contemporary

Key of Valor is the third and final book of Nora Robert's Key series. It started with Key of Light and Key of Knowledge...three women who are brought together to find 3 mysterious and enchanted keys to unlock the box that holds the souls of 3 demigoddesses. Key of Valor is Zoe and Brad's story.

Zoe is a single mother raising her son Simon. She is mistrustful of Brad who is a rich businessman. But Brad has always been attracted to Zoe, even before they met, he saw a painting of her face and it has haunted him. Now, Brad fights to be included in her and her son's life. Complicating their relationship is Zoe's search for the Key and the threats/evil that want to prevent her from finding it. Kane is an evil otherworldly sorcerer who is going to try and stop Zoe from her quest.
Helping Zoe is Brad, as well as the mysterious Rowena and Pitte and also zoe's friends..Mallory, Dana, Flynn and Jordan (all of whom had their own stories in the previous novels.)

Key of Valor is great in that the relationships between the 3 women are just as important as the relationship between zoe and brad, and zoe and her son. It is nice to see such strong and complex friendships and to re visit with the heroes and heroines of the first 2 novels.

The story line is interesting and well paced...there never seems to be a dull moment in either the quest for the key, or the relationship between the two main characters. The final ending is exciting and well planned...a fitting ending to this great trilogy!

I've been enthralled with the Key trilogy since I picked up KEY OF LIGHT a short few months ago! The three books are about three women (Malory, Dana and Zoe) who embark on a quest to recover three keys in order to unlock the Box of Souls where three Celtic demigoddesses are trapped. Oh, there's also an evil sorcerer named Kane who is trying to stop them. Sounds silly, but Nora Roberts manages to pull it off!

This final book is Zoe's story. Zoe was a struggling hairdresser until the quest started, now she is on her way to a better life, starting a business with Malory and Dana and entering in to a relationship with the enterprising Brad Vane (who is also connected to the quest along with Flynn and Jordan).

The chemistry between Zoe and Brad is great, though I was a bit disappointed in this novel! In the first two, they were constantly at each other's throats, and suddenly in this book Zoe has an almost complete attitude change towards him. Even so, that's a minor complaint and the rest of the novel was great!

I really enjoyed reading the conclusion to the story, and Nora Roberts ties up all the loose ends wonderfully. I adore her trilogies and this is one of my favorites! I highly recommend all three books, and for those who like her stories - check out the Chesapeake Bay trilogy! It's one of my favorites!

Key of Valor is fitting end to the Key trilogy. It lacks the wonder of "new" of the first book, and does not back the emotional pack of the second, but it sustains the series end ends it with style. The thrill of paranormal books is being able to set your own rules and boundaries, and Roberts handles this with skill and fun.

They three books really need to be read together and in order, for it's very clear Roberts presumes you have read the book(s) that came before with each. But they are fast reads, enjoyable reads, and you are coming late to the series, as I have, you have the chance to read them all at once instead of waiting between installments.

This is some of the best writing Roberts has done this decade, and it's exciting to see Roberts venture in to the paranormal element so strongly based on Pict-Celt lore and myths as the foundation.

In the final tale, the quest to find the third key falls to Zoe McCourt, the mother. It's clear to us, if not to Zoe, that her ability to finding the third key, to release the demi-goddesses from their imprisonment by the evil sorcerer Zane, is her ability to find love with Brad Vane. It's not easy for Zoe, a girl raised in a trailer park. Her father left her and her three siblings to be raised alone by her hairdresser mother. It was a rough beginning leaving a young Zoe to yearn for finer things in life. The path to that better life seemed to fall apart when at sixteen Zoe became pregnant. Once again, the man in her life deserts her, leaving her to make a life for her and her son, Simon. That the father of Simon was a rich boy only makes it harder for Brad ¯ a very rich man ¯ to convince Zoe he truly wants a role in her life. Brad is determined to be at Zoe's side as she searches for the key, but Zoe's past experience with men sees her expecting Brad to bail one the quest is over and she doesn't want to be hurt again, doesn't want her son hurt.

This book sees Rowanne and Pitte taking a stronger role in the outcome. Since Zane has failed to abide by the rules of the Enchantment, Rowanne and Pitte risk their chance to return to the magical kingdom, in order to protect Zoe and her son.

It's a super ending to the trilogy. So if you like paranormals, don't miss this very fresh and vital tales!