Honestly Nora Roberts can do no wrong. This book was probably one of my favorite stand alones and is a go to recommendation for my readers that want a taste of Nora without investing in a long series. I loved the strong FMC, her allies of friends and family, the generational ties and how she leaned on her mom/grandmom, and of course the way she was able to rely on them all to gain traction again.

This is my first Nora Roberts book, and I liked it. It was an easy read that grabbed my attention from the beginning. It wasn't a mystery so much as you're held in suspense to see how it will all play out. Plus, there's a romance (insta love if you will). Overall, I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars

I have been a Nora Roberts fan for over 20 years, and this book did not disappoint! I grew to care about Morgan as a character in this romantic and suspenseful story. I could not put it down as I had to know what was going to happen!

Morgan Albright, an army brat decides to settle down outside of Baltimore in a small friendly town and is working two jobs (mortgage co and bartender)and has purchased a home and has a great roommate Nina. Then the unimaginable happens, she meets a new customer while bartending and they hit it off. They go on a couple of dates and she comes one night to find her house ransacked and Nina dead. Nothing makes sense and her identity has been stolen on top of it. Her bank accounts are cleared out, new loans in her name (including one by a loan shark). She moves back home to Vermont where her Mom and Grandmother live and starts to rebuild her life. Then the FBI arrives and informs her that the man she knew as Luke is in fact Gavin and he is a serial killer who steals the identify of his victims and they feel she is still at risk. Morgan has started over and is working at a Vermont resort run by a local family and one of the sons Miles soon becomes a love interest. Gavin strikes again and one of his victims is wearing Morgan’s jewelry so the FBI warns her to be very careful, so everyone in her life is on high alert. Morgan is a strong female lead and enjoyed the relationship with Miles. The ending was thrilling and great to see Morgan triumph over the killer. I enjoyed this story and definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nora Roberts has long been one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read (and re-read) everything she’s written. She has an incredible ability to craft engaging stories with rich characters, and this book is no exception—it’s an easy, enjoyable read with her signature blend of romance, family dynamics, and just the right amount of intrigue.

That being said, I found one aspect of this book surprisingly frustrating, which took away from my overall enjoyment. For the first time in my experience reading Nora Roberts, I noticed an overused phrase that became grating as the story progressed. The protagonist repeatedly refers to her mother and grandmother as “my ladies” in nearly every conversation or thought involving them. At first, it was a charming and affectionate term, but as it appeared over and over again, it became distracting and, quite frankly, irritating. Every mention of her family—no matter the context—was always framed with “my ladies did this” or “my ladies said that.” It reached a point where I found myself mentally bracing for the phrase every time the protagonist spoke about them.

Of course, this might not bother every reader, but for me, it disrupted the flow of the story and made it harder to immerse myself in the characters' relationships. While I still enjoyed the book overall and appreciated the engaging plot, I couldn't shake my frustration with this repetitive phrasing.

Despite this minor disappointment, I’m already on my second read—proof of how much I still enjoy Nora Roberts’ storytelling. However, I sincerely hope this is a one-time quirk and not a stylistic choice that carries over into future books. Fans of Roberts will likely still enjoy this one, but if repetitive phrasing tends to bother you, be prepared for a little extra patience while reading.

Morgan Albright, a former Army brat, has finally found a sense of stability in a welcoming neighborhood near Baltimore. With the help of her friend and roommate Nina, she manages to cover the mortgage payments, supplemented by her job as a bartender. However, their first dinner party, attended by the flirtatious IT guy Luke, who had been chatting her up at the bar, becomes a devastating turning point. The back door glass is shattered, cash and jewelry are stolen, her car is gone, and the unthinkable has happened – Nina lies dead on the floor, shattering the carefully constructed life Morgan had built.

The FBI's revelation to Morgan is deeply unsettling. Nina was not his intended target, but rather an innocent bystander caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, Morgan's nightmare is only just beginning. Fearing for her safety, she has no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont. As she strives to rebuild her life, she meets Miles Jameson, a man whose quiet demeanor and family business rooted in the community offer a sense of stability. However, the looming threat of Gavin, a predator still at large, casts a dark shadow, as he remains determined to find the one who escaped his grasp.

This romantic suspense novel was an engaging and emotionally-charged read. Ms. Roberts skillfully portrayed the devastating effects of identity theft and the harrowing experience of being targeted by a psychopathic predator. The fear, despair, and devastation felt by the characters were vividly conveyed, eliciting a strong emotional response from the reader. The likable protagonists and the delightful grandmother Olivia made the story even more engaging. The well-developed romance added a touching and heartwarming element to the narrative. The satisfying conclusion left the reader feeling fulfilled. Overall, this book was a compelling and worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

In Identity, Nora Roberts crafts a gripping tale of suspense and self-discovery. The novel follows Morgan Albright, a determined woman whose life spirals into chaos after a cunning con artist steals her identity. As Morgan grapples with the loss of her financial security and personal trust, she embarks on a journey to reclaim her sense of self. The plot expertly weaves themes of resilience and betrayal, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are richly developed, with Morgan's reliability shining through her struggles. With a brisk pace and vivid storytelling, this novel is a must-read for fans of thrilling, character-driven narratives. Highly recommended for those who relish tales of personal redemption amidst adversity.

Nora Robert's never disappoints, and Identity fulfills this promise. In this thriller, Roberts.builds her plot around the modern-day threat of identity threat--and a villain (Luke) who is willing to kill as part of his modus operandi. After our heroine, Morgan, loses everything when Luke targets her, she must move back home, fins a new job and rebuild her life while grieving the loss of her friend and roommate who had been murdered in Morgan's home.. I found myself turning the pages not only to see how Morgan was able to figure out the mystery and elude th3 killer but to see if she would be able to trust the new guy in her life and let this budding tomance take root. This is the perfect weekend or summer read, offering a strong plot and well-drawn characters.

Nora Roberts has not lost a step when it comes to writing exceptional romantic suspense stories, and this one hit the spot for me. She develops characters so well that it seems like the reader feel what they are feeling (or at least empathize with their plight). She creates the setting to where you feel like you can actually see the scenes. She sets the mystery up; throws in some twists and turns; makes the bad guys very hateable; and makes the reader truly root for the H/h to make it through and live happily ever after.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. I apologize for just now getting to it!

I enjoyed the story overall. I was really hoping for more twists though (that’s on me, not Nora Roberts!). I was jealous of Morgan’s drive and resilience. I loved the grandmother. She was the bestest!

Another win for Nora. I haven’t read any of her books in years, and this one seems a bit different than her typical romance novels. It start off with two roommates living together happily, and then one of them is murdered. Nina was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Morgan was the true target.

I was drawn into this story from the very beginning. I finished it in barely more than a day because I needed to know wha was going to happen to Morgan and if the FBI was going to figure out who Luke really was and why Morgan was targeted.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC of this book.

I did very much enjoy this book
I don’t offer read Nora Roberts books but I found this one very good. This one is one that I will most likely read again in the future.

I recommend.

I haven't read a Nora Roberts vook in probably 10 yrs, and this one was better than any i remember reading before. The characters were well defined and you did not know what to expect. Definitely an eye opener for those going through this. Definitely check it out

Identity sucked me in with its mix of mystery, romance and suspense. Morgan was a compelling character. I always enjoy Nora’s books and am so thankful to have received this arc!

A great mix of suspense, romance, and family!

I'm not sure if this was a good idea for me, since it shows you can't trust anyone, and I already have trust issues, lol. Honestly, the fact that you know the killer after the murder, it almost made me more anxious to read the story than if the killer was a mystery, but I enjoyed every moment.

I felt so bad for Morgan after the loss of her friend, knowing the killer wanted her instead. Watching her try to start over with her family, but knowing the psychopath was still monitoring her every move, made the audiobook so intense for me. It's broken into three parts and I had to read romcoms in between, but kept coming back to Identity in my mind.

As an army wife I enjoyed the fact that the MC is an army brat. I’m late to Nora Robert’s but I’m definitely on her team. The mystery was really good and I will keep looking forward to her novels from now on!

It’s been ages since I’ve read a Nora Robert’s book. Maybe since the mid 2000s? Her books are what got me into reading. The day after I graduated from college I picked up a book and have rarely gone a day without reading.

Overall I was entertained and engaged. Although it’s very long and could easily cut down a bit of the repetition I still felt invested. I dream of finding this picturesque Vermont town and resort. I liked all the characters but I didn’t initially feel the connection between Morgan and Miles. It wasn’t until 60% or more when his point of view came more frequently and his personality developed that I really liked him as the H.

Morgan used “the ladies” or “her ladies” at 52 times to describe her mother and grandmother. It got weird. At first I was really interested in the description of how it works behind the scenes as a bartender. Then it got repetitive and felt more like the author spent a lot of time researching and it was an info dump. It reminded me all Nora Robert’s characters are the best in their career/field. Since it’s a long book those two things became a bit annoying and distracting.

I really like the idea of more stories - siblings, friends, etc. - coming from this idyllic town but I think it might be a one off.

This stand alone book has a good story line and is fast paced. Fans for Nora Roberts will enjoy this title.

Loved this book.Morgan Alibright is an amazing women. She’s independent, has a good job, but needs a bit of help with the house she now has. So she takes in a roommate. Nina Ramos is amazing and they get along so well. Morgan has great skills working as a bartender. Morgan does not expect Luke to make advances on her at the bar. One thing leads to another, and she finds herself inviting her to the house. Her and Nina have a get together. It goes well. The one thing that doesn’t is what happens next. Luke isn’t who he says he is. Morgan is devastated to say the least. Her friend is gone. So she moves back home with her mom, and grandmother. A fresh new start. That’s when she meets, and falls hard for Miles Jameson. He’s the boss of the place she’s working now. He’s the best. The only thing is the man you ruined her life is still out there, and the FBI are still searching for him.

I highly recommend this book. I was at the edge of my seat reading this book. I felt at times Miles was a little bit of a jerk.
I also didn’t understand why Morgan kept calling her mom, and grandmother “her ladies” or “my ladies”. Something to that effect.
It was bizarre. Overall is was an amazing book. I loved the ending.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read it. I also bought a copy of this book. I’ll be sharing this book.

"Identity" by Nora Roberts is a gripping blend of romance and suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Morgan Albright, a resilient woman whose life is upended by a cunning identity thief. Roberts masterfully weaves a tale of survival and new beginnings, balancing heart-pounding tension with moments of tender romance. With well-drawn characters and an engaging plot, "Identity" is a compelling read that showcases Roberts' skill in combining emotional depth with thrilling twists. Perfect for fans of both romance and suspense, this novel is a testament to Roberts' storytelling prowess.