Lieutenant Seth Buchanan, an unflappable, by-the-book cop has his world rocked when he comes face to face with a dead woman. Grace Fontaine, a model-perfect heiress, obviously was not dead, but she was holding a gun to Buchanan. Who could blame her? Her home had been violated and now she’s encountered a strange man in her foyer. With identities sorted, Seth and Grace now have bigger problems to deal with, including reuniting the three blue diamonds that form the Stars of Mithra.
Secret Star by Nora Roberts is the third book in the Stars of Mithra series. As a concluding book, it neatly ties together the plot lines established in Books 1 and 2 while giving the reader two more engaging Roberts’ characters to fall in love with. Secret Star focuses on the budding relationship between Seth Buchanan and Grace Fontaine. Grace had been introduced in Books 1 and 2 as the best friend to Bailey James and M.J. O’Leary. Together, the three ladies have been guarding the priceless diamonds known as the Stars of Mithra.
Gemologist, Bailey had secretly entrusted one diamond each to M.J. and Grace in order to protect the stones from her ruthless brother. Unfortunately, there is more than a greedy brother after the diamonds. In Books 1 (Hidden Star) and 2 (Captive Star), author Roberts tantalizes readers with the mystery man pulling the strings that have had both Bailey and M.J. as well as the men they love, on the run for their lives. Book 3, Secret Star seamlessly continues the story with Grace and Seth and their battle against a madman.
Secret Star has a bit slower of a start to the romantic story line between Grace and Seth. On the surface, the two characters live in opposite universes. Both have layers that must be peeled back and observed to see their true essence and spirit. Nora Roberts does this well. Instead of a cardboard cutout of a rich, misunderstood beauty, Roberts has created a character in Grace Fontaine that is multi-dimensional and extremely likeable. She is tough, sassy, fiercely independent as well as unswervingly loyal to her friends. Grace also has a softer side that she will only expose to those she truly trusts.
Seth Buchanan is similar to Grace in the fact that he continually presents to the world his professional face only. A man capable of great depth of feeling, Buchanan is the master at compartmentalizing in order to get his job done and done to perfection each time. It will take both Grace and Seth a leap of faith and trust in their gut feelings to look beyond the other’s surface self if this couple will ever be able to commit.
Secret Star is much more than a romantic journey. It is an intriguing mystery with just a hint of the paranormal. The Stars of Mithra, three priceless blue diamonds, are legendary. According to myth, if the stones were reunited into their original triad, the bearer would be granted the ultimate rich of a god, immortality. These are more than baubles wanted by a jewel-thief; they are the prize sought after by an evil elite who will stop at nothing to add them to his collection.
Both Seth and Grace have had flashbacks and dreams regarding their connection to the stone. Is it possible they once played this same game in another life? Who IS the mystery man who will kill without a thought just to get his hands on these magnificent diamonds? Can Seth and Grace learn to look past their own insecurities and really see the true depth of their own feelings and eternal connection?
Nora Roberts successfully concludes the Stars of Mithra series with Secret Star. The book is a quick read, paced well. The action is exciting but balances nicely with the romantic story line. The love scenes are passionate and written in Roberts’ excellent, descriptive voice. She elegantly combines romance with passion while weaving it effortlessly with the intrigue of the diamond mystery.
Secret Star by Nora Roberts, the third and final book of the Stars of Mithra series was released in 1998. This book is a recommended read.