Reviews

Irish Hearts: Irish Thoroughbred, Irish Rose by Nora Roberts

dragonaion's review against another edition

emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I love Robert's style with other books, but these two are definitely a product of their time and her earlier works; these follow into the Disney "A Whole New World" experience by dropping country women in a literal new world with horses, drowning them in money and luxury, with domineering men who make decisions for them. For modern readers, these stories are filled with red flags, including consent issues and toxic masculinity (especially the second book, I couldn't finish it) that was normalized and romanticized during the mid-80's. However, even for their time, they show more self-reliant women, able to defend themselves verbally (arguably physically) and show the growing trend of more independent women.

These are the stories my mother would read, and it shows. These have not aged well, but on their own can show how far the romance genre has come.

33p3barpercent's review against another edition

1.0

Awful. Just... terrible.

1.) When does this take place? The two heroines have never encountered a dishwasher? What?
2.) I hate the Heroes.
3.) How about some gradual romantic relationship development?

stinkysteps's review against another edition

1.0

I don't think romance novels are for me.

thereadingknitter's review against another edition

3.0

Irish Thoroughbred - About a girl from Ireland who has to move to America to live with her uncle. They both love horses and work on farms. Adelia falls in love with Travis (the owner of the farm she is working at).

Irish Rose - Erin McKinnon was Adelia's cousin. On a visit she falls in love with Burke and moves to America.

sappleton12's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

coralang's review against another edition

2.0

Voilà une lecture bien spéciale. D’abord je m’aperçois que la maison d’édition fait partie du groupe Harlequin, ça donne le ton. Deux récits de machos agressifs qui réussissent tout de même à dompter de fougueuses jeunes Irlandaises en leur serrant les bras. Ouf

sewcialist_librarian's review against another edition

3.0

Typical contemporary romance from Nora Roberts. Entertaining, sort of. Roberts makes the Irish seem like backwater bumpkins.

amylee218's review against another edition

3.0

Classic Nora-- easy to read, happy ending, exaggerated Irishness. Like a comfortable old friend, reminding me of the big box of Harlequins my Great Aunt Alice gave me when I was in my late teens. Except for the slight cringiness. Some of the sex/kissing scenes were definitely products of their times, and there was not a lot of emphasis on consent, so I am definitely glad to see that change in romance novels.

emlickliter's review against another edition

5.0

Irish Hearts by Nora Roberts – This book has the honor of being the first real romance novel I ever read, and that may be the reason I still reread it lovingly every now and again. Happy Reading!

bethb3's review against another edition

3.0

It's easy to tell this was Nora's first book, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it despite its flaws.