Customer Reviews

Born in Shame (Born In Trilogy)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Shannon Bodine lived a charmed life until she found out that her life was based on a lie. Her mother had an affair with a married man, and the man she had always loved as a father, wasn't her natural parent. Since her mothers last wish was for her to seek out the family she never knew, Shannon heads to Ireland.

When she meets Brianna and Maggie's neighbor Murphy Muldoon, they find an unexpected connection and immediate attraction. He had been dreaming of Shannon for as long as he could remember, and knew they were destined to be. Shannon was a painter, and Murphy loved his little piece of country life. He didn't know how they could intertwine their lives, but knew she was a part of him.

I wasn't impressed with the flashbacks and past life twists. Overall the characters lacked the development I expect.

Shannon Bodine knows how quickly life changes. Her father passed away suddenly and unexpectedly a year earlier and now her mother was dying of cancer. Shannon didn't know how she could bear to lose both of her parents so close together, but her mother's dying words shattered Shannon's carefully ordered world. Her real father was Thomas Concannon, a man her mother met and had an affair with in Ireland years ago. Shannon was devastated and grieving when the private investigator found her and informed her that she had two sisters living in Ireland - and they wanted to meet her. Shannon immediately rejected the offer to visit and returned to her work as a graphic artist in New York, but she couldn't focus and nothing seemed important. Before she knew it, she found herself on her way to Ireland and a family she had never met...

From the moment Murphy Muldoon saw her, he knew that Shannon was the one for him. He had been dreaming of her for years and now she was finally here, in the flesh, all he had to do was make her his. But Shannon was strong and stubborn and Murphy found that he had his work cut out for him. Oh, she was attracted to him, he could see that well enough, but she resisted his efforts to court her and refused to believe that she could have a life there in Ireland with him as a painter. But Murphy was stubborn too, and this time, he wasn't about to let her go...

This is the third book in the 'Born in' series and it is my favorite of the trilogy. I loved Shannon and Murphy's characters and enjoyed seeing the people from the other books pop up in this one so I could see how they were doing. Roberts must have a special love for Ireland because she paints such a beautiful picture of the country and makes it almost a character in the book. The love story here is wonderful, two modern people from very different walks of life with some powerful dreams mixed in to make things complicated. This is a wonderful, fast, fun read that I enjoy reading time and time again!

One of the things that sets Nora Roberts above other authors is her ability to produce a trilogy that gets better with each book. By the time you read the third and last book, you're left wanting even more. That's definitely how I felt after reading the Born In trilogy.

In Born in Fire we were introduced to hot-tempered Maggie, Thomas Concannon's oldest daughter. In Born in Ice we were introduced to cool and reserved Brianna, Concannon's second daughter. Now in the third and last of the trilogy, we meet Shannon Bodine, the illegitimate daughter of Thomas Concannon. We finally learn about Amanda (the woman who came into Thomas' life and showed him how to love again after years of marriage to a heartless woman). We learn more about Maggie and Brianna's mother and her life of misery. We also learn about the unborn child Amanda carried with her to America all those years ago when she left Thomas.

Shannon grew up in America and didn't know that her real father was actually an Irishman she had never met. When her parents die, she learns the truth and sets out to fulfill her mother's dying wish that she meet the sisters she never knew she had. Shannon travels to County Clare, Ireland not really knowing what to expect and still reeling from confusion.

It's not an easy meeting, but a bond begins to grow between Shannon, Maggie and Brianna. While they're blazing new ground and learning about each other, Shannon also must deal with her attraction to long-time Concannon family friend and neighbor, Murphy Muldoon. This is where the story differs from other Nora Roberts books. Roberts shows a magical love that is timeless - the destiny of two lovers from long ago brought back to the present so they could possibly reunite if only they open their minds and hearts. The underlying message is simple - true love is eternal.

I've read other reviews and spoken with many people about this series, and this book is definitely one up for debate. The "paranormal elements" of encounters in past lives between these two characters and flashbacks to show that past relationship aren't received by some readers with an open mind. I found it to be an interesting twist and added a new dimension to the overall story line. If you liked the Donovan series (the tales about the three witch cousins, Morgana, Anastasia and Sabastian) then you should love this trilogy. This is definitely not your cookie-cutter romance plot.

I feel the characters are strong and developed well. The reader is given more insight into Murphy Muldoon and from the glimpses we were given in the first two books, this is a nice option. If you believe that true love is eternal, then it explains why Maggie and Brianna were never interested romantically in the hunk that lived next door!

As with other Silhouette romance books, this is short and provides a quick read. It's a great way to spend a cold afternoon and will make you feel warm inside.

I LOVE Nora Roberts books and I love her trilogies. Having said that, this book is a wonderful book. If you love books about sisters and the ties that make a family, this is a very good book to read. Three women are fathered by the same man, although one girl has a different mother and is raised in a different country. This book is the story of how these three come together and learn to live with each other.
Add in the romance that is typical of Nora Roberts books and you have a real winner. I hate to see her books end.

"Born in Shame", the third and final installment of Nora Roberts' "Born In.." trilogy was a pleasant surprise. I had read other reviews saying the story was weak and did not add up to the other two, I disagree. I absolutely loved the book. It was very entertaining and full of passion.

The story begins with Shannon Bodine, the long-lost sister of Maggie and Brianna. Shannon is a successful advertisement artist, content on being single and enjoying the good things in life. Shannon's mother Amanda, on her death bed, reveals that Shannon is the illegitimate daughter of the Tommy Concannon of Galway, Ireland and that she has two sisters. On the day of her mother's funeral, Shannon discovers that her sisters hired a private detective to find her. A letter from Brianna, inviting her to visit Ireland prompts Shannon to pack her bags and discover her roots. Once in Ireland, Shannon meets with the gentle and sweet B&B owner Brianna and the fiery, hot-headed glass artist Maggie. She also meets a friend of the family, Murphy, a farmer who falls head over heals with Shannon.

There are a lot of things I enjoyed about this novel, one being the interaction between Shannon and her sisters, especially the relationship, or lack thereof, she has with Maggie. Neither one likes the other and makes no qualms of it and that makes for some very interesting scenes. I also enjoyed the love story between Shannon and Murphy, who in the previous two novels of the series has always been a shy, friendly neighbor. It's a nice change to see him as someone with a libido, and a steamy, passionate one at that. The love scenes with him and Shannon are spectacular. The only qualm I have with the novel is the underlying story of the witch and the warrior, lovers from hundreds of years ago, a story that ended tragically. Their story, coincides with that of Shannon and Murphy. I didn't see the need for the magical part of it. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and would definantely suggest. Make sure to read the other two "Born In..." novels before you venture into this one though, or you'll be lost. A Great Read!

I thought the other 2 in the trilogy were good -- but visiting Ireland from an American woman's perspective was simply wonderful. Nora Roberts brings everything I love about Ireland alive for me -- the music, the green hills, the warmth of the people. I COULD NOT put it down, and looked forward to the subway ride home to read it again! Just one question -- WHERE does one find a man like Murphy Muldoon in New York?!

This is one of my favorite books by Nora Roberts - and believe me, I've read most of them! Maybe it's the ambiance of Ireland, the language, the music, the EMOTION of a country and a people known for their passion, but I fell in love with the love story between Murphy and Shannon. Who DOESN'T want love to be eternal?

I've read many books since this one and it continues to stand out as one of my all-time favorites. May a knight as wonderful as Murphy come sweep me off my feet. I'm waiting!

I loved Born in Fire and Born in Ice, but I must say this is my favorite book! I suppose it's because everything comes to a conclusion, of sorts. All sisters are involved in this book - their stories continue on!

Overall this was a pretty good book, but it wasn't quite up to the other books in the series. I really liked the two main characters, Shannon and Murphy (expecialy Murphy). There was an OK plot, ending the little mystery of what happend to Amanda and her unborn child. There was even a bit of the supernatural thrown in. Unfortunatly I felt that the story was a little weak. It seemed like this story was just sort or written up quick to finish off the series. I'd hoped to see somthing a little better for Murphy, and a little more of him for that matter. He didn't seem to be around a whole lot. Even though I didn't find this story to be quite as good as the others I still recomend that you read it.

This is the third book of a series so well written that,while each book stands alone on its merits, they blend very smoothly one into another. It is a story of three sisters, this one being a love child born in USA. She is discovered by the other two sisters through letters found in the attic. They invite her to come to Ireland, which she finally does. The interaction is completely realistic and thoroughly readable. I have read these books, Born in Fire, Born in Ice, and Born in Shame, several times and enjoy them more each time.