I really love this trilogy. A nice mix of romance with magic and a little demon killing. What else could you want in a book? ( )

I *LOVED* this book! Nora Roberts is the queen of trilogies, and BLOOD BROTHERS is the start of another winning romantic paranormal trilogy.

Cal, Fox, and Gage were only ten when they unleashed the demonic power trapped beneath the Pagan Stone. Every seven years, for seven days, a horrible and deadly power is unleashed in Hawkins Hollow. People commit horrible acts, and then can't remember doing any of it.

For these three men, it's been twenty-one years since whatever entity resided in that glade was let loose. Now, it's up to them to stop it before it's too late.

When Quinn comes to town, looking to research these strange events and turn them into a book, her presence seems to make the power of the three men even stronger -- but it also makes the "entity" stronger, as well. When Layla and Cybil are also drawn to Hawkins Hollow, the three men and three women band together to stop the horror that grips this town every seven years.

As I said, I really loved this book, and I can't wait for the next two books in the series. This is another winner, and fans of Ms. Roberts' THE KEY TRILOGY and the DANCE UPON THE... series will definitely enjoy THE SIGN OF SEVEN trilogy! ( )

This book is excellent, i can't wait to get my hands on the next one =D ( )

Not the best I've read from Roberts, but interesting enough. Unfortunately, the set-up is formulaic. Three guys, three girls, three books. Each book is obviously going to focus on one couple and by the time the trilogy is complete, everyone has paired up and all is well with the world. But, with that said, it was a pleasant read and I'm going enjoy reading the rest of the books so I can send all three off to BooksnBeer in Virginia. ( )

First in The Sign of the Seven Trilogy. Stardard for Robert's stories with a paranormal flavor.

In the small village of Hawkins Hollow, Maryland friends Gage, Fox and Cal sneak into the woods for a sleepover at the Pagan Stone on the night before their shared 10th birthday. Armed with plenty of snacks and 3 cigarettes, beer and a Penthouse magazine they snuck out with, the boys are feeling more grown up already. After one of them pukes they start to reconsider the idea of acting more grown up and think up the idea of a pact. Best friends since birth, they vow to always remain close and seal their bond with blood.

When their blood touches the Pagan Stone they unleash a three-hundred year curse. Since that night, every seven years Hawkins Hollow becomes closed off to outsiders and the residents are plagued by a week of unexplainable tragedies. On the eve of the third seven year cycle author Quinn Black has come to town to investigate the mysterious happenings for a new book.

In the interest of controlling what Quinn learns Cal works closely with her as she researches the strange phenomenon. When Quinn herself becomes victim to strange visions Cal knows it’s no coincidence that Quinn was drawn to Hawkins Hollow.

I love that Nora Roberts can churn out so many books each with a strong plot and great characters that turn into successful trilogies. Other than her Eve Dallas books written as J.D. Robb I haven’t read anything by Roberts in about seven years. Remembering that my similar return to a romance author from a long term hiatus resulted in one star review for Sandra Brown’s A Treasure Worth Seeking I was a little nervous starting this one. I shouldn’t have worried. Nora Roberts is the queen of romance and it shows. ( )

** spoiler alert ** Nora Roberts does not disappoint in this opening to one of her newest trilogies. While the setting or story have nothing to do with Celtic roots, it's like being pulled to a tavern in Ireland as you settle into Roberts' familiar cadence and pace reminiscent of a story you'd picture in some cozy Irish tavern. Roberts has a voice distinctively her own and her words are like lyrics or music in the style with which she writes.

I will note however having all three book to this trilogy i...more Nora Roberts does not disappoint in this opening to one of her newest trilogies. While the setting or story have nothing to do with Celtic roots, it's like being pulled to a tavern in Ireland as you settle into Roberts' familiar cadence and pace reminiscent of a story you'd picture in some cozy Irish tavern. Roberts has a voice distinctively her own and her words are like lyrics or music in the style with which she writes.

I will note however having all three book to this trilogy is advised before ever opening the covers of the first book.

This trilogy drags the reader to a small town in Maryland where a centuries old battle between light and dark still wages every seven years. In 1652 Giles Dent, a source of light, possibly a wizard though his exact title of being is so far unmentioned sent his lover and unborn children away to safety then trapped a demon so deadly none could kill him beneath the Pagan Stone, an alter-like stone deep in the the Hawkins Hollow woods. Before his death in the battle he sacrificed himself, his power to prepare those to come to the war they would someday battle in hopes of finally defeating this evil.

In 1987, three ten year old boys, descendants of Dent and his lover, became blood brothers on a stolen outing at the stone. In the process they released both light and dark onto their tiny little Maryland town and the battle was begun again. Now, for seven days in the seventh month of every seventh year an evil is unleashed on the town that drives its residents to unspeakable acts while the boys are left to try with what gifts they were left by Dent to fight the evil back and protect the innocents the darkness targets.

Now as the third unleashing of evil approaches, three women, unknown descendants of the evil itself have come to fight it back, because this battle will be the last and the winner is as of yet unknown.

This story focuses on the group both coming together, meeting each other and learning to be a team as well as the love story developing between Quinn Black and writer who's there to ferret out the story she's now become a part of and Caleb Hawkins, one of the three to set the story into motion.

Though the ending is slightly disappointing because it feels as though there should be more, another chapter to keep the story into motion, it is not a Roberts novel to be missed. The chilling scenes she creates with vivid clarity are enough to have any reader looking over their shoulder. The way she draws you in to immerse you in history is fascinating in and of itself and of course no one writes romance like Roberts does so that aspect doesn't even bear mentioning, it's a given.

This is why I recommend having all three books before beginning to read this tale as there is more, it's just found in the next book in this exciting trilogy. The Hollow. ( )

Sharing a birthday (July 7, 1977) made it for a natural fit, Caleb Hawkins, Fox O'Dell and Gage Turner became the best of friends. On their 10th birthday, they decided to celebrates the way boys do. A camping trip out at the clearing called Pagan Stone, they drank the beer Gage stole from his dad, ate the Little Debbie cakes Fox bought at the store and drank the lemonade the Cal's mom had packed. At midnight they decided to become blood brothers. After their pack was made, the words were spoken and the blood was mixed, something evil seemed to be released out of the stone like altar and nothing was ever the same again. Every 7 years, for 7 days the little town of Hawkins Hollow is terrorized by this evil and now after about 20 years, with the help of Quinn Black (a reporter of the strange and unusual), Layla Darnell (who was strangely drawn to Hawkins Hollow) and Cybil Kinski (Quinn convinced her to come) they might find a way to stop it all. The combination of psychic sensitivities, visions or dreams of the past and the information gained from their ancestors might give them a clue to how to putting the pieces together again.

Heavy, heavy into character creation. That is one of the best parts of a trilogy, more than half of this book is just about setting up the story and the characters. Once you get to know the who and the what, the story can play out all that much better. Cal is a wonderfully responsible yet easy person to really enjoy. Quinn is a handful, she is like a whirlwind in and around everyone and everything, they make the perfect connection (hope I didn't give too much away). These characters are easy to care about and the situation is obviously just getting started. The slight hint of supernatural gives it a little twist that makes it more than just a thriller romance. The who and the what is set, now lets see more in the next book of this "Sign of 7" trilogy (The Hollow) ( )

Book 1 of the Sign of Seven Trilogy. Cal and Quinn's story. Genuinely frightening and funny, a combination that works well when Roberts does it. ( )

http://olvasonaplo.freeblog.hu/archiv... ( )

While I'm a fan of sci fi, I have never been a reader of the romance genre so had not read Nora Roberts before this. J D Robb, yes but not Nora Roberts. I enjoyed this book a lot. I'll be moving on with this trilogy and possibly onto more of her trilogies! ( )

So far, I'm really enjoying La Nora's forays into horror and dark fantasy. I totally worship her ability to build those Nora-esque characters and relationships I love, but throw in a dash of King-esque scary or fantasy at the same time. I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series! ( )

In Blood Brothers, we are introduced to Hawkins Hollows, which has been the home of a certain kind of evil for centuries. This evil was loosed 21 years ago by three childhood friends, who share the bonds of the same birth date and birth time as well as blood. These three men are joined in their quest against evil by three women who are also bound to the Hollow, though they don't know it.

Of the trilogy, I think this is my favorite book, which is odd, as I usually find the conclusion my favorite. However, I loved reading about Quinn. She's such a happy, bubbly, effervescent woman, who is determined and intelligent and open to new experiences and confident. In essence, my idea of the perfect woman. I enjoyed reading how she and Cal came together. I enjoyed various aspects of the journals, and the search to find more. Exploring the town, getting to know the families, and the occasional jaunt into past memories of the men are all great.

All those things led to an enjoyable read. However, I feel like this is a weaker trilogy, and therefore has weaker books, than many of her previous works. In many ways, it feels like a re-do of her Three Sisters trilogy, just from a male perspective and with a couple of the larger plot points slightly changed. Some of the jumps that the characters make are simply not intuitive and are weak at best.

Reading the sweet romance between Cal and Quinn, though, more than made up for weak plot points. Overall, I enjoyed this book (and the trilogy). ( )

In the town of Hawkins Hollow Maryland, three men have been best friends forever. They come from different families but were all born on 7/7/77. In 1987 on their 10th birthday Cal, Gage and Fox set out through the woods to camp at the mysterious location of Pagan Stone. They unleash an evil entity that dates back to 1652 and when they finally leave the woods the next morning, everything has changed.

Fast forward twenty years where Quinn, an author who specializes in things that go bump in the night, comes to the town to research what happened 20 years ago and what happens to the town and its inhabitants on 7/7.

I was generous with giving this book 4 stars. It was a hard book to get into because of all of the details and background information Roberts gives. After a certain point, the storyline levels out and it becomes a good read. ( )

Love this whole trilogy. I never get tired of seeing a man and a woman butt heads and fight their love...and demons are awesome too! ( )

In the first installment of this triology, the scene is set for a showdown between good and evil as three lifetime friends come together once again to fight the demon that has plagued their town since it was released twenty-one years ago.

As is typical for one of these trilogies, this first one focuses on the love between Caleb and Quinn and introduces the reader to the remaining players in the story. It was a quick fun read and did it's job by leaving me wanting to read the next two installments. ( )

The first in a new trilogy, The Sign of the Seven, Blood Brothers introduces us to the main players. The blood brothers are Gabe, Fox and Cal, best friends who share the same birthday who sneak off into the woods for a sleepover the evening before turning 10, when they cut their wrists and let their blood mingle the celebration turns into a night of horror as their blood brother oath unleashes a three-hundred year curse. Their town plagued by a week of unexplainable evil events every seven years.

Enter the three ladies - Quinn, Layla and Cybil - Quinn is there to write a book on the events that occur every seven years - she calls Cybil in to help her, and Layla is there because she has been drawn by dreams and unexplainable compulsion.

The story really begins in 1652 in Maryland, Giles Dent can feel the evil coming towards him in the guise of a man. He sent his mate, Ann Hawkins, away as she is pregnant with triplets, all boys. He knows that what he is about to do cannot vanquish the evil but he can hold it until some generations later those that will be able to vanquish the demon can do so. It is very obvious that the three boys are decedents of the triplets - but where do the girls fit in?

the demon starts with the scare tactics the moment everyone hits town - and it doesn't take them long to realise that this is the 3rd round of seven years - if they don't overpower the demon then he will rule the world.

There is romance - but the stress is more on the horror, suspense and paranormal elements. There are two more books to go - and more revelations will no doubt be uncovered - but this book makes a good start. ( )

I was a little disappointed in this book, I enjoy Nora Roberts work but this one left me hanging. First you have a couple who after knowing each other a month fall madly in love and are talking marriage...unrealistic, but its a book. But, what really upset me was the fact that the entire book is leading up to a battle between good and evil to only leave you hanging in the end. This demon/evil spirit has been terrorizing the earth for centuries and is finally (partially) defeated by six people with one gun, rocks, sticks and stern language. If I hadn't already purchased the next two books I would chalk this series up as thanks but no thanks. ( )

Very good beginning of a story of good vs. evil. Nora Roberts is good at telling that tale well. ( )

I really wanted to like Blood Brothers, but I didn't. I did not like Quinn at all. She was too perfect and very pushy. Caleb was like a cardboard cut-out character; there was no substance to him at all, IMO. The plot started off okay, but started to get a little ridiculous as the story progressed. I can say that I will not be reading the next two in this series. ( )

I love Nora's trilogies. They're a great escape read, even if they are a bit formulaic. What I'm currently enjoying about this trilogy is the supernatural stuff that's going on. Well, that, and how she is going to tie these 6 people together to that fateful incident a few hundred years ago. Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I really love genealogy. Looking forward to "The Hollow"! ( )

from amazon.com
Product Description
In the small village of Hawkins Hollow, three best friends who share the same birthday sneak off into the woods for a sleepover the evening before turning 10. But a night of pre-pubescent celebration turns into a night of horror as their blood brother oath unleashes a three-hundred year curse.
Twenty-one years later, Cal Hawkins and his friends have seen their town plagued by a week of unexplainable evil events two more times - every seven years. With the clock winding down on the third set of seven years, someone else has taken an interest in the town's folklore. Quinn is a well known scholar of local legends, and despite Cal's protests, insists on delving in the mystery. But when the first signs of evil appear months early, it's not only the town Cal tries to protect, but also his heart.

While the story itself compels me to read the rest of the trilogy, I was not impressed with the main characters. The three men of the story were alright, but the women stretched from annoying to downright unlikeable. Too, I find the dialog to be unnatural and kept thinking as I was reading that real people never talk in such complex, complete sentences. ( )

Every seven years a week in July when odd occurances hapen. Three young boys become blood borthers and set loose the curse and now try to stop it. ( )

I read this book because I am a big Nora Roberts fan and after I got into it I liked it. I was anxious to read the rest of the series. ( )