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BLACK ROSE
By Nora Roberts
She is just the master. Nora Roberts is one of the best storytellers of all time. That’s why she has millions of copies in print all over the world. I thoroughly enjoyed Black Rose, the second in the In the Garden trilogy following Blue Dahlia. I probably enjoyed it even more because I read it after the trying-too-hard novel called The Historian. Nora’s novels are effortless, for us the readers and seemingly for her the author.
Black Rose is the story of a strong woman looking at 50 named Roz Harper. What a likeable, inspiring character. She’s strong and vulnerable, complicated and funny and everything I’d like to be. I like the way she takes in wounded children, the way she grows flowers, the way she tells off ex-husbands, the way she attracts a new lover – I like everything about her.
The reason I like Nora Roberts’ books is in part the characters like Roz, and in part the plots. You know how some authors write such convoluted plots that you find yourself having to go back and re-read to figure out what’s happening. That will never happen while you’re reading a Nora novel. You’ll always know who’s talking and what’s happening. They’re just flawless.
No – it’s not great literature – it’s a great read. Nora Roberts’ latest bestseller in paperback is Black Rose. On the Book Beat for KSL Newsradio, I’m Amanda Dickson.
