Reviewed by Kati Dancy
Reprint/Publisher: Silhouette
It all started in 1983, at my parents’ beach house. I was 12, and bored through and through on the one rainy day we had during our beach vacation. My mom suggested I go to the book shelves where renters had left books behind to share, to see if I could find something to entertain me for the afternoon. It was there that I spotted my very first “grown-up” romance novel. Oh sure, I’d read “Fifteen” by Beverly Cleary and had of course read quite a few of the “Sweet Valley High” series. But this book, with its white cover featuring a gorgeous redheaded woman and a handsome man just behind her kissing her neck, this book that screamed out “romance”, was going to be my initiation into a genre of books that 26 years later, I’m just as passionate about. The book was Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts.
Irish Thoroughbred is the story of Adelia Cunnane, who has slaved away all of her life on her small Irish farm, trying desperately to make ends meet. When her beloved aunt who raised her dies, Dee writes to her one remaining relative, Padrick to let him know his sister has passed. His reply is immediate, “Come to America, your home is with me now.” Dee sells her farm and flies to Virginia where she is met by Paddy, who brings her with him to Royal Meadows, the Thoroughbred horse farm where he is the trainer. Dee is anxious to work and immediately takes a shine to Majesty, Royal Meadows prize racer. She is wonderful with animals and is promptly hired to work as a groom. It is on this first day that she meets Travis Grant, Royal Meadows’ handsome and determined owner. The sparks fly from the beginning between Travis and Dee, as they argue over almost every interaction they have. And yet, as time goes by, those arguments become infused with the undeniable attraction they have for each other and a deeper emotion begins to build.
Irish Thoroughbred was actually Nora Roberts’ first romance ever published and began her long and distinguished career both with Silhouette and in main stream publishing. The book is wonderfully dated, with fashion straight from the 80s and featuring all of the hallmarks of 80s romance. The hero, Travis, is overbearing, autocratic and a bit of an ass. Dee is feisty to the point of obnoxious and too headstrong by half. And yet, the story illustrates all of the reasons that Nora Roberts is one of the best selling authors, not just of romance, of all time. The main couple is likeable and funny. And the strong connections between all of the characters, secondaries included, are effortlessly drawn. The love story itself includes the dreaded “arranged marriage” and yet, it has a wonderful sweetness that made me, even as a 12 year old, realize that the happily ever after was something that I wanted desperately to read more of. Nora Roberts started me down this road, and she remains my all time favorite author. Re-reading Irish Thoroughbred was a magical walk down memory lane for me.
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Marisa
on May 26th, 2009
@ 6:27 am:
I’ve read a lot of Nora Roberts’ books, but I have to confess I’ve never read the Irish Hearts series. I think I started with the Stanislaskis series. I fell in love with those siblings and couldn’t get enough. And true to being a classic, I can still re-read them and enjoy, even with the dated clothes and the use of pay phones (which seem to have gone the way of the dinosaur) – again, with Nora, it’s the characters and their relationships, the vibrancy of the family dynamics that make these books timeless.
PJ
on May 26th, 2009
@ 7:08 am:
My first Nora book was All the Possibilities, the story of Shelby Campbell and Alan MacGregor. I read it the first time around, back in 1999, and that was all it took for me to fall in love with the wonderful Daniel MacGregor and his family as well as with Roberts’ writing. I read Irish Thoroughbred when it was re-released in 2007 and even though it was dated it was still a story I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Kati and the reminder of why Nora’s books are so special to so many.
Witchy
on May 26th, 2009
@ 7:36 am:
there are tons of romance books that i found really good at here
http://witchy-romancenovels.blogspot.com/
Kati
on May 26th, 2009
@ 8:31 am:
Marisa – Ah the Stanislaskis. Those Wildl Ukrainians (that’s what the series was called). I loved them, and loved even more when she wrote some of their children’s stories. Waiting for Nick is one of my all time favorites by Nora.
PJ – Oh, I adore the MacGregors. And Alan and Shelby’s is my favorite of their stories. And who wouldn’t fall for Daniel MacGregor? So manipulative and good hearted? Love that series!
Maria Lokken
on May 26th, 2009
@ 10:43 am:
Marisa introduced me to Nora – and I started reading her about 6 years ago. I was delighted that there was such a back list of books. My favorite of her series is CHESAPEAKE BAY SERIES and THE GARDEN SERIES.
Carolyn Jean
on May 26th, 2009
@ 12:28 pm:
WHAT a sweet post! I love reading about your first. Nora really has touched so many lives. You must have been just so enthralled, not just by the book, but at that age, books are like, extra magical. I wish I had discovered romance that early on.
Kati
on May 26th, 2009
@ 1:20 pm:
CJ – And they TOTALLY did it in Chapter 10! LOL!
No, really, I remember being captivated by the emotions, and how passionate everything seemed to be. Of course, real life is nothing like that, but it certainly got me hooked on romance, that’s for sure.
Anna Campbell
on May 26th, 2009
@ 7:14 pm:
Kati, what a lovely review. I love hearing about how people got hooked on romance (I’m sure I’ve told you, but when I was eight, my mum shoved a Mills and Boon into my hands to shut me up because I was driving her bananas). Kept me quiet so I suppose it worked! I haven’t read a lot of Nora’s early work. This sounds like such fun. My favorite of her books is the Chesapeake Bay series. I use them as romance conversion kits and they’re yet to fail me!
LB Gregg
on May 26th, 2009
@ 7:49 pm:
I’ve never read Nora. It’s true. But my first romance was a Fern Michaels’ lady pirate story–I was twelve. And soon after that I discovered Woodiwiss. So great. Pro’lly won’t hold up now, but then? Magical.
Wonderful post, Kati.
Gannon
on May 26th, 2009
@ 7:58 pm:
Irish Thoroughbred has a place among my keepers. It was not my first Nora–I believe that one was Divine Evil–but I have since read EVERYTHING she has written and most are still on my shelves. Nora is definitely in a class by herself.
orannia
on May 27th, 2009
@ 4:28 pm:
Thank you Kati! That was just magical. My first Nora Roberts book was Sea Swept…and I only read it two years ago! (I’m a late bloomer.) I’ve only read the Chesapeake Bay saga (and all the In Death books bar one), but I have Lovers & Dreamers on my TBR list as I remember you recommending it
Alice
on Jun 10th, 2009
@ 10:49 pm:
Wow, this brings back memories. I still remember buying Irish Thoroughbred from Woolworths for $1.25 in 1983. I was 19 and had been hooked on Romances for a couple of years already. I loved it and read it over and over. I still have my original copy, white Silhouette. A little dog eared, but still my favorite book. Still the most romantic book I ever read.
scene girls
on Jun 11th, 2009
@ 4:14 pm:
That’s some excellent information you’ve gathered on , but how do you find the time to gather it all??
sara
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 11:52 am:
hi im sara im 11 i started reading nora roberts books when i was 8 ive read all of them with my sister & mom at least 5 times i love all her books exspelly (Sp?)the twilight seiries (sp?)im obsessed with her books im almost in sixth grade i love nora roberts