Shadow Spell

The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, Book 2

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: Alan Smyth

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

From number-one New York Times best-selling author Nora Roberts comes a trilogy about the land we’re drawn to, the family we learn to cherish, and the people we long to love.…

With the legends and lore of Ireland running through his blood, falconer Connor O’Dwyer is proud to call County Mayo home. It’s where his sister, Branna, lives and works, where his cousin, Iona, has found true love, and where his childhood friends form a circle that can’t be broken.…

A circle that is about to be stretched out of shape - by a long-awaited kiss.

Meara Quinn is Branna’s best friend, a sister in all but blood. Her and Connor’s paths cross almost daily, as Connor takes tourists on hawk walks and Meara guides them on horseback across the lush countryside. She has the eyes of a gypsy and the body of a goddess…things Connor has always taken for granted - until his brush with death propels them into a quick, hot tangle.

Plenty of women have found their way to Connor’s bed, but none to his heart until now. Frustratingly, Meara is okay with just the heat, afraid to lose herself - and their friendship - to something more. But soon, Connor will see the full force and fury of what runs in his blood. And he will need his family and friends around him when his past rolls in like the fog, threatening an end to all he loves.…

©2014 Nora Roberts (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Story review

The overall story was good. Did not like the narration of characters. Did not match the first and third book narration which was much better.

Enjoying the series, not so much the 2nd narrator

Great, fun series! I've listened to the first multiple times, but I think I'll have to buy the e-book for this one if I want to get through it again. Alan Smyth does a decent job in some respects, but his voice for the American cousin, Iona, is atrocious! She sounds like a geeky American man, for one, and the R's are chewed entirely too much. I laughed every time I heard her. To top it off, the voice for Boyle was equally obnoxious. I couldn't tell him apart from his female Irish counterparts! So glad the story of Boyle and Iona has already happened. Praying they bring the first narrator back for the last book, or at least someone equally talented. This narrator? No thank you!

2 for 2 of horrible narrations in this series

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Maybe. As I said in the review of the first book of this series, Nora Roberts is a true genius of her craft. I do love this story and especially any story where Nora takes me back to Ireland with her. The characters are well developed, although I would like to have learned more about the villain in this story.

What didn’t you like about Alan Smyth’s performance?

It sounded like this was his first time narrating, and he can't read very well. You can tell this by the way he keeps stopping his narration in order to read the next bit. His Irish accents are great, but it seems this was the only reason he was chosen for this book. His narration and story telling skills need a lot more practice before he's let back in to one of Nora's books again.

What would have made this romance irresistible?

A different narration.

very exciting

well written,has riveting as the first , can't wait for the. next one. will read again

Great story, narration not so much

Love the story line and characters. With the trilogy you get wrapped up in their lives. What I really didn’t like was the male voice narration speaking as a young child, creeped me out, it was fine as adults or young adults.

Not quite great but still good.

It wasn't quite up to par with the first book but middle novels in trilogies tend to sag a little bit. That's to be expected, I think. However, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this book. It was a wonderful read.

Overall good, reader could have been better.

Story is hands down compelling. My main issue is with Boyce's voice. He sounded like an old man, and highly English at times.

You've got to really want to listen to this book!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator has got to go! Soooo boring!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator was horrible!

What would have made this romance irresistible?

A different narrator!

Any additional comments?

It's really a shame how a narrator can spoil the complete book!!

Terrible narrator

This is the worst narration I've heard. It should be redone! I can't believe this man is paid to narrate.

Narration is poor.

Good book poor narration, should have not made the change in narrators. Book 3 has a new narrator. Read the book.