Jewels of the Sun: The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy #1

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Jewels of the Sun: The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy #1 (Gallaghers of Ardmore / Irish Trilogy #1)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 27,094 ratings · 577 reviews

"[Roberts] is at her best here" ("Publishers Weekly," starred review) in the first book in her enchanting trilogy set in Ardmore, Ireland.

ebook, 384 pages

Published November 1st 1999 by Jove Books

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Jan 03, 2012 Cata rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biblioteca, 2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Já tinha ouvido óptimas críticas acerca deste trilogia e quando a vi na biblioteca decidi que era hora de ver se os livros eram tão bons quanto diziam. E pelo menos este é mesmo :D

Jude F Murray é uma personagem maravilhosa. No inicio é muito insegura e pensa que é mediana, não fazendo nada particularmente bem nem sendo particularmente bonita. Quando se vê à beira de um colapso decide "fugir" para a Irlanda onde se vê rodeada de paisagens magnificas, histórias românticas e magia. E onde acaba por...more Já tinha ouvido óptimas críticas acerca deste trilogia e quando a vi na biblioteca decidi que era hora de ver se os livros eram tão bons quanto diziam. E pelo menos este é mesmo :D

Jude F Murray é uma personagem maravilhosa. No inicio é muito insegura e pensa que é mediana, não fazendo nada particularmente bem nem sendo particularmente bonita. Quando se vê à beira de um colapso decide "fugir" para a Irlanda onde se vê rodeada de paisagens magnificas, histórias românticas e magia. E onde acaba por se descobrir tornando-se uma mulher mais forte, confiante, decidida a fazer o que quer e não o que esperam dela... e claro, onde descobre Aidan Gallagher!

Aidan Gallagher é dono de um pub em Ardmore. Depois de ter viajado durante anos, regressou a casa e tomou conta do negócio de família. Estava à espera de algo, embora não soubesse bem de quê. Mal vê Jude sente-se atraído por ela e começa a flirtar. É descontraído, alto, sexy e confiante e abala por completo o mundo de Jude por quem se sente fascinado. Eventualmente a relação entre ambos começa a evoluir e ambos acabam por se apaixonar.

Quando Aidan comunica a Jude (e sim, ele comunica- a lata!)que pretende casar-se com ela porque precisa de uma esposa (eu sei, foi tão romântico --')Jude recusa. Afinal depois de um casamento falhado no qual entrou porque o seu actual ex precisava de uma esposa e porque temia ficar sozinha, Jude decidiu que não voltará a casar a não ser por amor mútuo: é tudo ou nada! Mas Aidan não desiste e começa a fazer planos para a lua de mel de ambos comunicando a Jude que eles irão casar em Setembro e que depois ele mostrar-lhe-á todos os lugares que ela deseja ver. Jude volta a recusar. Entretanto a noticia do "casamento" espalha-se por Ardmore e é então que Jude atinge o seu limite, indo ao Gallagher's, discutindo com Aidan e , quando ele se recusa a deixá-la sair sem falar primeiro, partindo-lhe o nariz!

Depois desta discussão, Shawn chama a atenção do irmão mais velho para o simples facto de, nos dois pedidos de casamento anterior, este nunca ter mencionado a Jude que a amava e encoraja-o a ir atrás dela e a dizer-lhe isso mesmo, pedindo-a (sendo a "pedindo" a palavra-chave) em casamento outra vez.

Aidan engole o orgulho e vai atrás de Jude. Quando chega ao chalé dela, Jude diz-lhe que irá para São Francisco no dia seguinte (mas não tem tempo de dizer que é só por uns dias para vender as suas coisas e voltar para a Irlanda, onde decidiu passar o resto da sua vida). Aidan fica em pânico e abre o seu coração, sem orgulhos, dizendo que a ama, que nunca amou ninguém antes dessa maneira e que quer passar o resto da sua vida com ela. Desta vez não a pressionará, esperará o tempo que fôr preciso e irá atrás dela para São Francisco. Comovida, Jude explica o mal entendido, dizendo-lhe que regressaria para a Irlanda porque tinha decidido morar lá, mas que não tencionava voltar para ele antes de ele ter vindo falar com ela, explicando-lhe os seus motivos. Confessa a Aidan que o ama e o que a levou a recusar os seus dois "pedidos" anteriores. Aidan põe-se de joelhos e propõe-se de maneira romântica, oferecendo o anel de noivado da sua avó, e por fim Jude aceita.

Ao longo do livros conhecê-mos também a história de Carrick e Lady Gwen. Carrick é um príncipe das fadas e vai querer (e muito!) que Aidan e Jude se acertem. Penso que isso tem a ver com o facto de eles serem "peças" importantes para quebrar o feitiço e permitir a Carrick ter a sua Gwen.

Confesso que estou ansiosa para ler os seguintes, mais não seja para saber o que aconteceu a Jude e Aidan :)(less)

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Oct 25, 2010 Maeve O' Keeffe rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No one

Talk about rose tinted glasses! This woman can't weave a decent plot to save her life, she just keeps spewing out this tired old read-on-an-airplane-then-bin-it-while-feeling-slightly-dirty formula. This series really takes the biscuit, the cake and hogs all the crisps when it comes to ridiculous over romanticising of Ireland. Ardmore is a nice place to visit but the airy fairy "Oh, look at the leprechauns, Seamus" crap described in this book doesn't even come close. To tell you the truth, there...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Jishi Pantorilla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who would suspend reality for an hour

Shelves: fantasy, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book made me decide that to really take a year or two of my life to live in Ireland. Maybe migrate there permanently, even.

I was reminded that sometimes passion, devotion, longing and loyalty, even love, are not enough if you do not have the words to give.

You may scoff all you want at formula fiction but the delivery makes one or breaks another.

Jude Murray is this neurotic psychologist who fled to Ireland to find herself after realizing that she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. H...more

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Aug 06, 2008 Jazzypom rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yeah, as a Brit, I'm going to say this: I am ambivalent when American writers write about Europe, especially the lands of their blessed ancestors. Nora Roberts is probably one of the reasons why, because her romanticism, blatant sentiment of Ireland gives me the heebie jeebies. The musical quality of the accents (check), the supposed magic that lies 'neath every knoll, the air charged with the hum of the good people, and everyone is either kissing a blarney stone or drinking the blessed Guiness....more

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Jan 20, 2009 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am NOT a big romance fan...but I am a big fan of most things Celtic. I actually read this series a while back - I discovered them in the Honor section of my local library and when I realized the plots took place in Ireland, I decided to borrow them. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of romantic novels, but I have read enough of them to be able to say that this is the only series of the genre that has really stuck with me (except maybe the Three Sisters Island trilogy by the same author). Roberts...more

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Jan 14, 2009 Littlemissmuffet rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-fiction-contemporary, fantasy

I just finished this book (1st in the Gallagher trilogy) and am disappointed in Nora!
The book is filled with stereotypical Irish cliches which ARE NOT TRUE! For example, every second person has red hair, asides from Dublin there are no other bustling towns or cities just tiny villages, there are no microwaves or can openers or tumble dryers etc, computers are rare- the internet is practically unheard of, everyone is oh so friendly and bright eyed- top o the mornin' to ya'!
Oh and there are only...more

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Mar 16, 2008 Randall Yelverton rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one

Should explain why I read this. While pursuing my Library Science degree, I took a reader's advisory class where we sampled books from across various genres. I was assigned this novel for the romance section. This novel was objectively horrible. The worst novel I have ever read from cover to cover. Main character is supposed to be empowered heroine but is actually a ninny. Use of metaphor akin to high school poetry. How Roberts has reached such heights of popularity is a wonder. Make mine Austen...more

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May 09, 2013 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: irish-influence, fairies

I'm not usually drawn to contemporary romance, but I saw this on audio at the library and it looked like an interesting feel-good book. Plus, it's set in Ireland and the story involves ghosts and a dash of fairy magic, so I didn't really feel like I was reading about the plain ol' everyday world (I prefer more exotic places and times, thankyouverymuch).

So, this is the story of a very buttoned-up sort of woman who thinks she's going crazy when she suddenly quits her job and takes off on a six-mo...more I'm not usually drawn to contemporary romance, but I saw this on audio at the library and it looked like an interesting feel-good book. Plus, it's set in Ireland and the story involves ghosts and a dash of fairy magic, so I didn't really feel like I was reading about the plain ol' everyday world (I prefer more exotic places and times, thankyouverymuch).

So, this is the story of a very buttoned-up sort of woman who thinks she's going crazy when she suddenly quits her job and takes off on a six-month getaway to her deceased great-grandmother's cottage in Ireland. Jude, formerly a psychology professor, is initially uncomfortable in her the tiny seaside village of Ardmore. She is socially awkward and doesn't know anyone, but she starts making friends right away--everyone she meets is friendly and familiar from the start (and some are even distant cousins). Ardmore is a place with a strong sense of community, where everyone knows everyone and where neighbors feel comfortable in each others' homes. I really don't know if this is true of Irish villages or not. I've heard such things, but I've never visited myself so I can't say. Anyway, the major hub of community life in Ardmore is Gallagher's Pub, the place everyone goes to hear good music, have a good time, and sometimes wind up having a good fight too.

The owner of this family-run pub is Aidan Gallagher, a man who has returned home to take up this responsibility after years of travelling. He is instantly intrigued by Jude and starts trying his best to draw her into conversation and flirtation. His efforts to engage Jude are assisted by his sister, Darcy, and a neighbor, Brenna, who seem like lots of fun as they befriend the newcomer. Slowly, slowly, Jude starts to loosen up her self-imposed constraints and learn how to live with a little more vivaciousness and relaxation. But she has difficulty trusting herself and others, and always seems ready to balk or bolt at a moment's notice. Her growth process is challenging.

As Jude gets to know people and the area better, she studies local music and folklore. Her story is entwined with a particular legend involving fairies, ghosts, and a lovers' curse. After a reasonable amount of disbelief and denial, she finally accepts that she's getting messages from beyond the normal world. Will these messages get through to Jude and Aidan?

Of course they will!! I was never in too much doubt about the outcome, but the predictability of a happy ending is one of the big reasons people sometimes like to read a romantic story. The magical elements add an extra bit of sweeping romance to the story, and make the charming village setting seem even more wonderful. You can just picture a green field, good friends, a rainbow, a little fairy magic... This book would make almost anyone want to go to Ireland. Like I said, it was predictable and at times a little repetitive, which kinda made me roll my eyes. But still, it was a pleasant, enjoyable book, and the challenges Jude faces in rebuilding her life were realistic and relatable. I might listen to the other two books in this trilogy (about Jude's new friends) if I'm in the right mood in the future. (less)

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Feb 10, 2013 Patti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jewels of the Sun, #1 in an Irish trilogy by Nora Roberts, ignited my curiosity big time after reading the summary and so many positive reviews. It’s not particularly new, but back when it was first published I had not the time I have now to read anything I want, nor any connection with Ireland and its magical stories of enchantment. But now I do – have time, and wonderful memories of the beautiful Emerald Isle to relive from a comfy chair and warm fire in the dead of winter 2013.

This is only th...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Samantha Umbdenstock rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lifetime-favorites

I stumbled on this book years before when I discoverd Nora Roberts, but I never took it of the shelf in the library, always telling myself, lets wait until the rest of the series comes out. And then it actually left my mind to actually read the book...
Now years later, I saw it lying around... And I thought, I think its time I started reading you...
You find the traditional setting of a Nora Roberts Trilogy but in Ireland and I loved it. You get the beautiful image of Ireland one can only dream ab...more I stumbled on this book years before when I discoverd Nora Roberts, but I never took it of the shelf in the library, always telling myself, lets wait until the rest of the series comes out. And then it actually left my mind to actually read the book...
Now years later, I saw it lying around... And I thought, I think its time I started reading you...
You find the traditional setting of a Nora Roberts Trilogy but in Ireland and I loved it. You get the beautiful image of Ireland one can only dream about ever stumbling on. The legends stories were nice and wonderful, really Irish stories. The main Legend in the book is that of Lady Gwen and the fairy prince Carrick... I loved it, and could understand so well were this all was going.. seriously...
Unlike other books I've read this one made me calm and content, I don't feel excited or completly overwhelmed but content.
That doesn't mean that I didn't like it... I loved it, because it become so personnal. I could all but see it with my own eyes as if I was there! The scenes in the pubs, or the moments where Jude was filled herself with contentment and happiness.. I could see it, feel it so much.. That everytime I put down the book, I would cry, just cry because I wish for these moments so bad, and the moment I left the story I could feel the emptiness of my own life swallow me whole.
Jude is wonderful, the caution and puzzled thoughts. The way she speaks to herself and eventually to her dog made me think of myself... The way how eventually she found the courage and the joy to act on impulses.. I call them gumption by the way.. I loved it! It was like seeing myself in an other life...
Aidan, is a sweetheart.. you can see how manly he is and how understanding at the same time.. It is a shame we only have but few romantic men in this life now.. Because oh my he is almost perfect, almost yes... okay nevermind he is perfect.

I just loved the book it became one of my personnal favorites and I'll carry it with me everywhere just to escape the reality and enter this mystical land called Ireland... and enter the kindred mind of Jude Frances Murray(less)

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Jan 06, 2013 Estara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of her Irish Born series and paranormal stuff

Shelves: ebook, re-read, read-in-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Copied from the trilogy review because Goodreads doesn't count those as single books in the reading challenge:

Jude Frances Murray is a competent shy psychologist dominated by her family into teaching at university, on the verge of nervous breakdown as the ongoing result of the break-up of her six-month old marriage months earlier.
Her family comes from Ardmore, the village whose characters, description and history are one of the most shiningly good bits of the whole trilogy - I am fairly confide...more Copied from the trilogy review because Goodreads doesn't count those as single books in the reading challenge:

Jude Frances Murray is a competent shy psychologist dominated by her family into teaching at university, on the verge of nervous breakdown as the ongoing result of the break-up of her six-month old marriage months earlier.
Her family comes from Ardmore, the village whose characters, description and history are one of the most shiningly good bits of the whole trilogy - I am fairly confident in claiming that NR went to Ireland for this trilogy (and had gone there for the Born In trilogy as well). Her grandmother, who understands her best, has just inherited a small cottage from a cousin a bit older than herself who has died after a long, fairly content life.

Jude hasn't told her family that she won't go back to teaching but she's jumped at the chance of looking after the cottage (probably for half a year), to think of what she wants next and at least start a paper on family history and sagas of Ardmore and exploring how they are used as metaphors for all kinds of stuff.

Aidan Gallagher runs Ardmore's traditional pub with his brother Sean and Sister Darcy. Their parents raised the kids, but moved to Boston to help his uncle and have decided to stay there. All three Gallagher children are around 30 years old, I'd say - Aidan has seen the most. He went walkabout for a few years and has now come back and found that he likes Ardmore and Gallagher's best.

The basic set-up is that he just thinks Jude is cute and shy. But she blossoms in the village, due to becoming friends with Darcy and her childhood bosom buddy Brianna McGee and many others in the village - and while she is blooming he can't take his eyes off her.

I love some of Nora's idiosyncratic descriptions. I wish she had more space for them. After this book they become less *sigh*. It's an especially fun quote because good music is a large part of the series.

She sang, mostly to keep herself from screaming every time she came to one of the circles on the highway that the Irish cheerfully called roundabouts. Her brain would fizzle, she’d forget her left from her right, visualize plowing the Volvo into half a dozen innocent bystanders, and belt out whatever tune jumped into her terrified brain.

On the route south from Dublin to County Waterford, she shouted show tunes, roared out Irish pub songs, and at a narrow escape outside the town of Carlow, screeched out the chorus of “Brown Sugar” loud enough to make Mick Jagger wince.

(less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Jacob Proffitt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, steamy

I've started to pre-judge Nora Roberts novels by decade. So far, that's been a reasonable predictor of my enjoyment of her novels. This one was originally published in 1999—on the cusp of her “reliably good, occasionally outstanding” period. And it is, in fact, reliably good.

While I have a kind of reflexive fondness for a Celtic background, I haven't found that it automatically enhances my enjoyment of a story. So while the presence of Ireland as almost a supporting character of the novel was in...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Fedora rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The first in the Gallaghers of Ardmore trilogy, the book actually begins with the heroine, Jude Murray of Chicago, who's recently inherited a cottage in Ardmore from her great aunt. She's a buttoned down, quiet thing, who's been raised to do the right thing and what's expected of her and doesn't have the self-confidence of a flea.

While parts of this story are what I love most about Ms. Roberts--it's got that beautiful description, a fabulous (but perhaps slightly dense) hero, fantastic supportin...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Cat rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, nora, series, romance

Nora Roberts has a tendency to write the cookie-cutter romance. You can almost dictate when the characters will meet, when they will have their first kiss, etc. She also has a loving view of Ireland, the way that many Americans do and while I've seen many reviews that are criticising the Ireland portrayed -- welcome to the world of fiction, and don't read this with a modern view point. I've read the trilogy twice now and each time I am immediately stuck by early 90's Ireland which is a far cry f...more

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Feb 22, 2011 Marcie pollack rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this trilogy for the first a few years ago and fell in love with all the characters and their stories. Nora Roberts has a magical touch that draws the reader in and makes them feel involved with the lives of the characters in her stories. I waited to read these after they were all out and read them one right after the other. When I was done with the third book I was slightly saddened to know I would not be involved with the lives of Jude and Aiden, Brenna and Sean, and Darcy and Trevor. T...more

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Mar 10, 2010 Roxann Maples-Stokes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any romantc heart.

Recommended to Roxann by: other Nora Robert books

Love, love, love this first book of 3! This is one of my comfort reads!
I have read them about every year for the past couple of years. It is set in a small fishing village in Ireland. I've never been there, but Nora Roberts draws such a vivid picture of the place and the people. It is one of her tales that have a supernatural twist-a fairy prince and his ghostly love are separated by time and trouble and they need the help of mortal lovers to bring them together forever.
The leading lady of this...more

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Apr 27, 2009 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not a Nora Roberts fan, but I do love this trilogy. It really captures the mood of Ireland (at least as we in the states like to imagine it is), all cozy, with alternating rain and brilliant sunlight, ancient ruins, bright flowers, and lots of hot tea. The Gallagher pub in this story makes me sad that it is mythical and I can't visit it, populated as it is by interesting, friendly people that can go from laughing to shouting to fighting and back to dancing within minutes. What a lovely world...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Lydia Perversius rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gallaghers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "Words have magic. Spells and curses. Some of them, the best of them, once said change everything." - Aidan Gallagher

Every time I'm about to read a book, I tend to read a few of the reviews posted on it. You can imagine my hesitation to start the Gallaghers Trilogy, when 99 out of 100 of the reviews warned the reader to avoid Jewels of the Sun at all costs. I rarely pay any attention to negative reviews that have to do with writers I absolutely adore. But for this book, even if Nora Roberts has...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Tempo de Ler rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

A minha trilogia preferida de Nora Roberts e o primeiro trabalho que li desta autora.

Envolvendo-nos com a sua escrita maravilhosa, Nora Roberts puxa-nos para a sua história quase como se nos sussurrasse um feitiço ao ouvido.

Embora pouco realista e bastante previsível, a «Trilogia Irlandesa» traz-nos uma história central bem original, com partes engraçadíssimas e romance à séria!

As personagens são simplesmente magníficas - desde os protagonistas a...more

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Mar 31, 2009 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guilty-pleasures

Book #29 of 2009

I remember starting to read this book way back in High school, but I don't remember ever finishing it, though I don't know why. Perhaps I just wasn't mature enough to enjoy a good romance. I also don't remember what happened to my copy, but no matter, I've gotten my hands on another one. It fits in nicely with my celtic romance obsession of late. As another plus, this time the "romantic leads" were flesh and blood humans, from the same time period and everything. I won't say ther...more

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Jan 08, 2009 Richard Alvin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

take a trip to Ireland and on the winds of love and magic

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Feb 26, 2012 Marianne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: given-away-on-bookmooch

Jewels of the Sun is the first of the Ardmore Gallaghers series by Nora Roberts. When psychology lecturer Jude Frances Murray feels herself heading towards a breakdown from the stress of her job and life in Chicago, she decides to spend six months in the cottage in Ardmore, Ireland, where her Grandma grew up. It will be an opportunity to research her paper about Irish mythology and legend, a subject that has fascinated her since her Grandma’s storytelling during Jude’s childhood. Aiden Gallagher...more

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Jun 14, 2010 Helmisade rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Of the several books by Nora Roberts that I have read, this is easily one of my favourites. It is of course Very Irish to the point of being ridiculous, but since I've never been to Ireland I choose to believe that there really are charming little villages like this somewhere (full of gorgeous, smart and kind young men with no mental problems at all).

I often find myself not liking Roberts's men, they are often too brooding and whiny for my taste. In this book I really liked both the main charact...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Márcia B. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Este foi um livro que me enfeitiçou e que devorei em poucos dias. Nora Roberts tem o talento mágico de misturar o mundano com o fantástico de uma forma soberba e cativante. Como sempre, as suas personagens são tão humanas, que é impossível não nos identificarmos com elas em alguns pontos, acabando por achá-las adoráveis, mesmo com todas as suas falhas.
Neste livro, Nora descreve-nos as encantadoras paisagens da Irlanda rural, sem se tornar exaustiva, combinando o romance de Jude Frances Murray, u...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, irish

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Setting: Old Maude’s rustic, ghost living home; local Irish pub; the hills, garden, and cemetery – all in Ardmore, Ireland

Theme: love – coupled with respect and words; passion; finding ones true self; humble

Imagery: Kierick makes the skies dark when it looks like Aiden is going to flub his 3rd marriage proposal, and bright sunshine restored when he finds the right words, and she Jude yes.

Characters:
Jude Francis Murray – doctor of psychology; professor; divorcee (after 7 months); dissatisfied; he...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Lu rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I never have the time or patience to actually write a review (so, sorry if this one sucks), but this book has inspired me ! I don't have words to describe how much I enjoyed it!

Jude Frances, an american psychologist who is tired from the life she's living, flees off to Ireland to spend 6 months in the charming village of Ardmore. Surronded by the spetacular scenery and living in the ancient but cozy cottage, Jude has the mission to find herself and consequently re-evaluate her life. As well as...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, fantasy

Sometimes, you just need to read a book that you know will end well. No one will die, the girl will get the boy, and they'll all live happily ever after. The thing I enjoy about Nora Roberts' "Jewels of the Sun" is that all of those things will happen, but there's also fairies. And a mystery. And the Irish countryside, which is practically its own character, full of beauty and history.

Jude Murray, a recently-divorced, tightly-wound, history professor, travels to Ireland in an attempt to make so...more Sometimes, you just need to read a book that you know will end well. No one will die, the girl will get the boy, and they'll all live happily ever after. The thing I enjoy about Nora Roberts' "Jewels of the Sun" is that all of those things will happen, but there's also fairies. And a mystery. And the Irish countryside, which is practically its own character, full of beauty and history.

Jude Murray, a recently-divorced, tightly-wound, history professor, travels to Ireland in an attempt to make some sense of her life. There are many things Jude wants to do-- write a book, relax, laugh--but she has a hard time letting go and allowing any of those things to happen. Enter Aidan Gallagher- pub owner and all-around Handsome Irish Lad. Because this is a romance novel, Aidan is the answer to nearly all of Jude's problems. He's strong, handsome, interesting, and most of all, encouraging and full of faith in Jude's dreams. They fall into bed, and then, as people do in romance novels, in love. Of course, one of the other things I enjoy about Roberts' novels is that they are also (relatively) true to life. They argue and bicker, they have miscommunications and misunderstandings that, when resolved, help bring them closer together. However, Roberts also allows Jude to develop on her own, which is refreshing. Aidan doesn't solve her problems as much as give her the framework and support to resolve them on her own.

Roberts also provides an excellent cast of supporting characters. Aidan's brother, Shawn, and sister, Darcy, are fabulously entertaining, as well as the people who pack into Gallagher's pub every evening. Even minor characters have depth and believability, which is something not even writers of more serious novels manage. In particular, the friendship that develops between Jude, Darcy, and Brenna is enviable, and made me wish for more girlfriends.

I promised there would be fairies, and the story of Prince Carrick and his human love, Gwen, is the theme that ties all three novels of the "Gallagher Trilogy" together. Centuries ago, a fairy prince fell in love with a human woman. He offered her jewels rather than speak of the love in his heart, and so she refused him, three times. Being refused, the prince laid a curse on them both; that they wouldn't reset until love met love and accepted, three times. Jude and Aidan are the first step in breaking Carrick's curse (no mention of why, in the centuries following Carrick's actions, no other couple has met whatever criteria there may be).

Like a palate cleanser between courses, "Jewels of the Sun" will leave you happy & refreshed, but ready for something a little heavier.(less)

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Oct 01, 2010 Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It would technically have been 2.5 stars. It was mostly the heroine of the story, and how her romance unraveled that had me at odds. I confess it was my overriding tendency to want to bonk her over the head, because I've known my share of timidness from friends and it's just frustrating to see someone you care about treat his/herself in self-depricating ways. It was lovely to see her shine through everything though -- especially after I was finished with the trilogy itself.

Aidan, though a charmi...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Catia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have mixed feelings about this book. It took reading a few chapters for me to actually get into in the story. (Which was NOT the case with the other books that I've read!!)
I thought the background and purpose behind the story was very charming, I love the idea of a whimsical little house with a beautiful garden and friendly neighbours -(and of course if a book envolves a romantic relationship as my full attention)however I din't fall in love with the main character (Jude) like it usually happe...more

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Aug 16, 2009 Juliana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, 2009-reads, 2009-aug-reads, 4-half-stars, 0-reviewed, 4-to-5-stars

(4.5 stars) Jewels of the Sun was an absolutely fantastic read. This is the first Nora Roberts book I've read, since I've always preferred historical romance over contemporary and have tended to avoid Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel like the plague. I'm so glad I decided to read this book - I had actually been in the library about to return it unread, when I started reading it and decided to give it a try.

A definite reread for me with absolutely wonderful main characters (give me an Irishman lik...more

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Portrait in Death
by J.D. Robb

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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Quotes from Jewels of the Sun

“Magic is. But its power is nothing beside love.
--Prince Carrick” — 26 people liked it

“He was a wild one as a lad, and there's a look about him that says he could be again." Kathy sighed. "I've always had a soft spot for a wild heart in a man. Have you no sweetheart in the States then, Jude?"

"No." She thought briefly of William. Had she ever considered her husband her sweetheart? "No one special."

"If they're not special, what would the point be?” — 11 people liked it

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title link	preview: Jewels of the Sun: The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy #1
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BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreadsbookswap.com/book/show/9440116-jewels-of-the-sun?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360566085l/9440116.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreadsbookswap.com/book/show/9440116-jewels-of-the-sun?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Jewels of the Sun: The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy #1 by Nora Roberts[/url]

Jewels of the Sun: The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy #1 (Gallaghers of Ardmore / Irish Trilogy #1)

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