Rating: 
Summary: Better than I expected!
Review: When I started "Birthright" I was kind of skeptical of the nature of the novel. Boy...was I surprised....not only was it fast-paced...it was interesting as well. Though quite long for a NR book...it was well worth the time spent to get to the finish.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to her usual standard.
Review: I must admit to having being spoilt by Ms.Roberts excellent recent books - Three Fates and Chesapeake Blue to name two. Here I feel that the standard has dropped somewhat - that's not to say it was'nt readable - it just was'nt great and that is what I've come to expect from this consistently talented author.The book had too many plotlines going on all at once for me - there was Callie the archeologist on an exciting dig, meeting up with ex-hubby Jake on the site, finding out she was adopted, dealing with her adoptive parents who had never told her this news, meeting her birth mother and her brother, brothers susequent relationship with the lawyer Callie hires to find out her past - she was stolen and sold as a black market baby - and then the murders start.......... I'm exhausted just trying to remember it all. As a result of all this, the characters personalities were under-developed and it was harder to get "into" the storyline, the supporting players who normally provide good back-drop and suspects for all the murder and mayhem barely left an impression and so when the "final curtain" came it was all a bit anti-climatic.... Having said all that, it did hold the interest to the end and if it were a first novel by anyone else it would be a 4 star..... it's just not vintage Nora.
Rating:
Summary: Weak Romance....Horrible Narration.... Maudlin subplot
Review: As someone who has enjoyed many of Nora Robert's works in the past, I found myself disappointed with the audio version of Birthright. I found the Narrator's voice to be extremely irritating and just did NOT work work for this reader. The voice she uses for Callie, sounds like she smokes six packs a day, and the hero (especially Graystone), sounds like a hick with laryngitis. Awful. The plotline, had potential, but it didn't live up to it. I was quite interested in the archaeological dig, and the community of archaeological workers, but this plotline got buried quickly under the subplot over Callie's identity. For me Callie's long-suffering mother reliving the pain of her baby's abduction over and over was quite maudlin, had me wanting to hit the fast forward button. I know it is callous of me, but I simply DID NOT CARE about Callie's origins, or what had happened to Callie 30 years ago. What I wanted to read was romance. NOW. Callie and Graystone's 'relationship' was unsuspensful, unless you like 'bedhopping and 'big misunderstanding' subplots. Graystone had potential, but the constant bickering between this couple left me cold. (There is nothing sexy or attractive of listening to two people bicker and torture each other). I also felt, that Callie as a major character of supposed intelligence acted rather stupid half the time. An example: Callie ran into the woods after a bad guy, armed with a can of 'bug spray' *groan*. The other romantic character Lana, I actually liked. She was oodles more mature than Callie, and handled her affairs in a professional way. Her love interest Doug, however had zero personality. This character could easily been left out. Perhaps this novel would've been more interesting if the romance had been between Lana and Graystone? Overall, I guess I found this book a disappointment. It had potential, but got bogged down with mindless melodrama over Callie's origins, and a senseless secondary romance and endless, endless whining and hand-wringing. Rating: Average, but poor narration loses it a star.
Rating: 
Summary: How disappointing
Review: I seldom can afford to buy hardcover books but I am such a fan of Nora Roberts that I can't stand to wait for the paper back edition. Hence I was on the waiting list for her latest. The editors writeup did not sound like something I'd enjoy but we often have different tastes.This time we were years apart. This was the dullest book I have ever read; and yes, I plowed all the way to the end because often times Ms Roberts saves the last part of the book for a smashing finish.Believe me, I could have lost this book at any point and never wondered again who did what. PLEASE wait for the paper back to bore yourself to death!!!
Rating: 
Summary: An Illegal Adoption Secret Takes Place!
Review: Callie Dunbrook who is a grown woman and a very gifted archaeologist is a woman with a past she has no idea about. Her parents never disclosed the fact that she had been adopted as an infant at three months old. What was unknown, was that she was actually sold by an attorney who was up to no good with adoption scams. How Callie will find out is by a mysterious woman that appears at her door one day inquiring about her past. Callie is dumbfounded and seeks the truth. There is danger lurking out there, and as Callie continues her search, it becomes closer to her. This is where her ex-husband Jake will be of great help. In fact, they may end up in love all over again. A good book about roots and discovery. There is a lot of mystery in this book!
Rating:
Summary: A Total Pageturner
Review: Nora Roberts at her best: Birthright had all the usual ingredients of a great read with strong women, handsome men who just don't get it the first time, a mystery to solve and then a marvelous ending. Callie Dunbrook, aka, Jessica Cullen, as the story unfolds is a successful archelogist on her way to a dig in Woodsboro, Md. At the first media presentation a woman in the area sees Callie on TV and recognizes physical characteristics that lead her to believe that Callie is her daughter Jessica. Jessica was kidnapped when she was three years old as her brother Douglas waited to see Santa. The tragedy tore apart Suzanne Cullen's life, her family and her relationship with her son Doug who had been 3 years old at the time of the kidnapping. Solving the mystery of who Callie/Jessica's parents really are, and how it all came to be makes for a story with escalating suspense. Nora Roberts has so many successful stories under belt that it's hard to say which one is best; Birthright is probably very near the top of the list.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Usually I am an Nora Robert's fan, but this book was disappointing to me. I find that the main character Callie is very annoying. There is so much thing going on in the book that sometimes it's confusing. The romance was not what I expected from her other books. I hope her next book will be better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: Good read but predictable
Review: A good page turner but most of the character plots seemed to neat and obvious. You can almost guess the ending before it begins.
Rating:
Summary: Good book--but!!!???
Review: Downside: Jake & Callie were very immature during their marriage. She accuses him of being unfaithful based on his past reputation and the manipulations of a vindictive woman instead of trusting him. Instead of telling her it wasn't true, he says nothing, walks out on her and sends her divorce papers. And she lets it happen. Fast forward, they're now working on a dig together. They each still blame the other for the break-up of their marriage, neither will take any responsiblity. I also didn't get Callie's attitude. She avoided love and commitment like the plague, and was rabidly independent. Why? She wasn't raised that way nor had an experience that would explain it. And it wasn't a genetic trait. Upside: It was an incredible plot. Heartbreaking, thrilling, funny and romantic all at once. The information on the dig was fascinating. I loved the secondary romance and ached for Suzanne and Jay, what a horrible experience. And although I figured out the culprit about half way through the book, the why alluded me until the end.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Nora Roberts read!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt the story line was very believeable. I have many friends that are adopted and often wonder "what if" this kind of story were to "happen" to them as they get older. We live in a very, very large world but sometimes the world is indeed very small. Nora Roberts obviously researched adoption on the black market very carefully. Only if you understand how a couple of any social standing could want a baby so bad to go to any length to get one, can you sympathize with the main characters' parents. I really enjoyed Callie and Jacob's characters. The way Jacob felt about his wife was very touching. It was like two separate souls looking for each other but somehow missing the point. I would love to read about their future together. Jacob's background would be a great book to explore also. As always, when Nora Roberts really researches a subject and brings her wonderful insights into the story, you can't help but enjoy every page of her books. Thank you for a great read. Keep it up Nora.
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