High Noon

I just replaced my paper copy of this book with the Kindle version and reread it. It had been quite a while since I originally read it, so I wasn’t sure if I would still like it. I’m happy to say that it was a thoroughly enjoyable book. I read some of the negative reviews, and while some criticisms may be valid, I didn’t find anything in the book that detracted from my enjoyment.

I’ve visited Savannah several times, but am not very familiar with its geography and police department. I suppose mistakes made in the book would irritate someone who is familiar with those areas, but they didn’t bother me. I have been irritated by authors who place ports in landlocked cities and commit other major faux-pas, but I can live with minor glitches. As for Savannah not having full time hostage negotiators, I allow literary license in fiction, as long as it isn’t too egregious. In this case, it added to the story and I could easily suspend disbelief.

I liked Phoebe, Duncan and their friends and family. Sometimes when reading fiction, I just want to relax and escape from real life. Maybe the characters were not realistic, but it was nice to imagine that such loveable characters exist. Who wouldn’t want to meet a man like Duncan, or have such loving and supportive family and friends? Romance readers love heroes who are vampires, shape shifters, demons, ghosts, time-travellers, super heroes, royalty, and a myriad of other types of heroes, so why not a multi-millionaire with a heart of gold? Also most people who read romances expect a bit of fantasy like love at first sight and I love that particular scenario. I know it isn’t realistic, but I don’t read romances for realism.

Since this book is romantic suspense and not a straightforward romance, I expect some violence and language. I didn’t feel either was over done and I enjoyed the element of suspense. There was a good amount of tension but not so much as in a thriller. I enjoyed the chapters that presented the villain’s point of view and motivation, which added depth to the story. Those chapters managed to reval a lot about the villain without revealing his or her identity.

There were flaws that I considered to be minor and which did not detract from the story. I absolutely hated ‘Black Hills’, so I am not a non-judgmental reader of Nora Roberts’ books. Was this book a classic literary masterpiece? No, and it didn’t pretend to be. It was a nice romantic suspense book that allowed the reader to escape for a few hours and to immerse himself or herself in a world where there is love at first sight, multi-millionaires with a heart of gold who are perfect heroes, close-knit loving family and friends, a place where good triumphs and where there is a happily ever after. I read books by authors like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky when I want realism and expect a tragedy, or I read the news. This book was excellent for its purpose of entertaining a reader and allowing the reader to escape from reality for a few hours.

I recommend this book for readers who like romantic suspense and Nora Roberts. It may not be her very best book, but it is definitely one of her better ones.