12/15/2023

Spur Der Finsternis by Nora Roberts

The cover of the German edition is different from my taste. But it is the story behind it, that thrills me. And the fantastic plot. The author really knows how to catch her readers. With "Identity" she proves again, her storytelling ability. That she knows perfectly how to create great characters. Her main figure Morgan is a wonderful woman. As an old Nora Roberts fan, this novel proves that the author can still write great stories beyond imagination.

 

Spur Der Finsternis*

by Nora Roberts
Translation Christiane Burkhardt
Original Title Identity
Publisher Heyne on November 15, 2023
Genre Contemporary Romance
Pages 526
Format Hardcover
Source Heyne
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶✶

Morgan works hard to fulfill his dream of owning a house and bar. But her modest life is suddenly upended when her best friend Nina is murdered. She doesn't have time to mourn because the FBI tells her that she is dealing with a serial killer and identity robber. And this one is actually targeting Morgan himself. Step by step, the perfidious hacker takes everything from her: her savings, her house, her identity. Desperate, Morgan flees back to her family in Vermont and piece by piece puts the pieces of her shattered life back together. But her pursuer is always on her heels - and the people she loves. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Morgan is broke. A Hacker has stolen everything from her so she sees no other option but to move back to her family. A fresh start in Vermont is all she wants to get herself back together. Together with her mother and grandmother and a new job where she does what she knows best. And with Miles, the new man in her life.

Style

Nora Robert's writing style is unmistakable. With a lot of feeling and even more sensitivity, the author describes the beautiful Vermont landscape and the emotions that Morgan goes through. A real cinematic experience takes place in the reader's head. At times I even imagined that I could smell the cocktails that Morgan created during the course of the story. And Nora Roberts proves once again that she can easily create an atmospherically dense novel out of nothing, even if it isn't.

Characters

As usual from Nora Roberts, the reader is presented with strong and profound characters. Without any cliche, but with rough edges. Morgan is particularly strong. She is a bartender with heart and soul who, after a fateful encounter with a stranger, starts all over again. The strength and strength of her family helps her. The Nash women not only have a strong backbone, but they are also particularly tough. And with exactly this quality, Morgan defies her tormentor and teaches him what girl power really means. But I particularly liked Howl. Miles' dog. It's an absolute blast!

Conclusion

What a brilliant novel! I am completely thrilled. Big emotions, strong characters, and a great plot. As an old Nora Roberts fan, all I can say is: read and enjoy!

Happy reading

*Heyne kindly provided me this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Nora Roberts Schreibstil ist unverkennbar. Mit viel Gefühl und noch mehr Feinfühligkeit beschreibt die Autorin die herrliche Landschaft Vermonts und die Emotionen, die Morgan so durchmacht. Da spielt sich ein regelrechtes Kopfkino beim Leser ab. Teilweise hab ich mir sogar eingebildet, die Cocktails riechen zu können, die Morgan da so im Laufe der Handlung kreiert hat. Und Nora Roberts beweist einmal mehr, dass sie es einfach kann, einen atmosphärisch dichten Roman wie aus dem Nichts zu erschaffen, auch wenn er es nicht ist.

Charaktere

Wie von Nora Roberts gewohnt, werden dem Leser starke und tiefgründige Figuren präsentiert. Ganz ohne Klischee, dafür mit Ecken und Kanten. Morgan ist dabei besonders stark. Sie ist mit Leib und Seele Barkeeperin, die nach einer verhängnisvollen Bekanntschaft mit einem Fremden, nochmal ganz von vorn anfängt. Dabei hilft ihr die Kraft und Stärke ihrer Familie. Die Nash-Frauen haben nicht nur ein starkes Rückgrat, sie sind auch besonders tough. Und mit genau dieser Eigenschaft, trotz Morgan ihrem Peiniger und lehrt ihn, was Frauenpower wirklich bedeutet. Aber besonders gefallen hat mit Howl. Der Hund von Miles. Der ist der absolute Knaller!

Resultat

Was für ein genialer Roman! Ich bin restlos begeistert. Große Emotionen, starke Figuren und ein klasse Plot. Als alter Nora Roberts Fan kann ich nur sagen: Lesen und genießen!

*This book was published in the English language by St. Martin´s Press on May 23, 2023

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writer’s groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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6/02/2022

Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts

One of the books I read many years back while going through an intense Nora Roberts phase. I bought her books like others buy candy, borrowed them in piles from the library, and had just a fantastic time. This one is no exception. Somehow the author´s way to describe things, emotions, and scenes has made me want to read more. And maybe it is because her earlier novels show a certain tone she later changed a bit.

Sacred Sins

by Nora Roberts
Publisher Bantam on August 31, 2010
Genre Contemporary Romance
Pages 304
Format Paperback
Source Library
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶✶

In the hot summer of Washington D.C., a young blonde woman is found murdered, strangled with a white priest's shawl. The press flocked to the story because the killer, now dubbed the "Priest," left a note next to the victim: "Her sins are forgiven." The police investigations, led by Sergeant Ben Paris, show little success. When more blondes are killed, the police enlist the help of attractive psychiatrist Tess Court. Because the perpetrator is convinced that he can redeem his victims through the act, she diagnoses him with a split personality. Ben Paris, however, doesn't give a damn about the killer's soul. He just wants to put the killer under lock and key. Ben is not so indifferent to the beautiful Tess. During the feverish search for the killer, a strong relationship develops between the two, who couldn't be more opposite. But not only Ben has his eye on the beautiful doctor. There's another one, and he wants to save her in his own special way...

Story

Actually, Tess only had one favor to do for the mayor when she was doing the psychological profiling for the Washington D.C. Police Department. But she gets drawn into the case more than she initially likes and soon finds herself in the middle of a life-threatening case as the hitman, whom the press calls the "Priest," keeps killing and has his eye on Tess as well. Desperate to help the killer, Tess not only accepts confrontations with Sergeant Paris, but she also allows herself to become ever more deeply involved and almost risks losing her professional distance. And while Tess loses the fight to save a patient's life in a case, the killings to save the lost souls continue, and Tess finds herself fully targeted by the killer.

Style

Nora Roberts is just amazing in her writing style. It doesn't matter whether you're reading a pure romance novel or the slightly bloodier variants as J.D. Robb writes she is always captivating and unmistakable. She uses her words clearly and effectively without using anything superfluous. Nevertheless, it perfectly expresses feeling and style. Not only does it offer the reader wonderful scenes, even if they are bloody and great locations, but the emotions it appeals to are also extremely effective. There is everything from abysmal despair, to protective love, and cold calculation.

You really immerse yourself in the world of the action and are still aware of the fact that something like this can happen at any time in reality. But it is precisely this possibility that makes this Nora Roberts novel lively and very convincing. The tension is systematically built up by the events in the plot and maintained until the end. Sometimes unexpected things happen, and the ending is more than surprising. I then closed the book with great enthusiasm and was completely overwhelmed.

Characters

From start to finish, Nora Robert's characters act believably and utterly compelling. They are profound, especially the character of Ben Paris, clearly and simply described and absolutely effective. The character of Sergeant Paris, in addition to his controlled, violent attitude, has a side that has shaped him more than anything else and determines his actions and thoughts. The author expresses these two sides brilliantly and shows with a sensitivity that something like Ben experienced is not insurmountable, but it is not easy for each individual affected and can be or already is a very explosive topic.

I was immensely impressed by the way Nora Roberts walked this tightrope without turning the character of Sergeant Paris into a hard-boiled oddball for the reader. He has remained an impressive man and the reader notices that with every word.

Conclusion

A gripping novel with a dash of thriller and even more passion. Gripping from the first to the last page. I can only recommend it.

Happy reading

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writer’s groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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10/11/2021

🎧 Hideaway by Nora Roberts

Holy smokes, January LaVoy you ROCK! I don´t know how she did it but somehow the narrator gave her performance brilliance and clarity to shape each character only by giving her voice a different tune, style and accent is outstanding and made me speechless and happy.

Hideaway

by Nora Roberts
Publisher Macmillan Audio on May 26, 2020
Narrator January LaVoy
Genre Contemporary Romance
Length 15 hours and 51 minutes
Source Purchased, Audible
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Caitlyn Sullivan had come from a long line of Hollywood royalty, stretching back to her Irish immigrant great-grandfather. At nine, she was already a star - yet still, an innocent child who loved to play hide and seek with her cousins at the family home in Big Sur. It was during one of those games that she disappeared. Some may have considered her a pampered princess, but Cate was in fact a smart, scrappy fighter, and she managed to escape her abductors. Dillon Cooper was shocked to find the bloodied, exhausted girl huddled in his house - but when the teenager and his family heard her story they provided refuge, reuniting her with her loved ones. Cate’s ordeal, though, was far from over. First came the discovery of a shocking betrayal that would send someone she’d trusted to prison. Then there were years spent away in western Ireland, peaceful and protected but with restlessness growing in her soul. Finally, she would return to Los Angeles, gathering the courage to act again and get past the trauma that had derailed her life. What she didn’t yet know was that two seeds had been planted that long-ago night - one of a great love, and one of a terrible vengeance…

Story

Caitlyn has gone through a nightmare and wants nothing more but to live her life as quietly and normally as possible. But the moment her mother is released from prison, everything changes. Because her mother wants the public to believe that she is a loving and caring mother who wants nothing more but to be reunited with her beloved daughter. A daughter she once used to get money from the family she had married into but hated more than anything.

Style

The audiobook is narrated by the incredible and fantastic January LaVoy. It is unbelievable how one single person can voice so many different figures and dialects while reading one novel. While listening to her fantastic talent, I was absolutely stunned how January LaVoy changed within seconds from one character to another in a dialogue or scene. A feast for the ears. The story itself seemed like a sideline, that´s how brilliant January LaVoy sounded.

To hear how the main figure is dealing with the kidnapping, how she moves on and does everything to live her life the way she wants, was simply wonderful.

Characters

The single figures are well created by Nora Roberts and come to life with the very talented voice the narrator has. January LaVoy gives each character the style, sound, and dialect they have, no matter if it is a male or female figure. Caitlyn and all the other characters seem to come out of real life. Good, money isn´t short within the Sullivan clan and they are as protective as one can be. And Caitlyn knows very well how to handle them without making them feel bad. I was very impressed by how the love and protection of a caring family are portrait here.

Conclusion

I started with this novel by listening to the audiobook. After some chapters, I moved on to the German print edition but kept listening to the audio too. Sometimes I love doing that. It makes the experience of discovering a new story more intense. At least for me. The way how the narrator used her voice to bring all the different characters to life and to give the reader a one-of-a-kind listening experience was just wonderful. Highly recommended to every Nora Roberts fan.

Happy listening

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writer’s groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

January LaVoy

January LaVoy, born in Trumbull, Connecticut, is an American actress, most recognized as Noelle Ortiz on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. LaVoy made her Broadway debut in the Broadway premiere of the play Enron at The Broadhurst Theatre on April 27, 2010. She has appeared on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters across the country, and guest-starred on several prime-time network series, including Elementary, Blue Bloods, and N0S4A2. She is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA and is a full-time faculty member in the Department of Theater and Dance at Emory University. January LaVoy is an Audiofile Magazine “Golden Voice” since May 2019. She has an extensive body of work in both narration and commercial voiceover. With hundreds of audiobook titles to her credit, she has received more than thirty Earphones Awards, eighteen Audie Award nominations (including seven wins), and was named Publishers Weekly's "Audiobook Narrator of the Year" for 2013. Her voice has been heard in national campaigns for dozens of products, and she shares a 2020 Grammy nomination with Meryl Streep and the cast of the Charlotte’s Web audiobook, in which she plays the title role of Charlotte.

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8/14/2021

Nach Dem Sturm by Nora Roberts

Hideaway is a wonderful novel about being true to yourself, defining life, and making dreams come true. Despite all odds. The mix of family drama, hate, passion, and courage in young people, all brought together in a wonderful and very entertaining way, is great to read.

Nach Dem Sturm*

by Nora Roberts
Translation Margarethe van Pée
Original Title Hideaway
Publisher Blanvalet on April 26, 2021
Genre Contemporary Romance
Pages 624
Format Hardcover
Source Blanvalet
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Caitlyn Sullivan came from a family of famous actors. She was already a star as a child, but like every normal girl, Caitlyn loves to romp around the garden and play hide and seek with her cousins. But then she disappears without a trace during one of these games – she was kidnapped. And creates what nobody expected: With a lot of courage, she escapes her tormentors and seeks help from Dillon Cooper and his family, who bring her back together with her loved ones. But even years later, Cate is shaken by the terrible events of the past and has to realize: This long-forgotten night was only the beginning – the beginning of a great love and that of a terrible vengeance … (Personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Caitlyn wants to live her life as normal as possible. After her kidnapping, she is no longer willing to give them the power over the rest of her life. And with her father and grandparents by her side, she enjoys a quiet and protected childhood. But she knows that one day she will do what she inherited. The talent to be other people. And her voice is the key to a bright and happy future.

Style

Nora Robert´s style is unmistakable. Gentle, sensitive, and with a touch of thriller in the story. Well, the tension is not as outstanding this time as usual, but you will be rewarded with the life of a great main character, who bravely and without hesitation literally throws herself into her life.

Over several parts, the author shows how Caitlyn builds her own life, how she follows her dreams and longings, and conquers her place in the glittering world of Hollywood. But also, how she struggles with her nightmares, has to defend herself against paparazzi and intrusive fans, and still clearly follows her principles.

Characters

Aside from the fact that the characters couldn´t be more different, Caitlyn is an excellent created main character. Her courage, her determination, and that she will not just take things like that and not let them get her down impressed me from the start. She wants to find her place in life, assert herself and still not forego the security and love of her family. And gets everything, even if not always in a straight line. Her way of seeing the world has been just great for me as a reader.

Conclusion

A great novel, the small weaknesses of which are not particularly significant. Well, the ending was a bit too flat and cheesy for me, but the story is just wonderful until then. The kidnapping, with which it all begins, is more of a backstory, but that doesn´t diminish the enjoyment of the rest of the plot. Recommendable.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Blanvalet in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Der Stil von Nora Roberts ist unverkennbar. Sanft, feinfühlig und mit einem Hauch Thriller in der Geschichte. Gut, die Spannung ist diesmal nicht so herausragend wie sonst, aber dafür wird man mit dem Leben einer großartigen Hauptfigur belohnt, die sich mutig und ohne zu zögern, ihrem Leben buchstäblich entgegenwirft.

Über mehrere Teile zeigt die Autorin, wie sich Caitlyn ihr eigenes Leben aufbaut, wie sie ihren Träumen und Sehnsüchten folgt und ihren Platz in der Glitzerwelt Hollywoods erobert. Aber auch, wie sie mit ihren Albträumen kämpft, sich gegen Paparazzi und aufdringliche Fans wehren muss und trotzdem immer klar ihren Prinzipien folgt.

Charaktere

Abgesehen davon, dass die Figuren unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten, ist Caitlyn eine hervorragend kreierte Hauptfigur. Ihr Mut, ihre Entschlossenheit und ihr Wille, Dinge nicht einfach so hinzunehmen und sich nicht unterkriegen zu lassen, hat mich von Anfang an begeistert. Sie will ihren Platz im Leben finden, sich behaupten und trotzdem nicht auf die Geborgenheit und Liebe ihrer Familie verzichten. Und bekommt alles, wenn auch nicht immer auf geradem Wege. Ihre Art, die Welt zu sehen, ist für mich als Leser einfach nur klasse gewesen.

Resultat

Ein toller Roman, dessen kleine Schwächen nicht sonderlich ins Gewicht fallen. Gut, das Ende war mir eine Spur zu flach und kitschig, aber die Geschichte ist bis dahin einfach nur wundervoll. Zwar ist die Entführung, mit der alles beginnt, eher als Hintergrundgeschichte angelegt, das schmälert das Vergnügen über den Rest der Handlung aber nicht. Empfehlenswert.

*This book was published in the English language by St. Martin´s Press on May 26, 2020 

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writers' groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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7/10/2021

Sanctuary by Nora Roberts

Sometimes I think her early books show her great work from a perspective her current work is sometimes missing. This one is fantastic entertainment with magnificent use of language and style. If you are a fan of the author, this one is definitely a must-read.

Sanctuary

by Nora Roberts
Publisher Berkley on July 3, 2007
Genre Contemporary Romance
Pages 448
Format Paperback
Source Library
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶✶

Photographer Jo Ellen Hathaway thought she'd escaped the house called Sanctuary long ago. She'd spent her loneliest years there, after the sudden, unexplained disappearance of her mother. Yet the sprawling inn on an island off the Georgia coast continues to haunt her dreams. And now, even more, haunting are the pictures someone is sending her: strange close-ups and candids, culminating in the most shocking portrait of all - a photo of her mother - naked, beautiful, and dead. Now Jo must return to the island, and to her bitterly estranged family. With the help of Nathan Delaney - who was on the island the summer her mother disappeared - Jo hopes to learn the truth about the tragic past. But Sanctuary may be the most dangerous place of all.

Story

Close to madness, the young photographer Jo Hathaway seeks refuge in her Sanctuary home on the island of Desire, where she grew up. It's been years since she last set foot on the island, and her success and fame as a photographer now almost make her an outcast on the island. At least with part of her family. The father practically lives in his own world and is more outdoors in nature than in the house, which has now become a well-running hotel. Her sister Alexa is more than jealous of the big sister's success and shows this all too clearly at every suitable and unsuitable opportunity. And her big brother Brian is, as always, a stubborn and more than headstrong head who doesn't exactly welcome her with open arms. If it weren't for her aunt Kate, the good soul of the house, Jo would literally go up the walls. It also doesn't help her that she meets the architect Nathan and has to discover with horror that she is well on the way to falling in love with him. She, who thinks absolutely nothing of unplanned things like feelings unless she can capture them with her camera and bring them to light in the darkroom on prints. But when her best friend Ginny disappears after a beach party and does not appear again, the idyllic world on Desire begins to show cracks and the disappearance of a camping guest then tears the deceptive idyll apart completely. Long-standing conflicts erupt with force, making life hell for the Hathaway family.

Style

With this story, Nora Roberts has written a criminological romance, powerfully eloquent and extremely soulful, combining tension, passion, conflict, and an idyllic island setting so skillfully that it is an absolute pleasure to read the book. Divided into three parts, the author leads the reader and the characters step by step through the plot and towards the mighty ending. When the forces of nature in the form of a brutal storm called Carla dragged across the island at wind speed three, I could almost hear the roar of the wind, the cracking when a branch broke through a window or the shattering of glass, so vividly and graphically has Nora Roberts described these things. With a dash of humor, one is nevertheless always aware of the seriousness of the situation in which the characters find themselves during this action.

Characters

Nora Roberts did not give her characters a simple past in this novel. Nathan is grappling with a gruesome discovery that makes him doubt whether he could strike in exactly the same direction, and the remaining members of the Hathaway family have struggled, each in his own way, with the sudden disappearance of their mother for twenty years. The conflicts that arise from it and the new ones that are preprogrammed are presented so classically and realistically that it was a pleasure to witness them as a reader, even if they are anything but funny for the characters themselves. The scraps flew, words were thrown into the room with great destructive power, no one really talked to the other, and the only one who kept a perspective and saw behind the facade was Kate, the aunt of Brian, Jo, and Alexa. Something is not right at all with this mother's disappearance without a trace, as the reader realizes at the latest when Nathan struggles with his inner torments more and more and asks himself more and more often when the best time is to tell the family.

Conclusion

An incredibly compelling story like only one can: Nora Roberts. Once you have started this book, you don't put it down so quickly. Unless you've read it through. Great feelings with a dash of thriller make for fantastic reading pleasure.

Happy reading

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writers’ groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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1/24/2020

The Witness by Nora Roberts

A book I´ve read many, many years ago. It is one of those NR books I call a page-turner and one of her best works if you ask me. The combination of crime, romance, and very well created characters gives this story the special something. You experience a permanent thrill from the first page to the last and that is what a reader is looking for in a book.

The Witness

by Nora Roberts

Publisher Penguin Random House on April 17, 2012

Genre Contemporary Romance

Pages 496

Format Hardcover

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶✶ 

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems designer, her own protection is supplemented by a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. Unfortunately, that seems to be the quickest way to get attention in a tiny southern town. The mystery of Abigail Lowery and her sharp mind, secretive nature and unromantic viewpoint intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights. And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.

Story

One night of rebellion and nothing in Abigail Lowery's life is what it used to be. She lives the life of a hermit, goes shopping very early in the morning, and trains daily with her dog Bert - not exactly what you can call an exciting everyday life. But then police officer Brooks enters her life, and Abigail begins a period of change and passion.

Style

Nora Robert's writing style is fluid, the reading speed is easy and the plot brilliant. The author has once again managed to create fascinating characters and a captivating story that is not only entertaining but also presents the subject of forgery, programming language, and security in an entertaining way. The Russian mafia - the Bratva - serves as the background and gives the novel an exciting setting. The personal narrative style created by the two characters Abigail and Brooks creates an incredible atmosphere, which is sometimes very upsetting and scary, but never loses its credibility and conviction.

Characters

The most varied characters come together here, enchant, seduce, beat around, provoke, intrigue, and kill. The author created warm-hearted figures, cold-hearted ones, and those who are simply unable to feel. Dr. Susan Fitch, Abigail's mother - or rather, her producer and educator is the latter. This highly successful surgeon is as far away from a mother as the earth is from the moon. She dictates and determines everything, gives instructions and orders that are lawful for Abigail, and yet, in the end, she has to admit that her project “to be a mother” failed miserably. Abigail finds everything a loving and caring mother can give in Brook´s mother Sunny O'Hara. That woman is full of life, creativity, and a clear attitude towards weapons. And she effortlessly succeeds in what Susan Fitch couldn't do for over 16 years: she overwhelms Abigail in a positive sense with her motherliness.

Conclusion

Extremely sensitive, eloquent, and written with wonderful humor. This story is a fascinating and wonderfully entertaining novel, full of suspense, drama, and unbeatable logic. The Witness has captivated me from the first to the last page. Here you will find a great story between the book covers, which should not only delight Nora Robert fans.

Happy reading

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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9/07/2019

Tribute by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts isn´t called the Queen of Romance for nothing. Her way of writing about love, family, and the ties that bind us with her, is unique. And when she combines it with a bit of the thriller genre and gives it a touch of the contemporary, the result is a thrilling contemporary romance you barely can put down.

Tribute

by Nora Roberts

Publisher G. P. Putnam´s Sons on July 8, 2008

Genre Contemporary Romance

Pages 451

Format Hardcover

Source Publisher 

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶✶

Cilla McGowan, a former child star, has found a more satisfying life restoring homes. So she comes to Virginia´s Shenandoah Valley to save the dilapidated farmhouse of her grandmother – a legendary actress who died of an overdose there more than thirty years ago. Plunging into the project with gusto, Cilla´s almost too busy and exhausted to notice her neighbor, graphic novelist Ford Sawyer. Determined not to carry on the family tradition of ill-fated romances, Cilla steels herself against Ford´s quirky charm, though she can´t help indulging in a little fantasy. But it´s reality that holds it share of dangers for Cilla. A cache of unsigned letters found in the attic points to a mysterious romance in her grandmother´s life and may be what sparks a frightening, violent assault. Now, if Cilla and Ford are unable to sort out who is targeting her and why, she may, just like her world-famous grandmother, be cut down in the prime of her life.

Story

Cilla, a former TV star and granddaughter of the legendary Janet Hardy, has bought her mother´s neglected country home and begins to renovate it with much love and money. She changes and designs everything the way she wants it to be in her future home, moving on the painful traces of her own family history and that of a woman who was a celebrated star of her life and is now a legend. But not everyone in the place seems to like what happens to the half-decayed country house and the property because when Cilla finds old love letters from her grandmother, strange incidents happen shortly thereafter. When even parts of the already completely renovated house fall victim to blind destructive rage, it is clear that a person is ready for the utmost and Cilla is in danger.

Style

Cilla experiences in her dream conversations with her famous grandmother who are so wonderfully ironic, witty, and soulful, that one almost forgets when reading that the protagonist is talking to a dead person. The reader is always in the picture where he is at the moment and experiences a lot of things together with the main character. Besides the thoughts of Cilla, the reader gets an insight into those of Ford and Steve too. That way, the novel becomes a varied and very entertaining touch.

The language of Nora Roberts is direct, simple, and fits exactly to the respective characters. A novel that is read in an uncomplicated way and touches your emotions.

Characters

The figures are created with wit, charm, and a dash of self-irony. Cilla conjured Nora Roberts onto the paper as an outwardly strong-looking woman who can grab and face the challenges in life. But tormented internally by fears and negative questions and thoughts, that she is really sympathetic from the first moment. She fights a fight she has nothing to do with. But since she is the granddaughter of the legendary Janet Hardy, her fight from the outside world is now made the fight of the granddaughter. Although Cilla has a very different idea of life. 

Conclusion

An absolutely dreamlike novel. A refined and exciting storyline offers many surprises and captivates the reader from the first to the last word. One of the best novels by Nora Roberts. Highly recommended.  

Happy reading

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Cilla erlebt in ihren Träumen Gespräche mit ihrer berühmten Großmutter die so herrlich ironisch, witzig und gefühlvoll sind, dass man beim Lesen fast vergisst, dass sich da die Protagonistin mit einer Toten unterhält. Der Leser weiß immer, wo er sich gerade befindet und erfährt eine Menge Dinge zusammen mit der Hauptfigur. Neben den Gedanken von Cilla erhält der Leser auch einen Einblick in die von Ford und Steve.

Charaktere

Die Figuren sind mit Witz, Charme und einem Schuss Selbstironie angelegt. Cilla hat Nora Roberts als eine, nach außen, hin stark anmutende Frau auf das Papier gezaubert, die zupacken kann und sich den Herausforderungen im Leben stellt. Aber innerlich von lauter Ängsten und negativen Fragen und Gedanken gequält wird, dass sie einem vom ersten Moment an richtig sympathisch ist. Sie kämpft einen Kampf, mit dem sie eigentlich nichts zu tun hat. Da sie aber die Enkelin der legendären Janet Hardy ist, wird deren Kampf von der Außenwelt nun zum Kampf der Enkelin gemacht. Obwohl Cilla eine ganz andere Vorstellung vom Leben hat.

Resultat

Ein absolut traumhafter Roman. Eine raffinierte und aufregende Handlung bietet viele Überraschungen und fasziniert den Leser vom ersten bis zum letzten Wort. Einer der besten Romane von Nora Roberts. Höchst empfehlenswert.

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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7/13/2019

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts

I LOVE Nora Roberts. She is the Queen of Romance and reading her books is one heck of a pleasure. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less. This one is definitely the a-bit-more category. Whiskey Beach was a pure reading pleasure. It started with a gorgeous cover design. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it and it was clear that I wanted to read it as soon as possible.

Whiskey Beach

by Nora Roberts
Publisher G.P. Putnam´s Sons on April 16, 2013
Genre Contemporary Romance
Pages 484
Format Hardcover
Source Purchased
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶✶

For more than three hundred years, Bluff House has sat above Whiskey Beach, guarding its shore – and its secrets. But to Eli Landon, it´s home. A Boston lawyer, Eli has weathered an intense year of public scrutiny and police investigation after being accused of – but never arrested for - the murder of his soon-to-be ex-wife. He finds sanctuary at Bluff House, even though his beloved grandmother is in Boston recuperating from a nasty fall. Abra Walsh is always there, though. Whiskey Beach´s resident housekeeper, yoga instructor, jewelry maker, and massage therapist, Abra is a woman of many talents – including helping Eli take control of his life and clear his name. But as they become entangled in each other, they find themselves caught in a net that stretches back for centuries – one that has ensnared a man intent on reaping the rewards of destroying Eli Landon once and for all. 

Story

Eli Landon has been through a year of pain, observation, and self-doubt. The once so energetic defense lawyer is only a shadow of himself. His return to Bluff House, the home of the Landon family, is to help him regain his self and heal his wounds. He wants to finish his book and find out about the cruel murder of his wife. The cheerful housekeeper Abra wants to help him with this and her vision of life gradually opens the door to a happy and fulfilled life for Eli. But an uninvited intruder threatens to destroy the new luck again and another murder catapults Eli again the sights of the investigators – Eli decides to step out of defense.

Style

Highly refined, Nora Roberts has combined thriller-elements with a love story and an ancient legend about a century-old treasure – giving a fabulous atmosphere. In doing so, the author remains true to her gentle word and style of writing. But it never gets boring. On the contrary, with each line, the fascination, and enthusiasm for the novel increase, and it is extremely difficult to put the title out of the hands for just a minute. The beautiful landscape descriptions contribute to the fact that you can literally smell the smell of the water, the scent of spring, and hear the howling of the storm. In this novel act two main characters to whom the author has given a not so easy past. While Elis suffers from the terrible murder suspicion of his wife, Abra has to struggle with the trauma of a stalker and the associated psychological terror – even if she does not realize that at first.

Nora Roberts brings the corresponding abysses to light with a lot of sensitivity, lets the reader look behind the façade of the two characters piece by piece, and helps them in the course of the story to an incredible transformation.

Characters

A character has cast a spell on me: Hester Hawkin Landon - Eli´s grandmother. An agile, spiritually young lady, who once lost her heart to his grandfather and his home, Bluff House. The way she talks to her grandson, encourages him, her way of thinking, her feelings, and how she struggles to her feet with an iron will, impressed me deeply.

Abra is at first glance an absolutely fun-loving and happy woman. But she, too, has most brutally experienced the unpleasant side of love, and now lives intensely and consciously every day on Whiskey Beach. She is an ace at the stove, sees yoga as an elixir of life, and has magical hands when it comes to releasing tension. A strong and yet delicate woman with a heart of gold.

Conclusion

Absolutely atmospheric, exciting, extremely emotional, gentle, haunting, and wonderfully harmonious. Whiskey Beach is a beautiful novel, which has just the right mix of excitement, love, hate, and thriller. Combined with a breathtaking landscape and picturesque locations, this novel offers everyone delightfully entertaining hours. For Nora Roberts fans a must-have, I´d say. Highly recommended.

Happy reading

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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12/30/2017

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

As an old NR fan (in age and years) I had to have this. I guess her entire fan base was eagerly awaiting this new book. And when the cover got revealed, it was clear to see that the author had made some changes in her life as an author. But don´t ask me why it took me so long to read it. I have no clue why I put it first on my TBR and looked at it for so many months, before finally starting to enjoy it. And it was enjoyable in every way.

Come Sundown*

by Nora Roberts
Publisher St. Martin´s Press on June 6, 2017
Genre Novel
Pages 466
Format Hardcover
Source Purchased
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶½

The Bodine ranch and resort in western Montana is a family business, an idyllic spot for vacationers who want to ride horses in the apple-crisp air or couples holding weddings under the wide-open sky. A little more than thirty thousand acres, it is home to four generations – and behind the scenes, Bodine Longbow does all she can to keep things running with the help of her siblings, the staff, and the new hire, Callen Skinner. But not far away, an aunt Bodine has never met lives in her own twisted version of a family, one no one knows about, one she never chose. Years ago, Alice was a rebellious eighteen-year-old who ran off looking for freedom and adventure. Now she cowers in fear, rarely seeing the sunlight, her mind shattered by a man who views her – and her offspring – as his rightful property. The Longbows don´t talk about Alice anymore. Many quietly presume that she is long dead. Then a young bartender leaves the resort late one night, and Bo and Cal discover her battered body in the snow. It´s the first sign that danger lurks in the mountains that surround them, and it will not be the only murder to unnerve this peaceful town. But the greatest shock is yet to come when Alice returns – and the threat that follows in her wake will test the bonds that hold Bodine to this place and these people, and thrust her into a darkness she could never have imagined.

Story

Bodine is running her family´s business very successfully. And when one of her employees is found dead, she starts to feel that there is more to it. Way more. But what to do, when a killer is on the loose, guests are coming to the resort every day and her family is still dealing with another loss that happened over twenty years back?

Style

It is also clear that Nora Roberts has moved more and more into the Contemporary Romance genre when it comes to her writing style. At least with her standalone novels. I don´t mind it. Though I loved her pure romance novels very much. The setting in the fantastic landscape of Montana was a plus, that made me feel like I was there myself while reading. I could literally smell the spring air, could feel the freezing cold of the winter, or saw the events with all their details that Bodine and her employees were doing. I don´t know why, but I had and have a certain picture of the ranch and resort in my head and can´t get rid of it *smile*

At some point during the ongoing novel, I started to have a feeling for who the bad guy was. There was one character that gave me the chills every time he showed up. Maybe because he was too much of a pale figure, not only in his appearance but also in his behavior. Aaaaaand BINGO! Woohoo – I guessed it right *YAY*

Characters

The author brings a huge variety of figures into the game of this novel. The modern women who run businesses as well as they have a family of their own. Or the men who really believe they can grab a strange woman off the street, and then go and claim them to be their possessing. But what struck me the most was, that Alice didn´t fight. When she was caught, she was in her early twenties, if I counted it right, and from the first minute, she did everything to please the man who took her. She gave up way to easy and fast for my taste - though Nora Roberts probably needed that for her ongoing plot. Otherwise, she wouldn´t have had a figure to keep going with her story.

As much as I liked reading this novel, I also – again – saw that I am not fond of a certain type of woman.

Conclusion

All in all, I had a great time reading Come Sundown. This was very entertaining, set in a gorgeous landscape, and with well-created figures, despite my dislike of one or the other. This novel is a must-have for every NR fan, no question. Read and judge for yourself.

Happy reading

*This book was published Licht in tiefer Nacht by DIANA on September 25, 2017 

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writer´s groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Follow

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