Sara Donati
Sara Donati has published 12 books across 3 series. The recommended reading order starts with Into the Wilderness (1999).
Rosina Lippi writes historical fiction and romance novels under the pen name Sara Donati, and has also published under her maiden name, Rosina Lippi. She earned a PhD in linguistics from Princeton University after attending teacher’s college in Austria on a scholarship. Her first novel, Homestead, was published in 1997 under the name Rosina Lippi. The following year, she released Into the Wilderness, the first book in her Wilderness series, as Sara Donati.
Lippi lives near the Puget Sound with her husband, daughter, and pets. She is currently working on the sequel to The Gilded Hour, a novel that continues the story begun in The Gilded Hour, which was published in 2015.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tags---DescriptionTied to the Tracks is a novel about a documentary film crew invited to profile a reclusive literary legend. Angie Mangiamele and her team from a small Hoboken company are offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a film about Miss Zula Bragg in her hometown in the Deep South. The prospect of returning to Ogilvie, Georgia, is complicated for Angie, however, as it means confronting John Grant, the man she once loved. John has returned to town to lead the university's literature department and is now engaged to Caroline Rose, a local beauty. In a town steeped in tradition and gossip, the reunion of Angie and John does not go unnoticed, particularly by Caroline's family, who are preparing for the wedding of the year. As the wedding approaches and the film crew begins their work, the sparks between the former lovers threaten to disrupt the town's plans. The novel was first published in 2007 and runs 338 pages.Publication dateJuly 3, 2007Amazon rating4.2/5Print length338LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin Publishing Group
- DescriptionThe Pajama Girls of Lambert Square is a novel that begins when John Dodge, a man who revives struggling businesses, arrives in South Carolina to find Julia Darrow, who runs a successful company and wears designer pajamas all day. Dodge, intrigued by the townsfolk's warnings that Julia is an unsolvable mystery, asks her out, only to be refused. He is drawn to her enigmatic presence, liking mysteries and being good at fixing things. As Dodge works to understand the woman who keeps the town talking, the story unfolds, revealing more about their connection and the secrets within Lambert Square. Published in 2009, this standalone novel is part of a series of individual stories.Publication dateMarch 3, 2009Amazon rating4.4/5Print length368LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin Publishing Group
- Tags---DescriptionIn the Austrian Alps, the isolated village of Rosenau is a world unto itself, where the arrival of a postcard is an event. The novel opens in 1909 with Anna of Bengat and her devotion to her husband, Peter, their children, and her dead sister's twin boys, Stante and Michel. Life in Rosenau unfolds through the women of Anna's family and the interconnected families of Bent Elbow and the Wainwrights. Johanna finds late love in the summer of 1916, while Peter's mother, Isabella, struggles with his return from the Great War. Katharina, half-sister to Stante and Michel, betrays them for a ride in a Nazi's car, and Anna's daughter Olga loses her husband and four brothers to the Second World War.Publication dateNovember 22, 2013Amazon rating3.7/5Print length228LanguageEnglishPublisherJill Grinberg Literary Management
- TagschildrenDescriptionThe Sweet Blue Distance is a novel about a midwife who travels west to the New Mexico Territory. In 1857, Carrie Ballentyne seeks to outrun her past by accepting a nursing position. The trek from New York to Santa Fe presents hardships she could not have imagined, and she must learn to rely on her fellow travelers, especially an enigmatic man named Eli Ibarra. As they face challenges together, Carrie’s heart begins to open to the rugged land and to Eli. Her arrival in Santa Fe brings new opportunities, and she becomes known for her talent and compassion among new mothers. But Carrie soon realizes her employer and his wife are hiding secrets. To protect their young daughter, Carrie must uncover the truth, a task that forces her to confront the demons of her own past. This confrontation will require all her bravery and the support of the man she has come to love and depend on. This 800-page novel, published in 2024, follows Carrie’s courage to heal herself, her family, and the women and children under her care.Publication dateApril 2, 2024Amazon rating4.5/5Print length800LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
Order of Waverly Place Books
- TagschildrenDescriptionThe year is 1883, and New York City is a place of extreme contrasts, from dizzying splendor to crushing poverty. As the Brooklyn Bridge nears completion and Anthony Comstock crusades against vice, two cousins, Anna Savard and Sophie, both graduates of the Woman's Medical School, treat the city's most vulnerable. Their work risks everything they have built. Anna's efforts to help four children who have lost all they once possessed forces her to confront her own past pain and consider opening her life to love. Meanwhile, Sophie, an obstetrician and the orphaned daughter of free people of color, faces a dilemma when helping a desperate young mother. This choice, along with Anna's situation, draws them into the orbit of Anthony Comstock, a man who sees himself as the enemy of anyone who dares to defy him. This novel, part of the Order of Waverly Place Books series, depicts old New York through appealing characters and asks what it means to defy convention.Publication dateSeptember 1, 2015Amazon rating4.5/5Print length752LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- Tags---DescriptionWhere the Light Enters is an epic novel set in Manhattan in the early spring of 1884. Obstetrician Dr. Sophie Savard returns to the city to rebuild her life after her husband's death. With the help of her cousin and fellow physician, Dr. Anna Savard, she intends to continue her work caring for disadvantaged women. As Sophie begins to construct a new life, Anna's husband, Detective-Sergeant Jack Mezzanotte, asks for their consultation on two cases: the disappearance of a prominent banker's wife and the baffling wounds on a young woman's corpse. These investigations suggest a killer is at large, preying on women in a city where societal changes seem to have emboldened some men. The two women, unable to ignore the plight of New York's less fortunate, must use all their resources to protect their patients. The novel, first published in 2019, spans 672 pages and is part of the Order of Waverly Place Books series, as these intrepid cousins navigate danger and their own rebuilding lives.Publication dateSeptember 10, 2019Amazon rating4.5/5Print length672LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
Order of Wilderness Books
- Tagsromancechildrenhistorical-fictionDescriptionInto the Wilderness is a novel set in December of 1792, following Elizabeth Middleton as she leaves her comfortable English estate to join her family in a remote New York mountain village. She finds a place unlike any she has ever experienced and meets a man unlike any she has ever encountered—a white man dressed like a Native American, Nathaniel Bonner, known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives. Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village, Elizabeth soon finds herself locked in conflict with local slave owners as well as her own family. Interweaving the fate of the Mohawk Nation with the destiny of two lovers, this story creates a complex portrait of an emerging America. The 912-page novel, part of the Order of Wilderness Books series and first published in 1999, explores the challenges faced by those trying to build a new life in a land of savage beauty, where forbidden affairs and cultural clashes define existence.Publication dateAugust 3, 1999Amazon rating4.5/5Print length912LanguageEnglishPublisherBantam
- TagsromancesuspensethrillerDescriptionDawn on a Distant Shore is a sweeping novel of romance and adventure set in the winter of 1794. Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into life at the edge of the New-York wilderness, but their peace is shattered when Nathaniel learns his father has been arrested in British Canada. Forced to travel to Montreal to aid his father, Nathaniel is himself imprisoned and faces execution as an American spy. In a desperate effort to save her husband, Elizabeth gathers her infants and sets out through the snowy wilderness and across treacherous waterways toward Canada. She soon realizes that freeing Nathaniel will require all her courage and inventiveness, and it threatens her with the loss of her children. Torn apart, the Bonners must embark on another perilous voyage, this time across the ocean to Scotland. A wealthy earl claims kinship with Nathaniel's father, Hawkeye, but Nathaniel's truest kin remain the Mahican tribe of his youth, just as he remains loyal to the Mohawk nation. This voyage opens a new world to Nathaniel and Elizabeth, and a destiny they could never have imagined awaits them.Publication dateMay 29, 2001Amazon rating4.5/5Print length647LanguageEnglishPublisherBantam
- TagschildrenDescriptionIn the spring of 1802, the village of Paradise is recovering from a devastating typhoid epidemic. Hannah Bonner, a doctor in training descended from both Scots and Mohawk healers, is growing in reputation. After a long night attending a birth, she and her mother, Elizabeth, find Selah Voyager, an escaped slave hiding on the mountain. Desperately ill, Selah is taken in by the Bonners, drawing them into a hidden life maintained by Curiosity and Galileo Freeman and their children. As Elizabeth and Nathaniel undertake a perilous journey north to bring Selah to safety, Hannah travels to New York City. Her goals are to learn about smallpox vaccination, a threat to Paradise, and to understand the past of Liam Kirby, Hannah's childhood friend and first love, now working as a bounty hunter. The challenges Hannah faces as a woman and a Mohawk force her to confront her place in the world. Upon her return, the medical knowledge she brings cannot overcome prejudice or the reality of slavery. Hannah must then decide whether to build a life in the white world or among her mother's people, facing old enemies who test the family's bonds.Publication dateApril 29, 2003Amazon rating4.6/5Print length672LanguageEnglishPublisherBantam
- Tagshistorical-fictionDescriptionHannah Bonner returns to her family's mountain cabin in Paradise in 1812, but her husband and son are not with her. She carries a story of loss she cannot bear to tell, yet as she resumes her duties as a healer, she begins to mend herself. News of the conflict with Britain arrives, and Hannah’s eighteen-year-old brother, Daniel, is eager to join the fight. His twin sister, Lily, seeks independence in Montreal, and their parents, Nathaniel and Elizabeth, must let them go. Their cousin, Jennet Scott, a widow from Scotland, arrives unexpectedly, and both Lily and Jennet will confront the cost of their ambitions and the possibility of love. Hannah must risk everything when Daniel is taken prisoner by the British. As war looms over Paradise, she may find a path toward living and perhaps loving again through an act of courage and sacrifice. This novel, part of the Order of Wilderness Books series, was first published in 2005 and spans 688 pages.Publication dateNovember 29, 2005Amazon rating4.6/5Print length688LanguageEnglishPublisherDell
- Tags---DescriptionIn the late summer of 1814, Hannah Bonner and her half-brother Luke have spent over a year searching the Caribbean for Luke's wife, Jennet, and the man who abducted her. Jennet’s rescue brings little relief; she gave birth to Luke’s son in the spring, and by summer, she was forced to surrender the infant to a stranger for his safety. To reclaim the child, Hannah, Luke, and Jennet must travel to Pensacola. There, they discover the baby is with the Poiterins, a wealthy, unscrupulous Creole family. The matriarch has taken the child to New Orleans, claiming him as her great-grandson. New Orleans is a city on the brink of war, a place where prejudice is rampant and where Hannah, who is half Mohawk, must proceed with caution. Their attempts to find and reclaim young Nathaniel Bonner go terribly wrong, separating the family in a dangerous city at the worst possible time. Hannah, believing all is lost, finds unexpected care from Dr. Paul de Guise Savard dit Saint-d’Uzet and his family. It is Dr. Savard’s half-brother, Jean-Benoit Savard, a man of mixed French, slave, Choctaw, and Seminole heritage who knows the city intimately, who offers real hope. With his guidance, allies are gathered from all walks of New Orleans life and Andrew Jackson’s army, preparing for the final major battle of the War of 1812, to engineer a miracle that might reunite the Bonners and send them home.Publication dateSeptember 25, 2007Amazon rating4.6/5Print length720LanguageEnglishPublisherBantam
- TagschildrenmysterysuspensethrillerDescriptionThe Endless Forest is a historical novel set in the spring of 1824 in the remote village of Paradise on the New York frontier. Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner celebrate the return of their children, Lily and her husband from Italy, and their ward Martha Kirby from Manhattan. Amidst the quiet that follows a devastating flood, childhood friends Martha and Daniel, Lily’s twin brother, begin to see each other in a new light. Their growing bond is soon threatened by the arrival of Martha’s estranged mother, Jemima Southern, a dangerous schemer with a history of destroying families. Jemima’s anger and secrets touch everyone in Paradise. Has Jemima returned to claim her daughter, or do her motives run darker? Whatever transpires, Martha, Daniel, and the entire Bonner family must stand united against the threats to both their hearts and their home. This 641-page novel is part of the Order of Wilderness Books series and was first published in 2011.Publication dateJanuary 25, 2011Amazon rating4.7/5Print length641LanguageEnglishPublisherRandom House Publishing Group
Frequently Asked Questions about Sara Donati
Sara Donati's books are best read in the order they were published within their respective series. If you wish to read her standalone novels first, begin with Tied to the Tracks (2007), followed by The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square (2009), Homestead (2013), and The Sweet Blue Distance (2024). After her standalones, you can move to the Waverly Place books, starting with The Gilded Hour (2015) and then Where the Light Enters (2019). Finally, the Wilderness series should be read starting with Into the Wilderness (1999), then Dawn on a Distant Shore (2001), Lake in the Clouds (2003), Fire Along the Sky (2005), and Queen of Swords (2007), with one more book in the series.
A good starting point for Sara Donati's books is her first published novel, Into the Wilderness (1999). This is the beginning of her Wilderness series, which is set in the late 18th century and follows the adventures of Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner. Reading this series from the start allows readers to follow the development of the characters and the historical context she builds. Alternatively, readers interested in historical fiction with a more urban setting might begin with her standalone novel Tied to the Tracks (2007).
It is generally recommended to read Sara Donati's books in publication order, especially within her series. The Wilderness series, for instance, follows a continuous narrative with recurring characters, and reading them out of order may lead to spoilers or a diminished understanding of the plot and character development. Her standalone novels can be read independently of the series and in any order amongst themselves. However, to fully appreciate her work and the evolution of her storytelling, starting with the earliest published books and moving chronologically through each series is advisable.
Sara Donati writes both standalone novels and books that are part of series. Her standalone novels include Tied to the Tracks (2007), The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square (2009), Homestead (2013), and The Sweet Blue Distance (2024). She has also written two distinct series: the Waverly Place books, which began with The Gilded Hour (2015), and the Wilderness books, which started with Into the Wilderness (1999). Readers can choose to explore her individual stories or delve into the interconnected narratives of her series.
Sara Donati has written a total of eleven books across her series and standalone novels. She has published four standalone novels: Tied to the Tracks (2007), The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square (2009), Homestead (2013), and The Sweet Blue Distance (2024). Her Waverly Place series consists of two books: The Gilded Hour (2015) and Where the Light Enters (2019). The Wilderness series contains six books, beginning with Into the Wilderness (1999) and concluding with a sixth title that follows Queen of Swords (2007).
The first book Sara Donati wrote was Into the Wilderness, published in 1999. This novel marks the beginning of her historical fiction series set in the late 18th century, following the lives of the Bonner family. It introduces readers to the characters and the richly detailed world that she would continue to explore in subsequent books within the Wilderness series. This debut established her reputation for creating immersive historical narratives with strong character development.
Sara Donati's most recent book is The Sweet Blue Distance, published in 2024. This novel is a standalone story that expands her body of work beyond her established series. It offers a new narrative for readers to experience, separate from the historical settings of the Wilderness or Waverly Place books. The publication of this book demonstrates her continued engagement with writing and her ability to craft compelling stories across different formats.
Sara Donati writes historical fiction. Her books are known for their detailed settings, well-researched historical contexts, and compelling character narratives. The Wilderness series is set in the late 18th century, focusing on life in the American frontier and New York. Her Waverly Place series takes place in the late 19th century in New York City, exploring themes of medicine and societal change. Her standalone novels also delve into different historical periods and settings, offering readers a rich tapestry of the past.
We verified the reading order for Sara Donati's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Sara Donati Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/sara-donati