H.M. Ward Books in Order

This page lists H.M. Ward books in publication order, Ferro Family order, series order, paranormal-romance order, and recommended reading paths.

H.M. Ward Books in Order

Quick Index

  • Scope: H.M. Ward novels, novellas, Ferro Family branches, paranormal series, standalones, co-written books, and omnibus editions
  • Default Order: Series order by subseries
  • Best Starting Point: The Arrangement 1 or Demon Kissed
  • Order Matters: Yes for The Arrangement, Damaged, Life Before Damaged, Secrets and Lies, Demon Kissed, and The Secret Life of Trystan Scott
  • Core Series: The Ferro Family
  • Main Genres: Contemporary romance, new adult romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, thriller
  • Also Published As: H.M. Ward is listed as also writing as Ella Steele
  • Not to be confused with: J.R. Ward, author of Black Dagger Brotherhood

Fantastic Fiction lists H.M. Ward as “aka Ella Steele” and groups the catalog under Demon Kissed, The Arrangement, Damaged, Life Before Damaged, Secrets and Lies, Manwhore, Easy, and other series.

Reading Paths

1. Publication Order

Use this route for a release-era pass across the full catalog.

  1. Demon Kissed
  2. Demon Kissed: Valefar
  3. Twisted Tales
  4. Vampire Apocalypse
  5. The Secret Life of Trystan Scott
  6. Secrets
  7. Scandalous
  8. Winter Kisses
  9. The Arrangement
  10. Damaged
  11. The Proposition
  12. Stripped
  13. Ferro Family single entries
  14. Life Before Damaged
  15. Secrets and Lies
  16. Manwhore
  17. Easy
  18. Girl by the Grave
  19. All The Broken Pieces
  20. Dark Prince
  21. Standalone and co-written novels
  22. Collections and omnibus editions

2. Ferro Family Order

Best for Ward’s central connected romance universe.

  1. The Arrangement 1 through The Arrangement Vol. 26
  2. Damaged
  3. Damaged 2
  4. Damaged 3
  5. The Proposition through The Proposition 5
  6. Stripped
  7. Stripped 2
  8. The Wedding Contract
  9. A Damaged Wedding
  10. Life Before Damaged Vol. 1 through Vol. 10
  11. Secrets and Lies 1 through 7
  12. Manwhore 1 through 3
  13. Easy and later Easy volumes, where available

The official author site maintains a Ferro Family reading-order page, and Fantastic Fiction lists The Arrangement as a 26-entry sequence through The Arrangement Vol. 26.

3. Beginner Path

Direct entry for contemporary-romance readers.

  1. The Arrangement 1
  2. The Arrangement 2
  3. The Arrangement 3
  4. The Arrangement 4
  5. The Arrangement 5
  6. The Arrangement 6
  7. Damaged
  8. Damaged 2

4. Paranormal Romance Path

Route for Ward’s paranormal and fantasy-romance catalog.

  1. Demon Kissed
  2. Cursed
  3. Torn
  4. Satan’s Stone
  5. The 13th Prophecy
  6. Assassin
  7. Valefar
  8. Valefar Vol. 2
  9. Bane
  10. Catalyst
  11. Stone Prison

5. Trystan Scott Path

Short route through the Trystan Scott sequence.

  1. Collide
  2. Backdraft
  3. Riptide
  4. Shattered
  5. Revealed
  6. Broken Promises

Broken Promises is also listed as Last Heartbreak in Fantastic Fiction.

6. Thriller and Suspense Path

Focused route outside the main Ferro romance sequence.

  1. The Girl by the Grave
  2. All The Broken Pieces Vol. 1
  3. All The Broken Pieces Vol. 2
  4. All The Broken Pieces Vol. 3
  5. The Dark Prince

7. Completionist Path

Full checklist route.

  1. Demon Kissed and Valefar
  2. Vampire Apocalypse and Twisted Tales
  3. Trystan Scott
  4. Secrets and Scandalous
  5. Winter Kisses
  6. Ferro Family subseries
  7. Girl by the Grave
  8. All The Broken Pieces
  9. Dark Prince
  10. Standalone novels
  11. Co-written titles
  12. Omnibus editions
  13. Shared anthology appearances

Publication Order Master List

Demon Kissed

  • Demon Kissed (2011) – Novel – Demon Kissed #1
  • Cursed (2011) – Novel – Demon Kissed #2
  • Torn (2011) – Novel – Demon Kissed #3
  • Satan’s Stone (2012) – Novel – Demon Kissed #4
  • The 13th Prophecy (2012) – Novel – Demon Kissed #5
  • Assassin (2012) – Novel – Demon Kissed #6

Fantastic Fiction lists Demon Kissed as a six-book series from Demon Kissed through Assassin.

Demon Kissed: Valefar

  • Valefar (2011) – Novella – Demon Kissed: Valefar #1
  • Valefar Vol. 2 (2012) – Novella – Demon Kissed: Valefar #2

Twisted Tales

  • Stone Prison (2012) – Novel – Twisted Tales #1

Vampire Apocalypse

  • Bane (2012) – Novel – Vampire Apocalypse #1
  • Catalyst (2012) – Novel – Vampire Apocalypse #2

Fantastic Fiction lists Vampire Apocalypse as Bane and Catalyst.

The Secret Life of Trystan Scott

  • Collide (2012) – Novel – The Secret Life of Trystan Scott #1
  • Backdraft (2012) – Novel – The Secret Life of Trystan Scott #2
  • Riptide (2012) – Novel – The Secret Life of Trystan Scott #3
  • Shattered (2013) – Novel – The Secret Life of Trystan Scott #4
  • Revealed (2013) – Novel – The Secret Life of Trystan Scott #5
  • Broken Promises (2015) – Novel – The Secret Life of Trystan Scott #6, also published as Last Heartbreak

Secrets

  • Secrets (2012) – Novella – Secrets #1
  • Secrets 2 (2012) – Novella – Secrets #2
  • Secrets 3 (2012) – Novella – Secrets #3
  • Secrets 4 (2012) – Novella – Secrets #4
  • Secrets 5 (2012) – Novella – Secrets #5

Scandalous

  • Scandalous (2012) – Novel – Scandalous #1, as Ella Steele
  • Scandalous 2 (2013) – Novel – Scandalous #2

Fantastic Fiction lists Scandalous and Scandalous 2 as a two-book sequence and also lists Scandalous as a standalone novel entry under the Ella Steele name.

Winter Kisses

  • Christmas Kisses (2012) – Novella – Winter Kisses #1

Arrangement: The Ferro Family

  • The Arrangement 1 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #1
  • The Arrangement 2 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #2
  • The Arrangement 3 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #3
  • The Arrangement 4 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #4
  • The Arrangement 5 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #5
  • The Arrangement 6 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #6
  • The Arrangement 7 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #7
  • The Arrangement 8 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #8
  • The Arrangement 9 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #9
  • The Arrangement 10 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #10
  • The Arrangement 11 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #11
  • The Arrangement 12 (2013) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #12
  • The Arrangement 13 (2014) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #13
  • The Arrangement 14 (2014) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #14
  • The Arrangement 15 (2014) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #15
  • The Arrangement 16 (2014) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #16
  • The Arrangement 17 (2014) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #17
  • The Arrangement 18 (2015) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #18
  • The Arrangement 19 (2015) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #19
  • The Arrangement 20 (2015) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #20
  • The Arrangement 21 (2016) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #21
  • The Arrangement 22 (2016) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #22
  • The Arrangement 23 (2016) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #23
  • The Arrangement 24 (2018) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #24
  • The Arrangement 25 (2019) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #25
  • The Arrangement Vol. 26 (2019) – Novella – Arrangement: The Ferro Family #26

FictionDB lists The Arrangement as 26 books, beginning in January 2013 and ending in September 2019.

Damaged

  • Damaged (2013) – Novel – Damaged #1
  • Damaged 2 (2013) – Novel – Damaged #2
  • Damaged 3 (2016) – Novel – Damaged #3

FictionDB lists Damaged as a three-book series, with Damaged, Damaged 2, and Damaged 3.

Proposition: The Ferro Family

  • The Proposition (2013) – Novella – Proposition: The Ferro Family #1
  • The Proposition 2 (2013) – Novella – Proposition: The Ferro Family #2
  • The Proposition 3 (2014) – Novella – Proposition: The Ferro Family #3
  • The Proposition 4 (2014) – Novella – Proposition: The Ferro Family #4
  • The Proposition 5 (2014) – Novella – Proposition: The Ferro Family #5

Fantastic Fiction lists Proposition: The Ferro Family as a five-entry sequence.

Stripped

  • Stripped (2013) – Novel – Stripped #1
  • Stripped 2 (2016) – Novel – Stripped #2

Ferro Family Single Entries

  • The Wedding Contract (2014) – Novel – Ferro Family
  • A Damaged Wedding (2016) – Novel – Ferro Family

Life Before Damaged

  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 1 (2014) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #1
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 2 (2014) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #2
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 3 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #3
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 4 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #4
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 5 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #5
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 6 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #6
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 7 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #7
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 8 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #8
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 9 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #9
  • Life Before Damaged Vol. 10 (2015) – Novella – Life Before Damaged #10

FictionDB lists Life Before Damaged as a 10-book series, from November 2014 through November 2015.

Secrets and Lies: The Ferro Family

  • Secrets and Lies (2014) – Novella – Secrets and Lies #1
  • Secrets and Lies 2 (2014) – Novella – Secrets and Lies #2
  • Secrets and Lies 3 (2016) – Novella – Secrets and Lies #3
  • Secrets and Lies 4 (2016) – Novella – Secrets and Lies #4
  • Secrets and Lies 5 (2016) – Novella – Secrets and Lies #5
  • Secrets and Lies 6 (2016) – Novella – Secrets and Lies #6
  • Secrets and Lies 7 (2016) – Novella – Secrets and Lies #7

FictionDB lists Secrets and Lies as a seven-book Ferro Family series from 2014 through 2016.

Manwhore: The Ferro Family

  • Manwhore 1 (2015) – Novella – Manwhore #1
  • Manwhore 2 (2015) – Novella – Manwhore #2
  • Manwhore 3 (2015) – Novella – Manwhore #3

Easy: The Ferro Family

  • Easy (2017) – Novel – Easy #1
  • Easy 2 (2017) – Novel – Easy #2, availability varies
  • Easy 3 (2017) – Novel – Easy #3, availability varies
  • Easy 4 (2017) – Novel – Easy #4, availability varies
  • Easy 5 (2017) – Novel – Easy #5, availability varies

Fantastic Fiction’s author page lists Easy as the first Easy: The Ferro Family entry, while other bibliography pages list Easy 1 through Easy 5 and note that later volumes may have limited availability.

Girl by the Grave

  • The Girl by the Grave (2017) – Novel – Girl by the Grave #1

All The Broken Pieces

  • All The Broken Pieces Vol. 1 (2019) – Novel – All The Broken Pieces #1
  • All The Broken Pieces Vol. 2 (2020) – Novel – All The Broken Pieces #2
  • All The Broken Pieces Vol. 3 (2020) – Novel – All The Broken Pieces #3

Fantastic Fiction lists All The Broken Pieces as a three-book series from 2019 to 2020.

Dark Prince

  • The Dark Prince (2022) – Novel – Dark Prince #1

Standalone and Co-Written Novels

  • Scandalous (2012) – Novel – Standalone listing, as Ella Steele
  • Second Chances (2014) – Novel – Standalone, with Stacey Mosteller
  • Shadows of the Past (2015) – Novel – Standalone
  • Over You (2016) – Novel – Standalone, with L.G. Castillo
  • Christmas Coffee (2016) – Novel – Standalone, also published as Hot Guy
  • The Christmas Bet (2024) – Novel – Holiday romance

FictionDB lists The Christmas Bet as H.M. Ward’s latest book, published in December 2024.

Contributed Series and Short Works

  • A Little Christmas Romance (2013) – Short fiction – 12 NA’s of Christmas

Omnibus and Collection Editions

  • The Arrangement Collection A (2019) – Omnibus – Arrangement reprint format
  • The Arrangement Collection B (2019) – Omnibus – Arrangement reprint format
  • The Arrangement Collection C (2019) – Omnibus – Arrangement reprint format
  • The Arrangement Collection D (2019) – Omnibus – Arrangement reprint format
  • The Arrangement Collection E (2019) – Omnibus – Arrangement reprint format

The Arrangement collections are omnibus editions, not separate original novels. Fantastic Fiction identifies The Arrangement Collection E as an omnibus collecting volumes 13 to 15.

Related Works and Where They Fit

The Ferro Family

  • Placement: Main contemporary-romance universe.
  • Status in reading order: Core path.
  • Notes: Use the author’s Ferro reading-order page for interleaved crossover reading.

The Arrangement

  • Placement: Start here for the main Ferro Family path.
  • Status in reading order: Required for the Sean and Avery arc.
  • Notes: Read all 26 entries in number order.

Damaged

  • Placement: Early Ferro Family branch.
  • Status in reading order: Recommended after starting The Arrangement or as a separate Ferro entry point.
  • Notes: Read Damaged, Damaged 2, then Damaged 3.

Life Before Damaged

  • Placement: Backstory branch.
  • Status in reading order: Best after Damaged for first-time readers.
  • Notes: Read all 10 volumes in order.

Secrets and Lies

  • Placement: Ferro Family branch.
  • Status in reading order: Read after early Ferro material for broader context.
  • Notes: Seven numbered volumes.

The Proposition

  • Placement: Ferro Family branch.
  • Status in reading order: Separate couple branch.
  • Notes: Read The Proposition through The Proposition 5.

Stripped

  • Placement: Ferro Family branch.
  • Status in reading order: Read in two-book order.
  • Notes: Stripped and Stripped 2 focus on a separate Ferro-linked thread.

Manwhore

  • Placement: Ferro Family branch.
  • Status in reading order: Three-entry short-form sequence.
  • Notes: Keep separate from Life Before Damaged even when cross-links appear in reader databases.

Easy

  • Placement: Later Ferro Family branch.
  • Status in reading order: Verify editions before linking.
  • Notes: Some catalogs list only Easy, while other order pages list Easy through Easy 5.

The Secret Life of Trystan Scott

  • Placement: Related contemporary-romance series.
  • Status in reading order: Read before crossover-heavy Ferro completionist paths.
  • Notes: Broken Promises is also listed as Last Heartbreak.

Demon Kissed and Valefar

  • Placement: Paranormal-romance branch.
  • Status in reading order: Separate from Ferro Family.
  • Notes: Read Demon Kissed before Valefar.

Vampire Apocalypse and Twisted Tales

  • Placement: Paranormal and fantasy branch.
  • Status in reading order: Optional for romance-only readers.
  • Notes: Bane, Catalyst, and Stone Prison are separate from the Ferro Family universe.

All The Broken Pieces

  • Placement: Later thriller or suspense path.
  • Status in reading order: Read as a three-book series.
  • Notes: Keep separate from Ferro romance.

Omnibus Editions

  • Placement: After original volumes.
  • Status in reading order: Reprint formats.
  • Notes: Do not count collections as new story entries unless new material is confirmed.

Dependencies & Notes

  • The Arrangement should be read in numbered order.
  • Damaged should be read as Damaged, Damaged 2, then Damaged 3.
  • Life Before Damaged is best after Damaged for first-time readers.
  • Secrets and Lies should be read from volume 1 through volume 7.
  • The Proposition should be read from volume 1 through volume 5.
  • Trystan Scott should be read from Collide through Broken Promises.
  • Demon Kissed should be read before Valefar.
  • The Ferro Family is a connected romance universe with overlapping character references.
  • A strict Ferro Family completionist order is more complex than simple publication order because several subseries overlap.
  • The author’s official Ferro Family reading-order page is the best source for interleaved crossover placement.
  • Easy has inconsistent catalog visibility. Fantastic Fiction lists Easy as book 1, while other order pages list Easy through Easy 5.
  • The Arrangement collections are omnibus formats and should not inflate the original-title count.
  • FictionDB lists H.M. Ward with 101 books and 13 series, while Goodreads lists larger work totals because it includes editions, groups, and user-shelved records. Use consistent inclusion rules for a live index.
  • FictionDB reports no new H.M. Ward book scheduled after The Christmas Bet as of the checked page.

FAQs

What is the first H.M. Ward book?

Demon Kissed is the first listed H.M. Ward book in FictionDB, with an April 2011 publication entry.

What H.M. Ward book should I start with?

Start with The Arrangement 1 for the Ferro Family path or Demon Kissed for the paranormal-romance path.

What is H.M. Ward’s main series?

The Ferro Family is the main connected romance universe.

What is the order of The Arrangement?

Read The Arrangement 1 through The Arrangement Vol. 26 in numbered order.

How many Arrangement books are there?

There are 26 listed Arrangement entries, ending with The Arrangement Vol. 26.

What is the order of Damaged?

Read Damaged, Damaged 2, then Damaged 3.

What is the order of Life Before Damaged?

Read Life Before Damaged Vol. 1 through Life Before Damaged Vol. 10.

What is the order of Secrets and Lies?

Read Secrets and Lies, Secrets and Lies 2, Secrets and Lies 3, Secrets and Lies 4, Secrets and Lies 5, Secrets and Lies 6, then Secrets and Lies 7.

What is the order of The Secret Life of Trystan Scott?

Read Collide, Backdraft, Riptide, Shattered, Revealed, then Broken Promises.

Is Broken Promises also called Last Heartbreak?

Yes. Broken Promises is listed with the alternate title Last Heartbreak.

Is Ella Steele the same as H.M. Ward?

Yes. Fantastic Fiction lists H.M. Ward as also writing as Ella Steele.

Is H.M. Ward the same as J.R. Ward?

No. H.M. Ward and J.R. Ward are separate authors.

Are the Ferro Family books standalones?

Some Ferro branches focus on different couples, but the universe has enough crossover context that series order is recommended.

What is the newest H.M. Ward book?

The Christmas Bet is the newest H.M. Ward book identified in the checked sources. FictionDB lists it as published in December 2024.

Are the Arrangement collections new books?

No. The Arrangement collections are omnibus editions of existing Arrangement volumes unless a specific edition includes new material.

Change Log

  • Last checked: June 17, 2026
  • What changed: Rebuilt as a fuller single-author article with expanded Ferro Family branches, paranormal series, thriller entries, standalones, omnibus notes, Easy edition cautions, and current release status.
  • Most recent known release included: The Christmas Bet (2024)
  • Most recent known original series entry included: The Dark Prince (2022)
  • Current upcoming-title status: No new H.M. Ward book was identified as scheduled in the checked FictionDB listing.
  • Edition note: Easy volumes after Easy have inconsistent availability and should be verified before live retail linking.