Irish Hearts books in order

The complete reading order for Nora Roberts' Irish Hearts series, a romance collection spanning two decades and centered on Irish families involved in horse breeding and racing.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Irish Thoroughbred 1981 Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb Buy
2 Sullivan’s Woman 1984 Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb Buy
3 Irish Rose 1988 Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb Buy
4 Irish Rebel 2000 Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb Buy

The Irish Hearts series started with Irish Thoroughbred in 1981, one of Nora Roberts’ earliest published novels. The books follow Irish families connected through horse breeding and racing, with settings that shift between the green countryside of Ireland and American horse farms. Roberts returned to this world over nearly two decades, closing it out with Irish Rebel in 2000.

The series has a generational quality, with Irish Rebel bringing back the children of characters from the first book. Readers who enjoy Roberts’ family-centered romances with strong settings will appreciate this collection, which shows her voice maturing from her debut through to her more polished later work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Irish Hearts series?

There are four books in the Irish Hearts series, published between 1981 and 2000.

What is the first book in the Irish Hearts series?

The first book in the Irish Hearts series is Irish Thoroughbred, published in 1981.

Do the Irish Hearts books need to be read in order?

Each book tells a self-contained love story, so they can be read as standalones. However, characters from earlier books appear in later ones, and Irish Rebel ties directly back to Irish Thoroughbred with a second-generation romance. Reading in publication order gives the fullest experience.

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