Nora Roberts - In the Garden series ?s

pink_fortitude

pink_fortitude

Banned
I just got done reading "Blue Dahlia" and I HATED IT! I love most of Nora Roberts works, though, so I was SO disappointed in this book! It seemed sooo long and boring, and the character developement was seriously lacking and the writing felt "slapped together" compared to her other books IMO. (it is so painful for me to be saying this about one of my favorite authors! ;( ) I loved the Three Sisters Trilogy,that was my favorite!, and this one doesn't even come close so far.

Does the rest of the series get any better? I know this sounds harsh, but if the rest of the series was written similar to this book, then I don't want to take the time to read them. Does anyone else feel the way that I do? And can I expect Black Rose and Red Lily to get better?

TIA :D
Missy
 
Missy - I have to agree. The Garden Triology is not the Three Sisters Trilogy, or my other favorite - the Chesapeake series. I read all three of the Garden Triology, mainly because I have to have a book to read, but Black Rose really took me a while to get into. I liked Red Lily, mainly because I like the characters better. I love the spirit of Hayley, but the first two - the characters were people I'd rather never have to be with.

Oh well, I guess even Nora has to have a bad book or two ...
 
I read all three and thought they were all pretty similar. So, if you didn't like one, you won't like the others.

It seems to me that Nora Roberts uses three personality types for her female characters and three for her male characters. She then just changes their hair color, where they live and whom they will get paired up with, but it's always the same three characters. As long as I space out reading her books, it's fine, but if I read a couple series in a row, it's like I'm reading the same book over and over. I guess the answer for me is to not read two series right in a row!

Shelbygirl
 
I agree with you. It's starting to feel formulaic, like you can figure out who goes with who right away and see exactly what the rest of the books will be before you're even finished with the first one. I really loved the trilogy set in Ireland (Jewels of the Sun....I can't remember the other titles, but they have the Ghallager family in them).

I was disappointed with the Garden ones too.

Kelly
 
Oh yeah, she's predictable, all right. For me reading her is like having a great chat with a close friend. You know what you're going to talk about, but you know it's going to fun anyway.
 
>Oh yeah, she's predictable, all right. For me reading her is
>like having a great chat with a close friend. You know what
>you're going to talk about, but you know it's going to fun
>anyway.

Yes, Christine, that is how I feel! I do have to space her out, though because she does seem to recycle characters. I love the professions she writes about though: magicians, thieves, artists, archeologists, chefs, cops... she makes otherwise normal jobs seem so interesting and her writing is so smooth. I haven't read anything written by her in almost a year, so I feel like I am "catching up" with her, but it isn't as fun as it used to be if that makes any sense. And you're right, Nora can't be perfect all the time! ;)

Kelly, I really like the Irish Jewels series too. I haven't read that one in a while, maybe I should pick it up again! :)

Missy
 
Hope you don't mind me joining your discussion. I am currently reading Red Lily and I must admit I haven't found this series as compelling as the Dream or the Chesapeake Series. I also find Red Lily a much better read than the first two.

Shawna
 
From the first book, Hayley was my favorite character... she seems so spunky and more laid back than Roz and Stella. Since I already know how BR will end, perhaps I should just skip and go straight for Red Lily. :p

I like the back story of the ghost, I actually think it is really cool, but there isn't the usual spark and witty dialogue that I usually like. It is..... monotonous in a way and not nearly as compelling. But the books are giving me ideas for my ever-growing gardens!!!! :7

Missy
 
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