Nora Roberts closes out her magical Irish trilogy, which began with Jewels of the Sun and Tears of the Moon, with a final tale of love and legend, Heart of the Sea. As with the first two books, this one follows the lives of the talented and temperamental Gallagher clan, this time focusing on the beautiful and strong-willed Darcy. Serving as background is the legend of two star-crossed lovers whose ghosts haunt the small Irish village of Ardmore, where the Gallaghers live. Cursed to spend eternity apart, their only hope lies in the true-love matching of a trio of couples, two of which have already been joined. But bringing together two people as stubborn and strong-willed as Darcy Gallagher and millionaire Trevor Magee may prove to be more than even two determined spirits can handle.

Darcy Gallagher possesses the voice of an angel, the looks of a temptress, and the temper of a hellcat. She has always believed she was fated to find fame and fortune and assumed it would come in the form of a rich man who would someday appear and sweep her off her feet. And when handsome developer Trevor Magee comes to Ardmore to build a theater that will tie in with the Gallaghers' pub, Darcy thinks she may have finally found her man.

Trevor can't deny his attraction to Darcy, but he is determined to keep things on an emotionally uncomplicated level. Besides, he has business with Darcy as well, as he intends to sign her to a recording contract that will bring her the wealth and lifestyle she desires. But Trevor underestimates the determination of the otherwordly Prince Carrick and Lady Gwendolyn, who are desperate to make their final love match. The more Trevor tries to keep his distance from Darcy (emotional distance, that is, since physically they can't resist one another) the closer he seems to get to her. Still, it will take a life-changing event and the near loss of all that Trevor values before he can realize just how deep his attachment to Darcy runs.

Roberts effortlessly interweaves past and present in this delightful tale, tying together the legends and magic of Irish folklore with the pressures and passions of modern-day life. Her love of the land and its people comes across with crystal clarity, and Roberts demonstrates some magical abilities of her own, casting the spell that continues to garner her legions of devoted readers.

Beth Amos