Nora Roberts

Shadow Spell

shadow spell

Shadow Spell (The Cousins of O’Dwyer #2) By: Nora Roberts

Plot:

With the legends and lore of Ireland running through his blood, falconer Connor O’Dwyer is proud to call County Mayo home. It’s where his sister, Branna, lives and works, where his cousin, Iona, has found true love, and where his childhood friends form a circle that can’t be broken… A circle that is about to be stretched out of shape—by a long-awaited kiss. Meara Quinn is Branna’s best friend, a sister in all but blood. Her and Connor’s paths cross almost daily, as Connor takes tourists on hawk walks and Meara guides them on horseback across the lush countryside. She has the eyes of a gypsy and the body of a goddess…things Connor has always taken for granted—until his brush with death propels them into a quick, hot tangle. Plenty of women have found their way to Connor’s bed, but none to his heart until now. Frustratingly, Meara is okay with just the heat, afraid to lose herself—and their friendship—to something more. But soon, Connor will see the full force and fury of what runs in his blood. And he will need his family and friends around him when his past rolls in like the fog, threatening an end to all he loves…

Review:

This one was definitely better than the last. I felt like it had more structure and was clearly defined as a paranormal romance. The first one suffered from being too light on romance but not heavy enough on the paranormal and just seemed confused on what it wanted to be. I didn’t get that from this one and it was better because of that.

The heroes and heroines have too much going on to worry about stupid things, which I like. So even though the blurb makes you think Connor’s a dog and that Meara might get caught up on all the women he’s bedded, there’s no time wasted on that at all. She recognizes that she’s had other men and it ultimately it doesn’t matter.

Meara didn’t come off as strong as I would have liked. It was mainly just the other characters telling her that she was but she always had to have Connor save her. It was frustrating. In the battle at the end of the book she didn’t get hurt and she didn’t do something stupid, but the rest of the book she was always susceptible to the evil magic.

Still I liked the book for the most part. It was a nice return to a Nora Roberts trilogy. As a side note it could have been shorter but it was written in Irish. Meaning that almost everyone spoke with an Irish accent so the syntax was longer. It got a bit tiring.

3/5

Dark Witch

daark witch

Dark Witch By: Nora Robers (The Cousins of O’Dwyer Trilogy #1)

Plot:

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends. Ireland. County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits. Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives. When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package. Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive…

Review:

I really use to love Nora Roberts books. I was at the used bookstore and the library at least once a week to load up on any they had available. I devoured them. I loved that I could see her formula, I knew that these three women would be paired up with these three men, and they would all live happily ever after.

That being said I’ve been a bit disappointed with her most recent series. Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy was good but she went into way more detail about construction and picking out swatches and tile than I really needed to know.

I felt like Dark Witch was trying too hard to be fantasy and the romance suffered because of it. Sadly the fantasy elements weren’t all there either. The book just seemed spread too thin.

It was interesting to read a magic system created by someone who doesn’t normally write fantasy. Roberts has definitely dabbled and loves to include supernatural elements in her books but this series is actually about witch cousins.

I liked the pairing of Iona (awesome name btw) and Boyle. Iona was always reacting how I least expected her too, which was also great to read. However, their romance wasn’t resolved until the epilogue. It was treated as a side note.

“Oh yeah I love you, do you love me?”

“I do! Let’s get married.”

“Ok.”

The End.

Not quiet that short, but about that satisfying. I’ll eventually get around to reading the rest of the series, but it has been downgraded to a library loan.

3/5

The Winning Hand

winning hand

The Winning Hand By: Nora Roberts

Plot:

“Did you say I won almost two million dollars?” Running away from her former life and her controlling fiance, Darcy Wallace was down to her last ten dollars. And in the bright lights of a Las Vegas casino, Darcy gambled and won! Suddenly the small-town girl was big news – and in need of protection. Robert MacGregor Blade, the casino owner, was determined to make sure Darcy could enjoy her good fortune. But Darcy knew what she wanted: a chance with Mac himself. And surely her luck was in?

Review:

This book is the ultimate wish fulfillment for me. The heroine is a librarian who decides to leave her former life (I don’t want to leave my life just the location). She winds up in Vegas and then wins a huge jackpot. She buys a house with cash. She gets her novels sold to a publisher.

Seriously I would love all of that.

Oh and there’s a romance as well. I’ve already got my man I don’t need that part of the book. It’s ok, though, it doesn’t take away from the other awesome stuff.

5/5