The Last Honest Woman

Mom and I liked it so much we bought it twice...delightful family story and wonderful characterizations of each member of the family. Good happy ending...

Nora Roberts never fails to write a wonderfully creative and entertaining story that sweeps the reader into another world full of wit, humor, romance and love. These two emotionally packed novels show that Nora will always be able to catch a readers heart in the first few lines. With her obvious love of anything Irish, Nora takes the reader on a journey with a single mother of two trying to support herself and her family in the midst of question of he supposed wealth from her late husband in "The Last Honest Woman". Following is an account of a stage actress in "Dance to the Piper" who finds love in an unknown man who may ultimately be responsible for the success or failure of her current acting project. These two come highly recommended and if you are a fan of Nora's family stories, be sure not to miss the two other stories in this series Skin Deep and Without a Trace (found in O'Hurley's Return).

As a relatively new fan of Nora Roberts, I have made it a mission of mine to acquire all of her classic novels, the ones written before I discovered this amazing author about five years ago. I have enjoyed every story I have managed to get my hands on, but the two tales in "Born O'Hurley" really stand out for me. The O'Hurley family consists of two entertainer parents who live their life on the road, an older brother, and fraternal triplets Chantel, Abby, and Maddy. Nora has created a wonderfully complex, vital, and compelling family in the O'Hurleys, and they had me hooked from the very first page! The first of the O'Hurley triplets to have her story told is Abby, the quiet but strong middle (by just a few minutes) sister. After a difficult and unhappy first marriage to well-known racecar driver Charles Rockwell, Abby has been left a widow struggling to raise her two sons on a small farm in Virginia. But the steady routine of her life is irrevocably changed when author Dylan Crosby comes into her life to write the biography of her deceased husband. Dylan soon finds he is far more interested in the lovely Abby than in the job he came to do, and he becomes determined to discover who she truly is. Because if Abby really is the honest, kind, and determined woman she seems to be, she is everything Dylan has ever dreamed of but never hoped to find. Roberts has written a wonderful tale here, filled with powerful emotions, captivating romance, and engaging characters. "The Last Honest Woman" is truly a Nora Roberts gem. The second half of "Born O'Hurley" delves into the life of the youngest triplet, Maddy O'Hurley. Maddy is an incredibly vibrant and open young woman, and she is a character you can't help but love. After leaving her role as the lead of a Broadway hit, Maddy has taken on a new and challenging role in another musical. And when Maddy meets the financial backer of the production, Reed Valentine of Valentine Records, she finds herself drawn to him. Reed and Maddy are polar opposites in almost every way. He's conservative and completely focused on business, she's full of life and colour and wears her emotions on the surface for the world to see. And though Reed finds himself irresistibly attracted to Maddy, he has a troubled past and issues with trust that stem from his childhood. So while Maddy has fallen head over heels in love with Reed, she realizes that he may never be able to overcome his past and give her what she needs, his heart. Both the effervescent Maddy and the reserved Reed will pull at your heart and you will feel for each of them as they struggle to find a way to each other. Infused with sizzling romance, energetic dance sequences, and the family unity and dynamics that Nora is such a master of "Dance to the Piper" is a triumph. "Born O'Hurley" comes with my top recommendation so if you've never read the stories of Abby and Maddy, buy this delightful omnibus today. I've also had the chance to read the other two O

Journalist Dylan Crosby is dedicated to the truth and is on assignment, researching information for a biography on Chuck Rockwell, a notorious racecar driver who was killed in a crash during a race. Crosby is ready to "dish the dirt" on everyone, including Rockwell's widow. Dylan expects that is Abigale O'Hurley Rockwell (Abby to her friends) is as conniving and selfish as his ex-wife, and anticipates that Abby will tell only lies for her own financial advantage. Little does he know that Abby is a strong, practical woman who has raised her two sons as a single mom for most of their lives, with little or no financial or emotional support, especially from her mother-in-law. (Since Abby lives in a rural area of Virginia, she has invited Dylan to stay in a guest room of her farmhouse while he conducts his in depth interviews with her.) Abby had led a sheltered life before she married at eighteen and realized early on in her marriage to Chuck, that she had only her own inner strength and innate practicality to rely upon, because Chuck just wasn't there for her or her children. Dylan can't believe that Abby is really as she appears. He knows that she is hiding something, but before he discovers information that is potentially harmful, he grows to appreciate Abby's sons Ben and Chris as well as Abby herself. He learns that sometimes the truth can be destructive if used irresponsibly, which is a whole new experience and realization for him. Dylan was considered to be "hard nosed" and compassionless before he met Abby. Both Dylan and Abby are healed by the the truth that is uncovered and the love they share. Nora Roberts does it again. I used to believe that prolific writers in a genre could be stuck in a rut, writing the same story and characters repeatedly. I assumed Nora Roberts might be in that category, but after reading many of her novels, I am convinced otherwise. She is a fantastic storyteller.

I am an avid fan of Nora Roberts. This book is another entertainer in her inimitable style. The book chronicles the story of Abigail O'Hurley, the second of the irrepressible O'Hurley triplets. Abigail leads a secluded life after the death of her famous race-car-driver husband. Author Dylan Crossby comes to research the famous husband, and stays behind, caught in the love of Abby and her two engaging sons. Nora Roberts has captured the sensitivity of a woman torn by her loyalty to her dead husband's memory and her love for another man. The secrets she finally reveals are worth the wait ! Read it, you'll love this entertainer.