Rating: Summary: Not her best... Review: I am a huge fan of Nora's romantic/suspense novels (the strictly romance ones I stay away from) This is not her best work, as other reviews have indicated. The only triology (saga really after adding the 4th book) that really kept me going was the Quinn Brothers. I wish Nora would keep all the mystical supernatural stuff under JD Robb. I miss the old Nora. Books like Genuine Lies, True Betrayals, Carnal Innocence, Carolina Moon, Divine Evil, Public Secrets, Private Scandals, Hidden Riches, Sanctuary and the list goes on... Come back Nora, your true fans miss you!!!!!!
Rating: Summary: Great Writting, but Somewhat predictable Review: I love Nora Roberts, but after reading her series, you recognize characters right away. There are always three women one of which is artist in some way, another is bookworm of sorts and last one is a homemaker. I love the celtic undertone and the way she brings mythology into contemporary life.
Rating: Summary: Where Was the Light? Review: Anybody who knows me or has read my previous reviews for Nora Roberts's books knows that for the most part I am a loyal fan of Ms. Roberts's books. When I found out that a new trilogy was about to be published, I couldn't wait to buy the three books and read them one after the other. Unfortunately I was tremendously disappointed in the first book, Key of Light, and imagine it will be some time before I pick up the second title, Key of Knowledge.Three women with very different backgrounds are summoned to a party at a mansion. Mallory has just been fired from her job at an art gallery while Dana's hours at a local library have been cut dramatically. The third member of the group, Zoe, is a single mother who years to open up her own beauty salon. Once at the house the women find they are the only guests. And as the evening progresses they meet two rather unusual people who make each of them a proposition that may ultimately reward them with a large sum of money. Their tasks are complicated and while they may work together to solve each puzzle, in the end they are responsible for each of their own assignments. And they must all succeed or the monetary offer will not be given to any of them. Now these three ladies are set on a wild adventure as they must find three keys to unlock three boxes that hold three women's spirits which are locked in the boxes by an ancient curse. This book, like the Three Sister Island trilogy is filled with similar element like camaraderie, loyalty, romance, an ancient curse and mystical happenings. But unlike her other trilogies, Key of Light failed to interest me in any of the characters or care about the curse. And while her other books had mystical and magical elements, this time these elements just seemed a bit forced and over the top at that. At times I even wondered if somehow I was reading Stephen King novel and the authors name was a misprint. Not that I haven't liked Mr. King's works in the past but that's not what I expect to read when I choose a Nora Roberts book. I have often thought and written that of all of the genres Ms. Roberts writes, it is her pure romances which captivate me the most. Having read Key of Light, I now long for Ms. Roberts to return to writing trilogies like the Born In series or books about families like the Mackades, MacGregors or Quinn brothers. I am sure I will read the next two books in this trilogy to see if I enjoy either Key of Knowledge or Key of Valor more. I hope that I will be pleasantly surprised and can write a glowing review afterwards.
Rating: Summary: Let This Book Light The Way To Your Shelf!!! Review: Malory Price is the stunningly beautiful, and rather youngish, manager of The Gallery, a chic art gallery in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. She's smart, sassy, and because her boss's new trophy wife is insanely jealous, soon to be unemployed. She receives a mysterious invitation to a cocktail reception to the grand old house (mansion is more like it) on Warrior's Peak. In search of new business for The Gallery, she attends, and meets two equally brainy beauties---Dana, the bookish (what else?) librarian who can research anything, and, most delightfully of all, Zoe, the hairdresser extraordinaire and post-modern heart-on-her-sleeve flowerchild and mother who is the queen of moral support. Soon, at Warrior's Peak, they encounter a mysterious painting (complete with some VERY familiar faces!) and an equally mysterious couple who make them a very enticing offer: If they will join together on a quest in search of three keys, and are successful, they will each receive one million dollars! If they fail, the penalty will be a year of their lives!! The girls have a month each to solve the puzzle, and Malory is first up. She soon gains allies: Flynn, the very handsome and available editor of the local paper (do I smell romance in the air?), and Moe, his unforgettable mountain of a dog who provides lots of comic relief. In the hands of a lesser author, such a premise could seem overly grim or gothic, but instead, the comic bickering between the soon-to-be-lovers, and most of all, the warm, genuine relationships formed between the three women (each of whom has come to a crossroads in her life; they soon band together in a prospective business venture.) make this an unforgettable beginning of what promises to be an outstanding trilogy. Hats off to Nora Roberts, who proves that the future is best faced by following your heart and embracing new loves, friendships, and ventures when they come along, rather than staying safe (but suffocating) within your personal box. All this and a touch of magic, too, make Key of Light, and indeed the entire trilogy a must-read. Get it today, and let the key light a path to a special spot on your own personal bookshelf.
Rating: Summary: Fun but a page-skipper . . . Review: Moe the dog is definitely my favorite character in the whole trilogy. I enjoyed the self-learning process of the characters, but there were still a lot of pages of repetitive matter on the evil curse and the rules of the quest, which weren't all that complicated in the first place. I would also agree with a former reviewer that the endings are flat. Still, the characters are gutsy and have a lot to overcome, and mixed in with a little romance and a dream-like quest, it makes for a good midnight read.
Rating: Summary: Again? Review: Like others have said, this reads like a re-hash of the Three Sisters. You can skim over huge chunks and still pick up where you left off. There are some words that keep popping up that bug completely, and certain things that she just can't put in right. Like "jazzy"...when was the last time you ever heard anyone say that in real life? Or the several scenes where the girls were "shaking their booties"...I mean, come on! It was like in one of her former books where someone was actually snapping their fingers to BarenakedLadies. I'm actually glad of the naughty words, though--it's more realistic. One thing I've noticed is that her endings are rather flat. And why does everyone always have to get married at the end??? Isn't enough to end it with just them loving each other? A triple wedding on Valentine's is the most hackneyed idea I've ever heard of. I think she needs to take a vacation for a bit to get some fresh ideas.
Rating: Summary: Ok, but she's slipping. Review: I've always been a HUGE Nora Roberts fan, but in the last few years it seems to me that she's running out of good ideas. Her heavy, heavy reliance on trilogies and bonds of three women is leading to so much repetition. She's also getting a little silly with the fantasy/supernatural angles she's aiming for - they just come across as contrived. The romance angle is still good. She needs to slow down in the publishing rush and take more time crafting original stories. As big a fan as I am, she's no longer on the tip top of my must read list.
Rating: Summary: Definitely a keeper Review: This book is more in keeping with the old Nora Robert's books. It's believable in other words. Her characters feel like real people, they don't talk fancy, they don't look drop-dead beautiful. Okay the guys do but hey, that IS every woman's fantasy. The first in a trilogy that's sure to bring a smile and a sigh to all her fans. There's even the big, goofy dog that you can't help but love. It's a keeper on my shelf. You won't be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: Great book! Review: Loved this book! Could not put it down!!!
Rating: Summary: Makes the Three Sisters Trilogy Look Like Gritty Realism Review: I'm a big fan of Nora Roberts; in particular, the 2 Irish trilogies (the "Born in" books and the Gallagher saga) and the Three Sisters trilogy. Even as a devoted reader of fantasy novels, I found the mystical touches in the Gallagher books to be a tad silly, and even more ridiculous in the Three Sisters books, but the solid writing and the interesting characters and relationships in these novels kept me reading. By comparison, "Key of Light" is a real letdown. The fantasy elements are just out of control and completely unbelievable, especially as regards the characters' reactions to the supernatural events, the plot is unrealistic (a town of 5,000 supports a daily newspaper with a staff of 30, and several high-end art galleries and restaurants? The female characters living in this tiny town have never met? Celtic gods choose to hang out in a castle outside of Pittsburgh?), and the characters and their relationships are retreads from other books and not all that compelling. Can we please have some characters who are NOT writers or connected with art galleries? How about keeping us guessing for once about who will end up hooking up with whom, instead of telegraphing the entire trilogy plot outline in the first 50 pages? And finally, better names for some of the characters might be in order...an Irish god named Pitte and an evil wizard named Kane are a little giggle-inducing. Despite all this, I'll probably be buying the next two books as well.
|