Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Friday, 16 March 2012
The Night Tales Series
The night tales series is made up of 5 books.
Night Shift
Night Shadow
Nightshade
Nightsmoke
Nightshield
The five books are all linked by a family etc as all of Nora's series and trilogies tend to but these ones are a little different. These books are a little darker with a more violent twist than her other books. She focuses all of the books characters meeting etc at night.
I throughly enjoyed these books and cannot decide which one i like the most!
Night Shift
Cilla O'Rourke is a beautiful young woman with a voice that could melt a thousand mens hearts. She is the voice of a radio show in Denver 10pm-2am. She is sexy and sultry on air and is a massive hit with the listeners. So much so that she is being stalked and threatened by a man.
The threats become a little more serious and violent in nature so the radio call in the cops.
In walks the sexy strong and somewhat moody Boyd Fletcher. Ahhhhhhhh sexy is what you feel from this man he is just pure MAN!
His partner is Althea Grayson who we meet later in another book, she is cool and composed and very in control.
Boyd has been facinated by Cilla's voice on the radio for some time and after meeting her he sees she is not what he expected, she is better!
Passion and feelings of wanting are immediately in effect on both sides but as Cilla's mother was a detective and her father a public defender who both got killed in action in the same room by the same man is too much for Cilla and she immediately refuses any and all advances.
BUT and there is always a but i think.....
Cilla cant help but need and be drawn to Boyd, he is hers and he fits and they both fall madly in love. In the meantime the psycho steps up his game and eventually has Cilla on the ropes. He attacks at the station and Boyd gets stabbed badly, Cilla fights with the psycho and Althea shoots him dead.
Boyd is critical in hospital and the usual fear and worry ensue. Deborah O'Rourke is Cilla's sister and in college she and Cilla are all each other have, we see more of the stunningly beautiful Deborah in the next book.
After much confusion and heart ache from Cilla and a very lovely proposal from Boyd the way she answers him is lovely and totally fits the characters. I will let you read that for yourseleves.
Night Shadow
This book is a little more on the dark and supernatural side. I will let you decide if you like it or not but in my opinion its pretty good and interesting.
The completly straight by the book asisstant district attorney Deborah O'Rourke takes no prisoners in the court room and she rarely looses. She is strong and confident and she believes wholeheartedly in what she is doing. On her way to her car in a very dangerous part of Urbana she gets attacked and dragged into an alley. The dark mysterious renegade the tabloids call Nemesis saves her just before she attempts to save herself. She is grateful but doesnt entirely believe in why he does what he does but she is physically attracted to him and he to her.
Gage Guthrie is a very powerful man, he has so much money he lives in a castle! He was a cop but on his last undercover sting it all went wrong, his best friend and partner got killed and he ended up in a coma fighting for his life.
When he came to 9 months later he had a special 'gift' for making himself disappear.... interesting??
Deborah meets Gage and is a little taken with him, he knows who she is but she doesnt know who he is... She gives in and dates him becoming more involved and falling in love but she is also falling in love with Nemesis who is repeatingly saving her life. She turns down sleeping with Gage but cannot refuse Nemesis, she gives in and when he kisses her for the first time she knows who he is.
Its terribly heart breaking and so emotional and she is torn between her beliefs and her love for Gage/Nemesis.
She moves into his castle and discovers that he is not exactly just nemesis, he has a kind of bat cave i suppose you could call it.
After her current case get very detailed and her life is put in danger, Gage helps her and together they work out who is behind it all and who killed his partner and almost him all those years before.
After a very violent showdown they get the bad guy and its all happy endings again. Another dark book with mystery and suspence intertwined with a little sex and passion to liven it up a little. Nora always stays true to her characters and underlying power of 'meant to be together' she still focuses on their passion and love and how good there are for each other.
An enjoyable book and you get to see Cilla and Boyd a little too, married with three kids.
Nightshade
Althea Grayson is a very tough cop, she was Boyd Fletchers partner and a friend. She now works alone and Boyd is the Captain. She is on a terrible date with a terrible man and she gets beeped to a scene. She is all dressed up but its her job.
On the scene is Colt Nightshade, he was speaking to the dead man when a drive by happened. He dived for cover and the other guy didnt.
Colt is a very good and old friend of Boyds and when he finds out Colt is there is drags him in to find out whats happeneing.
Althea in her dress sits in and he immediately likes what he sees. She on the other hand doesnt, sure he is really hot and has a great body but his attitude stinks.
A friends daughter ran away and now she is missing, a letter from another girl told her parents she was being held by some men so they asked Colt to help find her. He of course helps and ends up in Denver and working with Boyd and Althea.
As they get deeper and deeper into the case he is a loose cannon and she tries to be calm and hold restraint. they soon realise that they like each other and that they have a little spark. The case is looking into sex tapes and young women which is hard but has to be done.
Althea has a past and not a good one growing up in the foster system, it touches her this case and Colt doesnt hear why until the end but he grew up with a great childhood and has got a harvard degree in law, has been in the airforce and been on serect missions. An all rounder you might say?
After a funny night stuck in the mountains they find where the girl is and Althea goes in to distract the three men while Colt gets her out. Thea can really handle herself and he goes back to help her and she has it all under control.
After she talks to the girl and helps her through the ordeal and explains that if she can do it then anyone can.
After a very emotional scene and a lot of thinking and understanding on her part she finally gives in to Colt. He wants to marry her on new years eve but she has other ideas.
She shocks him in saying yes to start with but no to new years eve, she wants it at thanksgiving at Boyd and Cillas home.
You see her marry Colt at the end of the book with Cilla and Boyd, Deborah and Gage (and baby) and a few friends and family. A really lovely story and ending i think!
Nightsmoke
This book follows Natalie Fletcher (Boyds sister) who runs the family business and is extremely sucessful. After a really late night she gets a call one of her buildings is on fire. After she gets there the arson investigator arrives. Ryan is moody and mean and really really fit!!
She really doesnt like him especially when he almost accuses her of fraud and he really doesnt like her and thinks she has far to much money and doesnt really get the whole poor thing.
They clash and fight and he falls in love, she does eventually too. As they work together to find out who set the fire, more happen and it starts to look like someone is after her.
After a very emotional and horrible fight, he breaks it off because he doesnt think that they could ever belong together and live in the same world however after she storms off telling him that she loved him and immediately leaves the city he goes after her. Following her around trying to apologise.
She eventually comes back after a heart to heart with Thea (a very pregnant and in labour Thea) and he mets her at the airport. They argue and he tries and tries to apologise, she goes ot her office and just as they are sorting out how they feel an explosion in the office and a fire breaks out. They are trapped on the 42 floor and the exit is blocked by fire.
He knows there isnt much time so endagers his own life to save hers.
They get out and into hospital and after a touch 24 hours Nat is fine and he is mending. After a touching heart to heart in the hospital as she is discharged he agrees that maybe they could start by living together and she refuses only to tell him she wants marriage and kids.
A really happy moment that makes you heart swell and go arrrrrrrrr.
Nightshield
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and i think this one is probably my favourite. I think its my favourite because i felt more drawn to the bad boy character?
Allison Fletcher is a detective like her dad Boyd was, he is now the commisioner and she is in his old precinct. Due to recent break in's and their link to a local club the owner is asked to help. He has known Boyd a long time and owes him his life.
Jonah is a once upon a time crook as a child and really horrible childhood until Boyd helped him. When he meets Ally he is a little taken with her and he decides nothing can happen because of Boyd.
They rub each other up the wrong way alot and they begin to have a little steam and passion.
After she has worked in the bar undercover for a week they get a break and find the people responsiblefor the break in's. She goes off with her team to arest them and it goes a little wrong. An officer is shot and she is shot at so has to shoot a woman dead.
Jonah goes to her at the hospital and takes her home, he feels protective of her and they start to get closer. He stops whats happening with no reason and she finds the challenge exciting.
Once she has cracked most of the case and is interviewing the workers at the bar she seduces Jonah. He has no choice and is totally taken in by her and they finally have their time.
The sex and passion is really intense and probably the best out of all in this series. The ring leader of the burglaries heads for her and her apartment gets trashed, she moves in with Jonah in the meantime.
The bad ultimately comes to a head and a bloody violent one where Jonah jumps infront of a bullet to save Ally.
After much heat and arguing she tells him she lvoes him and wants to marry him which shocks him.
The book jumps to them arguing about a sports event and have been married for 18 months, when she comes in from the kitchen he is gone.
He is in the bedroom holding their 2 week old baby daughter.......
Really good series and i enjoyed them a lot, not what i expected but i was plesantly suprised. I believe i am yet to find one of her books i dont like. maybe i never will?
my score for the series 8/10.
Night Shift
Night Shadow
Nightshade
Nightsmoke
Nightshield
The five books are all linked by a family etc as all of Nora's series and trilogies tend to but these ones are a little different. These books are a little darker with a more violent twist than her other books. She focuses all of the books characters meeting etc at night.
I throughly enjoyed these books and cannot decide which one i like the most!
Night Shift
Cilla O'Rourke is a beautiful young woman with a voice that could melt a thousand mens hearts. She is the voice of a radio show in Denver 10pm-2am. She is sexy and sultry on air and is a massive hit with the listeners. So much so that she is being stalked and threatened by a man.
The threats become a little more serious and violent in nature so the radio call in the cops.
In walks the sexy strong and somewhat moody Boyd Fletcher. Ahhhhhhhh sexy is what you feel from this man he is just pure MAN!
His partner is Althea Grayson who we meet later in another book, she is cool and composed and very in control.
Boyd has been facinated by Cilla's voice on the radio for some time and after meeting her he sees she is not what he expected, she is better!
Passion and feelings of wanting are immediately in effect on both sides but as Cilla's mother was a detective and her father a public defender who both got killed in action in the same room by the same man is too much for Cilla and she immediately refuses any and all advances.
BUT and there is always a but i think.....
Cilla cant help but need and be drawn to Boyd, he is hers and he fits and they both fall madly in love. In the meantime the psycho steps up his game and eventually has Cilla on the ropes. He attacks at the station and Boyd gets stabbed badly, Cilla fights with the psycho and Althea shoots him dead.
Boyd is critical in hospital and the usual fear and worry ensue. Deborah O'Rourke is Cilla's sister and in college she and Cilla are all each other have, we see more of the stunningly beautiful Deborah in the next book.
After much confusion and heart ache from Cilla and a very lovely proposal from Boyd the way she answers him is lovely and totally fits the characters. I will let you read that for yourseleves.
Night Shadow
This book is a little more on the dark and supernatural side. I will let you decide if you like it or not but in my opinion its pretty good and interesting.
The completly straight by the book asisstant district attorney Deborah O'Rourke takes no prisoners in the court room and she rarely looses. She is strong and confident and she believes wholeheartedly in what she is doing. On her way to her car in a very dangerous part of Urbana she gets attacked and dragged into an alley. The dark mysterious renegade the tabloids call Nemesis saves her just before she attempts to save herself. She is grateful but doesnt entirely believe in why he does what he does but she is physically attracted to him and he to her.
Gage Guthrie is a very powerful man, he has so much money he lives in a castle! He was a cop but on his last undercover sting it all went wrong, his best friend and partner got killed and he ended up in a coma fighting for his life.
When he came to 9 months later he had a special 'gift' for making himself disappear.... interesting??
Deborah meets Gage and is a little taken with him, he knows who she is but she doesnt know who he is... She gives in and dates him becoming more involved and falling in love but she is also falling in love with Nemesis who is repeatingly saving her life. She turns down sleeping with Gage but cannot refuse Nemesis, she gives in and when he kisses her for the first time she knows who he is.
Its terribly heart breaking and so emotional and she is torn between her beliefs and her love for Gage/Nemesis.
She moves into his castle and discovers that he is not exactly just nemesis, he has a kind of bat cave i suppose you could call it.
After her current case get very detailed and her life is put in danger, Gage helps her and together they work out who is behind it all and who killed his partner and almost him all those years before.
After a very violent showdown they get the bad guy and its all happy endings again. Another dark book with mystery and suspence intertwined with a little sex and passion to liven it up a little. Nora always stays true to her characters and underlying power of 'meant to be together' she still focuses on their passion and love and how good there are for each other.
An enjoyable book and you get to see Cilla and Boyd a little too, married with three kids.
Nightshade
Althea Grayson is a very tough cop, she was Boyd Fletchers partner and a friend. She now works alone and Boyd is the Captain. She is on a terrible date with a terrible man and she gets beeped to a scene. She is all dressed up but its her job.
On the scene is Colt Nightshade, he was speaking to the dead man when a drive by happened. He dived for cover and the other guy didnt.
Colt is a very good and old friend of Boyds and when he finds out Colt is there is drags him in to find out whats happeneing.
Althea in her dress sits in and he immediately likes what he sees. She on the other hand doesnt, sure he is really hot and has a great body but his attitude stinks.
A friends daughter ran away and now she is missing, a letter from another girl told her parents she was being held by some men so they asked Colt to help find her. He of course helps and ends up in Denver and working with Boyd and Althea.
As they get deeper and deeper into the case he is a loose cannon and she tries to be calm and hold restraint. they soon realise that they like each other and that they have a little spark. The case is looking into sex tapes and young women which is hard but has to be done.
Althea has a past and not a good one growing up in the foster system, it touches her this case and Colt doesnt hear why until the end but he grew up with a great childhood and has got a harvard degree in law, has been in the airforce and been on serect missions. An all rounder you might say?
After a funny night stuck in the mountains they find where the girl is and Althea goes in to distract the three men while Colt gets her out. Thea can really handle herself and he goes back to help her and she has it all under control.
After she talks to the girl and helps her through the ordeal and explains that if she can do it then anyone can.
After a very emotional scene and a lot of thinking and understanding on her part she finally gives in to Colt. He wants to marry her on new years eve but she has other ideas.
She shocks him in saying yes to start with but no to new years eve, she wants it at thanksgiving at Boyd and Cillas home.
You see her marry Colt at the end of the book with Cilla and Boyd, Deborah and Gage (and baby) and a few friends and family. A really lovely story and ending i think!
Nightsmoke
This book follows Natalie Fletcher (Boyds sister) who runs the family business and is extremely sucessful. After a really late night she gets a call one of her buildings is on fire. After she gets there the arson investigator arrives. Ryan is moody and mean and really really fit!!
She really doesnt like him especially when he almost accuses her of fraud and he really doesnt like her and thinks she has far to much money and doesnt really get the whole poor thing.
They clash and fight and he falls in love, she does eventually too. As they work together to find out who set the fire, more happen and it starts to look like someone is after her.
After a very emotional and horrible fight, he breaks it off because he doesnt think that they could ever belong together and live in the same world however after she storms off telling him that she loved him and immediately leaves the city he goes after her. Following her around trying to apologise.
She eventually comes back after a heart to heart with Thea (a very pregnant and in labour Thea) and he mets her at the airport. They argue and he tries and tries to apologise, she goes ot her office and just as they are sorting out how they feel an explosion in the office and a fire breaks out. They are trapped on the 42 floor and the exit is blocked by fire.
He knows there isnt much time so endagers his own life to save hers.
They get out and into hospital and after a touch 24 hours Nat is fine and he is mending. After a touching heart to heart in the hospital as she is discharged he agrees that maybe they could start by living together and she refuses only to tell him she wants marriage and kids.
A really happy moment that makes you heart swell and go arrrrrrrrr.
Nightshield
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and i think this one is probably my favourite. I think its my favourite because i felt more drawn to the bad boy character?
Allison Fletcher is a detective like her dad Boyd was, he is now the commisioner and she is in his old precinct. Due to recent break in's and their link to a local club the owner is asked to help. He has known Boyd a long time and owes him his life.
Jonah is a once upon a time crook as a child and really horrible childhood until Boyd helped him. When he meets Ally he is a little taken with her and he decides nothing can happen because of Boyd.
They rub each other up the wrong way alot and they begin to have a little steam and passion.
After she has worked in the bar undercover for a week they get a break and find the people responsiblefor the break in's. She goes off with her team to arest them and it goes a little wrong. An officer is shot and she is shot at so has to shoot a woman dead.
Jonah goes to her at the hospital and takes her home, he feels protective of her and they start to get closer. He stops whats happening with no reason and she finds the challenge exciting.
Once she has cracked most of the case and is interviewing the workers at the bar she seduces Jonah. He has no choice and is totally taken in by her and they finally have their time.
The sex and passion is really intense and probably the best out of all in this series. The ring leader of the burglaries heads for her and her apartment gets trashed, she moves in with Jonah in the meantime.
The bad ultimately comes to a head and a bloody violent one where Jonah jumps infront of a bullet to save Ally.
After much heat and arguing she tells him she lvoes him and wants to marry him which shocks him.
The book jumps to them arguing about a sports event and have been married for 18 months, when she comes in from the kitchen he is gone.
He is in the bedroom holding their 2 week old baby daughter.......
Really good series and i enjoyed them a lot, not what i expected but i was plesantly suprised. I believe i am yet to find one of her books i dont like. maybe i never will?
my score for the series 8/10.
Friday, 2 March 2012
The Stanislaski series by Nora Roberts
The stanislaski series consists of 6 books focusing around the Ukranian family.
Taming Natasha- Natasha and Spencer Kimball
Luring a Lady- Mikhail and Sydney Hayward
Falling for Rachel- Rachel and Zack Muldoon
Convincing Alex- Alexi and Bess McKnee
Waiting for Nick- Nick LeBeck (Zack's brother) and Freddie Kimball (Natasha and Spence daughter)
Considering Kate- Kate Kimball and Brody O'Connell
A really lovely series that i have to say thoroughly enjoyed reading. The wonderful story of how the Ukranian family came to settle in America.
I was unsure if i would like this series because the titles didnt really stand out to me and i didnt think i would enjoy them that much.
I was wrong again and did infact really enjoy them.
Taming Natasha
Natasha is a wonderfully energetic and loving character and i was a little taken by her in this book. She lives in West Virginia and owns a toy store. She has a past and a history, coming to America at a young age and sruggling the first few years of her life there. The moe from the war torn Ukraine was difficult and frightening but her parents wanted what was best for them.
Natasha and her two siblings came into the country and made a life for themselves. Her youngest sister was born in America.
Spence Kimball is a widow with a 5 year old daughter Freddie. He moves to the small town to give his daughter the best life possible. He is a world famous composer and one that Natasha knows about and has danced to when she was prima ballerina.
Natasha and Spence hit it off and become entangled with each other. Natasha falls in love with Freddie and struggles with her feelings for Spence. She once was in love and fell pregnant following that she quit ballet and had the baby. Shortly after birth the baby dies and leaves Natasha distraught.
Natasha has to relive and come to terms with her past in order to make a future for herself.
Her family make their debut in this book, brothers Mikhail and Alexi and sister Rachel and the brilliant Nadia and Yuri her parents.
Yuri is the centre of this family and Nadia is the heart of that centre, strong characters that reminded me a little of The MacGreggors.
I really enjoyed this book and couldnt wait to start on the next. As you know i have OCD when it come to reading and if i start a series/trilogy etc i have to finish the whole lot in sequence and one after the other while the last is still in my mind.
Luring a Lady
Mikhail is a very strong and huge man. He exerts power and stregnth and makes women weak at the knees. He has an accent and can melt away any fears or thoughts with his gentle words. He is of course very good looking as all of Nora's men are!
He is a carpenter and artist. He works with his father on contruction but indulges in art and sculpting with wood.
Sydney Haywood is a business woman and just taken over her grandfather property business that she has no idea how to run. Mikhail lives in a building she owns and has issues with maintanence etc and after no help or contact for 18 months he charges head first into her office demanding answers.
She explains her grandfather died and she has recently taken over. She promises to start repairs immediately.
Both of them however feel the passion and sizzle when they were near each other and they found themselves interested. She goes to the building to help and get to know Mikhail and he finds himself more and more infatuated with her.
She was married before so of course there lies the issue that is going to comeback and bite them in the ass come the time they say 'I love you'.
True to form the story involves the rest of the family and the relationship crashes, after a heartfelt one to one with her ex husband Sydney realises she needs Mikhail and him her.
Happy happy ending of course.......
Falling for Rachel
Rachel was born in America and resents it always, not having the history of walking through the mountains to America to a better life. She was born into that better life.
She is a lawyer, public defender to be exact and loves her job.
Nick LeBeck is arrested by Alexi, Rachels brother and Rachel is his PD. Messed up in a gang and a load of crap that goes along with it.
Zack Muldoon is Nick's older step brother who was in the Navy for year, returning when his father died 2 years before.
After court Zack and Rachel are appointed legal guardians of Nick and have to work together to help him.
As you can imagine the story goes into the whole history of Nick and Zack and Rachel trying to get through to him. He gives in a little and she takes them to meet her family and Nick slowly melts. Freddie falls in love with Nick then at the age of 13 (watch this space!).
After much love and passion and plenty of sex the end blow and final woosh is Nicks old gang trying to rob Zack's bar and shoot him. Nick jumps infront of the bullet and nearly dies.
Is there a happy ending???
OF COURSE there is, Nora wouldnt dissapoint!
Convincing Alex
Alexi is a cop and a good one. He is working on the case of prostitutes being murdered. He arrests 2 women he believes are working girls and wants to question them about the murders. Once he gets them to the station he finds out that the cute blonde is actually not a hooker but a writer for a popular soap and is in fact a red head.
There is immediate annoyance on his part and some attraction. She is very happy and enthusiastic about life and the show.
After much resistance Alex finally gives in to his needs and desires and the finally admit they have feelings for each other.
There again is the emotional deal of Bess easily falling in love and dealing with the fact that this time it is real love and Alex cant accept that. Alex has issues with trust and jealousy and he hates to not be in control.
Bess inadvertantly helps Alex solve the case and finally things become better, and a happy ending happens.
I liked Alex's character and Bess is a brilliant and vibrant person. She fits in well with the family and its great to once again see the family and how they have all changed and grown. Natasha has had children and so has Mikhail and his Sydney is preggers again and Rachel is about to pop and goes into labour at the dinner table!
Its a great read and again i enjoyed it.
Waiting for Nick
This book follows Nick (Zack's brother) and Freddie (Natasha and Spence's daughter). Now she is 24 and moving to New York to follow her dream of being a lyricist. As Nick is a composer and a good one about to write the score for a new musical it is a perfect time for her to start her career and also get him to fall in love with her like she has been with him for the last 10 years.
Zack is dealing with his past and still has it interferring with his life. After seeing that Freddie is set on helping he lets her try and while they do they slowly fall in love and fall into bed.
The musical is being funded by Reed Valentine and Maddy O'Hurley is starring, YES YOU HEARD IT RIGHT!!! This is a fabulous twist and i very much enjoyed the fact that we get to meet all of the O'Hurley's again. I was shocked and totally excited when i got to read all about them again.
Abby and Dylan had 4 kids, Maddy and Reed had 3 (1 twins) and Chantel and Quinn had triplet boys. It was lovely to see how their characters have developed.
After a violent and heart breaking scene there is a happy ending at the end!
Considering Kate
Kate Kimball is a strong and confident woman who knows exactly what she wants. She is a prima ballerina and had success all over the world.
She moves back to West Virginia now wanting to settle down. She opens a dance school and hires Brody O'Connell to do the rehab. He has a small boy and is a widow, the story has a similar ring to Natasha and Spence's story.
They hit it off and after much getting in his way she finally wears him down and they get jiggy!
Kate goes to New York for a one off performance and gets Brody and Jack to go with her to see her dance.
The principle dancer and choreographer for the dance is Davidof (from Reflections and Dreams book, not yet blogged) I loved that again Nora has connected her books and feel that this is something she will continue to do over the list.
After an emotional finale they finally admit they want to be together forever and want to get married and the cutest bit is when Jack asks Kate to marry hima dn his father. Its too cute.
Again the rest of the Stanislaski gang is in the story and all of the generations, Nick and Freddie have 2 kids in this book which is great and the progression of all of the characters is relative.
Emensly enjoyed this series and was a little sad they ended, they had fantasy and romance and dance and violence and lots of heart ache. Brilliant writing and wonderful insight into really dreadful things that happen to people in the real world.
The tug at your heart strings and ou find yourself aching along with the characters and you find crying and laughing with them too.
I was actually on the train and reading one of the books and there was a really funny part that i laughed at forgetting i was on the train and not sitting ina quiet room, i was that engrossed in the story.
Quite simply LOVED IT! 10/10.
Taming Natasha- Natasha and Spencer Kimball
Luring a Lady- Mikhail and Sydney Hayward
Falling for Rachel- Rachel and Zack Muldoon
Convincing Alex- Alexi and Bess McKnee
Waiting for Nick- Nick LeBeck (Zack's brother) and Freddie Kimball (Natasha and Spence daughter)
Considering Kate- Kate Kimball and Brody O'Connell
A really lovely series that i have to say thoroughly enjoyed reading. The wonderful story of how the Ukranian family came to settle in America.
I was unsure if i would like this series because the titles didnt really stand out to me and i didnt think i would enjoy them that much.
I was wrong again and did infact really enjoy them.
Taming Natasha
Natasha is a wonderfully energetic and loving character and i was a little taken by her in this book. She lives in West Virginia and owns a toy store. She has a past and a history, coming to America at a young age and sruggling the first few years of her life there. The moe from the war torn Ukraine was difficult and frightening but her parents wanted what was best for them.
Natasha and her two siblings came into the country and made a life for themselves. Her youngest sister was born in America.
Spence Kimball is a widow with a 5 year old daughter Freddie. He moves to the small town to give his daughter the best life possible. He is a world famous composer and one that Natasha knows about and has danced to when she was prima ballerina.
Natasha and Spence hit it off and become entangled with each other. Natasha falls in love with Freddie and struggles with her feelings for Spence. She once was in love and fell pregnant following that she quit ballet and had the baby. Shortly after birth the baby dies and leaves Natasha distraught.
Natasha has to relive and come to terms with her past in order to make a future for herself.
Her family make their debut in this book, brothers Mikhail and Alexi and sister Rachel and the brilliant Nadia and Yuri her parents.
Yuri is the centre of this family and Nadia is the heart of that centre, strong characters that reminded me a little of The MacGreggors.
I really enjoyed this book and couldnt wait to start on the next. As you know i have OCD when it come to reading and if i start a series/trilogy etc i have to finish the whole lot in sequence and one after the other while the last is still in my mind.
Luring a Lady
Mikhail is a very strong and huge man. He exerts power and stregnth and makes women weak at the knees. He has an accent and can melt away any fears or thoughts with his gentle words. He is of course very good looking as all of Nora's men are!
He is a carpenter and artist. He works with his father on contruction but indulges in art and sculpting with wood.
Sydney Haywood is a business woman and just taken over her grandfather property business that she has no idea how to run. Mikhail lives in a building she owns and has issues with maintanence etc and after no help or contact for 18 months he charges head first into her office demanding answers.
She explains her grandfather died and she has recently taken over. She promises to start repairs immediately.
Both of them however feel the passion and sizzle when they were near each other and they found themselves interested. She goes to the building to help and get to know Mikhail and he finds himself more and more infatuated with her.
She was married before so of course there lies the issue that is going to comeback and bite them in the ass come the time they say 'I love you'.
True to form the story involves the rest of the family and the relationship crashes, after a heartfelt one to one with her ex husband Sydney realises she needs Mikhail and him her.
Happy happy ending of course.......
Falling for Rachel
Rachel was born in America and resents it always, not having the history of walking through the mountains to America to a better life. She was born into that better life.
She is a lawyer, public defender to be exact and loves her job.
Nick LeBeck is arrested by Alexi, Rachels brother and Rachel is his PD. Messed up in a gang and a load of crap that goes along with it.
Zack Muldoon is Nick's older step brother who was in the Navy for year, returning when his father died 2 years before.
After court Zack and Rachel are appointed legal guardians of Nick and have to work together to help him.
As you can imagine the story goes into the whole history of Nick and Zack and Rachel trying to get through to him. He gives in a little and she takes them to meet her family and Nick slowly melts. Freddie falls in love with Nick then at the age of 13 (watch this space!).
After much love and passion and plenty of sex the end blow and final woosh is Nicks old gang trying to rob Zack's bar and shoot him. Nick jumps infront of the bullet and nearly dies.
Is there a happy ending???
OF COURSE there is, Nora wouldnt dissapoint!
Convincing Alex
Alexi is a cop and a good one. He is working on the case of prostitutes being murdered. He arrests 2 women he believes are working girls and wants to question them about the murders. Once he gets them to the station he finds out that the cute blonde is actually not a hooker but a writer for a popular soap and is in fact a red head.
There is immediate annoyance on his part and some attraction. She is very happy and enthusiastic about life and the show.
After much resistance Alex finally gives in to his needs and desires and the finally admit they have feelings for each other.
There again is the emotional deal of Bess easily falling in love and dealing with the fact that this time it is real love and Alex cant accept that. Alex has issues with trust and jealousy and he hates to not be in control.
Bess inadvertantly helps Alex solve the case and finally things become better, and a happy ending happens.
I liked Alex's character and Bess is a brilliant and vibrant person. She fits in well with the family and its great to once again see the family and how they have all changed and grown. Natasha has had children and so has Mikhail and his Sydney is preggers again and Rachel is about to pop and goes into labour at the dinner table!
Its a great read and again i enjoyed it.
Waiting for Nick
This book follows Nick (Zack's brother) and Freddie (Natasha and Spence's daughter). Now she is 24 and moving to New York to follow her dream of being a lyricist. As Nick is a composer and a good one about to write the score for a new musical it is a perfect time for her to start her career and also get him to fall in love with her like she has been with him for the last 10 years.
Zack is dealing with his past and still has it interferring with his life. After seeing that Freddie is set on helping he lets her try and while they do they slowly fall in love and fall into bed.
The musical is being funded by Reed Valentine and Maddy O'Hurley is starring, YES YOU HEARD IT RIGHT!!! This is a fabulous twist and i very much enjoyed the fact that we get to meet all of the O'Hurley's again. I was shocked and totally excited when i got to read all about them again.
Abby and Dylan had 4 kids, Maddy and Reed had 3 (1 twins) and Chantel and Quinn had triplet boys. It was lovely to see how their characters have developed.
After a violent and heart breaking scene there is a happy ending at the end!
Considering Kate
Kate Kimball is a strong and confident woman who knows exactly what she wants. She is a prima ballerina and had success all over the world.
She moves back to West Virginia now wanting to settle down. She opens a dance school and hires Brody O'Connell to do the rehab. He has a small boy and is a widow, the story has a similar ring to Natasha and Spence's story.
They hit it off and after much getting in his way she finally wears him down and they get jiggy!
Kate goes to New York for a one off performance and gets Brody and Jack to go with her to see her dance.
The principle dancer and choreographer for the dance is Davidof (from Reflections and Dreams book, not yet blogged) I loved that again Nora has connected her books and feel that this is something she will continue to do over the list.
After an emotional finale they finally admit they want to be together forever and want to get married and the cutest bit is when Jack asks Kate to marry hima dn his father. Its too cute.
Again the rest of the Stanislaski gang is in the story and all of the generations, Nick and Freddie have 2 kids in this book which is great and the progression of all of the characters is relative.
Emensly enjoyed this series and was a little sad they ended, they had fantasy and romance and dance and violence and lots of heart ache. Brilliant writing and wonderful insight into really dreadful things that happen to people in the real world.
The tug at your heart strings and ou find yourself aching along with the characters and you find crying and laughing with them too.
I was actually on the train and reading one of the books and there was a really funny part that i laughed at forgetting i was on the train and not sitting ina quiet room, i was that engrossed in the story.
Quite simply LOVED IT! 10/10.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
The O'Hurleys Series
The O'Hurley Series is made up of four books. They follow the story of three sister (triplets) and their older brother. All led by the talented and strong Frank O'Hurley.
The Last Honest Woman- Abby O'Hurley
Dance to the Piper- Maddy O'Hurley
Skin Deep- Chantel O'Hurley
Without a Trace- Trace O'Hurley
The parents Molly and Frank are entertainers and live like gypsies forever on the road looking for their next show. Trace being the eldest plays the piano and is part of the acts but the triplets are the stars. Abby's beautiful voice and gentle nature, Maddy's super dancing feet and her hunger for the outragious and beautiful then Chantel the dramatic and most beautiful of all (and probably the vainest!).
The Last Honest Woman
Abby Rockwell is the middle sisiter and a beautiful and talented woman, she lives with her two sons on a farm in virginia. She tends to the farm and breeds horses to earn money. She loves her life and her boys yet her husband who died years before still haunts her.
Dylan Crosby is a writer and journalist and very good one at that. He is employed to write a story, an official biography about Abby's husband t he great and notorious Chuck Rockwell the racing driver.
Abby has never spoken about her time with Chuck and has tried to forget about it however she needs the money and it would pay well so she agrees.
Dylan comes to stay with them and of course he is goegeous as well. They are immediately attracted however Dylan believes she is some rich widow who is living off the inheritance and hiding the truth.
She is hiding hte truth but not hte one he thinks and believes. He finds this hardworking honest woman who appears to not be rich. Chuck had been very wealthy not just from racing but from family as well.
Abby had nothing and got nothing when he died thanks to his mother who hated her. Abby didnt mind really but for the boys she wished she had more.
Dylan uneashes many of the memories Abby is still running from and forces her to face up to it all the while they are falling in love.
Abby's two boys are fun and Dylan falls in love with them too.
It all comes good in the end and lovely cosy happy ending.
I enjoyed this story and enjoyed the back story of the family performing and how Abby full of romance and love ran off with Chuck and got married at 18.
A heart warming story of heart ache and freedom. Nora doesnt fail to entice you with a little mystery and violence. She is true to herself when giving all of her main characters in the books a little back story and history.
Dance to the Piper
Maddy O'Hurley is the youngest sister and a dancer and performer on the theatre circuit in New York. She is a broadway star but doesnt have the ego of one. She works hard and enjoys her job.
She has the lead in a new play about a stripper adn is very excited to play this very sexual and strong female. The routines are gruelling and she is exhausted most of the time. The funding for the play is being given by a owner of Valentine records, a record producing company that is one of the most successful. Reed Valentine is the new owner after his father stepped down to retire.
Reed visits the studio and bumps into Maddy they immediately have a moment and as you have probably guessed it a romance ensues although they are completly different from each other and she is a gypsy and he a very tailored and successfull business man in suits and no stubble.
Lots of heart ache and worry on her part, lots of anger and distrust on his side. Proves for a wonderfully emotionally charged few chapters and a happy happy ending.
You catch up a little with Abby and Dylan in this story and they are married and she is pregnant. Its wonderful to see the previous characters which Nora does well with the trilogoes and series.
I enjoyed this book and it was a good read.
Skin Deep
Chantel O'Hurley is the eldest sister and a world successsful actress of movies. Sh elights up the screen and is very good at what she does. It helps that she si absolutely stunning and has a great personality to boot. Although she is a little materialistic, why not she is rich and never had that as a child so shse deserved the best.
Chantel starts to get harrassed by who she thinks is a crazed fan. He sends her roses and follows her and even phones her house nad trailor on set.
She eventuall tells her manager who enlists the help of his friend and security expert Quinn Doran. He has a history that is kept quiet and not until the last book do you get it! Excellent!
He is strong and a little rude which irritates Chantel. He thinks she is a silly actress who deserves what hse gets after all she chose to be an actress.
He takes the job and after living in her house for a few weeks realises that she is not what she appears to be and immediately satrts to fall in love with her.
She has been burned before and is reluctant to get into another relationship but Quinn is very persuasive and he is always there for her witht the stalker.
They rub each other the wrong way and right way i suppose!! Its actually quite fun to read and when they go to New York for Maddy and Reed's wedding the stalker strikes again and there is a lot of stress and worry.
The story really keeps you guessing who the stalker is beacause it is clearly someone close to her.
They both cant figure it out and when the stalker strikes for the last time its already a little late.
She is trapped in the pool house and it is on fire, Quinn is on his way back from a meeting with her manager and sees the fire.
An exciting scene and a happy ending of course.
Without a Trace
Trace O'Hurley is the older brother and hasnt seen his family in about 8 years. He lives around the world and his family have no idea what he does for a living.
Turns out he is an agent as in James Bond without all of the fancy gadgets and glamour!
He is on holiday and decides that it his time to quit and get his life back together. In walks Gillian a doctor and desperately searching for her brother and neice.
Dr Gillian is a scientist as are all the members of her family. On the verge of developing some vaccine her brother is kidnapped by rebels and extremists. Her father too ill to help directs her to a friend who can help who then sends her to Trace.
He is reluctant to help but for some reason he feels compelled to, the friend she saw is dead and he owes it to him to see this one through and with the money she was paying him he could retire easily.
He didnt expect or want to fall in love but inevitably he did as did she.
This book is more dangerous and gives the reader a littel bit of the fantasy life. All of the other stories are a littel more believable and you can see your self as the person your reading baout however this book doesnt draw you in like that it maeks you think of a gangster movie or a spy film and you are watching all of the scenes with excitement and on the edge of your seat.
I really enjoyed Trace and he was rough and tough and a little bit mean with his bad boy persona however deep down he missed his sisters and wanted so babdly to see them.
After a very violent and exciting escape plan where Gillian shoots Trace (only a scratch) and the saving of Gillians family they go home to see his family. Making a brilliant entrance at Chantels Wedding. The littel twist i mentioned earlier with Quinn was that he was also a secret agent and had met Trace years before but didnt realise who he was (undercover names).
I enjoyed this book and the rest of them. I liked how like with most of her books there is a central parent of adult figure that pulls the families together. Frank and Molly are those people in these books and they were a pleasure to read.
My score 7/10
The Last Honest Woman- Abby O'Hurley
Dance to the Piper- Maddy O'Hurley
Skin Deep- Chantel O'Hurley
Without a Trace- Trace O'Hurley
The parents Molly and Frank are entertainers and live like gypsies forever on the road looking for their next show. Trace being the eldest plays the piano and is part of the acts but the triplets are the stars. Abby's beautiful voice and gentle nature, Maddy's super dancing feet and her hunger for the outragious and beautiful then Chantel the dramatic and most beautiful of all (and probably the vainest!).
The Last Honest Woman
Abby Rockwell is the middle sisiter and a beautiful and talented woman, she lives with her two sons on a farm in virginia. She tends to the farm and breeds horses to earn money. She loves her life and her boys yet her husband who died years before still haunts her.
Dylan Crosby is a writer and journalist and very good one at that. He is employed to write a story, an official biography about Abby's husband t he great and notorious Chuck Rockwell the racing driver.
Abby has never spoken about her time with Chuck and has tried to forget about it however she needs the money and it would pay well so she agrees.
Dylan comes to stay with them and of course he is goegeous as well. They are immediately attracted however Dylan believes she is some rich widow who is living off the inheritance and hiding the truth.
She is hiding hte truth but not hte one he thinks and believes. He finds this hardworking honest woman who appears to not be rich. Chuck had been very wealthy not just from racing but from family as well.
Abby had nothing and got nothing when he died thanks to his mother who hated her. Abby didnt mind really but for the boys she wished she had more.
Dylan uneashes many of the memories Abby is still running from and forces her to face up to it all the while they are falling in love.
Abby's two boys are fun and Dylan falls in love with them too.
It all comes good in the end and lovely cosy happy ending.
I enjoyed this story and enjoyed the back story of the family performing and how Abby full of romance and love ran off with Chuck and got married at 18.
A heart warming story of heart ache and freedom. Nora doesnt fail to entice you with a little mystery and violence. She is true to herself when giving all of her main characters in the books a little back story and history.
Dance to the Piper
Maddy O'Hurley is the youngest sister and a dancer and performer on the theatre circuit in New York. She is a broadway star but doesnt have the ego of one. She works hard and enjoys her job.
She has the lead in a new play about a stripper adn is very excited to play this very sexual and strong female. The routines are gruelling and she is exhausted most of the time. The funding for the play is being given by a owner of Valentine records, a record producing company that is one of the most successful. Reed Valentine is the new owner after his father stepped down to retire.
Reed visits the studio and bumps into Maddy they immediately have a moment and as you have probably guessed it a romance ensues although they are completly different from each other and she is a gypsy and he a very tailored and successfull business man in suits and no stubble.
Lots of heart ache and worry on her part, lots of anger and distrust on his side. Proves for a wonderfully emotionally charged few chapters and a happy happy ending.
You catch up a little with Abby and Dylan in this story and they are married and she is pregnant. Its wonderful to see the previous characters which Nora does well with the trilogoes and series.
I enjoyed this book and it was a good read.
Skin Deep
Chantel O'Hurley is the eldest sister and a world successsful actress of movies. Sh elights up the screen and is very good at what she does. It helps that she si absolutely stunning and has a great personality to boot. Although she is a little materialistic, why not she is rich and never had that as a child so shse deserved the best.
Chantel starts to get harrassed by who she thinks is a crazed fan. He sends her roses and follows her and even phones her house nad trailor on set.
She eventuall tells her manager who enlists the help of his friend and security expert Quinn Doran. He has a history that is kept quiet and not until the last book do you get it! Excellent!
He is strong and a little rude which irritates Chantel. He thinks she is a silly actress who deserves what hse gets after all she chose to be an actress.
He takes the job and after living in her house for a few weeks realises that she is not what she appears to be and immediately satrts to fall in love with her.
She has been burned before and is reluctant to get into another relationship but Quinn is very persuasive and he is always there for her witht the stalker.
They rub each other the wrong way and right way i suppose!! Its actually quite fun to read and when they go to New York for Maddy and Reed's wedding the stalker strikes again and there is a lot of stress and worry.
The story really keeps you guessing who the stalker is beacause it is clearly someone close to her.
They both cant figure it out and when the stalker strikes for the last time its already a little late.
She is trapped in the pool house and it is on fire, Quinn is on his way back from a meeting with her manager and sees the fire.
An exciting scene and a happy ending of course.
Without a Trace
Trace O'Hurley is the older brother and hasnt seen his family in about 8 years. He lives around the world and his family have no idea what he does for a living.
Turns out he is an agent as in James Bond without all of the fancy gadgets and glamour!
He is on holiday and decides that it his time to quit and get his life back together. In walks Gillian a doctor and desperately searching for her brother and neice.
Dr Gillian is a scientist as are all the members of her family. On the verge of developing some vaccine her brother is kidnapped by rebels and extremists. Her father too ill to help directs her to a friend who can help who then sends her to Trace.
He is reluctant to help but for some reason he feels compelled to, the friend she saw is dead and he owes it to him to see this one through and with the money she was paying him he could retire easily.
He didnt expect or want to fall in love but inevitably he did as did she.
This book is more dangerous and gives the reader a littel bit of the fantasy life. All of the other stories are a littel more believable and you can see your self as the person your reading baout however this book doesnt draw you in like that it maeks you think of a gangster movie or a spy film and you are watching all of the scenes with excitement and on the edge of your seat.
I really enjoyed Trace and he was rough and tough and a little bit mean with his bad boy persona however deep down he missed his sisters and wanted so babdly to see them.
After a very violent and exciting escape plan where Gillian shoots Trace (only a scratch) and the saving of Gillians family they go home to see his family. Making a brilliant entrance at Chantels Wedding. The littel twist i mentioned earlier with Quinn was that he was also a secret agent and had met Trace years before but didnt realise who he was (undercover names).
I enjoyed this book and the rest of them. I liked how like with most of her books there is a central parent of adult figure that pulls the families together. Frank and Molly are those people in these books and they were a pleasure to read.
My score 7/10
Friday, 24 February 2012
The Cordina's
This series consists of four stories. It follows the lives of the very royal family of Cordina, Princess Gabriella, Prince Alexander and Prince Bennett.
Affaire Royal which follows Princess Gabriella
Command Performance follows Prince Alexander
The Playboy Prince follows Prince Bennett
The fourth book is a bit of an odd one for me, it follows Camilla the daughter of Gabriella and for me doesnt really fit. I didnt see the need for this book the three would have been just as good without this one although it was still a great read.
Affaire Royal
Princess Gabriella is a young vibrant woman who after her mother passed away became the female of the house and the one to hold all of the responsibilities that go along with that.
She is however kidnapped and escapes but left with temporary amnesia.
The amnesia story is great and I really enjoy reading these type of stories, it reminded me of the book Sophie Kinsella wrote called Remember me?
Her father Prince Armand enlists the help of Reeve MacGee an ex cop in America with a strong history of solving the most difficult and dangerous cases.
Reeve has been in love with Gabriella for a long time but at the moment she has no idea who anyone is including herself.
The book looks at her struggle with her memory and trying to find who she really is deep down all while falling head over heels in love with Reeve.
As the story evolves the identity of those involved in her kidnap become evident and the biggest enemy of Prince Armand and his family.
I enjoyed this book even though i was a little unsure at first. The characters are loveable and the whole mystery aspect adds a certain excitement to the usual sex adn romance.
Command Performance
This book follows Prince Alexander, he is the air to the throne and next in line to rule being the eldest son. He has been bred and was born for the time he was to take over from his father.
He knows this and acepts it with ease however he needs to settle down and have a family, not just needs but wants to.
Eve is a friend of Gabriella and the very best friend of Bennett. She is wild and carefree with the social upbringing to be accustomed to the lifestyle of the royal family.
She is beautiful and a successful director of theatre. She comes to Cordina at the request of Alexander to put on a series of plays for charity.
There has always been a connection with Alexander and he believes that her and Bennett have been an item. He however still persues her and wins oout her heart.
The deadly enemy from the first book strikes again in this one and decides to start setting off bombs to kill the near and dear of Prince Armand.
Eve is almost killed a couple of times and in the end is shot, jumping infront of a bullet to save Alexander.
This book had a little more violence and excitement than the first and i enjoyed reading it very much. I didnt feel massively connected to any of the characters in the book like i sometimes do and this was the same across all of them.
Overall a good read.
The Playboy Prince
The book follows Bennett the youngest of the Cordina royal family and he has lived up to the name of Playboy. Known for his sexy ways and sleeping around but he really isnt as bad as they make out.
Hannah is a very plain woman or so he thinks. She comes to stay in Cordina to help Eve and her baby and unborn baby.
Bennett is immediately attracted and interested in Hannah and starts to seduce her.
She is tough and a lot more than anyone realises, well apart from Armand and Reeve that is.
Hannah is a secret agent a kind of undercover spy you might say. She has infiltrated the enemy and they believe she is working for them. She is actually working for Reeve.
She completely opens the case and she captures the bad guy in the end, Bennetts heart is bruised that all the while they were sleeping together and falling in love she had lied about who she was.
There is a bit rough fighting in this book and Hannah is a true female power attitude kind of character and taking care of the family she now loved.
I enjoyed this book the most and the unknown whats going to happen next makes the book hard to put down.
Cordina's Crown Jewel
This book for me wasnt really necessary. It is 20+ years after the last book and focuses on Camilla, the daughter of Reeve and Gabriella. She has the life her mother had and feels trapped and shut in. She decides after almost having a nervous breakdown to flee the family for an extended holiday under her fathers name MacGee rather than Princess Cordina etc etc!
She has a car accident and ends up staying with the rude and mean Delany Caine.
He is a Indiana Jones type of archeologist and really really mean.
Of course they fall in love and have a wonderful affaire however he is unaware that she is the Princess so when it eventually comes out he shuts her own and quite literally throws her out of his house.
The parents become involved and get the two of them talking however its her time to feel decieved as he didnt tell her that he is really a Lord. She goes mad and they argue etc etc
I didnt get the reason for this book, it just kind of flaps seperate from the rest. It was of course good to read and i did it in about 10 hours.
Nora explores more mystery and excitement in these books and i really enjoyed reading them however not my favourite. I give them a 4/10
Affaire Royal which follows Princess Gabriella
Command Performance follows Prince Alexander
The Playboy Prince follows Prince Bennett
The fourth book is a bit of an odd one for me, it follows Camilla the daughter of Gabriella and for me doesnt really fit. I didnt see the need for this book the three would have been just as good without this one although it was still a great read.
Affaire Royal
Princess Gabriella is a young vibrant woman who after her mother passed away became the female of the house and the one to hold all of the responsibilities that go along with that.
She is however kidnapped and escapes but left with temporary amnesia.
The amnesia story is great and I really enjoy reading these type of stories, it reminded me of the book Sophie Kinsella wrote called Remember me?
Her father Prince Armand enlists the help of Reeve MacGee an ex cop in America with a strong history of solving the most difficult and dangerous cases.
Reeve has been in love with Gabriella for a long time but at the moment she has no idea who anyone is including herself.
The book looks at her struggle with her memory and trying to find who she really is deep down all while falling head over heels in love with Reeve.
As the story evolves the identity of those involved in her kidnap become evident and the biggest enemy of Prince Armand and his family.
I enjoyed this book even though i was a little unsure at first. The characters are loveable and the whole mystery aspect adds a certain excitement to the usual sex adn romance.
Command Performance
This book follows Prince Alexander, he is the air to the throne and next in line to rule being the eldest son. He has been bred and was born for the time he was to take over from his father.
He knows this and acepts it with ease however he needs to settle down and have a family, not just needs but wants to.
Eve is a friend of Gabriella and the very best friend of Bennett. She is wild and carefree with the social upbringing to be accustomed to the lifestyle of the royal family.
She is beautiful and a successful director of theatre. She comes to Cordina at the request of Alexander to put on a series of plays for charity.
There has always been a connection with Alexander and he believes that her and Bennett have been an item. He however still persues her and wins oout her heart.
The deadly enemy from the first book strikes again in this one and decides to start setting off bombs to kill the near and dear of Prince Armand.
Eve is almost killed a couple of times and in the end is shot, jumping infront of a bullet to save Alexander.
This book had a little more violence and excitement than the first and i enjoyed reading it very much. I didnt feel massively connected to any of the characters in the book like i sometimes do and this was the same across all of them.
Overall a good read.
The Playboy Prince
The book follows Bennett the youngest of the Cordina royal family and he has lived up to the name of Playboy. Known for his sexy ways and sleeping around but he really isnt as bad as they make out.
Hannah is a very plain woman or so he thinks. She comes to stay in Cordina to help Eve and her baby and unborn baby.
Bennett is immediately attracted and interested in Hannah and starts to seduce her.
She is tough and a lot more than anyone realises, well apart from Armand and Reeve that is.
Hannah is a secret agent a kind of undercover spy you might say. She has infiltrated the enemy and they believe she is working for them. She is actually working for Reeve.
She completely opens the case and she captures the bad guy in the end, Bennetts heart is bruised that all the while they were sleeping together and falling in love she had lied about who she was.
There is a bit rough fighting in this book and Hannah is a true female power attitude kind of character and taking care of the family she now loved.
I enjoyed this book the most and the unknown whats going to happen next makes the book hard to put down.
Cordina's Crown Jewel
This book for me wasnt really necessary. It is 20+ years after the last book and focuses on Camilla, the daughter of Reeve and Gabriella. She has the life her mother had and feels trapped and shut in. She decides after almost having a nervous breakdown to flee the family for an extended holiday under her fathers name MacGee rather than Princess Cordina etc etc!
She has a car accident and ends up staying with the rude and mean Delany Caine.
He is a Indiana Jones type of archeologist and really really mean.
Of course they fall in love and have a wonderful affaire however he is unaware that she is the Princess so when it eventually comes out he shuts her own and quite literally throws her out of his house.
The parents become involved and get the two of them talking however its her time to feel decieved as he didnt tell her that he is really a Lord. She goes mad and they argue etc etc
I didnt get the reason for this book, it just kind of flaps seperate from the rest. It was of course good to read and i did it in about 10 hours.
Nora explores more mystery and excitement in these books and i really enjoyed reading them however not my favourite. I give them a 4/10
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
The MacGregors by Nora Roberts
The MacGregor series by Nora Roberts are made up of 11 books and are each unique yet tangled to each other in different ways and family being the ultimate tie.
Playing the Odds
Tempting Fate
All the possibilities
One Man's Art
For now, forever
Rebellion
In from the cold
The MacGregor brides
Winning hand
The MacGregor grooms
Perfect neighbour
Now I have to admit that when I first read the synopsis for these books i was a little confused and to be honest not really wanting to read them. I danced around choosing the series despite loving all of her other ones.
Due to my need to read as any Nora books as i can i decided i had to read them and i happy to announce i was totally wrong and i absolutely love the books.
So far i have read the first three and am blogging about them first as i am not sure i can read all 11 and then blog. I wanted to remember everything and write about them when i have them fresh and real in my mind.
The books are about a fabulous family that you dont quite meet and understand until a little ways through the first book. The loveable Daniel MacGregor is a wonderful character and central to all of the books and he is a pleasure to read.
Playing the Odds
Serena MacGregor is the first member of the family who gets the intense and wonderfully interferring personality of Daniel MacGregor.
Serena is a very clever and beautiful woman, she has a wonderful family who she loves and a job working as a black jack dealer on a cruise liner. She is good at her job and the customers love her.
She is a beautiful woman and i really enjoyed getting to know her and form a picyure of her in my mind. Blonde and petite with violet eyes, she meets her match in the gorgeous and handsome gambler Justin.
He is everything she isnt looking for and yet she uncontrolably attracted. The sparring between the two is brilliant to read and very enjoyable. The immdiate passion and wanting in the two is lovely and as you get their stories you fall in love with them individually and asa couple.
Daniel is her father and a meddling one at that, he believes he knows whats best for them and takes every opportunity in becoming involved!
He sets up Justin to take the cruise and knowing his daughter and justins personalities he knew they would meet, hoped they would be more than just friends.
Even after Serena and Justin found out that he had set the whole thing up they still couldnt saty mad at him. It was so funny and i just fell in love with Daniel, he is a fiery scotsman who i can totally relate to being half scottish! He is a powerful and exciting character to read. Serena has his fiery scottish temperment and every time she blows Justin falls a little bit more!
After finally coming to Justin in Atlantic city to run a casino hotel with him she eventually gives in and admits she loves him and him her. But there is no happy ending just yet. As you feel the whole thing is coming to an end Nora adds in the little twist of Serena being Kidnapped by someone from Justins past and you finally see the real and emotional love that is oozing from Justin. My heart was aching for him and i found myself totally in depth with the family like i was one of them!
Meeting the brothers Caine and Alan and their mother Anna in this first book and seeing a family with a lot of love and passion its easy to want to read the rest of the books.
Totally and utterly in love with the series so far but that could change as the stories unfold!
Tempting Fate
Caine MacGregor is a highly sucessful lawyer and one that every person knows of and in the court room is afraid of and every woman knows of in the bedroom.
He has a reputation for being smooth with the women and never has had any trouble getting one or dealing with them.
In walks Diana the beautiful and mysterious younger sister of Justin, she comes to visit her brother and meets Caine and immediately there is a spark and powerful and lusty spark. Caine is a little un-nerved by it and Diana is a little cofused and totally attracted.
Finding out most of her life is a lie and not really having a true family that loved her she decides to start all over again.
There is a great deal of respect for this character and i believe that she has grown up to believe that she is something she really isnt. Caine touches on her passion and her ability to love which is so lovely to read. The eternal ladies man falls in love and helps her build herself back up.
I like to think his family and the love he has for them makes his connection to Diana and wanting to help and protect her that much more powerful.
Of course there is resistance from her and arguments and passionate kisses ensue but it all comes good in the end! Daniels meddling in his children's life is amusing and he doesnt disappoint in this book either, he brings Diana's feelings for Caine to the surface and deal with it. The emotional outbursts i think are wonderful and you feel really angry or upset right along with them.
When they are scared you feel it and when they are passionate you also feel it. I couldnt put these books down and read them in 2 days flat! My husband wasnt very happy with being neglected!
I went straight onto the third installment and the final of the three siblings eager to get the last siblings story.
All the possibilities
Alan MacGregor is a politician, senator to be precise and a damn good one at that. Well liked and known and a shoe in for the presdental election in a decade.
His life of society parties and living amongst other politicians can be a little tiring however its the life he chose.
Shelby Campbell is a beautiful half Scottish potter who is living her life exactly how she chooses to and not afraid to do it. She is accustomed to the society life as her father was a senator who was assasinated on the run up to presidental elections when she was 6 years old.
Her mother still runs in those circles and she still has friends in high places.
Alan and Shelby are completely different in so many ways and that is what makes this my favourite book out of these three. I was initially not very feeling about Alan, in the other books i didnt really get a fell for him and found i didnt really mind. However needing to finish the series i went on to read it and enjoyed it very much.
Alan's character is tidy and logical and sensible but love never is so you get to see a rougher side to him. The more sensual and passionate side that sweeps Shelby off her feet. She doesnt want a man like Alan and haas vowed never to fall in love with someone in his job.
Shelby's character is quirky and fun and very aware of herself, she is a joy to read and i thought she would be the more dominant in the relationship but Alan just swoops in and gives her everything she wanted. The amazingly passionate sex and kisses that left her weak in the knees and he just got her without really getting to know her.
The relationship is reallt powerful and i think its the most passionate out of the three, the urgency and need for each other is really well dialogued in this book and i felt i was in that relationship. Being a Campbell her clan and the MacGregors are enemies throughout history and so when Daniel wants to meet her she is eager to match him insult for insult.
She really stands up for herself and she stands her ground with him to which he adores and she seems to slot into the family very easily.
Reading all of the family together, Daniel and Anna so clearly perfect and in love, Serena heavily pregnant and Justin, Caine and Diana, Alan and Shelby. At last Daniel see his children happy and in love, grand children being born and his heritage becoming a reality.
I felt like a member of the family and was connected to them beyond belief, it was truely a lovely read and i am eager to continue into the next books.
One Mans Art
This book is a spin off to the first three books. Although its a spin off it still has that strong connection to the MacGregors.
This book focuses on Grant Campbell who we met briefly in Shelbys and Alan's story, he is her brother and a social recluse and utterly gorgeous.
Genvieve Grandeau is a beautiful artist looking to enjoy a month painting the beautiful town and she has her sights set on Grants lighthouse to paint.
Grant is still living with his fathers assassination when he was a teenager and Gennie is dealing with her sisters death. This book is a lovely story about battling demons and dealing with the things that hurt you the most. Gennie is a strong woman and possibly the only one who has ever got to Grant.
Grant felt it the moment he saw her and she did too. Their firey relationship is a wonderful read and although the story was a spin off it was linked very well.
Grant knows the MacGregors through his sister and being at their wedding. Gennie is related to Justin and Diana from their french side of the family. Amazingly there is the link and once again Daniel is able to have a little fun helping a romantic out!
All together they are at the MacGregors home and becoming a family, Diana now pregnant and Alan and Shelby home from their honeymoon and Rena giving birth to the first of the grandchildren,
Its a good story and a lovely way to keep the interest in the MacGregors.
For Now, Forever
This book is a favourite of mine. It gives you the back story of Daniel and Anna. Its a wonderfully written book and its done from the point of view of Daniel dreaming. It starts with Daniel being hurt really badly in a car accident and the whole family waiting at the hospital. While waiting for him to come around Anna sits with him and he dreams about how he and Anna first met and fell in love.
Its a beautiful story and one i have not too much to say about.
Anna is a headstrong and independent and falls wildly in love with Daniel and his arogant and totally sexy manish attitude. He knows what he wants and that is Anna.
It was really lovely reading the way he and Anna met and why he is the way he is. The end of the book is seeing him wake to all his family around him, Serena and Justin and their baby and pregnant, Alan and Shelby and new baby boy Daniel, Caine and Diana and their daughter, Grant and Gennie heavily pregnant. He has everything he ever wanted around him and so much love.
Its lovely to see his and Anna's love and friendship and how that came about, totally brilliant book.
Rebellion
This book i found a little hard to get into, i found the jump to 1735/45 really difficult and found it really hard to imagine myself there. Dont get me wwrong it was very well written and like all of her novels the story was of romance and pain and survival but with the series starting with the children then going back in time to thier parents then jumoing all the way back again to eventually going forward and leaping way ahead to Daniel and Anna's granschildren.
Once i got into the story it was really good and i understood the rebellion at the time and the hatred for the English and certain clans of Scotland. The fire and passion of the Scottish and their need ot fight for what they believe in is evident and you can feel what they are feeling.
I did enjoy the story and once i was used to the tie difference it was a nice story to read. Seeing where the MacGregor passion and stubborness comes from and the brilliant red hair too. Serena MacGregor is a very fiery character and with lots of paaion and needs. Falling in love with an Englishman is not what she wanted or expected but never the less it was meant to be.
Brigham was a lord and very wealthy and fell in love with Serena and her fiery ways. He believed in what the Scottish did and being of the same heritage they were. He would fight along side the Scottish and almost died for them.
Coming back for Serena and taking her to America giving her the life he wanted for her along with some of her family.
In from the Cold
This story is all about Ian MacGregor who was born to Serena's brother in the end of Rebellion. He is now a grown man and still fighting the war. He gets injured and collapses in a barn. Alanna a beautiful widow comes upon him and her family nurse him back to health.
They are too firery with each other and soon love comes over them, she is anxious because war took her brother away, she lost her mother to grief adn her husband soon after. She never wanted that life for herself adn had no intention of falling in love with a man who embodied all she didnt want.
After a lot of heart ache and sufferring and a heartfelt intervention for Serena the couple go on to marry and have a baby the night the MacGregor name is cleared.
I did enjoy these stories but it was hard to put myself there like i do with all books i read. It wasnt the best of the books and i found i really didnt feel the need or want to know the history to be honest. I was quite happy reading the books in chronological order.
The MacGreggor Brides
This book is made up of three stories. It focuses on 3 of Daniel's grand daughters. Laura, Julia and Gwendolyn.
It starts with Laura MacGreggor the daughter of Caine and Diana. She is a tough new lawyer and works with her parents. She lives with her two cousins and has done for years.
She is strong and confident and of course as all the women in these books, she is stunning. She has no trouble with men but then Royce Cameron wasn't standing infront of her. He is an ex cop who has his own security business and hired by Daniel MacGreggor to check his grand daughters security at their home. He purposely puts Royce infront of her.
They start and have a wonderfully passionate love affair leading to what neither if them expected. He had been married before and wasn't sure he wanted it again but he didn't expect to love Laura.
A lovely short story with the infamous Daniel MacGreggor getting his way!!
Next up for his meddling ways was Gwendolyn, a beautiful doctor and daughter of Serena and Justin. She has no time for a man. In walks Branson Maguire a novelist and very successful. He is researching a book with a doctor as the main character. Daniel asks her to help him out so she obliges as she loves her grandfather.
What she didn't expect was to fall in love and risk everything.
Feeling the love and romance between them and her innocence is so beautifully written.
Nora is able to make you feel those feelings and bring it to the surface. I live reading her and cannot put the book down.
Gwen and Brandon so perfect and Daniel MacGreggor once again pulls it out the bag!
My favourite part in this story is the 12 days of Christmas he gives her and how the emotion is clear as he does. I just loved it!
Last but by no means least is Julia and my favourite out of the three. She is the daughter of Alan and Shelby and a super super business woman. Buying houses and doing them up she is the best at what she does. Her regular builder is unable to work the new house she has so hi son who she hates is doing it.
Funny though because Daniel and the father of cullum plotted it together, naughty naughty! I love the conspiracy and naughtyness of it all!
She is a feisty woman and knows what she wants and that is not cullum but he keeps popping up! They fight and argue so much and it's so fun to read. And you can feel the passion oozing and building up and as your reading you are waiting for that moment when the passion explodes and they don't let you down. It's heat and fire and without realising it falling in love.
The whole Cilla Black of Daniel MacGreggor and his mischievous ways just makes me smile. Thoroughly enjoyed these three little stories and am looking forward to reading the next installment of the great MacGreggor and his clan!
The Winning Hand
I absolutely love love love this book! Darcey is a very pretty innocent young woman who ran away from her terrible life and a man who frightened her.
She ran all the way to Vegas and was dazzled by the bright lights. She strolls into The Commanche and right up to the slots and putting her last 10 dollars in the machine she hit big! A little under 2 million dollars.
She looks like a homeless person with only a bag to her name but when she wins and a crowd builds she faints and wakes up with a gorgeous man watching her. Daniel 'Mac' MacGreggor the eldest of the grandchildren and son to Serena and Justin. He runs the Vegas casino and proceeds to help Darcey and her winnings.
Eventually they become entagled and love becomes an issue. He falls hard and she is smitten. Daniel plays his part in this novel, although he doesnt set up the meeting he however does fly to vegas and meddle a little. As does Serena becoming a little like her meddling father!
I really enjoyed the book and found myself feeling excited by the buzz of vegas just as i had with Serena and Justin and their casino story.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and am finding it very hard to think the series is nearly finished!
on to the next i believe!!
The MacGreggor Grooms
OMG i am totally falling in love with these books. The MacGreggors have become a part of my life for the past month and i have been living in their world. I have thought about them constantly and needing to read the next is always on my mind. The phrase "i just couldnt put it down" is so true in every sense of the word. I really have not been able to put them down!
These next stories in one book are about three of Daniel MacGreggors grandsons, DC MacGreggor, Duncan Blade and Ian MacGreggor. And i have to say i am totally in love with all of the men as well!!
DC MacGreggor is the son of Alan and Shelby and a very good artist. He is a little bit of a recluse like his uncle and just as brilliant. He loves his family with passion and after living in the white house for 8 years likes his peace and quiet.
Layna is a beautiful young woman who is the god daughter of Myra (Anna's best friend in Daniel and Anna's story). DC is also Myra's god child and she sees fit to help Daniel in his meddling ways!
Layna has taken over her fathers department store and has recently moved to the area. Daniel get DC to help her and from then on a love blossoms. She is not his type (or so Daniel tells him) therefore DC finds it amusing to start a romance with her and it ending with them both head over heels (just as Daniel and Myra planned!).
I loved this story and laughed at some of the lines, Nora does put comedy into her books but only enough to make you smile or have a little laugh and then the romance and pure passion ooze out of the books.
Duncan Blade is the son of Serena and Justin and runs the riverboat casino and is a known playboy nad all around lady's man. And why not he is gorgeous and young.
Cat Farrell is a beautiful singer on the rise and is hired for the entertainment on the boat, By recommendation of his brother Mac who advised of her via Daniel of course!!
Cat is a rising star with the voice to match and she is aware that nothing can stand in her way so when Duncan decides he wants her she tries so hard to not be interested but how long can she stay away from him when she is slowly falling in love with him.
She tries hard not to care and even after e helps her career by contacting a record label she cant hel but fall head over heels.
I loved Cat's character and she is a very sexy and exciting woman, you can see what Duncan sees in her. The love and passionate scenes in the books are as always amazing and you feel the tingles and makes you wish you were the woman on the recieving end of it!!!
Ian MacGreggor is a lawyer and the son of Caine and Diana. He works at the family lae firm with his parents and sister Laura. He loves his job and he is heading for politics as his father did and possibly presidency as his uncle did but for that to happen he needs to settle down and he is ready.
Ian is a little bit of a scamp with the women and can easily get one but he meets Naomi and everything shifts.
She is a quiet woman with a very differnet life to Ian, she used to be fat and not that attractive. She shied away from people and lived a very sad and quiet life. When her father passed the bookstore to her she grabbed hold and decided to change her life.
She got a makeover and lost weight and now a successful business woman she runs the store. Ian is tasked to deal with the deal of partnership between her and her father, organising the contracts and then for reasons unknown to him he falls in love with her.
She is innocent and had never even been kissed by a man. She was having all her firsts with Ian and he was totally unaware of that. When she told him he was shocked but loved her more.
After some heart ache (of course) and some emotional realisations for both they come back together.
A great story and i really enjoyed each of the stories but after each one finished i wanted more!
onto the last one now.....:0(
The Perfect Neighbour
I loved this story. That is it really.
This story is about an artist Cybil the daughter of Genvieve and Grant Campbell. They are honorary family to the MacGreggors and that doesnt deter the lovely Daniel from meddling in her love life!
Preston is a play write and a very good one at that, a little solitary like her father and when her sunny and happy nature infect him he has no hope!!
She becomes part of his life and despite not wanting it he finds himself needing her and he becomes totally infatuated with her.
he has a past that is affecting his present and she realises that it may not work out as she wants it to.
After again much heart ache and emotional arguments they finally get together and admit how they feel. Daniel is not innocent in the match as well because he owns the building that Cybil lives in and offers the apartment to Preston while his house is being rennovated. Placing him directly in her path and hoping the rest will just develop. He had never got it wrong up to now and even in his 90's he still has it!
This is the last book in the MacGreggor series and a good one at that! Meeting Gennie and Grant again and their relationship that has impacted on Cybil.
Preston had no chance!!!
When i finished the book i was left feeling a little sad and deflated that it was all over, the MacGreggors have been a part of my life for over a month now and i am upset that it has ended however am pleased i can go on and read more of Nora's brilliant stories.
The MacGreggor's will always have a solid place in my heart and i will be happy to go back and read them in the future reminding myself of the wonderful family.
Daniel and Anna's love and commitment carries through all of the books and in the lives of all of the children and grand children, influencing them and making them feel and want the love they still have even after 60 years.
A huge well done to Nora for this collection, it must have been a joy to write them and develop them over the years she wrote.
A very well deserved 10/10 for me!!!
Playing the Odds
Tempting Fate
All the possibilities
One Man's Art
For now, forever
Rebellion
In from the cold
The MacGregor brides
Winning hand
The MacGregor grooms
Perfect neighbour
Now I have to admit that when I first read the synopsis for these books i was a little confused and to be honest not really wanting to read them. I danced around choosing the series despite loving all of her other ones.
Due to my need to read as any Nora books as i can i decided i had to read them and i happy to announce i was totally wrong and i absolutely love the books.
So far i have read the first three and am blogging about them first as i am not sure i can read all 11 and then blog. I wanted to remember everything and write about them when i have them fresh and real in my mind.
The books are about a fabulous family that you dont quite meet and understand until a little ways through the first book. The loveable Daniel MacGregor is a wonderful character and central to all of the books and he is a pleasure to read.
Playing the Odds
Serena MacGregor is the first member of the family who gets the intense and wonderfully interferring personality of Daniel MacGregor.
Serena is a very clever and beautiful woman, she has a wonderful family who she loves and a job working as a black jack dealer on a cruise liner. She is good at her job and the customers love her.
She is a beautiful woman and i really enjoyed getting to know her and form a picyure of her in my mind. Blonde and petite with violet eyes, she meets her match in the gorgeous and handsome gambler Justin.
He is everything she isnt looking for and yet she uncontrolably attracted. The sparring between the two is brilliant to read and very enjoyable. The immdiate passion and wanting in the two is lovely and as you get their stories you fall in love with them individually and asa couple.
Daniel is her father and a meddling one at that, he believes he knows whats best for them and takes every opportunity in becoming involved!
He sets up Justin to take the cruise and knowing his daughter and justins personalities he knew they would meet, hoped they would be more than just friends.
Even after Serena and Justin found out that he had set the whole thing up they still couldnt saty mad at him. It was so funny and i just fell in love with Daniel, he is a fiery scotsman who i can totally relate to being half scottish! He is a powerful and exciting character to read. Serena has his fiery scottish temperment and every time she blows Justin falls a little bit more!
After finally coming to Justin in Atlantic city to run a casino hotel with him she eventually gives in and admits she loves him and him her. But there is no happy ending just yet. As you feel the whole thing is coming to an end Nora adds in the little twist of Serena being Kidnapped by someone from Justins past and you finally see the real and emotional love that is oozing from Justin. My heart was aching for him and i found myself totally in depth with the family like i was one of them!
Meeting the brothers Caine and Alan and their mother Anna in this first book and seeing a family with a lot of love and passion its easy to want to read the rest of the books.
Totally and utterly in love with the series so far but that could change as the stories unfold!
Tempting Fate
Caine MacGregor is a highly sucessful lawyer and one that every person knows of and in the court room is afraid of and every woman knows of in the bedroom.
He has a reputation for being smooth with the women and never has had any trouble getting one or dealing with them.
In walks Diana the beautiful and mysterious younger sister of Justin, she comes to visit her brother and meets Caine and immediately there is a spark and powerful and lusty spark. Caine is a little un-nerved by it and Diana is a little cofused and totally attracted.
Finding out most of her life is a lie and not really having a true family that loved her she decides to start all over again.
There is a great deal of respect for this character and i believe that she has grown up to believe that she is something she really isnt. Caine touches on her passion and her ability to love which is so lovely to read. The eternal ladies man falls in love and helps her build herself back up.
I like to think his family and the love he has for them makes his connection to Diana and wanting to help and protect her that much more powerful.
Of course there is resistance from her and arguments and passionate kisses ensue but it all comes good in the end! Daniels meddling in his children's life is amusing and he doesnt disappoint in this book either, he brings Diana's feelings for Caine to the surface and deal with it. The emotional outbursts i think are wonderful and you feel really angry or upset right along with them.
When they are scared you feel it and when they are passionate you also feel it. I couldnt put these books down and read them in 2 days flat! My husband wasnt very happy with being neglected!
I went straight onto the third installment and the final of the three siblings eager to get the last siblings story.
All the possibilities
Alan MacGregor is a politician, senator to be precise and a damn good one at that. Well liked and known and a shoe in for the presdental election in a decade.
His life of society parties and living amongst other politicians can be a little tiring however its the life he chose.
Shelby Campbell is a beautiful half Scottish potter who is living her life exactly how she chooses to and not afraid to do it. She is accustomed to the society life as her father was a senator who was assasinated on the run up to presidental elections when she was 6 years old.
Her mother still runs in those circles and she still has friends in high places.
Alan and Shelby are completely different in so many ways and that is what makes this my favourite book out of these three. I was initially not very feeling about Alan, in the other books i didnt really get a fell for him and found i didnt really mind. However needing to finish the series i went on to read it and enjoyed it very much.
Alan's character is tidy and logical and sensible but love never is so you get to see a rougher side to him. The more sensual and passionate side that sweeps Shelby off her feet. She doesnt want a man like Alan and haas vowed never to fall in love with someone in his job.
Shelby's character is quirky and fun and very aware of herself, she is a joy to read and i thought she would be the more dominant in the relationship but Alan just swoops in and gives her everything she wanted. The amazingly passionate sex and kisses that left her weak in the knees and he just got her without really getting to know her.
The relationship is reallt powerful and i think its the most passionate out of the three, the urgency and need for each other is really well dialogued in this book and i felt i was in that relationship. Being a Campbell her clan and the MacGregors are enemies throughout history and so when Daniel wants to meet her she is eager to match him insult for insult.
She really stands up for herself and she stands her ground with him to which he adores and she seems to slot into the family very easily.
Reading all of the family together, Daniel and Anna so clearly perfect and in love, Serena heavily pregnant and Justin, Caine and Diana, Alan and Shelby. At last Daniel see his children happy and in love, grand children being born and his heritage becoming a reality.
I felt like a member of the family and was connected to them beyond belief, it was truely a lovely read and i am eager to continue into the next books.
One Mans Art
This book is a spin off to the first three books. Although its a spin off it still has that strong connection to the MacGregors.
This book focuses on Grant Campbell who we met briefly in Shelbys and Alan's story, he is her brother and a social recluse and utterly gorgeous.
Genvieve Grandeau is a beautiful artist looking to enjoy a month painting the beautiful town and she has her sights set on Grants lighthouse to paint.
Grant is still living with his fathers assassination when he was a teenager and Gennie is dealing with her sisters death. This book is a lovely story about battling demons and dealing with the things that hurt you the most. Gennie is a strong woman and possibly the only one who has ever got to Grant.
Grant felt it the moment he saw her and she did too. Their firey relationship is a wonderful read and although the story was a spin off it was linked very well.
Grant knows the MacGregors through his sister and being at their wedding. Gennie is related to Justin and Diana from their french side of the family. Amazingly there is the link and once again Daniel is able to have a little fun helping a romantic out!
All together they are at the MacGregors home and becoming a family, Diana now pregnant and Alan and Shelby home from their honeymoon and Rena giving birth to the first of the grandchildren,
Its a good story and a lovely way to keep the interest in the MacGregors.
For Now, Forever
This book is a favourite of mine. It gives you the back story of Daniel and Anna. Its a wonderfully written book and its done from the point of view of Daniel dreaming. It starts with Daniel being hurt really badly in a car accident and the whole family waiting at the hospital. While waiting for him to come around Anna sits with him and he dreams about how he and Anna first met and fell in love.
Its a beautiful story and one i have not too much to say about.
Anna is a headstrong and independent and falls wildly in love with Daniel and his arogant and totally sexy manish attitude. He knows what he wants and that is Anna.
It was really lovely reading the way he and Anna met and why he is the way he is. The end of the book is seeing him wake to all his family around him, Serena and Justin and their baby and pregnant, Alan and Shelby and new baby boy Daniel, Caine and Diana and their daughter, Grant and Gennie heavily pregnant. He has everything he ever wanted around him and so much love.
Its lovely to see his and Anna's love and friendship and how that came about, totally brilliant book.
Rebellion
This book i found a little hard to get into, i found the jump to 1735/45 really difficult and found it really hard to imagine myself there. Dont get me wwrong it was very well written and like all of her novels the story was of romance and pain and survival but with the series starting with the children then going back in time to thier parents then jumoing all the way back again to eventually going forward and leaping way ahead to Daniel and Anna's granschildren.
Once i got into the story it was really good and i understood the rebellion at the time and the hatred for the English and certain clans of Scotland. The fire and passion of the Scottish and their need ot fight for what they believe in is evident and you can feel what they are feeling.
I did enjoy the story and once i was used to the tie difference it was a nice story to read. Seeing where the MacGregor passion and stubborness comes from and the brilliant red hair too. Serena MacGregor is a very fiery character and with lots of paaion and needs. Falling in love with an Englishman is not what she wanted or expected but never the less it was meant to be.
Brigham was a lord and very wealthy and fell in love with Serena and her fiery ways. He believed in what the Scottish did and being of the same heritage they were. He would fight along side the Scottish and almost died for them.
Coming back for Serena and taking her to America giving her the life he wanted for her along with some of her family.
In from the Cold
This story is all about Ian MacGregor who was born to Serena's brother in the end of Rebellion. He is now a grown man and still fighting the war. He gets injured and collapses in a barn. Alanna a beautiful widow comes upon him and her family nurse him back to health.
They are too firery with each other and soon love comes over them, she is anxious because war took her brother away, she lost her mother to grief adn her husband soon after. She never wanted that life for herself adn had no intention of falling in love with a man who embodied all she didnt want.
After a lot of heart ache and sufferring and a heartfelt intervention for Serena the couple go on to marry and have a baby the night the MacGregor name is cleared.
I did enjoy these stories but it was hard to put myself there like i do with all books i read. It wasnt the best of the books and i found i really didnt feel the need or want to know the history to be honest. I was quite happy reading the books in chronological order.
The MacGreggor Brides
This book is made up of three stories. It focuses on 3 of Daniel's grand daughters. Laura, Julia and Gwendolyn.
It starts with Laura MacGreggor the daughter of Caine and Diana. She is a tough new lawyer and works with her parents. She lives with her two cousins and has done for years.
She is strong and confident and of course as all the women in these books, she is stunning. She has no trouble with men but then Royce Cameron wasn't standing infront of her. He is an ex cop who has his own security business and hired by Daniel MacGreggor to check his grand daughters security at their home. He purposely puts Royce infront of her.
They start and have a wonderfully passionate love affair leading to what neither if them expected. He had been married before and wasn't sure he wanted it again but he didn't expect to love Laura.
A lovely short story with the infamous Daniel MacGreggor getting his way!!
Next up for his meddling ways was Gwendolyn, a beautiful doctor and daughter of Serena and Justin. She has no time for a man. In walks Branson Maguire a novelist and very successful. He is researching a book with a doctor as the main character. Daniel asks her to help him out so she obliges as she loves her grandfather.
What she didn't expect was to fall in love and risk everything.
Feeling the love and romance between them and her innocence is so beautifully written.
Nora is able to make you feel those feelings and bring it to the surface. I live reading her and cannot put the book down.
Gwen and Brandon so perfect and Daniel MacGreggor once again pulls it out the bag!
My favourite part in this story is the 12 days of Christmas he gives her and how the emotion is clear as he does. I just loved it!
Last but by no means least is Julia and my favourite out of the three. She is the daughter of Alan and Shelby and a super super business woman. Buying houses and doing them up she is the best at what she does. Her regular builder is unable to work the new house she has so hi son who she hates is doing it.
Funny though because Daniel and the father of cullum plotted it together, naughty naughty! I love the conspiracy and naughtyness of it all!
She is a feisty woman and knows what she wants and that is not cullum but he keeps popping up! They fight and argue so much and it's so fun to read. And you can feel the passion oozing and building up and as your reading you are waiting for that moment when the passion explodes and they don't let you down. It's heat and fire and without realising it falling in love.
The whole Cilla Black of Daniel MacGreggor and his mischievous ways just makes me smile. Thoroughly enjoyed these three little stories and am looking forward to reading the next installment of the great MacGreggor and his clan!
The Winning Hand
I absolutely love love love this book! Darcey is a very pretty innocent young woman who ran away from her terrible life and a man who frightened her.
She ran all the way to Vegas and was dazzled by the bright lights. She strolls into The Commanche and right up to the slots and putting her last 10 dollars in the machine she hit big! A little under 2 million dollars.
She looks like a homeless person with only a bag to her name but when she wins and a crowd builds she faints and wakes up with a gorgeous man watching her. Daniel 'Mac' MacGreggor the eldest of the grandchildren and son to Serena and Justin. He runs the Vegas casino and proceeds to help Darcey and her winnings.
Eventually they become entagled and love becomes an issue. He falls hard and she is smitten. Daniel plays his part in this novel, although he doesnt set up the meeting he however does fly to vegas and meddle a little. As does Serena becoming a little like her meddling father!
I really enjoyed the book and found myself feeling excited by the buzz of vegas just as i had with Serena and Justin and their casino story.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and am finding it very hard to think the series is nearly finished!
on to the next i believe!!
The MacGreggor Grooms
OMG i am totally falling in love with these books. The MacGreggors have become a part of my life for the past month and i have been living in their world. I have thought about them constantly and needing to read the next is always on my mind. The phrase "i just couldnt put it down" is so true in every sense of the word. I really have not been able to put them down!
These next stories in one book are about three of Daniel MacGreggors grandsons, DC MacGreggor, Duncan Blade and Ian MacGreggor. And i have to say i am totally in love with all of the men as well!!
DC MacGreggor is the son of Alan and Shelby and a very good artist. He is a little bit of a recluse like his uncle and just as brilliant. He loves his family with passion and after living in the white house for 8 years likes his peace and quiet.
Layna is a beautiful young woman who is the god daughter of Myra (Anna's best friend in Daniel and Anna's story). DC is also Myra's god child and she sees fit to help Daniel in his meddling ways!
Layna has taken over her fathers department store and has recently moved to the area. Daniel get DC to help her and from then on a love blossoms. She is not his type (or so Daniel tells him) therefore DC finds it amusing to start a romance with her and it ending with them both head over heels (just as Daniel and Myra planned!).
I loved this story and laughed at some of the lines, Nora does put comedy into her books but only enough to make you smile or have a little laugh and then the romance and pure passion ooze out of the books.
Duncan Blade is the son of Serena and Justin and runs the riverboat casino and is a known playboy nad all around lady's man. And why not he is gorgeous and young.
Cat Farrell is a beautiful singer on the rise and is hired for the entertainment on the boat, By recommendation of his brother Mac who advised of her via Daniel of course!!
Cat is a rising star with the voice to match and she is aware that nothing can stand in her way so when Duncan decides he wants her she tries so hard to not be interested but how long can she stay away from him when she is slowly falling in love with him.
She tries hard not to care and even after e helps her career by contacting a record label she cant hel but fall head over heels.
I loved Cat's character and she is a very sexy and exciting woman, you can see what Duncan sees in her. The love and passionate scenes in the books are as always amazing and you feel the tingles and makes you wish you were the woman on the recieving end of it!!!
Ian MacGreggor is a lawyer and the son of Caine and Diana. He works at the family lae firm with his parents and sister Laura. He loves his job and he is heading for politics as his father did and possibly presidency as his uncle did but for that to happen he needs to settle down and he is ready.
Ian is a little bit of a scamp with the women and can easily get one but he meets Naomi and everything shifts.
She is a quiet woman with a very differnet life to Ian, she used to be fat and not that attractive. She shied away from people and lived a very sad and quiet life. When her father passed the bookstore to her she grabbed hold and decided to change her life.
She got a makeover and lost weight and now a successful business woman she runs the store. Ian is tasked to deal with the deal of partnership between her and her father, organising the contracts and then for reasons unknown to him he falls in love with her.
She is innocent and had never even been kissed by a man. She was having all her firsts with Ian and he was totally unaware of that. When she told him he was shocked but loved her more.
After some heart ache (of course) and some emotional realisations for both they come back together.
A great story and i really enjoyed each of the stories but after each one finished i wanted more!
onto the last one now.....:0(
The Perfect Neighbour
I loved this story. That is it really.
This story is about an artist Cybil the daughter of Genvieve and Grant Campbell. They are honorary family to the MacGreggors and that doesnt deter the lovely Daniel from meddling in her love life!
Preston is a play write and a very good one at that, a little solitary like her father and when her sunny and happy nature infect him he has no hope!!
She becomes part of his life and despite not wanting it he finds himself needing her and he becomes totally infatuated with her.
he has a past that is affecting his present and she realises that it may not work out as she wants it to.
After again much heart ache and emotional arguments they finally get together and admit how they feel. Daniel is not innocent in the match as well because he owns the building that Cybil lives in and offers the apartment to Preston while his house is being rennovated. Placing him directly in her path and hoping the rest will just develop. He had never got it wrong up to now and even in his 90's he still has it!
This is the last book in the MacGreggor series and a good one at that! Meeting Gennie and Grant again and their relationship that has impacted on Cybil.
Preston had no chance!!!
When i finished the book i was left feeling a little sad and deflated that it was all over, the MacGreggors have been a part of my life for over a month now and i am upset that it has ended however am pleased i can go on and read more of Nora's brilliant stories.
The MacGreggor's will always have a solid place in my heart and i will be happy to go back and read them in the future reminding myself of the wonderful family.
Daniel and Anna's love and commitment carries through all of the books and in the lives of all of the children and grand children, influencing them and making them feel and want the love they still have even after 60 years.
A huge well done to Nora for this collection, it must have been a joy to write them and develop them over the years she wrote.
A very well deserved 10/10 for me!!!
Monday, 9 January 2012
Irish Hearts by Nora Roberts
Irish Hearts set is made up three books
Irish Thoroughbred
Irish Rose
Irish Rebel
Irish Throroughbred
The Irish Thoroughbred is Nora's first published Novel and i have to say it doesnt disappoint! I love the characters and the romance and the pull of the wonderful scene she sets in this book and I cannot wait to start reading Irish Rose.
Adelia is a beautiful Irish lass with a strong and powerful personality, she is small and looks very pixie like but she has got a wickedly sharp tongue on her.
I loved the background story of Adelia almost as much as i loved her, she had a tough life and up to now never really lived. Her parent died and her aunt who sounds horrible raised her along with the farm. Adelia is very grateful person but you can tell that she had led a somewhat niave life up to her moving to America.
Adelia's uncle Paddy is a fantastic character and the love they have for each other in totally unconditional, he brings her to America to live after the aunt dies and Adelia is treated very well.
She cannot believe her luck at the life she has landed into and soon becomes a member of the family on the stables that Travis Grant owns.
She loves the horses and is a bot of a horse whisperer, which i think adds to the mystical Irish personality she undoubtably has.
Travis is obviously taken with her and they start a little love affair, he only kisses herwhich drives not only her but the reader insane!! I wanted him to throw her down in the hay and have his way with her, something i feel Nora would may have written if the book was to be written now?
I was sad and shocked that Paddy might die and leave her alone and was a little confused by the whole ordeal. It went from a passionate love happening to a man almost dying and a marriage to please him? I wasnt really sure what direction i was going to take and was a bit disappointed by the change in direction.
I felt sorry for Adelia and wanted her so much to have a happy ending, as the book fast approached the end and Travis was different and cold and i actually was really starting to not like him, things changed.
A fight and subsequent heart felt outrage that came from both Adelia and Travis shined a light on how each were feeling and that neither one knew it. The ending was happy i fnot a little abrupt however it is not the usual length of Nora's books so the story was only 10 chapters.
I would have very much like to read a littel more about the character and am sure i will be meeting them again in the next book.
overall a good book and i give it a 5/10.
Irish Rose
Irish Rose is a strange book for me, i dont really know why but it didnt flow as well as i hoped and was a little confused at times.
There was no denying the strength of the character and the supporting ones, giving you a lovely taste of Adelia and her youth and then the racing circle and how that all works BUT i wasnt as connected to the story this time and i really wanted to be.
Erin is a fantastic woman and a great read, as is Burke but they didn tmesh as well as i hoped and although the steamy kisses left nothing to the imagination i was left feeling a lilttle confused. Burke was hot and cold and i understand his characters past played in that and Erin was totally smack bang in love with him but he couldnt see it. I suppose the word i am looking for was frustrating!! Even after Erin had been kidnapped and nearly killed Burke was oblivious to how Erin felt about him and i wanted to smack him around the chops!
Nora has written another great book but it really got me going this one and I wasnt as happy with it. It was set about 7 years after Adelia and Travis. They have three kids and twins in the way, so much has moved on and reading straight off from that book into this i hadnt left a big enough gap between and had to adjust to the time.
This i fear will be the same case in the last book as it is focused around a young man and his relationship with Adelia's daughter who in this book is about 5 years old. It was adjusting like i had for the Chesapeake Bay saga and the last book, being written 10 years later and all of the loved characters were older and everything had changed.
Again there is a strong supporting cast and at times it is funny and heartwarming. Burke and Erin are very firery and it is lovely to read. The kidnapping was really well written and it was darka nd scary and you were worried for Erin but the rescue and the days after were a disappointment and i was left feeling a little sad for Erin and how she felt.
I ached for her when she said he didnt love her and was ok with that, i felt for her when she overheard people slagging off her relationship and the reasons that she married him. She realised he thought that as well and no matter what she did he didnt believe her.
He infuriates me so much and i was happy when the book ended. I always love love love the male characters in the book and Nora writes them so wonderfully male and strong and sexy and the person reading the book falls in love with them right along with the women. However Burke didnt do it for me and i didnt really find him alluring. He was arrogant and sexist and just a little bit sleezy in my eyes so i could nt fall for him like have all the others.
I enjoyed the story but by far my worst one to date. My score is 4/10.
Irish Rebel
mmmm what can i say about this book? I actually really loved it.
Keely Grant being the eldest daughter of Adelia and Travis from the first book was obviously beautiful and now in her mid 20's has a life and career of her own.
She is a fabulously confident and firery character to read and feel, she is a lot like her mother in the first book but with a little more confidence.
Brian is a new horse trainer hired after Paddy leaves to go home to Ireland, he is a tough hard man but a soft gooey centre!
He is very rugged and handsome and is full of pride, so full of pride that he rubs Keely up the wrong way. Its funny and emotional reading the blossoming romance and the turmoil that goes along with it.
Keely knows what she wants and she goes for it, and that being Brian. He is totally helpless and cannot help but fall hard.
The book is short as are all of Nora's first books and i am finding the books are 2 in 1. I do have a Kindle but the earlier books are not available on it so i am reading them in paperback. Holding a book and turning the pages again is nice.
Overall a good book and Nora is very good at articulating the innocence and vulnerability of love and sex. Keely being so inexperienced and Brian the polar opposite yet they have so muchh the same inside them.
I like how the one thing he wants to do is run and keep running but she is rooted and needs family, she changes him emotionally and he changes her physically. I enjoyed this book and was touched by the romantic story and it was really lovely to read about Adelia and travis and their lives and alos touching briefly on Burke and Erin's life.
maybe a fourth book linked to them and their children may have been a nice follow on but the trilogy has finished and i am left feeling a little, lost not having more to read. I take that as a good thing and it has kept me gripped! I will now move on to another set of books......
overall a 6/10 i think!
Irish Thoroughbred
Irish Rose
Irish Rebel
Irish Throroughbred
The Irish Thoroughbred is Nora's first published Novel and i have to say it doesnt disappoint! I love the characters and the romance and the pull of the wonderful scene she sets in this book and I cannot wait to start reading Irish Rose.
Adelia is a beautiful Irish lass with a strong and powerful personality, she is small and looks very pixie like but she has got a wickedly sharp tongue on her.
I loved the background story of Adelia almost as much as i loved her, she had a tough life and up to now never really lived. Her parent died and her aunt who sounds horrible raised her along with the farm. Adelia is very grateful person but you can tell that she had led a somewhat niave life up to her moving to America.
Adelia's uncle Paddy is a fantastic character and the love they have for each other in totally unconditional, he brings her to America to live after the aunt dies and Adelia is treated very well.
She cannot believe her luck at the life she has landed into and soon becomes a member of the family on the stables that Travis Grant owns.
She loves the horses and is a bot of a horse whisperer, which i think adds to the mystical Irish personality she undoubtably has.
Travis is obviously taken with her and they start a little love affair, he only kisses herwhich drives not only her but the reader insane!! I wanted him to throw her down in the hay and have his way with her, something i feel Nora would may have written if the book was to be written now?
I was sad and shocked that Paddy might die and leave her alone and was a little confused by the whole ordeal. It went from a passionate love happening to a man almost dying and a marriage to please him? I wasnt really sure what direction i was going to take and was a bit disappointed by the change in direction.
I felt sorry for Adelia and wanted her so much to have a happy ending, as the book fast approached the end and Travis was different and cold and i actually was really starting to not like him, things changed.
A fight and subsequent heart felt outrage that came from both Adelia and Travis shined a light on how each were feeling and that neither one knew it. The ending was happy i fnot a little abrupt however it is not the usual length of Nora's books so the story was only 10 chapters.
I would have very much like to read a littel more about the character and am sure i will be meeting them again in the next book.
overall a good book and i give it a 5/10.
Irish Rose
Irish Rose is a strange book for me, i dont really know why but it didnt flow as well as i hoped and was a little confused at times.
There was no denying the strength of the character and the supporting ones, giving you a lovely taste of Adelia and her youth and then the racing circle and how that all works BUT i wasnt as connected to the story this time and i really wanted to be.
Erin is a fantastic woman and a great read, as is Burke but they didn tmesh as well as i hoped and although the steamy kisses left nothing to the imagination i was left feeling a lilttle confused. Burke was hot and cold and i understand his characters past played in that and Erin was totally smack bang in love with him but he couldnt see it. I suppose the word i am looking for was frustrating!! Even after Erin had been kidnapped and nearly killed Burke was oblivious to how Erin felt about him and i wanted to smack him around the chops!
Nora has written another great book but it really got me going this one and I wasnt as happy with it. It was set about 7 years after Adelia and Travis. They have three kids and twins in the way, so much has moved on and reading straight off from that book into this i hadnt left a big enough gap between and had to adjust to the time.
This i fear will be the same case in the last book as it is focused around a young man and his relationship with Adelia's daughter who in this book is about 5 years old. It was adjusting like i had for the Chesapeake Bay saga and the last book, being written 10 years later and all of the loved characters were older and everything had changed.
Again there is a strong supporting cast and at times it is funny and heartwarming. Burke and Erin are very firery and it is lovely to read. The kidnapping was really well written and it was darka nd scary and you were worried for Erin but the rescue and the days after were a disappointment and i was left feeling a little sad for Erin and how she felt.
I ached for her when she said he didnt love her and was ok with that, i felt for her when she overheard people slagging off her relationship and the reasons that she married him. She realised he thought that as well and no matter what she did he didnt believe her.
He infuriates me so much and i was happy when the book ended. I always love love love the male characters in the book and Nora writes them so wonderfully male and strong and sexy and the person reading the book falls in love with them right along with the women. However Burke didnt do it for me and i didnt really find him alluring. He was arrogant and sexist and just a little bit sleezy in my eyes so i could nt fall for him like have all the others.
I enjoyed the story but by far my worst one to date. My score is 4/10.
Irish Rebel
mmmm what can i say about this book? I actually really loved it.
Keely Grant being the eldest daughter of Adelia and Travis from the first book was obviously beautiful and now in her mid 20's has a life and career of her own.
She is a fabulously confident and firery character to read and feel, she is a lot like her mother in the first book but with a little more confidence.
Brian is a new horse trainer hired after Paddy leaves to go home to Ireland, he is a tough hard man but a soft gooey centre!
He is very rugged and handsome and is full of pride, so full of pride that he rubs Keely up the wrong way. Its funny and emotional reading the blossoming romance and the turmoil that goes along with it.
Keely knows what she wants and she goes for it, and that being Brian. He is totally helpless and cannot help but fall hard.
The book is short as are all of Nora's first books and i am finding the books are 2 in 1. I do have a Kindle but the earlier books are not available on it so i am reading them in paperback. Holding a book and turning the pages again is nice.
Overall a good book and Nora is very good at articulating the innocence and vulnerability of love and sex. Keely being so inexperienced and Brian the polar opposite yet they have so muchh the same inside them.
I like how the one thing he wants to do is run and keep running but she is rooted and needs family, she changes him emotionally and he changes her physically. I enjoyed this book and was touched by the romantic story and it was really lovely to read about Adelia and travis and their lives and alos touching briefly on Burke and Erin's life.
maybe a fourth book linked to them and their children may have been a nice follow on but the trilogy has finished and i am left feeling a little, lost not having more to read. I take that as a good thing and it has kept me gripped! I will now move on to another set of books......
overall a 6/10 i think!
Now the Chalenge begins!
All of the books i have blogged about up to now i have already read before embarking on this journey. I felt it was necessary to start off with the ones i had already read to get them out of the way. However i may have to read them again as i go through the list.
It would be good to see Nora's progress as a writer to read them all in chronological order and i have a list going as we speak. I will have to add to it as the year goes on as she has a few planned releases this year, (and one in particular i am eager to read!).
This is a massive challenge for me becasue i dont have lots and lots of free time as you may be thinking, i am a mother and wife, i have a home to look after, i work full time as a health visitor and am studying a degree.
You may think i am a little crazy however i find reading relaxing and i wanted to share how i feel about these books with anyone out there who will read my blogs.
So i hearby announce this challenge fully under way and i have read Nora's first ever published book Irish Thoroghbred and i loved every bit of it!!
I hope you enjoy reading the blogs as much as i enjoy readign the books!
bye for now!
It would be good to see Nora's progress as a writer to read them all in chronological order and i have a list going as we speak. I will have to add to it as the year goes on as she has a few planned releases this year, (and one in particular i am eager to read!).
This is a massive challenge for me becasue i dont have lots and lots of free time as you may be thinking, i am a mother and wife, i have a home to look after, i work full time as a health visitor and am studying a degree.
You may think i am a little crazy however i find reading relaxing and i wanted to share how i feel about these books with anyone out there who will read my blogs.
So i hearby announce this challenge fully under way and i have read Nora's first ever published book Irish Thoroghbred and i loved every bit of it!!
I hope you enjoy reading the blogs as much as i enjoy readign the books!
bye for now!
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Chesapeake Bay Saga by Nora Roberts
The Chesapeake Bay Saga was the first books i was recommended to read but i chose to read the bride quartet instead and although i will always hold those first books close to my heart I will always regret that i didnt read these books first.
There is a reason she told me to read these and i was foolish enough not to listen to her. I am big enough to admit that i was wrong and i shoudl have read these first, not only because i would have the had the place in my heart that willl always love the first book read just like Nora feels her first book she ever wrote is special, but i would also just purely love the saga.
The Chesapeake Bay Saga is quite honestly brilliantly written. The story in each book is so individual but with a clear and distinctive emotional link to the other books. The subject of the books in respect to the four men in the lead roles and what happened to them as kids, due to my job i feel connected to the subject.
I am a paediatric nurse and i deal a lot with children who have been or are in violent or abusive families, these books touch on this subject and very well. Nora captures the emotion in the children and then the men, when they deal with what happened to them. All four stories are very touching and i cried adn laughed and felt warm and fuzzies.
The books focus around Seth, a young boy recently taken in by Ray Quinn, he does that, take in strays and now he is dead. A freak car accident and he is gone but asking his three sons to take of Seth.
The first book leads of with Cameron Quinn...
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts
Cameron Quinn is a very sucessful and famous boat racer, he travels the world and has many women and a lifestyle you can only dream of.
He goes home after his dad dies and makes a promise to him with his brothers to take care of Seth, Ray's newest stray.
Cam is a very tall strong man who i see as a taller Vin Diesel type of man, he has a mean streak in him but deep down he is warm and kind and full of emotion.
Cameron and his brothers come together to help care for Seth and a number of issues come up which they have to deal with. Cameron dealing with his own childhood of being beaten regularly by his father gives him some idea of how to help Seth come to terms with his own ordeal.
Along with all of that and a very unwilling and violent young boy to deal with a social worker becomes involved.
Anna is a beautiful wild young woman with italian roots, she is a very good social worker and took an interest in the case due to hearing so much about mr and mrs Quinn who take in these kids with so much baggage.
The realtionship between Cam and Anna is firery at first and with a lot of passion, i love the Anna character and think she is perfect for Cam. She comes into the house and bosses the men around from the beginning and becomes a mother figure for Seth. She fits right in and the way she tells them all off is hilarious and really funny to read.
But when Nora gets into the nitty gritty of the abuse and violence in childhood scenes the whole mood of the book changes and you feel what the characters feel and the seriousness of the subject.
Like is said before i do appreciate the way Nora has touched this subject and feel that she dealth with it so well. Its easy to see Cam makes an impact on Seth as does Anna and when you read the following the two books you see how the other brothers experiences in childhood effect and help deal with Seth in the present.
Nora also adds a touch of the supernatural in this book as well and i am starting to get the impression she likes the supernatural. Ray Quinn presents himself to each of the three men in the attempt to help and guide them with Seth.
Its touching and emotional and as the series goes on so does Seths story and the truth and the connection between the three men, Ray and Seth. As the men begin the journey of dealing with Seth and their own emotional state, their love life and starting a new venture of making boats, a dream they all had as kids and something Ray Quinn would be very proud of.
Rising Tides by Nora Roberts
In the second book we meet Ethan more in depth, he still lives in Chesapeake Bay and has a life on the sea and loves it. He is a seaman at heart and nothing will take it away.
He has been in love with Grace for a long time but she is younger than him and he never felt it was right, then she got married had a baby and then got divorced. He still loved her and loved her beautiful girl Aubrey.
Grace is very much part of the family and the first female that Seth ever trusted. He loves her and would protect her with his life. Something Ethan finds out.
Because Ethan is so slow and does everything at a snails pace things between him and Grace may never take off.
She has loved him forever and doesnt know if she should tell him.
A freak incident at the bar where Grace works ends in her and Ethan kissing, it passionate and sexy and leading but he stops it.
Ethan and Seth have a lot in common and his extremely violent and abusive childhood is so much like Seths and he has a connection to him. His experiences help Seth to deal with the particular aspect of his time living with his mother and Ethan feels like he makes progress.
Dealing with Seth helps him with Grace and admittting how he really feels about her and what he wants in life.
This book is a little more difficult to read due to the subject of sexual abuse and yet Nora writes it in a way where the reader can understand feel the emotion but not be freaked out or turned off by it.
Its a lovely book to read and i enjoyed it very much.
Inner Harbour by Nora Roberts
Being the third book in the saga and the last of the three men dealing ans coping with a young Seth it gives a nice ending to this initial trouble.
Cam and Ethan are married and happy and Phillip being the 'sensible' one still living between the bay and his place in the city is still single and feelign very worn out.
He is commuting and workign a full time job on top of helping in the boat yard. He hasnt got time to deal with a love life, so of course in comes the beautiful and sensible Sybill. She pops up in the bay and takes an interest in the Quinn brothers and especially their newest edition.
Is she all that she seems???
I like this book and it gives you the whole back story of Seth living with his mother and what his mother is like and where she came from and ended up the way she did. Sybill is a massive part in this story and as she falls in love with Phillip and Seth her priorities change a little.
Again Ray makes his appearance to help guide Phillip and his care of Seth.
This book gives a kind of ending to the current saga that has played out over the first three books and you believe that is the end of it and that the final book is just a nice story about Seth growing up, however there is always a twist......
Chespeake Blue by Nora Roberts
This is the final book to the saga and is a very good ending i think.
It is set some years later to the third book where Seth is now nearly 30 and living abroad creating wonderful art. he is very sucessful and has a wonderful ife.
Thanks to the Quinns.
He decides to come home and that is when the madness begins!
I did find this a little odd at first becasue for three books i have read Seth as a firery boy of 12 who is going through a horrific ordeal then to this book of a man 30 years old having sex etc. I had to make the leap.
I fall in love with the male leads as i supose most women do when they read books like this becasue they want to be taken away from thier lives however i couldnt do that with this book. i haad to look at his character a step back and not get too emotionally involved in the relationship between him and Dru.
I still had my connection to him as a boy and transformed that with the new story.
He is still dealing with his mother who is blackmailing him and he doesnt tell the brothers because he doesnt want ot upset their lives. This causes many problems and issues and eventually and big blow up in the end.
Its exciting and fun and the supporting characters are great. Gloria (seths mother) is a fabulous character we get to see a bit more of this time around and you can tell how she is dispised and hated by the Quinns and her own family.
In this book however its not Ray that comes to Seth, its Stella, Rays wife who died before Seth came to the family and one person he always wanted to meet. Its lovely to see how he just loves her no questions or pretenses and she gives hi the support and guidance any parent would give.
I loved this series so much and now i recomend this to everyone i meet, you have to read this one first!!!
I get excited when people ask about what book i am reading and i get so passionate about books, i always have but i believe i have found a writer that i can connect with and see why and how she writes what she does.
I give this saga a 9/10.
There is a reason she told me to read these and i was foolish enough not to listen to her. I am big enough to admit that i was wrong and i shoudl have read these first, not only because i would have the had the place in my heart that willl always love the first book read just like Nora feels her first book she ever wrote is special, but i would also just purely love the saga.
The Chesapeake Bay Saga is quite honestly brilliantly written. The story in each book is so individual but with a clear and distinctive emotional link to the other books. The subject of the books in respect to the four men in the lead roles and what happened to them as kids, due to my job i feel connected to the subject.
I am a paediatric nurse and i deal a lot with children who have been or are in violent or abusive families, these books touch on this subject and very well. Nora captures the emotion in the children and then the men, when they deal with what happened to them. All four stories are very touching and i cried adn laughed and felt warm and fuzzies.
The books focus around Seth, a young boy recently taken in by Ray Quinn, he does that, take in strays and now he is dead. A freak car accident and he is gone but asking his three sons to take of Seth.
The first book leads of with Cameron Quinn...
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts
Cameron Quinn is a very sucessful and famous boat racer, he travels the world and has many women and a lifestyle you can only dream of.
He goes home after his dad dies and makes a promise to him with his brothers to take care of Seth, Ray's newest stray.
Cam is a very tall strong man who i see as a taller Vin Diesel type of man, he has a mean streak in him but deep down he is warm and kind and full of emotion.
Cameron and his brothers come together to help care for Seth and a number of issues come up which they have to deal with. Cameron dealing with his own childhood of being beaten regularly by his father gives him some idea of how to help Seth come to terms with his own ordeal.
Along with all of that and a very unwilling and violent young boy to deal with a social worker becomes involved.
Anna is a beautiful wild young woman with italian roots, she is a very good social worker and took an interest in the case due to hearing so much about mr and mrs Quinn who take in these kids with so much baggage.
The realtionship between Cam and Anna is firery at first and with a lot of passion, i love the Anna character and think she is perfect for Cam. She comes into the house and bosses the men around from the beginning and becomes a mother figure for Seth. She fits right in and the way she tells them all off is hilarious and really funny to read.
But when Nora gets into the nitty gritty of the abuse and violence in childhood scenes the whole mood of the book changes and you feel what the characters feel and the seriousness of the subject.
Like is said before i do appreciate the way Nora has touched this subject and feel that she dealth with it so well. Its easy to see Cam makes an impact on Seth as does Anna and when you read the following the two books you see how the other brothers experiences in childhood effect and help deal with Seth in the present.
Nora also adds a touch of the supernatural in this book as well and i am starting to get the impression she likes the supernatural. Ray Quinn presents himself to each of the three men in the attempt to help and guide them with Seth.
Its touching and emotional and as the series goes on so does Seths story and the truth and the connection between the three men, Ray and Seth. As the men begin the journey of dealing with Seth and their own emotional state, their love life and starting a new venture of making boats, a dream they all had as kids and something Ray Quinn would be very proud of.
Rising Tides by Nora Roberts
In the second book we meet Ethan more in depth, he still lives in Chesapeake Bay and has a life on the sea and loves it. He is a seaman at heart and nothing will take it away.
He has been in love with Grace for a long time but she is younger than him and he never felt it was right, then she got married had a baby and then got divorced. He still loved her and loved her beautiful girl Aubrey.
Grace is very much part of the family and the first female that Seth ever trusted. He loves her and would protect her with his life. Something Ethan finds out.
Because Ethan is so slow and does everything at a snails pace things between him and Grace may never take off.
She has loved him forever and doesnt know if she should tell him.
A freak incident at the bar where Grace works ends in her and Ethan kissing, it passionate and sexy and leading but he stops it.
Ethan and Seth have a lot in common and his extremely violent and abusive childhood is so much like Seths and he has a connection to him. His experiences help Seth to deal with the particular aspect of his time living with his mother and Ethan feels like he makes progress.
Dealing with Seth helps him with Grace and admittting how he really feels about her and what he wants in life.
This book is a little more difficult to read due to the subject of sexual abuse and yet Nora writes it in a way where the reader can understand feel the emotion but not be freaked out or turned off by it.
Its a lovely book to read and i enjoyed it very much.
Inner Harbour by Nora Roberts
Being the third book in the saga and the last of the three men dealing ans coping with a young Seth it gives a nice ending to this initial trouble.
Cam and Ethan are married and happy and Phillip being the 'sensible' one still living between the bay and his place in the city is still single and feelign very worn out.
He is commuting and workign a full time job on top of helping in the boat yard. He hasnt got time to deal with a love life, so of course in comes the beautiful and sensible Sybill. She pops up in the bay and takes an interest in the Quinn brothers and especially their newest edition.
Is she all that she seems???
I like this book and it gives you the whole back story of Seth living with his mother and what his mother is like and where she came from and ended up the way she did. Sybill is a massive part in this story and as she falls in love with Phillip and Seth her priorities change a little.
Again Ray makes his appearance to help guide Phillip and his care of Seth.
This book gives a kind of ending to the current saga that has played out over the first three books and you believe that is the end of it and that the final book is just a nice story about Seth growing up, however there is always a twist......
Chespeake Blue by Nora Roberts
This is the final book to the saga and is a very good ending i think.
It is set some years later to the third book where Seth is now nearly 30 and living abroad creating wonderful art. he is very sucessful and has a wonderful ife.
Thanks to the Quinns.
He decides to come home and that is when the madness begins!
I did find this a little odd at first becasue for three books i have read Seth as a firery boy of 12 who is going through a horrific ordeal then to this book of a man 30 years old having sex etc. I had to make the leap.
I fall in love with the male leads as i supose most women do when they read books like this becasue they want to be taken away from thier lives however i couldnt do that with this book. i haad to look at his character a step back and not get too emotionally involved in the relationship between him and Dru.
I still had my connection to him as a boy and transformed that with the new story.
He is still dealing with his mother who is blackmailing him and he doesnt tell the brothers because he doesnt want ot upset their lives. This causes many problems and issues and eventually and big blow up in the end.
Its exciting and fun and the supporting characters are great. Gloria (seths mother) is a fabulous character we get to see a bit more of this time around and you can tell how she is dispised and hated by the Quinns and her own family.
In this book however its not Ray that comes to Seth, its Stella, Rays wife who died before Seth came to the family and one person he always wanted to meet. Its lovely to see how he just loves her no questions or pretenses and she gives hi the support and guidance any parent would give.
I loved this series so much and now i recomend this to everyone i meet, you have to read this one first!!!
I get excited when people ask about what book i am reading and i get so passionate about books, i always have but i believe i have found a writer that i can connect with and see why and how she writes what she does.
I give this saga a 9/10.
Friday, 6 January 2012
The MacKade Brother by Nora Roberts
The MacKade brothers are........well.......mmmmmmmmmmm
I think i am already in love with all of them! They are gorgeous and smart and so very sexy and know exactly how to drive a woman to their knees.
There are four books in this set and i have to say i wish there were more. The brothers are so wonderful, they are the stars of the books through and through and they do not disappoint.
Nora writes these books more in the point of view of the men this time and they are the root of the story and it is their lives individually and collectively that attracts.
They are all equally embedded in the town history fro the civil war and they each have very different experiences and encounters with scenes and ghosts.
The books as follows
The Return of Rafe MacKade
The Pride of Jared MacKade
The Heart of Devin MacKade
The Fall of Shane MacKade
All four are fantastic and i actually do not have a favourite, they are all fantastic reads and the men in the books are such a joy to picture in your head! And the best part about these wonderful men is watching the women enter and change their lives forever!
The Return of Rafe MacKade
Rafe MacKade is probably the badest of the brothers, he has a bad temper and he was always in trouble when he was younger. His brothers were always there as well but he was useually the start of the trouble. He is a dark character that exudes sex and danger and everything that Regan doesnt need.
Regan owns an antiques store in town and has lived there for a littke while, she knows the brothers but has never met Rafe.
Rafe comes back into town after being away for a long time, making something of his life. He has built a massive business and is very successful. He has come home for good this time and to buy the old Barlow place and renovate to make an inn.
Rafe is a fabulous character and an interesting one at that. He is the most dangerous and would be the most likely to solve something with his fists. The brothers were all different and ended up doing different things. Rafe had his business building, Jared was a sucessful lawyer, Devin was the town sheriff and Shane had made a living on the farm that was left to them when their mother died.
Rafe had no interest in the farm that had killed his father and was never any good at it, he helped out from time to time if he was in town but that was it.
He asks Regan to help build the interior to the inn to restore it to its former glory, a job she is excited to do. The old house holds many memories and that is where Rafe has had many of his experiences with the ghosts.
The ghosts have connected with the brothers and Rafe remembers it all too well, it has effected him and has this need to restore the house to see if it will make any difference in the experiences he has.
He and Regan start a sexual relationship and Nora again writes these scenes so well that you can almost feel him touching you. Its hard to actually describe how well written it is and i suppose for everyone there is a different experience, it depends on how well the reader can imagine the characters and how in depth you engulf yourself in it.
There are some extremely funny parts to the book, like the bet that he and Regan make which they both loose but the consequences are brilliant and the parts that are scarey is the ongoing issue that the MacKade brothers have with Joe Dolin who is married to Cassie and how he effects each and every one of their lives. He is an ongoing problem that is snuffed out later in the series.
The story doesnt solve the mystery of the ghosts and the inn is not complete by the end however there are three other book in the series so there is more room for development with the other brothers having their experiences and developing the background further.
Regan gets her own experiences and develops a relationship with the spirits. I do love these books and i have to say up until i read these ones i felt these were my favourite.
But that can change!
The Pride of Jared MacKade
Jared MacKade is a very sucessful lawyer and has made something of his life despite what people in the town said about him and his brothers when they were kids.
Although equally sexy and dangerous i see Jared has a more sensible attitude now, he sees things differently from when he was younger, he wasnt the quiet one, that was Devin but he had seen things differently.
I see a man who had got out of a bad marriage and was trying to make the most of it. He needs passion and something that gives him a little kick in the stomach.
Savannah and her son move into the cabin in the woods. She has a history and wants to keep well away from the town folk. They are happy and she wants it to stay that way.
She is a tough character in the book, she is beautiful and smart and a wonderful artist. And when i think of a woman who is with a MacKade brother i see one that is very beautiful of course.
Jared helps her and she him in return, the woods had always been a special place for him and that is where he had all of his experiences and he is always drawn to them.
Its nice to see that although the brothers have different experiences that the background story is the same.
Nora writes this eerie story well into the romance and sex of the books and i feel like i am experiencing the same as the characters. Teh supporting characters in the books are brilliant along with the main ones and they support them so well enhancing the story.
Savannah has some kind of supernatural gift and she is a little more attuned to herself and those around her. Her story is what brings her and Jared together and they help each other. So far the MacKade women are all strong and they help save their men.
Hmmmm and woman saving a man, no change there then!
The Heart of Devin MacKade
Devin is the towns sheriff and he takes his job seriously. He is a serious man and he is the shy one i think. He is tender and caring and totally smack bang in love with Cassie. Cassie the waitress at Eds and now keeper at Rafes inn. she has two children and a husband who beat her on regular occasions since they were married.
This book for me was the most emotional, dealing with very real life issues. Domestic violence is a difficult issue to write about but Nora does it so well, she introduces the subject in the first book and Rafe and Regan deal with Joe and Cassie in their own way, Regan being Cassies best friend and Rafe having a history with Joe anyway then in Jared and Savannahs life the story develops as well and slowly everyone is involved.
Devin has always wanted to take Cassie away from Joe and keep her safe. He has been in love with her since he was a kid. She married Joe and although everyone knew what he was doing until Cassie said something there was nothing they could do.
Now Cassie was away from Joe and happy. I like Devin's character because he is sweet and cute and strong but he also has a bad side to him and one that he tries to keep under control. He can be dangerous and he is sexy, so very sexy.
Cassie is the one who has the encounters with the spirits living in the Inn she sees and feels more but it is how she connects to Devin.
He helps her get over what happened with Joe but its not quite over yet and the brothers will need to protect her once last time but will it end as well this time around? You will have to read and find out!!!
The Fall of Shane MacKade
Being the baby of the family he always had to catch up with his brothers. Shane is a little rough around the edgese and says exactly what he thinks and doesnt care about the consequences.
Due to Regans interest into the civil war story and the spirits connected to it and both the Inn and the MacKade home, her friend from college comes to help.
She is interested in the parapsychology and wants to help Regan as well as get away from her parents. Rebecca shall we say is a little niave and has not had a lot of life experiences.
Shane is so rough and strong tending to his farm. He has a massive issue with his three brothers not only getting married but having babies as well. He loves kids and his family but he really believes thats not for him. He is very adamant about how he want to live his life and he gets a massive kick in the nuts when he meets Rebecca.
Rebecca moves into the house to investigate but Shane really hates all the talk of spirits and the war. He doesnt believe in it and will not tolerate it. She pushes him into dealing with the ghost stuff and eventually he admits it all.
Its nice to watch shane fall and fall hard because of the way he acts throughout all of the other books and always teasing them about falling.
I really enjoyed these books and thought theu were brilliantly written. I loved the brothers and how well they are written.
I give this series and wonderfully deserved 7/10.
I think i am already in love with all of them! They are gorgeous and smart and so very sexy and know exactly how to drive a woman to their knees.
There are four books in this set and i have to say i wish there were more. The brothers are so wonderful, they are the stars of the books through and through and they do not disappoint.
Nora writes these books more in the point of view of the men this time and they are the root of the story and it is their lives individually and collectively that attracts.
They are all equally embedded in the town history fro the civil war and they each have very different experiences and encounters with scenes and ghosts.
The books as follows
The Return of Rafe MacKade
The Pride of Jared MacKade
The Heart of Devin MacKade
The Fall of Shane MacKade
All four are fantastic and i actually do not have a favourite, they are all fantastic reads and the men in the books are such a joy to picture in your head! And the best part about these wonderful men is watching the women enter and change their lives forever!
The Return of Rafe MacKade
Rafe MacKade is probably the badest of the brothers, he has a bad temper and he was always in trouble when he was younger. His brothers were always there as well but he was useually the start of the trouble. He is a dark character that exudes sex and danger and everything that Regan doesnt need.
Regan owns an antiques store in town and has lived there for a littke while, she knows the brothers but has never met Rafe.
Rafe comes back into town after being away for a long time, making something of his life. He has built a massive business and is very successful. He has come home for good this time and to buy the old Barlow place and renovate to make an inn.
Rafe is a fabulous character and an interesting one at that. He is the most dangerous and would be the most likely to solve something with his fists. The brothers were all different and ended up doing different things. Rafe had his business building, Jared was a sucessful lawyer, Devin was the town sheriff and Shane had made a living on the farm that was left to them when their mother died.
Rafe had no interest in the farm that had killed his father and was never any good at it, he helped out from time to time if he was in town but that was it.
He asks Regan to help build the interior to the inn to restore it to its former glory, a job she is excited to do. The old house holds many memories and that is where Rafe has had many of his experiences with the ghosts.
The ghosts have connected with the brothers and Rafe remembers it all too well, it has effected him and has this need to restore the house to see if it will make any difference in the experiences he has.
He and Regan start a sexual relationship and Nora again writes these scenes so well that you can almost feel him touching you. Its hard to actually describe how well written it is and i suppose for everyone there is a different experience, it depends on how well the reader can imagine the characters and how in depth you engulf yourself in it.
There are some extremely funny parts to the book, like the bet that he and Regan make which they both loose but the consequences are brilliant and the parts that are scarey is the ongoing issue that the MacKade brothers have with Joe Dolin who is married to Cassie and how he effects each and every one of their lives. He is an ongoing problem that is snuffed out later in the series.
The story doesnt solve the mystery of the ghosts and the inn is not complete by the end however there are three other book in the series so there is more room for development with the other brothers having their experiences and developing the background further.
Regan gets her own experiences and develops a relationship with the spirits. I do love these books and i have to say up until i read these ones i felt these were my favourite.
But that can change!
The Pride of Jared MacKade
Jared MacKade is a very sucessful lawyer and has made something of his life despite what people in the town said about him and his brothers when they were kids.
Although equally sexy and dangerous i see Jared has a more sensible attitude now, he sees things differently from when he was younger, he wasnt the quiet one, that was Devin but he had seen things differently.
I see a man who had got out of a bad marriage and was trying to make the most of it. He needs passion and something that gives him a little kick in the stomach.
Savannah and her son move into the cabin in the woods. She has a history and wants to keep well away from the town folk. They are happy and she wants it to stay that way.
She is a tough character in the book, she is beautiful and smart and a wonderful artist. And when i think of a woman who is with a MacKade brother i see one that is very beautiful of course.
Jared helps her and she him in return, the woods had always been a special place for him and that is where he had all of his experiences and he is always drawn to them.
Its nice to see that although the brothers have different experiences that the background story is the same.
Nora writes this eerie story well into the romance and sex of the books and i feel like i am experiencing the same as the characters. Teh supporting characters in the books are brilliant along with the main ones and they support them so well enhancing the story.
Savannah has some kind of supernatural gift and she is a little more attuned to herself and those around her. Her story is what brings her and Jared together and they help each other. So far the MacKade women are all strong and they help save their men.
Hmmmm and woman saving a man, no change there then!
The Heart of Devin MacKade
Devin is the towns sheriff and he takes his job seriously. He is a serious man and he is the shy one i think. He is tender and caring and totally smack bang in love with Cassie. Cassie the waitress at Eds and now keeper at Rafes inn. she has two children and a husband who beat her on regular occasions since they were married.
This book for me was the most emotional, dealing with very real life issues. Domestic violence is a difficult issue to write about but Nora does it so well, she introduces the subject in the first book and Rafe and Regan deal with Joe and Cassie in their own way, Regan being Cassies best friend and Rafe having a history with Joe anyway then in Jared and Savannahs life the story develops as well and slowly everyone is involved.
Devin has always wanted to take Cassie away from Joe and keep her safe. He has been in love with her since he was a kid. She married Joe and although everyone knew what he was doing until Cassie said something there was nothing they could do.
Now Cassie was away from Joe and happy. I like Devin's character because he is sweet and cute and strong but he also has a bad side to him and one that he tries to keep under control. He can be dangerous and he is sexy, so very sexy.
Cassie is the one who has the encounters with the spirits living in the Inn she sees and feels more but it is how she connects to Devin.
He helps her get over what happened with Joe but its not quite over yet and the brothers will need to protect her once last time but will it end as well this time around? You will have to read and find out!!!
The Fall of Shane MacKade
Being the baby of the family he always had to catch up with his brothers. Shane is a little rough around the edgese and says exactly what he thinks and doesnt care about the consequences.
Due to Regans interest into the civil war story and the spirits connected to it and both the Inn and the MacKade home, her friend from college comes to help.
She is interested in the parapsychology and wants to help Regan as well as get away from her parents. Rebecca shall we say is a little niave and has not had a lot of life experiences.
Shane is so rough and strong tending to his farm. He has a massive issue with his three brothers not only getting married but having babies as well. He loves kids and his family but he really believes thats not for him. He is very adamant about how he want to live his life and he gets a massive kick in the nuts when he meets Rebecca.
Rebecca moves into the house to investigate but Shane really hates all the talk of spirits and the war. He doesnt believe in it and will not tolerate it. She pushes him into dealing with the ghost stuff and eventually he admits it all.
Its nice to watch shane fall and fall hard because of the way he acts throughout all of the other books and always teasing them about falling.
I really enjoyed these books and thought theu were brilliantly written. I loved the brothers and how well they are written.
I give this series and wonderfully deserved 7/10.
In the Garden Trilogy
The In the Garden trilogy is made up of three books called
Blue Dahlia
Black Rose
Red Lily
They follow three very different womens lives who have all come together by different circumstances and have a strong but strange connection to the resident ghost that has haunted the rooms for some many years.
I was at first a little unsure if i would like this book because the story line of having a supernatural edge to it, however i was completely turned around after reading the firat book. The story of the Ghost really enhanced the emotional state of each of the women and gave a wonderful story and lovely but dramatic edge to it.
I was thoroughly hapy with this trilogy and enjoyed each one, i would say that the Red Lily was my favourite of the three and i am still waiting to see if there are any books by Nora Roberts i dont like.
Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
In this book you meet Stella a mother of two boys and wife to Kevin. She worked in horticulture, loving flowers and plants etc.
I actually put this book down after reading the first chapter because i really wasnt warming to it and couldnt feel the story line.
I waited a month and picked it up again and it read much better that time.
Stella's character at the beginning suffers a massive heart ache where her husband dies in a plane crash on his way home froma business trip. Its absolutely heart breaking and you can really feel her pain however Nora doesnt let ou feel to sad for her for too long.
The humour of her callous mother and the decision to move back to where she came from and where her father and step mother live, gives a little light humour to the subject.
The act of moving on is clearly put accross in this book and Nora addresses the whole aspect of children loosing their father and how the strain effects them all. Nora does address the issue but doesnt make it the priority. Just like her other book the priority is Stella and her love life and the budding romance with gardner/landscape architect Logan.
He wasnt looking but he found, she infuriated him which is funny to read. They are always arguing however the underlying passion is screaming to get out.
Stellas move to the Harper house and work for Roz, the owner of a garden centre who supplies landscaping. Together with the young and vibrant Hayley who is heavily pregnant the ghost becomes more and more prominant.
Stella lives in harper house and has seen the ghost and felt her but the encounters become more and more emotional and demanding as the story progresses and the relationship between Stella and Logan gets deeper.
The ghost is a woman and as the book unfolds so does the back story of the ghost and her connection to Harper house and to the women and children who live there. Although there is a lot going on in the book the story really keeps you hanging on and wanting more. As soon as i put this book down i picked up the next.
Black Rose by Nora Roberts
Black Rose is all about Roz and her connection to this ghost. She employs a researcher who deals with family history and the unexplainable to help Stella herself and Hayley in finding out who the ghost is and how to help her move on.
He is a little odd and totally unorganised in life but very good at his job. I didnt feel as connected to this book as i have the previous ones, i am not sure if it because the characters are older and have children my age. I couldnt really realte to the characters as much as i had previously however the story was very good and you read Roz dealing with ex husbands with a certain penache and also how she and Mitch deal with the ghost and her connection to her.
Roz has three sons and only the youngest Harper lives on the grounds but hasnt had any dealings with the ghost since he was a young boy. Roz has seen the ghost as a young girl, again when she was pregnant and then when her boys were small.
There is an apparent connection to the children and being a mother but all of the research Mitch does doesnt lead to anything.
The story does keep you hanging a little and i suspected the truth would be found out in the final book. Roz's story was very good and had many action and lovely scenes in it between herself and the ghost and also with Mitch but like i said before i didnt feel as connected to this book.
I got through it quickly so i could get straight into the final book.
Red Lily by Nora Roberts
Thsi is the final book in the trilogy and in my opinion the best one. It gives the answers to the ghost mystery but not after lots of weird and slightly dangerous things happenng to Hayley the female lead in this book.
Hayley came to the Harper house as a distant relation on Roz's husbands side of the family and she is heavily taken pregnant so Roz takes her in. Hayley is a very confident and strong character in this book and i very much enjoy reading her, she is vibrant and exciting and that is probably why Harper has fallen in love with her.
Hayley is subjected to the most horrific connections with the ghost. She is possessed by her and she has very vivid dreams and experiences of her. It obvious that the ghost connects with her the most and that she is in live with Harper and how he looks ust like his grandfather who is responsible for the ghost and why she is there.
They eventually find out the reasons that the female ghost is doing what she does and that she is connected to the family.
Its a relief to find out the mystery and you kind of click and think oh yeah i guess that makes sense and you end up feeling a little sad for the ghost.
The three women are now family and from very different walks of life, Stella and Logan are married, Roz and Mitch are married and Hayley, Harper and lily are a family with a wedding to plana and a new baby on the way. This book is by far my favourite and the ongoing hillarious comic genious from David, Roz's housekeeper/surrogate son is brilliant. He offers a little light humour when needed and is one of the main characters without having a special connection himself.
A great trilogy that i will read again and again i think and i would give this series a 6/10.
Blue Dahlia
Black Rose
Red Lily
They follow three very different womens lives who have all come together by different circumstances and have a strong but strange connection to the resident ghost that has haunted the rooms for some many years.
I was at first a little unsure if i would like this book because the story line of having a supernatural edge to it, however i was completely turned around after reading the firat book. The story of the Ghost really enhanced the emotional state of each of the women and gave a wonderful story and lovely but dramatic edge to it.
I was thoroughly hapy with this trilogy and enjoyed each one, i would say that the Red Lily was my favourite of the three and i am still waiting to see if there are any books by Nora Roberts i dont like.
Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
In this book you meet Stella a mother of two boys and wife to Kevin. She worked in horticulture, loving flowers and plants etc.
I actually put this book down after reading the first chapter because i really wasnt warming to it and couldnt feel the story line.
I waited a month and picked it up again and it read much better that time.
Stella's character at the beginning suffers a massive heart ache where her husband dies in a plane crash on his way home froma business trip. Its absolutely heart breaking and you can really feel her pain however Nora doesnt let ou feel to sad for her for too long.
The humour of her callous mother and the decision to move back to where she came from and where her father and step mother live, gives a little light humour to the subject.
The act of moving on is clearly put accross in this book and Nora addresses the whole aspect of children loosing their father and how the strain effects them all. Nora does address the issue but doesnt make it the priority. Just like her other book the priority is Stella and her love life and the budding romance with gardner/landscape architect Logan.
He wasnt looking but he found, she infuriated him which is funny to read. They are always arguing however the underlying passion is screaming to get out.
Stellas move to the Harper house and work for Roz, the owner of a garden centre who supplies landscaping. Together with the young and vibrant Hayley who is heavily pregnant the ghost becomes more and more prominant.
Stella lives in harper house and has seen the ghost and felt her but the encounters become more and more emotional and demanding as the story progresses and the relationship between Stella and Logan gets deeper.
The ghost is a woman and as the book unfolds so does the back story of the ghost and her connection to Harper house and to the women and children who live there. Although there is a lot going on in the book the story really keeps you hanging on and wanting more. As soon as i put this book down i picked up the next.
Black Rose by Nora Roberts
Black Rose is all about Roz and her connection to this ghost. She employs a researcher who deals with family history and the unexplainable to help Stella herself and Hayley in finding out who the ghost is and how to help her move on.
He is a little odd and totally unorganised in life but very good at his job. I didnt feel as connected to this book as i have the previous ones, i am not sure if it because the characters are older and have children my age. I couldnt really realte to the characters as much as i had previously however the story was very good and you read Roz dealing with ex husbands with a certain penache and also how she and Mitch deal with the ghost and her connection to her.
Roz has three sons and only the youngest Harper lives on the grounds but hasnt had any dealings with the ghost since he was a young boy. Roz has seen the ghost as a young girl, again when she was pregnant and then when her boys were small.
There is an apparent connection to the children and being a mother but all of the research Mitch does doesnt lead to anything.
The story does keep you hanging a little and i suspected the truth would be found out in the final book. Roz's story was very good and had many action and lovely scenes in it between herself and the ghost and also with Mitch but like i said before i didnt feel as connected to this book.
I got through it quickly so i could get straight into the final book.
Red Lily by Nora Roberts
Thsi is the final book in the trilogy and in my opinion the best one. It gives the answers to the ghost mystery but not after lots of weird and slightly dangerous things happenng to Hayley the female lead in this book.
Hayley came to the Harper house as a distant relation on Roz's husbands side of the family and she is heavily taken pregnant so Roz takes her in. Hayley is a very confident and strong character in this book and i very much enjoy reading her, she is vibrant and exciting and that is probably why Harper has fallen in love with her.
Hayley is subjected to the most horrific connections with the ghost. She is possessed by her and she has very vivid dreams and experiences of her. It obvious that the ghost connects with her the most and that she is in live with Harper and how he looks ust like his grandfather who is responsible for the ghost and why she is there.
They eventually find out the reasons that the female ghost is doing what she does and that she is connected to the family.
Its a relief to find out the mystery and you kind of click and think oh yeah i guess that makes sense and you end up feeling a little sad for the ghost.
The three women are now family and from very different walks of life, Stella and Logan are married, Roz and Mitch are married and Hayley, Harper and lily are a family with a wedding to plana and a new baby on the way. This book is by far my favourite and the ongoing hillarious comic genious from David, Roz's housekeeper/surrogate son is brilliant. He offers a little light humour when needed and is one of the main characters without having a special connection himself.
A great trilogy that i will read again and again i think and i would give this series a 6/10.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Born In Trilogy by Nora Roberts
The Born In Trilogy follows the lives of three sisters and the three men than entagle them.
Set in a beautiful village of County Clare in Ireland Nora Roberts brings the feel of the quaint Irish village to you, she sets out the scenary with such passion and you can almost smell the sea air.
The characters are equally exciting and very different dealing wth such different day to day issues but underneath it all they are family and come together.
There are beautiful love stories and passion which as mentioned before is standard with a Nora Roberts novel however the style of passion between the three women was very different.
The love two of the sisters have for their passed father and the obligation to their mother sets a very tough and difficult past to contend with in the present and when dealing with the men in their lives.
Margaret Mary Concannon, Brianna Concannon and Shannon Bodine are sisters but each with very dfferent stories to tell.
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Margaret Concannon is a firey character in the first installment to the trilogy, she does what she wants when she wants.
When I first started reading Margaret and her way i found the dialogue a little difficult to grasp. There were a lot of Irish words and slang which i had to get used to but once i did the book was a joy to read.
Margaret is an artist and she designs and makes glass art which up to now she never sold. The book starts with her selling her first pieces and celebrating with her father who she adores fo rhim to later that evening die.
The relationship between margaret and her father Tommy is clear from only a few short sentences and she takes his death very hard. She was with him when he died and had to deal with that on her own.
Nora really grasps the raw emotion of the situation and when Margaret is crying you are too.
Margarets sister Brianna is the polar opposite to her but they love each other fiercly. Brianna however is bound and emprisoned b thier mother who is a bit of a bitter old witch really!
Margaret doesnt live with them so has a certain amount of freedom.
You can really feel her dislike for her mother and the way she treated everyone and even though she is shouting and ranting all the time about it you can tell there is a lot of things she isnt saying.
She is clear and adamant about her art and how she sells it, this character to me is very level headed and clear however i think a little niave about life and love.
In comes the equally bull willed and pig headed man Rogan, he is wealthy dealer in art and owns galleries all over the world.
He falls in love with Maggies art and soon her. Their relationship is all about the fire and passion, he ignites something she didnt think she had and its lovely to watch her transform from this hard nosed irish lass to a hard nosed woman in love.
An enjoyable read and would read again and recommended it to anyone willing to hear me rant!!
Born in Ice by Nora Roberts
Born in Ice follows Margarets sister Brianna a beautiful and careful woman who cares too much what people think and say. She runs her own B&B and takes a massive amount of pride into the running of it.
Brianna's character is so lovely and you cannot help but fall in love with her, her innosence is very appealing in this story.
Her mother constantly puts her down and makes her feel like nothing but thanks to Margaret and her successful art their mother now has her own house.
Brianna is now free and you can see she is liberated and happy that she can be herself but carries an enormous amount of guilt.
Greyson is an American writer who comes to stay at the B&B as his book is set in the village and he wanted to be there while he wrote the book. He is mean and moody with a lot of artistic temperment he shares with Maggie.
As he researches his book more he becomes more and more involved in Brianna's life and her family. He is taken by her and falls in love but tries not to admit it.
His past plays a massive role in their little romance and she is totally taken in by him.
Brianna wants romance and love and be whisked away, Maggis and Rogan have a baby which makes her want and need a family of her own.
Her vulnerability is amazing and Nora captures it well and even in the looks that moe between herself and Greyson you can feel the need.
Nora's way of tansferring that written emotion into reality is truel a gift.
Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
At the end of the last book, some family secrets come out and the sisters find out they have another sister that they knew nothing about.
At the start of this last book in teh trilogy Maggie and Brianna are looking for this sister. she is in America caring fo rher sick other and up to now didnt know anything about her other family or the little town of County Clare.
When you first meet Shannon she seems like a nice young lady and you feel an immediate sadness for her as her other is dying. On her death bed her mother tells her about the time she went to County Clare Ireland and met the handsome farmer called Tom Concannon.
Shannon is my least favourite character in t his series, believe there is one in each series that your not as tied to or have as much feeling for. I believe for me it was this one. Brianna is cold and hard and not very nice. She is rude and ungracious and seems to think she is owed everything.
Even when the sisters contact her she is really rude about it to later turn up there to visit. I understand that she is coming to terms with finding out her father wasnt her biological father and she had a mother who lied to her all these years who had just passed away and the huge deal of having two sisters. BUT she still seems a little unlikable to me!
When she comes to the village the sisters are so nice to her and try to include her as part of the family, even Maggie is nice which is a little bit of a stretch but Shannon is still very closed and refuses to let them into her heart.
Local boy Murphy who has known the family all of his life falls in love with her and she begins to let County Clare and her family into her heart and she starts to love everything. Its nice to see the change in her and how she chnages with a good dolop of passion and romance (not to mention the very saucy outdoor sex scene).
It was a nice way to end the trilogy and Nora has once again written a wonderful story of three different women with one similar and obvious connection.
My score 6/10
Set in a beautiful village of County Clare in Ireland Nora Roberts brings the feel of the quaint Irish village to you, she sets out the scenary with such passion and you can almost smell the sea air.
The characters are equally exciting and very different dealing wth such different day to day issues but underneath it all they are family and come together.
There are beautiful love stories and passion which as mentioned before is standard with a Nora Roberts novel however the style of passion between the three women was very different.
The love two of the sisters have for their passed father and the obligation to their mother sets a very tough and difficult past to contend with in the present and when dealing with the men in their lives.
Margaret Mary Concannon, Brianna Concannon and Shannon Bodine are sisters but each with very dfferent stories to tell.
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Margaret Concannon is a firey character in the first installment to the trilogy, she does what she wants when she wants.
When I first started reading Margaret and her way i found the dialogue a little difficult to grasp. There were a lot of Irish words and slang which i had to get used to but once i did the book was a joy to read.
Margaret is an artist and she designs and makes glass art which up to now she never sold. The book starts with her selling her first pieces and celebrating with her father who she adores fo rhim to later that evening die.
The relationship between margaret and her father Tommy is clear from only a few short sentences and she takes his death very hard. She was with him when he died and had to deal with that on her own.
Nora really grasps the raw emotion of the situation and when Margaret is crying you are too.
Margarets sister Brianna is the polar opposite to her but they love each other fiercly. Brianna however is bound and emprisoned b thier mother who is a bit of a bitter old witch really!
Margaret doesnt live with them so has a certain amount of freedom.
You can really feel her dislike for her mother and the way she treated everyone and even though she is shouting and ranting all the time about it you can tell there is a lot of things she isnt saying.
She is clear and adamant about her art and how she sells it, this character to me is very level headed and clear however i think a little niave about life and love.
In comes the equally bull willed and pig headed man Rogan, he is wealthy dealer in art and owns galleries all over the world.
He falls in love with Maggies art and soon her. Their relationship is all about the fire and passion, he ignites something she didnt think she had and its lovely to watch her transform from this hard nosed irish lass to a hard nosed woman in love.
An enjoyable read and would read again and recommended it to anyone willing to hear me rant!!
Born in Ice by Nora Roberts
Born in Ice follows Margarets sister Brianna a beautiful and careful woman who cares too much what people think and say. She runs her own B&B and takes a massive amount of pride into the running of it.
Brianna's character is so lovely and you cannot help but fall in love with her, her innosence is very appealing in this story.
Her mother constantly puts her down and makes her feel like nothing but thanks to Margaret and her successful art their mother now has her own house.
Brianna is now free and you can see she is liberated and happy that she can be herself but carries an enormous amount of guilt.
Greyson is an American writer who comes to stay at the B&B as his book is set in the village and he wanted to be there while he wrote the book. He is mean and moody with a lot of artistic temperment he shares with Maggie.
As he researches his book more he becomes more and more involved in Brianna's life and her family. He is taken by her and falls in love but tries not to admit it.
His past plays a massive role in their little romance and she is totally taken in by him.
Brianna wants romance and love and be whisked away, Maggis and Rogan have a baby which makes her want and need a family of her own.
Her vulnerability is amazing and Nora captures it well and even in the looks that moe between herself and Greyson you can feel the need.
Nora's way of tansferring that written emotion into reality is truel a gift.
Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
At the end of the last book, some family secrets come out and the sisters find out they have another sister that they knew nothing about.
At the start of this last book in teh trilogy Maggie and Brianna are looking for this sister. she is in America caring fo rher sick other and up to now didnt know anything about her other family or the little town of County Clare.
When you first meet Shannon she seems like a nice young lady and you feel an immediate sadness for her as her other is dying. On her death bed her mother tells her about the time she went to County Clare Ireland and met the handsome farmer called Tom Concannon.
Shannon is my least favourite character in t his series, believe there is one in each series that your not as tied to or have as much feeling for. I believe for me it was this one. Brianna is cold and hard and not very nice. She is rude and ungracious and seems to think she is owed everything.
Even when the sisters contact her she is really rude about it to later turn up there to visit. I understand that she is coming to terms with finding out her father wasnt her biological father and she had a mother who lied to her all these years who had just passed away and the huge deal of having two sisters. BUT she still seems a little unlikable to me!
When she comes to the village the sisters are so nice to her and try to include her as part of the family, even Maggie is nice which is a little bit of a stretch but Shannon is still very closed and refuses to let them into her heart.
Local boy Murphy who has known the family all of his life falls in love with her and she begins to let County Clare and her family into her heart and she starts to love everything. Its nice to see the change in her and how she chnages with a good dolop of passion and romance (not to mention the very saucy outdoor sex scene).
It was a nice way to end the trilogy and Nora has once again written a wonderful story of three different women with one similar and obvious connection.
My score 6/10
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