The Gallaghers of Ardmore
“The Gallaghers of Ardmore” is my second favorite of Nora Roberts trilogies. This series is absolutely wonderful, filled with love & romance, family, friendship, intermixed with a background story of the fae and fantasy. Nora has a number of books that take place in Ireland, and the “Gallaghers of Ardmore” was the first of the Irish themed books that I read.
Nora does such a great job in making us feel like we were indeed in Ireland. I fell in love with Ireland, and all three couples. This is a great series, a fun and relaxing read. The overall theme of this series is about three Gallagher siblings, and how they must find their true loves, and this in turn will free a pair of Fae lovers from the past. Below is a condensed review for each of the three books in this excellent series.
Jewels of the Sun – Book #1
With her life in turmoil after a failed marriage and fearing that she is having a nervous breakdown, Jude Murray sets off on a journey to Ireland. She has taken a three month leave as a professor in Chicago to research Irish folklore, and stays at her grandmother’s cottage on a faerie hill in Ardmore.
In the small village of Ardmore, Ireland, Gallagher’s pub is the center of the lively seaside community and the home of three passionate siblings: Aidan, Shawn, and Darcy. The oldest brother Aidan, a world traveler, finds himself very intrigued with Jude
Jude, who is shy, and very reserved, does not know how to handle the friendly and charming people of Ardmore, especially the handsome pub owner Aidan Gallagher. Jude also must learn to deal with the female ghost who resides in her cottage.
She soon finds herself caught up in the charm and fantasy of the land and people around her, challenging her beliefs. Jude finds female friends she never really had before in Aidan’s sister Darcy, and their friend Brenna. By the time she embarks on an affair with Aidan, she starts to make a remarkable transformation that opens a whole new world for her, as she begins to become more confident, happy, in love and begins to find herself where she now feels she belongs…Ireland. The charm and Irish humor flow freely, as you enjoy the fun and laughter, the singing in the pub, makes this an enjoyable story, as you watch the change in Jude. The love between Aidan and Jude is wonderful to see. Jude listens to the stories told by Aidan and others about the legends, including the story of Carrick, the Faerie Prince and Gwen, the lady who benignly haunts Jude’s cottage, and this begins her writing career. It is this book that starts this series so well, and you will find the characters to become your friends too – Jude, Aidan, Darcy, Shawn, Brenna.
Tears of the Moon – Book # 2
The Faerie Prince, Carrick, who needs three couples to find love and happiness to be reunited with his Gwen, now turns his quest on to Shawn Gallagher, since Aidan and Jude are now happily married. Shawn and Brenna are good friends. But Shawn is not interested in any kind of relationship, certainly not Brenna, whom he looks at like a sister. But Brenna, an independent tomboy and loyal friend, has always been in love with Shawn.
A talented songwriter, Shawn Gallagher spends his days manning the kitchen at the family’s pub, and writes music in his spare time. He loves his life and has no ambition to do anything else. His family and friend cannot understand why Shawn doesn’t put his musical gift to profitable use. When Brenna tells Shawn she wants to sleep with him, he is shocked. He always notices her cute figure, but he’s never thought of her in that way. But after she propositions him, that’s is all he thinks about. The two begin a sexual relationship with an agreement that when it’s over they will part friends. Shawn realizes fairly quickly that he has fallen in love Brenna, but since he does not know that she feels the same, he plots to make her think that marriage is her idea. Brenna’s desire to fix things makes her want to help Shawn to publish his music. She goes behind his back to do this, and when he finds out it causes a problem between them. But both come to realize how much they love each other, and Shawn realizes how much his music effects others and agrees to publish his music, with Brenna’s help.
The romance between Shawn and Brenna is very good, and we get to see all the others again. Aidan, is about to make a lot of money by expanding the family’s pub in partnership with a New York entrepreneur, and Jude, is pregnant. Darcy, continues to be the happy fun loving, singing, flirtatious self , and plans to eventually leave Ardmore to travel world. Her story is next.
Heart of the Sea – Book # 3
Darcy, the fun loving gorgeous Gallagher sister, has always believed in the pull of fate, the magic of legend, and the importance of money. She has always wanted to see the world, much like her brother Aidan did. Because of that, she wants a rich and handsome man who will love her and give her all the luxury she deserves. Darcy likes to flirt, have fun, and knows she is beautiful, but no man has yet to touch her heart.
Trevor Magee, a wealthy businessman, has come to the small Irish village of Ardmore to build a theatre and try to discover the land his grandfather left many years before. Trevor isn’t interested in anything other then his new venture with the Gallaghers. At least not until he meets Darcy Gallagher, who tempts him like no woman ever has. She’s gorgeous, intelligent, and she knows what she wants–and he’s more than willing to give it to her. He offers Darcy the world, not seeing that as much as she wants riches and luxury, it is his heart that ultimately matters to her
Darcy appears to be self-centered, but deep down she really wants love. She is devoted to her family and friends, and when she becomes worried by the realization that she loves Trevor, she goes to Jude and Brenna, her friends and sisters-in-law, to cry her heart out. Their friendship is a major plus in this entire series. Darcy finally tells Trevor she loves him, and wants even if he is poor, though she is of course happy he is rich. Lol It takes Trevor a bit longer to realize that it is his own insecurity with Darcy, that causes him to keep offering her fame and wealth, believing that’s the way to woo and win her, without realizing how much he is hurting her in the process. In the end, they end up a happy couple and Darcy much to her family’s happiness does embark on a musical career. The Gallaghers of Ardmore was a great series, and this book was a fitting end to the series.
Barb
