Trying to plow through the series as I read them....

The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts - so I haven't recently read this, but of all the trilogies Roberts writes of the paranormal variety, I consider this to be the best one. In a small valley town in Pennsylvania, three women get exclusive invites to enjoy an evening at the beautiful, and mysterious Warrior's Peak - the dominating architectural wonder that stands guard above the valley. Mallory, Dana, and Zoe are all at crossroads in their lives, and are offered by the eccentric young couple who live there a chance to turn their misfortunes around. The terms? Each woman has exactly one month, with the help of a clue, to find a magically charged key. If the first succeeds, the following two have a shot at recovering their respective keys. If anyone fails, the whole thing is caput. The prize: $1 million, scotch free, and the penalty of failure: the loss of one year from their lives. While this may seem like a simple game initially, Mallory, Dana, and Zoe soon learn that the keys unlock the chest which holds imprisoned three souls of young demi-goddesses, daughters of the King of the Gods. The curse says that only the hands of mortal women can undue the spell, and while the women struggle with finding a key that could be anywhere, they are also hindered by the evil Kane, the god who trapped the souls in the chest in the first place and will do anything to make sure they don't suceed. Filled with intrigue, adventure, danger, and most important, love, this is a great series, one that I have read multiple times. I think the reason I like it so much is mostly because the characters are really awesome and the relationships aren't so trite - Roberts clearly establishes a connection between them that doesn't come off as contrived or mickey mouse 'clubby,' which she'll have problems with in some of her later writings. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the bad guy is super sexy in a dark, malicious, I like killing mortals kind of way. Quite possibly one of my favorites by her, and I've read EVERYTHING she's every written so that's a pretty good recommendation!

***** 5 stars

Trilogy Includes:
1. The Key of Light
2. The Key of Knowledge
3. The Key of Valor