It'd been a while between Nora Roberts' books for me. Of course I continue to read her JD Robb 'In Death' series but I also enjoy her romantic suspense novels and her latest, Identity, is another great read. It was perhaps a smidge longer than it needed to be but offers great characters and - though not edge-of-your-seat suspense - the inevitability of what's to come simmers menacingly in the background.

I liked that the backcover blurb of my version of this book (above) doesn't tell us 'how' Morgan's world is upended so I was suitably gobsmacked when it happens.

Roberts has given us a great lead in Morgan who's certainly got her life all mapped out. Of course that changes and the 'thing' that crushes her soul and dreams is a gift that keeps on giving as she continues to be beleaguered by its impact.

She returns to her family home with her proverbial tail very much between her legs - disappointing herself but not her mother and grandmother. We learn that her mother Audrey did something similar after breaking up with Morgan's father - tried to go it alone before reaching out to her own mother, Olivia for help. I liked Audrey and Olivia. They're very different but truly enjoy each other's company - a close relationship that goes beyond the mother / daughter bond.

Family connections help Morgan get a job managing a bar at a resort and it's there she becomes involved with the resort's owners, the Jameson family. Romance blossoms, but of course in the background there's the inevitability of that 'thing' simmering away.

What I really liked about this is that Roberts shows her mastery (and maintains her OG status) by not overdramatising elements. She doesn't drag out the will they / won't they scenes and keeps the tension and suspense without descending into melodramatics.  Even the climax isn't over-the-top or underdone. More like Goldilocks's chair, porridge and bed choices.... just right.

I really like Nora Roberts writing and I love some of her novels so much that I read them several times and they are my go-to when I need cheering up. Identity had the potential to be one of those books but unfortunately it felt a bit short on the mark. My biggest annoyance is that the story was a bit thin and I felt there was a lot of padding that could have been edited out in favour of a faster pace especially in the first half of the book. I'd still happily read/buy Roberts books.

The novel started well when Morgan's new boyfriend turned out to be a psychopath, a con-artist and a serial killer. I settled down to enjoy what promised to be a gripping read. It all went downhill from there. The middle part of the book described Morgan's time in Vermont where she had gone to start a new life. This section was far too long and was padded out with frequent descriptions of cocktail mixing at the bar. I ploughed on, hoping to get back to the 'thriller' part of the novel. This didn't happen until towards the end of the book. The story was very short on details of police procedures. In effect, the book is a romance rather than a mystery/thriller. Nora Roberts is an accomplished writer so I did manage to finish the book. No doubt her many fans will enjoy it. Just don't expect a thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The big question is, is someone born a monster or are they made that way?

Morgan has dreams of setting up and owning her own bar one day, but when a random attack happens, she is forced to move back to her family home, leaving city life behind. Where she feels safe, but can she outrun the past?

Absolutely loved this book by Nora Roberts. Have read most of her novels over the years and this one definitely did not disappoint. I was hooked from start to finish. If you want a book with twists, great characters and a great ending, then this title and author is definitely for you. Many thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this, in return for unbiased review *****

An amazing mix of a psychological thriller and a romance! This threw me from the start and kept me off balance all the way through which was brilliant! Loved the main characters and the three generations of women had a particularly fantastic dynamic. Great read.

This was my first book of Nora Roberts. This was a pGe turning romantic suspense. Morgan was grafter. She held down three jobs to earn money to finish renovating her home. She was headstrong and brave. Luke her lover, murderer, villain was a man of many guises. Who met her saying 'I'm going to marry you'.
The story was written in a 3rd person's point of view and for me was unputdownable.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Little Brown Book Group UK for allowing me an early to enjoy.

A gripping new novel from Nora Roberts as Morgan Albright attracts the attention of a psychopathic conman who steals the identity of his victims before taking out loans using their assets as collateral before murdering them. With Morgan though he kills the wrong woman, attacking her friend and roommate instead. Broke Morgan moves home to rebuild her life, but the killer can’t get her out of his mind. He starts spiralling and soon blames her as the one who got away as being the root of his sudden stream of misfortune and determines she must die!

There was a steady flow to this book. Yes, you know right from the beginning who the killer is but Identity isn’t a whodunnit. It’s romantic suspense at its finest as Morgan rebuilds her life all the while knowing that she’ll never really be free until the killer is caught. The romance element of this book was definitely of the slowburn variety and I loved the development of their story as Morgan and Miles became friends before taking the next step to lovers. Another highlight was Morgan’s relationship with her mother and grandmother or her ladies as she called them. Each interaction was beautifully written and the love between the three generations more than apparent. I loved the small town mountain setting of Westridge, Vermont and, as I’ve come to expect from this author there was a lot of detail to the backgrounds she placed her characters in and her words were so vivid I could picture this book play out in my minds eye as I read? With a great cast of secondary characters who added depth to the story, I’m more than happy to recommend Identity to any fans of romantic suspense

I had a lot of trouble with this book as the villain was just so horrible. The main character is great, well written and likeable, but that villain was just so awful, thankfully he disappears for a bit whilst the story builds, so I managed to enjoy the rest of the book.

Identity by Nora Robert’s
Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Unfortunately, Identity fell very flat for me. There was no suspense even though it was labelled as a thriller. I felt as if it was drawn out with a lot of very unnecessary information given to the reader that was not needed at all.

I tried repeatedly to make my way through this book but unfortunately it was not for me and I chose to DNF it.

Title: Identity By Nora Roberts

Release Date: May,23rd 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars


After finally establishing roots in a Baltimore neighbourhood, Morgan Albright's world is shattered when the charming IT guy, Luke, is revealed to be a con artist named Gavin. Gavin not only steals Morgan's belongings but also murders her roommate Nina. Devastated, Morgan discovers from the FBI that she was Gavin's primary target, and Nina was simply collateral damage. With no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont, Morgan grapples with rebuilding her life while fearing Gavin's relentless pursuit. In Vermont, she encounters Miles Jameson, a dependable and grounded man, but the spectre of Gavin continues to haunt her, threatening to undo her newfound sense of security.


In my opinion, this was an engaging story with a charming romance between Miles and Morgan. While the development of their relationship is a highlight, the lack of suspense disappointed me as I was seeking a more intense thriller. The predictable reveal of the killer and the limited interactions with them until the climax diminish the overall suspense of the novel.

However, for those looking for a cozy thriller with a focus on romance, "Identity" delivers an enjoyable read with relatable characters and a satisfying storyline.

Tropes:

Romantic Suspense
Small Town
Strong Female Lead
Second Chance Romance


Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Piatkus, Nora Roberts & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

“What turns someone into a monster? Are they born that way, or is it a choice? I suppose it can be either or both

Morgan Albright dreams of owning her own bar one day but she's bartending for now - working hard, saving money. Life is hectic but she loves sharing a house with her best friend, Nina, and she is even finding time to date for the first time in what feels like forever.

When a seemingly random attack turns Morgan's life upside down, she must leave the city to return to her family home. She hopes that moving back to a small town where she can feel safe will help her to put the horror of that day behind her but, as Morgan soon discovers, sometimes your past just doesn't want to let you go...”

Many thanks to NetGalley and Piaktus Publishers for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As a long time Nora Roberts fan, I was thrilled to be offered this reading experience for her latest book. Her books never disappoint and this one had it all - the romance, excitement and just enough scary bits for me! Identity theft is a great subject for a novel as scams are ever increasing and scammers can lurk anywhere…

Shared on Goodreads - unable to share on Amazon.

Really enjoyed this book. The characters were great and enjoyed how they came alive more as the book went on, will always recommend a Nora Roberts book, so easy and fun to read.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Love Nora Roberts and have read her lots

Love the combination of mystery and romance.. Loved the twists and turns in the story - kept me hooked
I did read this really quickly, just couldn't put this down

A wonderful read

Another 5* read from Nora Roberts.

I've read and enjoyed many books by Nora Roberts and was excited to receive an early copy of 'Identity'.

'Identity' begins gently for the reader by introducing Morgan Albright. From growing up as a military brat, she's now almost thirty years old and happily settled in Maryland.

The plot changes abruptly when her best friend is viciously murdered. Morgan learns that she herself was the intended victim when the murderer, who's a con-artist, steals her identity causing Morgan to lose her home and every penny she's saved over the years. Practically destitute, her only recourse is to join her mother and grandmother far away in Vermont. The months pass while Morgan begins to rebuild her life, but all the time there's a serial killer obsessing about the one who got away, considering her to be his ultimate prize.

To increase the suspense in the plot, there are occasional chapters included from the psychopath's POV, these become more frequent and chilling as the book progresses.

An excellent read, once started I didn’t want to put this book down, and often didn't. For readers of romantic suspense this shouldn't be missed.

eARC generously supplied by the publisher and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

This had me hooked from the beginning, I thought it was going to be a romance ( which it was) but i wasn’t expecting the twist early on in the story, from that moment on I was speed reading to get to the end. It just shows how easy identity theft is if you know how to do it and how at risk we all are. I liked the link to 3 generations on strong women and how resilient they were.

Expected this to be a thriller but its more of a love story. Some good characters. Not sure we needed to be reminded that Morgan is a bartender so many times though.

It’s always a treat to start reading a new Nora Roberts book, as you know you are going to get a well crafted plot, great characters and a really good read. This is no exception. Morgan Albrights life is turned upside down when her room mate Nina is murdered, and she finds herself the victim of identity theft by Luke, a man she let into their lives. Broken, she goes home to family in Vermont, to try to pick up the pieces of her life, but Luke hasn’t finished with her.

A nicely paced read, very well researched - I want to try some of the cocktails described - and a good plot. Identity theft is devastating for the victim, add in murder of a close friend and it’s no wonder Morgan is struggling to put her life back together. The tension builds nicely, with the killer obsessing over the fact that Morgan is the one who got away, blaming her for the things that start to go wrong in his life. Add in the sexual tension between Morgan and Miles, and you have a really good thriller that makes you want to savour every page.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Identity by Nora Roberts

Published by Little, Brown Book Group

5/5 stars!

I’m always a fan of Nora Robert books, as soon as I read the description I knew I was in for a good read!

Identity follows the story of Morgan, a hard-working and ambitious girl. She lives with her housemate, Nina who comes to be one of Morgan’s best friends. After throwing a dinner party, Morgan’s life was ruined. Nina has been murdered and Morgan was the one who got away. She moved back home to live with her mum and grandmother, where she manages to get a job at a local family run hotel where she meets Miles, however Gavin cannot let Morgan get away as he never forgot about her.

I truly loved this book, it has the right balance of romance and suspense! I would definitely recommend this book to my family and friends!

Thank you to Nora Roberts, the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!

Review will be published to Goodreads on the 13th of May.

Morgan has set herself life goals and is working hard towards them. Meeting handsome stranger leads to complications .
Returning home to mum and grandmas broken.
A story of love, family and healing.
Excellent as always.