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Linda Ladd Books in Order

Browse Linda Ladd books in order, from Claire Morgan and Will Novak thrillers to historical romances, with summaries, series notes, and where to start.

Last updated: July 11, 2026

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Linda Ladd books in publication order

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34 books

Bittersweet Temptation

by Linda Ladd

1984

Julie King can barely handle seeing baseball star Chase Kincaid in the headlines, let alone in person. When fantasy turns real, she has to figure out whether the man behind the fame is worth the risk to her heart.

Broken Promises

by Linda Ladd

1984

Brilliant with computers but scarred by a disastrous marriage, Alison Mitchell has buried herself in work. Then a magnetic new man enters her life and forces her to decide whether trusting again is brave or foolish.

On Wings of Desire

by Linda Ladd

1984

Alaskan bush pilot Erinne Parker is not looking for romance when wildlife biologist Jansen Lancaster comes aboard. Their journey through the wilderness mixes professional friction, physical danger, and a growing pull neither expects.

Wildstar

by Linda Ladd

1984

Raised by the Cheyenne after a wagon train massacre, Starfire has built a life far from the family that lost her. On the night of her wedding, Logan Tracker Cord abducts her to return her to wealthy grandparents in St. Louis.

Moonspell

by Linda Ladd

1985

An early historical romance driven by danger, attraction, and shifting loyalties. Ladd builds the story around threatened hearts and high emotion, giving it the same adventurous pull that marks much of her early fiction.

Fireglow

by Linda Ladd

1986

Caitlin is a fierce pirate who has no intention of surrendering to any man, especially the one sent to capture her. But in the Caribbean, her battle with Trey Cameron turns into a dangerous war between pride and passion.

Silverswept

by Linda Ladd

1987

As war brews between America and England, Alysson Tyler is tricked into marriage with revolutionary Donovan MacBride. He thinks she is a spy, she thinks he is her enemy, and both are swept into danger before love has a chance.

Dream Song

by Linda Ladd

1988

Bethany Cole runs for her life with young Peeto, fleeing down the Mississippi from the boy's ruthless father. When Luke Randall sets out after them, the chase becomes a struggle over freedom, possession, and desire.

Frost Fire

by Linda Ladd

1990

In 1871, Tyler MacKenzie heads to Chicago determined to reclaim the family home she believes was stolen after war and ruin. Gray Kincaid stands in her way, and their clash turns into a volatile mix of revenge and reluctant love.

Midnight Fire

by Linda Ladd

1991

Carlisle Kincaid has been raised in strict protection, and Chase Lancaster is sworn to guard her. Their uneasy bond deepens as danger closes in, forcing both of them to choose between pride, loyalty, and a powerful attraction.

Dragon Fire

by Linda Ladd

1992

Trained by a secret Asian order and driven by revenge, Windsor Richmond boards a westbound train with no room in her life for love. Then she meets Stone Kincaid, the man she may need and may already want to destroy.

White Lily

by Linda Ladd

1993

During the Civil War, Lily Courtland is rescued from slavers by Union spy Harte Delaney while searching for her missing brother. She feels drawn to him at once, but his hidden agenda could destroy the trust between them.

White Rose

by Linda Ladd

1994

Cassandra Delaney is a Confederate spy used to danger and deception. When blockade runner Derek Courtland abducts her and carries her toward Australia, their voyage becomes a battle of wills, secrets, and growing attraction.

White Orchid

by Linda Ladd

1995

Stuart Delaney travels to India to bring Anjelica Blake back to England and an arranged marriage she has never truly chosen. The journey turns dangerous when duty collides with desire and neither of them wants to let go.

Lilacs on Lace

by Linda Ladd

1996

Raised in an abbey and branded strange because of her unusual eyes, Ainsley believes her parents were murdered by an enemy clan. Then a warrior carries her away and forces her to question everything she has been told.

A Love So Splendid

by Linda Ladd

1997

With her South Carolina home under British control, Trinity Kingston fights to protect both her land and her freedom. Lord William Remington arrives as the last man she wants to need, and the clash between them turns personal fast.

Forever, My Love

by Linda Ladd

1997

A sweeping historical romance about lovers tested by danger, separation, and the weight of old loyalties. Ladd leans into emotional conflict here, building a love story that has to survive hard choices as well as strong desire.

A Love So Fine

by Linda Ladd

1999

Widowed Liberty Remington Thornhill returns to England to investigate her best friend's sudden death. There she meets the notorious artist Julian Rainville, and attraction quickly tangles with suspicion, grief, and danger.

Running Scared

by Linda Ladd

2002

Kate Reed thinks her life is finally whole after adopting baby Joey, until armed men arrive and her husband starts acting strangely. Hiding in the Missouri woods with a child and a murder charge, she has to decide whom she can trust.

Head to Head

by Linda Ladd

2006

After leaving Los Angeles for the Lake of the Ozarks, homicide detective Claire Morgan hopes for a quieter life. Instead she lands a grisly resort murder and an uneasy attraction to Dr. Nicholas Black, who may be witness, ally, or suspect.

Dark Places

by Linda Ladd

2007

In the grip of winter, Claire Morgan investigates the bizarre murder of a college professor found poisoned, bleeding, and hanging from a tree. Snow, threats, and a deeply disturbed killer turn the case into a brutal test.

Die Smiling

by Linda Ladd

2008

When a beauty queen's murder opens the door to something much uglier, Claire Morgan follows the trail into a deeply depraved case. The closer she gets to the truth, the more clearly the killer starts circling her.

Enter Evil

by Linda Ladd

2009

What looks like a mental patient's suicide grows far stranger when a second body is found and the clues do not add up. Claire Morgan uncovers a case of manipulation, damaged minds, and evil that works through other people.

Mostly Murder

by Linda Ladd

2013

Still recovering from trauma, Claire Morgan finds a body clutching her picture, pinned to a voodoo doll. The message is personal, and the case quickly turns into a fresh campaign of fear aimed straight at her.

Remember Murder

by Linda Ladd

2013

Claire Morgan is left with shattered memories after surviving a serial killer, but the fragments she cannot place may be the key to stopping new violence. To solve the case, she has to face what her mind is trying to hide.

Bad Bones

by Linda Ladd

2014

A frozen corpse found in a Missouri state park sends Claire Morgan into a family mystery with deep roots and sharp edges. The farther she digs, the clearer it becomes that somebody has killed before and may kill again.

Devil Dead

by Linda Ladd

2015

Now working as a PI, Claire Morgan is hired to find the missing daughter of a powerful arms dealer. The search pulls her toward New Orleans and into a dangerous web of abduction, money, and men who do not play fair.

Bad Road to Nowhere

by Linda Ladd

2016

Ex-SEAL and PI Will Novak agrees to help his late wife's sister search for a missing woman and child. The case takes him into a pretty small town full of lies, traps, and people who do not want the past uncovered.

Gone Black

by Linda Ladd

2016

Claire Morgan's honeymoon is cut short when her husband is taken hostage in a revenge plot with mafia ties. To get him back, she has to move fast through a case built on grief, blame, and escalating violence.

Fatal Game

by Linda Ladd

2017

Back from her honeymoon, Claire Morgan agrees to help a flu-shorthanded sheriff's department and walks into a Christmas-season murder. A posed young woman and a pair of twisted killers turn the case into a deadly game.

Say Your Goodbyes

by Linda Ladd

2017

Still haunted by a woman's death and by losses he cannot outrun, Will Novak is pulled into another violent case where grief and danger meet head-on. The deeper he goes, the harder it becomes to tell who needs saving and who cannot be trusted.

Witness Betrayed

by Linda Ladd

2018

During Mardi Gras surveillance in New Orleans, Will Novak is tracked down by a bruised young woman who has escaped captivity. Protecting her means taking on the men hunting her and uncovering what she knows before they silence her.

The Devil's Work

by Linda Ladd

2019

Will Novak tries to save a frantic woman on a Florida beach and stumbles into a nightmare involving stolen children and deadly fake adoptions. The case drags him from the Everglades to Central America in a race against a ruthless network.

The Vanishing Angle

by Linda Ladd

2019

A peaceful Atlantic Coast cruise ends when Will Novak is kidnapped and taken to a Virginia horse farm. There he meets a pregnant woman desperate to escape a powerful political fixer, and getting her out may cost him everything.

Where to start with Linda Ladd

If you want her signature suspense: Head to HeadDark PlacesDie Smiling
If you want the full Claire Morgan arc: Head to HeadEnter EvilRemember MurderFatal Game
If you want a tougher, action-driven spin-off: Bad Road to NowhereSay Your GoodbyesWitness Betrayed
If you prefer historical romance first: WildstarFrost FireWhite LilyA Love So Splendid

Claire Morgan books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Head to Head"

    Head to Head

    by Linda Ladd

    2006Claire Morgan, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Dark Places"

    Dark Places

    by Linda Ladd

    2007Claire Morgan, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Die Smiling"

    Die Smiling

    by Linda Ladd

    2008Claire Morgan, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Enter Evil"

    Enter Evil

    by Linda Ladd

    2009Claire Morgan, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Mostly Murder"

    Mostly Murder

    by Linda Ladd

    2013Claire Morgan, Book 6
  6. Book cover for "Remember Murder"

    Remember Murder

    by Linda Ladd

    2013Claire Morgan, Book 5
  7. Book cover for "Bad Bones"

    Bad Bones

    by Linda Ladd

    2014Claire Morgan, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Devil Dead"

    Devil Dead

    by Linda Ladd

    2015Claire Morgan, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "Gone Black"

    Gone Black

    by Linda Ladd

    2016Claire Morgan, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "Fatal Game"

    Fatal Game

    by Linda Ladd

    2017Claire Morgan, Book 10

Claire Morgan books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Head to Head"

    Head to Head

    by Linda Ladd

    2006Claire Morgan, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Dark Places"

    Dark Places

    by Linda Ladd

    2007Claire Morgan, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Die Smiling"

    Die Smiling

    by Linda Ladd

    2008Claire Morgan, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Enter Evil"

    Enter Evil

    by Linda Ladd

    2009Claire Morgan, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Remember Murder"

    Remember Murder

    by Linda Ladd

    2013Claire Morgan, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Mostly Murder"

    Mostly Murder

    by Linda Ladd

    2013Claire Morgan, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Bad Bones"

    Bad Bones

    by Linda Ladd

    2014Claire Morgan, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Devil Dead"

    Devil Dead

    by Linda Ladd

    2015Claire Morgan, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "Gone Black"

    Gone Black

    by Linda Ladd

    2016Claire Morgan, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "Fatal Game"

    Fatal Game

    by Linda Ladd

    2017Claire Morgan, Book 10

Fire Trilogy books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Frost Fire"

    Frost Fire

    by Linda Ladd

    1990Fire Trilogy, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Midnight Fire"

    Midnight Fire

    by Linda Ladd

    1991Fire Trilogy, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Dragon Fire"

    Dragon Fire

    by Linda Ladd

    1992Fire Trilogy, Book 3

Fire Trilogy books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Frost Fire"

    Frost Fire

    by Linda Ladd

    1990Fire Trilogy, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Midnight Fire"

    Midnight Fire

    by Linda Ladd

    1991Fire Trilogy, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Dragon Fire"

    Dragon Fire

    by Linda Ladd

    1992Fire Trilogy, Book 3

Love (Linda Ladd) books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "A Love So Splendid"

    A Love So Splendid

    by Linda Ladd

    1997Love, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "A Love So Fine"

    A Love So Fine

    by Linda Ladd

    1999Love, Book 2

Love (Linda Ladd) books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "A Love So Splendid"

    A Love So Splendid

    by Linda Ladd

    1997Love, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "A Love So Fine"

    A Love So Fine

    by Linda Ladd

    1999Love, Book 2

White Trilogy books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "White Lily"

    White Lily

    by Linda Ladd

    1993White Trilogy, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "White Rose"

    White Rose

    by Linda Ladd

    1994White Trilogy, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "White Orchid"

    White Orchid

    by Linda Ladd

    1995White Trilogy, Book 3

White Trilogy books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "White Lily"

    White Lily

    by Linda Ladd

    1993White Trilogy, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "White Rose"

    White Rose

    by Linda Ladd

    1994White Trilogy, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "White Orchid"

    White Orchid

    by Linda Ladd

    1995White Trilogy, Book 3

Will Novak books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Bad Road to Nowhere"

    Bad Road to Nowhere

    by Linda Ladd

    2016Will Novak, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Say Your Goodbyes"

    Say Your Goodbyes

    by Linda Ladd

    2017Will Novak, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Witness Betrayed"

    Witness Betrayed

    by Linda Ladd

    2018Will Novak, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Devil's Work"

    The Devil's Work

    by Linda Ladd

    2019Will Novak, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The Vanishing Angle"

    The Vanishing Angle

    by Linda Ladd

    2019Will Novak, Book 5

Will Novak books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Bad Road to Nowhere"

    Bad Road to Nowhere

    by Linda Ladd

    2016Will Novak, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Say Your Goodbyes"

    Say Your Goodbyes

    by Linda Ladd

    2017Will Novak, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Witness Betrayed"

    Witness Betrayed

    by Linda Ladd

    2018Will Novak, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Devil's Work"

    The Devil's Work

    by Linda Ladd

    2019Will Novak, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The Vanishing Angle"

    The Vanishing Angle

    by Linda Ladd

    2019Will Novak, Book 5

Standalone Linda Ladd books

  1. Book cover for "Bittersweet Temptation"

    Bittersweet Temptation

    by Linda Ladd

    1984
  2. Book cover for "Broken Promises"

    Broken Promises

    by Linda Ladd

    1984
  3. Book cover for "On Wings of Desire"

    On Wings of Desire

    by Linda Ladd

    1984
  4. Book cover for "Wildstar"

    Wildstar

    by Linda Ladd

    1984
  5. Book cover for "Moonspell"

    Moonspell

    by Linda Ladd

    1985
  6. Book cover for "Fireglow"

    Fireglow

    by Linda Ladd

    1986
  7. Book cover for "Silverswept"

    Silverswept

    by Linda Ladd

    1987
  8. Book cover for "Dream Song"

    Dream Song

    by Linda Ladd

    1988
  9. Book cover for "Lilacs on Lace"

    Lilacs on Lace

    by Linda Ladd

    1996
  10. Book cover for "Forever, My Love"

    Forever, My Love

    by Linda Ladd

    1997
  11. Book cover for "Running Scared"

    Running Scared

    by Linda Ladd

    2002

Author bio

Linda Ladd has written in two very different lanes, and that split tells you a lot about why her bibliography is fun to explore. She started out in historical romance, sometimes under the name Jillian Roth, and later built a second career in dark, fast-moving suspense. If you like authors who can handle both big feelings and ugly crimes, she makes a strong case for range.

Before writing full time, Ladd worked as a teacher. She also worked with preschoolers, administering diagnostic developmental tests, a detail that feels very grounded and very real beside all the danger in her fiction. She has said that she grew up loving classic novelists such as Jane Austen, Margaret Mitchell, and the Brontes, and that early love of story shows in the sweep of her historical romances.

Her first published novel, Wildstar, arrived in 1984. Within a year, she had signed multiple-book contracts and left teaching to write full time. Those early books, including Fireglow, Silverswept, and Dream Song, lean into adventure, strong-willed heroines, and romantic plots with plenty of movement. They are not quiet drawing-room books. They travel, fight, flee, and fall in love under pressure.

She likes momentum.

That same energy carries into her linked historical series. In the Fire Trilogy, the White books, and the two-book Love series, Ladd works with war, revenge, divided loyalties, arranged matches, spies, and family secrets. Books like Frost Fire, White Lily, and A Love So Splendid show how comfortable she is writing romance on a larger canvas, where the relationship matters most but the world around it is always pushing back.

Then came a long break from publishing fiction, followed by a sharp turn. Head to Head, published in 2006, marked her return and her move into contemporary suspense. Instead of frontier trails and battle lines, she gave readers Claire Morgan, a homicide detective working the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. The Claire Morgan novels are darker, bloodier, and much more psychological than the historicals, but they keep one thing Ladd has always liked, capable people under intense strain.

That series also opened the door to the Will Novak books, which shift some of the focus to a more action-driven private investigator. If Claire's novels are built around serial killers, twisted crime scenes, and emotional fallout, the Novak books tend to widen the map with kidnappings, corruption, trafficking, and hard travel. Together, the two series show how naturally Ladd moved from romance into thriller writing without losing her interest in character or chemistry.

She clearly enjoys putting tough people in bad situations.

Ladd has written more than a dozen novels and makes her home in Missouri with her husband. She has two adult children and grandchildren, and in author bios she often comes across as someone with wide-ranging interests, including reading, tennis, board games, travel, action movies, and target shooting. That last one fits. Even when her stories get messy, they usually feel like they are written by someone who knows exactly where she is aiming.

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