I enjoyed this suspenseful story from this prolific author. This was definitely a cautionary tale about identity theft. Morgan is an independent young woman with very specific goals in life. She knows how she wants her future to look and she works hard to achieve it. She is on the right path until she meets Luke and then everything changes in a heartbeat. Not only does he steal her identity and dismantle her carefully constructed life but he murders her best friend in the process. Morgan is horrified to find out that not only is Luke a murderer and thief but a psychopath and serial killer. I don’t want to give away more of the plot as it is a thriller. My only complaint is that I would have liked Miles to be a little more cheery but that’s just me. Overall a great read with a lovely resort setting and some interesting side characters to even out the ongoing suspense. I definitely recommend reading this one.

Another great romantic suspense by NR!

There is so much to enjoy about this story - the overall plot, the slow burn romance, the family elements, and the cozy VT setting. I also just always appreciate how miscommunication is NEVER used in any of Nora's books - her characters speak openly and honestly and it's so refreshing.

I know I can always rely on Nora to deliver!

Rating: 4 stars

Identity is described as “a new thriller about one man’s ice-cold malice, and one woman’s fight to reclaim her life.”
I’ve previously read a few Nora Roberts’ books and I’ve loved some of her series - The Bride Quartet, the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy and The MacGregors. I think this is my first Nora Roberts standalone book and my first that’s described as a thiller, although even though that was in the background, it wasn’t always the focus.
Usually I find Nora Roberts’ writing so easy and enjoyable to get into but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with this one. It was very dialogue heavy which doesn’t usually bother me, but I didn’t love the writing style – which seemed both very matter of fact but also confusing at times – and it actually took me a while to read.
The premise of the book was given away in the description so the anticipation was definitely building in the first several chapters for everything to happen and I wanted to keep reading. However, from there, at 437 pages according to Goodreads, it just seemed way too long to me.
I didn’t really feel the connection between Morgan and her mother and grandmother. Also, to be honest, it really annoyed me that Morgan kept referring to them as “my ladies.”
I did like the bartending aspect as well as the Jameson’s family resort business. I enjoyed learning about all of their various responsibilities at the resort.
While I didn’t love this Nora Roberts book, it won’t stop me from picking up another one in the future if the description sounds interesting.

After years and years of constantly being moved around (Army brat life) all Morgan wants is to settle down and plant roots. To have a forever home. She has found the place she wants to stay, the house of her dreams, has Nina, the best roommate a person could want to help with the finances and works two jobs to save for all of the renovations she has in mind and is living the life she always dreamed of. She meets a seemingly lovely handsome man and invites him to the first dinner party she and Nina throw. Next thing you know her life is thrown into chaos. Nina is dead, her car, everything she had of value and her identity are gone. Her home is no longer safe or feels like hers. Turns out the nice guy is a murderous con man who is also a serial killer and mad he didn’t get Tiffany. He killed Nina as Morgan wasn’t there and she is told by the FBI that he never forgets and will not give up until he kills her too. She packs up and leaves to stay safe, heads to across the country but cannot forget that there is a murderer out for her and any others along the way while trying to create a new life for herself. In true Nora Roberts fashion she has created a suspenseful storyline with great characters, settings and that drew me in immediately. A truly wonderful read that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

I have not read Nora Roberts in a few years. I can honestly say I put off reading this book, big mistake. I loved the book and could hardly put it down.
Morgan Albright was raised a military child; she moved a lot in fourteen years. When her dad divorces her mother, they move around still for years. After college Morgan settles in a small town she has researched and now has a home she purchased and is working two jobs. She has a roommate and Nina and is living her best life. Luke comes into the bar where she works at night. After he stops by several times, they strike up a connection. Nina is dating Steve and Morgan invites Luke to dinner for the four of them.
Luke is actually a con man and a serial killer. He kills Nina since she was home sick when he broke into finish stealing Morgans money and identity.
After the FBI comes to visit Morgan, she realizes she let that monster into her and Nina's life. After she loses everything, she moves to Vermont to live with her grandmother and mother. She goes to work at a fancy resort as the bar manager. Luke is really Gavin and he now feels like Morgan ruin his life since he had to kill her roommate and not her.
The story is well written and shows Morgan getting on with her life and Gavin trying to kill other women to satisfy his craving; but really is losing it mentally. Morgan is being updated by the FBI agents still on the trail of Gavin.
This was a wonderful romance and suspense story.

I was very interested in the premise and was drawn in almost immediately. Unfortunately, the writing style and errors quickly jarred me out of the story and I spent the rest of the time annoyed at the weird phrasing, errors, and repetitive wording.

This is my first book by Nora Roberts and I think it’s obvious that I was disappointed. I’ll definitely be trying another one (maybe an older one?) so I can see what all the hype is about! This one wasn’t it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

What would you do if you had a plan for your future? You have 2 jobs, a home, a roomate whose a close friend you adore and a savings plan to buy your own business, then in the blink of an eye it all disappears. Your friend is murdered, your savings and identity stolen leaving you heartbroken and in debt. This is the start of Identity and our introduction to Morgan.

This tale is ripped straight out of today's headlines. The devastation of having your life stolen and knowing that you could be dead is chilling and a reminder to be mindful of everyday conversations/meetings. Nora Roberts has a gift for creating a sense of urgency in life threatening moments. She also has a gift of creating moments when her characters gain strength, make new connections and learn to take back thier lives. With Morgan as bartender, Roberts had me wanting to become a mixologist and try my hand at making a new summer cocktail.

Suspense and a realistic storyline involving identity theft and murder hooked me. Roberts even provided chapters from the perpetrator’s point of view. She then balanced out the tale with small-town life, the resort and a slow-burning romance that felt genuine. Crime fiction lovers will enjor this read, just like I did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to step inside an intense real-life crime.

Identity is a great addition to the Nora Roberts collection. Although it has the "tone" of the books you would recognize from Nora Roberts, there is a point in the book that makes you stop and have to take a second read. Then for the rest of the book, you are gripped and waiting to find out what happens next.

The story is engaging, surprising, and entertaining, and I want more of this group of characters. Definitely a great read and if you love Nora Roberts, you will not be dissatisfied. If you haven't read her books before, this will make you want to go back and read others. Worth the read and hope there are more like it.

NR is one of my top go to authors.
A deranged predator has wreaked untold grief on Morgan’s planned life. But it could be the best thing for her since she moves back to Vermont and becomes even closer with her grandmother and mother. She also finds Miles.
I loved Howl, he was a hoot. I also loved Olivia, the grandma.
The villain was a total jerk and his takedown was a bit of a let down.
I liked Miles, but he was a little clunky in his character and personality, but good hearted.

Identity by Nora Roberts
Contemporary romantic suspense.
Morgan Albright owned an old house she loves near Baltimore. She has a roommate that helps Morgan pay the mortgage. She has a bartending job she loves at a local bar. Morgan has plans for the house and her future. One night at the bar there is a new customer. Friendly, but not obnoxious or overdone. He stays for only two drinks then leaves. After several more drop-in’s at the bar, he asks her out. Morgan is careful to meet him at a restaurant for their first date and all goes well. He attends a small event at her hose with friends. All is good.
Until he breaks into the house, kills the roommate and basically steals everything in Morgan’s life. Multiple loans in her name. New credit cards in her name. He cleared out all her bank accounts and took any jewelry and cash he was able to find in the house. There’s even a loan shark looking for a payback. He took everything from Morgan except her life. It’s what he intended, but the roommate got in the way. Morgan cuts ties, sells the house, and moves home to live with her mother to start fresh.
But he doesn’t forget she’s the only one that lived. And she’s going to have to pay.

Compelling and breath taking. It’s a novel you won’t want to put down.
I liked the grumpy sunshine aspect of her new relationship with Miles. And the dog, Howl is amusing. He won’t play fetch with Miles but he will with Morgan. Too cute.
But the scary serial killer is a mess!

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy.

Identity is Nora Roberts at her best: suspense, murder and romance all packaged up into a heartwarming story.

You may not know this, but I’m a huge Nora Roberts fan. Like, I’ve ready everything Nora’s written, many books multiple times. So when I had a chance to read her new book on netgalley before it was published, I think my neighbours could hear my shouts of excitement. And Identity, Nora’s latest book, does not disappoint. This is classic Nora at her finest, and if you’ve never read a Nora Roberts book, it’s a great place to start. Identity tells the story of Morgan, who’s whole life is destroyed in one fell swoop: identity fraud, her best friend and roommate murdered, and plot twist – it should have been her. She heads home to a small town in Vermont to live with her mother and grandmother as she puts her life back together.

Morgan is a feisty bartender who’s built up a lot of walls after the divorce of her parents. She’s independent to a fault, which of course makes it all that harder when all of her independence is taken away from her thanks to a con man slash psychopathic serial killer. I loved seeing Morgan pick herself up and rebuild her life as she also learns about her family and the women who made her. Nora writes families, both blood and found, so well and the Nash family is a small but strong unit. Her mom and grandma are fierce and fabulous women who I wanted to hang out with.

Of course, it isn’t a Nora Roberts book without a swoony romance. Now, we don’t meet Miles, the love interest until a good chunk through the book. But let me tell you, he’s worth the wait. He’s part of a powerful and wealthy family that runs a big lodge in Vermont. But this isn’t a Succession-style dynasty. This family works hard and cares about each other. Miles is the eldest son and is a straight and narrow man who has the largest heart. I loved watching Miles and Morgan fight and then give into their attraction after Morgan joined the Lodge as manager and head bartender for the fancy restaurant there. Their love affair is steamy and strong: Miles supports her and encourages her to be the best version of herself even while he prepares himself to defend her against the serial killer slowly making his way back to her to finish off his mistake.

Gavin – the serial killer and other main character in Identity – is one twisted man. As the bad guy he doesn’t disappoint. He’s so charming at first that I was totally taken in by him as the reader -so warning to you, you may side eye every person you meet after reading this book. He’s perfectly charming and creepy at turns and his drive is fascinating.

I live to enter a new Nora Roberts world every year and Identity was a top notch romantic suspense read with a side of small town, big family dynamics. I can’t wait to add this to my re-read rotation as it is a new favourite.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

To me, Nora Roberts is the queen of romantic suspense, and I enjoyed Identity. The main character, Morgan, has to make a fresh start after becoming the victim of a ruthless conman who steals her identity. What she goes through is horrifying and all the more scary because of how realistic it is. Morgan is a likable main character who is independent, determined, but also vulnerable. Things seem to be going so perfectly for her back with her mother and grandmother in Vermont, which is a contrast to the villain and his life and plans for revenge against Morgan, the "one who got away."

This book is entertaining and I liked getting to know Morgan. I like the Jameson family, who own the Vermont resort where she starts working. The new romantic relationship she begins seems sincere, but a bit rushed. I enjoyed the book overall but didn't care for the chapters told from the villain's point-of-view because they were very disturbing. Some of the dialogue seems unnatural, but the story is engaging and I like the way things turned out in the end.

I received an advance copy of the ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

It's Nora Roberts, you're getting exactly what you thought you were going to get. A well defined location, characters, story, and a very good read.

This is the story of Morgan Albright, who finds herself involved in a horrible crime and ends up moving home with her mother and grandmother. Of course home is a lovely town in Vermont, a town where everyone knows everyone, and more importantly, they all look out for each other.

While Morgan's very detailed life plans have been shattered, she rebuilds, accepts that change is inevitable, and finds a way to make her new life her best life.

I enjoyed reading Identity and couldn't wait to pick it back up while going about my day.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

In most of Robert's novels, you don't find out who the antagonist is right off the bat. In this novel, she changes pace a bit and gives you the real identity of the villain, but morphs his character along the way.
My great aunt gave me my first Nora Roberts novel at 14 years old. She writes stories that pull you in but leave you emotionally damaged all the same. I felt all of Morgan's pain throughout the novel, but still was able to enjoy the growth she envisioned for herself. Her relationship with Miles and the rest of the Jamieson family was one that was admirable, and loving, but most of all I was jealous of her Ladies, the Nash women. Separated by time, anger and sadness, they reconnected and built a relationship that was far better than any of them could have hoped.

All in all, this novel was a standard Robert's novel. It did not blow me out of the water, but I still read it in entirely one sitting and felt satisfied at the end. I would definitely recommend for those who like her novels.

Morgan Albright’s nightmare began when she arrived home to find her roommate murdered. The police arrived and soon after the FBI, as her roommate was the victim of a serial killer, a serial killer who meant to kill Morgan. In addition, the killer accessed her accounts and ruined her financially. Her only option was to return to her mother’s home in Vermont, but at least she was alive…for now. The FBI believes that he will not give up as they continue their search. Her job as a bartender at Après has given her a chance to get back on her feet and she takes the time to learn self-defense moves. Miles Jameson, eldest son of the third generation, finds her incredibly interesting while she admits that she is attracted to him. She never knows when the killer will strike and she needs to be able to SING (solar plexus, instep, nose & groin) to give herself a chance to survive. This story was amazing, containing the power and grit of the authors “In Death” series, but in the “now”. The characters come alive on the pages as you wait for the killer to make his move. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

4.5/5 ⭐
4/5 🌶️
4.5/5 🕵️‍♀️

Oh Nora. Nora, Nora, Noraaaaa! You've done it, again. You've made me fall in love with every single character and then crushed my soul over and over. Not to be dramatic but this is one of my favorite books I've read in the Nora Roberts collection. I am a tried and true fan but every time I pick up one of her novels, I am continuously amazed by her character development/research, writing, and love she puts in to these books.

As we know from the synopsis, Morgan has been pushed to her lowest, by no fault of her own. Her best friend is killed within the first few chapters and you mourn along side her. As if her best friend was your best friend. As if that can't get any worse, the man that took her life has destroyed Morgan financially, Which will pierce your hearting knowing hundreds of Americans are dealing with identity theft every day. It goes into the crippling details as we watch Morgan do and give everything she can to get out of debt that's not her own.

She inevitably succumbs to moving home with her mother and grandmother. Which is where the story takes a turn and we fall in love with every single person in their small town of Vermont. And we meet Miles. Oh, Miles! Be prepared to fall in love with him the most.

I laughed, I cried... a lot. I also got very very scared and couldn't sleep for multiple nights. Note to anyone with an over active imagination, this isn't a good one to read before bed. The details of the murders are gruesome and I found myself wanting to skip past the gory details but without them, you don't understand why you're rooting for Morgan as much as you do. You want her to succeed even more.

Thank you so so SO much to net galley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to have the ARC of this book. I enjoyed it so much and, as always, I cannot wait to see what Nora publishes next.

The second I read the synopsis I knew this was one I needed to read; Nora Roberts is an incredible author so of course the writing was great. The entire book had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the shoe to drop, the suspense was at an all-time high. I enjoyed how she incorporated the romance while keeping the thriller theme; it was balanced so perfectly, not too much of one thing but the perfect blend. I couldn’t put it down, at the same time I didn’t want it to end. The characters were great, I love how she included so many powerful, badass women.

This was an interesting read. I would say more towards the suspense side of things than the romance side, but mainly because of the structure. We don't even meet the "hero" of the book until a third of the way in, which is unusual. I found the beginning of the book kind of interesting because of that, though - I didn't know what to expect. What kind of turned me off of this book were the conversations between all the characters. They felt awkward to me - not because of any one reason that I could pin down but I think the main thing that stood out to me was that EVERYONE said exactly what they were thinking all the time, which just isn't realistic. A lot of the characters just felt so two dimensional for me, and seemed almost like really similar versions of each other. For how much conversation there was among a lot of characters - a lot of them ended up having the same "voice" to me. Other than that issue, I liked the story line. I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to find out what would happen next!

I've read a few books by Roberts, and they are hit or miss for me. This one was a miss. The pace was too slow for a thriller/mystery, but yet it wasn't much of a romance story, either (and I was okay with the latter). The relationship felt forced and unnecessary. The dialogue felt stilted ... and there was too much of it. The characters felt a bit unrealistic as they didn't exhibit a range of emotions (for instance, no one seems to get mad). I had a bit of a preference for Gavin, and I wish we'd seen more, particularly in place of Morgan's work. Some parts were overly detailed without cause, making for a choppy feel. Perhaps a tighter edit and a shorter book would've worked better.

Nora Roberts never, ever, ever fails to deliver. Logical, well-executed, smooth, fast-moving plot. Strong, passionate characters who know when to give, when to take and when to put it all on the line. The elements are always there, but you also get a unique, original story that captivates you, keeps you guessing, make you draw back in fear or reach for a tissue to dab your eyes – and has your total attention first page to last.

Morgan Albright has finally settled down and started planning a future. She’s found the perfect best friend housemate in Nina, she loves her job as a bartender and is working towards owning her own bar some day and isn’t opposed to a little casual flirting and dating, especially with the cute IT guy who has started hanging around when she’s working. It’s a good life. Until Morgan comes home the day after the dinner party she and Nina threw for IT guy Luke and Nina’s fiancé Sam. Morgan finds evidence of a break-in: door glass smashed, cash, jewelry, laptop, car stolen – and Nina savagely murdered. And that is the day Morgan’s life changes forever, and not for the better, because while Luke does in fact have excellent IT skills, he’s not Luke and he’s not a regular guy. He’s a crazed serial killer who steals identities and brutally kills his victims – after taking away every single thing they have.

The transition from good Luke to monster Luke is abrupt and flawless. Very effective. You’re just starting to develop a mental picture of this cutie and hoping he’ll fit into Morgan’s life, when he shows up at her house, discovers Nina is unexpectedly there and becomes viciously and violently angry in a methodical and terrifying way. His careful planning is disrupted by “having” to kill Nina; that day he intended only to begin the identity theft. Morgan’s murder would come at the appropriate time. He’s already unstable and dangerous. Now he’s unstable, dangerous and blames Morgan for the house not being empty when he broke in.

The process Gavin (Luke) follows to terrorize Morgan is indeed chilling. Step by step he goes about destroying her reputation, financial security and peace of mind. After a year of rebuilding every time he destroys she can’t do it anymore: she’s depleted personally, professionally, financially and emotionally. She goes home to her mother and grandmother in Vermont to try and start over, or at least feel safe again. But while Gavin may be a psychopath he’s a smart one and of course he knows where she is. He continues his ever more erratic plan to finally catch up with her and make her pay for ruining his life.

Miles Jameson’s family owns the resort hotel where Morgan finally begins to work. He’s not all that friendly and has a reputation as a demanding, aloof man. Well, maybe so, but there’s something there and author Roberts fans that flame and unpacks that relationship as only she can. Friendships (and more) grow, relationships between families are uncovered, rifts among relatives are healed, job satisfaction is once again a possibility. Sounds like a great place for Morgan to be, except for the lunatic who lets her know he’s coming – and soon. Roberts makes you feel each step he gets closer.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of Identity via NetGalley for my reading pleasure and honest opinion. It has the trademark Nora Roberts dialogue, cadence, romance and thrills readers have come to love. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.