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Hot Rocks
Antiques dealer Laine Tavish is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. At least, that's what everyone in the small town of Angel's Gap, Maryland, thinks. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O'Hara, the daughter of a notorious con man...
Laine's past catches up with her when one of Big Jack's associates turns up in her shop with a cryptic warning and is then run down in the street. Now the next target of a ruthless killer, Laine teams up with sexy PI Max Gannon to find out who's chasing her, and why. The anwer lies in a hidden fortune that will change Laine's life forever...
Laine's past catches up with her when one of Big Jack's associates turns up in her shop with a cryptic warning and is then run down in the street. Now the next target of a ruthless killer, Laine teams up with sexy PI Max Gannon to find out who's chasing her, and why. The anwer lies in a hidden fortune that will change Laine's life forever...
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2010
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,770 books55.1k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
April 28, 2017
Laine is a antique shop owner who gets caught up in her Dad's lastest illegal job. Max is the insurance investigator on the hunt for what was stolen. They meet and even though there are some serious bumps develop a relationship.
I liked that this book was low angst in terms of their relationship. They confronted and dealt with any problems they had. The dad was likable even though he is a thief.
I got this as a audiobook from the library and loved it. The narrator was Susan Erickson from the in Death series fame. She is seriously so good at what she does.
I recommend to those who want a story with no major angst and some suspense but nothing nail biting.
I liked that this book was low angst in terms of their relationship. They confronted and dealt with any problems they had. The dad was likable even though he is a thief.
I got this as a audiobook from the library and loved it. The narrator was Susan Erickson from the in Death series fame. She is seriously so good at what she does.
I recommend to those who want a story with no major angst and some suspense but nothing nail biting.
July 29, 2019
I loved this book!!! It is everything that NR's current bestseller wasn't - Suspense, Hot Romance and H/h that you really like. No current affairs issues, no angst, just a really great Romantic-Suspense story. And humor! The humor is laugh out loud fantastic. This book just became one of my favorite Nora Roberts.
Laine Tavish, has a great life she has worked hard for. She owns her own business, an antique shop, Remember When, has her own home complete with an adorable dog. Life is really, really good for her. Then a face from her past shows up to shatter her well ordered life. Her father was a master con artist and now Laine is neck deep in a heist of epic proportions. Then along comes a tall, dark and handsome stranger and he is interested in more than the lovely Laine, but all she sees is the hot, handsome Max.
Max Gannon, ex-cop and currently a PI is out to recover a fortune in stolen gems. He is convinced that Lane is the key to the gems. As he sets out to woo the information out of her, he finds himself falling in love and willing to make compromises to keep Laine and recover the gems, but one thing he will not compromise is Laine safety. Not for anything.
Laine Tavish, has a great life she has worked hard for. She owns her own business, an antique shop, Remember When, has her own home complete with an adorable dog. Life is really, really good for her. Then a face from her past shows up to shatter her well ordered life. Her father was a master con artist and now Laine is neck deep in a heist of epic proportions. Then along comes a tall, dark and handsome stranger and he is interested in more than the lovely Laine, but all she sees is the hot, handsome Max.
Max Gannon, ex-cop and currently a PI is out to recover a fortune in stolen gems. He is convinced that Lane is the key to the gems. As he sets out to woo the information out of her, he finds himself falling in love and willing to make compromises to keep Laine and recover the gems, but one thing he will not compromise is Laine safety. Not for anything.
February 10, 2022
A great story. I love the characters and love the mix of romance and suspense. I adore Laine and Max's love story and Alex Crew makes the perfect villain.
May 24, 2019
This is the first of two interlinked stories written by Nora Roberts under both of her pen names. First you have Hot Rocks, a contemporary romance with a hint of suspense written as Nora and secondly, set 50 years into the future, you have Big Jack, a futuristic suspense written with Nora's J.D. Robb hat on. Both stories have been sold separately and they can each be read as stand alone stories (although Big Jack is part of the In Death world and will particularly appeal to Eve and Roarke fans!) but I highly recommend reading the two together as it's really fun to see how they entwine despite occurring at very different times. You can save money by buying the Remember When anthology which contains both stories.
My review of Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts:
Laine Tavish has worked hard to put her past behind her and get away from her father's criminal roots. She's made a nice life for herself as an antiques dealer in the small town of Angel's Gap, she owns a small but successful store, has great friends and has a good relationship with her mother and step-father. She's kept the fact that her real Dad is a criminal a secret but since she's not seen him for years she figures it's a small white lie that isn't going to harm anyone. Things get a lot more complicated when one of her father's oldest friends comes into the shop, gives her a cryptic warning and then is immediately killed in a hit and run right outside her door. Now it looks like Laine's past has caught up with her but she has absolutely no idea what is really going on.
Max Gannon is an investigator who is trying to track down millions of pounds worth of missing diamonds that were stolen in a heist believed to have been pulled off by Laine's father Big Jack. He's come to Angel's Gap looking for Laine because he believes she might be fencing stolen goods for her father but it doesn't take him too long to realise that she isn't involved. He's not the only person who came looking for and someone believes that Laine has the diamonds in her possession which means her life is in danger. Max vows to keep her safe while also trying to track down the diamonds but it isn't going to be easy.
Hot Rocks was a really enjoyable read, the romance develops quite quickly, especially since Max was lying to Laine when they first met, but it wasn't so fast that it bothered me. I did like that Max admitted his lies and apologised to Laine, it was understandable why he acted the way he had but at least he was willing to own up to his actions. Laine was able to forgive him because she knew he had very good reasons for everything he'd done and I appreciated them talking things through like adults rather than letting a big misunderstanding cause huge arguments and lots of unnecessary drama. The mystery side of the story was good and although I didn't love Big Jack's character (he was far too selfish for my liking) he was charismatic and I could see why Laine had worshipped him as a child. Even though it's part of a series we still get a decent ending to the story so you're not forced to read the second book just to get answers.
My review of Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts:
Laine Tavish has worked hard to put her past behind her and get away from her father's criminal roots. She's made a nice life for herself as an antiques dealer in the small town of Angel's Gap, she owns a small but successful store, has great friends and has a good relationship with her mother and step-father. She's kept the fact that her real Dad is a criminal a secret but since she's not seen him for years she figures it's a small white lie that isn't going to harm anyone. Things get a lot more complicated when one of her father's oldest friends comes into the shop, gives her a cryptic warning and then is immediately killed in a hit and run right outside her door. Now it looks like Laine's past has caught up with her but she has absolutely no idea what is really going on.
Max Gannon is an investigator who is trying to track down millions of pounds worth of missing diamonds that were stolen in a heist believed to have been pulled off by Laine's father Big Jack. He's come to Angel's Gap looking for Laine because he believes she might be fencing stolen goods for her father but it doesn't take him too long to realise that she isn't involved. He's not the only person who came looking for and someone believes that Laine has the diamonds in her possession which means her life is in danger. Max vows to keep her safe while also trying to track down the diamonds but it isn't going to be easy.
Hot Rocks was a really enjoyable read, the romance develops quite quickly, especially since Max was lying to Laine when they first met, but it wasn't so fast that it bothered me. I did like that Max admitted his lies and apologised to Laine, it was understandable why he acted the way he had but at least he was willing to own up to his actions. Laine was able to forgive him because she knew he had very good reasons for everything he'd done and I appreciated them talking things through like adults rather than letting a big misunderstanding cause huge arguments and lots of unnecessary drama. The mystery side of the story was good and although I didn't love Big Jack's character (he was far too selfish for my liking) he was charismatic and I could see why Laine had worshipped him as a child. Even though it's part of a series we still get a decent ending to the story so you're not forced to read the second book just to get answers.
May 4, 2022
I just HAD to read this book when I learned the story continued in J.D. Robb's "Big Jack." Now I know the back story from "Big Jack." 😁
March 30, 2011
HOT ROCKS is the first book in a two book series that covers aspects of the same crime but set 50 years apart. The first book, HOT ROCKS, is written by Nora Roberts and the second, BIG JACK, is written by her alter-ego J.D. Robb. The two books originally appeared under one title, ‘Remember When,’ and this is clearly written on the front cover of this volume.
HOT ROCKS is romantic mystery and is set in a small town called Angel Gap in Maryland. Laine Tavish runs an antique store called ‘Remember When.’ The story opens with a man entering her busy shop, pressing his business card in her hand, and insisting she call him later when she says she is too busy to chat with him. As he leaves her shop he is hit by a car, and Laine feeling guilty runs out to comfort the now dying man. He sings her a tune and she realises he is Uncle Willy, an old family friend; his last words to her are "keep the pooch."
Laine is worried her past is about to be revealed after working so hard to start a new life. The daughter of a scam artist, Laine was well on the way of becoming one herself until her mother took her away when she was ten and Laine finally found out that there was more to life than hustling people. It doesn’t take long for her to find out why her Uncle Willy came to town. Diamonds! Max Gannon appears in her life soon after, he is an insurance investigator. There has been a twenty-eight million dollar diamond heist and he believes that it was done by big time criminal Alex Crew, aided and abetted by Laine’s father, Willy and a third man. While Max is prepared for Laine to be ‘the fence’ for the diamonds, what he isn’t prepared for is the instant attraction he feels for her. He is very relieved to find out she is not part of the plot, and the two of them join forces to find the diamonds, give them back to the owners to get her father off the hook and receive the 5% finders fee. The main criminal, Alex Crew, is a total nutcase – his plan was always to get his hands on all the diamonds by killing the other gang members, two are already dead now he just needs to kill Laine’s father – and to do that he needs to get his hands on Laine and lure him in.
I really enjoyed this suspenseful mystery romance; Laine makes a very strong feminine protagonist. While author Nora Roberts does strong female characters very well, this wasn’t her best work. It was still very readable and good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
HOT ROCKS is romantic mystery and is set in a small town called Angel Gap in Maryland. Laine Tavish runs an antique store called ‘Remember When.’ The story opens with a man entering her busy shop, pressing his business card in her hand, and insisting she call him later when she says she is too busy to chat with him. As he leaves her shop he is hit by a car, and Laine feeling guilty runs out to comfort the now dying man. He sings her a tune and she realises he is Uncle Willy, an old family friend; his last words to her are "keep the pooch."
Laine is worried her past is about to be revealed after working so hard to start a new life. The daughter of a scam artist, Laine was well on the way of becoming one herself until her mother took her away when she was ten and Laine finally found out that there was more to life than hustling people. It doesn’t take long for her to find out why her Uncle Willy came to town. Diamonds! Max Gannon appears in her life soon after, he is an insurance investigator. There has been a twenty-eight million dollar diamond heist and he believes that it was done by big time criminal Alex Crew, aided and abetted by Laine’s father, Willy and a third man. While Max is prepared for Laine to be ‘the fence’ for the diamonds, what he isn’t prepared for is the instant attraction he feels for her. He is very relieved to find out she is not part of the plot, and the two of them join forces to find the diamonds, give them back to the owners to get her father off the hook and receive the 5% finders fee. The main criminal, Alex Crew, is a total nutcase – his plan was always to get his hands on all the diamonds by killing the other gang members, two are already dead now he just needs to kill Laine’s father – and to do that he needs to get his hands on Laine and lure him in.
I really enjoyed this suspenseful mystery romance; Laine makes a very strong feminine protagonist. While author Nora Roberts does strong female characters very well, this wasn’t her best work. It was still very readable and good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
January 10, 2014
While I liked this book pretty well, little pieces of it would bother me enough to keep me from fully engaging with it. Laine is a delight, for example. She's tough, brave, and smart. But when she dips into her past, or does something reckless and illegal, it doesn't feel like it fits her character, very well. And I really disliked her support for her larcenous father.
Indeed, like the pieces from the perspective of the bad guy, this book has jarring bits dangling off of it that poke at me enough to pull me out of the novel--like every scene with Big Jack. I think we're maybe meant to find Big Jack as loveable as Laine obviously does and I just couldn't manage that.
Some of this is mitigated by the wonderful Max. There's really nothing not to like, there, and I particularly liked that even though he knows his initial lies likely tanked the budding relationship with Laine, he still admits he'd do it again if he had to--his professional standards are important and those lies were anything but frivolous. To Laine's credit (and Roberts'), she doesn't let it hang her up for long.
So in all, the book was entertaining, but not great. It did pull a really strange trick on the reader at the end that I found both jarring and more than a little off-putting--it segued right into a J.D. Robb novel at the end without any notification or break (with a granddaughter of the main couple because it's set in 2056). I dunno if the publisher was trying to cross-promote with Roberts' pen-name, but it was more than a little bizarre to jump ahead 50 years at the end of a standard romance.
A note about Steamy: A few explicit sex scenes, though not very long and not very many.
Indeed, like the pieces from the perspective of the bad guy, this book has jarring bits dangling off of it that poke at me enough to pull me out of the novel--like every scene with Big Jack. I think we're maybe meant to find Big Jack as loveable as Laine obviously does and I just couldn't manage that.
Some of this is mitigated by the wonderful Max. There's really nothing not to like, there, and I particularly liked that even though he knows his initial lies likely tanked the budding relationship with Laine, he still admits he'd do it again if he had to--his professional standards are important and those lies were anything but frivolous. To Laine's credit (and Roberts'), she doesn't let it hang her up for long.
So in all, the book was entertaining, but not great. It did pull a really strange trick on the reader at the end that I found both jarring and more than a little off-putting--it segued right into a J.D. Robb novel at the end without any notification or break (with a granddaughter of the main couple because it's set in 2056). I dunno if the publisher was trying to cross-promote with Roberts' pen-name, but it was more than a little bizarre to jump ahead 50 years at the end of a standard romance.
A note about Steamy: A few explicit sex scenes, though not very long and not very many.
August 14, 2017
Hot Rocks
4 Stars
When a man is run down outside her antiques store, Laine Tavish realizes that the past has finally caught up with her. Together with Max Gannon, a mysterious stranger with his own agenda, Laine must discover why she has become a target before she becomes the next victim.
Note: This book is paired with Big Jack from the In Death series and should be read first as it provides the background necessary for truly appreciating the Robb book.
Hot Rocks is one of Nora Roberts' older books that reminded me of my early passion for her stories. While the romance and mystery are predictable (especially for readers very familiar with Nora's work), they are both, nevertheless, very satisfying.
Max and Laine are engaging characters and their romance is sweet and spicy. Laine is intelligent and resourceful, and the occasional glimpse at her reckless side makes her all the more human and appealing. Max is scrumptious and the secret keeping is thankfully kept to a minimum and resolved without too much angst and drama.
The case is fast paced and keeps the pages turning. The villain is suitably malicious and threatening, and the climax and resolution are exciting.
All in all, an enjoyable romantic suspense recommended for all Nora fans.
4 Stars
When a man is run down outside her antiques store, Laine Tavish realizes that the past has finally caught up with her. Together with Max Gannon, a mysterious stranger with his own agenda, Laine must discover why she has become a target before she becomes the next victim.
Note: This book is paired with Big Jack from the In Death series and should be read first as it provides the background necessary for truly appreciating the Robb book.
Hot Rocks is one of Nora Roberts' older books that reminded me of my early passion for her stories. While the romance and mystery are predictable (especially for readers very familiar with Nora's work), they are both, nevertheless, very satisfying.
Max and Laine are engaging characters and their romance is sweet and spicy. Laine is intelligent and resourceful, and the occasional glimpse at her reckless side makes her all the more human and appealing. Max is scrumptious and the secret keeping is thankfully kept to a minimum and resolved without too much angst and drama.
The case is fast paced and keeps the pages turning. The villain is suitably malicious and threatening, and the climax and resolution are exciting.
All in all, an enjoyable romantic suspense recommended for all Nora fans.
July 3, 2022
A bit too much instalove for me to adore this story, but it was still a fun romp with jewel thieves and intrigue coming home to roost when all that Laine wants is to live a simple normal life. Of course Max is going to hide what he's really there for from Laine while he's investigating and of course the two find themselves drawn to each other. The two days later declarations of love were a bit much, but I enjoyed watching these two work to outwit Mr. Evil McNasty bad guy. I think the thing I'm most interested in with this book is to see how this ties into the In Death series and just what Eve Dallas is going to be investigating in terms of the dangling ends of this case. I mean ;)
August 24, 2011
★★★★✩ This one was fun ! Susan Ericksen does another wonderful job of narrating Ms. Roberts’ story of a missing share of a $28 million diamond heist. It has all the required characters: the unsuspecting heroine propelled into a mystery maelstrom, the location clue uttered by a dying man, the sinister mastermind who wants it all, the loyal – and very pregnant – friend and co-worker, the unrepentant charming professional con – who happens to be the heroine’s father, and **sigh** the hunky southern insurance investigator who is above and beyond understanding of the heroine’s dilemma. Oh, and there’s a dog. :o) Predicable? Sure. Doesn’t make it any less fun.
November 22, 2023
Millions in diamonds, a con-man father, an enigmatic stranger named Max . . . what else can complicate Laine Tavish's life? How about a murdering thief who thinks she's the key to all the loot. A fun light read from Nora Roberts.
February 14, 2022
The romance in this had a slight insta lovey feel which I didn't like much, but the plot and the characters were very nicely done.
I liked Max and his morale, his interactions with Jack and Laine were very entertaining and interesting to see.
Laine is a super interesting character: watching as her past as the child of a con man influenced her and what she has done to build her own business and set of rules so she can live in a lawful way, definitely a complex character.
I'm curious too read the sequel/spinoff in the novella Big Jack, but since it's the #17.5 In Death novella, I have quite a few books in that series to read before that. 😆
I liked Max and his morale, his interactions with Jack and Laine were very entertaining and interesting to see.
Laine is a super interesting character: watching as her past as the child of a con man influenced her and what she has done to build her own business and set of rules so she can live in a lawful way, definitely a complex character.
I'm curious too read the sequel/spinoff in the novella Big Jack, but since it's the #17.5 In Death novella, I have quite a few books in that series to read before that. 😆
November 13, 2019
What can I say...romantic suspense....always entertaining!
May 2, 2015
I don't like the cover. Sue me, but I really judge a book by its cover when I am a fan of the author, haha.
The beginning was intriguing and direct to the point. A mystery was presented within the first few pages so there was no beating around the bush. The consequent pages easily pulled me into the small town life of Laine Tavish and, later on, to the mystery that started in the first few pages.
The protagonist Laine is a typical Nora Roberts heroine. She's an independent businesswoman with a shadowed past, haha. She's feisty with a few tricks hidden up her sleeve. I like her type! :)
On the other hand, the hero Max Gannon isn't my type of man, haha. Idk what to make of that. He's sweet and protective and there is nothing majorly wrong with his character (except a lack of finesse with the way he says "i love you" for the first time) but...idk, I just don't like him that way.
Their scenes together were a mix of a few sweet moments with many "too bloody normal" moments, haha. I like their adventures in solving the mystery (and in bed, if you must know ;) ), but the moments where they just look into each other's eyes declare how normal they are are absolutely a bore. I noticed the lack of swoon-worthy dialogue. There were no lines that had me clutching my heart at all. I look for that in romance novels and there isn't anything in here.
The "hidden fortune" was a 'meh'. The 'hiding thing' (LOL) and the actual hiding place is so easy to figure out. The antagonist was another 'meh'. He wasn't creepy at all. I feel like his presence could have been more acute but it wasn't.
The ending was... predictable, for lack of a better word. I was expecting something big but there was none.
It certainly isn't the best Nora Roberts book I've read but it was okay. I spent 4 hours reading it straight and despite the things I didn't relish, over-all I liked those four hours, haha.
__________________________________
(kinda) SPOILERS:
I WAS ANNOYED AT:
-The way they say "i love you" the first time. It wasn't sweet at all!!!
-The way they planned their future within less than a month of knowing each other. C'mon, you both just said a very unromantic " i love you" to each other while solving a robbery and a murder then here ya go planning to buy candies and soda for your three perfect kids after visitng grandma! WtF?!
I LOVE:
-The engagement ring. (Although the dialogue still wasn't swoon-worthy, haha) 'Nuff said.
-Big Jack!!! He's a great character. He's majorly flawed but he's a wonderful friend and father.
:)
The beginning was intriguing and direct to the point. A mystery was presented within the first few pages so there was no beating around the bush. The consequent pages easily pulled me into the small town life of Laine Tavish and, later on, to the mystery that started in the first few pages.
The protagonist Laine is a typical Nora Roberts heroine. She's an independent businesswoman with a shadowed past, haha. She's feisty with a few tricks hidden up her sleeve. I like her type! :)
On the other hand, the hero Max Gannon isn't my type of man, haha. Idk what to make of that. He's sweet and protective and there is nothing majorly wrong with his character (except a lack of finesse with the way he says "i love you" for the first time) but...idk, I just don't like him that way.
Their scenes together were a mix of a few sweet moments with many "too bloody normal" moments, haha. I like their adventures in solving the mystery (and in bed, if you must know ;) ), but the moments where they just look into each other's eyes declare how normal they are are absolutely a bore. I noticed the lack of swoon-worthy dialogue. There were no lines that had me clutching my heart at all. I look for that in romance novels and there isn't anything in here.
The "hidden fortune" was a 'meh'. The 'hiding thing' (LOL) and the actual hiding place is so easy to figure out. The antagonist was another 'meh'. He wasn't creepy at all. I feel like his presence could have been more acute but it wasn't.
The ending was... predictable, for lack of a better word. I was expecting something big but there was none.
It certainly isn't the best Nora Roberts book I've read but it was okay. I spent 4 hours reading it straight and despite the things I didn't relish, over-all I liked those four hours, haha.
__________________________________
(kinda) SPOILERS:
I WAS ANNOYED AT:
-The way they say "i love you" the first time. It wasn't sweet at all!!!
-The way they planned their future within less than a month of knowing each other. C'mon, you both just said a very unromantic " i love you" to each other while solving a robbery and a murder then here ya go planning to buy candies and soda for your three perfect kids after visitng grandma! WtF?!
I LOVE:
-The engagement ring. (Although the dialogue still wasn't swoon-worthy, haha) 'Nuff said.
-Big Jack!!! He's a great character. He's majorly flawed but he's a wonderful friend and father.
:)
September 1, 2021
Hot Rocks
by Nora Roberts
This is a prequel to Roberts' book, Big Jack. In Big Jack, Samantha Gannon is an author who writes a novel about her great grandfather, Big Jack O'Hara, and his life as a con-artist and jewel thief. Her grandparents are Max and Laine Gannon, the protagonists in this book.
Laine Tavish owns an antique shop in the little town of Angel Gap, Maryland. After a childhood of being raised by a big-hearted but unapologetic career criminal, she just wants to hide away and live a life that is normal. A dowdy little man comes into her store on a rainy day and nervously hands her a business card and asks her to call him about something important, then proceeds to step outside her door into the street and get hit by a car. As he lay dying, she realizes that she knows him. He is her father's best friend, the man she knew as a child as Uncle Willy. He whispers incoherently to her with his last breaths, and it is not until later that she figures out what he meant by, "He knows where you are now" and "Hide the pooch".
Shortly after, another gentleman, Max Gannon, enters her store and ends up charming her into a dinner date to close a sale. Their attraction is immediate and after a few days, they already realize they love each other. Although it is insta-love, it is handled well and works. They are both intelligent, successful people and they have a similar sense of humor and understanding of the other.
Although she learns that he is not exactly as he appears to be, they quickly move past that bump in the road and team up to capture a "business" partner of Big Jack's who is responsible for more than one death, and in doing so, help protect Big Jack from being pinned with the crime of a jewel heist worth over $28 million.
by Nora Roberts
This is a prequel to Roberts' book, Big Jack. In Big Jack, Samantha Gannon is an author who writes a novel about her great grandfather, Big Jack O'Hara, and his life as a con-artist and jewel thief. Her grandparents are Max and Laine Gannon, the protagonists in this book.
Laine Tavish owns an antique shop in the little town of Angel Gap, Maryland. After a childhood of being raised by a big-hearted but unapologetic career criminal, she just wants to hide away and live a life that is normal. A dowdy little man comes into her store on a rainy day and nervously hands her a business card and asks her to call him about something important, then proceeds to step outside her door into the street and get hit by a car. As he lay dying, she realizes that she knows him. He is her father's best friend, the man she knew as a child as Uncle Willy. He whispers incoherently to her with his last breaths, and it is not until later that she figures out what he meant by, "He knows where you are now" and "Hide the pooch".
Shortly after, another gentleman, Max Gannon, enters her store and ends up charming her into a dinner date to close a sale. Their attraction is immediate and after a few days, they already realize they love each other. Although it is insta-love, it is handled well and works. They are both intelligent, successful people and they have a similar sense of humor and understanding of the other.
Although she learns that he is not exactly as he appears to be, they quickly move past that bump in the road and team up to capture a "business" partner of Big Jack's who is responsible for more than one death, and in doing so, help protect Big Jack from being pinned with the crime of a jewel heist worth over $28 million.
February 28, 2016
Apparently both this book and the In Death counterpart, Big Jack, were previously published as one book under the title, Remember When, the name of Laine's antique store. Tricky move on the publisher's part. This is pretty much a solid romance book. Rather well executed and on the short side, but if you're not already a fan of romance, this isn't going to change your mind.
August 3, 2014
I really hated the heroine at first, but then she smartened up enough for me to not hate her. Unfortunately, then I kinda hated everyone else. I wouldn't say there's anything wrong with this story, but I just didn't dig it much. I'm not sure why, but I'm just kinda "meh" about it.
June 14, 2023
My beautiful late nan owned every single one of Nora’s books.
So when she moved in with us for her last few years we spent the time reading our way through every single one together.
Granted they are not the type of books I like to read, but they were still really good and sweet.
June 12, 2017
One of her better ones I think. Mystery, bad guys, small towns... this had it all.
March 2, 2022
good story with a continuation by jd robb
August 30, 2021
This book had the familiar Nora Roberts format. It was a fun, quick read. I liked Laine, and her best friend Jenny. Of course, dog-person that I am, Henry stole the show.
November 25, 2016
Definitiv eines der schlechtesten Bücher, die ich je gelesen habe, da haben sogar noch viele Groschenromane mehr Niveau. Im Prinzip habe ich alles nicht gemocht:
1. Die Handlung war 08/15 und absolut vorhersehbar. Und dazu noch nicht mal spannend oder unterhaltsam, sondern einfach nur langweilig. Wenn man die Handlung auf das notwendigste gekürzt hätte, wären vielleicht am Ende noch 50 Seiten übrig geblieben. Und als erstes würde ich die grenzenlos bescheuerten Sexszenen rauskürzen, denn die haben das Buch für mich komplett zum Flop gemacht.
2. Die Personen waren dermaßen abgedroschen, hölzern und klischeehaft, dass ich dafür schon keine Worte mehr finde. Zu keinem Zeitpunkt habe ich für die Personen mehr empfunden, als Genervtheit und Langeweile. Warum andere die Personen klug, sympathisch und süß finden, entzieht sich mir völlig.
3. Die Sprache war unterste Schublade. Erstmal war der Schreibstil sehr niveaulos, daher auch sehr schnell zu lesen. Die Dialoge waren hölzern, abgedroschen und sterbenslangweilig. Am schlimmsten fand ich, dass die Personen nicht ansatzweise normal miteinander reden. Welche 28-jährige sagt denn bitte zu ihrem Vater "Ich habe jetzt Sex mit Männern."??? Generell stört mich die Gossensprache, von dem bescheuerten Sex-Gesprächen mal zu schweigen.
Also, alles in allem eine absoluter Reinfall. Hätte mir von einer Bestseller-Autorin wirklich besseres erhofft.
1. Die Handlung war 08/15 und absolut vorhersehbar. Und dazu noch nicht mal spannend oder unterhaltsam, sondern einfach nur langweilig. Wenn man die Handlung auf das notwendigste gekürzt hätte, wären vielleicht am Ende noch 50 Seiten übrig geblieben. Und als erstes würde ich die grenzenlos bescheuerten Sexszenen rauskürzen, denn die haben das Buch für mich komplett zum Flop gemacht.
2. Die Personen waren dermaßen abgedroschen, hölzern und klischeehaft, dass ich dafür schon keine Worte mehr finde. Zu keinem Zeitpunkt habe ich für die Personen mehr empfunden, als Genervtheit und Langeweile. Warum andere die Personen klug, sympathisch und süß finden, entzieht sich mir völlig.
3. Die Sprache war unterste Schublade. Erstmal war der Schreibstil sehr niveaulos, daher auch sehr schnell zu lesen. Die Dialoge waren hölzern, abgedroschen und sterbenslangweilig. Am schlimmsten fand ich, dass die Personen nicht ansatzweise normal miteinander reden. Welche 28-jährige sagt denn bitte zu ihrem Vater "Ich habe jetzt Sex mit Männern."??? Generell stört mich die Gossensprache, von dem bescheuerten Sex-Gesprächen mal zu schweigen.
Also, alles in allem eine absoluter Reinfall. Hätte mir von einer Bestseller-Autorin wirklich besseres erhofft.
August 14, 2011
Living her own life, her own way was really all Laine Tavish wanted. When a stranger was hit by a car in front of her store, she found it was the man she used to call Uncle Willy. After his death she was confused by seeing him as much as by as she was by his final words to her. Arriving in Angel Gap Maryland too late to talk to Willy, Max Gannon had to figure out why he was there as well as what he had done with this portion of the $28 million in diamonds that he, Big Jack and Alex Crew had stolen. Trusting an investigator (Max) was just as risky for her father (Jack) as talking with the police might be. She would tell Max about her father, her past and the words Uncle Willy had said, but only if he let her help find the diamonds and that he not turn Jack in, if he showed up.
Found out that this is a pre to a Eve Dallas (Big Jack (In Death 17.5) by JD Robb ) story. What an interesting crossover. I read this one as a stand alone, really fun. Enjoyed the character interaction with Laine and her friends in the town, they had a few really fun moments. While Max was enjoyable, he wasn’t always what you might expect of a Nora Roberts hero - still a good read. Now I just have to read a few more of the In Death series before I can read Big Jack.
Found out that this is a pre to a Eve Dallas (Big Jack (In Death 17.5) by JD Robb ) story. What an interesting crossover. I read this one as a stand alone, really fun. Enjoyed the character interaction with Laine and her friends in the town, they had a few really fun moments. While Max was enjoyable, he wasn’t always what you might expect of a Nora Roberts hero - still a good read. Now I just have to read a few more of the In Death series before I can read Big Jack.
December 23, 2012
A serviceable romantic suspense that was mostly enjoyable to read. I liked the characters a lot. They were witty and fun. And we get a Heroine who basically . The biggest problem with the story was Laine and Max's insta-love on speed. They went from meeting each other to engaged in, literally, three days. Errr...
Still, though I continually scoffed at their declarations of love and excitement over their engagement, I still bought their relationship more than some other authors try to sell me even though the characters have known each other for a lifetime. So there's something to be said for the quality of storytelling (well, that at least it's better than others).
The only other issue I had with the book was this plan they had at the end that had certain characters traveling all over the northeast and I felt they were all being stupid because the easiest plan was right in front of them. It's not a big deal, really, but it's one of those things that's so dumb I get stuck on it because the characters are smarter than that.
3.5 stars.
Still, though I continually scoffed at their declarations of love and excitement over their engagement, I still bought their relationship more than some other authors try to sell me even though the characters have known each other for a lifetime. So there's something to be said for the quality of storytelling (well, that at least it's better than others).
The only other issue I had with the book was this plan they had at the end that had certain characters traveling all over the northeast and I felt they were all being stupid because the easiest plan was right in front of them. It's not a big deal, really, but it's one of those things that's so dumb I get stuck on it because the characters are smarter than that.
3.5 stars.
December 21, 2021
the insta-love was ridiculous imo (lust at first sight, I totally get, but I don't really buy their immediate connection as anything more than that even though we're clearly supposed to) but the tense parts were pretty good. would rather have just read a straight-up thriller but I've definitely read worse books
February 8, 2011
Book was a standard Nora Roberts - entertaining but light on substance. The person who provided the voice on the audiobook, however, was really good and didn't slip up in the accents for the characters. Overall, I recommend the audiobook for long drives or working out
August 31, 2017
I really enjoy the In Death series so I thought I'd enjoy this one but it was too heavy on the cheese factor for me. She just meets some guy and 4 days later she's sure they're meant to get married and they're madly in love? Come on!!
March 31, 2010
good. didn't realize this was part of book Remember When a Roberts/Robb duo from several years ago. but it was fun to reread (listen).
March 24, 2015
Love the characters and the plot! Fast paced. First Nora Roberts book for me!
January 5, 2016
Not my usual thing, but decided to read it before listening to Big Jack on audio.
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