O'Hurley Born

The O'Hurleys #1-2

by Nora Roberts

#1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the O'Hurleys, a dynasty of dazzling talent and sizzling passion.

The Last Honest Woman
If sex sells, then so do lies—especially when the truth is revealed. And cynical journalist Dylan Crosby knew that the just-a-simple-widow routine Abby O'Hurley was giving him wasn't anything close to the truth. There was a story there. All he had to do was turn on the charm, turn down the lights and she would whisper all her secrets. Unless she uncovered his first…

Dance to the Piper
Maddy O'Hurley shone in the spotlight. Her passion for dancing set the stage aflame and left no one in her audience unaffected—including business mogul Reed Valentine. But Reed wasn't used to burning— not for anything or anyone. And he wasn't about to let the ruthless business skills he'd honed be affected by wild passion. So was he prepared to fight fire with fire?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, M F Romance

480 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

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

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

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”). I think I have read every one of her books to date because despite the cheesy nature, the ending is always happy and the read is easy. Frankly, I like these books and will continue to read each one that comes out. I am going to post this same review for each of her books that I have read in the past.

[Morgan Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved both sisters for different reasons.

I felt i related more to Abby, wanting a simple life with a family and a farm. I liked how caring dylan was to her and her boys.

I liked how Maddy was so confident and unapologetic. She found her passion in dance.

I didnt realize this book had a second book till i started it.

[Adriane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of Nora Roberts' great family sagas. It's both romantic and funny

[Aleisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read April. Predictable in parts

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book was a story about Abby O'Hurley, she was one of triplet's, there father and mother, were singers and dancer, and went all over the country to make a living, and the girls went too! The doctor that delivered them, was kind, and Mr O'Hurley's named one of his daughters after the Dr's wife, which was Abigail, so he said one of his daughters would be named after her. Anyway Abby married a race car driver, his father wasn't in the picture,but his mother was a real witch, and she didn't like Abby. Anyway Abby had 2 children by Chuck, then he got hooked on drugs, and was killed in a race car accident, but he wasn't high. Anyway his mother kept all the money that Chuck had set aside for Abby and the kids, and Abby was the sole person who was taking care of a ranch where she was raising Morgan horses. Dylan Crosby was an author who wrote biographies and he came to write a book about her husband. He was under the impression that she would have a staff and maids helping her, but there was no-one there to help except her children and they couldn't do a lot of things, except sweep out stalls, kind of haphazardly. He would ask her questions and she wouldn't exactly tell him the truth and he knew she was lying. Things got a little touchy. But it all works out.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains two of the books in one of my favorite family series of Nora Roberts, the O'Hurleys (originally they were Silhouette Special Edition titles). It was fun to read them again, and revisit this vibrant, entertaining, loving family. It was also funny because they were written in the late-80s, so the descriptions of clothing and decor were pretty entertaining (mismatched colors, baggy blazers, sweatbands, ...), the men were a little less self-aware or sensitive than in her more recent books, and lots more people smoked (and in public places).

[Nicole-Pattypattz1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 to 4.0 Stars

I hate when I forget books I have read. This was before I was addicted to my Kindle and Ipad-Ipod. I've read alot of Nora's older work and just found a box of old paperbacks, so I can't do a review justice as it has been awhile since I read this book, but I will say the O'Hurleys are a lively, entertaining a fun family. I remember that these books are about small town life of two "triplets"...Abby and Maddie and Chantel's story is next.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a two in one and includes the first two books in the O'Hurley series. In the first story Abby O'Hurley has hired Dylan Crosby to write the biography about her deceased husband who was a race car driver. She has some secrets to hide and Dylan senses that she's hiding something almost immediately. Dylan has moved in with Abby and her two adorable sons until the book is finished. Abby doesn't fit the mold that Dylan has placed her in, but he can't fight his attraction to her.

In the second book Maddy O'Hurley, Abby's sister (they are part of a set of triplets) is getting ready to star in a new Broadway production when she meets the "angel" of the show. Angels are the people paying the bills. It's immediate attraction, even although Reed Valentine is dragging his feet. But Maddy doesn't let that stop her, she is one of those people that just bulldozes her way in, with her kindness and love for life.

I loved both of these stories and, even, though they were both re-reads, I still enjoyed them. These are the kind of stories that Nora Roberts does best. Just a nice, boy meets girl, boy and girl maybe fall in love - but there are problems. Boy and girl work through those problems to the HEA.

[Emna ELLEFI · Rating 3 out of 5]

2eme Nora Roberts : oui oui je m'accroche parce qu’une amie a moi l'aime tellement et je tenais a trouver cette magie dont elle me parle tout le temps ..

Celui là est meilleur que le précédent c'est vrai , on y trouve une petite histoire d'amour toujours banale et classique ( j'ai un sérieux problème avec ces histoires ) on peut anticiper ce qui se passe dans chaque RDV ,
le charme de ce livre réside plutôt dans la maîtrise du décor , tantôt campagnard , et hop on est a Broadway , les paillettes , les plumes , le show ...
Un livre doux , qui se lit lentement , sans invitation aucune a la réflexion ou le suspense , c'est comme ces films cocooning qu'on regarde avec une tisane pour se remonter le moral , avec en plus une petite leçon de persévérance , de volonté et de courage , ça tombait a merveille , j'avais besoin d'inspiration

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Born O'Hurley" is about a set of triplets who are born into musical family. Book #1 concentrates on Abigail "Abby" who decides to settle on a farm in Virginia and raise her two boys and Morgan horses. Book #2 concentrates on Maddy, who is a professional dancer. Both of these "2 books in one" are well written and held my interest.

Nora Roberts, as far as I can tell, has to do extensive research to on one hand describe the life of a widowed woman who has to survive on a farm with 2 small boys by herself and then turn around and describe the backstage life of a dancer and all that that involves. She does her research well.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book simply because I'd never read any of the O'Hurley stories. I'm a fan of Nora Roberts (& her alter-ego JD Robb) so I expected a good read. I not only got that but I was so charmed by the characters. I didnt't want to put the book down to do anything else. I love those kind of books. Feeling as though you are in the middle of a good story & being surrounded by friends is a wonderful place to be.

I am so looking forward to reading the last 2 stories of the series.

Nora - if you read any of these comments, have you thought about writing the story of the parents to finish out the series? I would love to learn their story as well!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an old copy found in a little lending library.
I do love Nora Roberts way of writing romance 🤩.
Both stories were just the right for a weekend of losing yourself in romance.
Out of the two stories, I enjoyed Maddy and Reed's the most, maybe because it was set in the theatre life, something new for me.
Abby and Dylan's storyline was more familiar as I read a lot of stories set in rural backdrops and of course I owned horses (miss them too) so alot was familiar even down to birthing foal's!
Favorite line... From Maddy's story.

Desire me...but quietly, Long for me... But gently, Ache for me... But patiently 💓

[June Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the tale of Abby O'Hurley. Abby was married to a race car driver with 2 young sons, he tragically died and she had to pick up the pieces of her life. An author came to write a biography of her husbands life and things changed for her dramatically.
The second novel was about her sister Maddy. Maddy was a Broadway star who was working on a new production. She met a new man and things in her life changed dramatically as well.

[Suntimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars for The Last Honest Woman
I already wrote an update about how I felt about this story so I’ll just say it was nice but didn’t do much for me.
3 stars for Dance to the Piper
This one was better. I liked Reed and Maddy. Maddy is so optimistic and bubbly. I liked Reed and his relationship with his father. It made him more likeable. I also liked the connection between their families, it felt right for some reason. It made me want to learn how to do a pirouette.

[Marseydoats · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not actually the book I read, but the software wouldn't let me change it. I only read The Last Honest Woman. And I never thought this could happen,but I didn't like it. I am a HUGE fan of the author, but this book was just not for me.
I probably would have rated it a "2" but when Chantel was dropping cigarettes on the ground near the end of the book, I thought she was going to burn the barn down and it really ticked me off...

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a reissue of two 1988 stories about two of the four O'Hurley siblings who grew up on the road in an entertainment family. The two sisters are both strong female characters who know what they want and work hard to achieve it. They both fall in love with stubborn men who need to be relieved of their misconceptions. I wish they both would have had to grovel a bit more, but I enjoyed the stories.

[Mary Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Nora Roberts. Female with some issues. Meets totally different man. He doesn't believe in long term commitments. Etc. I listened to it in the car. Reader was good. Two books actually. Great for car listening or quick beach read. Different industry (entertainment) than I am used to.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit, I started skimming when Dylan got pissed off that she was doing her job better than he was doing her job. Because obviously his experience 10-15 years ago should beat what she does every day. And it wasn’t like he was there as a writer...

I did like the second book better.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy how she describes and shares her characters

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,75/5

[Kathy Smitheman · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the characters in this series are very compelling making it hard to but down. The first book starts off slow & a little confusing but quickly straightens up.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the two stories in here. The characters were spunky and interesting. I really liked the look at backstage in theater as well. Definitely will try to find the others in this series.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora Roberts tells such great stories.....love to read her stories as they just feel good and keep you wanting to know more.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these characters!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story - the twists and turns of relationships is prominent.

[Lori Ben-ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy vacation read

[Brooklynnbank · Rating 5 out of 5]

,c

[Miranda]

Lol

[Minetta Slattery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

n/a