sophie's Path
by Catherine Lanigan
2016Shores of Indian Lake, Book 7
Family of His Own
by Catherine Lanigan
2017Shores of Indian Lake, Book 9
His Baby Dilemma
by Catherine Lanigan
2017Shores of Indian Lake, Book 10
Protecting the Single Mom
by Catherine Lanigan
2017Shores of Indian Lake, Book 8
Rescued by the Firefighter
by Catherine Lanigan
2018Shores of Indian Lake, Book 11
Hers to Protect
by Catherine Lanigan
2019Shores of Indian Lake, Book 12
Home for Christmas
by Catherine Lanigan
2019Shores of Indian Lake, Book 13
Shores of Indian Lake books in chronological order

Love Shadows
by Catherine Lanigan
2014Shores of Indian Lake, Book 1
The Sweetest Heart
by Catherine Lanigan
2014Shores of Indian Lake, Book 2
Heart's Desire
by Catherine Lanigan
2014Shores of Indian Lake, Book 3
A Fine Year for Love
by Catherine Lanigan
2015Shores of Indian Lake, Book 4
Katia's Promise
by Catherine Lanigan
2015Shores of Indian Lake, Book 5
Fear of Falling
by Catherine Lanigan
2016Shores of Indian Lake, Book 6
Sophie's Path
by Catherine Lanigan
2016Shores of Indian Lake, Book 7
Protecting the Single Mom
by Catherine Lanigan
2017Shores of Indian Lake, Book 8
Family of His Own
by Catherine Lanigan
2017Shores of Indian Lake, Book 9
His Baby Dilemma
by Catherine Lanigan
2017Shores of Indian Lake, Book 10
Rescued by the Firefighter
by Catherine Lanigan
2018Shores of Indian Lake, Book 11
Hers to Protect
by Catherine Lanigan
2019Shores of Indian Lake, Book 12
Home for Christmas
by Catherine Lanigan
2019Shores of Indian Lake, Book 13
Catherine Lanigan collections, short stories, and related book types
Short Stories/Novellas
Standalone Catherine Lanigan books

Bound by Love
by Catherine Lanigan
1981
Admit Desire
by Catherine Lanigan
1983
Sins of Omission
by Catherine Lanigan
1986
Web of Deceit
by Catherine Lanigan
1987
All or Nothing
by Catherine Lanigan
1989
A Promise Made
by Catherine Lanigan
1990
Way of the Wicked
by Catherine Lanigan
1993
At Long Last Love
by Catherine Lanigan
1994
Dangerous Love
by Catherine Lanigan
1996
Seduced
by Catherine Lanigan
1996
Montana Bride
by Catherine Lanigan
1998
Tender Malice
by Catherine Lanigan
1998
The Texan
by Catherine Lanigan
1998
The Legend Makers
by Catherine Lanigan
1999
Wings of Destiny
by Catherine Lanigan
1999
California Moon
by Catherine Lanigan
2000
The Christmas Star
by Catherine Lanigan
2002
Becoming
by Catherine Lanigan
2005
Friday Papers
by Catherine Lanigan
2016
Zing
by Catherine Lanigan
2016
Author bio
Catherine Lanigan grew up in La Porte, Indiana, and storytelling seems to have started early for her. As a girl, she made up stories for her younger brothers and sister, and that habit of building whole worlds stayed with her. Years later, when she wrote about Indian Lake, she drew on the feel of her hometown and the kinds of people small towns never quite forget.
The road to becoming a novelist was not smooth. In college, a creative-writing professor told her she had no talent and would never make a living as a writer. Lanigan stopped writing for fourteen years.
Then life shifted. In 1979, she met a writer who urged her to try again, and this time she listened. She finished a manuscript, it was passed to an agent, and before long two New York publishers were bidding on it. It is one of those publishing stories that sounds dramatic because it was.
Many readers first met her through Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, the novelizations tied to the hit adventure films. Those books helped define a lot of what Lanigan does well. She likes romance, yes, but she also likes movement, danger, travel, mystery and characters who are forced out of the lives they thought they understood. Her books have been translated widely, and her readership has stretched far beyond the United States.
She has never stayed in one lane for long.
Her fiction moves from big emotional historical dramas like Web of Deceit, Wings of Destiny and The Christmas Star to the warm, interconnected Shores of Indian Lake novels. She spent much of her adult life in cities such as Houston, Los Angeles, Scottsdale and New Orleans before returning to La Porte to help care for her mother. That homecoming, and the grief that followed losses in her family, fed directly into the emotional roots of the Indian Lake books, especially Love Shadows. The town itself was inspired by La Porte, with its small businesses, local history and close-knit relationships. Heart's Desire later became the television movie The Sweetest Heart.
Lanigan has also written nonfiction that comes from another side of her work and life. In Angel Watch, Divine Nudges and Angel Tales, she gathers stories of unusual rescues, signs, dreams and moments people experience as divine intervention. She also wrote Writing the Great American Romance Novel, a practical guide for writers who want to understand how romantic fiction works on the page.
She likes a quest, too. The Golden Flute and the later Lilli and Zane adventures turn toward younger readers, with ancient artifacts, travel, family mysteries and a touch of the uncanny. Even there, you can see the same Lanigan interests at work: fast pacing, emotional stakes and heroines who keep asking questions when it would be easier to stop.
Now living in La Porte again, Lanigan has continued to speak at literary events and workshops. She is also a cancer survivor and an outspoken advocate on domestic abuse, themes that help explain the steady, hard-won hope running through so much of her work.
Home keeps showing up in her books.
That may be the clearest way to read her career. Whether she is writing about a romance novelist lost in the jungle, a grieving family in Indiana, or young treasure hunters chasing clues across continents, Lanigan keeps returning to the same idea: people can be hurt, stubborn, scared and deeply lost, and still find their way toward love, meaning and another chance.
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