Lately, I have been willing to go out of my regular genre (thrillers and mystery), I decided to pick a contemporary romance novel, but I wanted it to be worth my time. So, I picked Nora Roberts’ book, “Born in fire”. I have read some of her books before and I enjoyed them; her writing style is truly remarkable.
Originally, I planned on reading a chapter each day, because of my busy school schedule but when I got to chapter 3 on the third day, I just couldn’t drop it. I finished the whole book that same day. I just kept on turning page after page. And now, I will be sharing my review of the book.
“Born in Fire” by Nora Roberts is a contemporary novel published in 1994. it is first novel in the Irish Born Trilogy. This book focuses on family dynamics, passion and creativity, trauma, love and healing, and identity.
The story follows Margaret Mary Concannon, a talented glassmaker, who is portrayed as a bold, stubborn and independent woman who lives in County Clare and has devoted her life to her art. Maggie grew up in a cracked home, with a dad who had supported her and her dreams, a sister, Brianna—the peacemaker, nurturing and lovely one— and her mother, Maeve, a bitter woman.
However, this fierce and high tempered Maggie’s work soon catches the attention of Rogan Sweeney, a polished, assertive, business-minded Dublin gallery owner, who, obsessed with Maggie’s unique art, proposes to be her art dealer and manager.
But what happens when an independent glass artist meets an authoritative man who wants to guide and shape her future? As the story unfolds, we see this professional relationship gradually fade and something deeper emerges.
Aside from the romance aspect, this book also offers a family dilemma and most particularly Maggie’s recovery from her dad’s death, her constant struggle to heal from the trauma her bitter mother has caused her, and her loyalty and ties to her younger sister.
Nora Robert expresses an evocative story of passion and self-discovery set against the beauty of rural Ireland.
I am not a huge fan of romance novels, but I surprisingly enjoyed this. It felt different than the regular college or next-door neighbour romance book. While the storyline didn’t stand out for me, the mood of the book did— the artistry, the setting and the subtle vibe.
Nora Roberts’ writing style is one thing I appreciate. Her writing paints Ireland with such warmth and precision, making it easier to imagine Maggie’s world and her craft. Her prose and narrative are also impressive, engaging and smooth.
I have never seen glassmaking as a big deal or something to spare my thoughts on, but this book portrayed glassmaking in such a way that I fell in love with it and even searched for videos on glassmaking afterwards.
I love the family input in the story— the family dilemma within the Concannon household and the past history— adds depth to the narrative: Maggie’s love and loyalty to her sister and complicated relationship with her mother.
I particularly also enjoyed the personality contrast between the two main characters. Maggie, with her temper and fierceness, opposes Rogan’s polished and assertive personality. The collision between these two was quite interesting.
However, in my opinion, I didn’t enjoy how quickly the relationship developed between the two main characters. Everything seemed to move quickly— from meeting to working together and falling in love and even to marriage. Maggie, who had built up a wall around her, suddenly seemed vulnerable far too easily.
The plot of the book is quite straightforward, it is a more traditional, predictable and regular romance book where the emphasis is on the characters conflicts, passion, and family. There weren’t any major twists that I would have enjoyed, but it was a good read.
Overall, Born in Fire is a warm, contemporary romance novel that blends passion, art, family drama and love. Though the storyline is simple, it captures the emotions of the characters and the beauty of Ireland. It was a calm and nice read. I would rate it 3.8 out of 5
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𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.
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