"Shadow Spell" by Nora Roberts

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I say this every time, but I'm a total sucker for a Nora Roberts story.  The characters are normal enough (or as normal as an moderately wealthy, incredibly attractive, happily employed 20-something can be), the dialog is current, and the characters often live or work in amazing places.

Summary:  This latest installment of Robert's Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy takes us back to the misty land of Ireland where three cousins must fight an ancient evil that has been haunting their ancestors for centuries.  Connor O'Dwyer, sexy Irish falconer finds himself the target of the sorcerer Cabhan's latest attempt to destroy the Dark Witch of county Mayo.  As Connor, his sister, his cousin and his closest friends plot to destroy Cabhan once and for all, he finds himself falling hopelessly...and gloriously...in love with his long time friend.

What I Liked:

• Since spending May Term in Ireland between my junior and senior year of college, I've had a soft spot for the Emerald Isle.  Roberts describes the land, the weather and the lingo with an accuracy that does the nation proud without falling into generalizations or stereotypes.
• It's hard to go wrong with a classic good vs. evil tale, and I enjoyed the twists of magic and fairy tale.
• The best bits of the book were the portions that covered the original Dark Witch three.  Although written in small bits, the characters are fully fleshed out, the plots is fast paced and exciting, and the language Roberts uses is absolutely captivating.

What Drove Me Nuts:

• We all know I love Nora, but I had a hard time enjoying her dips into fantasy.  As like the other book in this series, I felt that Robert's didn't explore the depths of her characters as much as she does in her non fantasy books.  She focuses more on mystical and less on the relationships and personalities of the characters.
• I felt that Meara was a little ho-hum.  Roberts clearly was more interested in Connor, which was fine, but I felt that Meara wasn't developed into being a strong...or interesting...match for Connor.  The romance felt like it was an afterthought instead of the point of the plot.

Rating:  This book is best enjoyed on a stormy night when you're looking for something quick and easy.

Reviewed By:  Tami

Also Read By:  For a complete listing, go to www.noraroberts.com