Blood Magick is the conclusion to Robert's newest romantic trilogy, The Cousins O'Dwyer. Having read all three, I can tell you that this is not Robert's strongest trilogy. The plot lines feel very recycled from Roberts's own books and I can't really recommend them on the strength of that. The romance in the first two were pretty typical Roberts. However, in Blood Magick, for the first time in a dozen, I really felt the connection between the hero and heroine. Branna and Fin are in love, and have been the entire series. Unfortunately, they were cursed by a vague curse (you just have to go with it) and can't ever have a future together. Their desire for each other is evident and while the reader is thinking about how vague the curse is, THEY clearly believe it. They've both dealt with it differently, Fin is determined to break the curse, and Branna just planned to repress her feeling forever. While I wouldn't suggest this one for the plot, I would recommend it completely for the romance.
The next two that I read were the last three full length novels in the In Death series written as JD Robb, Thankless in Death, Concealed in Death, and Festive in Death. I am particularly excited about these because it means that at least for a couple months I'm all caught up, for the first time in years. That said, I do not recommend reading more than two of these in a row. The little details that make the characters are completely, glaringly, repeats from the previous 39 books. (Little gray button, amber eyes that match her hair, misunderstanding cliches, Irish voice, pink cowboy boots, Summerset and her car. Shall I go on?) I'm not quite ready to quit the series, 39 books is a hell of an investment, but there's really nothing new here.
This is the worst romance novel I have ever read, and that is saying a lot. This is the kind of romance novel that gives romance novels a bad name (minus the bodice ripping and sex- this one has no sex. At all.) Originally published in 1984, but republished in 2003, 
series on stand-by, I picked up 
by Ruth Wind being an all time favorite book, not just romance!) so I dived in. 
Malcolm is her brother Del's friend, and mechanic to the Vows team. Parker dreams of happily ever after, but she has it all planned out, and Malcolm is not part of it.
Now I happen to like romance novels where not a whole like happens plotwise so this was right up my alley, but if you prefer a little action with your romance, you may not enjoy it so much. I managed to read it in one day, because it's light and easy and fits what I need right now, but there isn't a lot of meat to it.
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Hey! Another Nora Roberts book! I wasn't in the market for another one right now, but when you request books from the library and 43 people have them on hold, you read them when you get them!
. This one is a stand alone, not a series, and a little more serious than the Bride Quartet. This one has a mystery in it along with the romance, so might appeal to a wider range of readers. Fiona Bristow has moved to a small island off the coast of Washington to escape her past as the only survivor of a serial killer, now behind bars. Simon Doyle is a wood artist, who has moved to the island for some peace. His mother has gifted him with a puppy and Fiona happens to be a super star dog trainer. Simon goes to Fiona for help with Jaws, just as a copycat murderer emerges and Fiona is threatened again.
about Seth, the kid from the first three. On a recent trip to the library I picked it up (in large print no less!) and quickly read through it. It's nice to have the followup and to see how Seth turned out, and it's amazing to me that aside from the ages of the siblings that you really can't date the books to any one decade. I was concerned that it would be hard for her to pull off a story about a kid who was now an adult without making the adults from the first set unappealing. As it turns out, Roberts handles it just fine.
, which focus on Cameron. Cam lives all over the world. He races boats for a living and likes fast cars and pretty models. He's called back home just in time to say goodbye to his dad. He has no intention of giving up his flashy life, but agrees to stay for a year to figure out what to do with the boy, Seth. Anna Spinelli is the case worker assigned to the case and she takes her job very seriously. Of course, Anna is wildly sexy when she's off the clock, and is pretty modern in sensibilities. She's more than willing to have a casual relationship with Cam, so long as it does not impact her job, but then OOPS! they fall in love. Cam is definitely an alpha hero, and a bit overbearing, so it's a good thing that Anna is equally strong and forceful.
. This one is about Ethan, the quiet, solid, fisherman of a brother. Ethan didn't go far when he live Ray's house and spends his days catching fish. Ethan has long been in love with Grace, but due to the difference in age, plus his background, he's always felt she's out of reach. Grace, who has always been in love with Ethan, gave him up as a lost cause, got married, got abandoned and had a baby very young. She works multiple jobs to keep her indepence, but at heart craves a solid, quiet marriage. Things between them explode in an instant, and then there is the inevitable struggle to work things out between what they each see in the furture. Ethan is really my favorite type of hero, so this is one of my favorite Nora Roberts.
, the third brother, Phillip is really my least favorite. He's a professional, moved away to Boston, likes fine wine and piano music and really doesn't do a lot for me. This really carries through to the book itself and while it is a good conclusion to the story it remains my least favorite of the three. The heroine of Inner Harbor is Sybill, who shows up in St. Christopher as a stranger, but who really has a hidden motive. She keeps her true identity a secret, which threatens not only the relationship with Phillip, but also the situation with Seth and the brothers. Typically, my least favorite type of romance is one where one of the characters pretends to be someone they are not, or who hides a big secret part of their identity, so it's no surprise that I feel the way I do about this one. I will give Roberts credit for not drawing out the misery of the revelation or letting it become the entirety of the story.
