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conniekins1's review against another edition
2.0
Overall, I'd rate this as just OK. It was easy to put down, and I'm glad it came from the library because I know that I will never re-read it. To be super clear, it's not the subject matter that I find off-putting. Yes, it's pretty shocking to have a romance book start off with a mass shooting (in a mall), but it's relevant to the times we live in.
A few things bother me.
(1) Way too much time spent on describing every detail of the criminal's action with absolutely no insight into the reasons behind the behavior. If you're going to spend that much time telling me about disguises and kill methods, you kind of need to tell me why.
(2) Unnecessary/unbelievable characters. The heroine's sister was useless as a plot point, and to have me believe that her very strait-laced mother didn't change her name from Tulip (because the grandmother is a hippie straight out of the 1960s, of course), to something like Tina the day she turned 18 just beggars belief. The best friend character, Mi, was woefully underdeveloped to the point of being superfluous.
(3) Yes, I know it's petty, but some of the character names in NR books over the last few years are just stupid. It's permissible to recycle a name here and there; after all, a lot of people in the world are named Mary, Susan, John, David, etc. Each background character in each book doesn't have to have a unique name.
A few things bother me.
(1) Way too much time spent on describing every detail of the criminal's action with absolutely no insight into the reasons behind the behavior. If you're going to spend that much time telling me about disguises and kill methods, you kind of need to tell me why.
(2) Unnecessary/unbelievable characters. The heroine's sister was useless as a plot point, and to have me believe that her very strait-laced mother didn't change her name from Tulip (because the grandmother is a hippie straight out of the 1960s, of course), to something like Tina the day she turned 18 just beggars belief. The best friend character, Mi, was woefully underdeveloped to the point of being superfluous.
(3) Yes, I know it's petty, but some of the character names in NR books over the last few years are just stupid. It's permissible to recycle a name here and there; after all, a lot of people in the world are named Mary, Susan, John, David, etc. Each background character in each book doesn't have to have a unique name.
nonibear's review against another edition
1.0
This book is terrible and tone deaf. I read about 130 pages and put it down, which is a first for me with this author. I don’t understand the appeal of turning a mass shooting event into a romance novel. I kept waiting for it to get better but the “villain” was just too much “evil” and the other characters were not enough…of anything really.
0 stars
0 stars
hillaryhere's review against another edition
5.0
ending was a TEENY bit anticlimactic after all that build up, but the book was still great. 4.5 stars. I rounded up for the awesome narration.
beethebookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book without reading anything about it, so if you are like me, please heed the trigger warning...mass shooting.
That being said, after getting through the traumatic beginning of this story it completely absorbed me. I stayed up late reading, I needed to know how it ended. Do the good guys save the day, as they usually do? Will all the characters I fell in love with in the beginning of the story, make it to the end? It captured me and I needed answers. It was a fast paced wild ride, with an evocative setting and a well planned out plot. Every character was fully developed, and I enjoyed getting to know each of them through their life after the terrible event, and all of the connections they made. This story will sadly stay with me more for the trauma, and life in our current world... but I enjoyed most of it, and would recommend it for those who can accept it for the story is it, no matter how true to life it felt.
That being said, after getting through the traumatic beginning of this story it completely absorbed me. I stayed up late reading, I needed to know how it ended. Do the good guys save the day, as they usually do? Will all the characters I fell in love with in the beginning of the story, make it to the end? It captured me and I needed answers. It was a fast paced wild ride, with an evocative setting and a well planned out plot. Every character was fully developed, and I enjoyed getting to know each of them through their life after the terrible event, and all of the connections they made. This story will sadly stay with me more for the trauma, and life in our current world... but I enjoyed most of it, and would recommend it for those who can accept it for the story is it, no matter how true to life it felt.
aj93's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! Very good! This story was a mass shooting and the implications it had on the survivors. I’m starting to enjoy Nora Roberts more and more
hexed's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable plot. Felt that sometimes everyone was too reasonable and a lot of potential conflict was just talked through and cut off at the knees. Didn't appreciate Reed's constant sexual comments about his love interest's grandma either. I wouldn't be standing for that.
wendy_mcg's review against another edition
4.0
January Lavoy is an excellent narrator!
The book begins with active shooter situation in a mall. I was crying through first several chapters. It was intense and I though about quitting. I’m glad I stuck with it. The book occurs for 14 years after the mall massacre.
The book begins with active shooter situation in a mall. I was crying through first several chapters. It was intense and I though about quitting. I’m glad I stuck with it. The book occurs for 14 years after the mall massacre.
gray_lady's review against another edition
4.0
A little slow in a few places, but I loved that the author allowed time to pass. It was needed.
cvanover15's review against another edition
2.0
This book took me FORVER to finish. It started off really strong and captured my attention. Huge smile on my face that this was going to be a book that I just could not put down. As the book continued on that smile slowly faded and I was SO BORED. The writing style bored me and while it was suppose to be suspenseful, it felt like a story of people just living their lives. Probably won't read another book from this author.