The Sunrise Lake Series in Order

About the Sunrise Lake series

Series Premise

The series follows a group of elite, battle-hardened former soldiers who have built a new life together in Sunrise Lake, a quiet, private mountain retreat, only to have their hard-won peace shattered when assassins, mercenaries, or enemies from their covert pasts begin targeting them or the people they care about. Each story centers on one of these men as he protects a strong, resilient woman—often someone connected to the group—who becomes the key to both survival and emotional healing, forging an intense, protective bond amid escalating danger and long-buried secrets.

The series can be read in any order. Each book focuses on a different primary couple and delivers a complete, standalone romantic suspense arc with its own mission, threat, and happily-ever-after. While there is light continuity through the recurring Sunrise Lake community, occasional cameos of prior couples, and shared military history, no major overarching plot or cliffhangers carry over—order doesn’t matter significantly, and readers can start with any title without missing critical context.

Main Characters

Sunrise Lake men (various heroes) — Elite former special forces operatives (each book spotlights a different member) who are physically dominant, battle-scarred, and emotionally guarded after years of covert missions. They are fiercely loyal to their brothers-in-arms, skilled in combat and survival, and deeply honorable beneath their hardened exteriors.

- Heroines (various) — Strong, capable women—often survivors of trauma, single mothers, or those with their own dangerous pasts—who become part of the Sunrise Lake circle. Resilient, intelligent, and unafraid to stand their ground, they challenge the heroes to open up and heal while proving they can hold their own in crisis.

- Supporting team — Fellow Sunrise Lake residents (other former operatives and their partners) who appear in cameos or as secondary characters, providing brotherhood, tactical support, and a sense of chosen family.

- Family and allies — Children, extended relatives, or close friends who ground the heroes in everyday life and add stakes when danger threatens the community.

- Antagonists — Mercenaries, assassins, former enemies, or shadowy organizations who pose immediate physical threats and create high-stakes conflict.

Setting

The series is anchored in Sunrise Lake, a fictional, secluded high-altitude community in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California. The setting is wild and breathtaking—dense pine forests, crystal-clear alpine lake, snow-covered peaks, remote cabins, winding mountain roads, and hidden trails—creating both a sense of sanctuary and isolation. The lake house and surrounding properties serve as the heart of the community: a place of refuge for the men and their growing families, yet vulnerable to outside threats. The rugged, beautiful environment mirrors the characters’ lives—harsh, untamed, and fiercely protective—while seasonal changes (blizzards, wildfires, summer storms) heighten the drama and intimacy.

Tone & Themes

The tone is dark, sensual, and intensely romantic, with a strong emphasis on primal attraction, fierce protectiveness, and emotional vulnerability beneath the alpha exterior. The stories are steamy and explicit—love scenes are vivid, passionate, and central to character bonding—yet balanced by genuine tenderness, loyalty, and quiet moments of healing. Danger is real and brutal (assassins, torture, betrayal), but the mood remains empowering and hopeful: love, trust, and unbreakable brotherhood always triumph, creating addictive, high-heat reads that satisfy both thriller and romance cravings.

Christine Feehan’s Sunrise Lake series delivers dark, sensual romantic suspense that celebrates the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood, the healing power of love, and the fierce protectiveness of men who have seen too much war. Through intense missions, scorching passion, and hard-won emotional recovery, it explores trust, loyalty, family, and the strength found in choosing to build a future after surviving hell. The books stand as steamy, emotionally satisfying reads—perfect for fans of alpha heroes, strong heroines, and stories where love burns brightest in the face of danger. They leave readers with the comforting certainty that even in the coldest, most isolated mountains, the right connection can create a safe haven and a new beginning.