Sanctuary

Well "Sanctuary" was not that interesting in the end. I think this is one of Robert's earlier works in romantic suspense. We have three siblings (of course) and most of the book is following the as they act brand new about love and relationships.

"Sanctuary" mostly hones in on one of the three siblings, Jo Ellen, though is a successful photographer who returns to her home after getting sent a bunch of threatening photos. One of the photos is of her mother who her family has assumed ran away from them decades ago. Jo's brother, Brian, and Alexa (Lexie) are there still running her family's I guess it's a bed and breakfast? I am still baffled about that. There father has been absent from taking care of them after their mother left. Their show more mother's cousin Kate moved in to take care of them all and one gets real quick why she stayed.

I can't say much here. I didn't feel grabbed by any of the siblings. I loathed Lexie's romantic partner cause anyone manhandling me would be getting kicked hard somewhere. Jo's partner was fine until we get a reveal about him that had me shuddering and saying nope a thousand times. Brian was just acting like a jerk. Cousin Kate was the only one I could tolerate for more than five minutes.

I take it back, I don't really think I liked Jo's love interest cause at one point he thinks about messing around with Lexie. I think I am more appalled now considering since I finished the book I know what his connection to this family was, he's messed up. He kisses both sisters and gets involved with one knowing what he does. Bah. That's all I got.

I think my main issue with most of Roberts stand alone romantic suspense books is that they don't do a good job of juggling both genres. Reading about romance and then seguing into a man kidnapping and raping a woman in graphic details just turns me off. And the premise behind this one didn't even freaking work. I maybe said seriously a few times.

The writing was so-so and the flow was terrible. Jumping around not only the siblings, but cousin Kate, the three love interests, the father, and then getting the victims POV and then the bad guy's. It was too much. At one point I was wondering if we would also get the POV of any of the animals running around.

The setting of the island off Georgia seemed made up as hell. And everyone talking about the land made me roll my eyes. Okay, you are truly salt of the Earth cause land. They weren't even doing anything with it! How is running a bed and breakfast equivalent to being a farmer? Whatever.

The ending was ludicrous. I maybe laughed at one point and went well that's going to be awkward for future family reunions. I can't talk without spoiling, but this book jumped into straight soap opera material, and not in a good way. show less

Jo Ellen Hathaway left home years ago to pursue a career as a photographer in New York but stress and a stalker sending her pictures, including one that appears to be her mother, dead. Her mother vanished years ago leaving her grieving father to deal with three children, which he did, badly.

Now she feels that she has to face her past, home means visiting old wounds. Her stalker seems to have followed her but she's finding solace with Nathan Delaney who is licking the wounds of a failed marriage and secrets that he found after his father died.

It's fairly typically Nora Roberts, these days she would have stretched the romances out over more books.

Jo Ellen is a photographer who sees a photograph of her mother - young, beautiful, naked and unmistakably dead. She suffers a breakdown and goes home to Sanctuary Inn, the bed and breakfast run by her brother and sister. While there, she tries to reconnect with her brother, Brian, and sister, Lexy. Twenty years ago, the siblings' mother went missing, shattering the entire family. When Jo Ellen comes back from the hospital, the picture is missing and while at Sanctuary she meets Nathan who has secrets which might have lured a killer to Sanctuary.

I enjoyed this book - the mystery was engrossing, however I don't really like straight romance all that much. I view Nora Roberts as a romance writer primarily, and this was my first Nora Roberts show more novel. Overall, I enjoyed the mystery, but I felt the romance was too coincidental. I give this book a B+! show less

Really enjoyed this book. A story of old hurts and healing. Likeable characters, romance and a lot of suspense.

One of my favorite NR books. I like the plot, the characters, the relationships. Everything. Classic Nora Roberts.

Started out sounding like "Rebecca" but soon I was jumping all over the place trying to figure out who dunnit. For some reason, I found this a little dark and couldn't read it at night. It wasn't as light a read as I had expected.

Someone is stalking a successful young photographer. After a breakdown she returns to her childhood home, but her stalker follows her. Will she end up like her missing mother? Read this one. It is one that as an author I have read, reread, and studied. Nora Roberts at her best.