Thursday, June 19, 2014

Book Review: Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts

Shadow Spell
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy (Book 2)
Publication: Berkley (March 25, 2014)

Description: 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…

My Thoughts: SHADOW SPELL is the middle book in the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy and suffers from some middle book problems. Clearly, the ancient enemy can't be defeated, or what would be left for the final book? I did like the plotting and planning and spell work that was done in preparation for their next battle with Cabhan though.

The romance between Connor and Meara seemed to be inevitable. After all, they'd loved each other as friends since they were small children. It did take Meara being the focus of Cabhan in this story to make both of them realize that it was a lifetime love. Connor, because of his family background, was more open to love than Meara was.

The heart of the story, for me, was the relationship among the six main characters. Friendship, love, and support are characteristics of a Nora Roberts book and were amply evidenced in this story. I will be eager to read the next book because I want to know how they manage to defeat Cabhan and am eager to find out how Branna and Fin work out their considerable differences.

Favorite Quote:
"All it takes is a bit of tending, a stir, more fuel, and it'll burn day and night and night and day, give you light and warmth."

"You could forget to stir it, or run out of fuel."

Laughing, he nuzzled her neck. "Then you'd be careless, and shame on you for it. Love needs tending, is what I'm saying. It's some work to keep the light and the warmth, but why would you want to be cold in the dark?"
I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

1 comment:

  1. I have books 1 & 2 on audio to listen to. I think its a male narrator and not quite so keen on that, but will eventually listen to them. Similar sounding kinds of books to some of her other trilogies.

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