The Awakening: The Dragon Heart Legacy, Book 1 (The Dragon Heart Legacy, 1)

The Awakening by Nora Roberts is a captivating novel. I was immediately drawn into this tale and I did not want to put it down. The Awakening is the first installment in The Dragon Heart Legacy series. I thought it was well-written with developed characters and a complex plot. Breen Kelly learns her mother has hidden a vast sum of money from her. Breen is surprised to learn that her father who disappeared many years ago has been sending her money. This money will allow Breen to make changes to her life such as quitting her teaching position. Her roommate and best friend, Marco Olsen suggests she do something that she has always dreamed of doing. Breen has always wanted to visit Ireland. She rents a cottage for the summer in Connemara where she begins to dream of a magical place with red dragons. Breen is in for the adventure of her life. The Awakening is a magical tale. I like that the author took the time to establish the characters, storyline, and setting. Her vivid word imagery brought the scenery alive for me. We get to meet Keegan and Breen's loving grandmother along with a cast of enchanting folks and creatures. There is good versus evil and a bad woman who is intent on causing conflict. I liked seeing Breen come out of her shell and blossom. Of course, The Awakening ends with a cliffhanger. We must now wait a year for the next tale in The Dragon Heart Legacy series. If you have never wanted to visit Ireland before, you will after reading this book. You can tell that the author did her research. I enjoyed the whimsy and humor in the story. Marco is a delight and I frequently laughed after reading his dialogue. My favorite phrase from The Awakening is, "Girl, take it from an old queen. Be who you are and the heck (I changed this word) with the rest." The Awakening is a magical tale that will keep you riveted until the very last word.