Book #75 - Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Another great one from Nora Roberts. My sister-in-law and I both think you cannot go wrong with one of hers. I was skeptical about this one because I wasn't sure she culd hold my attention for the 700+ pages of this book. However, I truly enjoyed her descriptions of the beauty and wild of Alaska, the love story, and the crime. I found on page 472 there was a very profound line about heroism that I want to share with my avid reader(s). "Heroism's just doing more than you want to do or think you can. Sometimes it's just doing the crappy things, the unhappy things other people won't do. I feel as though this will probably be the last book I will read this year. Ironic that I started and ended the 100 book mission with Nora. Maybe it wasn't a full 100 books, but 75 isn't to shabby for anyone!

Book #73 - Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts

I actually started this book prior to reading the Grisham book and finally got around to finishing it. It is the first book in the Garden Trilogy, and I have to say that Nora really let me down on this one. Unlike her other series of books, I have no interest in scrounging up the second book. For whatever reason, I did not feel the connection to the characters in this book. I thought the plot was a little forced, and the ending was far too rushed. I'm excited I'm done because Steve Berry's new book came in the mail next week. School ending next week too, so much more time can be dedicated to my hobby.

Book #53 - Opposites Attract by Nora Roberts

This book was originally released by Nora Roberts in 1984 and then re-released in 2008 in conjunction with another book. The book was about two tennis stars who were once in love, and rekindled there love three years after a devestating break up. The resounding lesson of this book is how communication, the lack of, or miscommunication can ruin relationships. If you stop and think about it, I bet 80-90% of all broken relationships are due to poor or non-existent communication. Why is it we as humans are afraid to say how we feel and just lay it out there with honesty and certainty? Another great love story, and as usual with Nora Roberts the ending was happy. Great summer read.

Book #48 - Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

This was book three in the bride quartet and is the story of Laurel, the pastry chef. I have to admit that all of the talk of cakes almost made me run to the store to get ingredients to make my own. Needless to say, I was able to resist. This book was fabulous, and it left me feeling happy because Laurel got her dream guy. Funny that today I finished a paper on Romeo and Juliet (for my Mom's Humanities class), and I was thinking how pure and naive their love was and especially sad how it ended. "Savor the Moment" was another story of star crossed lovers that ended beautifully with nothing but happily ever after in their future. You would think it would get old to read Nora Roberts' books where they always end happy, but really it doesn't. I never grow tired of knowing it will end happy, and maybe that is why I go back to her. I know in the end I will be uplifted and satisfied. Not to dismiss those Nicholas Sparks books that end the way they should rather than always the way I want...there is a need for reality in love stories as well. But, as I said, they are feel good, and it is like coming back to a comfortable place. In case you are wondering, you will have to wait for the last installment of this series of books because it isn't released until November. Going to be painful, but I guess I'll make it.

Book #35 - Finding the Dream by Nora Roberts

This was the final book of the Lovers and Dreamers series, and honestly, I was a little disappointed. As powerful and believable as the first two books were, I felt let down by the ending of the third. Again, a great love story and an inspiring story of a woman trying to find herself after her husband walked out on her. But, I felt like Nora Roberts tried to hard to tie back in the story of "Seraphina" that was laced throughout the books. The three woman grew up intrigued and moved by the tragic death of a woman who in the mid-1800's threw herself off the nearby cliffs because the love of her life died. I liked throughout the stories how this myth brought them close together, but I thought the ending of this book and the way in which they found Seraphina's dowry was over the top. Took a book that was very realistic and made it corny and not believable. It was a very abrupt ending where the characters did a 180 and all was well in the world. Overall, this was a great trilogy, and I'm probably being to nit-picky. I do recommend, and I really enjoyed. Now on to Baldacci.

Book #34 - Holding the Dream by Nora Roberts

It is very interesting to me that Nora Roberts can write three books in a series about three women, and the books be so different. I'm not sure if that makes sense to those of you that have not read the books, but this book was about Kate, the second sister. So interesting just to change the perspective and emphasis of the story. The story line for the other two sisters is still the same, but seeing it through Kate's eyes makes it unique and different in some ways. Again, we are taken through the trials and tribulations of life. We get to fall in love with being strong women, and we get to learn things about ourselves through the characters. Finding happiness in oneself is the key to life..isn't it. If you can find that place where the waters are calm and you glow inside, then you will find true happiness. That is the lesson within this trilogy as well as the secret of life. So many people make a living on selling happiness, but in the end, only the individual can find that place. And, on the flip side, only you can allow someone to take away your happiness. That's what I've learned through these books.

Book #32 - Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts

This was an extraordinary Amazon.com find. There should be no doubt to my avid readers (reader...just Dad) that I have a weakness for the happily-ever-after love story. There should be no surprise at this point that Nicholas Sparks is my favorite of all time. Anyway, I digress. I found this unbelievable price for "Lovers and Dreamers" the 3 book series of these three incredible women. Daring to Dream is the first in the series, and yes, I'm sure I'll devour the others in turn (although, I am going to read one of James Patterson's next). One of the things I appreciate so much about Nora Roberts is her ability to develop such strong characters, which are always women. We get to know them, cheer for them, and celebrate with them. This book was no different. I found myself struggling with Margo (the main character) as she found her true self. She found a power and strength inside herself and most especially a courage to be the woman inside. She swallowed down the fear and insecurities and took risks that she had never before dreamed of. I highly recommend this book (to any woman). It will fill your soul with happiness and make you proud to be a strong, independent, and yet vulnerable woman.

Book #1 - The Tribute by Nora Roberts

I read 5 books over Christmas break, and really enjoyed all of them. This book was the 5th and completely by default. I have a stack of books on my desk that are "too be read". Some are passed from my mother-in-law, some from friends at school, some from my brother, and many I've bought myself. So the 1st four books I read over break were all books I had picked, purchased, and received from Amazon. Two of them were from my favorite authors: Michael Crichton (so sad this was the last one, but the pirate book was awesome) and Steve Berry (Paris Vendetta much better than his last one). The choice for "The Tribute" was because of the lag in the mail because of the New Year Holiday. The new James Rollins book was trapped in the postal system, and I had finished the other four. My mother-in-law gave me "The Tribute" a long time ago, and for whatever reason, it was the one I picked out of the stack. I started in 12/31 and finished in 1/2. It was really good. Surprisingly. One of the nice things about Nora Roberts is that the love story turns out just the way you want it in the end. This one had a great element of suspense that also kept you reading, and I personally loved reading about her renovations on the house she bought. Ms. Roberts' books always seems to be overwhelming in length, but they are so well written and enticing that you can't hardly put them down. I recommend this book for some light and thought-free reading. Great for vacations of all kinds. My only wish was that Ms. Roberts would have written a short epilogue to tell us what happened to the heroine and her one true love. I always love to know where they wind up.