This is one of the best books I've read lately. I love the author and her trilogies.

The Hollow is the second book of the Sign of Seven Trilogy by Nora Roberts. The story started twenty-one years ago, when three young boys, Caleb, Fox, and Gage, spent the night camping by the Pagan Stone. They shared birthdays and an unbreakable bond on friendship. Boys being boys, they wanted to take it one step farther. They would become blood brothers. During the ritual of sharing, mixed blood hit the ground. It unleashed an evil entity that returned to Hawkins Hollow every seven years. For seven days madness reigned, lives were lost, property destroyed, and families torn apart.

Caleb, Fox, and Gage are descendants of the Guardian, Giles Dent, the one that locked the evil entity, Lazarus Twisse under the Pagan Stone. Up until now Caleb, Fox, and Gage did what they could to minimize the damage but they couldn't stop it.

The madness would be returning this summer and now, twenty-one years after releasing the demon, they have a chance at ending it once and for all. Three women, Quinn, Cybil, and Layla, all descendants of the child conceived when Twisse raped an innocent girl, have joined the battle.

With the history laid out in the first book, the story is more evenly divided between the challenge Lazarus Twisse presented, and the budding romance between Layla and Fox. The attraction was strong, but they were circling each other, not sure if getting involved was a smart move. They had to work together on so many levels, a romance might cloud the issue---or clear it.

The Hollow by Nora Roberts is a fast paced thrilled with a healthy dose of romance thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the third book The Pagan Stone scheduled for release in December of 2008.

This second book picks up the story two weeks later. Fox tries to help Layla hone her senses, so they can present a united front, and be as useful as Cal, Quinn, Sybil, and Gage is with their gifts. Since they sense things in the present, he knows how important it is for them to be at full strength when the demon next makes an appearance. Fox felt fortunate for the two-week lull in activity, but knew that had come to an end when he and Layla were attacked by a swarm of crows in the middle of Main Street. Layla got to see first hand the healing powers Fox possessed when his pecking wounds healed almost instantly.

As the group tries to figure out more about the puzzles from the past, the demon escalates the attacks. Instead of just focusing on one person, they are all in jeopardy at any given time. They realize that his strength is nothing like anything that they have ever encountered in the past, but that makes sense now that they know this cycle of seven is the final showdown.

The creepiness just gets better with each book. I enjoyed this second installment in the trilogy, and don't like having to wait until the end of the year for the conclusion with Gage and Sybil though. This book was Layla and Fox's story, but again as in the last book, all characters had a strong presence, which really adds a strong element.

When they were ten years old 3 best friends set out on a camping adventure and inadvertently unleashed a demon. Since that time, every 7 years on July 7th and for 7 days, that demon wreaks havoc on their small town; creating chaos, madness and destruction. When those 7 days are done, not everyone comes out alive.

Gage, Fox and Cal have spent those periods trying to help the town, save lives, restore order, in anyway they can. Now they are joined by 3 women, Layla, Cybil and Quinn. The six are linked by love, bloodlines, friendships and now the common goal; to see the final destruction of the demon on this July 7th.

I was slightly disappointed in the first book of this series, Blood Brothers (Sign of Seven Trilogy, Book 1), this one more than made up for that. Where Blood Brothers lacked character development and moved a little slowly for me, this one was the opposite. The characters really stand out. Although this is Fox and Layla's story, I got a huge sense of Gage and Cybil, and even felt like I got to know Cal and Quinn a little better. I now feel invested in the characters and their stories.

In this second book, the six have figured out a lot about the past and what happened at the Pagan Stone way back when. They know a little more about their ancestors and are now developing a plan to fight back and put the demon to rest, for good.

There are some terrifying moments as the demon preys on their fears and weaknesses in some very chilling ways. I have to admit when the demon decides to show his face as that that creepy little boy, it gives me the willies. I will probably have nightmares about that little freak tonight, possibly for the next couple of nights.

This was a fast paced and thrilling second installment. It gave plenty of background and insight into the past, while they plan for the future. Highly emotional and cover to cover entertainment; just what I love about a Nora book. I am as antsy as can be and filled to the brim in impatience as I eagerly await Gage and Cybil's story in The Pagan Stone (The Sign of Seven Trilogy).

Cherise Everhard, May 2008

Wow, is all I can say! I couldn't put this book down - it really pulled me right in to the story. I love the way that Nora Roberts developed the story line and the personal relationship between the two main characters. The idea of opening up yourself completely with someone who could read your mind was intriguing and well written. The paranormal aspects of the plot were well done, and done in a way that comes across as plausible. I can't say enough good things about this book. Nora never disappoints. I can't wait for book three, "The Pagan Stone" to come out!