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The MacGregors #7, 9
Robert & Cybil: The Winning Hand / The Perfect Neighbor
Nora Roberts delights with two more classic tales about the beloved MacGregor clan and the risks they will take…all in the name of love!
The Winning Hand
When Darcy Wallace spends her last three dollars at the hotel casino and wins the jackpot, all casino manager Robert MacGregor Blade wants to do is protect her. But something about the lovely young woman is getting under Mac's skin and playing havoc with his big brotherly intentions. He knows that if he wants to win her over, he'll have to take the biggest gamble of his life….
The Perfect Neighbor
Brooding loner Preston McQuinn's new apartment, like his life, is just the way he prefers it—dark and empty. But when sunny Cybil Campbell comes barging into his well-ordered gloom, he can't deny a grudging fascination with his bright, bubbly neighbor. Preston thought he'd closed the door on love for good, so why is he suddenly longing to open up his heart to his incredibly perfect neighbor?
The Winning Hand
When Darcy Wallace spends her last three dollars at the hotel casino and wins the jackpot, all casino manager Robert MacGregor Blade wants to do is protect her. But something about the lovely young woman is getting under Mac's skin and playing havoc with his big brotherly intentions. He knows that if he wants to win her over, he'll have to take the biggest gamble of his life….
The Perfect Neighbor
Brooding loner Preston McQuinn's new apartment, like his life, is just the way he prefers it—dark and empty. But when sunny Cybil Campbell comes barging into his well-ordered gloom, he can't deny a grudging fascination with his bright, bubbly neighbor. Preston thought he'd closed the door on love for good, so why is he suddenly longing to open up his heart to his incredibly perfect neighbor?
442 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1999
26 people are currently reading
3176 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,210 books59.8k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
August 7, 2020
The Winning Hand-
Darcy is a delightful character and she fits well with Mac. I enjoyed their romance and their story was a good one. It was nice seeing old characters in the book as well.
The Perfect Neighbor-
Preston & Cybil shouldn't have fit but they did. I liked how their relationship mirrored her parents a bit and the humor in the story was some of the best bits of the story.
Darcy is a delightful character and she fits well with Mac. I enjoyed their romance and their story was a good one. It was nice seeing old characters in the book as well.
The Perfect Neighbor-
Preston & Cybil shouldn't have fit but they did. I liked how their relationship mirrored her parents a bit and the humor in the story was some of the best bits of the story.
October 10, 2024
There were two books in this paperback:The Winning Hand and The Perfect Neighbor. They were both well written, entertaining, and a bit salacious. The couples in both stories had tempestuous relationships and there were lots of romantic scenarios. This author is very talented!
June 19, 2012
I would like to give Nora Roberts the 'Most-Predictable-Yet-Still-Entertaining-Novel' award. I was surprised that neither of the protagonists were redheads for one, but their stories were both predictable.
"Oh I love you,"
"I love you too, but we can't be together."
"Why?"
"Just 'cause."
In the last few pages, AHH! a fight. Then, guess what? Yes, they make up and end up together. The first 100 pages of both stories were slow progressing but detailed and I loved how well written they were. After that, within the last twenty pages or so, there was major drama and conflict. It gets resolved quickly and then the stories were done.
It felt rushed at the end, but I love Nora Roberts and her writing. As I said, predictable, yet still captivating.
After writing about 200 books, I'd say it becomes hard to write a full out story with a new plot, new characters and new story. Still, I felt like it should have been written out better. I hated the slow progress then BAM, big dramatic scene. The End.
It's still something worth reading, just if you're picky (like myself) you'll notice some things that you don't really love.
"Oh I love you,"
"I love you too, but we can't be together."
"Why?"
"Just 'cause."
In the last few pages, AHH! a fight. Then, guess what? Yes, they make up and end up together. The first 100 pages of both stories were slow progressing but detailed and I loved how well written they were. After that, within the last twenty pages or so, there was major drama and conflict. It gets resolved quickly and then the stories were done.
It felt rushed at the end, but I love Nora Roberts and her writing. As I said, predictable, yet still captivating.
After writing about 200 books, I'd say it becomes hard to write a full out story with a new plot, new characters and new story. Still, I felt like it should have been written out better. I hated the slow progress then BAM, big dramatic scene. The End.
It's still something worth reading, just if you're picky (like myself) you'll notice some things that you don't really love.
March 14, 2024
Love love love the MacGregors series. Never tire of them.
February 7, 2023
I read a lot of NR in the early 2000s. So I decided I would read something now and see if I still enjoyed it. This book had too many things that made me uncomfortable (micro-aggressions, manipulation, bordering on abuse, and infantilism). I would not recommend it. But the steamy scenes where steamy, so two stars.
August 6, 2021
Still more over-sexed MacGregor reading. At least the characters are well developed.
February 2, 2018
I would love to have a grandfather like this!! This series has such a homey feel. The love of this close-knit family is tangible. Roberts is such an amazing author! This meddlesome patriarch of the McGregor family simply wants the best for his legacy(children/grandchildren). The author definitely reminds me of a time when grandparents were fully involved in their families and knew their children and grandkids as only a parent/grandparent could.
April 17, 2023
I really enjoyed both of these and honestly didn’t remember them so they felt new and fresh. I love how much Nora has spun out from the MacGregors to the 3rd and 4th generation of some of these families. They seem so real; she has such an amazing capacity to do that, imagine these characters in the real world because they would totally belong.
May 20, 2019
Love the Winning Hand. Darcy and Mac are so great together, even as they clash. But the so were Justin/ Serena, Caine/ Diana and all other MacGregor couples.
The Perfect Neighbor was great too- however, it just proves that the MacGregor does not know how to stop meddling. Lol.
The Perfect Neighbor was great too- however, it just proves that the MacGregor does not know how to stop meddling. Lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2011
The stories all have a similar quality. But I find it comforting. This book had me smirking through out. The characters had an entertaining quality and I couldn't put it down, similar or not. They are entertaining and easy and fun and everything I want from a book at this point in my life.
March 25, 2011
I love the MacGregors, I wish I could be apart of this family! This book was good. My fav part of the book was the 1st story with Mac! That story just proved you have to be in the right place at the right time and anything can and will happen.
May 3, 2012
Nora Roberts always manages to capture the heart in her stories. She made me a fan of the MacGregors, can't wait to read her other books about them. I truly laughed and cried with her characters. A Robert's fan shouldn't miss this book.
July 10, 2012
I love Nora Roberts and her easy and quick to read romance novels that always help take you away for just a few hours. Of all of Nora Roberts series I love The MacGregors the most the story of the families, the setting is so enjoyable.
March 24, 2015
The entire family of MacGregors are awesome. Would definitely recommend this to someone that loves family histories and romance.
December 5, 2012
great book and love the whole series
January 25, 2013
I love Prestons and Cybils story
June 14, 2013
Really enjoyed Cybil's story! Mirrors one of my own relationships:)
January 21, 2016
i only cared for one of the stories in this anthology, which was cybil's story (the perfect neighbor) and hence the 5 stars. robert's story didn't interest me.
February 8, 2017
Cute story. Didn't really get a hold of the characters like in previous books in the series but great read.
February 23, 2017
The McGregors are ones that I go and reread year after year. If they ever do a series of them they would be hard to cast but oh the fun to watch.
October 25, 2019
excellent 2 for 1
November 9, 2019
Really enjoyed the whole series.
February 25, 2020
Great story great series.
August 27, 2022
It was a really romantic book!
December 4, 2023
the two stories in this one book were really awesome.
December 18, 2023
This book reminded me of why I loved this series so much.
February 19, 2024
I really liked the two books in these sequels.
October 27, 2024
The Winning Hand
I did not care for this half of the book, unfortunately. I don’t think I gravitate towards the “love is a gamble and you have to win to play” type of story, it strikes me as immature. The MFC was immature, although purposefully to establish her naïve character and her growth, and also to represent her “dumb luck” through the book, but this was translated as her having barely any substance. The MMC was also immature but put on that “boss man” bravado that is always a mask for egotistical insecurity of men and what they think they deserve. The entire time he was controlling her, no thinking of her or her individuality. The smut was okay, but again the emotional immaturity took me out of it. They were not together until quite literally the last sentence either, it wasn’t a satisfying ending by any means. They however reproduce quite fast according to the next book, also kinda random.
The Perfect Neighbor
I enjoyed this book WAY more, the reason for the 4 star rating. Cybil is an individual character with her own life, friends and can take care of herself 100%. Yes she’s the ultimate people pleaser but she’s also funny as hell. Even Preston and his assholeary warmed my heart at the end, his trauma was pretty intense but he realizes his mistakes in the end. I enjoyed the “ artists finding their muse “ trope significantly more than the previous. The smut is also delectable.
All in all, an interesting addition to the MacGregors story. These are the 3rd (4th?) generation stories and Daniel “The MacGregor” still controls literally everything in his family.
I did not care for this half of the book, unfortunately. I don’t think I gravitate towards the “love is a gamble and you have to win to play” type of story, it strikes me as immature. The MFC was immature, although purposefully to establish her naïve character and her growth, and also to represent her “dumb luck” through the book, but this was translated as her having barely any substance. The MMC was also immature but put on that “boss man” bravado that is always a mask for egotistical insecurity of men and what they think they deserve. The entire time he was controlling her, no thinking of her or her individuality. The smut was okay, but again the emotional immaturity took me out of it. They were not together until quite literally the last sentence either, it wasn’t a satisfying ending by any means. They however reproduce quite fast according to the next book, also kinda random.
The Perfect Neighbor
I enjoyed this book WAY more, the reason for the 4 star rating. Cybil is an individual character with her own life, friends and can take care of herself 100%. Yes she’s the ultimate people pleaser but she’s also funny as hell. Even Preston and his assholeary warmed my heart at the end, his trauma was pretty intense but he realizes his mistakes in the end. I enjoyed the “ artists finding their muse “ trope significantly more than the previous. The smut is also delectable.
All in all, an interesting addition to the MacGregors story. These are the 3rd (4th?) generation stories and Daniel “The MacGregor” still controls literally everything in his family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2021
3.5 stars
The Winning Hand
3.5 stars
I loved Darcy. I didn’t think I’d like her as much as I do, she’s very relatable.
The Perfect Neighbour
3.5 stars
I didn’t expect to like this story this much. I liked how bubbly Cybil was. And that some of their story mirrored her parents’.
The Macgregors Series
Overall 3.5 stars
I really loved this series. Classic Nora Roberts. Some of my favourite things were the inclusion of Scottish culture, Daniel with his constant and reliable meddling, and especially the big family gatherings. Loved seeing the family grow; strong stock, good blood.
Had to figure out how to read the last four books but I got it eventually.
The Winning Hand
3.5 stars
I loved Darcy. I didn’t think I’d like her as much as I do, she’s very relatable.
The Perfect Neighbour
3.5 stars
I didn’t expect to like this story this much. I liked how bubbly Cybil was. And that some of their story mirrored her parents’.
The Macgregors Series
Overall 3.5 stars
I really loved this series. Classic Nora Roberts. Some of my favourite things were the inclusion of Scottish culture, Daniel with his constant and reliable meddling, and especially the big family gatherings. Loved seeing the family grow; strong stock, good blood.
Had to figure out how to read the last four books but I got it eventually.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews