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The MacGregors #3-4
The MacGregors: True Horizons
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents True Horizons, two favorite MacGregor novels in one special volume.
All the Possibilities
Among the ambitious influencers crowding Washington D.C.’s hallowed halls, Shelby Campbell stands apart from the petty politicians demanding Senator Alan MacGregor’s time. Fearless in expressing her beliefs, she challenges his views with an impressive intellect that also captures his heart. However, Shelby and Alan are connected by an enmity shared between their families for generations. Unwilling to let the past decide their future, Alan commits himself to proving his love for Shelby—and healing them both.
One Man's Art
A lighthouse keeper on the shores of Maine, Grant Campbell has convinced himself he is content with being alone, free of the harmful entanglements that bind people. Then Genviève Grandeau appears on his doorstep one night after abandoning her stalled car, seeking shelter from a raging storm. Grant is not the friendliest or most gracious of hosts, but Gennie senses a kindness and compassion deep within him yearning to be free. Unexpected fate may have brought them together, but healing love is their shared destiny.
Previously Published
All the Possibilities
Among the ambitious influencers crowding Washington D.C.’s hallowed halls, Shelby Campbell stands apart from the petty politicians demanding Senator Alan MacGregor’s time. Fearless in expressing her beliefs, she challenges his views with an impressive intellect that also captures his heart. However, Shelby and Alan are connected by an enmity shared between their families for generations. Unwilling to let the past decide their future, Alan commits himself to proving his love for Shelby—and healing them both.
One Man's Art
A lighthouse keeper on the shores of Maine, Grant Campbell has convinced himself he is content with being alone, free of the harmful entanglements that bind people. Then Genviève Grandeau appears on his doorstep one night after abandoning her stalled car, seeking shelter from a raging storm. Grant is not the friendliest or most gracious of hosts, but Gennie senses a kindness and compassion deep within him yearning to be free. Unexpected fate may have brought them together, but healing love is their shared destiny.
Previously Published
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
68 people are currently reading
7904 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,201 books59.5k 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 157 reviews
July 23, 2024
Dit boek bevat twee verhalen. Het eerste gaat over senator Alan MacGregor en Shelby Campbell.
Als Alan Shelby ontmoet, kan hij haar niet meer vergeten. Hij laat haar niet met rust, eerst erg tegen haar zin. Alhoewel, ze voelt zich wel enorm aangetrokken tot hem. Maar een traumatische ervaring in haar verleden belet haar om zich open te stellen voor een senator die ook nog eens presidentskandidaat wil worden.
Alhoewel dit verhaal vlot leest, en ik wel wilde weten hoe het verder ging, vond ik de opdringerigheid van Alan toch wel heel ver gaan, en dat stak me wat tegen.
Het tweede verhaal gaat over de broer van Shelby, Grant Campbell, en Geneviève Grandeau.
Grant leeft in afzondering in een vuurtoren, maar op een stormachtige avond komt een doornatte verdwaalde Geneviève bij hem aankloppen. Hij kan niet anders dan haar binnenlaten, maar zeer tegen zijn zin.
Geneviève zoekt toenadering tot hem, eigenlijk eerst om hem te bedanken, maar omdat hij dat blijkbaar niet op prijs stelt, raakt ze geïntrigeerd door Grant.
En hoewel Grant het eigenlijk niet wil toegeven, is hij op slag verliefd geworden op Geneviève. Hij wordt verscheurd door zijn gevoelens voor haar en het feit dat hij zijn eenzame leventje niet wil opgeven. Geneviève beantwoordt zijn gevoelens echter, en het duurt niet lang of ze kunnen elkaar niet weerstaan. Maar hoe moet het nu verder? Want Geneviève is een bekende kunstenares, die veel in de publieke belangstelling staat, terwijl Grant een striptekenaar is die zo goed als anoniem wil blijven. En Geneviève houdt van New Orleans, dat bruist van leven, terwijl Grant liefst alleen is meet de zee en de branding...
Dit tweede verhaal sprak mij meer aan. Alhoewel ook ditmaal de man soms ruw neemt wat hij hebben wil, komt Geneviève toch als een sterke vrouw tot haar recht, wat voor meer balans zorgt, vind ik.
Een ontspannend boek om te lezen.
Als Alan Shelby ontmoet, kan hij haar niet meer vergeten. Hij laat haar niet met rust, eerst erg tegen haar zin. Alhoewel, ze voelt zich wel enorm aangetrokken tot hem. Maar een traumatische ervaring in haar verleden belet haar om zich open te stellen voor een senator die ook nog eens presidentskandidaat wil worden.
Alhoewel dit verhaal vlot leest, en ik wel wilde weten hoe het verder ging, vond ik de opdringerigheid van Alan toch wel heel ver gaan, en dat stak me wat tegen.
Het tweede verhaal gaat over de broer van Shelby, Grant Campbell, en Geneviève Grandeau.
Grant leeft in afzondering in een vuurtoren, maar op een stormachtige avond komt een doornatte verdwaalde Geneviève bij hem aankloppen. Hij kan niet anders dan haar binnenlaten, maar zeer tegen zijn zin.
Geneviève zoekt toenadering tot hem, eigenlijk eerst om hem te bedanken, maar omdat hij dat blijkbaar niet op prijs stelt, raakt ze geïntrigeerd door Grant.
En hoewel Grant het eigenlijk niet wil toegeven, is hij op slag verliefd geworden op Geneviève. Hij wordt verscheurd door zijn gevoelens voor haar en het feit dat hij zijn eenzame leventje niet wil opgeven. Geneviève beantwoordt zijn gevoelens echter, en het duurt niet lang of ze kunnen elkaar niet weerstaan. Maar hoe moet het nu verder? Want Geneviève is een bekende kunstenares, die veel in de publieke belangstelling staat, terwijl Grant een striptekenaar is die zo goed als anoniem wil blijven. En Geneviève houdt van New Orleans, dat bruist van leven, terwijl Grant liefst alleen is meet de zee en de branding...
Dit tweede verhaal sprak mij meer aan. Alhoewel ook ditmaal de man soms ruw neemt wat hij hebben wil, komt Geneviève toch als een sterke vrouw tot haar recht, wat voor meer balans zorgt, vind ik.
Een ontspannend boek om te lezen.
March 26, 2020
All The Possibilities: 4.5 STARS!
Alan & Shelby: I loved how Alan bulldozed his way to Shelby's heart. Loving her wasn't easy but it was worth the fight. Such a sweet insta attraction that soon turned to love. The more Shelby pushed the more Alan pulled 😭.
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One Man's Art: 5 STARS!
Grant & Genviève: I loved how Gennie bulldozed her way to Grant's slurriness and walls. Grant is one stubborn man and Gennie didn't back down. Grant was so closed. Didn't know how to comprise but Gennie was like a siren are sea luring him in. I loved it!! It was passion, frustration and above all love. 😍
Alan & Shelby: I loved how Alan bulldozed his way to Shelby's heart. Loving her wasn't easy but it was worth the fight. Such a sweet insta attraction that soon turned to love. The more Shelby pushed the more Alan pulled 😭.
____________________________
One Man's Art: 5 STARS!
Grant & Genviève: I loved how Gennie bulldozed her way to Grant's slurriness and walls. Grant is one stubborn man and Gennie didn't back down. Grant was so closed. Didn't know how to comprise but Gennie was like a siren are sea luring him in. I loved it!! It was passion, frustration and above all love. 😍
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February 19, 2014
The MacGregors, Alan~Grant by Nora Roberts is made up of two separate stories, All The Possibilities and One Man’s Art, both originally published in 1985. In both stories, we have the Campbell siblings, Shelby and Grant. They are the children of the late Senator Robert Campbell who was assassinated fifteen years prior, right in front of his children. Both children have lasting scars from witnessing such a horrible loss and deal with it in different ways. Also, both children have grown up to be artists, in two very different ways.
All The Possibilities deals with Shelby. She is a Potter. She owns her own very successful shop and lives above it with her one eyed cat and her parrot. She enjoys a life free of entanglements as a sort of free spirit. She adheres to a strong rule to never date a politician. One night at a dinner party she meets Alan MacGregor, Senator of Massachusetts. A connection is instant. She fights it every way she can but Alan is very persistent. The fiery red headed Shelby is not the sort of girl Alan usually dates. He is a popular Senator and his party is making noises about a future Presidential run. But after one chance meeting at the dinner party, he knows he can’t live without her.
One Man’s Art is about Grant. Grant lives in coastal Main, in a light house he has converted to suit his needs. He is known by the townspeople to be somewhat odd, sort of a recluse. One night during a raging storm he opens his door to Genvieve Grandeau, Gennie. She is an artist as well, a famous painter. She has suffered losses of her own and is traveling up and down the coast painting. But her car has broken down and she’s stuck in the storm. This is two people that have fiery tempers that have walled up their emotions. Can the love that grows between them be enough to tear down those walls? Also, they discover there is a connection between Gennie and some of Alan’s family.
As the MacGregors and the Campbells come together, family ties bind them all together in a way only Nora Roberts can accomplish. I picked this book up some time ago at a used book sale at a library and its been sitting on my shelf. I’m so glad I finally took it down and read it.
All The Possibilities deals with Shelby. She is a Potter. She owns her own very successful shop and lives above it with her one eyed cat and her parrot. She enjoys a life free of entanglements as a sort of free spirit. She adheres to a strong rule to never date a politician. One night at a dinner party she meets Alan MacGregor, Senator of Massachusetts. A connection is instant. She fights it every way she can but Alan is very persistent. The fiery red headed Shelby is not the sort of girl Alan usually dates. He is a popular Senator and his party is making noises about a future Presidential run. But after one chance meeting at the dinner party, he knows he can’t live without her.
One Man’s Art is about Grant. Grant lives in coastal Main, in a light house he has converted to suit his needs. He is known by the townspeople to be somewhat odd, sort of a recluse. One night during a raging storm he opens his door to Genvieve Grandeau, Gennie. She is an artist as well, a famous painter. She has suffered losses of her own and is traveling up and down the coast painting. But her car has broken down and she’s stuck in the storm. This is two people that have fiery tempers that have walled up their emotions. Can the love that grows between them be enough to tear down those walls? Also, they discover there is a connection between Gennie and some of Alan’s family.
As the MacGregors and the Campbells come together, family ties bind them all together in a way only Nora Roberts can accomplish. I picked this book up some time ago at a used book sale at a library and its been sitting on my shelf. I’m so glad I finally took it down and read it.
July 29, 2022
not for me. it had good vibes but i was bored.
September 27, 2012
shelby&alan(1st story)-i read another book in this series, and decided id continue on with this one.i just hate how the guys careers r so boring.a lot of authors write about lawyers or something like that and it just doesnt interest me at all.
however,im just glad i can halfway get into this after having to have slam nora's "treasures" book.
-"shelby decided not2 mention that the personable young man had had 6 pairs of hands-all very active." what?!
her descriptions of ppl just confuses me sumtimes. like "he had a thoughtful, brooding quality about him that was both restful &distracting." who looks at sum1 &thinks that? n fact, im still trying to picture just what the guy wud look like if he had a "restful &distracting quality."
who just meets sum1&then drinks out of their glass &talks 2them like u've known them 4ever?
nora's guys always grab the girls hand&kisses her fingers,or knuckles,or wrist.its annoying 2read &its repetitive.i mean,wut r the chances that all these guys act the same way&do the same thing?
-"n return,shelby paid him well&listened to his poetry.the 1st nourished his body,the 2nd his soul." -wut?! sumtimes nora writes sum weird things.
the started out a lil boring when ur readin plain paragraphs &no conversations.like she'd go on and on about makin pottery &i just wanted the book2 go sumwhere.
she talks 17th century sumtimes,like "governess" and "15 and 20 minutes."
she just switches2 the guys perspective w/no warning.
the guys make all these assumptions about the girl after being around her for a grand total of 2times. like-"she'd nvr adhere 2the logical 1-step-at-a-time structure of his own."
noras girl characters cum off as bipolar,or just seriously moody,like they change their minds a lot. 1 min they tell the guy they dont wanna be w/him,the next they're like ok.they just give n 2him. which irritates me.pick a decision&stick w/it.&persistant guys r annoying.it may have ben cute startin off,but wen u have all ur characters the same way,its just plain annoying& repetitive.
i was surprised that she was pushing her mom2 date considering she loved her dad so much &that he was killed.
why wud u be wooed by strawberries,stuffed pigs and balloons?! it cud have ben sweet,but the way shelby reacted just made it weird.
its so annoying how the girl has a plan-like2 stay firm w/the guy ¬ go out w/him.&then just 4gets &ends up being charmed &totally gives n2 him.id be happy &was rooting 4the characters decision2 stay firm&as excited 2c how things wud pan out,but it nvr went newhere.becuz like 2 thoughts l8r she was bein charmed by him.its dang annoying.
a lot of the time,characters say things that real ppl just wudnt say.like going on about the panther @the zoo-"i wonder just wut he'd do if he were rlly crossed.he duznt appear2 have a temper. cats usually dont until they're pushed2 far just that 1 time&then-they're deadly." i understand shes comparing alan2 the panther,but she takes it a lil 2far.
its like a trial just gettin thru her books like this 1.@ times,ur thoroughly exhuasted, annoyed &incensed.u swear u'll nvr pick up another nora roberts book&then u do,becuz after a while u 4get just how bad they can b sumtimes,&u trick urself nto thinkin theyre not that bad.then u pick up1 like Treasures &it all starts comin back.
there's good things n her books,&they usually end pretty good,but usually the beginning is the roughest.like wen the couple 1st meets,&he's wooing the girl.which consists of him being a general nusance.
"do u think ur wut i want?wut i can rationally,easily,say i want?ur everything but wut suits me. u flout everything thats vital2my life." wut?!
who just says im gunna marry sum1 w/o even givin them a choice?
-"how did he no exactly wut i wanted-strawberries,a stuffed pig,balloons, &colored glass in the shape of a rainbow.how cud he have known how badly she'd needed2 c a rainbow?" wth.nora can be just plain weird sumtimes.this is just a weird character at times.
i want to see wut a "serious smile" looks like.&wut a "smokey laugh" sounds like.
its so freakin ridiculous how all of noras girl characters just let themselves be led by the guy, as if they've 4gotten the word no,or simply 2 refuse2 go.i mean, who just lets themselves be led out of their apartment,2his car &2a restaraunt wen they dint wanna go,&they told themselves not2 date him?&then she lets him nto her apartment wen she wasnt goin2,says they arent gunna make luv wen we all no they're going2.it wud be nice 2have a character say sumthin &then actualy do it 4 a change.
im so sick of characters sayin they r/arent gunna do sumthin &then doin it. which is basically all of noras girl characters.i mean she just lets him undress her w/o a protest.1 sec her shirts gone, the next her skirt is off&the next they're easin under the covers.&im like wth? who just lets this happen?? u dont wanna be w/ him, but u just let him do w/e.obviously the girls havent ben schooled n 'just say no.' then again the guys havent ben schooled n 'just accept the word no.'
shes so busy tryin2 be lyrical& waxing flowers &romance that u dont even no its began or ended. like most romance authors describe things n detail,but nora nvr does.she mostly skips over the..romantic areas.like if u dint already no wut was happening,u udnt no wut was goin on cuz she goes on spiels like this-"neither was leading now,but both were led." i just wanna yell skip the mumbo jumbo &just write wuts actually happening instead of this crap u cant even understand.
like we dk nora isnt writing about herself thru sum of her characters.like the "redheaded woman."
-"the sleek brunette across from him mite b more beautiful, the blonde more regal." wth?! why wud nora have him say that?
-"but it was shelby u want 2talk 2.why?the reason was there was no reason u cud name.it was simply so." how nice.u dont even no why u wanna talk2the girl u luv.
"shelby was already his wife n all but the legal sense-he had only2 convince her of that." 1st of all,that sounds like sumthin from the 1800s.2nd,how do u consider her ur wife? i mean,u arent living 2gether.u've only known eachother 4 like a month.
i thought they shud have toned it down at the zoo a lil.there r kids around! i kept thinkin they were gunna make out.
&who wants 2make out w/him @his parents home rite outside where ne1 cud c?!
theres sum things that just hit u the wrong way.like "ur more fair than i,kinder,more patient. i have2 take advantage of that."
why wud u have sex n his parents house w/his whole family there?!
&who kisses their brother on the lips?
shelby's brother grant sounded rlly cool &relatable wen she mentioned him n there.we had sum things n common,like being loners¬ 1 4 ppl or social scenes.&the fact that we can c sum1 &then wanna be alone for wks.but i just no wen i get2 his story n this book nora will have mucked up all ur hopes. i thought he'd be the quiet loner type,not the gruff get away from me type.wen he made an appearance n this book,he seemed a lil..coarse.
theres like 3 families circulating n this book.the blades,the macgregors&now the campbells.i mean caine married his sister n law.thats a lil 2 close2 home.why dint nora expand the families a lil?
-nora writes about families rlly good.&sum of her dialogue is good.like wen characters profess luv or w/e.its nice2 read&rlly well written sumtimes.
i dont like how n a lot of noras books,the girl asks the guy2 marry her.thats sumthin else annoying &repetitive.
&i cant get thru a book by nora w/o the girl sayin sumthin like this-"if i had wanted u,u wudnt have had a chance."
it was weird how shelby was acting like she was planning 2move nto his childhood home.
altho her books end on a good,happy note,they all tend2 end suddenly.&i alays want them2 end another way.like id have liked for alans family2 find out they're engaged.
there was this look that was passed between daniel&diana &i thought she was gunna say she was pregnant or sumthin but she nvr did.
i love series that r connected by characters.like wen characters from the 1st 2 books n appear again.like rena &justin &cain &diana.except i wanna hear more from then,but nora dint do it.
i got the impression that myra liked daniel.&then wen she was w/ alan &was takin her heels off &rubbin her feet.it was just weird. u shudnt be pickin up vibes like that but i was.&she was supposed2 be an older lady,but she came off much younger.
&i wanted every1 2talk more about the campbell/macgregor fued,but no1 ever did.
i thought it was cool but it nvr went newhere& rlly dint seem2 b much of a fued.like most things w/ nora,it had all the potential but it felt u unsatisfied.
its annoying how other characters butt n ppls luv lifes or try2 set them up.like wen myra basically told alan that shelby was n luv w/him.so alan had the upperhand once again&forced himself nto shelbys life again becuz he knew she loved him.thats sumthin shelby shud tell him,not sum meddling old lady.
things like this n books just get2 me-"wen i want sumthin that immediately&that badly,i dont walk away from it." becuz im sure he felt that way 4another girl.which we dont wanna no about.
noras guys have always ben around the blk a time or 2.or like 10.we miraculously dint cum across ne n here-which was a shocker considering its nora-until caine mentions the blond alan was dating not so long ago w/the...interesting body.which was inapropriate4 caine2 say neway seein as how hes married.that cud have ben left out.
i just heard on millionaire matchmaker that ne1 marrying sum1 after 3 months is only focused on phsyical attraction or passion.&alan &shelby have only known eachother 4a month.hmm. sum1 needs 2 pass that along2 nora.her characters always get 2gether after a very short time.which irritates me2 no end.
-grant(book 2)-
1st couple of pgs &im already like ehhh.
so the old man liked her becuz she had a firm handshake,dint slouch& had a good smile? is she goin2 a quirky old man livin n a small town cuz u failed miserably.she created another stupid character w/ mrs lawrence.im only a few pgs in&im seriously irritated.wut happened 2 small town charm?
"just n case there was-sumthin out there." there should be dots there,not a dash.
who looks @sum1 &says she "looks like medieval royalty-long bones,sharp features.a celtic or gallic princess.&eyes like a mermaids." like wth? i still dk wut she looks like.or wut exactly a mermaids eyes looks like.
who goes2a strangers house &basically says im stayin.i no theres a storm but u cant tell sum1 ur stayin @their house. hes goo enuff2 take u n &she gets all haughty.only noras characters wud do this.
they've known eachother 4all of an hour &we already gotta read crap like this-"they stared @ eachother, each battered by feelings neither of them wanted."
who knows so much about their ancestors?! her great great gpa was a pirate.&she knew about his ship.&that she "inherited a strong streak of practicality from the displaced aristocrats on her mothers side."
nora keeps dragging out grants mysterious "work" &"projects." even n the 1st book,he told his sister he had2 get back2 work,w/o sayin wut he was doin. just tell us already!
its like if her characters dont experience immediate desire then that means they dont truly like eachother.sum1 plz tell nora u can still like eachother w/o experience immediate desire &having lusty thoughts.cuz this is freakin annoying! she makes it kinda trashy w/these fast movin ppl. slow it down!
shes singin &cookin breakfast n the guys house.hes a total stranger! geez this reminds me of 1 of noras book where the guy finds the girl n his hottub&then she basically makes him let her stay.
who appreciates sum1 tellin them off 4 actin all haughty? "grants brows rose not so much n surprise as n appreciation.not every1 cud tell u2shut up n a butter-melting voice &make it work." so u appreciate bein talked down 2 n ur own home by a total stranger wen ur nice enuff2 let her stay?
&then those 2 stupid townsppl n the beginnin likin her4 rlly stupid things, like "w/a brisk practicality mrs. lawrence admired."
"arousal he knew came from the sea." wen duz that spark arousal?
i swear,nora is unto a world of her own that no1 understands or relates 2.or has ever experienced themselves.
of course the girl wud lean2c wut hes doin w/her car&of course she just HAD 2lean her hand on his back4balance.i dont understand why characters do stuff like this.put ur hand on the car4 balance.
noras guys always say stuff like "touch this 1,campbell,&ur n trouble,the kind of trouble a man duznt walk away from whistlin a tune." how do they no stuff like that? &wut duz it even mean?!
this girl is already irritating.she prefers the loud waves @grants2 the peaceful quiet of her rented cottage.she prefers the dusty disorder of grants house2 the "2 clean" of her cottage. do authors realize how increibly irritating their writing can b?
the fast-ness of these characters just ruins the whole story b4 it even begins.it makes me not like the characters.i mean all her characters r just fast.switch it up once n a while.who likes sum1 who is ruled by desire,who wants 2get w/sum1 they just met?
her sisters death came out of nowhere.
her attitude is rlly gettin 2me.u plan of sketchin the guys house whether he likes it or not.
gen sed the same thing as shelby from the 1st book-"land mines&barbed wire."
her books r just 2much alike.this character is kind of like freakin grace from Treasures&i had 2slam that book down.
the guy says he duznt like agressive,arrogant women &the girl kisses him.wth?!
u applaud these men 4sayin things like that but then they end up kissin her&likin her.
&shes got all these tabloids &gossip surrounding her.why wud a virgin have affairs linked2 her name.geez,this is like irish rebel except way worse.
&why wud a virgin act like nora's usual sluts?! i mean a virgin shud act different.not kiss the guy wen he basically sed he dint like her.
she plans2take moves from her GRANDMA n how2 twist men around her finger.ugh!
she plans2 seduce him&then-"it wasnt until she began2feel the weakness that gennie felt fear.this wasnt wut she'd cum4..was it? no,she wudnt believe she'd cum2 feel this terrifying pleasure." u did plan it,u slut.
this is the 2nd comment this girl has made that sum1 has already sed.1st about the land mines &how its-"ur walkin on dangerous ground." &then the girl says "im very sure footed." not only r her storylines practically identical,but she even uses the exact same sentences.why wud u reuse material u've already had characters say?! c,thats how close her books r.throw sum variety nto the mix!
u dont have a problem trespassing on his land 4a painting but regarding his secret spot u feel that "even had she wanted2 paint there,the sense of trespassing wud have 4bidden it." wow.its nice2 no u have sum bounderies.
name will turner reminded me of pirates of the carribbean.
dont like the way she portrays shy ppl.her main characters r nvr that way,&wen she finally puts 1 n a book,she makes a mockery of it.like the blushing,stuttering boy n here.nora nvr writes that her characters blush.like the guy cud say things that wud make most ppl blush,but her characters jut dont. they act completely comfortable naked or doin/sayin w/e w/a guy-like seasoned sluts.i guess they're so sophisticated like nora.
wuts up with "ayah" n here?
&wuts up w/that widow? u think her icy personality is chippin away but it keeps comin back.she nvr changed either &wasnt seen n the book after the store scene.
"w/the melting came a pain,unexpected &sharp enuff2 make her tremble.how cud there be pain,she wondered dazedly,wen her body was so truly@peace? yet it came again on a wave that rocked her. sum lucid part of her mind reminded her that luv hurt." think she's experiencing sum physical pain? nope. shes talkin about luv.ur kissin the guy.wth is there2 make u feel pain?! she did the same thing n Irish Rebel. duz nora act.no wut shes talkin about? have u experienced this cuz it feels totally unreal.
shes "fallin in luv w/him" wen they've only ben around eachother like4 times.
she was act.gunna laugh wen the boy was stutterig&blushin&droppin things.
idk why nora writes the same things.the whole "i cud make u beg" thing isnt romantic.its trashy. -"makes u wanna sit up&beg." thats act.gross&distasteful.learn how2 write actual romance!
wuts up w/the name "genvieve?" ive been readin it like "genevieve." how do u even say that?!
who gets all aroused &crazy from a storm? only noras characters.they're like animals.
"desperate 2touch wut he had denied himself4 days." wow,man,whole days.wut restraint u have.
i feel like wen they tell eachother they luv eachother n here it was more aimed 4 comedy instead of realism.they're yellin&cussin@eachother while they say it.
love came WAY2 quickly-predictable 4nora-where it isnt even believable.&it seriously tickes me off&just takes away from the story.
noras stories nvr build up.its just a buttload of crap&ppls dumb feelings that surface so quickly.
u cant have luv-or shud i say lust-@1st site n all ur books.but she duz.write n a realistic ay that ppl act.like&can relate2.
id rather have it where the characters dont like eachother@1st or start out on the wrong foot &then end up likin eachother.thats sweet&is much more romantic than this crap.
her women r annoying &r a lil crowding.they just grab the guys hand or kiss him wen hes actin standoffish.&just becuz they kiss or have sex or tell eachother they luv eachother,the women immediately expect everything.trust,a marriage proposal.the whole 9yards&trimmings.its a lil psycho &clingy&just annoying.
&i understand why they expect it becuz they've just had sex&sed they "luv" eachother but instead of building a relationship &trustin eachother&act.knowin eachother,they just have sex becuz of a lil thing called lust-not sum deep connection that noras characters "always have." becuz they kiss &have sex so fast,it seems like it means nothing2them so idk why they'd have all these expectations. if they had ben datin4a considerable amount of time,a believable amound4 true feelings2 surface then i cud understand.but it isnt the case&i dont understand.i am, however, seriously annoyed w/noras books.
she puts dashes where there shudnt be1.like "daniel mentioned u were bringing-an artist."
dont rlly like how every1 got paired up w/sum1 who had the same profession as them.it cud be sweet,but not wen u do it n every single book n this series.justin& rena-both gamblers.shelby&alan-both no about politics.caine&diana-both lawyers.like everything else n here, its unrealistic.
the girls nvr blush wen they're talkin of very intimate things or doin rlly intimate things.but wen her COUSIN says she beautiful,she blushes.
wuts up w/ppl givin kisses on the mouth? shelby did it 2her brother &then to her fathernlaw.its gross.
"ur not the only woman ive luved.but ur the only woman ive ben n luv w/." wth? dont say nethin @all if ur gunna cum out w/sumthin like that.&wuts the true difference neway?
who has sex n sum1 elses house?i mean i cud halfway understand alan&shelby becuz it used2 b his home.but grant&genny arent even truly related2them.i mean u just met them&ur havin sex n their house.&alan&shelby doin it n the family pool that the family swims n the next day. i cud understand it if it was a private pool.her books=no class.
i thought she was bringin an outsider n w/genny.but it turns out shes related2 justin &diana &has met alan b4.ugh!like i sed earlier,she keeps her books within like 3 dif families.its kind of gross that ppl-caine-got w/his sister n law.or w/e it was.
other repetitive thing-girls askin the guy2 marry thing.highly annoying.
i think nora tries2 beat out herself n a game of How Fast Can My Characters Get Together? n the 1st book was a month.n here it was 2wks.wen shelby asked gen how long they've ben 2gether or w/e it was &she sed 2wks,i bout lost it.
however,im just glad i can halfway get into this after having to have slam nora's "treasures" book.
-"shelby decided not2 mention that the personable young man had had 6 pairs of hands-all very active." what?!
her descriptions of ppl just confuses me sumtimes. like "he had a thoughtful, brooding quality about him that was both restful &distracting." who looks at sum1 &thinks that? n fact, im still trying to picture just what the guy wud look like if he had a "restful &distracting quality."
who just meets sum1&then drinks out of their glass &talks 2them like u've known them 4ever?
nora's guys always grab the girls hand&kisses her fingers,or knuckles,or wrist.its annoying 2read &its repetitive.i mean,wut r the chances that all these guys act the same way&do the same thing?
-"n return,shelby paid him well&listened to his poetry.the 1st nourished his body,the 2nd his soul." -wut?! sumtimes nora writes sum weird things.
the started out a lil boring when ur readin plain paragraphs &no conversations.like she'd go on and on about makin pottery &i just wanted the book2 go sumwhere.
she talks 17th century sumtimes,like "governess" and "15 and 20 minutes."
she just switches2 the guys perspective w/no warning.
the guys make all these assumptions about the girl after being around her for a grand total of 2times. like-"she'd nvr adhere 2the logical 1-step-at-a-time structure of his own."
noras girl characters cum off as bipolar,or just seriously moody,like they change their minds a lot. 1 min they tell the guy they dont wanna be w/him,the next they're like ok.they just give n 2him. which irritates me.pick a decision&stick w/it.&persistant guys r annoying.it may have ben cute startin off,but wen u have all ur characters the same way,its just plain annoying& repetitive.
i was surprised that she was pushing her mom2 date considering she loved her dad so much &that he was killed.
why wud u be wooed by strawberries,stuffed pigs and balloons?! it cud have ben sweet,but the way shelby reacted just made it weird.
its so annoying how the girl has a plan-like2 stay firm w/the guy ¬ go out w/him.&then just 4gets &ends up being charmed &totally gives n2 him.id be happy &was rooting 4the characters decision2 stay firm&as excited 2c how things wud pan out,but it nvr went newhere.becuz like 2 thoughts l8r she was bein charmed by him.its dang annoying.
a lot of the time,characters say things that real ppl just wudnt say.like going on about the panther @the zoo-"i wonder just wut he'd do if he were rlly crossed.he duznt appear2 have a temper. cats usually dont until they're pushed2 far just that 1 time&then-they're deadly." i understand shes comparing alan2 the panther,but she takes it a lil 2far.
its like a trial just gettin thru her books like this 1.@ times,ur thoroughly exhuasted, annoyed &incensed.u swear u'll nvr pick up another nora roberts book&then u do,becuz after a while u 4get just how bad they can b sumtimes,&u trick urself nto thinkin theyre not that bad.then u pick up1 like Treasures &it all starts comin back.
there's good things n her books,&they usually end pretty good,but usually the beginning is the roughest.like wen the couple 1st meets,&he's wooing the girl.which consists of him being a general nusance.
"do u think ur wut i want?wut i can rationally,easily,say i want?ur everything but wut suits me. u flout everything thats vital2my life." wut?!
who just says im gunna marry sum1 w/o even givin them a choice?
-"how did he no exactly wut i wanted-strawberries,a stuffed pig,balloons, &colored glass in the shape of a rainbow.how cud he have known how badly she'd needed2 c a rainbow?" wth.nora can be just plain weird sumtimes.this is just a weird character at times.
i want to see wut a "serious smile" looks like.&wut a "smokey laugh" sounds like.
its so freakin ridiculous how all of noras girl characters just let themselves be led by the guy, as if they've 4gotten the word no,or simply 2 refuse2 go.i mean, who just lets themselves be led out of their apartment,2his car &2a restaraunt wen they dint wanna go,&they told themselves not2 date him?&then she lets him nto her apartment wen she wasnt goin2,says they arent gunna make luv wen we all no they're going2.it wud be nice 2have a character say sumthin &then actualy do it 4 a change.
im so sick of characters sayin they r/arent gunna do sumthin &then doin it. which is basically all of noras girl characters.i mean she just lets him undress her w/o a protest.1 sec her shirts gone, the next her skirt is off&the next they're easin under the covers.&im like wth? who just lets this happen?? u dont wanna be w/ him, but u just let him do w/e.obviously the girls havent ben schooled n 'just say no.' then again the guys havent ben schooled n 'just accept the word no.'
shes so busy tryin2 be lyrical& waxing flowers &romance that u dont even no its began or ended. like most romance authors describe things n detail,but nora nvr does.she mostly skips over the..romantic areas.like if u dint already no wut was happening,u udnt no wut was goin on cuz she goes on spiels like this-"neither was leading now,but both were led." i just wanna yell skip the mumbo jumbo &just write wuts actually happening instead of this crap u cant even understand.
like we dk nora isnt writing about herself thru sum of her characters.like the "redheaded woman."
-"the sleek brunette across from him mite b more beautiful, the blonde more regal." wth?! why wud nora have him say that?
-"but it was shelby u want 2talk 2.why?the reason was there was no reason u cud name.it was simply so." how nice.u dont even no why u wanna talk2the girl u luv.
"shelby was already his wife n all but the legal sense-he had only2 convince her of that." 1st of all,that sounds like sumthin from the 1800s.2nd,how do u consider her ur wife? i mean,u arent living 2gether.u've only known eachother 4 like a month.
i thought they shud have toned it down at the zoo a lil.there r kids around! i kept thinkin they were gunna make out.
&who wants 2make out w/him @his parents home rite outside where ne1 cud c?!
theres sum things that just hit u the wrong way.like "ur more fair than i,kinder,more patient. i have2 take advantage of that."
why wud u have sex n his parents house w/his whole family there?!
&who kisses their brother on the lips?
shelby's brother grant sounded rlly cool &relatable wen she mentioned him n there.we had sum things n common,like being loners¬ 1 4 ppl or social scenes.&the fact that we can c sum1 &then wanna be alone for wks.but i just no wen i get2 his story n this book nora will have mucked up all ur hopes. i thought he'd be the quiet loner type,not the gruff get away from me type.wen he made an appearance n this book,he seemed a lil..coarse.
theres like 3 families circulating n this book.the blades,the macgregors&now the campbells.i mean caine married his sister n law.thats a lil 2 close2 home.why dint nora expand the families a lil?
-nora writes about families rlly good.&sum of her dialogue is good.like wen characters profess luv or w/e.its nice2 read&rlly well written sumtimes.
i dont like how n a lot of noras books,the girl asks the guy2 marry her.thats sumthin else annoying &repetitive.
&i cant get thru a book by nora w/o the girl sayin sumthin like this-"if i had wanted u,u wudnt have had a chance."
it was weird how shelby was acting like she was planning 2move nto his childhood home.
altho her books end on a good,happy note,they all tend2 end suddenly.&i alays want them2 end another way.like id have liked for alans family2 find out they're engaged.
there was this look that was passed between daniel&diana &i thought she was gunna say she was pregnant or sumthin but she nvr did.
i love series that r connected by characters.like wen characters from the 1st 2 books n appear again.like rena &justin &cain &diana.except i wanna hear more from then,but nora dint do it.
i got the impression that myra liked daniel.&then wen she was w/ alan &was takin her heels off &rubbin her feet.it was just weird. u shudnt be pickin up vibes like that but i was.&she was supposed2 be an older lady,but she came off much younger.
&i wanted every1 2talk more about the campbell/macgregor fued,but no1 ever did.
i thought it was cool but it nvr went newhere& rlly dint seem2 b much of a fued.like most things w/ nora,it had all the potential but it felt u unsatisfied.
its annoying how other characters butt n ppls luv lifes or try2 set them up.like wen myra basically told alan that shelby was n luv w/him.so alan had the upperhand once again&forced himself nto shelbys life again becuz he knew she loved him.thats sumthin shelby shud tell him,not sum meddling old lady.
things like this n books just get2 me-"wen i want sumthin that immediately&that badly,i dont walk away from it." becuz im sure he felt that way 4another girl.which we dont wanna no about.
noras guys have always ben around the blk a time or 2.or like 10.we miraculously dint cum across ne n here-which was a shocker considering its nora-until caine mentions the blond alan was dating not so long ago w/the...interesting body.which was inapropriate4 caine2 say neway seein as how hes married.that cud have ben left out.
i just heard on millionaire matchmaker that ne1 marrying sum1 after 3 months is only focused on phsyical attraction or passion.&alan &shelby have only known eachother 4a month.hmm. sum1 needs 2 pass that along2 nora.her characters always get 2gether after a very short time.which irritates me2 no end.
-grant(book 2)-
1st couple of pgs &im already like ehhh.
so the old man liked her becuz she had a firm handshake,dint slouch& had a good smile? is she goin2 a quirky old man livin n a small town cuz u failed miserably.she created another stupid character w/ mrs lawrence.im only a few pgs in&im seriously irritated.wut happened 2 small town charm?
"just n case there was-sumthin out there." there should be dots there,not a dash.
who looks @sum1 &says she "looks like medieval royalty-long bones,sharp features.a celtic or gallic princess.&eyes like a mermaids." like wth? i still dk wut she looks like.or wut exactly a mermaids eyes looks like.
who goes2a strangers house &basically says im stayin.i no theres a storm but u cant tell sum1 ur stayin @their house. hes goo enuff2 take u n &she gets all haughty.only noras characters wud do this.
they've known eachother 4all of an hour &we already gotta read crap like this-"they stared @ eachother, each battered by feelings neither of them wanted."
who knows so much about their ancestors?! her great great gpa was a pirate.&she knew about his ship.&that she "inherited a strong streak of practicality from the displaced aristocrats on her mothers side."
nora keeps dragging out grants mysterious "work" &"projects." even n the 1st book,he told his sister he had2 get back2 work,w/o sayin wut he was doin. just tell us already!
its like if her characters dont experience immediate desire then that means they dont truly like eachother.sum1 plz tell nora u can still like eachother w/o experience immediate desire &having lusty thoughts.cuz this is freakin annoying! she makes it kinda trashy w/these fast movin ppl. slow it down!
shes singin &cookin breakfast n the guys house.hes a total stranger! geez this reminds me of 1 of noras book where the guy finds the girl n his hottub&then she basically makes him let her stay.
who appreciates sum1 tellin them off 4 actin all haughty? "grants brows rose not so much n surprise as n appreciation.not every1 cud tell u2shut up n a butter-melting voice &make it work." so u appreciate bein talked down 2 n ur own home by a total stranger wen ur nice enuff2 let her stay?
&then those 2 stupid townsppl n the beginnin likin her4 rlly stupid things, like "w/a brisk practicality mrs. lawrence admired."
"arousal he knew came from the sea." wen duz that spark arousal?
i swear,nora is unto a world of her own that no1 understands or relates 2.or has ever experienced themselves.
of course the girl wud lean2c wut hes doin w/her car&of course she just HAD 2lean her hand on his back4balance.i dont understand why characters do stuff like this.put ur hand on the car4 balance.
noras guys always say stuff like "touch this 1,campbell,&ur n trouble,the kind of trouble a man duznt walk away from whistlin a tune." how do they no stuff like that? &wut duz it even mean?!
this girl is already irritating.she prefers the loud waves @grants2 the peaceful quiet of her rented cottage.she prefers the dusty disorder of grants house2 the "2 clean" of her cottage. do authors realize how increibly irritating their writing can b?
the fast-ness of these characters just ruins the whole story b4 it even begins.it makes me not like the characters.i mean all her characters r just fast.switch it up once n a while.who likes sum1 who is ruled by desire,who wants 2get w/sum1 they just met?
her sisters death came out of nowhere.
her attitude is rlly gettin 2me.u plan of sketchin the guys house whether he likes it or not.
gen sed the same thing as shelby from the 1st book-"land mines&barbed wire."
her books r just 2much alike.this character is kind of like freakin grace from Treasures&i had 2slam that book down.
the guy says he duznt like agressive,arrogant women &the girl kisses him.wth?!
u applaud these men 4sayin things like that but then they end up kissin her&likin her.
&shes got all these tabloids &gossip surrounding her.why wud a virgin have affairs linked2 her name.geez,this is like irish rebel except way worse.
&why wud a virgin act like nora's usual sluts?! i mean a virgin shud act different.not kiss the guy wen he basically sed he dint like her.
she plans2take moves from her GRANDMA n how2 twist men around her finger.ugh!
she plans2 seduce him&then-"it wasnt until she began2feel the weakness that gennie felt fear.this wasnt wut she'd cum4..was it? no,she wudnt believe she'd cum2 feel this terrifying pleasure." u did plan it,u slut.
this is the 2nd comment this girl has made that sum1 has already sed.1st about the land mines &how its-"ur walkin on dangerous ground." &then the girl says "im very sure footed." not only r her storylines practically identical,but she even uses the exact same sentences.why wud u reuse material u've already had characters say?! c,thats how close her books r.throw sum variety nto the mix!
u dont have a problem trespassing on his land 4a painting but regarding his secret spot u feel that "even had she wanted2 paint there,the sense of trespassing wud have 4bidden it." wow.its nice2 no u have sum bounderies.
name will turner reminded me of pirates of the carribbean.
dont like the way she portrays shy ppl.her main characters r nvr that way,&wen she finally puts 1 n a book,she makes a mockery of it.like the blushing,stuttering boy n here.nora nvr writes that her characters blush.like the guy cud say things that wud make most ppl blush,but her characters jut dont. they act completely comfortable naked or doin/sayin w/e w/a guy-like seasoned sluts.i guess they're so sophisticated like nora.
wuts up with "ayah" n here?
&wuts up w/that widow? u think her icy personality is chippin away but it keeps comin back.she nvr changed either &wasnt seen n the book after the store scene.
"w/the melting came a pain,unexpected &sharp enuff2 make her tremble.how cud there be pain,she wondered dazedly,wen her body was so truly@peace? yet it came again on a wave that rocked her. sum lucid part of her mind reminded her that luv hurt." think she's experiencing sum physical pain? nope. shes talkin about luv.ur kissin the guy.wth is there2 make u feel pain?! she did the same thing n Irish Rebel. duz nora act.no wut shes talkin about? have u experienced this cuz it feels totally unreal.
shes "fallin in luv w/him" wen they've only ben around eachother like4 times.
she was act.gunna laugh wen the boy was stutterig&blushin&droppin things.
idk why nora writes the same things.the whole "i cud make u beg" thing isnt romantic.its trashy. -"makes u wanna sit up&beg." thats act.gross&distasteful.learn how2 write actual romance!
wuts up w/the name "genvieve?" ive been readin it like "genevieve." how do u even say that?!
who gets all aroused &crazy from a storm? only noras characters.they're like animals.
"desperate 2touch wut he had denied himself4 days." wow,man,whole days.wut restraint u have.
i feel like wen they tell eachother they luv eachother n here it was more aimed 4 comedy instead of realism.they're yellin&cussin@eachother while they say it.
love came WAY2 quickly-predictable 4nora-where it isnt even believable.&it seriously tickes me off&just takes away from the story.
noras stories nvr build up.its just a buttload of crap&ppls dumb feelings that surface so quickly.
u cant have luv-or shud i say lust-@1st site n all ur books.but she duz.write n a realistic ay that ppl act.like&can relate2.
id rather have it where the characters dont like eachother@1st or start out on the wrong foot &then end up likin eachother.thats sweet&is much more romantic than this crap.
her women r annoying &r a lil crowding.they just grab the guys hand or kiss him wen hes actin standoffish.&just becuz they kiss or have sex or tell eachother they luv eachother,the women immediately expect everything.trust,a marriage proposal.the whole 9yards&trimmings.its a lil psycho &clingy&just annoying.
&i understand why they expect it becuz they've just had sex&sed they "luv" eachother but instead of building a relationship &trustin eachother&act.knowin eachother,they just have sex becuz of a lil thing called lust-not sum deep connection that noras characters "always have." becuz they kiss &have sex so fast,it seems like it means nothing2them so idk why they'd have all these expectations. if they had ben datin4a considerable amount of time,a believable amound4 true feelings2 surface then i cud understand.but it isnt the case&i dont understand.i am, however, seriously annoyed w/noras books.
she puts dashes where there shudnt be1.like "daniel mentioned u were bringing-an artist."
dont rlly like how every1 got paired up w/sum1 who had the same profession as them.it cud be sweet,but not wen u do it n every single book n this series.justin& rena-both gamblers.shelby&alan-both no about politics.caine&diana-both lawyers.like everything else n here, its unrealistic.
the girls nvr blush wen they're talkin of very intimate things or doin rlly intimate things.but wen her COUSIN says she beautiful,she blushes.
wuts up w/ppl givin kisses on the mouth? shelby did it 2her brother &then to her fathernlaw.its gross.
"ur not the only woman ive luved.but ur the only woman ive ben n luv w/." wth? dont say nethin @all if ur gunna cum out w/sumthin like that.&wuts the true difference neway?
who has sex n sum1 elses house?i mean i cud halfway understand alan&shelby becuz it used2 b his home.but grant&genny arent even truly related2them.i mean u just met them&ur havin sex n their house.&alan&shelby doin it n the family pool that the family swims n the next day. i cud understand it if it was a private pool.her books=no class.
i thought she was bringin an outsider n w/genny.but it turns out shes related2 justin &diana &has met alan b4.ugh!like i sed earlier,she keeps her books within like 3 dif families.its kind of gross that ppl-caine-got w/his sister n law.or w/e it was.
other repetitive thing-girls askin the guy2 marry thing.highly annoying.
i think nora tries2 beat out herself n a game of How Fast Can My Characters Get Together? n the 1st book was a month.n here it was 2wks.wen shelby asked gen how long they've ben 2gether or w/e it was &she sed 2wks,i bout lost it.
January 21, 2016
Third and fourth in the MacGregor romance series revolving around the MacGregor family and their friends. These two stories are contemporary and revolve around art.
This series is a mess chronologically and has a number of stories combined into single books, so you may want to explore my list of the MacGregor family saga.
Series (chronologically):
All the Possibilities, 5
One Man's Art, 6
Third and fourth in the MacGregor romance series revolving around the MacGregor family and their friends. These two stories are contemporary and revolve around art.
The Stories
All the Possibilities finds Shelby Campbell very happily creating her pottery and running her shop in Georgetown. The daughter of a political figure assassinated when she was young, Shelby exists by two rules: never date a politician and have fun. Only, she reckons without the young senator from Massachusetts and his very determined pursuit.
This was such fun and Roberts gave a delightful twist to Alan MacGregor's pursuit of Shelby. A man who really pays attention and makes an effort to genuinely appeal to his target.
One Man's Art invades Grant Campbell's retreat from life in his lighthouse in Maine. Oh, it's strictly a physical retreat as he has the world brought to him on a daily basis — he has to find the fodder for his cartoon strip somewhere! It probably doesn't help Grant that his visit to the MacGregor castle has opened his psyche to possibility. When a world-renowned artist invades his space determined to paint the scenery around his lighthouse, Grant is on a downhill slide from his safe tower.
Cute. It was interesting to read how Grant processed the information he took in although Roberts didn't delve too deeply whereas she did spend more time exploring how Genviève Grandeau thought about her art. Grant is practically a misogynist and excessively protective of his privacy while Genviève just can't resist poking and prodding.
The Cover and Title
A woman is being helped out of a car and it's the dress that has me totally fascinated. A gorgeous fuchsia silk satin in a bustier style. The engineering it took to build the top so it looks like it's just floating in front of her breasts and then all that lovely draping as the fabric sweeps over her leg and pools on the ground. Mmm-mmmm-mmmm.
I can't decide if I like or dislike the titles of these combined novels. On the one hand, it says nothing about the actual story titles inside, and yet, if you know the male characters involved, it's quite short and sweet with the first story involving Alan and the second about Grant.
This series is a mess chronologically and has a number of stories combined into single books, so you may want to explore my list of the MacGregor family saga.
Series (chronologically):
All the Possibilities, 5
One Man's Art, 6
Third and fourth in the MacGregor romance series revolving around the MacGregor family and their friends. These two stories are contemporary and revolve around art.
The Stories
All the Possibilities finds Shelby Campbell very happily creating her pottery and running her shop in Georgetown. The daughter of a political figure assassinated when she was young, Shelby exists by two rules: never date a politician and have fun. Only, she reckons without the young senator from Massachusetts and his very determined pursuit.
This was such fun and Roberts gave a delightful twist to Alan MacGregor's pursuit of Shelby. A man who really pays attention and makes an effort to genuinely appeal to his target.
One Man's Art invades Grant Campbell's retreat from life in his lighthouse in Maine. Oh, it's strictly a physical retreat as he has the world brought to him on a daily basis — he has to find the fodder for his cartoon strip somewhere! It probably doesn't help Grant that his visit to the MacGregor castle has opened his psyche to possibility. When a world-renowned artist invades his space determined to paint the scenery around his lighthouse, Grant is on a downhill slide from his safe tower.
Cute. It was interesting to read how Grant processed the information he took in although Roberts didn't delve too deeply whereas she did spend more time exploring how Genviève Grandeau thought about her art. Grant is practically a misogynist and excessively protective of his privacy while Genviève just can't resist poking and prodding.
The Cover and Title
A woman is being helped out of a car and it's the dress that has me totally fascinated. A gorgeous fuchsia silk satin in a bustier style. The engineering it took to build the top so it looks like it's just floating in front of her breasts and then all that lovely draping as the fabric sweeps over her leg and pools on the ground. Mmm-mmmm-mmmm.
I can't decide if I like or dislike the titles of these combined novels. On the one hand, it says nothing about the actual story titles inside, and yet, if you know the male characters involved, it's quite short and sweet with the first story involving Alan and the second about Grant.
January 15, 2016
Super read! I loved the characters. This has great personalities, emotions, humor, family, swells and calm seas, and great HEAs. I loved both stories in this book and am looking forward to reading more in this series (some again)! Well written, descriptive, creative and pulls you in just to see what happens next. Totally Enjoy!
August 21, 2024
I have decided that I’m counting this as 2 books. Cuz they are technically 2 books combined into one.
SO the first book “Alan” I give this 2 ⭐️s because there was WAY too much business talk and like professional names and idk it just hurt my brain trying to understand all of it. The relationship between Shelby and Alan wasn’t there for me like he LITERALLY kidnaps her and forces her to go on a date with him like…. what… the only part of the story I did like was that Shelby had a lil pottery studio, slay for her.
The second book “Grant” I give this one 4 ⭐️s because this story and their relationship was actually cute. He was a light keeper and she was a painter, so u already know it’s gonna be grumpy x sunshine. Cuz if he lives in a lighthouse y the freak not.
Both of these books I found myself skimming the bigger paragraphs cuz they were long and draining. The characters would literally just yap about nuthin and after 20 pages I felt like nothing had happened to move the plot along liikkee idk it’s probably Roberts’ writing style that I’m not a huge fan of but of course no hate to her 🫶 it’s just not for me.
SO the first book “Alan” I give this 2 ⭐️s because there was WAY too much business talk and like professional names and idk it just hurt my brain trying to understand all of it. The relationship between Shelby and Alan wasn’t there for me like he LITERALLY kidnaps her and forces her to go on a date with him like…. what… the only part of the story I did like was that Shelby had a lil pottery studio, slay for her.
The second book “Grant” I give this one 4 ⭐️s because this story and their relationship was actually cute. He was a light keeper and she was a painter, so u already know it’s gonna be grumpy x sunshine. Cuz if he lives in a lighthouse y the freak not.
Both of these books I found myself skimming the bigger paragraphs cuz they were long and draining. The characters would literally just yap about nuthin and after 20 pages I felt like nothing had happened to move the plot along liikkee idk it’s probably Roberts’ writing style that I’m not a huge fan of but of course no hate to her 🫶 it’s just not for me.
June 17, 2020
A smart senator who follows a strict routine and a pixie looking potter who takes more time than needed, definitely can develop an ideal relationship.
May 7, 2019
The MacGregors again. An excellent family. Alan is funny, and persistent and domineering in some ways… but sneaky about it. Shelby is an interesting woman, but I seriously question her sanity when she tries to reject Alan and when she tries to push him away. I know she was devastated when her father was killed but he did not have to be in the political arena for him to die. Anyone could be killed walking across the street, or be shot in a gang war. They could be mugged or carjacked, or killed just because someone else is a psycho. Shelby tried to lock her heart away to protect it, so that she would not find someone she could fall in love with. In One Man’s Art, I love how Grant is so grouchy and protective of his privacy and I love how Gennie breaks through and finds his heart. They get together and then they discover that Gennie’s cousins are Justin and Diana Blade (who are married to Serena and Caine). That makes Daniel MacGregor happy as he approves of strong “blood” and “stock”. lol. A hilarious book, with a sense of the ridiculous. Recommend for Romance readers and Nora Roberts fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2012
Alan and Shelby are my most favorite MacGregor characters. Shelby's free spirit and Alan's Senatorial demeanor draw you in with their "opposites attract". Her resistance, his persistance and the push-pull of their fight against love at first sight...yum.
July 8, 2018
Totally loved this book, to think that Alan could find things in common with Shelby, let alone fall in love! Always love Daniel’ meddling under the guise of looking out for grandchildren for his wife!
Grant & Gennie appear to be such opposites at first, then of course love fixes that!
Grant & Gennie appear to be such opposites at first, then of course love fixes that!
January 25, 2025
All in all, this book was a pretty good read! This is my 4th (5th?) MacGregor read and I’m finding that they’re all basically the same structure- dom MacGregor( or Campbell) doesn’t want to get married, finds an artistic and unique woman who’s also probably a virgin, and through a lot of fighting and fucking they inevitably fall in love and add to the MacGregor line. In some ways it’s comforting to have a consistant structure and know what to expect but let’s call a rose a rose, it’s cringy and cheesy. But this is why we read these, right? Plus, we love “male domination and opposites attract” romance in this house. We have a lot of descriptions of Hynnais Port, the castle built by Daniel, and that was probably the most fun to read. I’d love to explore that house.
All the Possibilities
This was actually a wholesome book. I really enjoyed Alan and his consistent and not consistant persistence and patience as Shelby tries to understand her grief for her dad but also desire for Alan knowing he is almost the exact same. Alan’s more similar to his mother, Anna, who I’ve always liked most, but his father comes out in moments where he’s not getting his way as quickly as he feels he needs to. Shelby was probably character I relate to most, stubborn yet sensitive and able to hold her own consistently. A perfect match for each other. Out of all of the series’s I think this short story was my favorite, there wasn’t extremely lame domination and he wasn’t an actual asshole.
One Man’s Art
For some reason this book really grabbed at me. I really understood grants internalization of grief and how different that was from his sisters. I loved the description of the sea throughout the entire book, and Gennie really grabbed at me as a character. What did piss me off was Grants asshole-ness. Having read their child’s love story before theirs, Gennie alludes to having to deal with “asshole men”, although Grant is nothing compared to Preston, but to me I believe that hey, a man shouldn’t be a dick?? Especially if they say they love you. It’s just a sign of emotional immaturity.
All the Possibilities
This was actually a wholesome book. I really enjoyed Alan and his consistent and not consistant persistence and patience as Shelby tries to understand her grief for her dad but also desire for Alan knowing he is almost the exact same. Alan’s more similar to his mother, Anna, who I’ve always liked most, but his father comes out in moments where he’s not getting his way as quickly as he feels he needs to. Shelby was probably character I relate to most, stubborn yet sensitive and able to hold her own consistently. A perfect match for each other. Out of all of the series’s I think this short story was my favorite, there wasn’t extremely lame domination and he wasn’t an actual asshole.
One Man’s Art
For some reason this book really grabbed at me. I really understood grants internalization of grief and how different that was from his sisters. I loved the description of the sea throughout the entire book, and Gennie really grabbed at me as a character. What did piss me off was Grants asshole-ness. Having read their child’s love story before theirs, Gennie alludes to having to deal with “asshole men”, although Grant is nothing compared to Preston, but to me I believe that hey, a man shouldn’t be a dick?? Especially if they say they love you. It’s just a sign of emotional immaturity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2014
This book is a combination of two stories, the story of Alan MacGregor and Grant Campbell, as each overcomes difficulties and obstacles to obtain that one special love.
In Alan's love story entitled All the Possibilities, we focus on Shelby Campbell, a carefree creative spirit who owns a pottery shop and sells her own creations. There's an instant attraction between Alan and Shelby who meet at a party. Alan is a famous senator who is expected to be in the running for the presidency, while Shelby is the daughter of a former senator and presidential candidate who though not like the normal high-society girl, carries herself with such poise and confidence. Shelby tries to ignore her increasing attraction to Alan as he reminds her so much of her father who was assassinated as he was running for the presidency. Alan fights to win his way into Shelby's heart, chipping away at her walls as she and he enter into a relationship. Alan fights to ease Shelby's fears with his feelings while she fights her personal fears as she starts falling for Alan. The one interesting thing about this couple, besides their complimenting personality, is that their families (Campbell and MacGregor) are from rival families in Scotland.
In Grant's love story entitled One Man's Art, we meet again Grant Campbell, Shelby's older brother. From the earlier novel, we meet Grant, who is explained as somewhat having the opposite personality of Shelby. While Shelby is charismatic and loves being around other people, Grant is more of a solitary kind of guy. In his castle (his secluded lighthouse), he suddenly meets Genvieve Grandeau, a damsel in distress who comes knocking on his door when her car breaks down during a storm. As with Alan and Shelby, there is an instant attraction between the two, though each fight to hide it at the start when each is annoyed with the other's personality. Shelby,a visiting tourist, arrives in the small town for some relaxing me-time and to go back to painting, when she discovers a nice spot by Grant's lighthouse, where she sets up her painting materials. Grant discovers Genvieve's paintings and sketches and discovers that she's a renowned artist from the city who had only a few months ago lost her sister in a car accident. Grant and Genvieve enter into a relationship but encounter problems when Grant keeps his job as a newspaper cartoonist from her, and she finds out that he was been using her as a character in his comic strips. Both also try to deal with their experiences of losing a loved one, as they look into the future.
Unlike previous Nora Roberts novels, I found that I didn't like these two stories very much. Though the plot of the story and the background of the stories seemed well thought-out, both stores were so fast-paced that I didn't feel that the story came together well.
(Spoilers ahead)
For Alan and Shelby's story, I really liked the instant attraction between Alan and Shelby. Alan is a politician, so of course the obvious complimenting factor for him would be someone who would make a good senator's wife. But he is instead attracted to Shelby, who though she has the confidence and charisma of someone in society, is not your usual normal society girl. Alan is a real guy, strong and confident, but also not afraid to tell Shelby about his feelings. He's very supportive of her and woos her into falling in love with him. He's like your ideal guy. I love how Shelby was a very secure woman, sure of herself and what she wanted. She didn't need a man to make her life complete. What I didn't like about their story was that Shelby has this absolute fear of falling for someone who is a lot like her father, but it felt like she easily gave her heart to Alan and in the end, just decided to go ahead and marry him. I didn't see Shelby in conflict with her inner demons much, despite the fact that Roberts' mentions many times in the story that Shelby had seen her father killed in front of her. It was supposed to be traumatizing but I didn't see that side of hers during her relationship with Alan. Everything just happened so fast.
In Grant and Genvieve's story, I liked how Grant and Genvieve tried to fight off their feelings for each other even though you could see their instant attraction. Grant was also grieving for the death of his father, but instead isolated himself from the world, while Genvieve is grieving for the death of her sister of which she was unintentionally responsible. Similarly with the earlier story, it feels that Grant and Genvieve's story is too fast. Grant is attracted to Genvieve but tries to deny his feelings, but falls to temptation only after a few more meetings with her. Genvieve is the same, as she quickly becomes emotionally attached despite her first impression of him. I feel like the Grant and Genvieve don't really encounter any real conflict in the story, even when she discovers his job as a comic strip cartoonist.
For both stories, I felt like there was a lack of obstacles to help the characters further strengthen their relationship. It feels like they all fell in love too quickly, and it makes you wonder if their relationship is sustainable, especially when despite the brevity of each story and relationship, all characters end up married at the end of their stories.
One part that I wish that Nora Roberts had worked on was the Campbell and MacGregors being enemies due to some old land-conflict back in Scotland. That would have added some tension in the relationship, as it felt that Daniel MacGregor (Alan's dad), didn't really put up much of a fight against his son's relationship to an enemy of his family. I would loved to have seen more Mrs Campbell's presence in her children's lives, as she is barely present in the story. It can't help but make me think that Shelby and Grant are living lives independent from their family, especially after their father's death.
I didn't connect much with the story. It was like it ended before it even begun. These stories would have been great if they had been expounded on. Nora Roberts is a great writer, and I've seen earlier works of hers where she would have 3-in-1 stories filled with details. This just feels like it didn't give the characters enough justice.
Also, it's entitled MacGregors, but Grant is a Campbell. Sure, his brother-in-law is a MacGregor, and they had sort of adopted him into their family. And their family is seen more in the book than the actual Campbells themselves, but still, it doesn't make so much sense to me.
In Alan's love story entitled All the Possibilities, we focus on Shelby Campbell, a carefree creative spirit who owns a pottery shop and sells her own creations. There's an instant attraction between Alan and Shelby who meet at a party. Alan is a famous senator who is expected to be in the running for the presidency, while Shelby is the daughter of a former senator and presidential candidate who though not like the normal high-society girl, carries herself with such poise and confidence. Shelby tries to ignore her increasing attraction to Alan as he reminds her so much of her father who was assassinated as he was running for the presidency. Alan fights to win his way into Shelby's heart, chipping away at her walls as she and he enter into a relationship. Alan fights to ease Shelby's fears with his feelings while she fights her personal fears as she starts falling for Alan. The one interesting thing about this couple, besides their complimenting personality, is that their families (Campbell and MacGregor) are from rival families in Scotland.
In Grant's love story entitled One Man's Art, we meet again Grant Campbell, Shelby's older brother. From the earlier novel, we meet Grant, who is explained as somewhat having the opposite personality of Shelby. While Shelby is charismatic and loves being around other people, Grant is more of a solitary kind of guy. In his castle (his secluded lighthouse), he suddenly meets Genvieve Grandeau, a damsel in distress who comes knocking on his door when her car breaks down during a storm. As with Alan and Shelby, there is an instant attraction between the two, though each fight to hide it at the start when each is annoyed with the other's personality. Shelby,a visiting tourist, arrives in the small town for some relaxing me-time and to go back to painting, when she discovers a nice spot by Grant's lighthouse, where she sets up her painting materials. Grant discovers Genvieve's paintings and sketches and discovers that she's a renowned artist from the city who had only a few months ago lost her sister in a car accident. Grant and Genvieve enter into a relationship but encounter problems when Grant keeps his job as a newspaper cartoonist from her, and she finds out that he was been using her as a character in his comic strips. Both also try to deal with their experiences of losing a loved one, as they look into the future.
Unlike previous Nora Roberts novels, I found that I didn't like these two stories very much. Though the plot of the story and the background of the stories seemed well thought-out, both stores were so fast-paced that I didn't feel that the story came together well.
(Spoilers ahead)
For Alan and Shelby's story, I really liked the instant attraction between Alan and Shelby. Alan is a politician, so of course the obvious complimenting factor for him would be someone who would make a good senator's wife. But he is instead attracted to Shelby, who though she has the confidence and charisma of someone in society, is not your usual normal society girl. Alan is a real guy, strong and confident, but also not afraid to tell Shelby about his feelings. He's very supportive of her and woos her into falling in love with him. He's like your ideal guy. I love how Shelby was a very secure woman, sure of herself and what she wanted. She didn't need a man to make her life complete. What I didn't like about their story was that Shelby has this absolute fear of falling for someone who is a lot like her father, but it felt like she easily gave her heart to Alan and in the end, just decided to go ahead and marry him. I didn't see Shelby in conflict with her inner demons much, despite the fact that Roberts' mentions many times in the story that Shelby had seen her father killed in front of her. It was supposed to be traumatizing but I didn't see that side of hers during her relationship with Alan. Everything just happened so fast.
In Grant and Genvieve's story, I liked how Grant and Genvieve tried to fight off their feelings for each other even though you could see their instant attraction. Grant was also grieving for the death of his father, but instead isolated himself from the world, while Genvieve is grieving for the death of her sister of which she was unintentionally responsible. Similarly with the earlier story, it feels that Grant and Genvieve's story is too fast. Grant is attracted to Genvieve but tries to deny his feelings, but falls to temptation only after a few more meetings with her. Genvieve is the same, as she quickly becomes emotionally attached despite her first impression of him. I feel like the Grant and Genvieve don't really encounter any real conflict in the story, even when she discovers his job as a comic strip cartoonist.
For both stories, I felt like there was a lack of obstacles to help the characters further strengthen their relationship. It feels like they all fell in love too quickly, and it makes you wonder if their relationship is sustainable, especially when despite the brevity of each story and relationship, all characters end up married at the end of their stories.
One part that I wish that Nora Roberts had worked on was the Campbell and MacGregors being enemies due to some old land-conflict back in Scotland. That would have added some tension in the relationship, as it felt that Daniel MacGregor (Alan's dad), didn't really put up much of a fight against his son's relationship to an enemy of his family. I would loved to have seen more Mrs Campbell's presence in her children's lives, as she is barely present in the story. It can't help but make me think that Shelby and Grant are living lives independent from their family, especially after their father's death.
I didn't connect much with the story. It was like it ended before it even begun. These stories would have been great if they had been expounded on. Nora Roberts is a great writer, and I've seen earlier works of hers where she would have 3-in-1 stories filled with details. This just feels like it didn't give the characters enough justice.
Also, it's entitled MacGregors, but Grant is a Campbell. Sure, his brother-in-law is a MacGregor, and they had sort of adopted him into their family. And their family is seen more in the book than the actual Campbells themselves, but still, it doesn't make so much sense to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2019
He could give up pieces of himself for her and still be whole, but without her, he'd never be more than part of a man. ' - Alan📔♥
.
So I finished 'All The Possibilities aka one of the two stories in Nora Roberts' 'The MacGregors: Alan & Grant' book. It was a 250 page read and completely satisfactory. .
📓
.
The story is about an ordinary woman (albeit with a political past herself ; quite a sad one at that) who falls for a powerful politician despite her defiant struggles to not to. And the mushy story follows the politician's desperate yet sappy attempts at wooing her & their mushy love story & the big decisions the woman has to take when she makes up her mind to date the powerful wealthy celebrity Senator! .
📔
.
It. Was. Friggin. Ah-mazing! Like The Best romance fic I read in a while. I loved their witty banter. And Alan is such a hopeless romantic. The chemistry is off the charts and the woman's hesitation to accept the Senator's heart & her trying to desperately fight his advances off only made the story more alluring. .
.
So I finished 'All The Possibilities aka one of the two stories in Nora Roberts' 'The MacGregors: Alan & Grant' book. It was a 250 page read and completely satisfactory. .
📓
.
The story is about an ordinary woman (albeit with a political past herself ; quite a sad one at that) who falls for a powerful politician despite her defiant struggles to not to. And the mushy story follows the politician's desperate yet sappy attempts at wooing her & their mushy love story & the big decisions the woman has to take when she makes up her mind to date the powerful wealthy celebrity Senator! .
📔
.
It. Was. Friggin. Ah-mazing! Like The Best romance fic I read in a while. I loved their witty banter. And Alan is such a hopeless romantic. The chemistry is off the charts and the woman's hesitation to accept the Senator's heart & her trying to desperately fight his advances off only made the story more alluring. .
Read
March 9, 2020This book contains All The Possibilities and One Man's Art
This book is pretty typical of the 80's romance novel which may not be as enjoyable to current readers as they were back then. But with Daniel MacGregor in it they turn into such an enjoyable read.
The ladies are sassy, the men are attractive and a bit different than the typical man of the times. I enjoy them, but do have to remember that they were written in a different time before I start.
I have always enjoyed Daniel MacGregor's hobby of matching his children and grandchildren so enjoyed rereading this story.
This book is pretty typical of the 80's romance novel which may not be as enjoyable to current readers as they were back then. But with Daniel MacGregor in it they turn into such an enjoyable read.
The ladies are sassy, the men are attractive and a bit different than the typical man of the times. I enjoy them, but do have to remember that they were written in a different time before I start.
I have always enjoyed Daniel MacGregor's hobby of matching his children and grandchildren so enjoyed rereading this story.
September 9, 2017
When two young siblings see their beloved father, a politician running for President of the US, gunned down before their eyes, it affects their adult lives in different ways. One refuses to date aspiring politicians and the other lives in a lighthouse and seeks to be ALONE. It takes two persistent people to break through these limitations and show these "wounded" adults what their futures hold.
I really enjoyed this book in the MacGregor series and recommend it, even if it is the only book in the series that you read.
I really enjoyed this book in the MacGregor series and recommend it, even if it is the only book in the series that you read.
January 29, 2020
A light read with 2 books in one. It follows Shelby and her loves and how she entangles herself with senator Shelby. He falls for her quickly and admires her ambitious and lively personality. The second book is about Grant Campbell whom is a loner withdrawn from the world living in a lighthouse. He meets Genvieve by accident and the story follows their up and down romance and he lets her into his world.
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November 23, 2023Both the stories are interesting and draw you into the lives of the characters, our of the two books I think Alan's and Shelby was my favourite, but I loved the setting of Grants book as I love painting, the way Nora described Ginnie painting was very real and brought her to life.
I do love Nora Roberts writing, whether contemporary romance, fantasy romance or another book I have read from the author, I've enjoyed every one.
I do love Nora Roberts writing, whether contemporary romance, fantasy romance or another book I have read from the author, I've enjoyed every one.
June 30, 2017
I finally finished this book. I am determined to finish series that I have started, and this is one of Nora Roberts earlier series that she wrote. The MacGregors are a clan that each have love problems. I enjoyed the second story better with Grant and the Artist he falls in love with. I will read the next two in the series.
February 16, 2019
I had a very hard time reading the first two books of the series, the male characters (Justin and Caine) were very pushy, rude and borderline violent so it was refreshing to read about Alan and Grant who show more respect to their partners, they still have a hard time hearing no for an answer but they are more about courtship than forcing their partners to do what they want.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2019
A light read and a two fer. Essentially two books in one and furthers the development of Clan MacGregor . You learn about Alan and Shelby and their path to find love and deal with the past. Then her brother Grant and his path from healing to find love with Justin's cousin Gennie. The interweaving of family is kind of hilarious but interesting to see the dynamics.
October 9, 2021
*I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This collection of books 3 and 4 in the MacGregor series is a nice read. The characters are flawed and interesting with enough "how will it end" to keep the pages turning. I prefer Nora Roberts' newer books since they have more mystery, but the MacGregor series is a good collection of books written over 30 years ago.
This collection of books 3 and 4 in the MacGregor series is a nice read. The characters are flawed and interesting with enough "how will it end" to keep the pages turning. I prefer Nora Roberts' newer books since they have more mystery, but the MacGregor series is a good collection of books written over 30 years ago.
October 21, 2022
Just a good traditional romance with a bit of will they won't they as Alan falls head over heals in love with Shelby and needs to persuade her to do the same.
In the story of Grant (a grumpy recluse) he is forced to help a damsel in distress and as they spend time together he realises that maybe just maybe he could be falling in love.
In the story of Grant (a grumpy recluse) he is forced to help a damsel in distress and as they spend time together he realises that maybe just maybe he could be falling in love.
July 24, 2023
This book is split into 2 books with the second being a story about another family member. They were easy to get swept up into the story. I enjoyed them mostly. (A little too much sex stuff for my taste, but I know a lot of people like that sort of thing.) I probably will avoid this author in the future for that reason.
April 19, 2020
Both of these stories has passion and intensity. Each main character had a tendency to push others away until the one they need is right in front of them and won't be pushed away. Easy reading brought to you by Nora Roberts.
December 11, 2021
Love Alan and Shelby’s forbidden yet unable to resist each other romance. Also, grant is so adorable when he lets his guard down. Shelby and grant are my favorite characters in this book and there are some really funny moments. Definitely a book I could read more than once and still enjoy it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2021
I read almost all of the first novel in this twosome and didn't care if I finished it or not. I've read some Nora Roberts novels that had a plot. This one did not; it was just a bodice ripper. A disappointment.
September 15, 2024
I loved the first book of this series but this one put me into a reading slump 🥴 the politics in the first one just wasn’t for me and then I slowly got back into it later but after that I think I need a break from this series
March 19, 2017
two Nice romance stories
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