Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
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RED LILY
By Nora Roberts.
I am a confirmed Nora Roberts fan, and I'm not ashamed of it. She is such a masterful storyteller. Her characters are flawed and interesting. Her plots are sometimes fanciful, but usually unpredictable. Imagine - a romance writer with an unpredictable plot. How unlikely is that???? And even her language is enjoyable. For instance, listen to this description: "The thin-heeled strappy black sandals were impractical and unnecessary. Which made them perfect."
Red Lily is the third in the In the Garden Trilogy. I read all three, and this may be my favorite. (Although Nora is like chocolate - my favorite chocolate is the one I'm having right now.) One of the reasons I enjoyed Red Lily and the whole trilogy so much is the focus on strong female characters. There's Roz, the 50-something garden store owner with a grand beauty about her; and Stella, the 30-something with a headstrong perfectionism that looks so familiar. And then there's Hayley, the 20-something who got pregnant and decided to have the baby on her own. Each of these women is so real, so loveable. You've shopped with her, lunched with her, cried with her.
Before I make some of you gag, let me remind you that some of Nora's books feel more like romance novels than others. This one is definitely a romance novel - so brace yourself Effie. It also has a very prominent ghost character, something I don't usually enjoy, but did here. It's just Nora - she reels me in every time.
I have friends who enjoy everything Nora reads - which I think is one of their best qualities. Enjoy the latest Nora Roberts' bestseller in paperback, Red Lily.
On the Book Beat for KSL Newsradio, I'm Amanda Dickson.
