Born In Ice follows Brianna Concannon. While Maggie is filled with fire, Brianna is filled with ice. She's cool, calm, practical, loyal, has a quiet strength, doesn't enjoy conflict and forgives easily. She's also very homely, is a culinary genius and runs a quaint Bed and Breakfast, called Blackthorn Cottage.
Grayson Thane is a writer from America and he stays in Brianna's Bed and Breakfast in order to research more about Ireland for his book. He's a mystery, a writer, a little self-centered and egocentric and is extremely moody. But this is a contemporary romance novel, and a romance develops between the two of them that's quite sweet, but isn't ultimately satisfying.
"Love survives, you see. Through fear, through heartache, even through death." (Brianna Concannon)
WHAT WORKED FOR ME
❄ The beautiful setting. Ireland is an amazing place and is one of my dream destinations. Nora Robert's successfully shows the beauty and mysticism of Ireland.
❄ Blackthorn Cottage and the whole idea of a quaint Bed and Breakfast.
❄ Brianna. In the first book she's portrayed as a saint and is the epitome of utter perfection. In Born In Ice, there is a lot of depth to her and she becomes a believable character. However, I do prefer main characters who are fiesty and flawed which is why Maggie from Born In Fire is a more appealing character.
❄ The character development.
❄ The tidbits of Maggie and Rogan that makes me love them even more, without detracting from the main characters, Brianna and Grayson.
❄ Murphy Muldoon. He is such a sweet and kind guy and I hope he finds his happy ending.
❄ The mystery, although it is tied up a little too nicely.
❄ The family relationship involving Maeve, Brianna and Maggie as well as a family secrets that come to light.
WHAT DIDNT WORK FOR ME
❄ Grayson Thane. He is so damn manipulative and moody, so hot and cold. The one minute he is a jerk and the next minute he's one of the nicest guys in the world. Urgh! His up-and-down moods makes my head turn.
❄ Born In Ice follows the same plot as Born In Fire . Grayson has Maggie's artistic temperament, but he isn't likable enough to pull it off and Brianna has the same cool, calm and practical nature that Rogan had.
❄ The predictability and formulaic nature of the romance. The romance is sweet, but the curve balls and obstacles fail to entice emotions, because I know there was going to be a happily-ever-after. This is a contemporary romance though and the genre is quite difficult to spin on its head.
❄ The ending is extremely abrupt!
❄ Everything is tied up a little too neatly to be realistic, but whatever, it's fiction.
Born in Ice is a solid novel, but its predecessor, Born In Fire is a more fun, engaging and fulfilling read.