The Awakening: The Dragon Heart Legacy. Book 1 by Nora Roberts

First, I admit I am a huge Nora Roberts fan and I especially love it when she writes a trilogy. I have no idea how I missed this particular series, but I’m delighted to have stumbled across it when browsing for something new to read. I was immediately drawn into this tale of the magical world of Talamh, which exists parallel to our own. A masterful storyteller, Roberts weaves a story that combines a strong plot with characters that engage from the start but also do not always do the predictable. This author’s descriptions made me feel I was in Ireland and in the enchanting realm of the Fey, walking the lanes and the meadows, and seeing the emerald green of the landscape as if it were my eyes taking it all in. A small spoiler: This story ends with a cliffhanger, which worked for me because I’d ordered the second book in the series by the time I was halfway through, and pre-ordered the third. I could not put the first book down and read it in less than three days. A trip to Ireland is definitely in my future. Can’t wait to get lost in book two. I highly recommend it!

Short summary: 

Breen Kelly’s father loved to tell her stories of magic places and creatures. When he disappeared, her mother spent all her time making her feel like she was less than ordinary and pushing her into a job she hated. Breen discovers her mother has been hiding an investment account created and funded by her father that is worth close to four million dollars. 

With the means to step away from life she hates, Breen journeys to Ireland with her best friend, Marcos, to find her father and reconnect with any family there. Little does Breen expect to discover that her grandmother is a witch and lives in the magical world of the Talamh and has been waiting for her to find the portal that separates their worlds and to come home and embrace the people, her, destiny and the prophecy that has been calling out to Breen in her dreams.