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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Enchanted


**** Enchanted by Nora Roberts. Contemporary paranormal romance. Re-read.








Fourth in the series about the magical Donovan cousins.

Rowan Murray has always been the quintessential good girl, but she really needs a break, so she accepts a friend's offer of a quiet vacation in a remote cabin.

Her nearest neighbor is sexy and mysterious Liam Donovan who is also, though she's unaware of it, the wolf she's seen prowling around, and that she eventually befriends.

Liam's next in line to head his family, an eventuality that weighs heavily on him and that tends to set him apart from his cousins.

Rowan, too, is the victim of family expectations. Her family grows increasingly insistent that she cease her foolishness and come home, go back to teaching, and marry the man they've chosen for her.

It's a pleasant story, but there are a few things that get in the way of completely enjoying it. Chief among them is that Liam tends to be a voyeur when he's in wolf form. It's a bit creepy, to be honest, and even though I've read this book a few times, I'm still not sure if I believe that Rowan's not angry with him when she finds out.

There's also Rowan's situation with her family. They're realistic enough, but they made me mad. A revelation later in the book helps to explain some of her mother's willful blindness, but I spent most of the book really irritated with them. Their confusion and concern for her well-being came across clearly enough--from their perspective, she's just abandoned her life, so they're worried. I didn't quite understand the pressure to marry the boyfriend, however.

Part of that was Rowan's fault. She's a bit of a wimp--okay, more than a bit--when it comes to her family. Instead of explaining to them that she didn't really want what they thought she wanted, she just runs off. But I'll forgive her that, because she does develop a backbone eventually.

I liked Liam's dilemma. He's not sure he wants the responsibility, but he's determined to do it right if he accepts. And therefore he can't fall in love with someone who's not also a witch. His parents drop cryptic hints that are both amusing and irritating.

I really can't put my finger on why I didn't love this book--as you can see, because I'm rambling, trying to figure it out. Maybe it's that it doesn't end at the right place. It feels like it should have been either shorter--say, novella-length, or much longer--single-title-length. Various plot threads, like Rowan's heritage and Liam's eventual rise to power, were just not really developed all that well, and I think I'd have liked the story better if they were either dropped altogether or expanded. Maybe that's it.

Anyway, still a pleasant enough story, and we get to check in with the other Donovans, which is fun, if a bit pointless (another reason why the head-of-the-family thead should be expanded).

...more


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// posted by Darla @ 3/28/2007 10:52:00 AM
Comments:
Good review got me curious about the characters and their magical talents.

I'll be back later for Thursday Thirteen i was late last week...so tried to be early this week.

I wrote a small survey of questions I am really interested in...I hope you and your readers have a chance to drop in...it's about art and decor and what people like in their homes...I'll see ya tomorrow for your TT''here is mine:

http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com/2007/03/candys-special-tour-of-art-on-ebay.html
# posted by Blogger Candy Minx : 3/29/2007 6:26 AM
 
Oh, very cool, Candy. Loved taking your survey. :)
# posted by Blogger Darla : 3/29/2007 10:38 AM
 
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