Lisa Carter Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of K-9 Companions Books

Publication Order of Quilts of Love Books

Publication Order of Love & Romance Collections Books

Lisa Carter
Lisa Carter is a teacher, writer, and speaker whose articles have appeared in MomSense, Thriving Family, FamilyFun, and Christian Parenting Today.

She likes describing her Daphne Award winning romantic suspense books as “Sweet Tea with a Slice of Murder”. “Under a Turquoise Sky” won the Carol Award in 2015 and “The Christmas Bargain” won the Carol Award for Short Novel in 2021.

Lisa enjoys researching her next adventure, teaching writing workshops, and traveling. As a native North Carolinian, she has got strong opinions about ACC basketball and barbecue.

To battle against writer’s block, she does something rote which occupies her hands yet frees her subconscious mind to perambulate around the sticking point in her story. She will do laundry, take a walk, take a shower (her husband always says that you can chart her books by the water bill), and if all else has failed, she’ll clean the house.

The best part of being a writer is writing on the couch until noon still in her pjs, hearing from her readers (meeting readers and book events), and meeting other writers that are in general such a fun group.

Inspiration comes to her from various places. The evening news, other people’s lives, and overheard conversations. Often times she will visit a setting and that will be enough to set off story inspiration.

For “Under a Navajo Moon”, she was inspired by this episode of “In Plain Sight” (which deals with the Witness Protection Program) and it occurred to her that one of the best places to hide would be the untamed and vast wilderness that is the Navajo Rez.

“Carolina Reckoning” is the first stand alone novel and was released in 2013. Alison Monaghan (a 30 something housewife) finds evidence of her husband’s infidelity in a picture with some mysterious woman, she has to figure out how to confront Frank once he’s returned from work. Despite the influence of Valerie (her best friend and a strong Christian), Alison remains aloof from god and is determined to handle such a crisis in her own way. However Alison might not get such a chance.

Frank never returns home. His body is soon found on some lonely back country road in antebellum Weathersby Historic Park, where Frank had served on the board of directors and where Alison, with a degree in landscape design, was a volunteer garden docent. Mike Barefoot, a homicide detective, is a Cherokee native from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, instantly puts Alison at the top of his suspect list.

He also finds himself being drawn to her, and not just because she had the motive for this crime. Mike, as an Army veteran, typically keeps his emotional walls up high. As a detective, he knows he shouldn’t get involved with murder suspects. So why is he so attracted to Alison? Can he possibly fight his feelings for her, and the stirrings in his heart toward God?

“Beneath a Navajo Moon” is the second stand alone novel and was released in 2014. What happens when love and danger collide under a Navajo moon? The search to find a woman who vanished in 1906 has lead Erin Dawson (cultural anthropologist) to Cedar Canyon, where the iconic terrain of mesas and red rock walls keep Navajo traditions (as well as possible criminal evidence) well hidden.

Erin’s search leads her to cross paths with Adam Silverhorn (tribal policeman), it is hardly love at first sight. However everywhere she turns, Adam’s already there. Fighting against their feelings for one another, the pair get suddenly thrust into a battle much more dangerous, on a common quest to rout this insidious drug cartel which has spawned the recent rise in gang violence on the reservation.

Adam’s position of authority provides Erin with a rare glimpse into Navajo life that few outsiders like her ever get to see, and into a crime ring which nobody even dares imagine. Erin and Adam, as the danger mounts start wondering if they’ll even live to tell each other how they really feel.

“Under a Turquoise Sky” is the third stand alone novel and was released in 2014. Aaron Yazzie (a federal agent) gets assigned to keep the sole witness to a drug cartel execution, he hides Kailyn Eudailey in the safest place that he knows: the untamed and vast wilderness of the Navajo Reservation. Transporting Kailyn to New Mexico might not be nearly as easy as Aaron would like it to be.

Kailyn is a high maintenance Southern belle that is determined to assert her independence at every step. Even though Aaron’s job is to keep her safe from the dangers which could get them both killed. Kailyn’s getting to him just the same. Aaron, as an undercover agent, has grown adept at playing so many different roles. However is he going to be able to embrace his real identity and God’s plan for his life in order to keep Kailyn alive?

This novel propels the reader along dusty reservation roads, into native homes full of hearts beating with love, loyalty, and life.

“Vines of Entanglement” is the fourth stand alone novel and was released in 2015. A tangled up web of lies characterizes Laura Mabry and her son’s life after her husband’s tragic death. However Laura’s carefully constructed life slides off its axis once she stumbles upon the body of this young college student out on the recreational trails of Raleigh’s Greenway. What is worse, Detective Jon Locklear is both Laura’s worst nightmare, yet also her dream come true.

Jon has spent years at this point attempting to just forget about Laura. Past experience has taught him that he cannot trust her, however old habits (like old loves) die hard. Once the killer turns his attention to Laura, Jon might be the only person able to save her.

Murder and truth are lurking just around the corner for Laura. Is she going to be able to find enough courage to face up to her deepest fears and unravel the lies of her own past before she and her son become the next victims of the Greenway Killer?