Customer Reviews

The MacGregors: Robert & Cybil: The Winning Hand\The Perfect Neighbor

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Greetings again to all the fellow Nora Roberts fans out there from your friendly manly man! I may be a man, but I am also a die-hard romantic, and the works of Ms. Roberts give me a particular thrill as she weaves mystery, menace, and harrowing drama around her characters' slow-boiling passions. In most romance novels one is fairly certain that the male and female protagonists will eventually end up in each other's arms, but in Roberts's novels, how they arrive there and what obstacles they must overcome is what gives that anticipated climax--the revelation of sometimes unconscious but overwhelming desire and the emotional release of pent-up and barely contained feelings--the visceral force that sometimes leaves me breathless and shaking, unable to read any further. At such times I strip to my waist, baring my well-muscled chest, go to my garage, and rebuild a transmission.

"The MacGregors: Robert & Cybil: The Winning Hand\The Perfect Neighbor" reprints two previously published books in the MacGregor series, a collection of stories detailing the lives and loves of the MacGregor family and its extended network. Overseeing the happiness and good fortune of his clan is Daniel MacGregor, the patriarch with an almost magical ability to find the perfect mates for his grandchildren in sometimes unexpected places. He reminds me of an elf, a manly elf.

"The Winning Hand" is the story of Robert "Mac" MacGregor Blade, son of Justin and Serena MacGregor Blade, who runs the Comanche casino and finds himself drawn towards Darcy Wallace, a down-on-her-luck librarian running from her past who wanders into his casino and gambles her last remaining dollars to win almost $2 million. What then follows may be predictable in outline but not in execution, as Mac and Darcy learn to gain confidence and trust in themselves and in each other, which will come in handy when Darcy's past catches up with her and Mac must rise to the occasion, like a man. A manly man.

"The Perfect Neighbor" asks the question whether seeming opposites do in fact attract. Cybil Campbell, the youngest daughter of Grant and Gennie Campbell and who lives in her grandfather Daniel MacGregor's building, doesn't know what to make of her new neighbor, Preston McQuinn. Little does she know that he is a plant, not of the photosynthetic variety, but of the MacGregor-choreographed, let's-place-him-here-and-see-what-develops variety. Bubbly, outgoing Cybil mistakes her quiet, loner neighbor for an out-of-work musician, but the truth challenges her deepening feelings for him, and the prospects for these two look grim when Preston feels himself growing too close to Cybil.

You will grow close to these quirky, flawed, yet sympathetic characters as they fight, flirt, and have fun with each other, responding to their feelings and the twists of Fate with an honesty and insight that will leave readers and manly men laughing, crying and wishing for a family as colorful and loveable as, dare I say it, the MacGregors.

Following my first Nora Roberts' book "Dancing in the moonlight", I picked up this book. The two stories in this book are heart-felt, funny, inspiring (yes, it's possible to be inspired while reading a romance novel), and "The Winning Hand" is possibly my favorite story among all of Nora Roberts' books. It's about a young mid-western girl named Darcy Wallace, who won a jackpot upon coming to Las Vegas. She went on a winning streak, from winning the lottery to winning the heart of the man who owns the hotel-casino. Roberts entertains you and makes you laugh along the journey that Darcy Wallace took, once you realized how cute and personal Darcy is. My favorite part is the dialogue that took place between Darcy and the other characters in the book. Highly recommend reading this book!!!!!!! ^_^

Being new to this seriess I was anxious to read the next book,and the next, etc. Definately a "can't put down". Even though you can anticipate the outcome getting there is a joy.

Another winner in the MacGregor series! This one has some refreshing new twists and turns. Love it!

The Winning Hand: Well, I can't say The MacGregor actually set up this match, but he did help it along. The herione stumbles into Mac's casino and gambles her last dollars. She had set out to get away from her controling boyfriend and lands a jackpot and falls in love with the unwilling Mac.

The Perfect Neighbor: The MacGregor set this one up, as well, but it wasn't his children or grandchildren. Cybil is extended family, but that hardly matters to The MacGregor. He sets this one up by matching comic strip artist/writer Cybil and a grump recluse playwriter as neighbors in an apartment building.

This whole series is absolutely amazing!

I love Nora Roberts because of these books. The McGregors are and always will be my favorite romance series. I just fell head over heals in love with all of them!

This book in particular is no exception! You won't want to put it down

Well I have rarely been unhappy with a Nora Roberts or JP Robb book as they are the same author. I enjoyed this story very much... enough to purchase the whole set. I don't usually care for other people though writing in conjunction with Nora in her stories. She can write a story! Other people... I'm not so sure of. I can always tell if she is writing with someone or alone. This doesn't need a review because if you have ever read one of her books you know that they are all worth reading.

The Macgregor family story is always fun to read. I love to see what Daniel is plotting for his various family members. Robert didn't expect when Darcy Wallace won the jackpot at his casino , she also would win his heart. Cybil thought she knew how to avoid her grandfather's scheming to get her married. Alas,Macgregor won again when he put Preston McQuinn across the hall. I look forward to the next Macgregor story.


























daniel

I am on my second copy of this book; I wore out the first from reading it over and over again! Nora Roberts does not disappoint with her vivid descriptions of the colorful McGregor family and the people who are lucky enough to love them. I wish this series could keep going on, one book right after another, because this is a family that I will never get tired of reading about.

I haven't enjoyed many of the more recent books by Nora Roberts (other than her In Death series written as JD Robb). Her older books based on families (such as the MacGregors), as well as her older trilogies, are some of her best work (in my humble opinion). She brings these families, the characters, and their relationships to life, making the reader feel that they're actually a part of the family. The plot of both of the stories in this book were interesting and fast-paced. The tension and developing relationship between the hero and heroine were perfectly written, making us cheer when both couples finally worked everything out in the end. An enjoyable read all the way around. I'm looking forward to digging up more of her backlist. :)