Shelter in Place

Another good page-turner by the amazing Nora Roberts. First, the complaints: I thought the romance was weak and pro-forma, with the characters not even meeting until halfway through the book and a rushed, predictable romantic arc. Also, Roberts overdid Cici's character, making her an annoying, OTT caricature instead of a real person. The hero's jokes to the heroine that he would throw her over for her grandmother if she'd have him are creepy and patronizing IMO.

On the plus side, Roberts portrays differing reactions to, and lifelong recovery from, a traumatic event in a sensitive, respectful manner. While I at first I questioned her decision to let the reader know the identity early on of the individual who is killing survivors of the mall shooting, there was still plenty of suspense regarding who would be the next victim, and how the final showdown would play out. Also there's a wonderful subplot about a formerly abused dog who finds home and healing that will reach even the most hardened heart.

Roberts seems to be moving farther and farther away from her romance novel roots, and I wonder if she will eventually stop shoehorning romance subplots into her suspense, dystopian and other new genre efforts. She might lose some readers but it might make her books even stronger.