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novelesque_life's review
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
2020; William Morrow/HarperCollins
No Going Back is the third novel in the Nora Watts series, and I highly recommend you read this series in order. This is not your typical domestic suspense series, but has a lot of emotions and depth. The characters in this series grow with each book. We get to know more about them and their background. In this book, Bonnie's (Nora's birth daughter) kidnapping comes back to be a danger to both Nora and her daughter. The only chance she has to defeat the danger is to go looking for it first. I felt like book two was more of emotion, while this novel was a lot of action. I enjoyed No Going Back but not as much as the first two books. That is not a bad thing, as I still rated it four stars. It was nice to get more of an action story in this one, as it felt like a break in the emotional rollercoaster. I hope there is more of Nora in the future, and am excited to see that Kamal also released a young adult novel earlier this year [b:Fight Like a Girl|49494964|Fight Like a Girl|Sheena Kamal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568306593l/49494964._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73166007]. Both covers are gorgeous!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2020; William Morrow/HarperCollins
No Going Back is the third novel in the Nora Watts series, and I highly recommend you read this series in order. This is not your typical domestic suspense series, but has a lot of emotions and depth. The characters in this series grow with each book. We get to know more about them and their background. In this book, Bonnie's (Nora's birth daughter) kidnapping comes back to be a danger to both Nora and her daughter. The only chance she has to defeat the danger is to go looking for it first. I felt like book two was more of emotion, while this novel was a lot of action. I enjoyed No Going Back but not as much as the first two books. That is not a bad thing, as I still rated it four stars. It was nice to get more of an action story in this one, as it felt like a break in the emotional rollercoaster. I hope there is more of Nora in the future, and am excited to see that Kamal also released a young adult novel earlier this year [b:Fight Like a Girl|49494964|Fight Like a Girl|Sheena Kamal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568306593l/49494964._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73166007]. Both covers are gorgeous!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
No Going Back by Sheena Kamal is a pulse-pounding mystery. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Nora Watts series, it can be read a standalone.
Nora Watts returns to Vancouver only to discover that someone is after her and her estranged daughter, Bonnie. Nora knows exactly who wants her dead and her nemesis will stop at nothing to exact his revenge. Nora puts all of her energy into locating him and she becomes allies with very unexpected people as she travels from Canada to Indonesia in hopes of stopping his nefarious plan.
Nora is still at loose ends following what happened to her in Detroit. She feels guilty that she put someone dear to her in harm's way. Learning Bonnie might be in danger because of her devastates and frightens her. Discovering her foe is still after her, Nora does not want to endanger anyone else. But her former AA sponsor, private investigator Jon Bruzuca refuses to let her search for her enemy on her own.
Nora has an uncanny ability to read people and she knows there is more to Bruzuca's offer to help her than he is telling her. She is very reluctant to agree to work together, but he has connections she desperately needs. Nora's wary of her new alliance but she will do anything to keep Bonnie safe. Despite her reservations and concerns, Nora is soon on an island in Indonesia where she hopes to face her rival once and for all. But will the plan she and her comrades put into action go as they envision?
No Going Back is a tension-filled, suspenseful mystery with a clever storyline and colorful characters. Nora is fearless and reckless as she tries to protect the people she cares about. She is distrustful of offers of assistance but despite sensing hidden motives, she pushes her doubts aside in order to vanquish her deadly adversary.
With stunning twists and jaw-dropping turns, Sheena Kamal brings this latest addition to the Nora Watts series to a shocking, uneasy conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this riveting mystery to old and new fans of this marvelous series.
No Going Back by Sheena Kamal is a pulse-pounding mystery. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Nora Watts series, it can be read a standalone.
Nora Watts returns to Vancouver only to discover that someone is after her and her estranged daughter, Bonnie. Nora knows exactly who wants her dead and her nemesis will stop at nothing to exact his revenge. Nora puts all of her energy into locating him and she becomes allies with very unexpected people as she travels from Canada to Indonesia in hopes of stopping his nefarious plan.
Nora is still at loose ends following what happened to her in Detroit. She feels guilty that she put someone dear to her in harm's way. Learning Bonnie might be in danger because of her devastates and frightens her. Discovering her foe is still after her, Nora does not want to endanger anyone else. But her former AA sponsor, private investigator Jon Bruzuca refuses to let her search for her enemy on her own.
Nora has an uncanny ability to read people and she knows there is more to Bruzuca's offer to help her than he is telling her. She is very reluctant to agree to work together, but he has connections she desperately needs. Nora's wary of her new alliance but she will do anything to keep Bonnie safe. Despite her reservations and concerns, Nora is soon on an island in Indonesia where she hopes to face her rival once and for all. But will the plan she and her comrades put into action go as they envision?
No Going Back is a tension-filled, suspenseful mystery with a clever storyline and colorful characters. Nora is fearless and reckless as she tries to protect the people she cares about. She is distrustful of offers of assistance but despite sensing hidden motives, she pushes her doubts aside in order to vanquish her deadly adversary.
With stunning twists and jaw-dropping turns, Sheena Kamal brings this latest addition to the Nora Watts series to a shocking, uneasy conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this riveting mystery to old and new fans of this marvelous series.
tbsims's review against another edition
4.0
this will show up on mystery/thriller list but at its base, it is a book about relationships - with husbands, sponsors, friends, lovers,
Nora Watts - some would call her a victim but she is a survivor.
"taking stock goes badly, worse that I could have anticipated. Intuition, jacked. strength, poor. ...spite and vengeance, heart. Continuous battering, soul."
Nora Watts - some would call her a victim but she is a survivor.
"taking stock goes badly, worse that I could have anticipated. Intuition, jacked. strength, poor. ...spite and vengeance, heart. Continuous battering, soul."
bellaross's review against another edition
4.0
It took me awhile to come back to this book after ripping through the first few in the series. But I restarted it on a Saturday evening and finished it the next night. It was the perfect wrap up to Nora and her crazy unfortunate adventures. It did justice to all of the characters in the end and I’m glad it finished the way it did. Nora got to sort of repair her relationship with Nate which was something I felt like she needed. I loved that it was set in BC because I could actually picture her driving up the sea to sky highway going to Whistler and it made me feel more at home with the plot. The way the author writes feels special and I really liked reading this series.
siobhanward's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.0
I picked this up not realizing that it was a third in a series. I'd hoped I could read it anyway and not miss anything, but I definitely lost a lot by not reading the previous books - the entire plot is building on what happened in the first two books. However, I didn't let that impact my rating, since that's on me, not the author.
Jumping straight to the end of a series aside, this still wasn't a great book. If I'd read the other two and this was the grand finale, I would not have been impressed. It just kind of ends. Everything seems to happen in the last 50 pages and then quickly wraps up.
I'm also just confused about the author saying "mountains abound in [Canada]" - um not really?? There are mountains in two provinces and a territory - not exactly abound. I read this and assumed the author was from BC and just didn't understand how different the Rockies are from the mountains in eastern Canada. Nope, she went to U of T - she knows what Ontario looks like...
Jumping straight to the end of a series aside, this still wasn't a great book. If I'd read the other two and this was the grand finale, I would not have been impressed. It just kind of ends. Everything seems to happen in the last 50 pages and then quickly wraps up.
I'm also just confused about the author saying "mountains abound in [Canada]" - um not really?? There are mountains in two provinces and a territory - not exactly abound. I read this and assumed the author was from BC and just didn't understand how different the Rockies are from the mountains in eastern Canada. Nope, she went to U of T - she knows what Ontario looks like...
hnagle15's review against another edition
3.0
-I enjoyed this, but not as much as the other books in the series.
-the premise was okay, I guess I wish it had been about something else. I felt like we were addressing the same issues as the other two books in the series.
-I appreciate Nora's character, I really enjoy her as much as she is frustrating at times.
-I didn't really like the ending.
-the premise was okay, I guess I wish it had been about something else. I felt like we were addressing the same issues as the other two books in the series.
-I appreciate Nora's character, I really enjoy her as much as she is frustrating at times.
-I didn't really like the ending.
funkylindsay's review against another edition
3.0
Book 3 for Nora Watts! It definitely read as a continuing saga to the other two for me. I liked this one, but loved the previous two more. (Start with book 1)
kourtneyalexis's review against another edition
5.0
I am a complete sucker for a flawed, incredibly strong female lead, add a puppy side kick and there's no question of my excitement about a book. This book contains both of these amazing elements, but don't let my Achilles heel sway you, this book is amazing without those two pieces. Not having read the first two books, I have able to catch up and jump right into the story. It serves well as a stand alone.
Nora Watts, our sober, recovering alcoholic is trying to hunt down the man who kidnapped her daughter a year ago and who also put a hit out on her. WHAT?!?! So much excitement! Add in a transgendered bff, cyber genius, and a gay friend/boss, and a former lover who is also a recovering alcoholic who struggles with his feelings toward you.
Sheena Kamal weaves a fast paced entertaining ride. Some of her phrasing has me literally chuckling out loud. I'm not sure how this is my first experience with your writing, but it most certainly will not be my last.
A special thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Paperbacks, and of course, Sheena Kamal for providing me with an ARC.
Nora Watts, our sober, recovering alcoholic is trying to hunt down the man who kidnapped her daughter a year ago and who also put a hit out on her. WHAT?!?! So much excitement! Add in a transgendered bff, cyber genius, and a gay friend/boss, and a former lover who is also a recovering alcoholic who struggles with his feelings toward you.
Sheena Kamal weaves a fast paced entertaining ride. Some of her phrasing has me literally chuckling out loud. I'm not sure how this is my first experience with your writing, but it most certainly will not be my last.
A special thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Paperbacks, and of course, Sheena Kamal for providing me with an ARC.
mrsboyko's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe 4.5. The third Nora Watts book and I suspect the last. Everything got mostly wrapped up, although not in a neat and orderly way. I liked the characters here - no one is too perfect. All deeply flawed, but interesting.
readingwithkelsey's review against another edition
Not rating on Storygraph officially - My thoughts are in a vlog (coming out soon), but TLDR; there was nothing on this books marketing (cover or synopsis) to indicate that this was a third book in a series. I had no way of picking this up and knowing I needed to read two previous books unless I logged my books into Goodreads. This is why I am choosing to not rate it (however in my own spreadsheet that's a different story) because I do not feel like my mistake is fair to the author (although, you know a #3 could've been somewhere on the book).
That being said however, if I were a consumer not logging things into our Goodreads overlord, then I would have been very disappointed in this book. I was able to follow along and understand what had happened to the character in previous books. The writing was clear and sometimes really poetic and the plot made sense, but the novel just was not thrilling nor mysterious. We knew who the "bad guy" was from the first chapter and can pretty much predict how it would end. Tbh, if I HAD read the first 2 books I think I would be even more disappointed in it than I already am. Not terrible writing, just boring.
That being said however, if I were a consumer not logging things into our Goodreads overlord, then I would have been very disappointed in this book. I was able to follow along and understand what had happened to the character in previous books. The writing was clear and sometimes really poetic and the plot made sense, but the novel just was not thrilling nor mysterious. We knew who the "bad guy" was from the first chapter and can pretty much predict how it would end. Tbh, if I HAD read the first 2 books I think I would be even more disappointed in it than I already am. Not terrible writing, just boring.