Jewels of the Sun

Jewels of the Sun is the first of the Ardmore Gallaghers series by Nora Roberts. When psychology lecturer Jude Frances Murray feels herself heading towards a breakdown from the stress of her job and life in Chicago, she decides to spend six months in the cottage in Ardmore, Ireland, where her Grandma grew up. It will be an opportunity to research her paper about Irish mythology and legend, a subject that has fascinated her since her Grandma’s storytelling during Jude’s childhood. Aiden Gallagher’s youthful rambles are over, and he’s now settled down to life in charge of the family pub in Ardmore. Jude goes to the pub looking for storytellers: she finds Aiden and his sister Darcy, his brother, Shawn and their friend, Brenna. Escaping her failed marriage and her failure as a teacher, the conservative Jude comes looking for solitude, trying to find herself: instead, she finds the sort of companionship she never had at home, laughter, foolishness and romance. And, while she’s not looking for marriage, it seems to be looking for her. This is a sweet romance with some appealing characters. In the dialogue, you can hear that Irish lilt. Some enchanting Irish myths and legends are intertwined with the plot, which starts out looking rather predictable, but there are a few twists to keep it interesting. Roberts also sets the foundation for the next two books in the series in this instalment. A very entertaining read.