Identity

Another summer, another Nora Roberts single title romantic suspense novel. Like several of her other recent releases in this genre (most notably [b:Legacy 54860458 Legacy Nora Roberts https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602946329l/54860458.SY75.jpg 85600029]), the romance and the suspense are awkwardly integrated. One minute Nora is detailing the minute details of the male MC's home décor, and the next she is inside the mind of a deranged serial killer who steals his victims' identity before murdering them. It's like her sweet Inn Boonsboro trilogy ([b:The Next Always 10305231 The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, #1) Nora Roberts https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491591796l/10305231.SX50.jpg 15207309] et al), scrambled with one of her more disturbing [a:J.D. Robb 17065 J.D. Robb https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1481138127p2/17065.jpg] books. Morgan, traumatized by the events in the first four chapters, arrives in Vermont as a scared, haunted, and exhausted woman. But once she secures a job as bartender/manager at the swanky resort in town she quickly demonstrates her competence, as well as her courage as she gradually reclaims her life. Unfortunately none of the secondary characters have as much depth. Our hero Miles is handsome, brilliant, and a bit overbearing (but only in an endearing way). His family members, who own and manage the resort where Morgan works, all get along harmoniously. Morgan's relationship with her mom and grandma is all sweetness and light, and although there are hints of previous emotional distance between Morgan and her mother, everything is resolved in one conversation. The love story goes from zero to sixty in just a few pages, and from there it's pretty much smooth sailing. No third act breakup needed when you're trying to avoid a serial killer. The novel does read quickly (especially if you're skimming through the design, garden, and wedding porn sections), and although most of the suspect tracking work is done by two FBI agents, the inevitable showdown between Morgan and the murderer is taut and exciting.I've been reading Nora's books for 40 (!) years now, and although I don't love this particular genre of hers I will probably still be there for the next one. And the next J.D. Robb. And the next paranormal trilogy. ARC received from Net Galley for objective review.