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Born in Fire (Irish Born Concannon Sisters #1)

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 30,940 ratings · 482 reviews

The Concannon sisters of western Ireland are modern women of ambition and talent, bound by the timeless spirit of their land. This is a tale of a fiery artist who can't hide from her past--or a love that is. Gifted, reclusive, stubborn, free-spirited...

Maggie Concannon is a glassmaker whose exquisite works are more than mere objects of beauty, but reflections of her own tr...more

Paperback, 416 pages

Published October 1st 1994 by Jove (first published January 1st 1994)

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Jan 18, 2013 Amy rated it 1 of 5 stars

I decided to read books that have forever piqued my curiosity since I was kid: I would see these books line the shelves at the library, on and on. These authors were (and still are) bestsellers and incredibly productive. Thus, a little fun project that both entertained and surprised me. I selected these authors based on recollections of my hometown library back then, so it's not necessarily all-encompassing. Here is part two of five!

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It was a horrible, horrible version of Taming of the Shrew....more

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Oct 15, 2012 Leea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series, cont-romance, buddy-read

This is my first novel by Nora Roberts, I will admit to avoiding her books thinking they were just fluff - Eating my words, which should make some of you very happy.

"You'll be mine, and glad of it."
"I'll be yours." She lifted her face to the wind. "And glad of it."

Born in Fire is the first in the Born In Trilogy about three sisters (haven't met the third yet) set in Ireland, woven with history and rich in character. Maggie is the oldest Concannon sister, she's bright, strong and very unique....more This is my first novel by Nora Roberts, I will admit to avoiding her books thinking they were just fluff - Eating my words, which should make some of you very happy.

"You'll be mine, and glad of it."
"I'll be yours." She lifted her face to the wind. "And glad of it."

Born in Fire is the first in the Born In Trilogy about three sisters (haven't met the third yet) set in Ireland, woven with history and rich in character. Maggie is the oldest Concannon sister, she's bright, strong and very unique. Her life has been shadowed by her mothers anger and regret at being stuck having a daughter. Margaret Mary's father Tom is the shining light in her life, he's supported and encouraged Maggie her whole life. When Tom dies on a rainy Ireland night making Maggie promise to follow her dreams and make sure her sister, Brianna does the same. Maggie is then put on a path of truth opening her up to following those dreams and taking chances. Maggie's beautiful glass works catch the eye of Rogan Sweeney, a are curator who's looking to showcase Irish artists.

What first caught my eye during the first chapter was Miss Roberts ability to weave these beautifully descriptive words in such a different way. For example:

An unpredictable man he might be, full of starts and stops and quick turns, but she knew him. Of all the men she had known, she had loved no one with the full thrust of her heart as she loved Tom Concannon.

The story of Margaret Mary unfolds in such a natural way, she sort of jumps off the page as either a women you wish you could be, free and artsy or the women you already are. I found myself wishing I could be as free with my ideas of how relationships develop. Wanting him to call or wishing he would come by. For Maggie, she just lets life happen, doen't play games and welcomes the idea of what fate has to offer. She's riddled with the past mistakes of her mother and father. Almost to a painful point where she's gone so far the other way and warded off marriage because of what she witnessed as a child.

Reading the interactions between Margaret Mae and Rogan were hilarious. Like fire and ice together they worked their way around each other to the point that they were the only people in the room who didn't know they were mad in love. Written to perfection, dripping in words not normally used to convey love and affection. When Rogan and Maggie come together, it's not a slow burn it's a raging fire.

Elegant, he was. And beautiful, she thought, in a way so uniquely male, and as wonderfully competent and precise as the handy little machine he used to run his figures. Not a man to run across sunny fields or lie dreaming under the moon. But he was more than she'd first imagined him to be, much more, she now understood.

So with one Nora Roberts book under my belt, it's only fitting to go back for seconds.(less)

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Feb 21, 2013 Mónica Silva rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...

A combinação perfeita entre um romance apaixonante, um esplêndido drama familiar e paisagens encantadoras. Nos vales verdes e vastos da Irlanda, o leitor é arrebatado para uma cultura deslumbrante onde reinam a História, os mitos, as lendas, a magia! Para quem almeja um dia percorrer o mundo, a Irlanda caracterizada neste livro é um destino imperdível!

A personagem principal, Maggie é uma mulher determinada, rebelde e explosiva, com um tempe...more Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...

A combinação perfeita entre um romance apaixonante, um esplêndido drama familiar e paisagens encantadoras. Nos vales verdes e vastos da Irlanda, o leitor é arrebatado para uma cultura deslumbrante onde reinam a História, os mitos, as lendas, a magia! Para quem almeja um dia percorrer o mundo, a Irlanda caracterizada neste livro é um destino imperdível!

A personagem principal, Maggie é uma mulher determinada, rebelde e explosiva, com um temperamento volátil que confesso que no início me deixou menos agradada. Contudo, é através da arte vidreira – a sua vocação – que descobrimos o seu lado mais frágil, capaz de produzir obras tão delicadas. A arte de soprar vidro parece bastante complexa e exigente e adorei as explicações acerca da técnica incorporadas no livro. É por este lado artístico que descobrimos o lado mais doce de Maggie, apenas reservado para quem se mostra merecedor.

A razão para esta sua vida resguardada dos outros recai na sua família: uma família que a reconforta e dilacera ao mesmo tempo. Enquanto deposita todo o seu amor no seu pai e na irmã Brianna, Maggie sofre com a rejeição da sua mãe. Maeve é uma mulher empedernida e cruel, presa num casamento que lhe frustrou as ambições e lhe quebrou os sonhos, e do qual Maggie é uma lembrança constante. Com esta personagem, a autora espelha concretamente o que acontece a quem se agarra aos ressentimentos durante toda a vida.

A componente romântica neste livro é bastante previsível, adquirindo encanto pela riqueza das personagens. Maggie, já teimosa e obstinada por si só, encontra em Rogan, um homem de negócios inflexível, um verdadeiro desafio. Para duas pessoas com feitios tão problemáticos, foi interessante observar como se descobriram um ao outro e aprenderam a complementar-se. Com momentos intensos e explosivos, assim como outros mais ternurentos e amorosos, acabamos por nos apaixonar pelo fogo que se ergue entre estas duas personagens!

Na minha opinião, esta é uma das melhores coleções escritas por Nora Roberts e mesmo em separado os três livros constituem romances belíssimos que compõem o meu top de favoritos neste género literário. Aconselho vivamente a quem se quiser estrear com a autora ou a qualquer fã acérrimo da mesma. Numa palavra: imperdível!(less)

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Jan 04, 2013 Ronel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story really captured me, the calm and gentle Brianna and the fiery Maggie Concannon were wonderful characters to me. And I was captivated by the sad family structure they faced and I would have loved to read more with their father as I really liked him, even though he was only present in the beginning.

The story does have romance in it, but it did not just feel like a sappy romance so much as a story of these two sisters and their attempts to move on with their lives and deal with their pro...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Tempo de Ler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

{Blog} http://tempodler.blogspot.pt/2012/07/...

No primeiro livro desta trilogia, com localização na lindíssima Irlanda, conhecemos melhor a mais velha de duas irmãs, a tempestuosa Maggie Concanon.

Confesso que, de início, não simpatizei nada com Maggie devido ao seu carácter demasiado emotivo e impulsivo que a leva a insultar todos à sua volta quando contrariada. Também não me despertou muito o interesse a irmã de Maggie - Brianna, por ser basicamente um pau mandado para toda a gente. E uma vez q...more {Blog} http://tempodler.blogspot.pt/2012/07/...

No primeiro livro desta trilogia, com localização na lindíssima Irlanda, conhecemos melhor a mais velha de duas irmãs, a tempestuosa Maggie Concanon.

Confesso que, de início, não simpatizei nada com Maggie devido ao seu carácter demasiado emotivo e impulsivo que a leva a insultar todos à sua volta quando contrariada. Também não me despertou muito o interesse a irmã de Maggie - Brianna, por ser basicamente um pau mandado para toda a gente. E uma vez que o mandão Rogan Sweeney também não me apelava à simpatia, continuei a ler o livro muito desanimada.

Maggie é uma artesã que trabalha em vidro, criando as suas peças artísticas independentemente e conforme lhe bate o vento da inspiração na altura. Rogan, dono de uma galeria de arte, parece decidido a tentar controlar esta desorganizada criatividade.

À medida que esta electrizante relação se desenvolve, vamos conhecendo melhor o passado de Maggie - depois do pai falecer, vítima de ataque cardíaco, restam a Maggie apenas a mãe e a irmã como única família. E apesar do devotado amor que recebeu do pai, com a mãe as coisas sempre foram muito diferentes: engravidando muito cedo de Maggie, Maeve viu-se presa num casamento que não preenchia as suas inspirações pessoais, descontanddo então as suas frustrações nas filhas e no marido. Em Maeve, Nora Roberts espelha muito bem o que acontece a quem vive com ressentimentos guardados toda a sua vida - Maeve é uma mulher cruel, seca...sem nada para oferecer.

...E é então que percebemos. Maggie tem o seu lado doce, reserva-o apenas para os que mostraram ser merecedores. Acaba por ser uma incompreendida que deixou de se esforçar para agradar aos outros.

...E é então que nos apaixonamos pelo fogo desta personagem!

Nora Roberts descreve com imenso detalhe o ofício de Maggie, elaborando relatos precisos em volta desta arte. As personagens estão todas (mesmo que não gostemos delas) muito bem desenvolvidas e caracterizadas. E as descrições da Irlanda são soberbas! Tão gráficas quanto é possível num livro. Esplêndido!

O livro segue como um romance típico, bastante previsível. Não fosse a riqueza das personagens e as magníficas descrições, este livro não teria grande encanto. Maggie é, em certa medida, semelhante à protagonista de «Maléfico», também de Nora Roberts: uma artista temperamental que se alheia de tudo quando está a criar.

Uma história sobre duas pessoas apaixonadas...e apaixonantes!...(less)

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Jul 06, 2012 Jacob Proffitt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audible, romance, steamy

Written in the mid-90s, this book is a big step up from Roberts' O'Hurley novels, despite nominal similarities (mainly in the pseudo-shiftless, Irish father).

Maggie Concannon isn't the kind of heroine that normally appeals to me. She's tempestuous and impulsive and argumentative and way too willing to inflict emotional pain on those nearest to her. Fortunately, she has a softer, humbler, more caring side to her that comes out when it matters most. This let me care enough to want to see her be ha...more Written in the mid-90s, this book is a big step up from Roberts' O'Hurley novels, despite nominal similarities (mainly in the pseudo-shiftless, Irish father).

Maggie Concannon isn't the kind of heroine that normally appeals to me. She's tempestuous and impulsive and argumentative and way too willing to inflict emotional pain on those nearest to her. Fortunately, she has a softer, humbler, more caring side to her that comes out when it matters most. This let me care enough to want to see her be happy.

Rogan Sweeney isn't the kind of hero that normally appeals to me, either. He's bossy and commanding and way too willing to manipulate others into doing what he thinks is best for them. Fortunately, he has a humbler, softer, more caring side to him that comes out when he can see that his more forthright methods would endanger the very things he wants to accomplish.

So I hadn't thought I'd end up caring much about this novel, even if I was never truly tempted to simply stop reading. By midway through, though, I'd seen enough of the complexity of the characters to be fully invested in wanting them to succeed and cheering for them as they overcame the adversity of Maggie's circumstances (and what a chilling portrayal of a mother gone completely off the rails in her duty to nurture and protect her children!).

A note about the narrator: It took me a while to get used to the narrator of this Brilliance Audio production. Fiacre Douglas' sentences tend to be delivered quickly and with a faint pause at the end of each. This makes it sound, at first, like he's running sprints and timing himself to see how fast he can get to the end. It doesn't help that much of the book is read in an Irish accent and, while I love the sound and flow of the words, I'm not very good at decoding even this mild accent at speed. After a bit, though, I caught the rhythm of his reading and it stopped bothering me.

A note about Steamy: While there's only a couple of explicit scenes, one of them was markedly hot. Not that it was that much longer than normal, or more explicit, or anything, but Maggie is an unashamedly passionate woman and that came out in spades.(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Ria Lize rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm around book 30s mark in J.D Robb's In Death series, but I've been curious to see how she writes as Nora Roberts. I guess I can say that I not only admire her dedication and her skill, but also her versatility.
She can write something set in the future, she can write a story set in the past, and I can say that whatever period in time, I will always be spiraled into the wonderful story she created.

Just to make it all clear: I thought book one was amazing.
There were books I've rate 4 or 3 stars...more I'm around book 30s mark in J.D Robb's In Death series, but I've been curious to see how she writes as Nora Roberts. I guess I can say that I not only admire her dedication and her skill, but also her versatility.
She can write something set in the future, she can write a story set in the past, and I can say that whatever period in time, I will always be spiraled into the wonderful story she created.

Just to make it all clear: I thought book one was amazing.
There were books I've rate 4 or 3 stars to be on the safe side. I admit to being guilty that there were books I've rated 5 stars because they were great and there was nothing wrong with it. But this book to me, is, without a doubt, 5 stars.

The characters are the heart of this story. It isn't often in a book I can empathise so well with a character that I'd cry big fat tears, as if I was in there. I wanted to hug Maggie, I wanted to throw my own words at her mother. Plus this morning I wore that stupid grin on my face going "awww" when Rogan did something sweet. ;P

I'm usually a fan of UF and PNR and reading this book was like a breath of fresh air. No teeth-gnashing, head-banging moments, moments you want to smack the female lead [usually] for being so rash and the both characters deciding to date someone else. For a book with a blurb that leaves the question of whether the protagonist will "overcome her dark past", I expected that, but it didn't come. Finally, characters who are mature. Characters who know their heart.

I find it refreshing that the male protagonist would openly admit his feelings first, and that the protagonist to took the plunge and risked her heart despite her stubbornness and pride. There are heart-wrenching moments, scenes that would make your heart melt, that would make you laugh out loud.

It was a pleasure reading Born in Fire. Every freaking minute. I look forward to reading more of JD Robb's books, and Nora Roberts' books in between. :)

P.S
I swear this will be the last book I'll read until I finish my exams on the 23rd. If I don't, I will never stop reading. I don't have any self-control once I start a book. >.<(less)

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May 10, 2012 Redial added it

If you love books with substance and an engrossing story line with well-developed characters, I suggest you ignore this book's existence. Although I have yet to open it up or indeed see it in real life form and not just an image upon a smudged laptop screen, I can confidently say that I would feel the same. Having never read a Nora Roberts book but being subjected to 3 of her movies in a so called "Romance movie marathon" at a friend's birthday party, I can truly say that she, as an author, has...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Adrienne Testa rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first of three books in the Irish Born Trilogy, Born in Fire is the story of Margret Mary Concannon, a glass artist from the West of Ireland who fore fills her dreams of becoming a prominent artist in Ireland. Margret Mary and her sister Brianna grows up in a home without love, warmth and guidance from their mother. Their mother bitter from getting pregnant and having to give up her dream of singing to raise her daughters. Their father, a dreamer who was charming but couldn't hold on to a bu...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Riccarla Roman rated it 4 of 5 stars

O, the joys of a Nora Roberts book! I've been a fan for years and decided to re-read one of her great trilogies. The "Born in..." trilogy is set in Ireland and tells of the Concannon sisters. Each one is different but each one is wonderful to read about.

"Born in Fire" is the story of Maggie Concannon, a genius at creating glass sculptures. As the book opens, she is with her father when he suffers a fatal heart attack. Five years later, she and her sister Brianna are following their dreams - Magg...more O, the joys of a Nora Roberts book! I've been a fan for years and decided to re-read one of her great trilogies. The "Born in..." trilogy is set in Ireland and tells of the Concannon sisters. Each one is different but each one is wonderful to read about.

"Born in Fire" is the story of Maggie Concannon, a genius at creating glass sculptures. As the book opens, she is with her father when he suffers a fatal heart attack. Five years later, she and her sister Brianna are following their dreams - Maggie with her glassblowing and Brianna with the Bed and Breakfast she made out of the family home which their father left to her. He didn't leave it to their mother Maeve and boy, does that cause a lot of tension.

Maggie's tranquil artistic existence is interrupted by Rogan Sweeney, a wealthy magnate from Dublin who wants to buy her art for his Worldwide Galleries. He'd tried calling and mailing, but she ignored him. Even when he shows up, she wants nothing to do with his business. No one can have control over her heart except herself. He finally promises her artistic autonomy in return for showing her pieces and managing her career.

The real joy is watching the sparks fly between them. No triangles; no supernatural creatures; just two strong personalities falling in love against the odds and trying to make it work. Rogan is more agreeable, but Maggie has major issues about marriage, having seen how miserable her parents were. Her mother has always blamed her pregnancy with Maggie, the reason she had to get married, as a curse and punishment for her sins. Only by conquering these fears and trusting her heart can Maggie find her happy ending.

These are great characters, a wonderful visit to Ireland, and passionate love - the only thing better is know that there are two more books in the trilogy. Wait, there are only two sisters, you say. Sometimes there are secrets that slowly come to light. Take a trip to Clare, Ireland and meet the Concannons - it's worth the trip.(less)

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Oct 08, 2011 Sandy Vaughan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: listened

Narrated by Fiacre Douglas

LENGTH 9 hrs and 5 mins

PUBLISHER Brilliance Audio

Maggie whose view of marriage is tainted by that of her parents. She has sworn she will not follow in their in footsteps; she will never marry. As much as she adored her father, she resented her mother. As her father was dying, she promised to care for her mother and beloved sister. She is a very talented glass blower who will used the money from sales of her works to keep her promise. Her resentment is increased by her m...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Janet rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angsty-goodness, desert-island-keeper, hawt, humourous, unusual-couple, familysaga

When I read and re-read a book, it's almost always going to get a 5 or 4 star rating, or else why re-read? Born in Fire is the first of a trilogy and unlike some trilogies, you have to have 2 and 3 close at hand as soon as you finish Born in Fire because the unfolding family story is that enthralling. Maggie has a dreadful relationship with her hardened, mean-spirited, caustic of tongue and tone mother and watching them dance around each other rings so true. It's at times heart-breaking. Adultho...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, 5-star-romance

I loved reading about Maggie and her entertaining characteristics and temperament.

Maggie is an artist who creates glass sculptures. She lives in a small village in western Ireland. Rogan is a wealthy Gallery owner in Dublin. He wants to represent her work. He calls her repeatedly but she never answers her phone. He has to travel there just to be able to talk to her. After he signs her, he has to send telegraphs to her because she still doesn’t answer her phone. He views her as irresponsible, sca...more I loved reading about Maggie and her entertaining characteristics and temperament.

Maggie is an artist who creates glass sculptures. She lives in a small village in western Ireland. Rogan is a wealthy Gallery owner in Dublin. He wants to represent her work. He calls her repeatedly but she never answers her phone. He has to travel there just to be able to talk to her. After he signs her, he has to send telegraphs to her because she still doesn’t answer her phone. He views her as irresponsible, scatterbrained, canny, obstinate, brilliant, bad-tempered and beautiful. He’s her opposite, a business mind and manner with schedules and timetables. Maggie is constantly throwing insults at Rogan and others, but I find her insults funny. An example of her insulting style is below in Caution Spoiler. In the sequel “Born in Shame,” Shannon describes Maggie as suspicious by nature, hot-headed, frank to the point of rudeness, overly protective and fiercely loyal. Shannon describes Rogan as “cultured, smooth, organized, shrewd, sophisticated and sharp enough to run an organization that was respected around the world. And, she thought grimly, he had to have a sense of humor, and the patience of Job, to live with Maggie.”

I also enjoyed the subplots concerning Rogan’s friend Patricia and his grandmother Christine.

I’m not usually moved by descriptions of place, but in this book, I was, especially on page 116. Maggie has just finished an intense creative session for several days and is riding her bike to town for some food and a break. As the author describes the sights and scents around Maggie’s bike ride, I felt like I was experiencing a piece of art. She describes the sun, the hedges, the breeze, the scents of honeysuckle, hay and sweet mown grass, etc. Maybe, because I was so into Maggie’s artistic activities, I continued to feel the art surrounding her bike ride. Who knows what it was, but I felt a lovely, emotional fulfillment, with that bike ride.

“Born in Fire” is the first book in a 3 book series. It can be read alone. Books 2 and 3 are about Maggie’s sister Brianna and half-sister Shannon. Maggie has small parts in the subsequent books, but it’s not necessary to read them, although it was nice to see Maggie having a child in a later book. I gave 2 stars to "Born in Ice" and 3.5 stars to "Born in Shame."

CAUTION SPOILER:
I’m quoting a section of the book, to give readers a sense of Maggie’s insulting style. If readers enjoy it, then I think they will enjoy the book. On page 49: Rogan offers to manage and sell Maggie’s glass sculptures. He tells her he will take a percentage from all sales. She asks
“What percentage do you take?”
Hoping for a reaction, he kept his eyes level with hers. “Thirty-five percent.”
She made a strangled sound in her throat. “Thirty-five? Thirty-five? You thief. You robber.” She shoved back from the table and stood. “You’re a vulture, Rogan Sweeney. Thirty-five percent be damned and you with it.”
“I take all the risks, I have all the expenses.” He spread his hands, steepled them again. “You have merely to create.”
“Oh, as if all it takes is sitting on my a** and waiting for the inspiration to come fluttering down like raindrops. You know nothing, nothing about it.” She began to pace again, swirling the air with temper and energy. “I’ll remind you, you’d have nothing to sell without me. And it’s my work, my sweat and blood they’ll spend good money for. You’ll get fifteen percent.”
“I’ll get thirty.”
“Plague take you, Rogan, for a horse thief. Twenty.”

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: current day village of Kilmihil, County Clare, west coast of Ireland, Dublin, Paris and the south of France. Copyright: 1994. Genre: contemporary romance.

For a listing of my reviews of other Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb books, see my 4 star review of "Angels Fall" posted on 6/30/08.(less)

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Jun 08, 2009 Lorihudeck rated it 5 of 5 stars

I like this triology by Nora Roberts for exactly what it is: a great summer read. I have to admit a fondness for anything set in Ireland and this triology takes place in a small town in western Ireland. The protagonists of all three books in this series are sisters. Yes, they are romance stories, so of course, there is love that is troubled but those troubles will be overcome. What I like about this trilogy though is that the love story takes a back seat to the relationship between the sisters a...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Lydia Perversius rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: concannon-sisters

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. By God, this woman knows how to make me melt inside out! First she makes me squeal from the legends and magic in the Three Sisters Island books, and now she has me all dreamy and starry-eyed with my most obvious weakness. Ireland! Oh, is there a country that can compete against it, I wonder? Ok, maybe Scotland a little, but still, Ireland will always be a place I would sell my soul to the devil to visit. The accent of the people, the scenery, the pubs, the legends, the music, and the people them...more By God, this woman knows how to make me melt inside out! First she makes me squeal from the legends and magic in the Three Sisters Island books, and now she has me all dreamy and starry-eyed with my most obvious weakness. Ireland! Oh, is there a country that can compete against it, I wonder? Ok, maybe Scotland a little, but still, Ireland will always be a place I would sell my soul to the devil to visit. The accent of the people, the scenery, the pubs, the legends, the music, and the people themselves, of course. Kyaaa, it makes me act like a fan girl even by just thinking about it!

Born in Fire is the first book of the series that focuses on the Concannon sisters. Daughters of Tom Concannon, a man who always seemed to dream but never achieve anything, Margaret and Brianna are dealing with their father's death, and their handful of a mother. No, handful would be too kind a word to describe that woman, but I'll get to that later. Margaret is the oldest of the two, and her mother's most important regret. She was conceived before marriage, so her mother had to end her singing career abruptly to get married, as it was expected from church and society. Thus, she hates Maggie and her husband with all her being, making Maggie negative to the idea of marriage and a family of her own. So Maggie focuses all of her heart in her glass-making art, a talent she possesses in great amounts. It's this talent that brings her to Rogan Sweeney's notice. Rogan is a wealthy businessman who has a love for the arts, and owns a famous chain of art galleries - and we're talking international here. He becomes obsessed with her work, and once he meets her, with her as well. But Maggie is an artist, and a proud independent woman, and she'll be damned if she lets him catch her.

This book was amazing! There were times, of course, that the way people talked confused me, but then I realized it charmed me as well, so it wasn't that bad. Maggie was a free spirit, all fire and open-minded acceptance, a true artist. This showed many times. For example, from the way she totally ignored Rogan or ordered him around when she was working. It showed greatly that she was no girly female, to swoon over the first good-looking man who walked through her door, and forget her one true love at the time, her art. She even wanted to turn his offer down, if it would mean she would keep her soul and art true. And Rogan was a true businessman, too, as at first he was doing everything he could to avoid sleeping with her, if it meant he could keep his priorities straight. It was really wonderful to see he found her art - before he even saw her - sexual, and the way they interacted with each other was at times hilarious. The insults they exchanged, the angry phone messages he left for her, it was all so funny I forgot they were supposed to be a fiery couple - they were already arguing like a married one. It reminded me of my parents,and it was, simply, beautiful, even if they were a bit late to find out themselves. Granny Christine was one of my favorite characters - along with Murphy and Joseph - and I really hoped she would eavesdrop when Maggie stayed behind to talk with Maeve, her mother, at Brianna's family dinner. Thank God she did. Though it would be more satisfying if she had said a few choice words to Maeve in private, but oh well...

I cried at Tom's death scene. How can a man be dying, have a feeling of it, and yet be so ... I don't even have the words to describe him, but it still breaks my heart every time I recall that particular part. I'm glad Maggie accepted him for what he was - a flawed human, with his ups and downs. It wasn't just because he was her father. It was because he was a human being, and she knew it and accepted it no matter what others had to say about it. I also hate Maeve with a burning passion. The woman is devil herself, and her obsession with church's rules only shows what a hypocrite she really is. Proves why I don't really enjoy the company of such people. Sure, lady, you had a promising future planned out for you, but you were the one who decided to open her legs. It wasn't like Tom raped her, for God's sake! So why blame him, and worst of all, why blame her own child? I thought she was the worst mother to come - hell, she was worse than Linda from the Bride Quartet! - but when Maggie described what happened when she was twelve, I was furious! Rogan was right, no one should beat a child and whip it, under the pretense that this is God's will.

The thing I love the most about Nora Roberts is how she combines all the stories of a series. And not only the main characters, but minor ones as well. Christine ending up with Niall was one thing - though I'm still laughing at how those two "kids" hit it off - but Joseph with Patricia? Now that was awesome! Joseph was a really good guy, and I couldn't bring myself to hate Patricia, even when her mother's schemes nearly got in the way of Rogan being with Maggie. She turned out to be a wonderful and amazing woman, and her idea to elope with Joseph just proved that she was no fragile widow as others thought her to be. Murphy, of course, is still my favorite, and I hope to see more of him in the next books, or even be one of the guys who marry into the Concannon bloodline.(less)

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Jan 08, 2010 Steve Lindahl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nora Roberts is an excellent writer and Born in Fire is a good book, well worth reading. I love the way she describes people in a fashion that doesn’t seem cliché and leaves the reader with a full feel for the emotions each character is experiencing. This book was published in 1994, so it has been around for awhile, but it doesn't have a dated feel to it. Maggie Concannon, the main character, is a glass artist who falls in love with Rogan, a business man who owns art galleries and wants to repre...more

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Jul 31, 2009 Jen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Ok, I loved Twilight, so obviously I am willing to sacrifice a lot of quality for some PG-rated romance. My expectations for an adult romance genre book, then, is for at least something more gripping than Twilight.

I felt zero emotion coming from this book. The characters were boring cardboard cut-outs, plot barely existed, and the romance was not compelling. One of my biggest pet peeves is perspective switching to give the reader insight into every character's mind, I like a little mystery than...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Megan Palasik rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book

I listened to this as an audio book, so my experience may be different from that of other readers.

The man who read this book, Fiacre Douglas, did a very good job. Overall, I'd give him 4/5 stars. He read a wee bit fast, didn't pause at chapters or where I would assume there were page breaks because the story suddenly changed gears, and he didn't use different voices for the characters. His voice was animated and entertaining and I loved his Irish accent, but his lack of different voices for char...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Taryn Elliott rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-fave, audio

this is the book that got me addicted to Nora. i love the glass blowing background and her terrible background with her mother, and how much of a daddy's girl she is. she's flawed, she's a little bit insane, a lot brilliant and so emotionally scarred that i wanted to root for her from the instant i opened the book.

and i gotta say, Rogan is so the prototype for Roarke in the ID series. lol that makes me love him just a little bit more.

even though this book is from the mid 90's it's somehow not d...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Kristi rated it 4 of 5 stars

The only reason I'm giving this four stars instead of five is because the book started out kind of slow and I had a hard time with Maggie a lot of the time almost to the point where she was annoying. I liked everybody else, except her mother who really was a most hateful woman and domineering and manipulative.

I liked Rogan from the very beginning. I would have liked to have seen him in something other than a suit because it may have made Mattie warm up to him a little if he hadn't been such a s...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Ayu Wirdha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Follow your dream...

Tdk masalah apapun mimpi itu bila kau mengerjakan dgn passion, kau akan merasa bahagia.

Maggie seniman patung kaca di sebuah desa terpencil di Irlandia. Lahir dr keluarga tdk mampu, sehingga ayahnya berhutang untuk dpt membiayai sekolah Maggie di paris. Hal inilah yg menjadi sumber kebencian ibu Maggie & menambah ketidakharmonisan hub ayah ibunya.

Karya Maggie menarik perhatian seorang pemilik galeri bernama Rogan yg sangat berambisi mengorbitkan Maggie. Sangat menarik meli...more

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Dec 18, 2008 Jenne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wellll, okay, so I read this last night between two and five AM because I was up laboriously trying to breathe through a stuffed nose.
And it's a pretty good book for that sort of occasion. I enjoyed the glassblowing parts, and mostly people behaved in ways that kind of made sense.
The only problem I had was that the 'hero' was always ordering the heroine around even though she quite reasonably explained to him that HI, she has an ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT so she's not going to just show up on the dot...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Johannes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

One could say that this is a rather simple story, with an ending we all know simply by knowing of the author or the genre. But, that the ending of this story is implied by it's genre doesn't mean that the journey towards it isn't worth while - quite on the contrary. It's a relatively short book, but thanks to not having an overabundance of characters, each character is given sufficient space to come alive - furthermore, I would say that the characters of this book are described with a warmth tha...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-owned, part-of-a-series

The Born In trilogy is one of my favorite series that Nora Roberts has written, while Born in Fire isn't my favorite of the trilogy I still enjoyed reading it.

Maggie is a glass artist that has not had the happiest of lives growing up. She is now an adult and has to learn how to adjust her life once she gets a chance at a Gallery showing and starts a relationship with the owner of the gallery, Rogan.

Rogan and Maggie are to strong willed, passionate indivuals who must learn to work together and...more

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Mar 29, 2009 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-series, girly-novel

I have such an appreciation for {author: Nora Roberts] writing. I think she does such an amazing job integrating a story plot with character development. Even in reading this short book I became invested in the characters and want to know more about them.

I am always a little embarrassed to admit that I like Nora Roberts as she is best know for "Romance" novels, but while many of these books are about a love connection between characters (and one that is easy to see coming and predict) she still...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Bridget rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am not going to review every Nora Roberts book that I have read in the past because she is quite prolific and it would get redundant and I honestly cannot remember all the plots. I think someone finds someone else attractive but at least one cannot admit it so there is sexual tension, then lots of sex, and then they live happily ever after? Sometimes there is some magic , a family legacy, or a mystery. Certainly not great works of literature (however still 100% better than “the grapes of wrath...more

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Jun 25, 2011 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: commute-books, cheap-getaway

The "Born In" trilogy was a set I had purchased awhile back when I was really thrilled with Nora Roberts. For awhile, I was reading her work and was unimpressed. This story has brought back the spark I once had for her stories.

What I liked about the story was the relationships between Maggie and Rogan, as well as Maggie and her Mom. They were complex and yet simple in their own way. Maggie was so focused on her fear of what passionate relationships could evolve into because of the baggage with h...more

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Apr 09, 2010 Maliha rated it 2 of 5 stars

If this is the best of romance then I don't think I'll be exploring much more of the genre. The story line is fairly straightforward and there isn't much reading in between the lines, suspense, or mystery. A story of bruised daughters with men issues stemming from a dysfunctional parentage, Roberts paints a fairy typical romance. Her writing style is entertaining nonetheless, allowing for an pseudo-pleasant read. I'd like to think it was perhaps too short for character development but I think th...more

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Apr 02, 2009 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brain-candy

Some books you read with your brain and some books you read with your ovaries - this one's the latter!

It's hard to beat Nora Roberts for a light, undemanding, but satisfying read. She combines likeable characters, beautiful settings and trustworthy formulaic plots. She also likes to write trilogies which seems to be the exact number of light, frothy books you need to recharge your brain and move back onto heavier stuff .

Born in Fire has a wonderful fiesty red-headed glass artist, an impossibly g...more

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May 13, 2013 Jen Robyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found Born in Fire to be an enjoyable read. Maggie is a crafter of glass, and it was interesting both to see what she does, and how she feels when her art begins to be noticed. Being a normally private person, her reaction is very believable.

Maggie is also a very strong-willed character, yet the more you read, you learn why she became this way. She has her own vulnerabilities, though she would likely be the last to admit it.

The gallery owner Rogan provides a good balance to her "fire," and the...more

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About Nora Roberts

aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sopho...more aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sophomore year in high school, she transferred to a local public school, where she met Ronald Aufdem-Brinke, her future first husband.

In Augusy 17, 1968, as soon as she had graduated from High School, Eleanor married, against her parents' wishes. The marriage settled in Keedysville, Maryland. Her husband worked at his father's sheet-metal business before joining her parents in their lighting company. While, she worked briefly as a legal secretary. "I could type fast but couldn't spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever," she says now. After their sons, Dan and Jason, were born she stayed home. Calling this her "Earth Mother" years, she spent much of her time doing crafts, including ceramics and sewing her children's clothes. The marriage ended separating, and they obtained the divorce in January 1985.

In February 1979, a blizzard in forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate. During the now famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981 as Nora Roberts, a shortened form of her birth name Eleanor Marie Robertson, because she assumed that all authors had pen names.

Eleanor wrote under the pseudonym Jill March a story for a magazine titled "Melodies of Love".

Eleanor met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Her husband owns and operates a bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland called "Turn the Page Books". Since that time, they've expanded their home, traveled the world.

In 1992, she decided adopted other pseudonym so to publish a futuristic-suspense novels, she first decided to use the pseudonym D.J. MacGregor, but she discovered that this pseudonym was used by another author. In 1995, her first "In Death" serial novel was published under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, the initials "J.D." were taken from her sons, Jason and Dan, while "Robb" is a shortened form of Roberts.

Eleanor has also been known as Sara Hardesty, because when the "Born In" series was released in U.K. it carried that name instead of Nora Roberts. She has since changed publishers.

Eleanor has been plagiarized by another best-selling romance writer, Janet Dailey. The practice came to light after a reader read Nora Roberts' "Sweet Revenge" and Janet Dailey's "Notorious" back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the Internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Eleanor sued Janet Daily. In 1997, Janet, admitted to repeatedly plagiarizing from Nora Roberts' work, and that both "Aspen Gold" and "Notorious" lifted heavily from Nora Roberts's work. Both of those novels were pulled from print after Janet's admission. She acknowledged the plagiarism and blamed it on a psychological disorder. In a settlement, Janet paid Eleanor an undisclosed sum, which Eleanor donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America.

A founding member of the Romance Writers of America (R.W.A.), she was the first inductee in the organization's Hall of Fame. She also is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the (less)

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“The tune was sad, as the best of Ireland was, melancholy and lovely as a lover's tears.” — 181 people liked it

“He wanted to be a poet,' someone else put in while Maggie hugged Tim and patted his back. 'Said he'd only lacked the words to be one.” — 58 people liked it

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Born in Fire (Irish Born Concannon Sisters #1)

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