High Noon

Anyone who associates Nora Roberts with simplistic Harlequin-style romances needs to read this book, which really showcases her true talent! I loved the complex character development, the twist and turns of the plot, the detective work, etc. Despite all the violence, which turned me off a bit, this was an enthralling story! It reminded me a bit of another book of hers called Blue Smoke. Different plot and details, but the same level of intensity and many of the same intricasies.

Again a wonderful book by Nora Roberts - lovely settings, a great deal of action, sexy love scenes, great story, and a happy ending...

I think I've finally figured out why Nora Roberts' writing appeals so much to me. She writes with "soul." I love her stories that feature close family ties - and most of them do. Either close family members or close friends. Nora knows exactly how to weave the family bond in a way that makes the reader feel as if they know the family, personally. And High Noon is an example in point. Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara is the cog of her family wheel. She's the glue that holds the family together. Her mother, Essie, her daughter, Carly, the family friend, Ava, who lives with them, and even her brother, Carter, depend on Phoebe to be "the strong one." But sometimes Phoebe needs to lean on someone. Duncan Swift is just that person, but will Phoebe allow herself to lean on anyone except herself? This story has it all. Romance, suspense, intrigue, family dysfunction... Very good.

I gave a the book 5-stars because the romance of it didn't weigh it down, but was just enough to keep it light-hearted and the suspense kept the pages turning. The humor in the book, even in the "nail-bitting" parts was simply wonderful! I love the fact that Robert's didn't give away so many clues that I could tell who was stalking Phoebe - or could guess. Although, how Phoebe figured it out kinda left me disappointed. It just seemed a little easy that she made the connection after interviewing a guy once. Duncan and Phoebe are well rounded charactors. I was expecting Phoebe to be stand-offish and snobbish. The tenderness she shows for the people she loves offsets any defensive attitude she may have - which makes her seem more real. Duncan - I was expecting him to be idle and carefree after reading that he won the lottery. I was left with few questions about him - like what happened to his house, does his business ventures work out...? Which makes him an excellent hero because it means I made enough of a connection to ask questions about him after I finished the book. Overall though he's amusing and adds a lightheartedness to the book that, if missing, would have fallen flat. Roberts made sure Duncan had some hard hits in his pre-Phoebe life and expressed why family was so important to him - which made his connection and caring attitude towards Phoebe's family real and understandable.

Nora Roberts is the master of romantic suspense and she shows her stuff in "High Noon!" The Chief Hostage negotiator for the Savannah Georgia Police Department, Lt. Phoebe McNamara builds a romance with Duncan Swift, the owner of a local sports bar, after meeting while trying to convince a depressed bartender not to commit suicide (after Duncan had fired the guy on St' Patrick's day). Ducan is impressed wioth how Phoebe is able to convince the bartender to come down from the roof. Phoebe is good at her job, having experienced the terror of being a hostage as a girl when an unstable man broke into the family home and held her hostage for hours. As a hostage negotiator she has great sense of when softball a situation and when to take immediate action. but she also is strained by family matters and it is difficult to balance career and family. Duncan is deeply attracted to Phoebe, and their relationship deepens in spite of Phoebe not wanting to get into deep. But then a ruthless opponent begins to stock her and she is soon worried that she will be trapped by her own fear. With Duncan by her side, can she face the unknown? The suspense is relentless with a great twist at the end.