The publication order is the only order that makes sense to me. I tried reading 'Breakup' first once because the description grabbed me, and I spent half the book wondering who all these people were and why their history mattered so much. It was frustrating. Stansberry’s 'Cold Day' sets up her world so efficiently; skipping it is a disservice.
Honestly, the series isn’t so long that you need to hunt for a 'best of' entry point. Just start at the beginning and enjoy the ride north.
Yeah, go with the order they were written. The Alaskan setting and Kate's personal growth are serialized more than the mysteries themselves. 'A Cold Day for Murder' is the clear first book.
Alright, I see this come up a lot. The series started in 'A Cold Day for Murder' and that's definitely the best starting point. Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series is sometimes used as a comparison, but Kate Shugak's world in Alaska is its own beast—you really need to follow her personal arc from the beginning, especially her relationship with Jack Morgan and her evolving role in the Park. The books do have a strong procedural mystery-of-the-week element, but the character threads build so much. Jumping around would confuse the heck out of you when references pop up to past cases or personal losses.
Some websites list the later anthology 'A Taint in the Blood' out of order because of its different tone, but publication order is ironclad for this one. Stick to that list, and you won't miss a beat of Kate's journey from isolated ex-investigator back to the heart of her community.
2026-07-19 14:45:30
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The Alpha's Unwanted Luna Series
Miss L
9.4
1.9M
This is Currently an Omnibus!
Featuring:
Book 1: The Unwanted Luna - Kennedy and Ryker's Story
Book 2: The Warrior's Mate - Finn and Greta's Story
Book 3: Taming the Alpha's Heir - Ben and Elara's Story
Book 1:
Kennedy is a human thrown into the unbelievable world of the supernatural when her parents die in a freak car accident and her mother’s best friend steps in to become her guardian.
Her mother’s best friend, Beth, is the Luna of the Silver Crescent Pack. Kennedy has known Beth and her husband James and their son Jeremiah her whole life, but thought pack life would be something she would only hear about.
The Alpha and Luna keep no secrets about the dangers of their world for a human like Kennedy. Jeremiah takes an interest in keeping Kennedy safe and helps her through the trauma of moving on from the accident.
Kennedy is taught pack ways and for the most part is loved by all the pack members, learning the values of the pack bond, the ways of the warriors and respect for the hierarchy of the wolf culture. She becomes a very proficient warrior even with only human strength and senses.
Follow Kennedy on her journey of mates, love, friendship and fighting a mate bond she doesn’t want holding her back from her own goals and dreams.
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Ryker is a young, well-known, and feared Alpha of Dark Moon pack. He cares for his pack members through tough love and an iron fist. He's seen what happens when Alphas take their mate. It makes them weak and lose focus. Many have been corrupted by terrible mates. He would rather stay alone than be controlled.
This is a three part series all in one place.
Skylar just wants to be an asset to her pack. She's the daughter of the Beta and her brother is set to take the title after graduation. Her father wants nothing to do with her and is constantly belittling the things she does accomplish. She is the top of her class at school and the top warrior, but no one knows because she hides in the shadows as much as possible.Her bullies torture her, but never get caught. She takes them on time and time again though to protect other innocent members of her pack. Her brother and his friends ignore her existence and all she wants to do is get out of a pack that doesn't seem to want her and become an Elite Warrior for the Alpha King. She wants to feel wanted and accepted somewhere. Her whole world changes when a new girl shows up and decides to befriend Skylar after an intense training session. She brings Skylar out of the shadows and brings to light the darker side of pack members and pack culture. Can Skylar get past her past and live the life she wants?
The Twin Alpha's Mate - After finishing medical school. Summer is looking forward to being a doctor in her hometown. But the future Luna hates her. For her own safety, it is necessary for Summer to leave the pack she adores and the family she loves.
Summer doesn't realize that she got pregnant from the pair of men she slept with at the ‘Representatives Meeting' during the last Blue Moon.
Summer must quickly adapt to her new life as a single mother in a new pack and new job. Can she manage? Of course she can. She will not fail.
The Blue Moon brings about a period of dormancy for all wolves. Summer’s medical skills are needed. This results in a treaty with the local rogue pack. Making Crystal Lake Pack the safest place in the Wolf Kingdom for wolves to live.
Which is great for the Alpha of Crystal Lake Pack. But not good for Summer, who prefers to keep a low profile. It significantly complicates Summer’s life when the royal family, and the royal guard, decide to pay a visit. They are not the only ones though.
Book 2 - His Lost Luna
Book 3 - Future Alpha Nix?
Book 4 - Eclipse Enlightened
This is a book of shifter short stories. All of these stories came from readers asking me to write stories about animals they typically don't see as shifters.
The stories that are in this series are -
Welcome to the Jungle,
Undercover,
The Storm,
Prize Fighter,
The Doe's Stallion
The Biker Bunnies
The Luna's Two Mates
Lots of people are asking so here it is:
Branston high series order - Jake, Nathan, Shane, Luke, Billy.
Although technically third in the series, this was the first book I ever wrote so I hope you enjoy.
Thank you so much for reading xxx
~~~~~~~
Aurora has spent the majority of her school life trying to be invisible, trying to avoid the attention of those who enjoy tormenting her.
She's finally achieved her wish and there's only one year left before she can leave them all behind like a bad memory.
But when she literally runs into them at a party, her luck seems to have run out and Shane determined to make her his prime target.
Lots of people are asking so here it is:
Branston high series order - Jake, Nathan, Shane, Luke, Billy
Thank you all so much for reading!
~~~~~
Jake has one goal in life - protect his brothers and keep his family together. He has to find a job, earn his keep. He doesn't have time for trivial things like friends and girlfriends.
Kim wants freedom, adventure and excitement. She's not interested in living a life of regrets or what if's.
A chance encounter with the stoic and mysterious new guy in school, has Kim adamant to bring a little joy to his life, even if he doesn't think he wants it.
I haven't read any actual prequels, but the first book, 'A Cold Day for Murder', starts with Kate already established back in the Park with Dandy and Mutt, having left her Anchorage life behind. It drops enough backstory that I never felt a need for a separate prequel. The real series is about who she becomes after returning home, not the investigator she was before. There are a few short stories, though, like 'Noose' in the 'Crimes of the Heart' anthology, that are set earlier. But they feel like bonus glimpses, not essential entries.
For reading order, sticking to the main novels is the move. The author, Dana Stabenow, sprinkles the past throughout the main plotlines, and that slow reveal is part of what makes her character so compelling. If you jump into a short story first, you might spoil the weight of those reveals in the novels. The series builds Kate's world so thoroughly that going backwards after you're invested is more rewarding than starting there.
If you're aiming for total immersion in Kate's world, starting at the very beginning with 'A Cold Day for Murder' is non-negotiable. The character development is so incremental and deeply personal; jumping around just wouldn't work. You'll miss the subtle shifts in her relationships with Jack, Mutt, and the Park that form the backbone of the entire series. I tried reading 'Hunter's Moon' first once because the blurb grabbed me, and I spent half the book confused about why everyone was acting a certain way around her.
That said, the first three or four books have a slightly different, more traditional mystery feel. The real rhythm of life in the Park and the overarching community narratives solidify around 'Midnight Come Again'. Following the publication order lets you experience that evolution alongside the author. You can practically feel Stabenow hitting her stride. The only downside is waiting through a couple of slower-paced entries early on to get to the really meaty stuff, but even those are worth it for establishing the setting.