Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
I do enjoy a good romantic suspense, and while this isn't a favorite of mine I did really like it. I liked the build up, watching Sloan figure out her life, while falling for Nash, as well as watching her investigate all these missing persons that have popped up. I loved the family aspect. They are all so close and all had their own rolls in the story which I was here for. The pacing was at times a bit to slow for me which kept pulling me out of the story but man the farther I got in the more invested I became especially towards the end. All in all this is a solid read and think others will enjoy it.
slow-paced
I don't think I have ever been disappointed with a Nora Roberts romantic suspense, especially in audiobook form. The narrator was fantastic. Her character voicing was exceptionally done and at no point did the audio production ever pull me from the story.
That said, this book had two very distinct sections. The first 60% was very much a slice-of-life story of a woman's healing journey and finding her way after tragedy. I found Sloan to be one of my favourite FMCs I've read, having a very distinct character voice and motivations. There was dabbling of the suspense plot in the first 60% but it was by no means the primary focus. The first 60% also had the slow burn romance growing, though I don't think they even met until 30-40% (give or take). The 60% point onwards had a primary focus on the suspense plot and had a sense of urgency that wasn't found in the first 60%. If you jump into this hoping for a captivating romantic suspense, just know it will be a slow burn to get there.
There was also a high level of attention given to home renovations in this book. While it did lend to that slice-of-life feeling, it got quite heavy-handed. I kept wondering where these people were getting all this money to gut and redo entire homes on a single salary. Where I'm from, the renovations they were talking about would easily cost in the 6-figures and they were just doing them on a whim. Or there'd be a large project done as a surprise in a single day. It felt very unrealistic and it did hamper my enjoyment overall, which is unfortunate because every single home renovation discussed didn't lend itself to the plot in any way. It could have been removed entirely and I don't think the book would be altered in any meaningful way.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
That said, this book had two very distinct sections. The first 60% was very much a slice-of-life story of a woman's healing journey and finding her way after tragedy. I found Sloan to be one of my favourite FMCs I've read, having a very distinct character voice and motivations. There was dabbling of the suspense plot in the first 60% but it was by no means the primary focus. The first 60% also had the slow burn romance growing, though I don't think they even met until 30-40% (give or take). The 60% point onwards had a primary focus on the suspense plot and had a sense of urgency that wasn't found in the first 60%. If you jump into this hoping for a captivating romantic suspense, just know it will be a slow burn to get there.
There was also a high level of attention given to home renovations in this book. While it did lend to that slice-of-life feeling, it got quite heavy-handed. I kept wondering where these people were getting all this money to gut and redo entire homes on a single salary. Where I'm from, the renovations they were talking about would easily cost in the 6-figures and they were just doing them on a whim. Or there'd be a large project done as a surprise in a single day. It felt very unrealistic and it did hamper my enjoyment overall, which is unfortunate because every single home renovation discussed didn't lend itself to the plot in any way. It could have been removed entirely and I don't think the book would be altered in any meaningful way.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was lucky enough to score an ARC copy via a giveaway (and a big thank you to the author and to the publisher for that!).
A solid 4 stars!
There is something strangely charming in the mundane, day-to-day life of Sloan Cooper. The thriller and the romance were the cherry on top. The text flows well (there are reasons why Nora Roberts is a popular author!) and the slow burn had me addicted somehow (like, it was a VERY slow burn, but an amazing one?!?). How the author manages to make stuff that would normally be deemed downright boring as interesting as she does is way beyond me, but it worked for me. My die hard fantasy fanatic teen self would be appalled! Adult me drank up every word.
This was my first book from that author but I see the appeal, and it won't be the last (In fact I have a few other books of hers in my TBR, I'll get to them little by little!)
My only critique is the pacing: it's a very slow pace, until you get to the last 15 or so pages, where everything goes down, very fast, very suddenly, so much that up until those last pages, I was convinced there would be a tome 2. Otherwise, it's a very strong read.
A solid 4 stars!
There is something strangely charming in the mundane, day-to-day life of Sloan Cooper. The thriller and the romance were the cherry on top. The text flows well (there are reasons why Nora Roberts is a popular author!) and the slow burn had me addicted somehow (like, it was a VERY slow burn, but an amazing one?!?). How the author manages to make stuff that would normally be deemed downright boring as interesting as she does is way beyond me, but it worked for me. My die hard fantasy fanatic teen self would be appalled! Adult me drank up every word.
This was my first book from that author but I see the appeal, and it won't be the last (In fact I have a few other books of hers in my TBR, I'll get to them little by little!)
My only critique is the pacing: it's a very slow pace, until you get to the last 15 or so pages, where everything goes down, very fast, very suddenly, so much that up until those last pages, I was convinced there would be a tome 2. Otherwise, it's a very strong read.
fast-paced
Nora is always a winner. But this was a WINNER. I loved it, it was reminiscent of some of her early 2000s reads and it was riveting. Somehow these brother and sister couples warmed my heart, I love a good carpenter in a story line, but I really love a couple falling in love when they didn't mean to. This was a great balance of plot and romance mixed with suspense and...borderline cannibalism? Hey, whatever you want to write Nora, I'm going to read it.
This narration was amazing and I'm so glad I got to listen to this one early thanks to NetGalley!
This narration was amazing and I'm so glad I got to listen to this one early thanks to NetGalley!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Every year, I look forward to Nora Roberts' new stand-alone romantic suspense novel, and this one did not disappoint me. Sloan is strong and fierce, yet still un-apologetically female, and Nash turns out to be the perfect partner for her in life and in solving the mystery. I also loved learning anout each of their professions as the book progressed. Along the way, of course, there are plenty of moments of danger and excitement, and a nasty bad guy(s) for her to come up against. One of my favorite things about this genre is knowing that the good guys will prevail and the main character will get her/his happily ever after. It allows me, as the reader, to sink into the story without wondering if the ending will be a happy one. Nora Roberts does this exceptionally well and I can always trust my reading time to her.