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Winds of Change: Island of Flowers / Untamed
From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author NORA ROBERTS come two classics about not letting your best-laid plans get in the way of life or love
Island of Flowers
Laine Simmons has travelled halfway around the world to make amends with her estranged father, not defend herself against his infuriating business partner. Dillon O'Brian seems convinced that Laine is only after her father's money. Well, if he wants to believe that, fine! She wants nothing to do with the arrogant, judgmental... and very sexy Mr. O'Brian anyway. But try as she might, Laine can't get Dillon out of her head or her heart.
Untamed
Straitlaced lawyer Keane Prescott has no interest in his late father's circus, until he meets lion tamer Jovillette Wilder. Jo is unlike any woman he's ever met. She's beautiful, graceful, fearless and about as unpredictable as the animals she tames. Keane knows there's no way she'd fit into his life, yet all it takes is just one kiss and suddenly running away to join the circus seems like the best idea he's ever had!
Island of Flowers
Laine Simmons has travelled halfway around the world to make amends with her estranged father, not defend herself against his infuriating business partner. Dillon O'Brian seems convinced that Laine is only after her father's money. Well, if he wants to believe that, fine! She wants nothing to do with the arrogant, judgmental... and very sexy Mr. O'Brian anyway. But try as she might, Laine can't get Dillon out of her head or her heart.
Untamed
Straitlaced lawyer Keane Prescott has no interest in his late father's circus, until he meets lion tamer Jovillette Wilder. Jo is unlike any woman he's ever met. She's beautiful, graceful, fearless and about as unpredictable as the animals she tames. Keane knows there's no way she'd fit into his life, yet all it takes is just one kiss and suddenly running away to join the circus seems like the best idea he's ever had!
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
9 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,215 books59.9k 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 9, 2025
3.5 stars for Island of Flowers
I decided not to read Untamed purely because I just didn't want to read it.
Island of Flowers was a nice read, as expected of Nora Roberts. This being published in the 80s, I'm not expecting big things and I'm not expecting for the times to have been updated. So, for something written in the 80s, I actually liked this for what it is. I found the fmc (forgot her name) a little flighty. Her issues just kept being repeated and it did get a little annoying. But, for a short story, I enjoyed it.
I decided not to read Untamed purely because I just didn't want to read it.
Island of Flowers was a nice read, as expected of Nora Roberts. This being published in the 80s, I'm not expecting big things and I'm not expecting for the times to have been updated. So, for something written in the 80s, I actually liked this for what it is. I found the fmc (forgot her name) a little flighty. Her issues just kept being repeated and it did get a little annoying. But, for a short story, I enjoyed it.
May 7, 2014
I am a big time Nora fan, and I can personally say this was not one of her greatest hits. Having read so many of her classic's like; Blue Hill, Sweet Revenge, and Public Secrets and reading her short stories like; The MacKade Brothers, Love by Design, and the Stanislaskis series I know the difference and the amount of wonderment she can create in a full story and a short story, and with both Island of Flowers and Untamed she did not deliver.
Reading the synopsis I was really excited I thought to myself; "Ohmaaan this is sooo Nora and I know this is gonna be a great read." .... However I wish I could go back in time to my former self, shake my head, grab the book and put it back where I found it, and lead myself away.
The issue's with this book is so far from how Nora Robert's usually writes, if it did not have her name on it and have her signature uniqueness for describing her characters and description of locations I would seriously believe this was not her book. The main character's and their scenario's were one in the same, Nora never usually does that in her short stories. Combined the main couple are always different sometimes they may even be opposite or oppose one another, and the scenarios are always always constantly, uniquely different. I was so shocked to find myself reading about similar innocent women, placed in almost the exact same situation, and falling in love with a duplicate of the first male character.
I love reading Nora's books because she never places you in the mind of one character but actually goes back and forth between the main character, bystanders, villains, and best friends... I LOVE IT! However in both these stories; Island of Flowers and Untamed we only get the mind of the main female characters, which is annoying and quite a shame because Nora's hero's never ever disappoint. And I guess I took that skill of her's for granted because through every sentence I was searching for their thoughts, perspectives, anything on them falling in love.
Island of Flowers was a uniquely different read from the rest of her novels, it took place in Hawaii which is where the hero was born and raised. It was cool to read a little bit about the Hawaiian culture and characters, and it was lovely to read a multiracial romance.
Untamed, I expected it to be way better (Nora always saves the best for last) and also the synopsis placed a magical spell on me. Although again this was a hopeless cause. Reading about the circus life was fascinating and at first meeting the two couples despite my issues with their situation I was excited about them... As the story progressed, I could not bring myself to finish it my disappointment outweighing my drive to simply read it out til the end.
I have been reading my Nora Roberts since I was twelve, and although majority of the time she wins them all, the truth is she cannot and this was one of those cases.
Reading the synopsis I was really excited I thought to myself; "Ohmaaan this is sooo Nora and I know this is gonna be a great read." .... However I wish I could go back in time to my former self, shake my head, grab the book and put it back where I found it, and lead myself away.
The issue's with this book is so far from how Nora Robert's usually writes, if it did not have her name on it and have her signature uniqueness for describing her characters and description of locations I would seriously believe this was not her book. The main character's and their scenario's were one in the same, Nora never usually does that in her short stories. Combined the main couple are always different sometimes they may even be opposite or oppose one another, and the scenarios are always always constantly, uniquely different. I was so shocked to find myself reading about similar innocent women, placed in almost the exact same situation, and falling in love with a duplicate of the first male character.
I love reading Nora's books because she never places you in the mind of one character but actually goes back and forth between the main character, bystanders, villains, and best friends... I LOVE IT! However in both these stories; Island of Flowers and Untamed we only get the mind of the main female characters, which is annoying and quite a shame because Nora's hero's never ever disappoint. And I guess I took that skill of her's for granted because through every sentence I was searching for their thoughts, perspectives, anything on them falling in love.
Island of Flowers was a uniquely different read from the rest of her novels, it took place in Hawaii which is where the hero was born and raised. It was cool to read a little bit about the Hawaiian culture and characters, and it was lovely to read a multiracial romance.
Untamed, I expected it to be way better (Nora always saves the best for last) and also the synopsis placed a magical spell on me. Although again this was a hopeless cause. Reading about the circus life was fascinating and at first meeting the two couples despite my issues with their situation I was excited about them... As the story progressed, I could not bring myself to finish it my disappointment outweighing my drive to simply read it out til the end.
I have been reading my Nora Roberts since I was twelve, and although majority of the time she wins them all, the truth is she cannot and this was one of those cases.
July 26, 2016
fairly classic Roberts. girl separated from father as a youngster but her mother didn't want her either. not till her mother dies does she try to reconnect with her dad and finds a strange business partner involved
July 27, 2018
This book could have been so much better if it had not ended so soon. From the cover I assumed it was contemporary but it reminded me of a historical romance novel. So much more could have been played out here. Orchid could have schemed to keep Dillon from marrying Laine if they had gone back to Hawaii. Laine could have met another man in France in the meantime. There was a lot of misses opportunities to make the story much more interesting. Not her best work at all.
November 6, 2017
What can I say. It's Nora Roberts. While she can write a decent story, I cannot stand the men she always tries to match her strong, intelligent heroines with. Is this the sort of men she happens to like herself? One has to wonder why. Personally, I'm now cured and won't be reading anymore of her books.
September 19, 2023
This book was less than I expected. The first story had a very abrupt ending. The second was better. But, in both cases it seemed the men controlled everything thing and were forceful at times. The women pined over them. I ideas were good, was disappointed in the execution of the stories.
September 1, 2020
Two fun quick love stories. Every once in a while you just need to read a good love story and these two both fill your heart.
December 26, 2021
very typical Nora Roberts. Easy read. No unexpected complications.
January 27, 2025
The endings were a bit of a cliff hanger, definitely could have added more to the endings. All in all good reads
September 10, 2019
Great read
August 31, 2019
A good beach read.
July 2, 2014
Island of Flowers was an older book of Nora Roberts and was written in her classis style. Romance was wonderful and read like a traditional romance. They meet, they have misunderstandings and finally get their happy ever after.
Untamed was also an older book of Nora Roberts and was also written in her classic style. This romance touched me because the heroine was pretty much alone in the world. She had her circus family but no-one to call her own. She is strong and independent but is looking for and missing the family she has always dreamed of. Until she meets Keane and he becomes her family. They definitely have their struggles Jo is too independent to let Keane just take over and Keane is too much of a controlling person to just stand by and not try to take control. I loved this romance!!
Both Jo decided to fight for her love for Keane and she is too stubborn to not get what she wants. :-)
Untamed was also an older book of Nora Roberts and was also written in her classic style. This romance touched me because the heroine was pretty much alone in the world. She had her circus family but no-one to call her own. She is strong and independent but is looking for and missing the family she has always dreamed of. Until she meets Keane and he becomes her family. They definitely have their struggles Jo is too independent to let Keane just take over and Keane is too much of a controlling person to just stand by and not try to take control. I loved this romance!!
Both Jo decided to fight for her love for Keane and she is too stubborn to not get what she wants. :-)
July 2, 2015
I had to scan a quarter of the way into "Untamed" to where the actual dialog was between the main girl and guy and it turned out to be pretty good. It showed more emotion than the Island one, but didn't have any passionate scenes. Both ended by asking marriage, although the first one was a big surprise and ended too soon. The second one's ending worked.
April 13, 2014
The book was ok. Her more recent books are so much more in depth.
June 28, 2018
So-so. Too predictable and short.
January 12, 2016
I have read a few of Nora Roberts' romances, but this one is just too far - fetched for me.
June 16, 2017
Super easy summer read. It is actually two stories. It was just alright but perfect for my beach vacation.
Read
March 3, 2014both were good and i will read again
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews