I was reading the Elm Creek series in order but read one of the later ones (The Giving Quilt) out of order and didn't have a problem. She gives a lot of information that fills in background. As for Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker...it was good reading but I found that I was plowing thought lots and lots of descriptive war information. Her descriptions of Mrs. Lincoln's wardrobe left me longing to see pictures of these beautiful dresses. JC is really a gifted writer who does her homework.