Nora Roberts [Archive] - Book Club Forum

Michelle

6th March 2006, 19:35

As some of you know, I just adore the In Death series, where Nora writes as JD Robb. But for some reason, something is putting me off her other books. Knowing the sorts of things that I like, can anyone recommend a good one ot start off with?

Inanna

6th March 2006, 19:44

Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.

I have enjoyed lots of her books, some of them have been quite good thrillers.

She has also written a few tiologies as well that I enjoyed.

THREE SISTERS TRILOGY
Dance Upon the Air (2001), Heaven and Earth (2001), Face the Fire (2002)

These are about 3 witches and they are great books, each interlinking with the others so need to be read in order.

Midnight Bayou, Blue Smoke, Birthright, Northern Lights, and Remember When were all good books.

I think years ago she wrote mainly romance books, but lately her books have more of a thriller feel to them and the ones I just mentioned were the ones that stuck out in my mind.

I did love The Chesapeake Bay series as well, not quite sure what genre that falls into though :wink:

Michelle

6th March 2006, 19:49

I did start Remember When, because the second half is about Eve Dallas, but never really got into it. Maybe it's one to try again?

Inanna

6th March 2006, 19:52

Maybe you should try a few other Nora books first, that way you can get used to her writing before you try it again.
Its weird just how different her books are from one pen name to another.
Her J D Robb books are far more gritty and dark compared to her NR stories.

There have been 2 books of hers that I couldn't finish and they were both part of triologies. The books weren't boring as much, but the main characters drove me mad and if I loathe the main character then its rare that I finish the book.

Mamacita

6th March 2006, 21:10

There are three books by NR that I enjoyed and would recommend to anyone.

Montana Sky- (older title, may be out of print, but since it's Nora, who knows?) It's about 3 sisters who discover each other at their father's funeral. In order to claim their inheritance they must all live on his ranch for a specified length of time.

Sanctuary- A photojournalist is stalked via email by some weirdo who keeps sending her pictures of herself that he's taken. She runs away to a place where she believes she'll be safe.

Birthright-An archeologist heads a dig and has to deal with her ex husband, a woman who insists she's her long lost daughter and the murder of the site's owner.

Michelle

6th March 2006, 21:15

That gives me a start - thank you both. :)

Anyone else, what is your experience of Nora Roberts.. do you have favourites, or ones you didn't like?

Leah

7th March 2006, 01:14

Inanna

7th March 2006, 08:11

The Three Sisters Trilogy is amazing, it's one of my favorites. The only other two I would recommend highly are Birthright, it was fantastically written and then I would also recomment The Three Fates.

It was a great triology wasn't it Leah? :D

Three Fates, I forgot to mention that one :wink:

jake

7th March 2006, 09:18

For some reason the name Nora Roberts would put me off picking up a book. It makes me think of an old grey hair bespectacled granny sitting knitting and writing slushy romance novels.

Mamacita

7th March 2006, 14:27

Have you ever seen a picture of Nora? She's anything BUT a bespectacled gray-haired granny! LOL!

She's about 5'-5" tall (more or less), slender, I've seen her blonde, brunette and red-headed, and she has a husky voice.

She's been very cordial every time I've spoken with her, but she most definitely has that "celebrity" aura about her. I've never seen her alone...always has an entourage of admirers and fans. Even at book signings, she has an assistant with her.

Oh, and don't knock those "slushy romances"! They are what helped catapult Nora to the top of the heap! And they command over 50% of the total number of books purchased every year. :mrgreen:

Cerridwen

30th May 2006, 09:12

Nora Roberts is brilliant, I was introduced to her by our very own Inanna!

My favourite is still the three sisters island trilogy, her 1st trilogy I read, I also loved the recent IN The Garden trilogy, brilliant stuff!

She has a few coming out soon so can't wait for those :D

Michelle

30th May 2006, 09:57

My favourite is still the three sisters island trilogy,

I might give these a go one day. :)

Renniemist

30th May 2006, 14:58

I first encountered Nora Robert’s books while on holiday last year. Birthright was the book I read at that time. I have since read the first three of the Chesapeake Bay Quartet, plus Dance Upon the Air, The Villa, and Three Fates.

I have also read Remember When but did not think that it was one of her better books. Although I must say I have since started reading the J. D Robb books.

Michelle

25th August 2006, 19:00

I decided to take a look at my library's offerings, and decided on 'Blue Delia'. I shall let you know how I get on with it.

Which is the first one in the three sisters trilogy? I have a feeling I looked at the first of these today.. but I could be wrong!

Michelle

25th August 2006, 19:09

26th September 2006, 21:41

Sadly, yes, MJ -- I know this is an old post, but I was skimming the author list, and since NR is one of my favs, I had to read the thread.

They're all rather disappointing. Nohting good since River's End.

Michelle

26th September 2006, 21:45

I forgot to update it aswell.. I did actually enjoy Blue Dahlia, and will be looking out for the next one at my library (they have the 3rd atm, but not the second). I've also ordered Morrigan's Cross from Amazon.. I hope it won;t be too disappointing.

31st December 2006, 02:14

I can't believe I didn't see this thread earlier! I'm a NR expert. DId you end up reading any of the suggested above???? Here's my professional take: she's written half a dozen books that are absolutely on the mark. The rest are enjoyable, but not pristine. If you'd like MY suggs for the best Nora out there, let me know...until then, I'll make you wait...lol

KW

Michelle

31st December 2006, 09:10

I can't believe I didn't see this thread earlier! I'm a NR expert.

Erm.. you replied to this thread back in September! lol

All I've managed so far is Blue Dahlia (see post above).. I keep getting waylaid with other books! :smile2:

1st January 2007, 16:54

LOL, are you laughing at my expense?????? Huff...I see that I DID reply earlier. How is one expected to keep up on this forum???I'm not Michelle after all.;)

KW

PattyOi

1st January 2007, 17:05

I just started reading avidly last summer at our lake home and I have become a fanatic. I read Nora Robert's Irish Trilogies in 3 days, could not put them down, then I read all of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels, reading James Patterson, Alex Cross and then will start on Nora Roberts again, Three Sisters Trilogy. Had to collect them all first so I can read them in order.

Reading again has opened a whole new world, not to mention new topics to discuss with my friends who have been trying to get me to be a reader for years. My husband has also gotten back into a little bit. We read John Grishams's A Painted House at the same time, we would pick it up when the other was busy. It was such fun discussing it afterward.
Thank you for letting me share.:readingtwo:

Patty

Maureen

1st January 2007, 20:31

We read John Grishams's A Painted House at the same time,.:readingtwo:

Patty

I heard it's not so good.....???

2nd January 2007, 16:28

My husband read it last year whilst on vacation...he trudged through the beginning ( slow ) but liked it in the end.

KW

Maureen

4th January 2007, 21:27

To tell you the truth I was put off getting it. Is it not up to his usual standard?

4th January 2007, 21:58

I didn't get THAT impression. Just that it was tedious at the start.

Nici76

28th February 2007, 19:21

Nora seems to write books at a phenomenal rate, and sadly, in my eyes, that showed in her latest JD Robb book, Born In Death. Apart from Mavis's baby, it was extremely similar to previous books, with nothing to make it stand out.

Has anyone found this so with her other books? Do you think they've suffered being published so quickly?

I have found the same thing, they all seem to be the same so i havn't read one for a while, it's a shame really because i did enjoy her books when i first started reading them

Michelle

14th June 2007, 20:24

I'm reading Blue Smoke at the moment.. the storyline is ok, but I have a feeling I already know 'whodunnit' - unless there's something I haven't seen.

However, the strength of Nora's writing for me are her characters - they are so easy to get to know, and to like or dislike. That makes for an enjoyable read every now and again.