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ianmcnamara's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved the third book in the series just as much as the other times i've read these books. Zoe was my favourite of the 3 women from the start, she's caring and got a lot of determination and love for others especially her sun Simon. In some ways she had the toughest Journey to go on as she did not have a spicific tallent in regards to what her key may be linked to or at least from her point of view. She was a character who was funny and plucky and produced some of the most jokey moments between the three women. I also loved the way everyone calls brad brad but she always calls him bradley. The banter between Zoe and Brad was brillient throughout all 3 books but this one specially brought that out a lot more.
shadowling's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It's not the style of book that I usually read, but I enjoyed it. The Key trilogy was my introduction to Nora Roberts. I had never read anything of hers prior to this.
danielleelizabethleigh's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
celeste57's review
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If Nora Roberts is my ultimate comfort author (which she is), then this trilogy is my ultimate comfort trilogy. Of the dozens of trilogies and quartets I’ve read from her, the Key trilogy is my favorite. There are others that I love, that I also return to again and again for comfort. And then there are those that I really respect, such as the Chronicle of the One. But this trilogy I respect and admire and love deeply. It just really resonates with me. And I can’t believe I’ve never reviewed it!
Our story begins with three very different women from the same small town being invited to a mysterious mansion on a dark and stormy night. There they are given a quest of mythic proportions: find three keys to free the souls of three demigoddesses over the course of three months, and each woman will win a million dollars. But, of course, there are stakes. Should they accept the quest but fail to deliver, they will each lose an undisclosed year of their lives. The women, Mallory, Dana, and Zoe, must believe in the seemingly impossible and band together in order to complete their task and win the prize.
This third installment is Zoe’s story. She has the most pressure on her, as both of her friends have already succeeded in finding their keys. She’s also the only member of the triad with someone who has to come before her search or herself: her 9 year-old son, Simon. Zoe got pregnant at sixteen, but she refused to raise her child in the same run-down trailer park where she grew up. She left and, through a lot of hard work, made a great life for herself and Simon. She pinched and scraped as a hair stylist to buy a diamond-in-the-rough of a house and turn it into a lovely, charming, cozy home. And now she’s opening her own place, after years of dreaming and planning. In spite of the stressful search for the key, her life is going better than she could have hoped. Now, if she could just figure out what to do about Bradley.
Bradley Vane, completing the triad of male friends who have served as romantic leads, is the heir to the HomeMakers chain, which is a bit like Lowe’s or Home Depot. He is swimming in money, and that is all Zoe sees at first. Which is unfortunate, because she wants absolutely nothing to do with rich guys; been there, done that. So, poor Bradley starts off on the wrong foot with a woman whose face he fell in love with years ago, when he saw her likeness in a painting. Luckily, Bradley is a hard worker, and he’s up to the task of winning her over. It helps that he’s completely in love with Simon, bonding with the boy over video games.
Zoe is so courageous. She is the fiercest of the three, so it’s fitting that she must find the Key of Valor. She’s a gorgeous, creative, hardworking mama bear, and I have so much respect for her as a character. I adore her relationship with her son. Simon is brimming with personality, and I was delighted with him every time he took centerstage. Their little family was just a joy to visit.
I also love the friendship that buds between Mallory, Dana, and Zoe. I also absolutely adore the business venture they embark upon together in the form of Indulgence, a combination art gallery, bookstore, and salon. It just sounds incredible, and is the fictional shop I have daydreamed about the most in my life. One of Nora’s strengths as a writer is her easy way with poetic descriptions of places, and that is on brilliant display in this trilogy, not only in Indulgence, but in the houses of our various characters as well as Warrior’s Peak, the aforementioned mysterious mansion. Nora paints beautiful pictures with her words here.
While I’m sure there are plenty of legitimate critiques that could be made of this book and the rest of the trilogy, I have no notes for this story. It’s an incredibly subjective 5 stars. I just love the Key trilogy so much. It’s something I can sink back into anytime I need something cozy, and it’s a story that I think about frequently. If you’ve ever thought about reading a Nora Roberts trilogy but didn’t know which one to try first, start here!
Our story begins with three very different women from the same small town being invited to a mysterious mansion on a dark and stormy night. There they are given a quest of mythic proportions: find three keys to free the souls of three demigoddesses over the course of three months, and each woman will win a million dollars. But, of course, there are stakes. Should they accept the quest but fail to deliver, they will each lose an undisclosed year of their lives. The women, Mallory, Dana, and Zoe, must believe in the seemingly impossible and band together in order to complete their task and win the prize.
This third installment is Zoe’s story. She has the most pressure on her, as both of her friends have already succeeded in finding their keys. She’s also the only member of the triad with someone who has to come before her search or herself: her 9 year-old son, Simon. Zoe got pregnant at sixteen, but she refused to raise her child in the same run-down trailer park where she grew up. She left and, through a lot of hard work, made a great life for herself and Simon. She pinched and scraped as a hair stylist to buy a diamond-in-the-rough of a house and turn it into a lovely, charming, cozy home. And now she’s opening her own place, after years of dreaming and planning. In spite of the stressful search for the key, her life is going better than she could have hoped. Now, if she could just figure out what to do about Bradley.
Bradley Vane, completing the triad of male friends who have served as romantic leads, is the heir to the HomeMakers chain, which is a bit like Lowe’s or Home Depot. He is swimming in money, and that is all Zoe sees at first. Which is unfortunate, because she wants absolutely nothing to do with rich guys; been there, done that. So, poor Bradley starts off on the wrong foot with a woman whose face he fell in love with years ago, when he saw her likeness in a painting. Luckily, Bradley is a hard worker, and he’s up to the task of winning her over. It helps that he’s completely in love with Simon, bonding with the boy over video games.
Zoe is so courageous. She is the fiercest of the three, so it’s fitting that she must find the Key of Valor. She’s a gorgeous, creative, hardworking mama bear, and I have so much respect for her as a character. I adore her relationship with her son. Simon is brimming with personality, and I was delighted with him every time he took centerstage. Their little family was just a joy to visit.
I also love the friendship that buds between Mallory, Dana, and Zoe. I also absolutely adore the business venture they embark upon together in the form of Indulgence, a combination art gallery, bookstore, and salon. It just sounds incredible, and is the fictional shop I have daydreamed about the most in my life. One of Nora’s strengths as a writer is her easy way with poetic descriptions of places, and that is on brilliant display in this trilogy, not only in Indulgence, but in the houses of our various characters as well as Warrior’s Peak, the aforementioned mysterious mansion. Nora paints beautiful pictures with her words here.
While I’m sure there are plenty of legitimate critiques that could be made of this book and the rest of the trilogy, I have no notes for this story. It’s an incredibly subjective 5 stars. I just love the Key trilogy so much. It’s something I can sink back into anytime I need something cozy, and it’s a story that I think about frequently. If you’ve ever thought about reading a Nora Roberts trilogy but didn’t know which one to try first, start here!
acbh's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Sometimes seems Harlequin romance formulaic, then it gets past that and it’s wonderful
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
A really great conclusion to a fun trilogy. Zoe had an instant dislike to Brad but the quest that that they have embarked on keeps pushing them together. And Zoe doesn't really dislike Brad, she's incredibly attracted to him. He feels the same but gaining her trust is a little harder than he originally planned, but he's not going to give up. He's already won over her son, what 9 year old doesn't like video games and soda, and after one kiss Zoe is hooked as well. With danger lurking behind every corner and the help of their friends, Brad and Zoe follow the clues to unlock the Daughters of Glass. But will they make it in time. A really fun series with great twists and turns.
ufvrhvnv's review
4.0
Satisfying. That is all I can say as I read the last words of Key of Valor. And yet another journey has come to an end.
In this final installment of the Key trilogy, it is more about the romance between Zoe and Bradley. It is more about how Zoe needs the courage to take the next step for her and her son, to love again, just like when she was a 16-year old. I don't have any complain, anyway. The flow of the story is just right and it's a joy to read about Zoe, Brad and Zoe's son, Simon.
And in this last book, Indulgence, the shop the three main female characters first started in book number one, comes to live. And the final battle is done just right, if I may say so. All in all, I love the series, I love the characters. Yet another winner from Nora Roberts (you'll be seeing this words often from me, if concerning Roberts' works).
In this final installment of the Key trilogy, it is more about the romance between Zoe and Bradley. It is more about how Zoe needs the courage to take the next step for her and her son, to love again, just like when she was a 16-year old. I don't have any complain, anyway. The flow of the story is just right and it's a joy to read about Zoe, Brad and Zoe's son, Simon.
And in this last book, Indulgence, the shop the three main female characters first started in book number one, comes to live. And the final battle is done just right, if I may say so. All in all, I love the series, I love the characters. Yet another winner from Nora Roberts (you'll be seeing this words often from me, if concerning Roberts' works).