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romantic suspense
Series · contemporary romance
MacKade Brothers
The MacKade Brothers series by Nora Roberts has 4 known books (4 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with The Return of Rafe MacKade (1995).
- Books
- 4 known books (4 novels)
- Published
- 4
- First published
- 1995
- Status
- completed
- Shelved under
- Romance
- Last checked
Start here: The Return of Rafe MacKade (1995) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Return of Rafe MacKade
Nora Roberts opened the MacKade Brothers series in 1995 with The Return of Rafe MacKade, the longest book in the quartet at 505 pages. It brings eldest brother Rafe back to the small Civil War battlefield town of Antietam, Maryland to renovate the supposedly haunted old Barlow place, alongside schoolteacher Regan Bishop — a haunted-house subplot that recurs through the rest of the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Return of Rafe MacKade - Book 2:
The Pride of Jared MacKade
The same year, 1995, brought The Pride of Jared MacKade, considerably shorter than its predecessor at 249 pages. It pairs the family's buttoned-up lawyer brother, Jared, with Savannah Morningstar, a free-spirited single mother, continuing the quartet's small-town Antietam, Maryland setting.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Pride of Jared MacKade - Book 3:
The Heart of Devin MacKade
The Heart of Devin MacKade continued the series in 1996 at 320 pages, its third book, following the town's own police chief brother, Devin. His complicated history with Cassandra "Cassie" Connor, a woman tied to a local Antietam tragedy, gives this installment a darker undercurrent than the earlier two.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Heart of Devin MacKade - Book 4:
The Fall of Shane MacKade
Roberts closed out the quartet later in 1996 with The Fall of Shane MacKade, 384 pages, completing all four books across just two years. It gives the youngest, most restless brother his turn opposite Sylvia Fairfield, an old family friend he's never quite managed to shake, bringing the Antietam-set family saga to a close.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Fall of Shane MacKade
About the MacKade Brothers series
The MacKade Brothers follows four hard-living, once-notorious brothers in the small town of Antietam, Maryland — long the source of local gossip for their wild younger years — as each settles down with an unexpected match. The Return of Rafe MacKade brings the eldest brother back to town after years away to renovate the old Barlow place, a supposedly haunted house, alongside schoolteacher Regan Bishop. The Pride of Jared MacKade pairs the family's buttoned-up lawyer brother with Savannah Morningstar, a free-spirited woman raising a daughter alone. The Heart of Devin MacKade follows the town's own police chief and his complicated history with Cassandra "Cassie" Connor, a woman with ties to a local tragedy. The Fall of Shane MacKade closes the quartet with the youngest, most restless brother and Sylvia Fairfield, an old family friend he's never quite been able to shake.
Set against the real Civil War battlefield town of Antietam, the series leans on small-town history and a haunted-house subplot introduced in the first book to thread the four brothers' otherwise self-contained romances together into one recognizable family quartet.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the MacKade Brothers series?
Four: The Return of Rafe MacKade, The Pride of Jared MacKade, The Heart of Devin MacKade, and The Fall of Shane MacKade.
What order should I read the MacKade Brothers in?
Publication order, one book per brother: Rafe, Jared, Devin, then Shane.
Do I need to read the MacKade Brothers books in order?
Not strictly — each is a self-contained romance — but reading in order follows the family and town of Antietam as they build across the quartet.
Where is the MacKade Brothers series set?
In the fictionalized small town of Antietam, Maryland, near the real Civil War battlefield of the same name.
Is the MacKade Brothers series connected to any other Nora Roberts series?
No, it's a standalone quartet.
If you like the MacKade Brothers series
Reading order last verified .