In the Garden & Key series... Nora gets me again

I started the In the Garden series last week and I finished it over the weekend. The series includes, Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily, by Nora Roberts. First off, I learned A LOT about flowers, plants and gardening that I had NO idea. It was a bit overwhelming, all the gardening talk, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story throughout the entire series. It is based on three women, mothers, in various stages of their lives coming together... making a business grow and creating a family. It also involves a ghost that affects the lives of each woman in each book. By the last book, I was totally engrossed in the story and nothing could pull me from it. lol

I then started the Key series also by Nora Roberts. This series (Key of Light, Key of Knowledge, and Key of Valor) was also about three women, but this time they are around the same age. They are each invited to a special meeting where they are given the chance of a lifetime... What a great story this was! They each have to find one of three keys that will unlock the souls of some demigoddesses locked away like sleeping beauties by an evil sorcerer god. Each book focuses on one of the women and their quest for their key.

Ok here is what I love about both series and Nora Roberts:

Nora Roberts is just excellent at creating a character. All of her characters are so believable, human, REAL... she is able to shape them with her words so that I see that person and relate to them in my mind so clearly. I have to say that I have yet to read a Nora Roberts book I did not like. Anyway, in each of these series, the people, the characters, each have real issues, real insecurities and pain that I can relate to. It is not your typical romance novel where everyone is a supermodel and perfect. It is not about sex... They are all stories of love, loss, pain and triumph... But all women are STRONG women even if they don't believe they are... like most women I know. It was just a real joy to read these and I recommend them to anyone. :)

Now I am onto the Christine Feehan's Carpathian series. I am 15 books behind so I gotta get cracking. :) So far the first book, Dark Prince, is intersting... and dark. We shall see how it continues.