Eve and Roarke are called from their night out at the theater to the scene of a vicious murder in Washington Square. As Eve and Peabody are evaluatingEve and Roarke are called from their night out at the theater to the scene of a vicious murder in Washington Square. As Eve and Peabody are evaluating the scene, Roarke sees someone from his past in the crowd of onlookers. It’s a man named Lorcan Cobbe who is a hired assassin. Just as Roarke is convinced this is his work, Eve soon becomes equally convinced that the victim’s husband hired him. Needless to say, this is a case with which the “consultant” will definitely be associated.
Oh, this is the story I needed right at this moment. I like it when Eve and Roarke work together but even more when he’s asked from the highest ranks to be part of the investigation. Lorcan Cobbe is someone from Roarke’s childhood and he’s über dangerous. Roarke’s worried for Eve’s safety and vice versa, both not understating the threat. But what really got me excited was the dual investigative paths; building the case against the husband and the search for Lorcan. One brought short-term vindication, the other all the suspense and thrills.
I thought I knew all there was to know about Roarke’s past but this story delivered much deeper insight. Getting Roarke’s point of view is always a treat but this time we see him often off balance. It has all the elements I find compelling in the series, especially the main case. I really needed to see justice delivered and loved that we got one part early and deliciously. If you’re a fan of the series, settle in and enjoy. I certainly did.
Caitlyn Sullivan comes from acting royalty, beginning with her great grandfather Liam Sullivan, a Hollywood legend. She began her own acting career yoCaitlyn Sullivan comes from acting royalty, beginning with her great grandfather Liam Sullivan, a Hollywood legend. She began her own acting career young and became a child star in her own right. However, her abduction at age ten during a family celebration in Big Sur permanently changed the course of her life. As she matured, Cate’s path led her in a myriad of directions and relationships until she settled into her true calling as a voice actress, which led her back to the home where she was taken and to the family and boy (now man) that once provided her refuge.
In recent years, Roberts seems to be drifting more towards contemporary fiction with elements of romance and suspense. I’m one of those fans whose loving the shift as no one writes these kind of stories better. I was only a few moments into the book when it started to captivate me, pulling me into the warmth and strength of the Sullivan family and its strong ties and history. Cate was surrounded by love, tradition and multigenerational family members so her abduction disrupted a life that was predestined for success. The impact was portrayed subtly and with authenticity, not going down any dramatic tracks but showing how that trauma influenced her personal and career choices.
I’m being deliberately vague about the details as this book covers Cate’s life as a child through adulthood. One aspect I will elaborate on, though, is her career as a voice actress. If you entertained thoughts of what that entails you might want to reconsider. Much is shared not only about the business but the creative art of the performances. It was illuminating and fascinating, made even more exciting because it was being delivered by one of the best voice actresses in the business, January LaVoy, my personal choice as most favorite. She delivered her “typical” great performance but I have a new level of respect for her artistry.
Despite the story having a low level of suspense (except at the beginning which had my heart racing), I very much enjoyed being in a Nora Roberts world that spanned a couple of decades. The richness of the characterizations, settings and storytelling is always a staple and I loved being in it. If ever there was a time to choose the audio version, this is it given that the main character is a voice actress and it’s narrated by one of the best. Cate’s romance with Dillon Cooper is a slow burn but in today’s market of instalove, it was a welcome change. And, she took a circuitous route to get back to him. This one really worked for me and I was sad when I reached the end.
It’s April 2061 and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody are called to the murder scene of pediatrician Dr. Kent Abner when sIt’s April 2061 and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody are called to the murder scene of pediatrician Dr. Kent Abner when suddenly Eve realizes that he died from a toxin released from a recently delivered golden egg. Once they’re cleared by the hazmat team, Dallas and her team get to work to track down the origin and why a beloved, revered doctor and family man was so viciously targeted.
This story had everything I love about the series! Initial inquiries led nowhere and this quickly devolved to lots of dead ends until there was another similar crime. The police procedurals were excellent and I had fun following the investigative paths. When the story shifts to the identification of the target, it was almost exhilarating to watch the case come together. Interview was so, so satisfying.
There’s also a different tone to the series that’s been developing over the past few books. Eve and Roarke’s relationship is deepening, she’s beginning to become more comfortable having the other relationships in her life and the interactions are much more meaningful and impactful. The familiar elements are all there but are shaped heartwarmingly. Eve hasn’t lost her edge, just smoothed them out a bit. It’s a natural growth that I’m loving. This was a fitting story for the 50th book in the series.
(I received an ARC from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.)...more
Renowned artist Geneviève (Gennie) Grandeau is traveling throughout the country, struggling to come to terms with a personal tragedy and ends up at thRenowned artist Geneviève (Gennie) Grandeau is traveling throughout the country, struggling to come to terms with a personal tragedy and ends up at the remote Maine island of Windy Point. She decides that its solitude and natural, rough beauty would be a perfect subject for her art and decides to stay for a while. It’s a rugged and sparsely populated location and when she gets stranded in the middle of a storm because of car trouble, she finds her way in the dark to a lighthouse that seemed to offer refuge. Grant Campbell doesn’t know what to make of the rain-soaked, bedraggled woman showing up at his door but reluctantly allows her in. Of course, it will be life changing for both.
I really liked Gennie, found Grant terrifically fascinating, loved their attraction but hated how he expressed himself. The story was fresh but the romantic approaches spoke of a bygone (thankfully) approach that suggested women liked to be forced into interludes. Grant put his hands on Gennie too many times in inappropriate ways that would have set off a gazillion alarm bells. This was unfortunate because otherwise, these two opposites made for an intriguing relationship.
One of the things I loved about the story was the exploration of their crafts. Grant is a cartoonist and I learned so much about the art and science of developing a daily feature. Gennie is a painter and seeing how she connected her emotions associated with the subjects and approached putting it on canvas was valuable insight. I also liked the connection to the MacGregor family and getting their updates. It was an enjoyable story despite my struggles with the romance. ...more
Serena MacGregor is a blackjack dealer on a cruise ship sailing the Caribbean and she's very good at what she does. What no one knows is that she’s frSerena MacGregor is a blackjack dealer on a cruise ship sailing the Caribbean and she's very good at what she does. What no one knows is that she’s from a well known, wealthy family and decided to go down a different path after graduating from college, wanting to experience the world outside of the bubble of her family. Then Justin Blade sits at her table and she knows he someone different. He experiences the same connection and makes it his mission to have this woman.
Justin is more than he first presents himself to be and there’s a secret he’s keeping that involves Serena. I won’t divulge that as it makes the story more interesting and I liked getting that as a surprise. I really liked both of them, especially Serena as she was strong, self assured and talented. But the romance was problematic for me, which was the only thing that made this book feel dated. Justin never respected Serena saying “no” and was continually grabbing her, not letting go. Even she was uncomfortable and it definitely threw me out of the romance and story each time. Otherwise, everything else worked but this was a big issue for me.
There were a lot of other things that I enjoyed, specifically Serena’s family and their relationship with each other. Justin also has a complex history and there was a lot to like about him despite his sexual aggression (it was the nature of romance writing in that era). And, it was clear he was the foundation for Roarke, one of my beloved characters in the In Death series. There’s a bit of suspense, too, just enough to add an interesting angle to an already good story. I definitely plan to continue the series despite my issue with the romance.
Attorney Caine MacGregor is given the task of picking up Diana Blade from the airport for her first visit with her brother Justin since she was 6-yearAttorney Caine MacGregor is given the task of picking up Diana Blade from the airport for her first visit with her brother Justin since she was 6-years old. He was unprepared for the cool and sophisticated woman who was the ultimate in control. Diana had the edge as she was well aware of Caine by reputation but was unprepared to find him to be so genuine. Their attraction was immediate and obvious.
I really enjoyed the start of this story when Caine & Diana first meet and she later reunites with Justin. Learning the truth about her years with her aunt revealed exactly how Diana was wired. Caine was also pretty engaging and I liked his relationships with his siblings and parents. It was the second half of the book that fizzled for me when both devolved into less than admirable behavior in their romance. She became maddeningly unreasonable, almost shrewish, and he resorted to physical means to get Diana’s attention that troubled me.
One real bright spot of the story was the inclusion of the details regarding a few of Caine and Diana’s cases. They were side elements that helped magnify both of their outlooks and linked to their own pasts that helped shape them. This story had a strong foundation but the romance eventually cooled for me. Just didn’t love it.
Isadora (Dora) Conroy is a Philadelphia antiques dealer with thespian roots as her parents and brother are seasoned actors and performers. When she trIsadora (Dora) Conroy is a Philadelphia antiques dealer with thespian roots as her parents and brother are seasoned actors and performers. When she travels to Virginia and buys a specific lot of items from a local dealer, she unwittingly places herself in the crosshairs of some extremely dangerous smugglers. Meanwhile, she’s rented the unit next to hers to prickly Jed Kimmerhorn, a former Philadelphia Police Department captain who comes in handy in a number of ways, especially when trouble comes to town.
I’m a collector and for years visited local antique shops wherever I traveled so I liked Dora almost immediately. There’s so much to learn from dealers and Roberts did her homework, as usual, in developing this character who was a fantastic collector. Her theatrical family added a lightness to balance the brutality of the villains in this story and provided context for her personality. Jed is also a multilayered character, coming from two blue blood families but choosing law enforcement as a career choice. A tragic event had him voluntarily leave a force that desperately wants him back. These two weren’t the perfect match and their sparring made things more interesting.
I enjoyed the story but the romance aspect showed its age, somewhat. Jed was a little too rough for my sensibilities, reflecting what was popular in the genre during that timeframe but no longer something you want to see. However, I loved their banter and combined sleuthing, which really advanced their relationship. I also chose to listen to the story but this was one I should have read. The narrator’s depiction of Dora made her sound silly and frivolous, which diminished a woman I found extraordinary. While her performance was otherwise compelling, every time she took up Dora’s voice, she threw me out of the story. My recommendation is to opt for the printed or ebook version as this was a good and suspenseful story with great crop of characters. 3.5 stars
Lieutenant Phoebe Swift is a hostage crisis negotiator with the Savannah-Chatham Police Department and we’re introduced to her when she shows up at thLieutenant Phoebe Swift is a hostage crisis negotiator with the Savannah-Chatham Police Department and we’re introduced to her when she shows up at the scene where a despondent man is threatening to jump from a ledge. What’s important about that moment is we get to see her in action early on, getting insight into her skills, and meet Duncan Swift, the bar owner who was friends with and employed the jumper. He’s immediately taken with the feisty Phoebe and makes it his mission to get to know her better. In the meantime, Phoebe’s problems with a troublesome police officer in her ranks escalates to something awful. When later it’s determined she’s the focus of a stalker, things get dangerous for her and those close to her heart.
I’ve wanted to read this story since forever and have recommended it as a group read countless times and it was finally chosen this month. It’s an older one of Roberts’ suspense standalones, written over ten years ago but does not feel dated at all. Phoebe has so many wonderful qualities and I liked that she had imperfections. She’s a single mother having to be the leader of her extended family. The scenes sharing her troubled but formative childhood were as compelling as those in the present. The threats to her life were extremely harrowing and provided a level of tension that hung in the background for most of the story. The secondary characters, both those connected to Phoebe and Duncan, are crucial to the story, all having important roles. They added so much texture to the storyline.
I also liked Phoebe’s relationship with Duncan. He was witty and genuine, seemingly perfect for the elusive Phoebe and he knew how to stick. I chose to listen to the story as Roberts seems to have the best narrators for her books. I don’t listen to the In Death series so hadn’t heard Susan Ericksen’s narration of Roberts books but now see what all the fuss is about. Her performance was outstanding, especially when doing the hostage negotiations scenes. She lifted the story off the pages. I loved everything about this book and Ericksen’s narration. Hated to see it end.
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