contemporary

Please, I implore the publishers of these books to label them more clearly. "The Last Honest Woman" is book one of a 4-part series about the show-business O'Hurleys; unfortunately, not knowing that, I already read the other 3 parts. That said, it was fun to go back and revisit where this story began, and to see how and why Abby, the "middle" triplet, did not follow in the family business of entertaining others for a living.

Dylan Crosby, the writer who comes to chronicle the life of Abby's late husband, is almost too good to be true -- he likes her kids, cooks, pitches in around the house ... and of course falls in love with Abby. This is a very light read but a sweet tale.

I've read this book many times over, and I've also collected the other three books in the series (Dance to the Piper, Skin Deep, and Without a Trace). Without a doubt I believe that Nora Roberts is one of the most talented romance writers out there. She consistently comes out with interesting, emotional books that are humorous and touching. Although her trilogies (or in this case, a quadralogy?) are sorta formulaic (calm sister, recently divorced; the beautiful, ambitious sister; and the happy medium) they are still great reads, and The Last Honest Woman (part of the O'Hurley's series) is wonderful also. The book is classic Roberts, with witty dialogue, a realistic heroine and a hunky, sensitive hero (if only in real life...). The kids are adorable and add to the charm of the story. Well written and a good intro to the rest of the series.

Nora Roberts, well known for her family series, once again delights readers with several books about the O'Hurley family. Beginning with The Last Honest Woman, we meet Abby onew of the triplets born to Frank and Molly O'Hurley and their son Trace. The O'Hurleys are a show business family who travel from one gig to another entertaining audiences in both large cities and small towns. Each of their children in some way is able to entertain and so the world of show business is something they grow up doing along with their parents beside them.

Today, though, Abby no longer entertains but spends her days raising two small children and on a horse farm in Virginia. She is the widow of a well- known racing car driver, Charles Rockwell, who died during a race. But Abby who married at 18 was ill prepared for her husband's lifestyle and is acutely aware that her marriage ended way before Charles death.

Now Dylan Crosby, a journalist, has approaches Abby to write a book about her husband. As Abby wonders what she will say and what will be written, she invites Dylan to stay with her on the farm and see what her life is all about. Reluctant at first to give him all of the facts lest her children someday be hurt by them, Abby finds herself growing fonder and fonder of Dylan while he tries resisting her. But as Dylan finds out more and more about her supposedly wonderful life, Dylan can no longer stop feelings he also has for Abby and her sons.

This was a most enjoyable book as Ms. Roberts begins this series. The readers are offered heartwarming and endearing characters particularly Abby, Dylan and Abby's parents, Frank and Molly O'Hurley.