4.5 Stars 🌟

This was an interesting stand alone by one of my favorite authors. We follow along with the female MC Morgan who begins the story with her life plans in front of her. She is a very goal oriented person who is willing to forgo things now for what she will be able to afford in the future. She owns a home with her roommate Nina and life is good.

Unfortunately, she runs into a crazy sadistic serial killer who sets his sights on her. His plans go awry and while Morgan was the initial target, Nina is the one who is murdered. This is where the story begins.

We then follow Morgon through the aftermath. Through the complete devastation and destruction of her life until she has no other choice and is forced to move home to her grandmother's home in the northeast.

Honestly, to me, this is where the story begins to shine. We get to see how relationships can always be given a second chance. There are now three generations of Nash women living under the same roof. We are given snippets about their earlier relationships and the issues that they had between them. What we get to see and watch are three generations of strong women, learning and realizing how amazing each particular woman is. Oh, and there is also a serial killer on the loose.....

In between there is a love interest and some GREAT secondary characters.

I really, really enjoyed every second of this book. The bad guy was truly awful and the main MC's were awesome.

Isn't that how it should be?

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Perfect blend of suspense, romance, wit, and a fab ending!
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This book is quite long and I actually found myself so highly engaged that I could not stop reading. So instead of doing the work I was supposed to be working on, I was reading all day.

Roberts’ writing is superior when it comes to romantic suspense and that slow, dripping build-up.

This plot is addicting! Identity is unique and highly detailed, plus she ties in plenty of surprises that completely had me captivated.

The character development is spot on and I absolutely fell for Miles. I think his gruff exterior and deep feeling, mushy interior is why I couldn’t put this book down.

I really love the way Roberts captured the conversations between Miles and Morgan. Much of this book is written in short, choppy sentences, building that heightened hype and excitement.

We do know who the perpetrator is, but that also heightens the suspense as we get separate breakout chapters dealing with him and his activities specifically.

I just love this book! It is subtle and at times intense. Roberts builds tough resilient characters along with some wonderful family connections. I think this is a winner all around with the multiple aspects of romance, family, suspense, and crime tension. The ending is awesome and Identity is definitely on my Best of List!

I could go on and on, but make sure to put this one on your reading list!

I have an occasional argument with a friend who is certain that Nora Roberts has a stable of ghost writers and I am certain that she writes every word of her own books because the author voice is so consistent. I haven’t actually read a new Nora Roberts book in a few years, but Identity was like putting on an old familiar sweater. Of course Nora Roberts has evolved as an author over her 40+ year career, but I still know a Nora Roberts book when I pick it up (even when she’s writing under her pen name).

Morgan Nash Albright is working two jobs and has a housemate to help pay the mortgage on her small house. She’s saving money and putting down roots in a community she chose. At night she works as a bartender at a neighborhood bar and dreams of having her own place in the future. While at work, a handsome man strikes up a conversation with her. He comes back a few times and asks her out for a casual date. He never pressures her or makes her feel unsafe. He is a psychopath serial killer who has targeted her, plans to steal her identity and then murder her. It all goes wrong when he murders her housemate instead. She has the grief and then the financial fallout to deal with. Eventually she sells her house and moves in with her grandmother and mother in Vermont. She gets a job at a family run resort, starts to rebuild, and starts dating a son of the resort owning family. But, the serial killer hasn’t forgotten her.

This is actually a hard review to write. On the one hand, picking up Identity was so comfortable and familiar. Part of my brain snuggled right into the experience. I’d say among Nora Roberts’ books it’s very good, but not great. One of the features of Roberts’ books that I have always loved is the pulling together of family and community. Everyone, excluding the serial killer, is pulling for Morgan to success and putting in the resources to allow her to rebuild her life. She gets a job because her grandmother and the Jameson family matriarch go way back. At every turn she is offered help and support from friendship to the FBI. I believe every one deserves that level of support, so it is comforting to read a world in which that happens.

It also reminded me why Nora Roberts isn’t my go to author anymore. I don’t love hanging out in the mind of a misogynist, fatphobic serial killer. With all of the everything everywhere for the past 7 or so years, I just don’t want to be there. I know that he is the villain, so as readers we should understand that his misogyny and fat phobia is bad. But, the views he expresses are not outside the mainstream and I can hear women referred to as negative body descriptions by your average person in the grocery store. We also see him murder several women on page, and I don’t want that in my head (I can read the news for that). I also didn’t love that when the killer was unraveling he gained weight and found joy in potato chips. It felt like an extra helping of fat phobia. And I’m not even going to get into the mental health representation. I want to be clear that this is how I feel and I’m not demanding that anyone else feel the same way. We all cope with the world in our own ways.

If you like Nora Roberts, this is a very good entry to her oeuvre.

CW: Murder on page and in past, domestic abuse in past, mental illness, harm to an animal, misogyny, fat phobia.

I received this as an advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Identity is about a woman who has her life together until her identity is stolen. The man who stole it courts women, steals their identity, then kills them. In this case, it was Morgan's roommate who was murdered. Morgan's life falls apart and she returns to her grandmother's house to live with her grandmother and mother. Morgan slowly rebuilds her life.

The FBI is involved and says she is his first victim to survive. The murderer can't forget her. He leaves things he stole from Morgan on his new victims and makes it clear he will come and kill her, eventually. Can she defend herself or will she lose everything again?

I really enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful enough that I binge-read it, but not so scary it gave me nightmares. It ended happily, too. Ms. Roberts is a skillful world builder and I could feel the desperation of Morgan, the worry of her friends and family, and the hatred of the murderer. The book is up for pre-order. It comes out on May 23, 2023.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Nora Roberts is one of my go-to romantic suspense authors and a constant feature on my most anticipated reads of the year. Identity follows Morgan Albright, a former army brat desperately wanting to put down roots. She buys a house and begins to save to make it her dream home. Her dreams are shattered when she accidentally invites a con man and killer into her life. Gavin steals Morgan’s identity and, due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, kills her roommate. Morgan is forced to return to her mom’s home in Vermont to try and start over. There she finds hope and love, but Gavin isn’t done with her yet.

I always love a good Nora romantic suspense. I swoon over both the romance and the home decor descriptions (love a home renovation). Identity is a bit slower than my favorite Noras and it takes quite a bit to get to the romance, but I loved the villain and the setting. Seriously. Take me to this Vermont town. Morgan is a classic heroine and I loved her romance with Miles (also loved Miles’ turrets and two marble fireplaces in his bedroom). Overall, this was an entertaining and swoonworthy romantic thriller.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I grew up reading Nora Roberts books. They’re almost like comfort reads. When I read one, I know I’m getting a decent story, a closed door romance, and usually a well-rounded plot. Identity is just such a book.

Morgan is a bartender in Baltimore and dates a customer who unfortunately turns out to be a psychopathic serial killer. Luke kills someone close to Morgan and proceeds to steal Morgan’s identity and bankrupts her. Morgan moves away to live with her mom and Gran (the ladies) and tries to start over. As she becomes a bar manager at a local resort, bonds with the ladies and starts a new relationship, the FBI contacts her to let her know Luke hasn’t forgotten about Morgan and is coming for her.

There is a lot of suspense but the plot feels familiar and dragged a bit. The storyline could have been cut a little but the twists kept the plot moving most of the time. Morgan is strengthened by her family and her newfound relationships. If you’re looking for a formulaic suspense romance novel with a satisfying ending, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC. Identity comes out May 23rd.

Much better than her last book. A bit too long and over detailed. Story was decent. Lots of family characters. Took a bit to keep them straight. Main characters (Morgan, Miles and the ladies) were good. Always like the sex scenes not being graphic. She focuses more on the story. Confrontation scene at the end was well written. Ms Roberts has become hit or miss with me. While I won’t say this one is a hit but the story was much more interesting and didn’t seem like a rehash of her other books.

Morgan thought she had it all especially when she met her new boyfriend but nothing could have been further from the truth. A love story which surprised me with a darker side. Totally engaged me from start to finish.

Roberts has been a literary force to be reckoned with for decades. Her. latest romantic suspense novel finds heroine, Morgan and her roommate, Nina hosting a. dinner party that goes tits up, when Nina is found dead. Turns out that the hottie from Morgan’s work was a really bad dude, and she’s got major guilt for inviting him to the party. But Morgan has bigger fish to fry, because she’s Luke’s real target, and according to the FBI, Luke has had plenty of other victims. Morgan pulls up stakes and head to Vermont where she meets another man. Too good to be true? Roberts spins her magic and provides hours of entertainment for her readers

Nora Roberts is back!! Such a good pulse pounding thriller- may be my new favorite of hers! Highly recommend.

Identity by Nora Roberts is such a great read! It's definitely suspenseful and explores themes of family, found family, starting over, and strength in all its forms. The heroine is totally kickass and I just wanted to fold her, her friends, and her family into my life! They were that awesome.

I was reading faster as the book went on because it picked up in pace as the hunt was on by the FBI, but then I wanted to slow down because I didn't want it to end.

The story was so very edge-of-your-seat in some parts and then, just when needed, it would focus on family, work, and downtime, which built yet more layers into this multi-layered story.

If you are a suspense or women's fiction fan, pick this up now! You'll be glad you did.

Thank you to the publishers, author, and Netgalley for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

I received a galley of this book in exchange for a review, but I would have bought the book anyway as I own every other one of Nora's titles!

I am an an avid Nora suspense reader and have read every title she has ever written (minus the paranormal ones). First and foremost, this book delivered on what I want in a stand alone title from Nora Roberts - complex and interesting characters, a believable and engaging plot and, mainly, a few hours of blissful distraction from my normal life. I read this in one day and was thoroughly entertained by the story.

My one nitpick with this book is that it felt like a mashup of her earlier titles - the Witness and the Liar. It had similar plot elements from the Witness and then the family elements from the Liar. One thing I did really enjoy the behind the scenes look at the running of a large resort complex with multiple food/bev outlets. In this way, the book reminded me a bit of the Brides Quartet stories.

It certainly wasn't a bad read and provided a few hours of entertainment, but it's not a book I'd reread the way I have with other titles from Nora. I think if I hadn't read the Witness and the Liar I would have enjoyed it more - Nora still does romantic suspense better than most!

Yikes! This is a psychological thriller that kept me reading and reading and reading until my Kindle fell out of my hand and hit me in the face. I knew then I needed to sleep! This psychopath was a true scumbag. He would romance a woman while stealing her identity, wipe her out and kill her.

Nora Roberts is a very versatile writer. She makes her characters come alive making the reader absolutely love them or truly hate them. I adored Morgan. She was strong but allowed herself moments of weakness then bounced back to her feet and making herself stronger. I can't say much about the plot because I could spoil the story for you. If you like Nora Roberts, you will love this thriller!

This was such a good serial killer book. It has lots of suspense. The beginning of the book was so sad. The writing is phenomenal. I loved all the supporting characters. The author did an excellent job of crafting an evil bad guy. This book has a lot of depth to it. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I have read all of Nora Roberts books but this one excels. I got the book when I had Covid and reading till 3:30 in the morning is not a good thing but I had to keep reading. I love the characters and the family interactions. I read the book in two days. I especially liked main character, Morgan. She is a strong in every way. She keeps herself from falling apart after the beginning tragedy. She goes to her family, two women, who are just as strong as she is. She has a wonderful work ethic. I got tired just reading about her. Wonderful story.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Morgan is working two jobs to make ends meet. While working at a bar she meets a guy who she likes. When her friend is murdered, she learns that her boyfriend has done this before. She is the only one to survive. She moves in with her family and tries to start a new life. This book was well and kept my interest from the start.

I’ve always been a huge Nora Roberts fan, but she blew me away with this book. I absolutely loved the family vibes, and the fact that Morgan is not portrayed as a weak female. Perfect amount of action and mystery blended with romance.

Nora Roberts' new romantic suspense novel is a page turner. (I completed the 400+ page book in a single day.) Morgan is a determined, goal oriented young woman. She's working two jobs, owns her own home, and has plans to open her own bar. Then, a series of friendly encounters with a dangerous grifter turn her life upside down. Her best friend is murdered and Morgan's identity and financial assets are stolen. In an effort to start over, she relocates to Vermont and moves into her family's home with her mother and grandmother. Unfortunately, the nightmare is not over. As "the one that got away, " Morgan becomes the stalking target of this criminal.

Roberts balances out the suspense with happy, homey scenes of Morgan settling into her new life in Vermont. She begins managing a bar and developing themed craft cocktails at an upscale, family run resort. She gets to know and bonds with her mother and grandmother. She explores her interest in creating beautiful gardens. She learns self-defense. And, of course, she meets and has sparks with a man. Miles is the 3rd generation owner of the resort. An honest and hard-working man, he's dedicated to his family, his business, and community.

I am always impressed by how Roberts immerses you in the world of her characters. In this case, you learn about running a bar. You also learn about the darker topic of identity theft.

There were some repetitive echoes of previous Roberts novels. (For example, Morgan calls her mother and grandmother, "My ladies. " We have also seen the context of the family run resort more than once.)

Overall, very satisfying read. Glued to the chair for an entire day!

Thanks so much St martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Morgan has finally planted roots near Baltimore and is living with her dear friend Nina. She meets Luke on one of her shifts, and he seems like a nice guy passing through town on work. When Nina is found murdered, Morgan learns that she was Luke's target. He has taken her money and she has no choice but to move in with her grandmother and mother while she rebuilds. "Luke" is still on the loose and hasn't forgotten about his actual target.

I really liked this! This was such an expected read. There is some romance in the middle that is sweet and doesn't take away from the suspense (on the flip side, you could say there is some suspense that doesn't take away from the romance). Morgan's family is wonderful, and I thought all of the characters were so well written. I really liked Morgan. I kind of wanted more of the suspense part, but this book did not need that. I would not mind seeing these characters again!

It is the full Nora Roberts comfort food experience. Plucky, threatened, heroine finds strength in family ties and romance in a small town as she discovers ways to fulfill her dreams. Nothing wrong with that. Enjoy!