Nora Roberts Books In Order + Printable List

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If you’re looking for a complete list of Nora Roberts books in order, you’re in the right place.

With more than four decades of publishing behind her, Nora Roberts has written an extraordinary number of romance books, romantic suspense, fantasy, and even paranormal novels – including dozens of trilogies, family series, connected books, and standalone stories.

To make that enormous catalog easier to navigate, this guide organizes Nora Roberts’ books primarily by series, with each series listed in publication order. You’ll also find her standalone novels, novellas, anthologies, newer releases, and a printable book list to help you keep track of what you’ve read.

And if you’re wondering where her J.D. Robb books fit in, we’ll cover that too. Nora Roberts writes the long-running In Death series under the J.D. Robb name, but those books are best treated as a separate reading universe.

New & Upcoming Nora Roberts Books

Nora Roberts shows no signs of slowing down. Her newest releases include romantic suspense, a brand-new magical trilogy, and another standalone novel already scheduled for 2027.

The Final Target – May 26, 2026

Nora Roberts’ newest standalone novel, The Final Target, is a romantic suspense thriller about debut author Arden Bowie, whose encounter with an obsessive fan turns increasingly dangerous. After a terrifying assault, Arden attempts to rebuild her life in a small Oregon town – but the man obsessed with her hasn’t forgotten her.

Birth of the Witch – November 17, 2026

Birth of the Witch launches the new Coven of Three Trilogy, Nora Roberts’ first series following the conclusion of the Lost Bride Trilogy. The story reaches from the witch persecutions of the 1690s to the present day, where thirteen-year-old Neve McShane discovers that the magical abilities in her family are very real – and that she has a role to play in an ancient battle between light and darkness.

The Missing – May 25, 2027

Nora Roberts’ next announced standalone novel is The Missing. The story centers on Rye Tremayne, who has had a talent for finding missing people and things since childhood and eventually turns that ability into a career. His work takes him across the country, but repeatedly draws him back to his small hometown in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – where returning home may put everything he cares about at risk.

New to Nora Roberts? Start Here

With hundreds of books to choose from, deciding where to start with Nora Roberts can feel intimidating. I’ve been reading her books for years, though, and my advice is simple: start with the kind of Nora Roberts story that sounds most like you.

Whether you want classic Nora, pure romance, witches and magic, a sweeping fantasy world, or one of her newer romantic suspense novels, these are the books and series I’d recommend first.

How Nora Roberts’ Books Have Changed Over Time

If you’ve only read Nora Roberts’ newer novels, some of her earliest books may come as a surprise. Roberts began her publishing career in the early 1980s writing category romances for Silhouette Books, and many of those early novels are considerably shorter and more focused on the central romance than the books she writes today.

Over the decades, her stories became longer and more complex, expanding beyond traditional contemporary romance to include romantic suspense, mysteries, paranormal elements, sweeping fantasy worlds, and stories built around families and communities.

As a longtime Nora Roberts reader, I think the difference is noticeable. Her early books can be fun glimpses of the writer she started as, but they don’t necessarily represent the Nora Roberts a new reader will encounter today. If you’re trying her for the first time, I’d start with one of the series or newer novels I’ve recommended above rather than simply beginning with her first published book and working forward.

Nora Roberts Series in Publication Order

Nora Roberts has written dozens of series, trilogies, and connected books throughout her career. Below, you’ll find each series arranged by the publication date of its first book, with the individual titles listed in reading order.

Irish Hearts

The Irish Hearts series began Nora Roberts’ long publishing career with Irish Thoroughbred, her first published novel. The loosely connected romances combine Irish characters, family ties, and the Maryland horse country, with Irish Rebel returning to the world nearly two decades after the first two books.

1. Irish Thoroughbred – 1981
2. Irish Rose – 1988
3. Irish Rebel – 2000

Reflections & Dreams: The Bannion Family

Set against the world of professional ballet, Reflections & Dreams pairs two connected romances featuring dancers, ambition, and the sacrifices that can come with pursuing a dream. The books also have a connection to Nora Roberts’ later Stanislaski series.

1. Reflections – 1983
2. Dance of Dreams – 1983

The MacGregors

One of Nora Roberts’ longest and best-known family series, The MacGregors follows the sprawling MacGregor clan through multiple generations, romances, weddings, and plenty of family interference. Patriarch Daniel MacGregor is particularly memorable as he enthusiastically meddles in the love lives of his children and grandchildren.

1. Playing the Odds – 1985
2. Tempting Fate – 1985
3. All the Possibilities – 1985
4. One Man’s Art – 1985
5. For Now, Forever – 1987
6. Rebellion – 1988
7. In From the Cold (MacGregor Novella) – 1990
8. The MacGregor Brides – 1997
9. The Winning Hand – 1998
10. The MacGregor Grooms – 1998
11. The Perfect Neighbor – 1999

Great Chefs

Food and romance come together in the two-book Great Chefs series. Summer Desserts pairs a talented pastry chef with a driven hotelier, while Lessons Learned brings together a publicist and a charismatic celebrity chef during a demanding promotional tour.

1. Summer Desserts – 1985
2. Lessons Learned – 1986

Celebrity Magazine (Also called One Summer)

The two connected Celebrity Magazine romances take readers behind the scenes of writing, journalism, and photography. Second Nature pairs a determined reporter with an elusive novelist, while One Summer sends two photographers on the road together for a cross-country assignment.

1. Second Nature – 1986
2. One Summer – 1986

Cordina’s Royal Family

The Cordina’s Royal Family series centers on the princes and princesses of the fictional European principality of Cordina. Royal responsibilities, danger, family expectations, and romance intertwine as different members of the de Cordina family find love.

1. Affaire Royale – 1986
2. Command Performance – 1987
3. The Playboy Prince – 1987
4. Cordina’s Crown Jewel – 2002

Sacred Sins (Also called D.C. Detectives)

Nora Roberts moves into darker romantic suspense territory with the Sacred Sins series. Murder investigations, dangerous secrets, and strong romantic storylines drive these two connected novels, offering an early look at the suspense elements that would become an important part of her later work.

1. Sacred Sins – 1987
2. Brazen Virtue – 1988

The O’Hurleys

Raised in a close-knit family of traveling performers, the talented O’Hurley siblings have grown up to pursue very different lives and careers. The O’Hurleys series gives each sibling a romance of their own while keeping the colorful, fiercely loyal family at the heart of the stories.

1. The Last Honest Woman – 1988
2. Dance to the Piper – 1988
3. Skin Deep – 1988
4. Without a Trace – 1990

Loving Jack (Also called Jack’s Stories)

The loosely connected Loving Jack series mixes contemporary romance with a little Old West flavor. The books move from a romance novelist unexpectedly sharing her retreat with its very real owner to another contemporary romance and the historical Western Lawless.

1. Loving Jack – 1989
2. Best Laid Plans – 1989
3. Lawless – 1989

The Stanislaskis

The Stanislaski series follows the close-knit Stanislaski family as siblings and later generations build lives and find love in America. Family relationships remain a strong thread throughout the six books, with familiar characters reappearing as the series grows.

1. Taming Natasha – 1990
2. Luring a Lady – 1991
3. Falling for Rachel – 1993
4. Convincing Alex – 1994
5. Waiting for Nick – 1997
6. Considering Kate – 2001

Time and Again

The Time and Again series adds time travel and science fiction to Nora Roberts’ trademark romance. Two brothers from the twenty-third century unexpectedly find themselves in the twentieth century – where falling in love makes getting back home considerably more complicated.

1. Time Was – 1989
2. Times Change – 1989

Night Tales

Romance and danger take center stage in the Night Tales series, which follows characters whose lives intersect with crime, investigation, and law enforcement. These suspenseful romances show the darker side of Nora Roberts’ storytelling while still keeping the relationships firmly at the center.

1. Night Shift – 1991
2. Night Shadow – 1991
3. Nightshade – 1993
4. Night Smoke – 1994
5. Night Shield – 2000

The Calhoun Women

The Calhoun Women series centers on four sisters determined to save their family’s grand but crumbling mansion on the coast of Maine. Romance mixes with family history, hidden treasure, and a touch of mystery, with a fifth book later expanding the Calhoun family story.

1. Courting Catherine – 1991
2. A Man For Amanda – 1991
3. For the Love of Lilah – 1991
4. Suzanna’s Surrender – 1991
5. Megan’s Mate – 1995

The Donovan Legacy

Magic runs in the family in The Donovan Legacy, which follows a group of cousins who possess extraordinary supernatural abilities. Each book combines romance with witchcraft, psychic gifts, and family bonds as the Donovans navigate both love and the responsibilities that come with their powers.

1. Captivated – 1992
2. Entranced – 1992
3. Charmed – 1992
4. Enchanted – 1999

The MacKade Brothers

Four very different brothers take their turn at romance in the MacKade Brothers series, set in a small Maryland town rich with history. Strong family bonds connect the books, while each MacKade brother meets the woman capable of turning his carefully ordered life upside down.

1. The Return of Rafe MacKade – 1995
2. The Pride of Jared MacKade – 1995
3. The Heart of Devin MacKade – 1996
4. The Fall of Shane MacKade – 1996

The Dream Trilogy

The Dream Trilogy revolves around three women whose friendship has made them sisters in everything but blood. Set largely around the Templeton family and their California hotel empire, the series combines romance with friendship, career ambitions, family, and the different dreams each woman is determined to pursue.

1. Daring to Dream – 1996
2. Holding the Dream – 1997
3. Finding the Dream – 1997

The Stars of Mithra

Three mysterious blue diamonds connect the romances in the Stars of Mithra Trilogy. Each book centers on one of the valuable gems and the woman who possesses it, combining romance with danger and an ongoing mystery that ties all three stories together.

1. Hidden Star – 1997
2. Captive Star – 1997
3. Secret Star – 1998

Chesapeake Bay Saga

The Chesapeake Bay Saga follows the Quinn brothers, brought together by the man who adopted and raised them and a final request they cannot ignore. Set along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, the series combines romance with complicated family relationships, old wounds, and the evolving definition of what makes a family.

1. Sea Swept – 1997
2. Rising Tides – 1998
3. Inner Harbor – 1998
4. Chesapeake Blue – 2002

The Key Trilogy

Three women are brought together for an unusual quest in the Key Trilogy, where they must find three magical keys to free souls trapped by an evil god. The trilogy mixes friendship and romance with mythology, magic, and an increasingly dangerous supernatural battle.

1. Key of Light – 2003
2. Key of Knowledge – 2003
3. Key of Valor – 2003

In the Garden Trilogy

Set around a historic Tennessee home and garden center, the In the Garden Trilogy follows three women at different stages of life as they build new futures and find love. A resident ghost and a mystery rooted in the home’s past add a supernatural thread that connects all three stories.

1. Blue Dahlia – 2004
2. Black Rose – 2005
3. Red Lily – 2005

Circle Trilogy

The Circle Trilogy brings together six people – including a witch, a vampire, a warrior, and a shape-shifter – for an epic battle against an ancient evil. Beginning with Morrigan’s Cross, the trilogy blends fantasy, magic, time travel, romance, and a high-stakes fight between good and evil.

1. Morrigan’s Cross – 2006
2. Dance of the Gods – 2006
3. Valley of Silence – 2006

Sign of Seven Trilogy

A childhood ritual has terrifying consequences in the Sign of Seven Trilogy, set in the small town of Hawkins Hollow. Every seven years, an ancient evil returns, forcing three longtime friends and the women who join them to confront the supernatural force they accidentally unleashed.

1. Blood Brothers – 2007
2. The Hollow – 2008
3. The Pagan Stone – 2008

The Bride Quartet

Four best friends who run a successful wedding business called Vows take turns finding their own happily-ever-afters in the Bride Quartet. Friendship is every bit as important as romance in this warm, character-driven series about women who spend their lives creating perfect weddings for everyone else.

1. Vision in White – 2009
2. Bed of Roses – 2009
3. Savor the Moment – 2010
4. Happy Ever After – 2010

Inn Boonsboro Trilogy

The Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy follows the Montgomery brothers as they restore a historic inn in the Maryland town of Boonsboro and, naturally, find romance along the way. The series has an especially fun real-world connection: Nora Roberts and her husband own the actual Inn BoonsBoro, and the town and several of its businesses helped inspire the setting of the books.

1. The Next Always – 2011
2. The Last Boyfriend – 2012
3. The Perfect Hope – 2012

The Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy

Ireland, witches, family, and an ancient evil come together in the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy. Set primarily in County Mayo, the series follows a close-knit group of family and friends whose magical gifts connect them to a centuries-old battle they must finally finish.

1. Dark Witch – 2013
2. Shadow Spell – 2014
3. Blood Magick – 2014

The Guardians Trilogy

Six strangers become a team – and eventually three couples – in the Guardians Trilogy, an adventure that sends them around the world in search of three legendary stars. The series combines romance with magic, mythology, supernatural powers, and a battle to keep the stars from falling into the wrong hands.

1. Stars of Fortune – 2015
2. Bay of Sighs – 2016
3. Island of Glass – 2016

The Chronicles of the One

The Chronicles of The One Trilogy takes Nora Roberts into post-apocalyptic fantasy as a deadly pandemic destroys much of the world’s population and supernatural powers begin emerging among the survivors. Darker and more epic than many of her romantic trilogies, the series follows the battle between good and evil as a radically changed world begins again.

1. Year One – 2017
2. Of Blood and Bone – 2018
3. The Rise of Magicks – 2019

Coven of Three

The Coven of Three Trilogy is Nora Roberts’ newest magical series, beginning with Birth of the Witch. The story reaches back to the fear and persecution of the Salem era as Neve McShane discovers that her family’s unusual gifts connect her to a much older legacy – and a battle that is far from over.

1. Birth of the Witch – November 17, 2026

Nora Roberts Standalone Novels in Order

Early Standalone Novels: 1980s

1. Blithe Images – 1982
2. Song of the West – 1982
3. Search for Love – 1982
4. Island of Flowers – 1982
5. The Heart’s Victory – 1982
6. From This Day – 1983
7. Her Mother’s Keeper – 1983
8. Once More With Feeling – 1983
9. Tonight and Always – 1983
10. Untamed – 1983
11. This Magic Moment – 1983
12. Endings & Beginnings – 1984
13. Storm Warning – 1984
14. Promise Me Tomorrow – 1984
15. Sullivan’s Woman – 1984
16. First Impressions – 1984
17. A Matter of Choice – 1984
18. Less of a Stranger – 1984
19. The Law is a Lady – 1984
20. Rules of the Game – 1984
21. Opposites Attract – 1984
22. The Right Path – 1985
23. Partners – 1985
24. Night Moves – 1985
25. Boundary Lines – 1985
26. Dual Image – 1985
27. The Art of Deception – 1986
28. Treasures Lost, Treasures Found – 1986
29. Risky Business – 1986
30. A Will and a Way – 1986
31. Mind Over Matter – 1987
32. Hot Ice – 1987
33. Temptation – 1987
34. Local Hero – 1988
35. The Name of the Game – 1988
36. Sweet Revenge – 1988
37. Impulse – 1989
38. Gabriel’s Angel – 1989
39. The Welcoming – 1989

Standalone Novels: 1990s

40. Public Secrets – 1990
41. Genuine Lies – 1991
42. Carnal Innocence – 1991
43. Unfinished Business – 1992
44. Honest Illusions – 1992
45. Divine Evil – 1992
46. Private Scandals – 1993
47. Hidden Riches – 1994
48. True Betrayals – 1995
49. Montana Sky – 1996
50. Sanctuary – 1997
51. Homeport – 1998
52. The Reef – 1998
53. River’s End – 1999

Standalone Novels: 2000s

54. Carolina Moon – 2000
55. The Villa – 2001
56. Midnight Bayou – 2001
57. Three Fates – 2002
58. Birthright – 2003
59. Northern Lights – 2004
60. Blue Smoke – 2005
61. Angels Fall – 2006
62. Tribute – 2008
63. Black Hills – 2009

Standalone Novels: 2010s

64. The Search – 2010
65. Chasing Fire – 2011
66. The Witness – 2012
67. Whiskey Beach – 2013
68. The Collector – 2014
69. The Liar – 2015
70. The Obsession – 2016
71. Come Sundown – 2017
72. Shelter in Place – 2018
73. Under Currents – 2019

Recent Standalone Novels: 2020s

74. Hideaway – 2020
75. Legacy – 2021
76. Nightwork – 2022
77. Identity – 2023
78. Mind Games – 2024
79. Hidden Nature – 2025
80. The Final Target – 2026
81. The Missing – May 25, 2027

Nora Roberts Novellas, Anthologies & Collections

Novellas

1. Home for Christmas – 1986
2. The Best Mistake – 1994
3. All I Want For Christmas – 1994

Anthologies & Collections

1. Once Upon a Castle – 1998
2. Once Upon a Star – 1999
3. Once Upon a Dream – 2000
4. Once Upon a Rose – 2001
5. Once Upon a Kiss – 2002
6. Once Upon a Midnight – 2003
7. Moon Shadows – 2004

Nora Roberts Writing as J.D. Robb

If you’ve come across books by J.D. Robb while searching for Nora Roberts, there’s a very good reason: J.D. Robb is Nora Roberts.

Roberts created the J.D. Robb pen name for her In Death series, which is quite different from the contemporary romances, family sagas, romantic suspense, and fantasy novels published under her own name.

Set in a near-future New York City, the In Death series centers on homicide detective Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke. Each book features a new crime or investigation, while Eve and Roarke’s relationship – along with a growing cast of friends, colleagues, and recurring characters – develops throughout the series.

Because those continuing relationships and character arcs are such an important part of the books, the In Death novels are best read in publication order, beginning with Naked in Death.

And there are a lot of them.

Rather than adding the entire In Death bibliography to this already very long Nora Roberts book list, we’re treating J.D. Robb as a separate series guide.

So, if you’re looking specifically for Eve Dallas and Roarke, you’ll want the J.D. Robb list. If you’re looking for Nora Roberts’ romances, trilogies, fantasy series, romantic suspense, and standalone novels, you’re exactly where you need to be.

Printable Nora Roberts Books In Order List

With a bibliography this large, sometimes it’s easier to get away from the screen. I’ve created a printable Nora Roberts book list organized by series so you can check off what you’ve read, keep track of what’s next, or simply see her enormous catalog at a glance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nora Roberts Books

If You Like Nora Roberts, Try These Authors

If you’ve worked your way through Nora Roberts’ enormous backlist and are wondering what to read next, these authors aren’t identical to Nora – but each offers something Nora readers may enjoy, from sweeping family stories and emotional relationships to romance, suspense, and long backlists worth exploring.

• Danielle Steel – for prolific, relationship-centered storytelling and a huge backlist.
• Kristin Hannah – for emotional, character-driven stories with strong relationships and women at the center.
• Lucinda Riley – for sweeping stories, family relationships, romance, mystery, secrets, and a large interconnected reading experience.

Nora Roberts Books In Order – Conclusion

With a writing career spanning more than four decades, Nora Roberts has created an extraordinary collection of romances, family stories, mysteries, magical worlds, and unforgettable characters. Whether you’re discovering her books for the first time or trying to figure out which titles you’re still missing, I hope this guide makes that enormous reading list a little easier to navigate.

And if you’re not quite sure where to begin, don’t let the size of the list intimidate you. Pick the series that sounds most like your kind of story, start with book one, and see where Nora takes you.

If you’re anything like me, one Nora Roberts trilogy has a funny way of turning into another.

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