Get ready to fall in love with the 5 rambunctious Bailey brothers and their 6 incredible stories, written by the talented Claire Kingsley. This small-town romance packs a punch with its perfect blend of heat, heart, and humor. You’ll be charmed by the heartwarming family dynamics and zany townsfolk in the delightful town of Tilikum. In this article, I’ve broken down the Bailey Brothers series in reading order and included details about each book so you know exactly what you’re in for. Enjoy!
Fast Facts
Book 1 – Protecting You
TROPE: Childhood friends to lovers
RATING: ★★★★/5
Synopsis
One night brings them together. Another night tears them apart.
Grace Miles misses her easy friendship with Asher, but growing up means growing apart. And really, how could he fall for her when they spent their childhood getting muddy in the creek and splitting sticks of gum?
But this summer, something feels different. If Grace didn’t know better, she’d think Asher was flirting with her. Those dark eyes, hard body, and wicked smile make her insides swirl and her heart dare to hope for things she’s convinced herself she’ll never have.
Falling for your best friend shouldn’t be complicated, but for Asher Bailey, loving Grace is anything but simple. The road to romance isn’t smooth thanks to his pack of wild brothers who are protective of the girl next door, a take-no-sass grandmother, a small town where gossip is a spectator sport, and a feud that spans generations.
But Asher realizes his feelings are too big to ignore. Loving her isn’t the risk. Losing her would be.
And one night, one kiss, changes everything.
Finally admitting their feelings is the beginning of their happily ever after. Until their fairy tale love story is tragically interrupted, and neither of them will ever be the same.
Why it’s not 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading the book and think that it was a great introduction to the series. However, I do have some reservations about giving it a full 5 stars because there were still quite a few unanswered questions left at the end. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely a quick read that does a good job of setting the stage for the following books, but in my opinion, it falls just a little short of being a perfect 5-star read.
Where to Buy
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Book 2 – Fighting for Us
TROPE: Childhood friends to lovers
RATING: ★★★★/5
Synopsis
How long would you wait for the love of your life?
The Asher Bailey who comes home to his quirky small town isn’t the same man who put a ring on Grace’s finger. He’s bigger, harder, haunted. Forced to give up Grace and everything else that was good in his life for a prison sentence he barely survived.
Now that he’s home, he finds himself aggressively welcomed by his brothers and gleefully gossiped about by his neighbors. He’d counted on both. But he never expected to see Grace still wearing his ring.
Grace’s fairy tale didn’t end. It was interrupted. She’s spent the last seven years living her life while waiting for one man. Now that he’s back, she’s got her work cut out for her. He’s scarred and angry, and stubbornly convinced they can’t be together. She’s more than happy to educate him otherwise.
Every beer, every prank, every kiss brings him closer to where he’s always belonged. In her life. In her arms. In her heart. Asher fears the darkness inside him can’t be contained. But Grace won’t give up on him without a fight.
Why it’s not 5 stars
- The book progresses a bit too slowly for my liking. There are many unnecessary scenes that could have been replaced with more emphasis on character development. The ending is sweet and swoon-worthy, but their conflict resolution is a bit rushed. I wanted more details on how they dealt with their inner demons in therapy instead of simply stating that they were in therapy together and everything was getting better.
- the inner monologue of both characters was a bit over-explanatory and repetitive, prolonging the book more than necessary.
Best Quotes
Where to Buy
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Book 3 – Unraveling Him
TROPE: Grumpy/sunshine
RATING: ★★★★/5
Synopsis
Stoic, growly Evan Bailey has enough on his plate. A growing business, a pack of brothers who drive him crazy, a gossip-loving small town, and a rivalry that runs deeper than any family feud. Love? That’s a hard pass. He already learned the hard way that he’s better off alone.
Fiona Gallagher has a problem. Or more like ten, but who’s counting? The trouble with her car is just the cherry on top of the crap sundae, but she won’t let that get her down. Besides, she has a plan. Evan Bailey—that brooding custom car builder who happens to hate her father—is going to help her. He just doesn’t know it yet.
The last thing Evan needs is the overly cheery Fiona crashing into his solitary life. But her offer is too compelling to ignore. Fiona isn’t there to pick through the wreckage of Evan’s heart. If he has one, he won’t let her anywhere near it. But the tension between them is hot enough to combust. And when she starts to see the cracks in his stony façade, she realizes she’s getting more than she bargained for—a lot more—in that big surly man.
Why it’s not 5 stars
My one issue with this book, and I feel it’s a common thread in the series, is the over-explanatory inner monologues. I don’t think every single thought in a person’s head should be mentioned, especially if some are repetitive. Editing these out would have made the book much shorter.
Where to Buy
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Book 4 – Rushing In
TROPE: Forbidden love (boss’ daughter)
Synopsis
With his dimpled grin and devilish charm, firefighter Gavin Bailey is hot as a five-alarm fire and twice as dangerous. The youngest of five brothers, he’s the daredevil of the family. Until the unexpected strikes and he finds himself sidelined.
Skylar Stanley’s life didn’t just fall apart. It exploded. Spectacularly. Dropped by her publisher and her agent, and dumped by her boyfriend, she suddenly has no place to live and a career circling the drain. She comes home to the quirky, feuding small town she hasn’t lived in since Kindergarten to pick up the pieces. And hopefully find her mojo.
Gavin would happily help Skylar get her groove back—in and out of the bedroom—except for one big problem. Her dad is Gavin’s boss, mentor, and the closest thing he’s ever had to a father. As much as Gavin loves racing headlong into danger, Skylar is a risk of a different kind. One that he’s determined to avoid.
But the line between friends and lovers gets awfully blurry, and Gavin just might find the one thing that truly scares him. Losing her.
Where to Buy
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Book 5 – Chasing Her Fire
TROPE: Enemies to lovers
Synopsis
Sexy firefighter Logan Bailey is an expert at putting the wet stuff on the hot stuff—on and off duty. But he just did the unthinkable, and it wasn’t trading in his tube socks. He slept with his nemesis. His mortal enemy. The crazy redhead he loves to hate. Cara Goulding.
And no matter how much he wants to lie to himself, he has to admit, it was mind-blowing.
Cara will not be tempted by the one night she spent with prince dickhead—even if her traitorous body remembers every earth-shattering moment. It was a mistake and she’s stronger than that. She’ll just keep avoiding him and pretend it didn’t happen.
But the feuding small town of Tilikum might not be big enough for the both of them. Avoiding each other isn’t working. And with every moment they’re forced to spend together, the sparks get hotter, the flames grow brighter, and the tension borders on unbearable.
Until they both reach their breaking point and their fiery relationship explodes.
Where to Buy
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Book 6 – Rewriting the Stars
TROPE: Forbidden love (rival families)
Synopsis
Firefighter Levi Bailey is used to being alone. Not that he’s lonely. How could he be, with a band of unruly brothers, and their wives and growing families. Maybe he’s the odd man out. The one brother who isn’t destined to be with his soulmate.
Besides, he has her.
She’s his Juliet, the only woman in the world he can’t ever have. To an outsider, it probably seems crazy. But the Tilikum town feud is no joke—especially now—and Annika Haven is strictly forbidden.
Annika Haven never expected to be back in her hometown, let alone as a single mom with two jobs. Add in a pack of overprotective brothers, a brewing family crisis, and a gossipy, feuding town on the brink of chaos, and life gets complicated.
But at least she has him.
He’s her Romeo, a son of the enemy. He makes her smile on her worst days. Yet, despite his brooding sex appeal, the one thing she cannot do is fall for Levi Bailey. They’re just friends and that’s the way it has to stay.
But after months of secret texts and stolen glances, one soul-stealing kiss changes everything. And Levi Bailey is about to do the impossible.
Defy the feud.
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