I once read her proudly state she wrote every word of e This story is long, yes, but I was never bored. I loved the way the suspense stuff, which was appropriately creepy, blended amongst the everyday happenings in Morgan’s new life in small-town Vermont.

While "Luke", whose real name is Gavin Roswell, spirals after his failure to kill Morgan, she is getting on with her life, something Gavin just can't abide or let stand. He is making threats and the FBI and Morgan are taking them seriously. Morgan begins a self-defense regime and becomes stronger for it. She is determined not to become this man's victim again. Luke is already wanted by the FBI. If losing her best friend was not enough, Luke also steals Morgans’s identity. She is on the brink of losing everything.

About Emmalita

I have to preface this review with the fact that I am a HUGE lover of Nora Roberts books (pretty sure I've read all of them at this point) and was SUPER excited to be given this opportunity to read this ARC. So excited, in fact, I didn't even bother to read the description and just jumped right into the story. Which, in hindsight I'm really glad I didn't read it because it added an unintended surprise factor for me along the way. Honestly, I think this may be my favorite romantic suspense ever by Nora Roberts because of that reason. I started this book last night and ended up staying up to 2AM because I HAD to finish it to see how it ended! It was that good. Thank you Netgalley, Nora Roberts and St. Martins Press for letting me read “Identity” in exchange for an honest review. Nora’s first novel Irish Thoroughbred was published in 1984 by Silhoutte. And she has published books consistently ever since, with her latest release, Nightwork, being published on May 24 2022. Over the years Nora Roberts has published over 80 standalone titles and 31 popular series. And not forgetting that she also has 56 romantic suspense books in the In Death series written under the pen name JD Robb. Nora Roberts Books 2023 I’m also weirdly glad that we got chapters, scattered throughout the story, from the killers POV. He was one disturbed unit but I kinda enjoyed being in his head, as strange as that may sound. Giving him a voice and a story made the horror of what he was doing more real, which only added to the success of this working as a great suspense plot. Anytime I see January LaVoy listed as the narrator, I’m more than interested. She always makes it seem like there are multiple narrators, skillfully handling a host of characters, delivering an outstanding performance on every level including great storytelling. FYI, she’s tied for the #1 spot on my list of favorite narrators.

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. He's responsible, and grumpy, and magnetic, and full of so much kindness. I don't think either Miles or Morgan realized how lonely they were until they met the other. I don't think they were looking for someone until they recognized each other's hearts. Love that glows when you surround yourself with each other's worlds... well, that's more than just special. However, I read Identity without triggering my anxiety or nightmares, thanks to Nora Roberts’s skilled writing, and to the fact that the violence was generally short-lived and easy to skip past. Although some scenes are told in close third person from the killer’s POV, they focus at least as much on his methods of fleecing his victims financially as on his motivations, and I was able to skim or skip the more upsetting bits. Nora Roberts is usually an easy read for me. I love thrillers that have a bit of romance to them. But this one just didn't quite do it for me. The beginning had me hooked and I was all about this mysterious man who then went nuts and took everything from her. I actually really liked that Roberts got a little dark and gory with this one.

I once read her proudly state she wrote every word of every one of her books and to that I say, wow what an accomplishment. If she’s paid by the word I wouldn’t be surprised as there are so many conversations, descriptions and superfluous bullshit liberally spread through this entire joke of a book that is the ONLY explanation of why this was so long and drawn out. Also, the woman can’t make a complete sentence if her damn life depended on it. Even the conversations are that scattered. Absolutely no one talks like that outside of a liberal elite think tank. Anyhoo. Identity" is a masterfully crafted mystery thriller, expertly executed by Nora Roberts. The intricate web of secrets and suspense kept me guessing until the final moments, and the satisfying resolution tied everything together seamlessly. Roberts' prose is engaging and evocative, painting vivid pictures in the listener's mind and immersing them in the world she has created. 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.

Wiped out emotionally and financially Morgan goes to Vermont and her mother and grandmother. There she finds the solace she so desperately needs and a new purpose. As the Bar Manager for the upscale bar, Après, in the exclusive Resort at Westridge. Not only a new purpose but a man too. Miles Jameson, scion of the family that owns the resort and COO of it. His family has deep roots in the community, and he takes his position there seriously. Morgan Albright has been uprooted her entire life as an Army brat, but now outside of Baltimore, she works two jobs and has a roommate to own her own home. Morgan and Nina have become very close and are more than just roommates, they feel like sisters. When they decide to have a dinner party at their home, Morgan does not realize the charming man she has met at the bar she works at is not an IT executive but a conman and killer, who targets a particular type of woman. 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. I could go on and on, but definitely put this one on your list! Things move forward nicely in the last hour or from chapter 30 onward. It's a little comical that the bad guy has drastically changed from who they were in the beginning. Wish as a whole it was mostly exciting as the last part. Hopefully, I'll enjoy her next novel more. 2.5⭐ Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. “Luke” is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.Morgan Albright was driven. She worked two jobs not because she was struggling to make ends meet. Morgan worked two jobs to build a nest egg for future renovations in her dream home. Morgan loved her work as both an office manager at a construction firm and bartender at the local watering hole. Those two jobs left little time for social life, but Morgan didn’t mind. Meanwhile, Morgan has lost everything—her savings, her car, her home, her best friend and is forced to move in with her mother and grandmother in a small town in Vermont. She gets a new job and settles into life…but the specter of Luke/Gavin hangs over her. Even when she falls for a new guy, Miles, Gavin is still out there. Still after her. The romance aspect of the story was equally compelling. Miles, the captivating hero, won me over with his actions and the chemistry he shared with Morgan. Their relationship added depth to the narrative, bringing moments of warmth and tenderness amidst the looming danger. There were moments between Morgan and Miles that just made me sigh and love these two together -- along with a very amusing dog named Howl at stole the show at times.