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Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Romance. HTML:BOOK ONE OF THE GALLAGHERS OF ARDMORE TRILOGY In Gallagherâ??s Pub, where the fire is burning low and the pints are waiting, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts has a story to tell... Determined to reevaluate her life, Jude Murray flees America to take refuge in Faerie Hill Cottage, immersing herself in the study of Irish folklore and discovering hope for the future of the magical past. Finally back home in Ireland after years of traveling, Aidan Gallagher possesses an uncommon understanding of his countryâ??s haunting myths. Although heâ??s devoted to managing the family pub, a hint of wildness still glints in his eyesâ??and in Jude, he sees a woman who can both soothe his heart and stir his blood. And he begins to share the legends of the land with herâ??while they create a passionate history of their own. Donâ??t miss the other books in the Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy Tears of the Moon Heart o… (more)
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Romance, book 1 of the Irish Trilogy.
I felt it was time for some gentle reading and decided on a Nora Roberts trilogy. This was a pleasant read with nice characters and a satisfying ending. It wasn't anything to blow me away, but a very nice interlude, which
Believe it or not, in all my years of reading, this was my first taste of Nora Roberts, and I come from a family of Nora Roberts junkies. This
I'd like you to meet the Gallaghers of Ardmore: Aidan, Shawn, and Darcy, who run the local pub in this pretty seaside village in the county of Waterford. Not far from the village is a cottage, a place of magic where a lonely American woman comes to explore her roots and her heart.
She won't be alone in the house, for there is another lonely woman in residence. She just happens to be a ghost.
With the help of a faerie prince who loved well if not wise, Aidan Gallagher of Ardmore and Jude Frances Murray from Chicago will find their place, and take the first step toward breaking a hundred-year spell.
The series begins with disillusioned American Jude Murray escaping to an enchanting little cottage her family owns in Ireland, where she stumbles into a warm pub on a rainy night and meets Aidan Gallagher. Aidan soon proves to be a good source for information for the research Jude is conducting on Irish legends and myths, and the more time she spends listening to Aidan tell the tales, the more she begins to believe in their magic, in herself and in her dreams. Helping to push these two together are a couple of star-crossed lovers of legend who believe Jude and Aidan are the first of three couples they need to break the three-hundred year old spell that separates them. Over the course of the next two books, the magic of the faerie cottage draws Shawn and Darcy into the legend, too, as they each find true love where they least expect it and play their own roles in breaking the spell.
As far as romances go I thought these were pretty average. No surprises, no deviations from the standard outline, but they're sweet stories, and tastefully sexy, too, which I like. And though I really liked how Ms. Roberts weaves Irish legends and folk tales throughout the story, I thought the legend at the center of the trilogy that the Gallaghers find themselves unwitting participants in came off as rather childlike and hokey.
What I really enjoyed about these books was the setting. I loved escaping into the sleepy little village of Ardmore. I could see it so clearly in my mind, hear the sounds of the waves crashing on the rocks, smell the food being served in the pub and hear the laughter and music and even the Irish accents of the residents. By the time I was halfway through the second book I was downloading Irish music and dreaming of an Irish vacation. All in all, not a bad way to spend a weekend. When I get the chance I plan to read Roberts' Three Sisters trilogy, which has been highly recommended by several friends, and I have her Blood Brothers trilogy, too.
Seriously you guys, I have reread these books so. many. times. Mostly
Jewels of the Sun brings Jude Murray to Ireland. She is recently divorced and in need of a break from her life. She certainly finds that in the little Irish village of Ardmore. She quickly begins to settle into her cottage (borrowed from a family member) and make friends. Many of those friends stem from the Gallagher familyâs pub around which our trilogy is centered (especially the oldest brother in this caseâŚ).
Besides Judeâs growing relationship with Aidan, the biggest part of the book focuses on how Jude learns to fit in her own skin and appreciate herself. I donât think she ever had the right people around her in her âold lifeâ for that to happen. The book definitely makes it seem like Ireland is her perfect fit! I loved watching her character figure out what it feels like to have real friends and a real relationship, both of which she can depend on.
Tears of the Moon is my favorite of the three, and the one Iâve â by far â read the most often. Brenna OâToole, tomboy extraordinaire, has loved the other Gallagher brother basically foreverâŚbut he never noticed. But really, why does the man always have to make the first move? (Answer: he doesnât.)
Brenna shocks Shawn to no end with an intriguing proposal (not of the marriage kind), but the longer he thinks about it the better it starts to sound.
Brenna is seriously one of my favorite characters ever â funny, smart, loyal and above all: really really brave about fighting for what she wants. I donât know how anyone could read this book and not absolutely fall in love with her.
Heart of the Sea is, in my opinion, the weakest link. Probably because the heroine, Darcy, appeals to me the least. She is the only sister of the Gallagher trio and she is pretty darn self-confident. She is also seemingly very shallow. She does have a lot of depth to her, but I think the shallow card is played a little too well.
Trevor comes from America as the owner of a large company building a theatre addition to the Gallagherâs pub â Darcy is always up for gallivanting around with a rich man so things heat up for them pretty quickly. (See? Shallow!) When they both start feeling attached, things start getting a little rockyâŚ
Okay, so now weâll get to the crazy-cheesy part of the whole thing that Iâm not so fond of. The books all feature an old legend surrounding the town of Ardmore about two doomed lovers from the past (the guy was the prince of the faeries who didnât know how to properly show the woman he loved her). Her ghost haunts Judeâs cottage and he constantly shows up in the graveyard where she is buried and where our trilogyâs heroes constantly turn up. It turns out that once all three of our happy couples fall in love the curse will be broken.
Now, Iâm obviously by no means a paranormal/fantasy hater but in my opinion, these books donât need this element. There is something timeless and mystical about both the characters and the setting without bringing actual magic into the mix.
Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon and Heart of the Sea are fantastic contemporary romance reads in their own right, and to be honest I usually skip the scenes that the prince of faeries shows up in when I reread them. Does anyone else that has read these books agree with me?
Anyway, that being said â I obviously still think The Irish Trilogy is worth reading, weird paranormal elements and all. These characters will grow on you quickly and youâll want to see them all through to their happy endings!
If youâre a fan of contemporary romance, youâre probably already familiar with Nora Roberts. But if you havenât read The Irish Trilogy, I definitely think youâre missing out!
I'd recommend the complete trilogy to people who love fantasy but want something with a more... ahem... adult feel.