Best Nora Roberts Books
12 Best Nora Roberts Books
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Nora Roberts, born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950, is an American author renowned for her prolific and highly successful career in romantic fiction. With a remarkable ability to craft compelling stories that blend romance, suspense, and often a touch of the supernatural, Roberts has become a literary icon and a household name in the world of popular fiction.
Roberts grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and began writing during a snowstorm in 1979. Her first novel, "Irish Thoroughbred," was published in 1981 under the pseudonym J.D. Robb. However, it was under her real name that she gained widespread recognition and acclaim for her romance novels. Over the years, she has demonstrated an unparalleled work ethic, consistently producing multiple novels per year.
What sets Nora Roberts apart is her ability to create multifaceted characters, immersive settings, and intricate plots. While she initially gained fame for her romance novels, she has expanded her repertoire to include a variety of genres, such as suspense, mystery, and futuristic fiction. This versatility has contributed to her enduring popularity across a broad readership.
Roberts is particularly known for her trilogies and series, which often revolve around interconnected characters and settings. One of her most famous series is the "In Death" series, written under the J.D. Robb pseudonym, featuring futuristic detective Eve Dallas. This series has captivated readers with its blend of crime-solving and romance, showcasing Roberts' ability to seamlessly weave different genres into a cohesive narrative.
Readers can expect a few common elements in Nora Roberts' books, including strong and independent heroines, compelling romantic arcs, and engaging storylines that often incorporate elements of suspense or mystery. Her writing style is fluid and accessible, making her novels easy to immerse oneself in, and her storytelling prowess ensures that readers are drawn into the lives of her characters.
Nora Roberts' success is evident in her impressive list of best-selling novels. With over 200 novels to her name, she has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. This remarkable achievement places her among the most successful authors in literary history. Her books have been translated into numerous languages, attesting to the global appeal of her storytelling.
While it's challenging to highlight only a few of her top novels due to the sheer volume of her work, here are 12 notable ones that have left a lasting impact on readers:
12 Best Nora Roberts Books
Key of Valor
Growing up, Zoe McCourt did not have an easy life—some might call it “disadvantaged.” A hairstylist from a West Virginia trailer park, she ended up in beautiful Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania, by sheer determination. How she ended up on a quest for a key to unlock the soul of a warrior demigoddess is another story…
Invited to an imposing estate overlooking the town, she met Malory Price and Dana Steele. Each woman was at a crossroads in her life, each facing an uncertain future. And a mysterious couple offered them the chance of a lifetime: a million dollars each if they could free the trapped souls of three mythological sisters—an artist, a bard, and a warrior.
Malory and Dana had to reach deep inside themselves to find their keys—and not without paying a price. Now, it has become Zoe’s quest. As a single mother, she has more to risk, more to lose. But her courage in the face of overwhelming odds cannot be underestimated. A nurturer to her son, a defender of her friends, she must confront dark forces amassed against her to make all of their dreams come true…
High Noon
Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara found her calling at an early age when a violently unstable man broke into her family’s home, trapping and terrorizing them for hours. Now she’s Savannah’s top hostage negotiator, who puts her life on the line every day to diffuse powder-keg situations.
After watching her talk one of his employees off a roof ledge, Duncan Swift is committed to keeping this intriguing, take-charge woman in his life. Phoebe’s used to working solo, but she’s finding that no amount of negotiation can keep Duncan at arm’s length. Especially when a man throws a hood over Phoebe’s head and brutally assaults her—in her own precinct house—and threatening messages begin appearing on her doorstep. Duncan backs her up every step of the way, as she establishes contact with the faceless tormentor who is determined to make her a hostage to fear—before she becomes the final showdown.
The Collector
When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one...
Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Chalking up their intense attraction to the heat of the moment, Lila agrees to help Ash try to find out who murdered his brother and why. From the penthouses of Manhattan to grand Italian villas, their investigation draws them into a rarefied circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away and stolen; where what you possess is who you are; and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession...
The Reef
Tate Beaumont has a passion for treasure-hunting. Over the years, she and her father have uncovered many fabulous riches, but one treasure has always eluded them: Angelique’s Curse—a jeweled amulet heavy with history, dark with legend, and tainted with blood. In order to find this precious artifact, the Beaumonts reluctantly form a partnership with salvagers Buck and Matthew Lassiter.
As the Beaumonts and Lassiters pool their resources to locate Angelique’s Curse, the Caribbean waters darken with shadowy deceptions and hidden threats. Their partnership is placed in jeopardy when Matthew refuses to share information—including the truth behind his father’s mysterious death. For now, Tate and Matthew continue their uneasy alliance—until danger and desire begin to rise to the surface…
Vision in White
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents her first trade original—a novel of love, friendship, and family—in this beautiful french flap edition of Book One in the Bride Quartet.
Wedding photographer Mackensie "Mac" Elliot is most at home behind the camera, but her focus is shattered moments before an important wedding rehearsal when she bumps into the bride-to-be's brother...an encounter that has them both seeing stars.
A stable, safe English teacher, Carter Maguire is definitely not Mac's type. But a casual fling might be just what she needs to take her mind off bridezillas. Of course, casual flings can turn into something more when you least expect it. And Mac will have to turn to her three best friends—and business partners—to see her way to her own happy ending.
The Search
To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life—a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school and a challenging volunteer job performing Canine Search and Rescue. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare: an encounter with the Red Scarf Killer, who shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.
On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude necessary to rebuild her life with her three loyal Labs. But all that changes on the day intensely private wood artist Simon Doyle barrels up her drive with an out-of-control puppy, desperate for her help.
As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona’s life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands...
Blue Smoke
Reena Hale’s destiny was shaped in the destructive—yet fascinatingly beautiful—fire that leveled her family’s pizzeria when she was young. Now an arson investigator, she finds her strength and wits constantly tested, although sometimes the job seems like a snap compared to her love life. But she can’t always blame the men. After all, a soot-caked woman barking orders and smelling of smoke isn’t the biggest turn-on in the world. Then she meets Bo Goodnight, who seems different. He’s been trying to find Reena for years, and now that she’s close enough to touch, he has no intention of letting go.
Nor does the man who has begun to haunt Reena’s life—with taunting phone calls and a string of horrifying crimes. And as Reena tries desperately to trace the origins—of the calls, the fires, the hatred aimed in her direction—she will step into the worst inferno she has ever faced...
Dance Upon the Air
When Nell Channing arrives on charming Three Sisters Island, she believes that she’s finally found refuge from her abusive husband—and from the terrifying life she fled so desperately eight months ago…
Careful to conceal her true identity, she takes a job as a cook at the local bookstore café—and begins to explore her feelings for the island sheriff, Zack Todd. But there is a part of herself she can never reveal to him. One careless word, one misplaced confidence, and the new life she’s so carefully created could shatter completely.
Just as Nell starts to wonder if she’ll ever be able to break free of her fear, she realizes that the island suffers under a terrible curse—one that can only be broken by the descendants of the Three Sisters, the witches who settled the island back in 1692. And now, with the help of two other strong, gifted women—and the nightmares of the past haunting her every step—she must find the power to save her home, her love…and herself.
Birthright
When five-thousand-year-old human bones are found at a construction site in the small town of Woodsboro, the news draws archaeologist Callie Dunbrook out of her sabbatical and into a whirlwind of adventure, danger, and romance.
While overseeing the dig, she must try to make sense of a cloud of death and misfortune that hangs over the project—fueling rumors that the site is cursed. She must cope with the presence of her irritating—but irresistible—ex-husband, Jake. And when a stranger claims to know a secret about her privileged Boston childhood, she must question her own past as well...
Montana Sky
When Jack Mercy died, he left behind a ranch worth nearly twenty million dollars. Now his three daughters—each born of a different mother, and each unknown by the others—are gathered to hear the reading of the will. But the women are shocked to learn that before any of them can inherit, they must live together on the ranch for one year.
For Tess, a screenwriter who just wants to collect her cash and get back to Hollywood, it’s a nightmare. For Lily, on the run from her abusive ex-husband, it’s a refuge. And for Willa—who grew up on the ranch—it’s an intrusion into her rightful home.
They are sisters...and strangers. Now they face a challenge: to put their bitterness aside and live like a family. To protect each other from danger—and unite against an enemy who threatens to destroy them all...
The Villa
Sophia is the pride of the Giambelli clan and a vital player in the family''s celebrated winery. But things are about to change at Villa Giambelli.
Family matriarch Tereza has announced a surprise merger with the MacMillan family''s winery. As a savvy businesswoman, Sophia knows she must be ready for anything - but she isn''t prepared for Tyler MacMillan. They''ve been ordered to work closely together to ensure the merger goes through smoothly. But as they toil together, both in and out of the fields, Sophia finds herself increasingly torn between professional rivalry and a powerful attraction.
And when the business and the family are threatened by disturbing acts of sabotage, Sophia realises her quest isn''t just for dominance, but survival...
The Witness
Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive.
Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems designer, her own protection is supplemented by a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. Unfortunately, that seems to be the quickest way to get attention in a tiny southern town.
The mystery of Abigail Lowery and her sharp mind, secretive nature and unromantic viewpoint intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights.
And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.
Northern Lights
Let #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts fly you into Lunacy, Alaska, and into a colorful, compelling novel about two lonely souls who are searching for love and redemption...
As a Baltimore cop, Nate Burke watched his partner die on the street—and the guilt still haunts him. With nowhere else to go, he accepted the job as Chief of Police in a tiny, remote Alaskan town with the hopes of starting over. Despite the name, Lunacy provides a balm for Nate's shattered soul—and an unexpected affair with pilot Meg Galloway warms his nights...
But other things in Lunacy are heating up. Nate suspects the killer in an unsolved murder still walks the snowy streets. His investigation will unearth the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath the placid surface, as well as bring out the big-city survival instincts that made him a cop in the first place. And his discovery will threaten the new life—and the new love—that he has finally found for himself.
Nightwork
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts introduces an unforgettable thief in a new novel of suspense, greed, love, and survival…
Harry Booth started stealing at nine to keep a roof over his ailing mother’s head, slipping into luxurious, empty homes at night to find items he could trade for precious cash. When his mother finally succumbed to cancer, he left Chicago—but kept up his nightwork.
Wandering from the Outer Banks to Savannah to New Orleans, he dons new identities and stays careful, observant, distant. He can’t afford to attract attention—or get attached. Still, he can’t help letting his guard down when he meets Miranda Emerson. But the powerful bond between them cannot last—because not all thieves follow Harry’s code of honor. Some pay others to take risks so they can hoard more treasures. Some are driven by a desire to own people the way they own paintings and jewels. And after Harry takes a lucrative job commissioned by Carter LaPorte, LaPorte sees a tool he can use, and decides he wants to own Harry.
The man is a predator more frightening than the alligators that haunt the bayou—and when he strongarms Harry into robbing a Baltimore museum, Harry abandons Miranda—cruelly, with no explanation—and disappears. But no matter what name he uses or where he goes, LaPorte casts a shadow over Harry’s life. To truly free himself, he must face down his enemy once and for all. Only then can he hope to possess something more valuable than anything he has ever stolen…
The Choice
The conclusion of the epic trilogy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Awakening and The Becoming.
Talamh is a land of green hills, high mountains, deep forests, and seas, where magicks thrive. But portals allow for passage in and out—and ultimately, each must choose their place, and choose between good and evil, war and peace, life and death…
Breen Siobhan Kelly grew up in the world of Man and was once unaware of her true nature. Now she is in Talamh, trying to heal after a terrible battle and heartbreaking losses. Her grandfather, the dark god Odran, has been defeated in his attempt to rule over Talamh, and over Breen—for now.
With the enemy cast out and the portal sealed, this is a time to rest and to prepare. Breen spreads her wings and realizes a power she’s never experienced before. It’s also a time for celebrations—of her first Christmas in both Talamh and Ireland, of solstice and weddings and births—and daring to find joy again in the wake of sorrow. She rededicates herself to writing her stories, and when his duties as taoiseach permit, she is together with Keegan, who has trained her as a warrior and whom she has grown to love.
It’s Keegan who’s at her side when the enemy’s witches, traitorous and power-mad, appear to her in her sleep, practicing black magick, sacrificing the innocent, and plotting a brutal destruction for Breen. And soon, united with him and with all of Talamh, she will seek out those in desperate need of rescue, and confront the darkness with every weapon she has: her sword, her magicks—and her courage…
Inheritance
The first in a new trilogy by the #1 New York Times bestselling author—a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…
Present day: Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about—and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth—and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.
Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease—and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…
The Awakening
In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan emerges from a lake holding a sword--representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own...
When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she's an anxious twentysomething mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking discovery: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father--and it's worth nearly four million dollars.
This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn't have imagined. Here, she will begin to understand why she kept seeing that silver-haired, elusive man, why she imagined his voice in her head saying Come home, Breen Siobhan. It's time you came home. Why she dreamed of dragons. And where her true destiny lies--through a portal in Galway that takes her to a land of faeries and mermaids, to a man named Keegan, and to the courage in her own heart that will guide her through a powerful, dangerous destiny...
Under Currents
Zane Bigelow grew up in a beautiful, perfectly kept house in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. Strangers and even Zane's own aunt across the lake see his parents as a successful surgeon and his stylish wife, making appearances at their children's ballet recitals and baseball games. Only Zane and his sister know the truth, until one brutal night finally reveals cracks in the facade, and Zane escapes for college without a thought of looking back...
Years later, Zane returns to his hometown determined to reconnect with the place and people that mean so much to him, despite the painful memories. As he resumes life in the colorful town, he meets a gifted landscape artist named Darby, who is on the run from ghosts of her own.
Together they will have to teach each other what it means to face the past, and stand up for the ones they love.
Daring to Dream
Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn't help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton's stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most--her mother's acceptance.
Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura--or had Kate's shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way--no matter what the consequences...
Rising Tides
"New York Times" bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the second novel in the dramatic trilogy of three men who return home to honor their father's last wish--to care for Seth, a troubled boy in need of a family. Coming home has taught the brothers more than they ever dreamed about the meaning of family and responsibility. Now it is time to learn the meaning of acceptance and love...
Of the three brothers, it was Ethan who shared his father's passion for the Maryland shore. And now with his father gone, Ethan is determined to make the family boatbuilding business a success. But amidst his acheivements lie the most important challenges of his life...
There is young Seth, who needs him more than ever. And a woman he has always loved but never believed could have. But beneath Ethans's seemingly still waters is a dark and painful past. He must learn to see around the shadows to accept who he is. Because through Ethan's past lies the future--and his one chance at happiness...
The Obsession
Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father's crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can't outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.
Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she's ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up--especially the determined Xander Keaton.
Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she's always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she's learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.
Year One
It began on New Year's Eve.
The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed--and more than half of the world's population was decimated.
Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magick rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river--or in the ones you know and love the most.
As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.
In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.
The end has come. The beginning comes next.
Hideaway
A family ranch in Big Sur country and a legacy of Hollywood royalty set the stage for Nora Roberts' emotional new suspense novel, Hideaway.
Caitlyn Sullivan had come from a long line of Hollywood royalty, stretching back to her Irish immigrant great-grandfather. At nine, she was already a star--yet still an innocent child who loved to play hide and seek with her cousins at the family home in Big Sur. It was during one of those games that she disappeared.
Some may have considered her a pampered princess, but Cate was in fact a smart, scrappy fighter, and she managed to escape her abductors. Dillon Cooper was shocked to find the bloodied, exhausted girl huddled in his house--but when the teenager and his family heard her story they provided refuge, reuniting her with her loved ones.
Cate's ordeal, though, was far from over. First came the discovery of a shocking betrayal that would send someone she'd trusted to prison. Then there were years spent away in western Ireland, peaceful and protected but with restlessness growing in her soul.
Finally, she would return to Los Angeles, gathering the courage to act again and get past the trauma that had derailed her life. What she didn't yet know was that two seeds had been planted that long-ago night--one of a great love, and one of a terrible vengeance...
The Liar
Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions...
The man who took her from Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He was an adulterer and a liar, and when Shelby tracks down his safe-deposit box, she finds multiple IDs. The man she loved wasn't just dead. He never really existed.
Shelby takes her three-year-old daughter and heads south to seek comfort in her hometown, where she meets someone new: Griff Lott, a successful contractor. But her husband had secrets she has yet to discover. Even in this small town, surrounded by loved ones, danger is closer than she knows--and threatens Griff, as well. And an attempted murder is only the beginning...
Authors Like Nora Roberts
If you love Nora Roberts, you're likely drawn to her romantic storytelling, strong heroines, suspenseful plots, and family sagas. Below is a list of authors similar to Nora Roberts, each offering something compelling for her fans:
1. Robyn Carr
Famous for: The Virgin River series (which became a Netflix adaptation).
Best-Selling Books: Virgin River, Whispering Rock, A Family Affair.
What to Expect: Small-town romance, warm and emotional storytelling, strong friendships, and character-driven plots.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: Like Roberts, Carr focuses on relationships, family, and community. Her books often include multi-book series with interconnected characters, much like Roberts' Chesapeake Bay or MacKade series.
2. Debbie Macomber
Famous for: Cozy, feel-good romances with a focus on family and community.
Best-Selling Books: Cedar Cove series, Blossom Street series, A Mrs. Miracle Christmas.
What to Expect: Sweet, uplifting love stories, small-town settings, and characters you want to befriend.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: Macomber's books are generally less steamy and suspenseful, focusing more on wholesome, heartwarming relationships. However, if you enjoy Roberts' lighter, feel-good romances, you'll likely love Macomber.
3. Jayne Ann Krentz (a.k.a. Amanda Quick & Jayne Castle)
Famous for: Contemporary and romantic suspense novels. Writes historical romance as Amanda Quick and paranormal romance as Jayne Castle.
Best-Selling Books: White Lies, River Road, The Arcane Society series.
What to Expect: Strong heroines, thrilling mysteries, psychic/paranormal elements, and fast-paced romance.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: Both authors master romantic suspense and often blend mystery with romance. Krentz leans more into paranormal and psychological twists, much like Roberts' In the Garden trilogy or Chronicles of The One series.
4. Sandra Brown
Famous for: Romantic suspense and psychological thrillers.
Best-Selling Books: Mean Streak, Envy, Lethal, Outfox.
What to Expect: Twists, suspenseful plots, strong-willed heroines, and sizzling romance.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: Fans of Roberts' romantic suspense novels (like The Obsession or Carolina Moon) will love Brown’s high-stakes tension. However, Brown leans more toward thriller elements, sometimes with darker themes.
5. Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Famous for: Romantic comedies with heartfelt moments and lovable characters.
Best-Selling Books: It Had to Be You, Match Me If You Can, Ain’t She Sweet?.
What to Expect: Funny, feel-good romances, often involving sports heroes, small towns, or second chances.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: While Roberts blends suspense, family, and magic, Phillips is lighthearted and humorous. If you love Roberts' contemporary romance series like The Bride Quartet or The Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, Phillips is a great fit.
6. Lisa Kleypas
Famous for: Historical and contemporary romance.
Best-Selling Books: Devil in Winter, Secrets of a Summer Night, Sugar Daddy.
What to Expect: Lush, sensual romance, witty banter, strong heroines, and swoon-worthy heroes.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: Fans of Roberts' historical romances (written as J.D. Robb) will enjoy Kleypas’ Regency and Victorian love stories, as well as her contemporary series like The Travis Family Saga.
7. Catherine Coulter
Famous for: Romantic suspense and FBI thrillers.
Best-Selling Books: The Cove, The Target, The Maze.
What to Expect: Fast-paced crime thrillers with strong romantic subplots.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: If you love Roberts’ In Death series (written as J.D. Robb), Coulter's FBI thrillers will be right up your alley.
8. Brenda Novak
Famous for: Contemporary romance, small-town series, and suspenseful love stories.
Best-Selling Books: When Lightning Strikes, This Heart of Mine, The Bookstore on the Beach.
What to Expect: Novak's books are deeply emotional, with strong family connections and a mix of drama and romance.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: Similar to Roberts' small-town romance series, Novak’s books have rich character development and heartfelt relationships.
9. Linda Howard
Famous for: Romantic suspense and action-packed love stories.
Best-Selling Books: Mr. Perfect, After the Night, Dream Man.
What to Expect: Sizzling romance, action-packed plots, and strong female protagonists.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: If you love Roberts’ mix of romance and suspense, Howard delivers fast-paced, thrilling love stories.
10. Kristin Hannah
Famous for: Emotional women’s fiction and historical romance.
Best-Selling Books: The Nightingale, Firefly Lane, The Four Winds.
What to Expect: Heart-wrenching, beautifully written stories about love, loss, and resilience.
How She Compares to Nora Roberts: If you enjoy Roberts’ deeply emotional and multi-generational stories, Hannah’s books deliver powerful narratives with unforgettable characters.
Who Should You Read First?
For Small-Town Romance → Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber, Brenda Novak
For Romantic Suspense → Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz
For Family Sagas & Emotional Depth → Kristin Hannah, Lisa Kleypas
For Humor & Lighthearted Romance → Susan Elizabeth Phillips
For Thrillers with Romance → Catherine Coulter
If you love Nora Roberts' versatility, you’ll enjoy mixing and matching these authors based on the mood you're in! Let me know if you want personalized recommendations based on your favorite books of hers.
