I just finished reading the Key trilogy by Nora Roberts. I literally had to finish the last book before I could go back to working on my own stuff, some that has never happened before. As regards my writing, I tend to be pretty obsessive, like to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep before I had kids. Now they remind me of such things by telling me piteously that they're hungry, and I go cook something.

So imagine my surprise when this series grabbed hold and insisted I read all of it before I could write again. I had the really silly thought as I was reading, "I want to be like Nora Roberts when I grow up." I don't always like the head-hopping but she managed a really difficult feat in these books (and extraordinarily well). By that I mean, she wrote what is, essentially, an ensemble romance. One couple got top billing, but she went into other POVs too and fleshed out the start of other relationships. It can be hard to do that without overshadowing the main story.

The books were a bit fairytale-ish without being cheesy. I suppose they'd have to be called paranormal, although not in the usual sense. No vampires or weres to be found, thank God. I came out of the reading feeling happy and rejuvenated, though there are a few tear-jerker moments as well. I highly recommend this series, and it actually refreshed me so that I felt excited about writing again. I had been sort of worn down, waiting for news about Guide, but this reminded me why I write. It isn't to make the sale; it's to tell the story.

PS Honest Illusions was a brillant read too.