I think I may have outgrown Nora Roberts books, (sad face), This just wasn't for me, It was kind of a damsel in distress story but with a modern twist. I really liked the main character Morgan, though. The story just didn't add up to me. I thought at first it was taking place in the 90's because of this bad guy who no one in the world knew about. But, with today's technology, there is no way this man would have been able to get away with what he was doing this many times. And doesn't the FBI do forensic accounting? They could have figured this man out in a second.

A couple things that drove me crazy in this book. One, a lavender margarita? GROSS! A lilac margarita? GROSS! Two, calling her mom and grandma "my ladies". that became kind of triggering for me.

Thanks for the advanced copy! I wish i had loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Nora Roberts. I really do! Or at least I used to. I've really enjoyed her trilogy series and standalone stories in the past, but I have not really enjoyed the books of hers I've tried to read in the last few years. I don't know if it's that I'm too used to the formula now or if they just all feel too rushed in all the wrong ways, but they don't do it for me.

Unfortunately "Identity" didn't do it for me either. All I can say is that the entirety of the plot is covered in the synopsis from the publisher and you really don't need to take the time to read the book to look for anything of substance to add to that. That's the story and that's it.

I'll never write Nora Roberts off as an author but may have to be more choosy and pick books with more vague descriptions so there's something to look forward too. What a bummer!

Nora Roberts is one of those authors that continues to amaze me. This stand alone mix of women’s fiction, mystery-thriller and romance ticks so many of my boxes. The blurb itself gives more away than I’d share. Morgan Nash’s identity is stolen bringing her world crashing down. The FBI shows up explaining they know who did this to her. And so far she is the only one he didn’t kill. This makes her a target. She moves to be with her ladies, her mother and grandmother, in Vermont and starts to rebuild her life.

There are so many wonderfully rich characters in this story. Morgan’s mom and Grandmother have their own back stories and the three together have a joyful relationship. Work brings Morgan to Miles. Their banter is so smooth and entertaining. You feel their love before they know what hits them. And my heart melted to a puddle at every interaction with Howl, the rescue dog and best boy ever. Side characters all get moments to shine.

It takes a little bit to get to know Morgan and for her personality to show because at first she is a victim. But watching her go from tragedy to confident strength is empowering. Roberts keeps the tension up and tightens it to a more than satisfactory conclusion. Some mature writers have characters that don’t feel modern or current. That is never a problem for Nora Roberts. The storyline is crisp, characters fit their ages and she brings passion to a love scene. This is such an easy book to read and recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

As always, Thank you to Netgalley, the Author,THE NORA ROBERTS!!! and the publishers ST. Martins press.
I am beside myself as I write this, first I consider myself incredibly lucky to have received a E-galley of this book!
I started this book immediately, and I gotta say it is one of her best for me. I think what made it perfectly perfect was Nora's ability to create characters that are relatable. Her main character is un-moored and in search of a place to call her own. In many ways all humans have felt that and can relate. Pick this book up you won't be sorry.
Identity is available May 23rd!! 4 stars!

I haven't read a Nora Roberts book in a few years, and I really enjoyed this one. She writes incredible thrillers with great characters! The descriptions of places had you feel like you were right there with the characters. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

It’s been an age since I’ve read a Nora Roberts book. I mean, I read all of the In Death releases but it’s been many years since I’ve read anything else but her. I must say, I’ve missed her. I’ve missed the familiar way she pulls you into a book and allows you to experience every moment and every emotion along with the characters.

Now… Identity…. It’s terrifying. Of all the things that we read, books about identity theft are some of the most realistic and consequently frightening. In Identity, I really liked a Morgan and empathized with her. To finally set your life to rights and only have it upended by a sociopath serial killer would be devastating. But to have him personally specifically research you and seek you out? 😱

One of the most heartwarming parts of the book is that, after living through the experience she gets to go home. I know for many, even for me at that age, it would be ‘has to’ but I, now, can see that it’s a ‘gets to’. Morgan getting to know her mother and grandmother as people is a very special thing. Having lost both, I appreciate the value of those relationships.

I’m so thrilled to have been able to dive into Identity. It’s a FABULOUS book that’s just the right amount of scary and heartwarming. Plus, it’s about growing as a person and overcoming adversity.

As a side note, I truly think Ms Roberts needs to fix my closet. Between Morgan’s and Eve’s I’m pretty sure she needs to fix mine next 😜🙄 and… I need some recipes both the potatoes and the sangria 🤷

my review is scheduled for 5/18 at https://www.hottbooks.com/review-identity/

This is a heart-stopping novel! One that will keep you up at night reading for sure!

Morgan Albright seemingly has her life together - she’s independent, living in Baltimore, working 2 jobs (office manager by day and bartender by night) and is saving to renovate the house she shares with her friend, Nina. That is, until Luke Hudson comes into her bar one night and turns her whole life upside down. After hosting a dinner party, Morgan finds her house broken into, her car stolen and Nina dead. And Luke Hudson is responsible. Not only that, he’s stolen her money and her identity.
Morgan has no choice but to come home to her grandmother and mother in Vermont. She works to rebuild her life, taking up a job as a bar manager at a family-owned resort. She meets Miles, a charming and handsome (but difficult to read) man, who is also the grandson of the Jamesons, who own and operate the resort. But Morgan knows that “Luke” (real name Gavin) is still hiding in the shadows and is coming for her- the question is when.
I love this novel and everything about it. I love Morgan and her need to find her roots and I really like that Miles is a little guarded but at the same time really protective of his family and of Morgan. I was kept on the edge of my seat waiting to see what Gavin did next and wondering when he was going to strike. The overarching theme of family gives a warmth to the writing. Very highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I have been a huge fan of Nora Roberts for many years so jumped at the opportunity to read her latest novel Identity. Identity follows Morgan, a young woman working two jobs to try and save money to buy a small bar of her own someday. She owns a modest house and her roommate Nina is one of her best friends.

During one of her bar shifts Luke comes in. An IT 'geek', he is not only good looking but charming as well. After a few nightly visits to the bar he invites her out for pizza. She doesn't normally do things like that but takes him up on his offer and both seem to have a great time. So great she ends up inviting him over for dinner (with her roommate and her boyfriend in attendance as well). Little does she know her whole world is going to be turned upside down. Luke is not who she thinks she is, and when tragedy strikes and Morgan's life is shattered she has no choice but to move in with her Grandmother and Mother.

They live in a quaint town, own a shop called Crafty Arts, are thrilled she is there, and have a lot of connections. They are able to get her a job interview at the local resort run by the Jameson family. And that is where she meets Miles. He's tough and hard to get to know but she really wants to get to know him. And when he hears of the tragedy she has been through and continues to live with he will stop at nothing to help protect her. After all, the Jameson's treat all of their staff like family.

Without giving too much of this story away I absolutely loved it. I work in the IT field and found the brief parts that were attributed to Luke/Gavin to be accurate. The devastation that he spreads is terrifying and kept me turning the pages to find out the ending.

Nora Roberts really knows how to write characters and weave an intricate plot. She is one of my favorites. Heads up, this is NOT a romance novel, although there is romance sprinkled throughout. 4 1/2 stars.

This is a thriller that had me on the edge of my seat, crying and laughing…all the good feels of a great book! Morgan is an independent and secure young woman living outside of Baltimore with her best friend Nina. Working multiple jobs to make her life’s dream come true, Morgan’s life is upended when she is targeted by a master con artist. Gavin Rozewell kills Nina and escapes, destroying Morgan’s happiness and her future hopes of owning her own business. Defeated and discouraged, Morgan goes to live with her maternal grandmother Olivia and her mom Audrey in a picturesque town in Vermont. Morgan works on rebuilding her life, but Gavin is still there on the fringes of her life, plotting to at last get to kill the one who escaped him. This book defines action from page one, with a serial killer stalking, a handsome millionaire courting and a feisty Morgan learning self-defense moves so she can take on the challenge of facing Gavin when he shows up in her life again. There is romance, a humorous dog named Howl and a family with a prosperous business and a lot of love and acceptance to give. I loved how the story of Morgan’s “rebirth” was told so thoroughly and so well and how the parallel story of Gavin’s unraveling and sinking into the depths of depravity is compared to Morgan’s success and happiness. Gavin made me angry each time he appeared and Morgan had me cheering for her to succeed and find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The characters were believable, relatable and original. The plot was a cleverly paced page-turner, with head-spinning twists and captivating intrigue. I cannot say enough about how much this book moved me to keep reading long into the night and then early the next morning until I finished it with a long sigh of satisfaction. The tension crackled throughout the novel, building momentum until the final compelling encounter of good versus evil. This is what a well-crafted and terrifyingly brilliant book looks like! I would give this book ten stars, an extra five for the edgy intensity and the rich character study.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is one of Nora’s best. I loved it. The premise of identity theft was so painful, but the characters were amazing throughout. Starting over and rebuilding a life is not easy, and it was felt throughout this as Morgan did so. The settings were great and as always Nora put new locations on my travel list. I cannot wait to read her next book.

I was SO excited to get an advance copy of NR’s next stand-alone novel & she did not disappoint! I read a bit of everything genre-wise, but tend to lean more heavily into thrillers & NR’s books always have plenty of action with a healthy dose of romance, & I’ve found that I really enjoy knowing what to generally expect from her books. There’s usually a gorgeous scenic cover & typically three different parts to her stand-alones with roughly ten chapters each, in which we get a good look at the main character’s past & go on a deep-dive into whatever career they are passionate about, see them fall in love, get immersed in a gorgeous & charming setting, have cool older women in their lives that I want to be like when I’m that age, & read about fun everyday things that the characters do like gardening & cooking & home improvement & fitness. Oh & there’s usually a dog in there somewhere, which is always a plus. Now all of that is to say that I really like reading the standard NR formula for her stand-alone plots & she always makes the books vastly different from each other detail-wise so I'm never bored.

In Identity (a great title with more than one meaning in the story), Morgan is a young woman in her twenties looking to set down roots somewhere after a childhood that was full of constant upheaval - she’s passionate about bartending & all that it entails with the relationships that one builds with customers, & is saving money to open her own place someday. But when her roommate Nina is murdered at the hands of a man Morgan was casually dating, her whole world is upended - penniless (because the murderer stole her identity), Morgan has to move home with her mother & grandmother to try & rebuild her life & recover from losing her best friend. Morgan eventually settles in & finds a new job & even a new love interest, but the man who murdered her roommate hasn’t forgotten that Morgan was his intended victim…

All in all this was another solid NR book that I devoured & I’m already looking forward to the next! Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Nora Roberts fan so when I saw this title come up on Netgalley, I had to grab it. I am so glad that I did. I was unable to put this book down. There was such a mystery/thriller aspect that I had to know what was going to happen next. There was romance, drama, and all the feels. The character development was amazing - I felt like I was friends with the characters. Seriously, one of the best books I have read so far this year! Nora is still the queen of romance for a reason! I would love to see more of this family again!

I forgot how much I love Nora Roberts's books until I start reading one. Her books have a way of grabbing you from the first page to the last - and taking you through all of the emotions. I loved reading Identity - loved the family interactions especially the relationship between Morgan and Miles. The villain was terrible, but you knew Morgan would win in the end. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars - it was just that good.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

This was my first Nora Roberts book, and the description really pulled me in. I thought the idea was really interesting and liked how it was a mix of romance and thriller. However, I found the romance and chemistry between the characters really lacking. I did not feel like there was much of a spark, other than a couple paragraphs. I also found the ending to be very rushed. Gavin devolves throughout the entire book, and it’s really interesting to see how that unfolds. But he doesn’t actually get to Morgan until 95% of the way through, so you’re just waiting and waiting for the action and when it actually does happen it’s over pretty fast. My other criticism is that I could not stand when Morgan called her mom and grandmother “her ladies”, it just gave me the biggest ick.

If you’re a Nora Roberts fan, this may be the book for you. But if you’re a casual or even first time Nora Roberts reader, I wouldn’t recommend this.

Nora Roberts always satisfies, and Identity is no exception. When Morgan's carefully laid plans are shattered by psychopath, "Luke," masquerading as a new boyfriend, he leaves her with guilt over her murdered friend and roommate, and without any of her savings.
As she starts to recover, Morgan moves north, to live with her semi-estranged mother and her grandmother. This change of scenery brings her more joy than she ever imagined. Her new job at the local resort also brings hope for new friends and opportunities. However, the shadow of Luke lingers and Morgan knows that it's only a matter of time before he comes for her, his only intended victim that survived. The FBI and the local law, as well as her family and new employers, are doing their best to protect her and catch Luke, but will it happen in time, and will Morgan's relationship with a son in her new employers dynasty blossom?

I always look forward to a new Nora Roberts book, they never disappoint. I fell right into this story, the characters lives, the suspense and the romance and I never looked up again until ‘The End’ very late at night or very early in the morning, depending on how you look at it. Morgan is a wonderful heroine with an upbeat attitude towards her customers and life itself. She worked so hard, not once but twice in her life to make her personal dreams come true. I also love how she worked to make herself physically stronger. The generational household showed the deep connections the women had and their love for each other. The dialogue between them was very entertaining.
Miles was a swoon worthy alpha hero who shows his love for family and Morgan through what he does for them even when he seems a little overbearing, Morgan stands up to him. The cat and mouse suspense plot between Morgan and Gavin kept me turning the pages. I highly recommend, definitely another winner by Nora Roberts!!

I have to admit that Nora Roberts earlier books were hit or miss with me. I started my reading journey with her with True Betrayls. Which I loved. And I kind of hold all of her books next to it to compare.

Now, that being said, I have really been drawn to her most recent works. I loved her Year One series. Was pretty triggered by her Shelter In Place. But it was still really good. I love her ability to take hard subject matter and turn it into something you don't want to put down.

This one. Now this one could have been triggering based on the plot. But the way she wrote it just didn't make it hit those terrors. This plot is no less believable than Shelter In Place, but maybe the subject matter made it so that it didn't trigger.

Nora Roberts has just been killing it with her work. I personally feel like every recent novel of hers deserves high praise.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I've always enjoyed Nora Robert's novels so I was excited to have an ARC of this book, especially after reading the book summary.

Morgan and her friend Nina are living near Baltimore. Morgan is a bartender nearby, and after meeting a man "Luke" one night, she decides to invite him to a dinner party with Nina and her boyfriend.

The day after the dinner, Nina ends up dead, and "Luke" is actually a con man named Gavin who is also a serial killer, who drains women's bank accounts and then kills them.

Morgan flee's to her grandmother/mother's place in Vermont and takes on a new identity. Apparently, Morgan was the one he wanted dead, not Nina, and she is his first victim to get away.

He's on the hunt and there's a cat and mouse game as he continues to seek, destroy, and kill women's lives as he searches for Morgan.

A great suspenseful read and just another reason to love NR novels!

Morgan a goal oriented young woman has plans for her future and she is working hard to make them a reality. She has a lovely home, a room mate that is her best friend and is saving to fulfill her dream of owning her own bar. Everything is going to plan until a con man infiltrates her life, steals her identity and takes it all away including the life of her dear friend.
Penniless and heartbroken she is forced to move back home to live with her Mom and Grandmother in Vermont. Morgan begins to rebuild her life. She gets a job as a bartender at a local family owned resort, repairs her relationship with her Mom and renews her love of her Grandmother. It appears her life is getting back on track until she realizes that the con man is not done with her. As Morgan struggles to protect her life and those of her loved ones “her ladies” with the help of her work family she realizes she is not alone in this battle. The con man may have taken material things, created fear in heart but he could not take away the love that radiates from the people in her life.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Identity by Nora Roberts
This is a wonderful romantic suspense - Nora knocked it out of the park. Morgan and Miles are perfect H and h - he is strong and self-assured, and she gets her mojo back after being scammed and her identity is stolen by Gavin who cleans her out and kills her roommate when he means to kill her. Morgan moves back home with her mother and grandmother and gets a job at Miles's family resort.
There are wonderful family and friends old and new, murder, danger, suspense, laughter, tears, love and steam. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and it should do the same for you and get you to a very HEA. Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Twisted Page-turner Action-packed Tragic Happily Ever After Haunting Romantic Great world building Informative Scary Witty Unpredictable Steamy Wonderful characters Easy-to-read Tear-jerker Entertaining.