This was a book from a friend who cleaned out a house....wasn't sure about it but had nothing else to read. Once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down. It wasn't just the steamy sex scenes in the book but also the mystery to the book and the plot. I need to read the next 2 now lol.

I love a good "sacred quest" [who doesn't?] and when you make it a Celtic sacred quest, then add in Nora Roberts as the author, well, I'm hooked. When three women - Mallory, Dana and Zoe - who have never met one another before receive mysterious invitations to a party at the huge secluded mansion up the hill, where they meet the beautiful Rowena and the dark and brooding Pitt, they have no idea the evening will end with an choice, a challenge and a risk that could change all their lives. The women are told that they have been chosen to search for three keys which will unlock the magical prison holding the three daughters of a magical king who married a mortal. When the king took a mortal bride and sired three daughters, some of his magical subjects turned away and built a parallel court. The self-proclaimed king of that false court took advantage of a moment of inattention on the part of the teacher and the warrior charged with protecting the princesses and cast the spell that imprisoned them. Because the true magical king seemed to set such store by mortals, the evil sorcerer's spell was set so that only three mortal women could break it and set the princesses free by finding the hidden keys. The terms of the quest: the women must all agree to participate, they are given $25,000 each just for agreeing to search, and if all three of them find their keys they will receive $1,000,000 each. But if they fail, the price is the loss of a year of their lives. What I particularly like about the story was that the quest was based - at least in this first part of the trilogy - on the courage, the loyalty, the strength and the character of the three women, and not about love for a man [although that is part of the story too - after all this IS a Nora Roberts book!]. Mallory, Dana and Zoe are real women, with challenges and issues and problems, and despite all that they are smart and funny and spunky heroines that you can't help but like. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the second and final installments of this trilogy.

I was absolutely enthralled the minute I started reading this book. Nora Roberts spoils us with romance and intrigue. The story is fast paced and a joy to read. I was so glad I had bought the whole trilogy because I could not wait to dive into the sequel.

What a wonderful story. That book is amazing, can't wait to read the second one. It's hard to put it down. The story is just everything you wish for... drama, love and mystic. Simply great!

Sept. 2005 This is an awesome story that brings you into a world where good still fights evil and wins. After reading one book, which was a delightful gift, I had to find the others in this wonderful series and satisfy my need to know how the heroines accomplish the path that they are destanded to travel. Since escaping into this world, I have passed my books on to many friends to read, suggested it for gifts, and RE-read them twice. Buy them, read them, enjoy the adventure, and pass them on. Nora Roberts has done a wonderful job in bringing us this series. Thanks you Ms. Roberts for your stories!! Cindy Hay River NT

I love this book! I find that it has such a unique story line with very well developed characters. After I was finished reading the book I couldn't stop thinking about it. I can't wait to finish the trilogy. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves to get lost in a great story.

simply put it is the best trilogy/book you could ever read!!!!!!1