Picked by First Comes Love fans

Here are 9 books that First Comes Love fans have personally recommended once you finish the First Comes Love series. Book DNA is a community of authors and super-readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

Book cover of The Princess

R.K. Scott Author Of Choosing Season

From my list on characters displaying inner strength.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up in a large family and was often forgotten since I wasn’t the loud and rebellious child, but I was often pushed over because I wouldn’t stand up for myself in fear of anger. My only escape was walking the seven blocks to my local library and reading about heroic deeds, beautiful ladies falling in love with the dashing prince, and wishing I could be brave like the characters in my books. In my late teens, I realized there’s more to a person than physical strength. 

R.K.'s book list on characters displaying inner strength

R.K. Scott Why R.K. loves this book

Romance isn’t always fireworks. I loved this book for two reasons: a sweet contemporary royal romance and Shelby. Her character was so kind and lovely that I kept hoping her arranged marriage to Nikolai would turn into one of love.

Spoilers, it does. I love happily ever after. The biggest highlight I can make regarding Shelby’s character is her silent strength and faith. She agrees to marry a prince who is still grieving the loss of his first wife and clearly doesn’t love her, but by the end, she falls in love with him, and he is with her.

By Lori Wick ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Princess as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Return to the Romance of Pendaran

In the Land of Pendaran, Shelby Parker lives a humble but good life. Her special qualities are eventually noticed by the king and queen of the House of Markham, who seek a new wife for their widowed son, Prince Nikolai.

To uphold the tradition of their country, Shelby and Nikolai agree to an arranged marriage. But while Nikolai is a perfect gentleman in public, he remains distant at home, leaving Shelby to wonder what is in his heart. Will the prince ever love her as he did his first wife? Can the faith they…


Book cover of How to Catch a Prince

Toni Shiloh Author Of In Search of a Prince

From my list on for a royal happy ever after.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been fascinated by fictional royal stories ever since I was a little kid watching them unfold in children’s movies. Once I became a reader, I quickly became a fan of the genre. There’s such an escapism that comes with reading books about royals. And since America has no monarch, the books offer a fantasy and fairy-tale aspect to the reading. I read these books to relax, to fall in love with love, and to cheer for the ordinary person finding something extraordinary in their world—real or fictional.

Toni's book list on for a royal happy ever after

Toni Shiloh Why Toni loves this book

I feel like Rachel Hauck is the queen of royal fiction in the Christian romance genre. She was the first author I read in the genre to have royals which made me a huge fan. There’s such elegance in her writing but also humor, a swoony hero, and a heroine to cheer for. Not to mention her covers are all awesome for her Royal Wedding series. I couldn’t make a royal recommendation list without her on it.

By Rachel Hauck ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Catch a Prince as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An American heiress and a crown prince thought their secret marriage was annulled years ago-but now they must come face to face with their past. The third volume in the captivating Royal Wedding series from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck.

Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder, partly to distract herself from her dissolving family.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom came to America to escape responsibility, but what he found complicates his life…


Book cover of Royal Date

Toni Shiloh Author Of In Search of a Prince

From my list on for a royal happy ever after.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been fascinated by fictional royal stories ever since I was a little kid watching them unfold in children’s movies. Once I became a reader, I quickly became a fan of the genre. There’s such an escapism that comes with reading books about royals. And since America has no monarch, the books offer a fantasy and fairy-tale aspect to the reading. I read these books to relax, to fall in love with love, and to cheer for the ordinary person finding something extraordinary in their world—real or fictional.

Toni's book list on for a royal happy ever after

Toni Shiloh Why Toni loves this book

I love everything Sariah Wilson writes but Royal Date holds a special place in my heart. It’s got that Cinderella-esque feel to the story, with a backdrop that includes skiing, an awesome BFF, a country I wish was real, and a journalist heroine. The book has a depth of emotion that may have you reaching for tissues and cheering at the end.

By Sariah Wilson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Royal Date as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This Cinderella didn’t plan on a prince…

Kat MacTaggart is a girl who has a plan for everything—including her holiday ski trip to Monterra with her best friend. Everything is going according to plan until she finds herself careening out of control down a mountainside and being rescued by a guy who looks like Superman’s hotter Italian cousin.

HRH Prince Nico is intrigued by the woman he saved on the slopes and her refusal to date him. He offers Kat a deal—let him show her his country and he’ll pay her to write articles that will help Monterra’s tourism industry.…


Book cover of Heart of a Prince

Toni Shiloh Author Of In Search of a Prince

From my list on for a royal happy ever after.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been fascinated by fictional royal stories ever since I was a little kid watching them unfold in children’s movies. Once I became a reader, I quickly became a fan of the genre. There’s such an escapism that comes with reading books about royals. And since America has no monarch, the books offer a fantasy and fairy-tale aspect to the reading. I read these books to relax, to fall in love with love, and to cheer for the ordinary person finding something extraordinary in their world—real or fictional.

Toni's book list on for a royal happy ever after

Toni Shiloh Why Toni loves this book

Carol Moncado has a way of creating a fictional world that feels very much real. The non-royal characters are very much normal so when thrust into a royal world, the entertainment is guaranteed. I will read Carol Moncado over and over for the heart, escapism into a royal world, and the sweet romance that leaves me with a smile.

By Carol Moncado ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Heart of a Prince as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Crowns & Courtships
Book 1: Royals of San Majoria

Canadian Jordan Haines is on vacation in the Caribbean. After the summer he's had, a couple months of fun in the sun is just what the doctor ordered. What he didn't count on was meeting a beautiful woman on a private beach - or falling hard.

Crown Princess Astrid of San Majoria seems to lead a charmed life. Just like everyone, there's tragedy in her past, but she lives in a palace, has aides to do everything - and paparazzi hounding her private moments. Her sanctuary on her family's beach is…


Book cover of Arson and Americanos

Susie Black Author Of The Forecast is...Murder!

From my list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Susie Black, an award-winning cozy mystery author. As a long-time desert dweller and professional people watcher, I’ve always been fascinated by the intrinsic relationship between the often unpredictable, severe desert weather and the distinctive, sometimes quirky people who choose to live in it. With the introduction of The Sunny Knight Mystery Series, I have created an entire series that is devoted to exploring that unique connection. The Forecast is…Murder! is the series debut title. 

Susie's book list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

As someone whose early career was spent in a family business, Arson and Americanos took me on a delightful trip down memory lane.

It was just like old home week as I cheered the familiar banter and playful bickering between third-generation spunky barista Hazel, her mom, and grandma.

Give me a whodunit like this one, starring an endearing cast and a loyal protagonist with heart and courage who is willing to step up and put everything on the line when it counts the most, and I’ll show you an unputdownable story you’ll be sad to see end.  

By Jess Mastorakos ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Arson and Americanos as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When her family’s coffee shop goes down in flames, can this spunky barista prove it was arson?Hazel Hewitt loves being in the coffee business with her mom and grandma. But when their cafe burns to the ground, her mom’s beloved boyfriend appears to be at fault. Joe will lose everything if he’s blamed for this, and since he’s the closest thing Hazel has to a father, she knows she needs to step in.Hazel’s brother and the rest of their town’s police force think this is a simple case of negligence on Joe’s part. So when she’s not making plans with…


Book cover of Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder

Susie Black Author Of The Forecast is...Murder!

From my list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Susie Black, an award-winning cozy mystery author. As a long-time desert dweller and professional people watcher, I’ve always been fascinated by the intrinsic relationship between the often unpredictable, severe desert weather and the distinctive, sometimes quirky people who choose to live in it. With the introduction of The Sunny Knight Mystery Series, I have created an entire series that is devoted to exploring that unique connection. The Forecast is…Murder! is the series debut title. 

Susie's book list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

Two sisters check into a hotel in their Arizona hometown to celebrate one another’s birthdays.

Their celebratory getaway is abruptly interrupted when one of the sisters discovers the corpse of a nasty hotel guest. Both sisters are hopeless snoops who can’t mind their own beeswax. So, naturally, they stick their noses everywhere they don’t belong to sniff out the killer, much to the consternation of the homicide detective in charge of the case.

Give me a madcap cast that takes readers on a raucous, wild rollercoaster ride at a breakneck pace in a fun romp with a plot that has more twists and turns than a pretzel, plenty of motives and red herrings like this one any day of the week. 

By Joyce Proell , Brenda Whiteside ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It’s a birthday weekend with the gift of murder.Recently widowed, Emma Banefield looks forward to a getaway birthday weekend with her free-wheeling sister, Nicole Earp, sipping chocolate martinis at the peaceful, historic, small town Dulce Inn. When a rude stranger, a nasty food critic, and a madhouse of temperamental artists greet them, all hope for a tranquil weekend evaporates faster than dew on a hot desert morning.Overlooking the riotous atmosphere is doubly hard after Em discovers the body of a hotel guest, and a second murder affects Nic personally. Now, entrenched in a caper that pits them against a surly…


Book cover of Murder in Palm Springs

Susie Black Author Of The Forecast is...Murder!

From my list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Susie Black, an award-winning cozy mystery author. As a long-time desert dweller and professional people watcher, I’ve always been fascinated by the intrinsic relationship between the often unpredictable, severe desert weather and the distinctive, sometimes quirky people who choose to live in it. With the introduction of The Sunny Knight Mystery Series, I have created an entire series that is devoted to exploring that unique connection. The Forecast is…Murder! is the series debut title. 

Susie's book list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

As a long-time resident of Palm Springs, California, I’ve rubbed elbows with my share of entertainers; some beloved, others so obnoxiously full of themselves that I wondered how they managed not to get knocked off.

In A Murder in Palm Springs, antique appraiser Marty Morgan and her pal Carl are tasked to evaluate American Idol Jimmy Joseph's memorabilia collection. When Jimmy ends up dead, it's obvious not everyone was a fan. There’s no shortage of suspects, and Patron, Marty’s sister’s white boxer with paranormal abilities, can identify the culprit, but nobody’s asking his opinion.

Give me a whodunit with a whisper of woo-woo, and I’m a happy camper. Harman’s physical descriptions of Palm Springs are so spot on, you’ll be slathering on the suntan lotion and heading for the pool. 

By Dianne Harman ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Murder in Palm Springs as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An aging American idol.A murder. A dog with paranormal abilities. Who knew walking to the mailbox could be so deadly?Join Marty and her dog, Patron, as they eliminate suspects in the murder of a beloved rock star in Palm Springs, California. This is book number eight in the bestselling High Desert Cozy Mystery Series by two-time USA Today Bestselling Author Dianne Harman. Enjoy!


Book cover of Something Deadly on Desert Drive

Susie Black Author Of The Forecast is...Murder!

From my list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Susie Black, an award-winning cozy mystery author. As a long-time desert dweller and professional people watcher, I’ve always been fascinated by the intrinsic relationship between the often unpredictable, severe desert weather and the distinctive, sometimes quirky people who choose to live in it. With the introduction of The Sunny Knight Mystery Series, I have created an entire series that is devoted to exploring that unique connection. The Forecast is…Murder! is the series debut title. 

Susie's book list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

Kate Tessler’s father and his retirement community coffee group come to her with a problem: their friend Larry's much younger wife claims her husband has dementia.

The group is convinced that Larry’s wife and her two adult, deadbeat kids are out to steal Larry’s money. But before they can authenticate the truth, their efforts are complicated when Larry is accused of committing a murder. Now they must prove Larry is both mentally competent and not a killer.

I love this saucy whodunit that came with the reminder that the term senior citizen doesn’t mean soft in the head. I cheered this fast-paced, witty cozy starring a gang of savvy seniors with humor, heart, and tenacity. Something Deadly on Desert Drive is perfect for fans of laugh-out-loud amateur detective stories who need no reminder that age is only a number.

By Kris Bock ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Something Deadly on Desert Drive as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Starting over at fifty might be hard, but it shouldn’t be deadly…

Still recovering from an injury that might have permanently derailed her career as an international war correspondent, Kate Tessler is living in her childhood bedroom and pondering her second act when another case lands in her lap. Kate’s father and his coffee group are worried. Their friend Larry married a younger woman who now insists he has dementia and won’t let any of his friends visit. They’re convinced that Larry’s wife and her two adult, dead-beat kids are out to steal his money. Can Kate help?

Soon Kate…


Book cover of Casino Queen

Susie Black Author Of The Forecast is...Murder!

From my list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Susie Black, an award-winning cozy mystery author. As a long-time desert dweller and professional people watcher, I’ve always been fascinated by the intrinsic relationship between the often unpredictable, severe desert weather and the distinctive, sometimes quirky people who choose to live in it. With the introduction of The Sunny Knight Mystery Series, I have created an entire series that is devoted to exploring that unique connection. The Forecast is…Murder! is the series debut title. 

Susie's book list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

Caroline Popov is promoted to General Manager of the Night Hawk Casino in the California high desert.

I cheered as Caroline didn’t let anyone push her around. If, like me, you’re curious about the real story behind the gaming industry, but a trip to a casino isn’t in your future, this story is right up your alley.

I was blown away by gaming industry pro-Bertoia’s physical description of the casino, the emotional atmosphere that permeates the place, and the characters who play and work there that were so spot on. I checked my wallet to make sure I didn’t lose a bucket of bucks at the Blackjack table.

By Cara Bertoia ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Casino Queen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Caroline Popov, alone, heartbroken, and deeply in debt ends up in glamorous Palm Springs, California where Native casinos have just opened, offering employment to thousands. She lands a job at the Palm Oasis Casino where she is mentored by the charismatic tribal chairman, John Tovar.

Embraced by casino culture, Caroline works her way up to casino manager of the Night Hawk, in the High Desert town of Joshua Tree. There, she is responsible for managing multicultural team members, satisfying the demands of often unique guests, and growing revenue while rooting out corruption.

In the process of rediscovering her inner strength,…