The Awakening by Nora Roberts.  Solid start to a new otherworldly series.   The descriptive landscapes in Ireland are series unto themselves.  And no one can describe the Irish brogue like Ms.  Roberts.  A capable and likely heroine, Breen, and the promise of more magic to come not to mention dragons, elves and werewolves.  Another winning series for Ms. Roberts.  

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

What a wonderful romantic fantasy book.  I loved all of the characters, not the mother though, and the descriptions of Ireland makes you want to pack up and go there right now. Two completely different worlds. The building of the fantasy world with all the magic just grabbed me from page one.   I will warn. It is a cliffhanger ending. I can not wait for the next book

As a Nora Roberts fan, this book does not disappoint.  I enjoyed the depth of the characters.  The story pulls you in and does not let you go.  I can't wait for the sequel to this book.

Full review to be published online in late November.

THE AWAKENING is the beginning of the new ‘Dragon Heart Legacy’ series by prolific author Nora  Roberts. While it’s good to see the author stretching her limits as an author, I can only hope this trilogy works out better for her than the last one did. The story is great introduction to give enough about the characters and their pasts, motives; and we witnessed the beginning of Keegan and Breen’s love story. The reader also meets with the villainess who may create conflict with their love interest in the upcoming installments, and we learned more about pending war between good and evil. 

The book unfortunately ends with a cliffhanger, which was not totally unexpected, but nobody likes a cliffhanger. Roberts could have ended the book better.

OM freaking fascinating creative Gs! This is marvelous long epilogue to a new series. The entire book impeccably introduces us the likable, falling in lovable characters and their past and present stories and preparing us like a calmness before the storm for the next exciting adventures of the characters!

I have to admit after reading this book I prayed the borders will open soon because this book gives you addictive craving to schedule an urgent trip to Ireland and get lost in its folkloric, ancient historical , magical places. Those tempting forests, the supernatural creatures and mystical elements perfectly summon your soul and you just die to be part of those incredibly breathtaking and life changing adventures. ( oh I forget to tell you how tempting to hear those sexy, ear tickling Irish accents!)

The book starts with a quick introduction of Breen Kelly, 26 years old, insecure, introverted , reluctant teacher who hates the guts of her job, barely making her ends meet, drowning into her debts, hard worker, shopping from thrift shops, wearing grey colors, laying low to be invisible because her own mother made her believe she was not capable to achieve something extraordinary: she is under average. But when she goes to her mother’s place as she’s directed to finish her chores: including watering her plants and organizing her correspondences when she was in spa treatment-having fun (bitchy monstrous, intimidating mother model) she coincidentally finds out( thanks to the cat’s sudden move) the financial statements about her own account she never knows its existence . 

After her father and mother has been separated when she was a little girl, her father has left them and never contacted with her but now she sees each year he has sent her money and now it’s a huge amount may cover her all expenses and give her better life choices to chase her dreams.

So Breen tells her sweet pie, supportive, BFF Marco what she discovered and offers him to go to a journey with her to find her father and learn about her ancestors in Ireland. Marco the bestie, so much likable friend accepts her offer.

From her bus trip to her mother’s house throughout her airplane trip, Breen realizes a bearded man is following him but as soon as she realizes his existence, he disappears into thin air. She asks herself as if she’s been hallucinating. But she forgets that mysterious guy as soon as her plane land into the magical Leprechaun 

And of course the magical atmosphere of Ireland awakens true potential of Breen, after Marco’s going back to the US, she starts work on her blog and two different novel concepts but when the storm blasts out and as she hears the voice summoning her, she discovers an opening portal to another world which her father has been born and raised and her grandmother has been waiting for her with open hands. A magical universe with werewolves, elves, Magicks, powerful talismans, dragons and the one of the most charismatic leader, warrior Keegan!

Breen discovers her abilities, supernatural powers and her extraordinary skills which frightened her own mother and she realizes that’s why she has lived in over protective cocoon her mother built for her during her old life in Philadelphia and as soon as she discovers her potential and her important role to protect both of the worlds from the danger of her own blood thirsty grandfather she realizes she has to make a decision. 
Will she fight or will she escape to the world where she came from? 

The story is great introduction to give enough about the characters and their pasts, motives. And we witnessed the beginning of Keegan and Breen’s love story ( we also met with the bad woman who may create conflict about their love interest at the upcoming installments) and we learned more about upcoming war between evil and good! The story finishes with a cliffhanger as we expected! So am I in to read what’s gonna happen next! Abso-freaking-lutely!  I’m hooked, I’m chanted, I’m all in!

Cannot wait to read more Breen, Keegan’s journeys!

So much special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this incredible Arc with me in exchange my honest review.