Book #88 - Private Scandals by Nora Roberts

This was a fascinating and fast moving short novel. Again amazing that this story was nothing like any of the others I've read by her. How does she do it? How does she come up with these stories that are from all walks of life, all different genres, and all different types of characters. I often think when I start a new novel by Nora Roberts that at some point, the story line has to be a repeat or very similar to others I've read. I have to say that for the first time, I was on to who the bad guy was....but still wouldn't have bet money on it until I got to the end.

Book #87 - Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts

This book was one of the best of her's I've read for quite awhile. The plot drew me right in, and I was captivated and entranced until I got to find out how it would end. Of course, the hero and heroine wound up living happily ever after, but there were several heartbreaking twists in the plot. Very interesting to weave it around the life of magicians who doubled as jewelry theives. I wonder how she thinks of all of the different plot lines that she writes about. Again, she always makes you feel a connection to the characters and a deep yearning to make sure all will end well. As always, I wanted an epilogue to assure me that all ends well....but, that's just not her thing.

Book #85 - Tempting Fate by Nora Roberts

This is the sequel to the book I read several weeks ago called "Playing the Odds." I really think this was a better overall story than the other one. The main characters, Caine and Diane, are siblings to the lovers from the other book, and its is their story of falling in love and finding each other. It was an easy read and an enjoyable story. As usual, Nora didn't let me down. Can't think of one of her books that was terrible...amazing since she's written so many. The only other author I can think of that has written so many books is Patterson, and he's had several duds in the last few years.

Book #81 - Playing the Odds by Nora Roberts

Another typical, entertaining, easy read from Nora Roberts. Great love story tied with a little bit of a thriller. This book started on a cruise ship, and I couldn't help but think of the cruise my siblings and I took last summer. Cruises are sweet. I can't think of a better, more leasurely way to go and see several different countries in a short time. Plus, the food is fantastic and plentiful. I digress....this would have been a fantastic book to read on a cruise ship. As always, the book ended just as I wanted it to..the lovers live happily ever after.

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 #72 - Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

This is the fourth, and unfortunately final, book in the bride quartet series, and it was worth the wait to see how Parker's story turned out. Nora weaved another unique and believable love story with this one, and I found on the last pages I was tearing up while making a goofy smile. I feel a small sadness that the journey with these four women is over because Nora does such an exceptional job of making you feel a part of the story rather than just a spectator. Again, I want to see what the future weddings will be like, if they will have children, if they will all continue to live on the Brown Property, etc. I highly recommend the entire series for an easy yet blissful read.

Book #62 - Black Hills by Nora Roberts

So I'm still struggling my way through the book about Mary Queen of Scots that I started over two weeks ago. I may finish it one day, but frankly, it is boring and way too drawn out. On Saturday morning, I decided I need to read something enjoyable for my three day weekend, and this was a great choice. Obviously since it is Nora Roberts, there is a love story that ends just like you want it to, but the thriller side of this book was intense. I need to do a little research on Nora to find out if she was born and raised in this area of our country or if she fell in love with it later in life. It was so awesome to go back to the Black Hills through the eyes of the characters of this book. I feel like the clock was rewound six years ago from when I was there with my family. The book's setting is in an area of the Black Hills where the main character, Lil, has set up a Big Cat sanctuary. The description of these beautiful panthers, leopards, tigers, and mountain lions is extraordinary. It made me flash back to the horse sanctuary we came upon while we where in the Black Hills. Overall, this was a fantastic book, and she always has you coming back for more. I was so glad that all ended well, the murderer was caught, and the lovers will be living happily ever after. As always, I feel as though I know the characters, and I was dying for an epilogue to see where they were in 10 years, but it is not Nora's style. It is for us the readers to imagine where their lives take them.

Book #54 - A Will and a Way by Nora Roberts

I've been reading a couple of books at the same time, and I happened to pick this one up the day before yesterday because I thought it would be a good finish to my summer vacation reading. This one is a mystery that is similar to the movie "Clue" and a book I read as a young girl called "The Westing Game." The plot draws you right in when at the reading of Uncle Jolly's will, all of the relatives but two are cut out. Those two will inherit 150 million dollars if they are willing to live for 6 months at his house together. In the mean time, there is a plot to prevent this from happening so all other family members can get their cut. Exciting and a fun, easy read. Interestingly, the main character, Pandora is a jewelry maker. Like my sister, she refuses to make cookie-cutter pieces just because. All of her pieces are unique and very non-mainstream. Kind of neat to see the artists perspective, thoughts, and creativity and how those are utilized to create beautiful works of art.

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 #46 Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

This is the second book in the Bride Quartet series, and I really enjoyed this one as well. Light hearted love story that ended just right. However, I really enjoyed the independence, perseverance, and back-bone of the main character Emma. She refused to compromise what she was looking for in a life-long partner. She refused to settle for less than she deserved. Although she was a romantic and a bit old fashioned in what she wanted in a husband, she demonstrates that the modern, independent woman can have it all and doesn't have to give up some important part of herself to get the right fit in a mate. Very good book, and I look forward to reading the third book in the series and seeing how Laurel finds love.

Book #41 - Visions in White by Nora Roberts

Like all Nora Roberts' books, this one was a great love story. Actually, this was the perfect book for a week on Carnival Cruise Line. This is the first in a series of 4 books about the lives of 4 women who run their own wedding planning firm. In this one, the photographer, Mac, falls in love with a former high school classmate who is now a high school English teacher. The part of this book that really hit closest to home was when one of the parents of Carter's students came in to thank him for sparking the interest of learning in her son. I think this was Nora Roberts' shout out to the helicopter moms to try to say thank you rather than crabbing about everything. AS a teacher, I could totally relate with the elation he had that day. 95% of the feedback we get from parents is negative. However, we can live on one positive phone call or email for months.

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 #28 - Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

This book was an addicting page turner. Curiosity got you started, intrigue in the middle, and fear at the end. Again, like all of her books, she gave you enough information to wrap you in, but couldn't really put your finger on who the bad guy was. I love that she always writes books with a backdrop of the beauty of the West. This one was in a small town near Jackson Hole, WY with the glorious Grand Tetons in their back yard. The love story was excellent, and as always, an ending that leaves you happy inside and with a feeling that all is right in the world. I'm amazed after having written 150 books, that Nora Roberts continually is able to write with fresh ideas. You finish her books wishing always for an epilogue because you are so wrapped into the lives of the characters that you want to know how it all ended.

Book #23 - Hot Ice by Nora Roberts

I know, I know, the title makes me laugh out loud too. I know what you are thinking, how could such an educated woman pick a book called "Hot Ice". Actually, I sometimes have a weakness for thoughtless, trashy books with a bit of adventure mixed in. I picked this one to accompany me on a school trip that 4 other teachers and myself took 50 high school students on. We went overnight to Atlanta, and actually had a great time. You need to take a book like this to help you cope with the bus ride. Trust me on this. Also a great book for the beach on Spring Break. This one was pretty good with a hunt for the long lost treasure of Marie Antoinette. Didn't end at all like I thought it would, but I have to say, I had a silly smile on my face at the end. Fun, light reading, but definitely not life changing. Kind of like watching "The Bachelor", just done for the fun of it. Not to worry, my Dad has brought me 3 new books that I'm sure will be more intellectually motivating than this one.

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.