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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I had this miscategorized as a romance. The main character has a love interest in the book but there’s not really a “romance” to the story. It’s primarily focused on the main male character, Nate and his move to Alaska after leaving the Baltimore Police Department due to his issues in dealing with his partner’s death. As the first chief of police in a small community in Alaska, he deals with lots of minor disturbances and the surfacing of the body of a climber that turns up 16 years after last seen in the community, murdered. There are occasional paragraphs/sections from various other characters.
The first half of the book was a little draggy. It’s been a while since I’ve read Nora Roberts, so I wasn’t expecting that. It was entirely too long. There were journal entries from the “missing that no one knew was missing” climber interspersed so haphazardly that I almost forgot about them at times. I think the writer could have established the atmosphere and characters of the small community with less. The last half of the book picked up and I enjoyed it, but I’ll be honest, I almost put it down several times during the first half and contemplated giving it a one-star rating. The last half saved it for me.
The first half of the book was a little draggy. It’s been a while since I’ve read Nora Roberts, so I wasn’t expecting that. It was entirely too long. There were journal entries from the “missing that no one knew was missing” climber interspersed so haphazardly that I almost forgot about them at times. I think the writer could have established the atmosphere and characters of the small community with less. The last half of the book picked up and I enjoyed it, but I’ll be honest, I almost put it down several times during the first half and contemplated giving it a one-star rating. The last half saved it for me.
I enjoyed The Witness more and found it more gripping, even though Northern Lights had better writing and a better climax. This book was just a little too long.
Following the hero’s perspective in this book versus the heroine’s really worked here, which I feel like is rare in the romance genre. Nate’s motivations and growth throughout the story were well done.
Following the hero’s perspective in this book versus the heroine’s really worked here, which I feel like is rare in the romance genre. Nate’s motivations and growth throughout the story were well done.
adventurous
mysterious
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, a Roberts book is always good, pretty much - the craft is there. The side characters have so much life even if they make only brief appearances. There is always a sense of place, and characters always have unique professions that are well-explored.
BUT, this moved so slowly...really, I just wanted to finish it. I liked Burke, but honestly I felt like I hardly knew Meg. She had "cool girl" syndrome. I don't know what it was - maybe the fact that the book was dedicated almost solely to Burke's POV, so I hardly got any narration from Meg. And those modern contemporaries that alternate first person POV between chapters mostly annoy me - but I do like how traditionally, most romances alternate third person POV in a very natural way. Roberts usually excels at this, but Meg was just on the back-burner, I suppose.
I was also annoyed by the characterization of Meg's mother, Charlene - sexually open but also so THIRSTY that it was just a little ridiculous.
This is more of a suspense with elements of romance - when the relationship came to its peak I was thinking there wasn't much development there. Meh.
BUT, this moved so slowly...really, I just wanted to finish it. I liked Burke, but honestly I felt like I hardly knew Meg. She had "cool girl" syndrome. I don't know what it was - maybe the fact that the book was dedicated almost solely to Burke's POV, so I hardly got any narration from Meg. And those modern contemporaries that alternate first person POV between chapters mostly annoy me - but I do like how traditionally, most romances alternate third person POV in a very natural way. Roberts usually excels at this, but Meg was just on the back-burner, I suppose.
I was also annoyed by the characterization of Meg's mother, Charlene - sexually open but also so THIRSTY that it was just a little ridiculous.
This is more of a suspense with elements of romance - when the relationship came to its peak I was thinking there wasn't much development there. Meh.
"Northern Lights" is a standalone story from the Queen of Romance, Nora Roberts.
Set in Lunacy, Alaska (not a real place) and chronicles Nate Burke's journey back to life. A Baltimore cop who watched his partner die and then himself sunk into a depression with seemingly no way out ... until he finds himself in Alaska and drawn to the fiesty, independent and slightly crazy Meg Galloway, a bush pilot.
It ticks all the boxes for a Nora Roberts' novel. Drama. Romance. Twists & turns.
For me, it wasn't her best but it was enjoyable.
Set in Lunacy, Alaska (not a real place) and chronicles Nate Burke's journey back to life. A Baltimore cop who watched his partner die and then himself sunk into a depression with seemingly no way out ... until he finds himself in Alaska and drawn to the fiesty, independent and slightly crazy Meg Galloway, a bush pilot.
It ticks all the boxes for a Nora Roberts' novel. Drama. Romance. Twists & turns.
For me, it wasn't her best but it was enjoyable.
This book did make me fall in love with Alaska, which is why I wanted to read it. It’s definitely in my top 5 favorites of her books. I liked both of the main characters. I thought the mystery was just ok, but I will take a mystery-romance over just a romance any day. Bottom line is that I’ve now been researching flights to Alaska so I too can sit and look up at the northern lights.
I can't say that I was bowled over with the Nate/Meg romance but that didn't stop me from liking the book. The setting was a big draw for me as I've always wanted to go to Alaska. So, yes, not the most interesting romance but it was an okay book.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes