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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this one. It was extremely long, but very atmospheric and made for a great read for these hot Southern summer nights. About 50% in I was pretty sure whodunnit, and I ended up being right so it was a little predictable, but still very enjoyable. 0/10 stars for dying dogs.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I sometimes wonder if there are two authors named Nora Roberts. Some of her books are very good, others are so dull beyond belief. This is one of the good ones. OK it's a little cliched but burnt out Baltimore cop Nate Burke accepts the job of Police Chief in a remote Alaskan town called Lunacy. While there he investigates a 30 year old crime.
As with many Nora Roberts books the women are tough. Nate's love interest in this book is Meg Galloway, a shy of commitment bush pilot who takes on bears in her underwear. You generally know what's coming with a Nora Roberts novel and there are no surprises in this one, but it's still worth the effort.
As with many Nora Roberts books the women are tough. Nate's love interest in this book is Meg Galloway, a shy of commitment bush pilot who takes on bears in her underwear. You generally know what's coming with a Nora Roberts novel and there are no surprises in this one, but it's still worth the effort.
It was good in classic Nora Roberts fashion, but dragged on a bit and made me wonder why it needed to be 600+ pages. Also, while Nate, the MC, is probably one of my favorite Nora characters, I didn’t really like any of the others. Still, it was a good, solid winter read.
I love mystery/ suspense books with romance in them. This was a great book that great out look at Alaska from a very descriptive writing. I loved reading about what life was like for a small town Alaskan police chief. I loved the descriptions and character interactions, It had me guessing all the way to the end on who did it.
murder in Alaska
I really liked the descriptions of Alaska and it felt like I was there! I kept guessing wrong about whodunnit, but it was a decent story about redemption and finding love unexpectedly as well.
I really liked the descriptions of Alaska and it felt like I was there! I kept guessing wrong about whodunnit, but it was a decent story about redemption and finding love unexpectedly as well.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nora's always so good at crafting an immersive and the Alaskan small town setting is lush and rich. The MMC is tortured, and the FMC is cynical, which didn't sound fun, but I honestly enjoyed the character and romance development. This is mostly in his POV so we're in his head a lot as he struggles to adjust as an Outsider, and to find the zest to live. Sometimes I just want to cuddle him!
He fell first and definitely fell hard, which I loved, and he softens her harsher edges. It's a slow burn romance (even if they sexed it up early), and the process of them finding their way to loving each other is lovely. The suspense balances in well, with her connection to the cold case. All in all, one of my favourite Noras!
He fell first and definitely fell hard, which I loved, and he softens her harsher edges. It's a slow burn romance (even if they sexed it up early), and the process of them finding their way to loving each other is lovely. The suspense balances in well, with her connection to the cold case. All in all, one of my favourite Noras!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
ALASKAAAAA, this one was really fun. Good for reading in super hot summer weather.
I liked this one. Nora Robert is, in recent books of hers that I've read, 3 for 3 with the prickly heroines/cool heroes. Like [b:Birthright|114203|Birthright|Nora Roberts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1212221832s/114203.jpg|1461362] and [b:Tribute|2003767|Tribute|Nora Roberts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1216861284s/2003767.jpg|3353247], I liked the hero more than I liked the heroine.
Police Detective Nate Burke comes to a small town Lunatic, AK (pop. around 600) to get away from the crushing despair he's felt since his partner in Baltimore died in an alley in his arms. Nate is hired on as the Sheriff of the small town. Over time he begins to heal while taking in the quirks of both the town and the people. And he meets and falls in love with Meg Calloway. But a 16 year old murder mystery surfaces, one that one member of the town will do anything to make sure no one solves.
This was a nice little whodunnit. Almost read like a cozy mystery in places. I could easily see her setting a series in Lunatic, AK especially with the townspeople to provide local color, both comic and tragic. The mystery plotline (kept me guessing although I did figure it out before it was revealed) and individual characters were stronger than the romance plotline. The romance was almost a by the numbers thing.
If I had one quibble it is the same one that I am finding with all of her more recent stand alone titles. I am a long time fan of NR's and I think my longevity with her actually works against me sometimes. I have noticed that there is a sameness of speech patterns amongst her characters that cross books boundaries. So a character's dialogue and speech cadences in [b:Angels Fall|26050|Angels Fall|Nora Roberts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167775206s/26050.jpg|3038377] will sound incredibly similar to those of characters in [b:High Noon|114133|High Noon|Nora Roberts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1212221768s/114133.jpg|1689205] or even this book. Interestingly, I don't find this to be true when I go back and re-read books from earlier in her career.
Even so, this was a pretty darned good read. I recommend.
Police Detective Nate Burke comes to a small town Lunatic, AK (pop. around 600) to get away from the crushing despair he's felt since his partner in Baltimore died in an alley in his arms. Nate is hired on as the Sheriff of the small town. Over time he begins to heal while taking in the quirks of both the town and the people. And he meets and falls in love with Meg Calloway. But a 16 year old murder mystery surfaces, one that one member of the town will do anything to make sure no one solves.
This was a nice little whodunnit. Almost read like a cozy mystery in places. I could easily see her setting a series in Lunatic, AK especially with the townspeople to provide local color, both comic and tragic. The mystery plotline (kept me guessing although I did figure it out before it was revealed) and individual characters were stronger than the romance plotline. The romance was almost a by the numbers thing.
If I had one quibble it is the same one that I am finding with all of her more recent stand alone titles. I am a long time fan of NR's and I think my longevity with her actually works against me sometimes. I have noticed that there is a sameness of speech patterns amongst her characters that cross books boundaries. So a character's dialogue and speech cadences in [b:Angels Fall|26050|Angels Fall|Nora Roberts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167775206s/26050.jpg|3038377] will sound incredibly similar to those of characters in [b:High Noon|114133|High Noon|Nora Roberts|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1212221768s/114133.jpg|1689205] or even this book. Interestingly, I don't find this to be true when I go back and re-read books from earlier in her career.
Even so, this was a pretty darned good read. I recommend.
This was one of Nora's books worthy of another visit (read as a new release in October 2004). Introductions were made. The scenes set up. The chemistry obvious. She didn't spend too long on any one aspect of the story. It gets interesting really quickly and moves along at a quick pace. As always, her hero and heroine are impressive. Her brief but plentiful descriptions of the majesty of Alaska help set the stage for a first rate story!