Once Upon a Time There was You

This is a sweet novel about a divorced couple finding their way, and refining their relationship, after their daughter's traumatic experience. It was a quick read with very realistic situations and characters.

John and Irene got married late - they were 36-years-old - and both had doubts going in. Fast-forward 20 years, and they're divorced and living in separate cities, he in Minneapolis, she in San Francisco. The one thing they share is their beloved 18-year-old daughter Sadie. When Sadie runs into some trouble, John flies to San Francisco to be with Irene.

I really like John and Sadie, but found Irene kind of annoying (though I think that added to the believability of the books/characters). Elizabeth Berg is an author I read regularly, and this book was one of her best. Just a nice, enjoyable story.

Once Upon a Time There was You

Shadow Spell

For the 3 of you who follow this blog, you know I have a love/hate relationship with Nora Roberts. She's like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. You know they're bad for you and you're going to regret having them moments after you scarf them down, but you just can't resist them. That's the way her books are for me, especially the trilogies, especially the mystical realism trilogies. So I scarfed down Shadow Spell in like two days, and I feel so guilty.

This is the second book in the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy, where the Irish witches have to destroy the evil sorcerer Cabhan to fulfill their destiny. Of course they can't defeat him in this book, otherwise why have a third one? But in this book we focus on the relationship between long-time friends Connor and Meara, who find their relationship changing from friends to lovers.

I love the characters, I love the very "Irishness" of everything, and of course I'll be back for the third book to find out what happens with Branna and Fin and how they vanquish Cabhan. But I'll still be ashamed about it.

Shadow Spell