YES! This one had me reading far into the night when I should have been sleeping. Morgan was working two jobs and didn't have time or any inclination to have a relationship when she meets a man while working at her bartending job. He seems like someone she could like and after a pizza date they double date with her roommate Nikki at her home. She let him in her house where he planted spyware on her computer to steal her identity. When he comes back to wipe that from her computer he finds a sick Nikki and kills her (just because she's there) and leaves town. A few days later the FBI show up to explain who he is and she learns he has stolen all her money and stolen her identity. He is actually a serial killer who would have killed her. She is the one who got away. Months later she finally moves to Vermont to live with her grandmother and mother to start over and gets a job at the resort in town as the bar manager. The Morrisons take her under their wing. Once you start working for them, you are part of the family. There, she meets Miles, the oldest of the Morrison siblings. What they have a friendship at first and theirs is a slow burn but you can see the fire starting and the chemistry is definitely there. The FBI is still on the hunt for the killer who is still killing and he is still raging because Morgan got away. Love the ending!

My first read by Nora Roberts and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The synopsis gives a lot away and I think it might better for the reader to go in less informed about the initial part regarding Morgan meeting a guy named Luke Hudson who winds up stealing her identity and killing her roommate. Most of that happens by 30% of the book, but since the reader already expects it, it almost feels like going through the motions to get to that point until the rest of the story begins. After Morgan relocates to live with her mother and grandmother in order to restart her life, she's building herself back up, piece by piece, and finding a rather supportive team who helps to cheer her on, including the Jameson family, whom she's employed by. The dialogue can be hard to follow at times, especially with trying to figure out who is saying what since it's not always obvious and the pattern is short and concise, assuming the reader is able to seamlessly connect all the dots. Otherwise, I did enjoy seeing Morgan pull herself from the ashes of everything she lost only to regain so much more, including Miles. For someone who was so intent on reaching her own personal goals of accomplishment, she had to change her goals and discover what else she was capable of. It's a bit of slow burn, suspense, small town and second chances, but the pacing is not very fast. Morgan is an admirable heroine and doled out the best revenge to her perpetrator by living her best life.

Morgan Albright is a former Army brat who's finally putting down some roots. She's got a house near Baltimore and has a roommate named Gina who has become a good friend. But things go bad when Morgan and Gina host a dinner inviting a man named Luke, an IT guy whom Morgan met at the bar where she works. The house has been robbed and Gina was killed, but Morgan soon learns things are even worse. She had been targeted by a con artist who stole her identity and meant to kill her. Morgan relocates to Vermont to live with her mother and grandmother and struggles to build a new life. She soon finds herself putting down new roots with a man named Miles and a better relationship with her mother ultimately gaining a life she never knew she wanted. Still, she waits for the monster to return to finish what he started. But she'll be ready this time.

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors and this book is a prime example of why. This book is well-written with a deep and descriptive flow. You will fall in love with Morgan as she chooses to stand and fight back, and Miles was great, the perfect guy for Morgan. The rebuilding of family was an awesome aspect of the story. I was immediately drawn into this captivating story and read most of it in one sleepless night in the hospital. :) The romance was a slow burn that turned into a deep and abiding love, one for the ages. This book is one that I'd highly recommend with its multiple aspects and intensity, romance, suspense, tension, and family. I did receive an ARC of this book from Net Galley and this is my honest, unbiased review.

This is one of the best books Nora Roberts has written . She is normally outstanding, but this one is the best to date. The characters were memorable, the villain was one of the worst and the love story was poignant. The heroine (although she wouldn’t call her self one), refused to bow down. Forced to give up her life as she knew it after one of the most tragic experiences anyone could live through, she returned to the family home. As she makes a new life with family and friends, she works to overcome the past. Alas, things never go the way you want or need and the bad guy shows up again. But a love interest and her family help her overcome the past and look forward to the future. Keep the tissues close, because you will need them. But it’s worth it!

I received an ARC for this book but it doesn't impact my review.

I need to start this with I've been a nora roberts fan for... wow, it's been almost 25 years. It was a tough time in my life, but her books spoke to me and brightened up my day. In recent years, I found a few of her annual novels, not the series, a little repetitive, but there have been some standouts. This has that magic. The characters are relatable, and the beginning sucks you in with the sheer pathos of it. I really loved it and got through all of it without stopping!

I mentioned the characters, and that's where nora roberts shines. She rarely writes unlikable or annoying people unless they're meant to be that way. Her charming men are charming, until they're terrifying and you always root for the hero. So 25 years on, I still finish her books feeling happy.

It has been a while since I read a book by Nora Roberts and I had forgotten how quickly you can get caught up in the story. Morgan, a military brat, has only ever wanted roots. After college she did that, bought a house, had a roommate and a couple jobs to pay for everything. Then a conman destroyed it. Killing her best friend/roommate and stealing her identity. She heads to her grandmother's house to start over. I liked Morgan, I liked her mom and grandmother. I liked that she called them her "ladies", so cute!
This was a really good book and I didn't want to put it down. I really liked the Jameson family
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.

Another fantastic, character-driven romantic thriller by Nora Roberts! Whenever I read Roberts I always think that, even though she has a formula to her writing, it is hands down a winning formula. And this one delivers.

Morgan is an independent woman focused on her future goals. Everything she does has a reason. When she meets a good looking man in her bar, she agrees to a date with "Luke" with some hesitation. This isn't part of the plan. Letting her guard down, she opens her heart just a little bit. But what sees like a good thing becomes a nightmare. Her identity is ripped away from her and she is forced to start over. Morgan goes back home to her mother in Vermont and begins to slowly build her life back. Each day she learns a little bit more about herself, and meeting Miles Jameson is exactly what her heart needs. But the nightmare isn't over, and it will follow her until she is dead.

Roberts knows a thing or two about character development. I feel like I know these people and I would spend time with all of them. The town they live in is charming and I definitely want to vacation at their hotel. I was rooting for Morgan the whole time and felt her desperation for the freedom to breathe - hoping the FBI was going to finally catch the bad guy before he catches her. Seeing this woman come out of something so horrific and be able to push past it with motivation and drive is remarkable. And Luke, or Gavin as we find out, is everything a bad guy should be. Whenever he meets a woman he is swindling he is appealing, desirable and too good to be true...but he is a true monster. Even on the run he is the devil in disguise, and it feels almost too real. I loved reading his story as well.

The only setback is the ending. It felt rushed and the escalation was killed too quickly. I didn't get enough - I wanted a major showdown because it was what was needed. The 400+ pages are all about these characters finally colliding in the end and it just fell a little flat.

But this book definitely delivers the suspense and romance. Roberts knows how to write a balanced story, with both plot and relationships working together. I loved the strong and self-sufficient female character determined to not be the victim, and thankfully level-headed Miles doesn't take that from her. I am so grateful for the chance to read it - thank you for the ARC!

I was really excited to get this ARC from Netgalley. For me, Nora Roberts is an autobuy and this fits into her typical romantic suspense spot as expected.

I'm always surprised by what I can learn through her books - and how much research there must be to get to this point.

The relationship between the MCs develops even more slowly than I expected, with the MMC not joining the book until about 30% in. However, it made sense in the plot at that point.

I did want to see more from the MMC's POV but it was the normal amount for a standalone.

This is the story of a woman who had her life organized and knew her plan. Then, she met the wrong guy, and her life took a turn. After surviving an encounter with a murdering psychopath, she returns to her hometown and her family and starts over. While she finds love and a job she loves, the psychopath bides his time before returning to finish what he started. I didn't particularly believe in the romance, and was a bit disappointed by the final showdown between the main character and the bad guy. Overall, it was an okay book, but not my favorite by Nora Roberts.

I always find Nora Roberts' books engaging and Identity does not disappoint. A delightful read.

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

Can you believe that I have never read a Nora Roberts book before? However, I saw others posting about this book, and after reading the description, I was intrigued. Was this a love story? Was it a thriller?

Morgan Albright has grown up without roots but finally settles outside of Baltimore in her own home, with a fun roommate and two jobs she thoroughly enjoys. She is full of hopes and dreams and saving up to finance them. She even meets a gorgeous guy and feels like life is going her way. That is until she comes home one day to find something tragic happened to her roommate. Morgan’s life is torn apart, and soon she must move to live with family to protect herself and figure out what she will do next.

This book kept me captivated the entire way through. The author built a main character who expressed her good or bad feelings and made them real to the reader. I loved seeing how she developed in her personal and professional life throughout the book.

Review will be posted to Instagram, @read.rest.recharge on May 9, 2023.

Identity by Nora Roberts was the perfect blend of romance and suspense. When Morgan Albright has her identity stolen by a con man who now wants her dead, she moves back home with her mom and her grandmother. There she meets Miles who will do whatever it takes to protect her. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Nora Roberts for this advanced copy of the book!

I loved this book! It was an excellent balance of crime drama and romance. Identity theft is such a horrible thing to happen to people. Experiencing just how Morgan’s hurt and frustration regarding her identity being stolen fueled her determination to still live her life despite being hunted by the horrible human being kept me engaged from cover to cover. Except for the identity thief, I adored all of the characters. They were well-developed, and their interconnected relationships felt authentic.

This story is so hard to describe as it has romance but it isn't a romance, it has mystery and psychological thriller, yet it's so much more. We see Morgan coming home to Vermont after a serial killer murders her roommate and steals her identity. With the help of her mom and grandma, she manages to start to rebuild her life. The warmth of family is a thread that runs through the book. After getting back on track in her life, she starts a relationship with Miles, whose family owns the resort at which she works. Their families are intertwined in friendship and this comes in handy when Gavin, the serial killer, starts leaving messages for her. Happiness cannot be fully felt by Miles and Morgan as the threat is a constant presence that hangs over them. It is a subtle threat that flows throughout the story and while you smile at the snappy dialogue, humor and happiness, it is there. This is a long story and is hard to find a stopping point, but it is separated in parts and each chapter has quotes that hint at what is to come. A must read that will have you second guessing being friendly to strangers no matter how nice they seem. You just never know.

Can the worst thing to happen also be the best thing to happen to someone?

As a child who spent her life always on the move, Morgan just wants to plant some roots. She has worked hard to get a home of her own. When a smooth talking man comes around, her life changes. Not only does he steal her identity, he takes the life of her roommate/ best friend. Now, with her mother and grandmother, Morgan begins to rebuild her life. She has a job she loves and a new romance. But will the past come back to finish the job?

This book pulled me in from the start. I absolutely loved it!

Love Nora Roberts! Read this book in 2 days! People are not who you think they are sometimes! Yes, the ending may me cry! This is a story of what could be your neighbor or friend. Highly recommend this book and plan on doing nothing till you finish it!

Identity is Nora Roberts doing what she does best. It has characters that readers care about, an intriguing storyline, gripping suspense, and, of course, the HEA. It also left me hoping to see these characters return in future books... perhaps a Jameson trilogy. Swoon!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

First Nora Roberts dnf. This book had SUCH potential. The main plot happened in the first two chapters and moved so fast that I felt nothing. No sympathy for the dead best friend because it felt like they met five minutes ago. Then chapters upon chapters of her boring banter with her family. The beginning moved too fast and then the character development in between the climax moved sooo slow. I wanted more Gavin chapters. The MMC was boring and I couldn’t even tell half way through that he was the love interest. I’m sad because this had such potential and I’ve read every NR book to date.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this earc

I’m a huge fan of Nora Roberts and read most of her books.

But this is the second time with her newest release that I felt that the book was just so unnecessary long? Honestly some of these scenes could have been taken out completely and the story would still be the same.

I liked the mystery/series killer part of this book and I think the whole concept could have been so great. But because it took us so long and over a year on the page, by the time we get the bad guy I honestly couldn’t care less.

The relationship between Morgan and everyone else was exactly the same. Like dude. She was friends with everyone around her. Everyone knows and loves he family. She marries her boss/boss’s son. I get that her best friend was killed and all her money was stolen but after that everything fell into to place just too neatly.

Overall, definitely not her best work which made me very sad. Let’s hope I’ll like the next one more.

I received a free copy of, Identity, by Nora Roberts, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Morgan had a terrible experience and is trying to rebuild her life, but the bad guy is coming back for her, to make her pay. This book was hard to read, what Morgan and the other victims went through is horrible.