Where to start with Stephenia H. McGee books

Where to Start with Stephenia H. McGee Books

If you’re new to Stephenia H. McGee’s novels, welcome—you’re about to step into richly layered stories filled with history, faith, gentle romance, and unforgettable Southern settings. With multiple series and stand-alone novels, choosing where to begin can feel a little overwhelming, so this guide is here to help you find the perfect starting point!

Whether you love mystery, romance, time travel, or immersive historical detail, there’s the perfect book waiting for you.

Start Here if You Love Southern Historical Fiction

The Ironwood Series

If you enjoy page-turning historical fiction rooted in Southern history, The Ironwood Series is an excellent place to begin. These novels blend family secrets, intrigue, and faith-filled storytelling, all wrapped in a richly atmospheric Southern setting.

Readers who love:

• Southern history

• Multi-generational secrets

• Strong, thoughtful heroines

• Faith woven naturally into the story

Readers often find this series hard to put down.

✨ Best for readers who enjoy depth, some mystery, family dynamics, and emotional resonance.

Start Here if You Love A Roaring Twenties Romance Along the Mississippi River

The River Romances

For readers drawn to evocative settings and heartfelt romance, The River Romances series offers stories set along the Mississippi River during pivotal moments in American history. These novels combine gentle romance, suspense, and spiritual growth with vivid historical detail.

You’ll find:

• Slow-burn romance

• Rich river-town settings

• Courage, redemption, and hope

• Clean, faith-filled storytelling

• Quirky families and passionate heroines

✨ Perfect for readers who want romance with substance and historical authenticity.

Start Here if You Love Time Travel with a Whimsical Twist

The Back Inn Time Series

Looking for something lighter, charming, and delightfully unexpected? The Back Inn Time Series blends historical time travel with humor, romance, and heart. Centered around a mysterious Victorian inn, these stories offer playful adventures through history while keeping the romance clean and the faith elements uplifting.

Readers who enjoy:

• Time travel stories

• Lighthearted romance

• Quirky characters

• Cozy, comforting reads

• Readers often fall in love with this series quickly and bing read the entire set

✨ Ideal for readers who want fun, faith, and a touch of unexpected miracles

Not Sure? Start with a Reader Favorite!

If you’re still unsure where to begin, many readers recommend starting with one of Stephenia H. McGee’s most-loved novels—often the book that best matches your favorite genre or historical era. Each series is written to welcome new readers, so there’s no wrong choice.

What All Stephenia H. McGee Books Have in Common

No matter where you start, readers can expect:

• Clean, faith-centered storytelling

• Emotionally rich characters

• Carefully researched historical settings

• Hope-filled stories of redemption and love

These are books written for readers who enjoy history with heart—and stories that linger long after the final page.

Ready to Begin Your Reading Journey?

Here's the full list of novels, how they connect, and the right era for you:

Historical Novels

Ironwood Family Saga - A generational series

• The Whistle Walk (Civil War era)
• Heir of Hope (Contemporary & Civil War era)
• Missing Mercy (1880s)
• Ironwood Family boxed set

 (Fun fact. Charles from The Whistle Walk and Matthew from The Accidental Spy Series are cousins. You'll see the families visit across books.)

The Accidental Spy Series

*Originally titled The Liberator Series (Leveraging Lincoln, Losing Lincoln, Labeling Lincoln)

*Set during the Civil War. Books must be read in order. The overall plot is completed throughout all three books. 

• An Accidental Spy
• A Dangerous Performance
• A Daring Pursuit
• The Accidental Spy Series Boxed Set

River Romances (Set on the Mississippi River, 1920s)

• The River Queen
• Moonlight on the Mississippi
• Book 3 coming soon!

Stand Alone Historical Novels

• In His Eyes (Civil War era) 
• Bonus: Two companion novellas that go back to Belmont: The Heart of Home and The Hope of Christmas Past
• Bonus: The Belmont Bundle containing all three

• Eternity Between Us (Civil War era)
• The Secrets of Emberwild (Turn of the century, 1905)
• The Swindler's Daughter (Turn of the century, 1912)

Historical Novellas

• The Heart of Home (Civil War era, just after the end of In His Eyes)

Time Travel Books

The Back Inn Time Series

*Each book can be read as a stand alone and in any order. In each story, characters visit a B&B and spend a few days in the past.

• A Wagon Train Weekend
• Falling for the Fifties
• A Colonial Courtship
• A Castle for Christmas
• A Gilded Age Getaway
• A Taste of the Twenties

Stand Alone Time Travel

• The Hope of Christmas Past
• (Time travel to Belmont from In His Eyes)
• Her Place in Time
• (Time travel to Rosswood just prior to The Accidental Spy Series. Not necessary to read the series first)

Stand Alone Contemporary

• The Cedar Key

Wherever you begin, you’re invited to slow down, step into another time, and enjoy a story crafted to entertain, encourage, and inspire.

Happy reading! 📚✨