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A review by amym84
Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts
4.0
3.5
Bay of Sighs picks up right where [b:Stars of Fortune|24611454|Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy, #1)|Nora Roberts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458079016s/24611454.jpg|43635283] left off. Our six guardians found the fire star and now all signs point to the island of Capri as being where they will be able to find the next star (the water star). So Sawyer, with his handy compass, transports everyone. Again, the guardians make preparations to protect the house they're staying at from attack. They know it's only a matter of time before Nerezza finds them. This time, Sasha has predicted Nerezza will pull someone else in to aid her in her quest to obtain the stars from the guardians.
It's clear that with this second book the romance will center around traveler Sawyer and mermaid Annika, and as the search progresses it's clear that Annika, being a mermaid will be essential in locating and finding this star as it apparent she's the only one who can hear the Bay of Sighs.
This was kind of a difficult book to rate. I love Nora Roberts, I really do. But as I think of how to review this book, there are so many glaringly obvious holes in the story, or just things that irked me. But for everything I found unsatisfying, the story as a whole entertained and kept my attention.
I'll say that I liked Bay of Sighs more than the first book. In the first book there was just too much coincidence in the way all the guardians came together "hey you happen to be staying at the same hotel as me and we're both looking for these long-lost legendary stars. Cool." Since characters and story is established already, I was happy to leave all the coincidence behind. There are still a few moments where things seem a bit too easy, but these moments didn't overwhelm the story.
I really liked how Roberts links the three goddesses who originally created the stars with our three female guardians. I don't know if this was done in Start of Fortune, if so I missed it, but I caught it this go around, and I like that connection.
Annika, being one half of our focus in this book, was a great character. She comes from a completely different world than our other guardians in that she's a mermaid. I loved her sweetness and her sometimes-naivete, and never once did it come off as hokey. All of her interactions with other characters and actions come across as very genuine instead of gimmicky.
I also really liked continuing to get to know more about our first couple Sasha and Bran. Sasha mainly because her powers as a seer are still growing. Obviously since our characters share such close quarters to completely block the previous couple out would be silly, but I like that the characters we've already seen still continue to surprise and grow even when they're not the main focus of the story. The same goes for Riley and Doyle who, as it's easy to guess at this point, are our next couple up.
Another thing done really well in the book is the scenery. I descriptions of the villa where our guardians take up residence, that of the sea, Sasha's paintings, the search for the star, etc. are presented very vividly. Really makes me want to take a vacation now!
Something that didn't work well here is the addition of another "baddie". Or more specifically the lack of character building for said "baddie". I want to feel more for my characters - whether good or bad - so I want some emotion. I felt like the addition of another foil to the guardians' search for the stars didn't have as big of an impact as it could have because the character was so underdeveloped. Now, maybe I'll be singing a different tune come the third book, but as of now, it feels just kind of meh.
Also, it's pretty easy to spot who our next, and last, couple will be in this trilogy. However, I don't feel like there's been much, or enough, build up for their impending relationship. I want a little bit more tension between my potential couples. I want to feel their chemistry jump off the page book after book until their own book comes. Roberts did a great job with this for her characters Branna and Fin from the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, who are featured in [b:Blood Magick|18754961|Blood Magick (The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, #3)|Nora Roberts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458263077s/18754961.jpg|26645636]. Again, this may be a feeling that changes for me as the final book is released. These are just my thoughts up to and including this book.
Overall, Nora Roberts pretty much always delivers in the entertainment department. Her stories are always an escape for me, and Bay of Sighs is no different. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the final book [b:Island of Glass|28432251|Island of Glass (The Guardians Trilogy, #3)|Nora Roberts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1461953373s/28432251.jpg|48545023] when it releases.
Bay of Sighs picks up right where [b:Stars of Fortune|24611454|Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy, #1)|Nora Roberts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458079016s/24611454.jpg|43635283] left off. Our six guardians found the fire star and now all signs point to the island of Capri as being where they will be able to find the next star (the water star). So Sawyer, with his handy compass, transports everyone. Again, the guardians make preparations to protect the house they're staying at from attack. They know it's only a matter of time before Nerezza finds them. This time, Sasha has predicted Nerezza will pull someone else in to aid her in her quest to obtain the stars from the guardians.
It's clear that with this second book the romance will center around traveler Sawyer and mermaid Annika, and as the search progresses it's clear that Annika, being a mermaid will be essential in locating and finding this star as it apparent she's the only one who can hear the Bay of Sighs.
This was kind of a difficult book to rate. I love Nora Roberts, I really do. But as I think of how to review this book, there are so many glaringly obvious holes in the story, or just things that irked me. But for everything I found unsatisfying, the story as a whole entertained and kept my attention.
I'll say that I liked Bay of Sighs more than the first book. In the first book there was just too much coincidence in the way all the guardians came together "hey you happen to be staying at the same hotel as me and we're both looking for these long-lost legendary stars. Cool." Since characters and story is established already, I was happy to leave all the coincidence behind. There are still a few moments where things seem a bit too easy, but these moments didn't overwhelm the story.
I really liked how Roberts links the three goddesses who originally created the stars with our three female guardians. I don't know if this was done in Start of Fortune, if so I missed it, but I caught it this go around, and I like that connection.
Annika, being one half of our focus in this book, was a great character. She comes from a completely different world than our other guardians in that she's a mermaid. I loved her sweetness and her sometimes-naivete, and never once did it come off as hokey. All of her interactions with other characters and actions come across as very genuine instead of gimmicky.
I also really liked continuing to get to know more about our first couple Sasha and Bran. Sasha mainly because her powers as a seer are still growing. Obviously since our characters share such close quarters to completely block the previous couple out would be silly, but I like that the characters we've already seen still continue to surprise and grow even when they're not the main focus of the story. The same goes for Riley and Doyle who, as it's easy to guess at this point, are our next couple up.
Another thing done really well in the book is the scenery. I descriptions of the villa where our guardians take up residence, that of the sea, Sasha's paintings, the search for the star, etc. are presented very vividly. Really makes me want to take a vacation now!
Something that didn't work well here is the addition of another "baddie". Or more specifically the lack of character building for said "baddie". I want to feel more for my characters - whether good or bad - so I want some emotion. I felt like the addition of another foil to the guardians' search for the stars didn't have as big of an impact as it could have because the character was so underdeveloped. Now, maybe I'll be singing a different tune come the third book, but as of now, it feels just kind of meh.
Also, it's pretty easy to spot who our next, and last, couple will be in this trilogy. However, I don't feel like there's been much, or enough, build up for their impending relationship. I want a little bit more tension between my potential couples. I want to feel their chemistry jump off the page book after book until their own book comes. Roberts did a great job with this for her characters Branna and Fin from the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, who are featured in [b:Blood Magick|18754961|Blood Magick (The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, #3)|Nora Roberts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458263077s/18754961.jpg|26645636]. Again, this may be a feeling that changes for me as the final book is released. These are just my thoughts up to and including this book.
Overall, Nora Roberts pretty much always delivers in the entertainment department. Her stories are always an escape for me, and Bay of Sighs is no different. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the final book [b:Island of Glass|28432251|Island of Glass (The Guardians Trilogy, #3)|Nora Roberts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1461953373s/28432251.jpg|48545023] when it releases.