Wow this book was great!! It had so many twists and turns I didn’t know what was going to next. Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors!! I can’t wait to read another one!! This is a must read!! Pick this up today!!

Morgan has moved around so much, perfected the art of casual dating. On the surface it may look easy breezy but it’s all about damage control and not letting anyone get too close. She finally settles down, buys a fixer-upper, and after years finds a guy who seems like a decent man. Her best friend loves him, things are moving forward. When he ghosts her she assumes she just read him wrong. But she had no idea the truth was so much darker, so very dark.
This is a story about trying to find your way forward when your confidence has been shattered and your worst fears look like a cakewalk. This is about finding a new start, trusting yourself and others when your gut instinct betrayed you and cost you and others everything. How do you reclaim your story, your power, when the nightmare isn’t over?
This was a harder book for me to read than I thought and has everything to do with where I am, and what I need from a book right now. Without giving spoilers, sensitive or vulnerable readers should exercise due diligence and perhaps dig into reviews on this one. I’m a big fan of Nora Roberts (I LOVE The Villa!) however the nature of suspense is you’re surprised if it’s done well. It it, and I was…leaving me unprepared for some content. For most readers this is going to work great. It wasn’t a match for me right now. Based on other reviews I’m the extreme outlier so please judge for yourself!
Many thanks to St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy via Netgalley.

Identity is a beautiful multi-layered book about murder, relationships, trust and life coming a full circle that might bring us back to a different place than we expected.  I absolutely loved the wonderful three-dimensional characters and how the story played out.
Morgan has a contentious relationship with her parents and is content to create her own life far from them.  She has a lot of ambitions and is not afraid to work hard to achieve her goals.  Having experienced a dysfunctional relationship with her family she has no time for men in her life until she lets the wrong man in the door.  It's enough to give you nightmares since the man is a serial killer and con artist in a totally different class of con artists.  When her best friend falls victim, a chain of events is triggered that will have repercussions for both parties.
Drowning in debt from the identify theft perpetrated by her erstwhile wannabe boyfriend/con artist, Morgan finally gives in and returns to her hometown where her mother and grandmother now run a business and live together.  She finds herself welcomed warmly and finds that her mother has grown, and they might actually be able to forge a lasting relationship.
She finds a job that she loves and finds herself healing and growing and lo and behold also opening her heart to a new relationship.  I love Morgan's story as she finds her creative side and develops new friendships and finds love. In the meantime, the identity thief, serial killer is not faring so well.  It's almost as though his failure with Morgan threw him off his game and nothing seems to go right for him even though he does not stop killing.
I found the story so inspirational as Morgan wrests control of her life and finds happiness and new strong relationships. I loved the secondary characters and wonder if the author will give us more stories that are waiting to be told for these characters.

A former Army brat, Morgan had always longed to put down roots. After college, she settled in a Baltimore neighborhood, and Morgan realized her dream of putting down roots. Next on her list is saving enough money to buy a bar and successfully run it. Then she meets Luke one night at her bartending job, and her life gets turned upside down. Luke is a serial killer named Gavin, and Gavin has just killed Morgan’s best friend/roommate, stolen her car, and stolen her identity. The FBI tells Morgan that her best friend wasn’t Gavin’s type; Gavin killed Nina because she was there. His type? Morgan. On the verge of losing her house and debts racking up in her name, Morgan leaves Maryland and moves back in with her mother and grandmother in Vermont. She hopes to start over. But Gavin hasn’t forgotten Morgan. With Gavin making his way to Vermont to tie up his loose end, Morgan must be ready. Will she be able to take Gavin on? Can she protect her mother and grandmother from the evil that has infiltrated her life?

I am a huge Nora Roberts fan, and I try to read her books as they are published. So I was surprised when St. Martin’s Press invited me to review. I was planning on waiting for Identity to publish before picking it up. It wasn’t even a thought for me to download the book. I am glad that I did because this book was fantastic.

Identity is a fast-paced book that takes place in Baltimore and Vermont. The pacing of this book fits the storyline. If the author had let up on the fast pace but even a little, it would have ruined the book for me. I also liked that the book was set in Maryland and Vermont. I rarely see those states get some rep in books.

The main storyline of Identity is centered around Morgan. This storyline was believable to me. I could see this happening in real life (actually, I am sure it has happened). I was horrified for Morgan when she found Nina dead and discovered that Luke/Gavin was a serial killer. I felt awful for her when her savings was drained, her car stolen, and a loan shark sent his minions to her house. That was the point where she hit rock bottom and moved to Vermont. Her healing didn’t begin until she moved to Vermont. There she acquired a phenomenal support system, which included her employers. Her growth during this storyline was terrific.

The storyline with Gavin was creepy. He was a true psychopath. He got off on killing the women and stealing their money and identities. I enjoyed that the author showed him spiraling. He couldn’t get over that he didn’t kill Morgan, which affected him for the rest of the book. He got sloppy and made mistakes that had the Feds on him. I did feel that his storyline got a bit repetitive towards the end, and I was pleased when the author decided to have the final confrontation between him and Morgan.

There was a romance angle to Identity involving Morgan and Miles. I was a little iffy, at first, when they first hooked up. I felt that she had too much baggage for him. Plus, she was his employee, raising all sorts of red flags. The author did address this, and I liked that she did. She had Morgan and Miles talk their relationship out between themselves.

Morgan and Miles’s sexual relationship did come on suddenly for me. It took one visit to deliver cookies, which led to a house tour (the turret comments had me dying laughing), which led to them having sex. The sex scenes were not graphic. They were more of a fade-to-black type of deal, which I enjoyed.

The end of Identity had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I loved the girl power moment that Morgan had (thanks to Jen!!). But I was also terrified for her mother and grandmother. While Gavin’s fate was given, I wish the author had given some update on him. I also loved the last chapter. Talk about getting a tear in my eye and the book coming full circle.

I recommend Identity to anyone over 21. There is violence, sexual situations, and language.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Nora Roberts for allowing me to read and review Identity. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Once again, NR has knocked it out of the park. I have to admit, I had my doubts when I read the blurb. I mean, identity theft is such a downer. I couldn’t figure out how anyone could make that interesting or compelling. I should have known better. This is far from the first time Nora has taken an idea or topic that I thought I had no interest in and turned it into an utterly fascinating read/listen. As I recently commented to a friend of mine (who has very different reading tastes), Nora writes characters that you want to get to know, places that you want to visit. Her characters become friends you would like to be able to hang out with in real life. Identity was no different and definitely didn’t disappoint! Nora Roberts is an auto pre-order for me, these days primarily on audiobook, and I always jump on a chance to get an early peek at an ARC, knowing that I’ll also have the pleasure of listening to the story once the book comes out. As always, I highly recommend checking out this title by Nora Roberts.

This wonderful Woman's Fiction Romantic Thriller immerses readers in Morgan's story of survival, healing, growth, and discovery. After experiencing identity theft and losing everything, including her best friend, Morgan seeks shelter with her estranged family. As she navigates her temporary fix, she realizes the thief is a serial killer and she's on his list. The determined FBI team unravels his methods, while Morgan refuses to be a typical damsel in distress. She builds her career, mends family relationships, and finds love. The antagonist, a psychopath/sociopath serial killer, is terrifyingly well-written. The book highlights the power of family, friendships, and blooming where you're planted.

captivating and thrilling novel from the best. Keeps you on the edge of your seat right to the end. Great Read!!

Identity highlights that even an intelligent and cautious young woman, Morgan, can be the target of identity theft, and that she needed to reconsider every part of herself. She also learns that family, however one defines it, can provide unquestioning support and comfort, Identity is a great read. The characters and story are carefully developed.

This book was a thrill ride of twists and turns, romance, and suspense that was excellent (a true Nora Roberts standard) from start to finish.
The character development was top notch and I enjoyed the multiple POVs throughout the book. I usually exclusively enjoy Nora Roberts' fantasy work, but was pleasantly surprised by the contemporary story.

Okay, I LOVED this book.

Nora Roberts got me into reading about 17 years ago with the Garden Trilogy, and it's been a long time since I've picked up one of her books. This book reminded me why I loved her then. Her storytelling is so impressive.

This story is about Morgan, who's identity is stolen the same time her best friend is murdered, and her life crashes after. She is forced to move back with her mother and grandmother and rebuild her life in the town she grew up in. As with all stories, she starts to find her groove again. But unlike all, this happens as the person that has stolen her identity and killed her best friend comes back into her life.

I'm a sucker for a good character. In multiple points of view through various chapters you really get a good sense of each main character in this book. The female lead is amazing - she's tough, thoughtful, and has a great head on her shoulders. I loved watching her develop. In the same sense, the antagonist's point of view was REALLY cool to see, and watching him unravel was one of the best parts of the book.

Overall this book is a nonstop thrill, and a testament to the strength that comes from family and friends, and the power of love. I couldn't put it down!

Morgan Albright agrees to a date with one of her bar patrons, Luke. He’s charming and handsome, but little did she know her life would be upended after inviting him in. She’s his target, but when her best friend, Nina is home unexpectedly, she pays with her life. But not only does Morgan lose her best friend, this jerk steals all her money, and wrecking her credit. Morgan’s life plan of starting her own business, owning a home, and putting down roots are shattered. She has no options but to head into the comfort of her mother and grandmother, the Nash women, back in Vermont. Yet, what seems to be a huge setback becomes a blessing. Being with her mother and grandmother in their beautiful home, in a gorgeous location, she starts to put down roots again. She even loves her job as head bartender at the local resort.

Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t forget about Morgan and while he continues his killing and thieving, he continues to send little reminders to Morgan that he’s not done with her.

Identity had portions of suspense, more in the beginning and end, but only interspersed in the middle when you get the POV of Luke. He was a merciless killer to be sure, getting crazier by the day!

In the middle I’d say the story is more about Morgan getting her life back, connecting with her mother and grandmother again, making an impression at work, making friends, and falling in love. I really enjoyed this part, but it was a slower pace. I liked all the details of the area, Vermont sounds beautiful! And I liked the details of gardening, making drinks, food, and home improvement. The romance with Miles was easy going, but also intense and passionate. I loved his strong protective streak, but more than that he was so very supportive of Morgan.

I liked that Morgan was proactive about being prepared for when/if Luke showed up again by getting in fighting shape and taking self-defense classes. The FBI continued to keep Morgan in the loop, and their updates upped the tension every time.

Identity was an engrossing mystery/thriller, that at times had me on the edge of my seat, but even when it wasn’t as suspenseful the tale was a page turner.

I hadn't read Nora Roberts since the late nineties and I am so glad she is still the queen!
This title didn't disappoint. Mixing mystery, suspense, and intrigue with romance has been her trademark for decades and she has wielded that sword with mastery. Fantastic read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of Identity by Nora Roberts. I am honored and was so thrilled to see I had been approved to read this book. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be disappointed, and I was absolutely correct!
This book was a little on the long side, but I loved it so much that I couldn’t put it down and pretty much read it straight through! The main character, Morgan, has her identity stolen and is pretty much the obsession of a man searching for and plotting her death the whole book. I loved, loved, loveeddd Morgan’s resilience and persistence throughout this story. Even through her daily fair and all the unknown, she moves back home to live with her Mother and Grandmother and continues to live her life and plant roots in an unfamiliar town. She is one of the bravest, strongest, smartest characters I’ve ever read about before and I was rooting for her happily ever after the whole time.
Miles is of course my other favorite character. The brooding, partly grumpy, but seriously kind man that Morgan meets at her new job in town. I didn’t see him coming, or acting the way he did… and it was a pleasant surprise.
I highly recommend this romantic thriller to anymore looking for a unique story to blow their mind! Typically, you aren’t aware of who the killer is until the end of a story. In this book, you know pretty much from the very start and I still couldn’t put it down. I think that’s a real testament to Roberts writing. Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Eager to prove her idependence, Morgan lives far away from her family, working two jobs to pay her mortgage and save money for renovations. She doesn't have time to date, but when an IT guy chats her up at the bar where she works nights, she lets down her defenses.

With tragic results.

Mourning the loss of her good friend and roommate, Nina, and having lost her house to foreclosure after the IT guy drains her bank accounts and takes out loans in her name, Morgan flees to her mother and grandmother in Vermont. The man who stole her identity is not only a thief, but also a serial killer and it soons become obvious he is determined to exact revenge against Morgan--for escaping him.

Under different circumstances, Morgan would feel secure, even happy, with a job she loves, a doting family, and a new boyfriend, but until Gavin is caught, she will never feel safe. This is a real page-turner, and generally very good, although the dialogue seems strangely staccato at times. Still, it's easy to see why Nora Roberts is such a success. #Identity #NetGalley

I'm never disappointed in anything Nora Roberts writes. Every time I pick up one of her books she sucks me in to each story. Her precision to details makes the foundation to all of her stories. Many times Nora's books have so much truth to them. I find that alot of issues her heroines go through are things we women face everyday.
Identity theft is one of them. Thanks to hackers everywhere people's identities get stolen each day. Her character, Morgan, suffers alot worse than just identity theft when her best friend, Nina gets murdered when Morgan, herself, was the target. Not only does Morgan suffer the huge loss of her friend, but the aftermath of what Gavin Rozwell did to her financially was just nightmarish.
As Morgan tries to pick up the pieces she soon gets wind that Gavin is a serial killer, and he isn't done with Morgan yet. See, she made him loose his streak. That's something a narcissistic psychopath can never live with.
Nora Roberts brings you on a journey that takes you through heartache, fear, and financial ruin, but also shows you how important it is to plant roots, lean on family, and most of all to not be defeated.
This book was un-put-downable right from the start, and I hope you all give it a read.

Good story - enjoyed the premise. Morgan is an unwitting victim of Gavin who steals her identity and money, but with one catch. He ended up killing her roommate instead of Morgan after being caught in the act. He becomes obsessed with killing the one that got away. Meanwhile, Morgan moves back with her family and starts over. Working at a family resort, she falls for son Miles.

Nora Roberts knows how to write sagas and this is no exception. Family, romance, and a thrilling mystery combine for a great book.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don’t know how, but this is actually my first
book by Nora Roberts. It will definitely not be my last. I absolutely loved this story.
It’s a perfect combination of suspense, psychological thriller, romance and a touch humor if you can believe that.
Morgan, a young bartender living in Baltimore, has her identity stolen along with everything she had or owned. We know from almost the beginning who the protagonist is which makes it all the more suspenseful because you know something is coming. He takes everything from his victims including their lives. But one got away.
Morgan is forced to move in with her mom and grandmother in Vermont. She basically starts her life all over again when she becomes bar manager at a family owned resort. There she meets Miles, one of the sons of the owners. Morgan and Miles just might be one of my favorite fictional couple! But Morgan cannot truly relax until the man who took everything is caught unless he gets to her first.
Thank you so much Netgalley and St Martin Press for an early copy in return for my honest review.

Morgan Nash Albright was an Army brat. The first fourteen years of her life they went from base to base, never having the time to make close friends but instead keeping to herself as the next move could be at any time. Later, after her parents divorced, it was more moving as her mother changed jobs and each change required a move. The longest she stayed in any place was in college. After graduating with a double major, Morgan desperately wanted to put down roots and be part of a community. She researched and chose a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. Now with two jobs and a plan, she settled in to grow roots.

Eventually, a house to call her own and a housemate to help with the mortgage, it seemed she was on track to achieve her dream. Nina became a close friend and welcome companion. What she didn't expect was to meet a charming man who traveled for work so they would be no more than good friends. He got along well with Nina's fiancé when they had both men to dinner. Morgan had no way to know that dinner would set in motion events leading to the death of her best friend, and the loss of everything she'd worked toward and the roots she'd set down.

That's just the setup of this story. Identity by Nora Roberts was a very difficult heartwrenching story to read. Roberts usually has strong women in peril including ones where death is a possibility. There is also a romance as well. The stories are interesting, thrilling, somewhat scary, and with a satisfying ending with well-rounded characters, appropriately unique settings, and a tight plot with lots of twists and misdirection. Identity is not an exception.

This time the story hits home as this evil menace doesn't just kill, he takes your identity first and uses it to destroy you and everything and everyone you care about. Most of us readers will never have to deal with the issues that the characters in these books have. But, identity theft is something most of us have to be careful about and can relate to. Many readers have shopped at a favorite store only to learn their credit card info was scammed and now they have to deal with charges they didn't make, replacing cards, dealing with banks and stores to restore their reputation.

Reading about the problems Morgan Albright had to deal with because of identity theft made this story relate on a level with our lives. It was heartbreaking what she had to go through. Identity theft is something any one of us might have to deal with. Serial killers are on the page, in movies, but it's not as immediately real, those other issues are fiction. Losing one's identity in this world of online shopping, banking, meetings, and more is something that might happen to one of us.

I enjoy Roberts' books but this one felt too real at times and the identity theft made the rest of the plot even more chilling.

This is definitely the best Nora Roberts book I've read in a long time. I love the characters and the storyline. A good balance of suspense in romance! A strong female protagonist and a wonderful cast of characters. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

This title really started out with an intensity that drew me in very quickly. The scenes with Luke, the intensity of it, and the general feeling that Morgan was in danger from him. Unfortunately, as the book went on, some of this intensity was lost for me. I wanted to feel threatened by him, or at least like the suspense was still a focus of the book, but it really wasn't.

Morgan and Miles did have great chemistry and I enjoyed their time together, definitely believing in them as a couple. I think, though, I wanted a little more from them as a couple with it feeling like the suspense of the book had backed off some, but the romance wasn't really the focus even after that happened.

Toward the end of the title, the focus of the book did go back to the suspense, but it was blended with the romance as the character of Morgan had developed and moved into one that was involved with Miles. I liked the balance the author found at that point.

That said, I enjoyed and recommend this title.