Dark Witch

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts is the first book in the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy set in modern day Ireland, but dealing with an ancient curse.  Iona Sheehan thinks she knows what she's up against when she leaves her life in America and moves to Ireland to meet her cousins, Branna and Connor O'Dwyer.  She knows she is one of the three to inherit the powers of the Dark Witch, Sorcha, who lived and died in the thirteenth century.  She knows she will have to unite with her cousins and use the magic inside her to defeat the evil sorcerer, Cabhan.  What she doesn't know is how inexperienced she truly is.  Or how strong.  

She's always known she has an affinity for horses, can talk to them, understand them even, but what she doesn't know is that her love of horses will lead her to three new friends who will soon become like family and an integral part of the circle that will one day defeat Cabhan.  Or that one of those people would be the deliciously sexy Irish cowboy, Boyle McGrath.

Now Iona must work to discover herself, her power and her heart...before it's too late.

I have conflicted feelings regarding this book.  For one, it's Nora Roberts and I love her work.  The story was well written and if you had never read her books before, or even just a few, it would be really good.  However, when you've read as many of her books as I have, you start to notice that the story line and even the characters are repetitive, the characters are more type-cast than developed, the tone is clipped and rushed, and the story arc is thoroughly predictable.  

But don't let that discount the story.  It's witty, funny, has enough laughter and humor to counteract the tension and the danger.  And the love scenes, well...let's just say they are hot and steamy, in true Roberts fashion.  

Overall, while I'm still slightly disappointed, it remains a book that I would recommend to those who enjoy romance.  

My stingy rating system: 7 out of 10.