Jovilette Wilder is a lion trainer at a small circus. Keane Prescott is a big city lawyer who inherits ownership of the circus from the father he has not seen in years. Keane comes down to inspect the circus and falls for Jo, but their very different lifestyles present a problem. Can they work it all out?
Read this book and see!
Excerpt from the back of the book:
"Jovilette Wilder had thought her sedate but sexy boss was as gentle as a lamb-until she heard him roar. And for a woman who tamed lions for a living, Jovilette had a feeling that the untaming of temperate Keane Prescott would be far more dangerous..."

Enjoyable early Nora Roberts about Laine Simmons who comes to Hawaii to meet her long-estranged father. Her father's business partner, Dillon O'Brian, is very protective of him and thinks Laine has only come to get money. Lovely island setting takes you away....
Excerpt from the back of the book:
"Laine Simmons had traveled to Hawaii to reconcile with her long-estranged father-only to be accused by his handsome young business of having ulterior motives. How dare Dillon O'Brian interfere in her family affairs..and have the nerve to set her heart aflame whever he came near?"

Short, but very sweet love story. Has a certain naivete that the later Nora Roberts novels lack. Very reminiscent of Ann Mather.

One or Ms. Robert's ealry one's. Laine flies to Hawaii after her mother's death to meet with her father, a man she hasn't seen since she was seven and has been led to believe didn't care about her. Meeting with Dillon, her Father's partner, is both informative and explosive. Good summer afternoon reading.

River's End is one of the first Nora Roberts books that I read. It is also one of my favorites. The tale of mystery and love is craftily woven in the fashion that Nora Roberts does so well.

Olivia MacBride's world was shattered when, at the age of 4, a monster came and killed her mother. Her father, Sam Tanner, was later charged with the murder. Left an orphan, Olivia is taken in by her grandparents and raised at River's End in the Olympic Rain Forest. Olivia's memories of that night are vague and no one, not her grandparents or her Aunt Val and Uncle David, will tell her anything about the past. At 13, Olivia is determined to find out what happened, so she gets in touch with the kind police officer, Frank Brady, who helped her that fateful night. Frank's family, including his son Noah who is close to Olivia's age, take a vacation at River's End. This meeting spurs a life long friendship between Noah and Olivia.

As Olivia matures, so does her relationship with Noah. Until one day when Olivia's advances towards Noah are refused, causing a rift between the two. Then, a few years later, Olivia's father is released from prison and doubt begins to cloud her mind about his guilt. Olivia starts to get strange calls, flowers delivered to her, and she swears someone is watching her. Will Olivia be able to forgive Noah and let him help her? Is Sam Tanner really her mother's killer?

Of course, I won't give that away, but I will tell you that if you pay attention the clues are right there and it's not too terribly difficult to discover if Sam really is the killer or not. That discovery, however, is not the real treasure of River's End, rather, it is the relationship that develops between Olivia and Noah. It moves from childhood friendship, to a sweet young romance, to heated passion and is the reason that River's End is one of my favorite Nora Robert's novels. This type of romance is Nora Robert's forte. She gives the reader these romances without turning her novels into the trashy romance type. If you haven't read anything by Nora Roberts before, River's End is a wonderful novel to start with.

"River's End" by Nora Roberts is a well-written story, full of interesting characters and incredible descriptions. Olivia and Noah were very well-developed and both very likeable. The story covers many years, from Liv's childhood all the way up to adulthood. When Olivia was very young, her mother was murdered and her father was tried and convicted of the crime. The story revolves around the effect that one horrible event has had on Olivia's life, and her relationship with Noah, the son of the police officer who found her on the night of the murder. Noah wants to tell Liv's father's story in a book, but some unexpected events begin to indicate something no one was prepared for. The suspense builds effectively, and the ending is a big surprise!
Although I found the majority of this book very engaging, there were some passages and sections that were too drawn out and overly long that I had to force myself to get through.
Overall, however, this book is well worth reading and will leave you satisfied.

My first Nora Roberts book - I'm hooked! The rich and detailed rain forest location in Washington State makes for a pleasant change. I felt as if I were walking the trails right along with Livvy and Noah! Livvy, Noah and all the rest are given an in-depth character description which makes them all the more realistic. While Olivia comes across as a difficult character at times, this is obviously due to the trauma she experienced as a child and the over-protective environment she was placed in by her grandparents. Noah has more than great patience in biding his time for her to come around. This was an enjoyable read and comes highly recommended! I can't wait to read all the rest of her books!

Whenever I need a light, fun, fast paced, happily ending read I turn to Nora Roberts. Three Fates wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was an entertaining book that I enjoyed reading. The characters were all interesting and although a bit formulary, their relationship with each other was compelling.

The story revolves around the Three Fates, three statues that are meant to be together, but at the beginning of the story, are in three different hands. Supposedly when together, the Fates have powers and a net worth that far exceeds that of each of them alone.

A group of six people, including a family of two Irish men and their sister, come together to find the Fates, restore them back together, and sell or display them as they belong. There is also an evil woman who is trying to do the same. There is a race to the finish, as well as some twists and turns thrown in. In Roberts typical fashion there are three love affairs thrown in (note six people on the search team, three men, three women), and a picture perfect end to the story.

I haven't read enough Roberts to compare this to others. However, I can say it is an interesting and captivating read. It isn't earth shattering or cerebral in any way, but it is an enjoyable read.

As an avid fan of Nora Roberts, I was delighted to see the story of the Three Fates start and end within the pages of one book. It must have been tempting to split the story line into three lucrative and separate entities, but instead the reader is treated to real interaction between each pair of lovers. In fact, this interaction between all the players is one of the strengths of this book.

Ms. Roberts has once again given us engaging characters. Her depiction of Cleo, especially, was beautifully drawn. The reader is allowed to see the entire woman, not just the hot stripper. The Irish contingent is Nora Roberts at her best -- lovable, laughable, and a family truly united. Her villian, Anita, is almost a cardboard cut-out of evel personified, and does not really have an impact on the story line, other than to act as a catalyst for the other characters.

An exceptionally enjoyable read!

When you're as prolific a writer as Nora Roberts, you're bound to repeat yourself a time or two, but The Three Fates rings just a bit too familiar for me. I was waiting at the door of the bookstore the day this was released and had finished it by dinner. And while if offered an interesting story (the mystery and romance of the Three Fates, three silver statues, was the best part) the characters were too similar to other recent paperback trilogies. Basically, she crammed three love stories into one book but I never really felt that I got to know any of the characters well enough to connect with them, with the sole exception of Dr. Tia Marsh. Her shy, hypochondriac was funny and sweet and I enjoyed watching her change and grow. But I would have liked to learn more the Sullivan family, Cleo and Jack. I'd love to see Ms. Roberts' next hardcover focus on one set of lovers so you can really get to know and understand the characters. These three sets of lovers all fell too hard, too fast for there to be any enjoyment watching them take the fall. I wouldn't pass this one by, just don't expect too much.

I have read almost everything Nora Roberts has written. I buy her books as soon as they hit the bookshelves, and Midnight Bayou was no exception. Sometimes I am less than thrilled by her work, but for the most part, I think an "inferior" Nora Roberts book is better than most romance books out there. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The male lead was, for me, the most lovable and enjoyable of all her male characters to date. He was intelligent, sensitive, but macho, thoughtful, incredibly witty and, of course, rich and handsome. Once of the reasons I read romance novels is to escape to a fantasy world for a little while, and what a great time I had reading about this "too good to be true" guy! The female lead was not so likable, at times, but I really enjoyed their interactions. The dialogue was funny, and the supporting characters were almost as enjoyable as the leads. The flashbacks to the past, although dark, were absorbing. I've always liked ghost stories. And, since I did not grow up in Louisianna, and didn't know that her descriptions weren't accurate, I thought they were fun and charming. The only complaint I have is that I did think the ending was a little anticlimactic. I was expecting more at the end--what that was, I don't know, but something...Despite this, I give this book 5 stars!

Midnight Bayou
Nora Roberts

Declan Fitzgerald leaves his job as a Boston lawyer to buy a house--Manet Hall--that he first discovered in New Orleans 11 years ago. The house hasn't been lived in for some time and needs renovation. Declan finds his joy in restoring the old mansion. There's a sad history to the mansion, however, and Declan begins to experience strange dreams and starts sleepwalking. He finds himself terrified to enter one of the rooms on the third floor. Declan meets Lena, the owner of a small bar in down town New Orleans. He is immediately attracted to her and thinks, "at last" the first time he sees her. Lena and Declan are both linked to the history of Manet Hall as well as to each other. Lena's grandmother lives behind Manet Hall and Declan befriends her. She is a wonderful character. Declan has a terrific personality and sense of humor. This is definitely one of my favorite Nora Robert's books. Being interested in reincarnation and past lives added to the flavor. I must admit I was surprised when I discovered what the subject of the book was but I think Ms. Roberts handled it in a believable manner. Definitely a keeper.

While ghost stories aren't my preferred reading material, I usually read anything written by Nora Roberts. Nora has a way of writing male characters that makes them believeable and yet fit the romance archetype. Declan Fitzgerald is no exception! Although I was dubious at first, Nora writes a great reincarnation story. (I won't go into detail, as I don't want to spoil readers with the surprise, but suffice to say it is quite a plot twist, Grin). My favorite character in the book was Remy who steals the show with his 'southern charm.' If I could suggest improvement, I wish Declan wasn't another 'rich unmarried bachelor.' I'd like to see Nora write more about handsome dynamic men of average means... And leave the trustfund babies for authors who can't write... Overall A_+++ keep 'em coming Nora!!!

I just finished reading The Reef by Nora Roberts. Ok, so I'm a little behind the times since this book was written in 1998. And yes, it has been on my bookshelf for that long (I joined a book club a few years ago, got tons of books, and I'm still trying to catch up).

Anyway, I have only read one other book by Nora Roberts, so I am not what you would call her "average" fan, since I know she is widely popular amoung romance genre readers. I think this makes me a prime candidate to review her books objectively...

The Reef is about two families, one comprised of an uncle & his nephew & the other a family with one daughter. They are both what you would call treasure hunters (or something like that, they dive for treasures, shipwrecks under the sea). So, they team up & embark on a mission to find a certain shipwreck with a certain very valuable necklace called Angelique's Curse. Why you might ask- well, because it's worth millions & the main hero in the book has set out to beat an old enemy to it. Of course he & the daughter, Tate, begin a romance. Come on, what did you expect?

What ensues is a fairly interesting fiction novel. It' nothing extraordinary. No real big surprises or plot twists.

I did have a bit of a problem concentrating on this book. I don't know if I've just been restless, or if it's the book itself. I would often find myself drifting off into my own little world about what I had to do the next day, what's for dinner; while I was reading.

I give this book three out of five stars. It was surely lacking something. Maybe creativity. But then again, what do you expect from a book like this?

However, I still enjoyed the plot & the characters. I even learned a little about treasure hunters. Neato!

I've read a lot of Nora Roberts books and this is one of my favorites. It combines all the great aspects of romance, action/adventure and mystery. The book starts out with a great introduction of the characters. I really liked them because they were so real. They were average everyday people that when you read about them can say, "yeah, I know someone just like that," or, "that is so typical of a guy." You have Matthew Lassiter, a muscle-bound hard case that you just know inside is softer then the softer side of Sears. Then our heroine, Tate Beaumont, who while is the lovable daughter, is also the tough deep diver. Then you have the comic relief, Matts' uncle Buck and the sweet but adventurous parents, Ray and Marla Beaumont. Then, as the perfect offset, you have the bad guy, Silas VanDyke. And of course, to tie it all together, they are all in search of Angeliques Curse; a long lost jeweled amulet that is supposedly cursed. Doesn't get much better then that right? Wrong, because even with all this, you get the pleasure of all the secrets being hidden beneath the ocean; an ocean full of darkness and hidden treasures. And while it may sound like you typical treasure hunt type of book, it is uniquely separated it into three parts. Past, present and future. This way, when you read, you have a good idea of what's happening, where it's happening, when it's happening and to whom it's happening to. (A mouth full I know.) Anyway, I really recommend this book, especially for people that read on and off. It's a "take with you anywhere" kind of book. It is a great love found, love lost book. It also gives you enough detail to vividly imagine the scenery. The only bad thing I can say about this book is while the characters themselves are great, their interaction with each other is a bit sketchy. Never the less I strongly recommend this book- it's a keeper.

I've only read a handful of Nora Roberts' books so I'm no expert on this master of romance. My one complaint with most of these books is that they are very rote and mundane. It's the same old thing everytime but with a different setting. Fortunately, Roberts' style and research saves this book from becoming overly predictable.

The setting is the West Indies and the quest is the search for "Angelique's Curse", a jewel encrusted amulet that has a history of bringing bad luck to the owner. Beautiful, young Tate Beaumont is a marine archeologist, who is on her parent's boat when she meets Matthew Lassiter, on another boat with his family of salvage divers. Tate is immediately smitten with the handsome, athletic Matthew but there is no immediate "happily every after story" yet. They part ways and meet up again years later to search for the amulet. Behind all this is Silas Van Dyke, a ruthless businessman who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He was also responsible for the death of Matthew's father years ago and Matthew will not rest until he evens the score.

The scenery is beautiful and the reader is exposed to all the nuances of deep sea diving. I bought this book because the jacket cover was so beautiful and I must admit that I was not disappointed with the written pages on the inside.

I love Nora Roberts, but this book asked for too much suspension of belief. The young and lovely B.J. Clark is the manager of a historic inn in New England. The new owner, Taylor Reynolds, comes in with plans for renovation. Taylor and B.J. spend the entire book arguing, since B.J. is resistant to any change whatsoever in her beloved inn. Taylor is surely the most benevolent boss ever, since he tolerates B.J.'s attitude and doesn't suggest she seek alternate employment. After spending 200 pages arguing bitterly, they decide to get married. Good luck, you two.....
Excerpt from inside the book:
"When handsome new owner Taylor Reynolds brought a pocketful of renovation plans for B.J.'s beloved inn and a blueprint for her seduction, the course of true love did not look smooth!"

Choosing a new jam for her homemade muffins was as progressive as B.J. Clark got. As manager of a small old-fashioned inn, she refused to let new owner Taylor Reynolds modernize the place! She'd just have to show this jet setter how true love and a tender touch made things cozier.

This is by far the most awful, horrible book I have ever read in my life... really. If you want to waste time and money to buy it and read it - go ahead, but it would be exactly that - a total waste. The writing was extremely poor and bordered on a second-grade vocabulary. There was less than zero chemistry between any of the characters - I mean, the lead male continually tells his wife/girlfriend to shutup, he calls her an idiot, and he tries to drown her in the bathtub a few weeks into the marriage - that's romantic???!!! There was no respect between any of the characters at all. I have no idea what the other reviewers were reading, but I think anything with the name Nora Roberts gets a high rating just because. This was one of her earlier works (perhaps the first? or very close to it), and I know she's improved. Just stay away from this book and I would assume anything of hers written pre-fame because it's likely to be just as awful. A terrible waste of printing money and materials. AWFUL!

Racing fans will especially enjoy this story of love at the track. Cynthia "Foxy" Fox, a noted photographer, accompanies her race car driver brother, Kirk, on the circuit to provide photos for a book. The sponsor of the car is studly Lance Matthews, whom Foxy has secretly loved for the past ten years. Foxy worries when her brother has a crash and is scared that Lance, a former driver himself, will go back in the car to replace him. An enjoyable read and an interesting look at why race car drivers get back in that car each day, despite the danger.

This is a well-rounded selection of common-sense conservative thought through the ages. It features a like of contemporary luminaries in the conservative movement as well as the venerable founding fathers. Though, it is must likely to resonate with contemporary neoconservatives than the more social conservatives and paleoconservatives. I also recommend, the Concise Conservative Encyclopedia.

Cassidy St. John is out of work and is thrilled by artist Colin Sullivan's offer to pay her for modeling for a portrait. He treats her terribly throughout the whole book and then wants to marry her in the end, because he is haunted by her face. I doubt anyone would fall for such an abusive, domineering man in real life.
Excerpt from the back of the book:
"Fired from yet another job, Cassidy St. John hardly expected the solution to her difficulties to come looming out of the fog on Fisherman's Wharf. However, the darkly handsome Colin Sullivan seemed the answer to any maiden's prayers.
When Colin offered Cassidy a job modeling for one of his paintings, it seemed her troubles were over- but one look at his blue eyes and Cassidy knew they were just beginning. How could she hide from the pitiless honesty of Colin's artistic vision when with every stroke of his brush he exposed her love for him?"