It amazes me that after what, 100+ books?, Nora Roberts can continue to create new characters and new storylines. Phoebe MacNamara and Duncan Swift are two of my favorites so far. I liked their easy report with each other, and the way their relationship wasn’t the big drama in the story. There was a really obvious red herring in the story, but it didn’t really take away from anything. Overall, another Nora classic!

P.S. The Lifetime movie was actually pretty decent, too. I haven’t been impressed with most of them. ( )

Good as usual ( )

Bought on impulse as part of a two-book special offer and instantly regretted, but it turned out not to be that bad. A bout of illness left me feeling in need of something not too demanding on my poor brain but not so fluffy that I gave up.

Described as a 'romantic thriller,' a phrase that I didn't see until I got the book home and one reason for the regret, the book tells the story of Phoebe McNamara, a hostage negotiator, who meets Duncan at the bar he owns when a former employee is threatening suicide on the roof. Duncan is instantly taken with Phoebe but her job and complicated family life make it difficult for her to let her guard down and admit her feelings back. A violent colleague who may or may not be stalking Phoebe adds further complications to the relationship.

It worked well, although the character I liked best (if you can call it a character) was Savannah itself, it sounds like a beautiful city. I could see a series of Phoebe books that focus on her job and probably would read them (perhaps not buy them) and enjoy them as light reading. It didn't quite have the Southern Women/Southern Eccentric feel that some other writers have captured and I have enjoyed but perhaps it wasn't supposed to.

I will definately try another one (since I bought two in the special offer that is a good thing) but won't be rushing out to buy more from this author although if I come across one in the library I will be more inclined to give it a go.

I was disappointed by some loose ends though. Phoebe and her family are tied to a house by the terms of a will which are never properly explained. It seems to require that Phoebe lives there but she has at times moved out. A clear explanation on that would have been good. Ava seems to have married and divorced while living in the house but I can't for the life of me remember if anything was said about where she lived during the marriage or where her husband went afterwards. ( )

Sometimes I like Nora Roberts and sometimes I don't. This one I liked and enjoyed ( )