Born in Shame

I just finished reading Born in Shame by Nora Roberts. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love Nora Roberts. She has to be one of the best writers of romantic, suspenseful, and life examining books there is. This book, the last in the Born In... trilogy series is definitely a wonderful way to end a series.

As the books opens you find Shannon Bodine about to have her world turned upside down. Her father had passed away in the 9/11 tragedy the year before and now her mother is dying of cancer. As she lies dying, Amanda, her mother shares with her that she is the product of a short love affair from long ago. Years before her mother and a friend took a trip to Ireland where Amanda and Thomas Conannon fell in love. For both of them it was a love that never died. However, it was not to be, for Thomas was a married man, unhappily, with two young children. Amanda returned home, found out she was pregnant and decided that she was going to have and love this child that she had made with Thomas. When her family found out she was expecting, they insisted that she go away and have the child and give it up. When she refused they turned her out of their house with no money and no means of support. Amanda went up state, found a job as a maid in a hotel to help support herself and save money for when the baby came. This is where she met Colin Bodine, the man that Shannon had always thought was her father. She married and then came to love this kind, caring man.

When Shannon found out about the circumstances of her birth she became hurt and angry. Unfortunately, the last words she had with her mother were harsh words over the situation, leaving her feeling guilty and frustrated. Her mother's last wish was for Shannon to go to County Chase in Ireland to see where she and her father had met. On the day of her mother's funeral she was visited by a private detective representing her half sisters in Ireland.

It turns out that they have been searching for her since shortly after their father's death. Brianna had found three letters from Amanda tied with a red ribbon in the attic shortly after her father had died. Shannon refused the offer from her sisters to meet and visit and sent the detective on his way. She returns to her well ordered life in New York as a graphic artist in one of the cities most prestigious agencies. But she is unable to stop thinking about her last words with her mother and is unable to settle back into her life that had previously been so rewarding. She receives a letter form Brianna and after reading it, she decides to go for a couple of weeks to Ireland and meet the family of her birth father.

When she arrives she begins to be captivated by the beautiful scenery. She meets Brianna who is welcoming and sensitive and Maggie who is suspicious and hostile. Maggie and Shannon instantly irritated by and distrustful of each other. They as so alike it is scary, but neither of them can see it. Brianna's husband is Grayson Thane is an American mystery writer, handsome and quite like-able. As is Maggie's husband, wealthy international art dealer Roger Sweeney.

Suddenly in walks Murphy Maldoon who becomes deaf, dumb and almost blind at the first glance of Shannon. Hear before him is the woman he has dreamed of and waited for all of his life. Murphy is the neighbor and the closest thing Maggie and Brianna have to a brother. For him it is instant love. Not so for Shannon. That night Shannon begins having dreams of a mysteriously handsome man from long ago. As she continues having these dreams the feeling of longing and love becomes stronger between the ones in the dream.

Murphy is trying to court her and she is steadily trying to resist him without understanding exactly why. You will love the ending. Love conquers all.

• There are about 145 million copies of Nora Roberts books in print.
• 27 of her books are sold every minute.
• Her first best seller was published in 1991.
• She has written 182 books
• It takes her around 45 days to write a novel.
• In a typical year she publishes 5 new books.
• Her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published in 1981.