Irish Rebel

Irish Hearts #3

by Nora Roberts

Roberts' Irish series continues with this brand-new story in Silhouette Special Edition(! Upon arriving at Royal Meadows Farms from Ireland, rugged horse trainer Brian Donnelly is stunned by the beauty of his boss's daughter, Keeley Grant. Now it's up to this innocent beauty to tame this handsome Irish rogue. Satellite media tour.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, Harlequin

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2000

About the author

Nora 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.

Reviews

[Chantal ❤️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 BIG JERK STARS

This book was about the daughter from the first book in this series. And I must admit I was very disappointed with it.

I guess because the first book was so good for me I thought this one would be too, but I was VERY WRONG. The heroine was too weak willed for my taste and allowed herself to be treated poorly by the hero, something I was not expecting at all here. Given that her mother was such a STRONG character. I was expecting the same.
Sadly, she was more like a clingy needy bitch in heat than a strong independent woman, like her mom.
It was NOT HAPPENING HERE for me!



Secondly, the hero was not worth my consideration here. He was a jerk who thought the world owned him for being born basically. I did not enjoy his character at all. He says and does things to the heroine that made me EXTREMELY MAD!



And now the BIGEST disappointment, the plot! Enjoyed them working with the horses, well what we got of that at least. However, the story has been done to death with a few little twist that you can totally see coming, this story was very BLAND!



Generally, this story was not for me. It may be one of those situations where I was just comparing it to the first book, but for whatever reason this book was an EPIC FAIL as a continuation of this series.
Glad the author gave it up after this (she could have written more as they had many kids from the first book), but she stopped there!
GRATEFUL FOR THAT PERSONALLY!
Still love this author, just this book was not for me.

[Serena Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5/10
se nota que este tercer libro es el mejor porque la autora lo escribio mucho despues que los anteriores. Es un libro facil de leer y que engancha enseguida, pero me ha faltado mucho en la historia de Keeley y Brian

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Irish Rebel" is the story of Keeley and Brain.

A next generation love story which has our h Keeley, the eldest daughter of Adelia and Travis, falling for their newly hired horse trainer, the Irish lad Brian.
Since the last two books left a deep imprint on my brain, comparisons were inevitable, and this book does fall short. The hero is grumpy and judgmental, the heroine is not as spunky as her predecessors. Their lovemaking is passionate, but the angst is minimal. Everything towards the end was rushed too.
That being said, always a pleasure to see the couples from the past books having a sweet and baby heavy HEA.
A tearful goodbye to this wonderful series!

Safe
2.5/5

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread.

Read this a longggg time ago.

I just enjoyed this love story and the progression of their relationship.

Had a bit of everything, chemistry, heart, emotion and angst.

This was book three on the Irish Hearts series and I enjoyed all three.

On my keeper shelf. Miss these older romance books.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me after a rather bumpy start this turned out to be the best book in the trilogy. The heroine is the grown up daughter of the h/H from the very first book and we have a hero hired to replace Uncle Paddy. The hero doesn't do attachments and comes across as a reverse snob at first, thinking the heroine is spoiled and snooty. Once both of them see the real face of each other, that is when the book gets good. Hero is happy to fan the flames between them until he discovers the heroine is a virgin and then he can't get away fast enough. I loved how the heroine doesn't let him withdraw and chases him and their relationship. The poor hero doesn't stand a chance in front of the determined heroine and she makes him see their different stations in life don't matter, their love does.

[Jessie Seymour · Rating 3 out of 5]

God Almighty, I want to throw up. So this was my first experience with romance, and I am not impressed.

Brian was just insufferable. What a misogynistic ass! He was arrogant, pompous, full of himself. So many negative qualities. Everything I would hate in a man. And on top of that, he continually viewed Keeley as an object to be won, not a human being. Not to mention he's creepy! If you think about it, if a guy acted like this in real life, he is not the kind of person I would want to be alone with lest I disappear and show up five months later chopped up in a ditch. This is not romantic, people! And Keeley... Lord, bless her heart. She started off alright. I liked her at first. She stood up for herself and carried herself with dignity. But the farther she got into this "relationship," the more intolerable she became until we get to the end, and she's nothing more than a naive and silly little girl.

And while we're talking about the "relationship," I don't buy it at all! If two people acted like this in real life, the relationship would be doomed from the start. Brian would have never fallen in love. Keeley would be viewed as clingy. She'd be more into him than him into her, and it just wouldn't work. And since romance is the lion's share of the book, I don't buy the bulk of it. Just everything about this couple made me want to gag because it's just so...... fake.

However, I liked the plot. I liked the horses and the racing and the riding academy. I really enjoyed those parts of the book. Honestly, more than anything, the romance in this story just seemed forced and over-the-top ridiculous. It kinda ruined the real story, which is a bizarre reaction, I understand, since this is a romance novel. Romance should be the real story, but for me, it's like Nora tried to force a hot and steamy relationship when one didn't really want to exist.

But as much as I hated this couple and everything about them (I actually didn't really like any character to be frank), I'm not completely turned off to romance just yet. Maybe this Nora is just a dud. Maybe I just need to find another author. I'm willing to give the genre another chance, but for now, I'm not impressed.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I love about Nora Roberts is how much research she does for a subject and how she can seamlessly weave that information into any book she writes. I'm sure there is a lot more to the world of horse racing, but Nora provides enough information to make a reader believe they are living there with her characters. It's a rare talent and a great gift to the readers. All three books in this trilogy have been great romances with a small bit of mystery/suspense. I'm a Romantic-Suspense reader and I always look for just a touch in any romance I read.

Brian Donnelly is a man who is always on the move. His only possessions are those he can pack in his duffle bag, and he has not found a place to put it away until he lands at Royal Meadows as the new head trainer. Royal Meadows is unlike any place he has worked at in Ireland and the owners daughter knocked him over on their first meeting and he hasn't gotten up since.

Keeley Grant is the daughter of privilege, but she works hard to make her riding academy a success. For every three paying students she takes a student who needs the love and acceptance found in caring for an animal. The new trainer has her off balance and experiencing feelings she had only heard about for the first time.

[paige (ptsungirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You can be fooled by looking at something, by the face or the form, and judging it without knowing what is inside."

[Aayesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I shelved this one under 'heart breakingly wonderful favourites', because, even though it occupies a special place in my heart, being my first NR book ever, it certainly isn't a heartbreakingly wonderful favourite. The h was too stubborn for my liking, even back then, and it was obvious that NR was turning into the author she is now, modernising her views and her heroines. I much prefer her older work, I haven't read a new NR book in years. Excluding the In Death series, of course. I can't leave my baby Roarke for anything.

Aaand this was supposed to be a review for Irish Rebel. I digress a lot. Anyway, I loved the horse theme in this novel - it is one of my favourites. I didn't particularly feel anything for the hero, he wasn't that special and didn't catch my attention like the h's father, Travis, did. Travis was quite something. *fans self*

And now I'm going to stop writing this review, because as it turns out, I'm talking about everything else but the book.

Rec'd for all you hardcore NR fans out there, but for old fashioned people like me, stay away.

[Neus Gutiérrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

De la trilogía, sin duda éste es el mejor.
Pero es que sigo sin ver el qué... ya no a Nora Roberts, que también, sino a los libros. Es que es un nivel de personajes clichés, historias insulsas y amores porque me apetece a mí. Sinceramente sigo sin saber exactamente por qué se enamoran estos dos xD
No sé, creo que tengo que ir a por otros lares a ver qué encuentro.
Como veis, lo sigo intentando.

[Coco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tercer, y último libro de la saga Corazones Irlandeses.
¡Voy a echar de menos a los Grant!
Una familia muy peculiar, irlandeses de corazón y orgullosos a más no poder.
Ha sido agradable leer sobre el mundo de los caballos.
Recomendado 100%.

[Vero Rinconin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estoy entre 2'5-3
Son libros viejunos que he disfrutado, resulta tan entretenido con los dos anteriores de las serie y se sigue notando, aunque menos, los orígenes de la autora.

[Aleja · Rating 3 out of 5]

2'5/5☆

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Nora Roberts..

Third in the trilogy and my favorite in the series. These books are fun and easy.

Romance, Irish families, and American horse racing.

[Leane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

[Laney · Rating 2 out of 5]

horse people are so weird (sorry) DNF

[Cyrisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best stories that I have read by Nora Roberts. It carries on where she left off in her two previous stories Irish Rose and Irish Thoroughbred. When I read the previous books in the Irish Hearts series I was so attached to the characters. They are so alive and vivid when you read Nora's words. When I read a Nora Roberts book I feel like I am part of the family, she writes in so much detail that you can see the characters and scenes like you are right there in the middle of it. This book takes place on a horse farm and it brings the two family's together for one last big bang. The romance aspect in this book is so flirty and right on the line of hot and steamy. The action and thrills in this book are also wonderful, Nora always keeps you on the edge of your seat while you read her stories. Even though you know they have to get together in the end, like most romance novels, the bumps and curves that they have to hit on the way to the end are so exciting. I ached for this family, laughed with them, and I even cried a few times. That is why I feel that this is one of the best books and Nora Roberts is the best romance author I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes horses, romance, love, or just a good juicy book.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good and, as always, keeps me interested. I liked the characters and their personalities. Although I did get a little aggravated with them. This was a good and has me wanting to read more in this series. I liked learning a bit about something new too, horses and racing. It had me wanting to check it out myself. The horses anyway. Descriptive and fiery, this was a good escape and I enjoyed reading it. Enjoy!

[Kristiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dibaca untuk Romance RC 2016
Tema : Third Installment
3.5 stars

[Mojca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Donnelly transfers from Ireland to America in order to take the lead trainer position on the Royal Meadows horse farm. There he, nomad his entire life, will discover the beauty of permanency and true love. Both in the form of two special horses, and the woman that's been meant for him.


For some this story is the worst in the bunch, while for me it's the best. Most reviewers complain about Brian and his prickly disposition, disregarding the fact that the previous heroes in this series were much much worse cavemen, children of 80's romance fiction, I guess.

For me, this was a true Nora Roberts book, along the lines of those I came to know and cherish in my reading history. Yes, the hero was a bit prickly and a reverse-snob, but the heroine was more than capable of going head to head with him in her stubbornness and pride.
I found these two much more evenly matched than their predecessors where the heroine was, granted Irish, but still pretty much a doormat when it came to her hero.
I liked Keeley in all her prideful, cold-princess, stubbornly independent glory, and I liked Brian with his complexes and prejudice that easily crumbled into dust the more he got to know his woman. I loved the fact he was the one to fall first, and even though he was too stupidly blind to confess his feelings first, Keeley was there, hounding him along the way, chipping away at his reservations and male pride.
Theirs was a slowly-building romance that started in animosity, moved through mutual respect and friendship only to blossom into love.

I absolutely loved it from page one, and would not have changed a thing, even if I could.

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was delightful, best one in the series. i’d read it as a standalone.

i looved the chemistry.

“If you'd rather seduce me, go ahead.”

“Panic jingled straight to his head, nearly made him dizzy. "This is no place for crying."  
"I'm upset. It's my stable. I can cry when and where I choose."  
"All right, all right, all right." Desperately he dug into his pocket for a bandanna. "Here, just blow your nose or something.”

“Please don't cry."  
"I'm trying not to. Hurry up."  
"I can't be rushed at such a time. Sniffle those back or I'll blunder it.”

“Marry me, Brian." 
 "Bloody hell. Will you let me do the asking?”

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️ There was chemistry, emotion, and angst. Brian is a horse trainer who works for Keeley’s father (Travis from book 1). Both immediately were attracted to each other, but Brian was a snob about her status. It took him finding out who Keeley really was and him dealing with his own shit to fully commit. Keeley knew she wanted him, so she pursued him as she knew he wasn’t going to do the pursuing. I really liked Keeley! I also liked how Brain was possessive over her.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Nora makes me chuckle, Nora makes me tear up a little, and Nora makes me smile in contentment when it's all over. She's not ever going be counted next to the masters, but I love her books! They are a welcome break from some of the deeper stuff I read. Do I always know how the book is going to end? Yes. Do I care? No. I love the journey!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nopealukuinen romantiikkahuttu Nora Robertsille tuttuun tyyliin toteutettuna. Juonikuviot vaikuttivat hivenen jo tutuilta; edellinen hevosmaailmaan ja -talleille sijoittunut romanttinen tarina Robertsilta herätti kaikuja tähän tarinaan.

[Cait · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was reading this book and really enjoying myself until just before the end. There's this altercation and it's like in those 5-10 pages we were transported back 50-100 years where women shut up when they were told to, and were rescued by men and their ridiculous testosterone.

Travis - the dad - finds out that his grown daughter who is clearly pushing 25 or so has been sleeping with one of his employee's, the horse trainer, Brian. So what does Travis do? Threaten violence on this guy. And when Keeley, the daughter, essentially tells him to grow up, Brian the lover tells her to be quiet and that she shouldn't take to her father that way. Excuse me? Did we just render this capable women to the sidelines while 2 men decide her fate?

Now some people will say that her temper fires up and she takes on Brian, while her mother deals with Travis, which is eventually true. BUT she does shut up when she's told. And she does let them essentially sort it out while she remains quietly enraged until the very end where she puts in her two cents.

Then her dad and mother leave and her and Brian work out there issues and decide to get married - but of course Brian has to "do it proper" and ask Travis for permission for her to marry him.

I almost threw the book across the room in disgust. Keeley was this strong female character who flopped epicly at the end, which combined with male bullshit wreck the end of the book for me.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Irish Hearts trilogy. In the first book we saw her parents fall in love. In the second we saw glimpses of her as a child and in this third entry to this series we see a grown up Keeley Grant falling in love with Brian Donnelly. Keeley and Brian become great partners who support each other's career goals as both work to further their careers working with horses. Keeley has a big heart and paired with Brian's Irish charm, it makes this story a satisfying conclusion to the Grant/Burke families! To hear a full discussion of Irish Rebel listen to Season 1, Ep. #1 "Nora Roberts Irish Hearts: Irish Thoroughbred, Irish Rose, Irish Rebel" of Romancing the Shelf, a Nora Roberts podcast: https://romancingtheshelf.libsyn.com/

[Maria Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down, Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors ever. I love the way she so easily describes her characters and the setting in such detail without making the story drag. Irish Rebel is no different. Roberts paints a beautiful picture of an Irish horse trainer who is hired to work for a racehorse farm in Maryland. He comes from a relatively poor background but knows what it is to work hard and earn his keep. On the first day, he meets the owner's oldest daughter and tries to peg her as a spoiled princess. Little does he know that she's really quite the opposite. It's really a joy to see how these two end up falling hard in love with each other

[Debra (Dragon Nanny) Phiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story so much! I enjoyed that we got to see where people were at in life from that first story.

Our characters are all stubborn, a sense of honor and pride that makes them even harder to admit some things or hold on to a belief they had about others.

What was the best part - the love that grew between them! It was a wonderful read!

[Amara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, a beta male. Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

[Gloria Ibañez Tarrida · Rating 4 out of 5]

3'5
Una historia muy romántica y dulce. Es la Roberts🙌 lo malo que es una novelita muy cortita pero preciosa🇮🇪☘️🐎