In this second and middle book of the Sign of Seven Trilogy, we learn more about Fox and Layla. Of the three boys, Cal, Fox and Gage, that unleashed an evil on their 10th birthdays 21 years ago, Fox is the one to see the present and "read" people's minds or feelings. Fox is now a lawyer in Hawkins Hollow practicing all types of law from divorces to wills to civil suits and minor criminal defenses. He brings a special compassion and understanding to his clients partly because of his personality and partly because of his special ability.

Layla was a boutique shop assistant manager in New York when her dreams drove her to come to Hawkins Hollow. She is the "oddball" of the 3 women since Quinn and Cybil have known each other for years and are best friends. Layla did not know them or the three men before she came and is now deeply involved in the work of the 6 to learn more of Ann Hawkins and Giles Dent and thus more about the evil and the magic used to contain is for over 300 years. Layla has the same special ability as Fox but has not actively used it so it is up to Fox to teach her how. Since she is now working for him as his assistant is moving away with her husband, Fox has ample opportunity to work with her in more ways than one.

This is a wonderful story just on the romance between them alone. When you add in the excitement of searching for Ann's journals, the visions and manifestations of evil and new progress in finding ways to defeat the evil, it makes for an incredibly exciting read!

I wish the final installment came out tomorrow!

High recommended.

I have read everything Nora Roberts has written, even some of her very early work. Through it all I have seen the progression of her work as a product of her own evolution and growth as an author and the times surrounding her work. I have always enjoyed her voice, style, and imagination, but lately her work has become so much less than she is, I believe, capable of. The Sign of Seven trilogy is, in theory, an interesting and fun idea, however it just didn't reach early Nora Roberts standards. There was little, if any, character building or progression. The backdrop, the mystery, was very well done and engaging, however the protagonists were cardboard cutouts. You never get a sense of who they are, what they want, why they are together, or even what makes them different from the other characters around them. This is such a shame. Usually I do not write reviews as I much prefer the idea of letting everyone choose thier own books and love them or hate them on their own, but in this instance, in my sorrow and disappointment at the level of workmanship being put out by one of my favorite authors, I felt compelled to share my opinion.

I hate to give Nora a less-than-great review, but I think she's really just phoning it in with this trilogy. I've read her for 15-20 years and have definitely noticed a slide in the last 3-4 years. I know she's very prolific, I know that I'm not going to love every book she writes, but I am actually not sure I'm even going to finish this trilogy, which is a huge disappointment for me.

The characters are repeats and not all that interesting or likable. In previous trilogies, she would give each couple it's "own" book, but here the story is more concurrent and often confusing because I don't feel like I know any of the characters well and so I'm not getting the jokes or comments.

And I don't *mind* paranormal stuff, but that's just about all she writes anymore. What happened to a good, old-fashioned story without the gimmicks? All in all, blah is the best I can do... I wish it were better.