Birthright

BIRTHRIGHT by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts is an amazing woman. As a writer she can turn out book after book, yet she manages to make each one new and fresh. Her latest, BIRTHRIGHT, is a prime example. It is as fresh and appealing as the first story she ever wrote. She creates charismatic characters who live and love in a world full of drama, romance and humor.

In this new story the main character is Callie Dunbrook, an archaeologist who is working on a dig at Antietam Creek, Virginia. There has been a newsworthy discovery of artifacts and Callie is heading up the scientific expedition to accumulate the pieces and assess their worth. Her co-worker at the site is her ex-husband Jake, a paleontologist.

Callie is not happy that Jake is there. Their divorce was not a friendly one and she is aggravated just by the sight of the man. But work demands they co-exist so she is making the best of it.

Unknown to Callie, the small town near the site is important in her life. This is where the Cullens live and they will come to be more and more important to Callie as her stay in the area lengthens. She will come to know Suzanne Cullen, her ex-husband Jay, and their son Douglas. Knowing them will bring her happiness and heartache, as well as danger.

Roberts can write about romance as good or better than anyone on the market today. What makes her excel is her way with humor. She has a natural wit about her and manages to weave it unobtrusively into her dialogue. This makes her stories more enjoyable and her characters more human.

Learning to care about Callie and Jake and the rest of the people in this book, leads to some excellent reading time. You start with a horrendous event in the first few pages and then bounce forward to a Tracy/Hepburn love/hate relationship. Then a murder occurs and you are in suspense territory. Plus you get to see a new love bloom among some secondary characters.

All of this meshes together to make BIRTHRIGHT a wonderful story to savor. Nora Roberts has done it again and when she does it right it is pure perfect reading pleasure.

BIRTHRIGHT is published by G P Putnam's Sons. It contains 465 pages and sells for $25.95.