Tag Archives: Nora Roberts

The Next Always

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Romance
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

Goodreads:  #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts introduces you to the Montgomery brothers – Beckett, Ryder, and Owen – as they bring an intimate bed-and-breakfast to life in their hometown.

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, the changing of hands, and even rumored hauntings. Now it’s getting a major face-lift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect in the family, Beckett’s social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there’s another project he’s got his eye on: the girl he’s been waiting to kiss since he was sixteen.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town’s bookstore. Though busy and with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett’s transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look…at both the building and the man behind it.

With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett is happy to give Clare a private tour – one room at a time, in between blueprint meetings and kindergarten pickups. It’s no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something that could arouse the secret yearning that resides in Clare’s independent heart – and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next…

Ope’s Opinion:  Nora Roberts usually catches me on the first page and keeps my attention – not this time.  For the reader that is strictly a romance readers, you might enjoy this – it has some steamy parts ( too much for me ) and the romance moves quickly – I am more of a slow moving relationship reader.  

There was too much foul language ( seemed to just be stuck in there ).  I hope not to spoil too much, but there is a ghost – really not my cup of tea.  So I won’t be continuing with this series.

If you enjoy all of the above – give it a read and hopefully you will enjoy it.

Come Sundown

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: St. Martin Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  A saga of love, family ties, and twisted passions from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Obsession…

The Bodine ranch and resort in western Montana is a family business, an idyllic spot for vacationers. A little over thirty thousand acres and home to four generations, it’s kept running by Bodine Longbow with the help of a large staff, including new hire Callen Skinner. There was another member of the family once: Bodine’s aunt, Alice, who ran off before Bodine was born. She never returned, and the Longbows don’t talk about her much. The younger ones, who never met her, quietly presume she’s dead. But she isn’t. She is not far away, part of a new family, one she never chose—and her mind has been shattered…

When a bartender leaves the resort late one night, and Bo and Cal discover her battered body in the snow, it’s the first sign that danger lurks in the mountains that surround them. The police suspect Cal, but Bo finds herself trusting him—and turning to him as another woman is murdered and the Longbows are stunned by Alice’s sudden reappearance. The twisted story she has to tell about the past—and the threat that follows in her wake—will test the bonds of this strong family, and thrust Bodine into a darkness she could never have imagined.

Ope’s Opinion:  This wonderful mystery has a lot of characters.  At first it was hard to keep up with everyone.  Slowly the major characters became obvious and it was easier to keep track of everyone.  There is also some past and present going on, but it is well mark – you know which time period you are reading.

This definitely has it’s romance side.  There are several couples falling in love with some detailed descriptions of their physical relationship, but that is not the focus of their whole relationships.

I think my favorite part was all the family relationships and how they all loved and supported each other.  It was great to see multiple generations living near each other or together and taking care of each other.  That part was heart warming.

Overall, it is a little predictable and thoroughly enjoyable.

Finding the Dream

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance                 finding
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  From the outside Laura Templeton’s life looks charmed: the daughter of a wealthy family, married to the man of her dreams and the mother to two beautiful daughters.

But her dreams are short-lived, and it all collapses when Peter doesn’t prove to be the kind of husband or father material Laura has dreamed of. With her best friends, Margo and Kate, recently married and starting their own families, Laura feels isolated.

Then her brother’s friend, bad boy Michael, asks to rent her stables and she reluctantly agrees. Laura finds him disturbingly attractive, but Michael is a man who has never stayed long with any project or commitment.

Dare she lay her heart open once again?

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the final book of Nora Roberts Dream trilogy.  It was an enjoyable read.

This book was Laura’s story.  I enjoyed seeing her life after her divorce.  I thought she was an awesome mom.   Laura’s daughters were written realistic for children dealing with separation from a parent.

All three sisters had their stories come to satisfying conclusions.  Even though you know it will be a happy ending, getting there is so much fun!

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Holding the Dream

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance         holding
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  In the second novel of the Dream Trilogy, Nora Roberts continues the story of three women who shared a home and a childhood—but grew to fulfill their own unique destinies… 

Surrounded by the sweeping cliffs and beauty of Big Sur, Kate Powell treasured her life at Templeton House…and the family who raised her like one of their own. Although Kate lacked Margo’s beauty and Laura’s elegance, she knew she had something they would never possess—a shrewd head for business. Driven by ambition, Kate measured her life’s success with each soaring promotion. But now faced with professional impropriety, Kate is forced to look deep within herself—only to find something missing in her life…and in her heart.

Ope’s Opinion:  The second book started off back at the childhood of all three girls. I was a little confused at first because I expected it to pick up where the other book left off.  It needed to start back at the childhood, so you had information on Kate that was important later.

This book centers around Kate, although you see Laura and Margo all the time and their stories are advanced.  Kate has a lot to work through since she lost her parents at such an early age.

There is also a little mystery in this book – I really enjoyed this part.

I am ready to read the final book in this series.  I want to know how it all ends for each one of the girls.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

Daring to Dream

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Author:  Nora Roberts
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance                         daring
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  In the first novel of the Dream Trilogy, Nora Roberts begins the story of three women who shared a home and a childhood—but grew to fulfill their own unique destinies… 

Margo, Kate and Laura were brought up like sisters amidst the peerless grandeur of Templeton House. But it was Margo whose dreams first took her far away . . .

Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn’t help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton’s stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most—her mother’s acceptance.

Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura—or had Kate’s shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way—no matter what the consequences . . .

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the first book in the Dream series.  In this book we are introduced to three main characters and a few minor characters. The three girls move from their childhood, swiftly into young adulthood.  

I really enjoyed this read.  The story kept moving and the characters were being developed throughout the story.

The ending left me wanting to read the next book in the series.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.

The Liar

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons                 liar
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: Netgalley

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions …

The man who took her from Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He was an adulterer and a liar, and when Shelby tracks down his safe-deposit box, she finds multiple IDs. The man she loved wasn’t just dead. He never really existed.

Shelby takes her three-year-old daughter and heads south to seek comfort in her hometown, where she meets someone new: Griff Lott, a successful contractor. But her husband had secrets she has yet to discover. Even in this small town, surrounded by loved ones, danger is closer than she knows—and threatens Griff, as well. And an attempted murder is only the beginning …

Ope’s Opinion: Nora Roberts really twisted a story of family relationships, romance and mystery into one great book!  Part of the read felt like a really good book about Shelby and her family, then a little romance was introduced.  Along the way this mystery was woven into it.  I thought it balanced out the book really well.

All the characters were well developed.  Even the secondary characters had their own story lines going on, but it never felt overwhelming or bogged down.  It added to Shelby’s story and made you understand her better.

I had figured out who I thought was the person behind most of the mystery very early on and I was right, but it did not take away from the story or the suspense.  There were a few twists along the way that made me second guess myself.

My only complaint – one you have heard before from this blog – the over use of foul language – especially the “f” word.  As I have said before I just didn’t think it added anything and at times actually made me disappointed there wasn’t more creative thought to find another word to replace it.

Rating:  4 – I like this books much I know several friends to share it with.

 

The Witness

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Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher:  Berkley Trade                        the witness
Pages: 544
Genre:  Romance/ Suspense
Source: My friend Robyn

Goodreads:  In her stunning new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts proves why no one is better “when it comes to flawlessly fusing high-stakes suspense with red-hot romance” (Booklist). 

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. 

Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems programmer, her own protection is supplemented by a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. Unfortunately, that seems to be the quickest way to get attention in a tiny southern town. 

The mystery of Abigail Lowery and her sharp mind, secretive nature, and unromantic viewpoints intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights. 

And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.

Ope’s Opinion: The central story in this book was very good.  But there were too many side stories that didn’t have anything to do with/or add anything to the main story. If the book had been shorter, it would have kept my attention so much better.
The main part of the story was repeated a few different times to different characters – it should have just been summarized.
I did like Elizabeth and I did want her to be safe and happy, but the tension in the story was lost when the story went off to other tangents.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
3 chairs