Breen Kelly had always followed her mother's dictates even though she is miserable in the life she is living. After her father left when she was 12, breaking his promise to come back, her mother kept her on a short leash, not allowing her to do things claiming they didn't have the money. Breen isn't happy with her job or the mountain of debt she had incurred to accomplish the dreaded career. Then there came THE AWAKENING that she never expected.

While watering plants and following the strict rules that would prepare the apartment for her mother when she returns home from a business trip, a file of papers mysteriously becomes scattered around the floor. Those papers are about her and money she didn't know she had. After checking it out and moving the money into her name only, she faces down her mother. She is done and the first thing she would do is quit her job then the next is to visit Ireland and stay there awhile to soak up her heritage. No warnings or dire threats would stop her--not now--now it is time to live. She could not imagine just how much her life is about to change even more than it had since the fateful day the papers flew. But, was it fate, or is she being led down a dangerous path? The same path that took her father away from her. . .

THE AWAKENING is the first part of Nora Roberts' newest fantasy trilogy, Dragon Heart Legacy. And what a beginning it is! As an introduction, it is magickal. The new world that is part of Breen's heritage, a heritage that she knew nothing about and probably would not have believed in before gives the readers a hint at how complex her life has become and how more so in the future. Everything is not exactly happy-go-lucky and Breen must decide where her heart lays, in the old world she knew or the one she found through the portal. There is a war between good and evil and if she stays she is going to be right in the middle of it all.

THE AWAKENING is filled with diverse and intriguing characters that only the imagination of Nora Roberts can conjure up. Those included with Breen are her best friend and confidante Marco, (who helps his BFF loosen up and live and get a blog of her adventures started up), the warrior Keegan, who becomes her love interest, werewolves, her horrible grandfather, elves, dragons and so much more.

THE AWAKENING does end in a cliffhanger and it is really the most unexpected twist I have ever seen in an "ending." If you are ready for one magickal and amazing ride then you have got to get your hands on THE AWAKENING. Hold on for dear life because when you open this book you are in for the most freaking amazing fantasy ever!