Review: High Noon by Nora Roberts:

The particulars:  Romantic Suspense,  Putnam, available in print and e-book 

The Source: The Bookshelf

The Grade: C+

The Blurb:

 Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara found her calling at an early age when an unstable man broke into her family's home, trapping and terrorizing them for hours. Now she's Savannah's top hostage negotiator, defusing powderkeg situations with a talent for knowing when to give in-andwhen to jump in and take action. It's satisfying work-and sometimes those skills come in handy at home dealing with her agoraphobic mother, still traumatized by the break-in after all these years, and her precocious seven-year-old, Carly.

It's exactly that heady combination of steely courage and sensitivity that first attracts Duncan Swift to Phoebe. After observing her coax one of his employees down from a roof ledge, he is committed to keeping this intriguing, take-charge woman in his life. She's used to working solo, but Phoebe's discovering that no amount of negotiation can keep Duncan at arm's length.

And when she's grabbed by a man who throws a hood over her head and brutally assaults her-in her own precinct house-Phoebe can't help but be deeply shaken. Then threatening messages show up on her doorstep, and she's not just alarmed but frustrated. How do you go face-to-face with an opponent who refuses to look you in the eye?

Now, with Duncan backing her up every step of the way, she must establish contact with the faceless tormentor who is determined to make her a hostage to fear . . . before she becomes the final showdown.



The Review:

Nora Roberts is one of the most bestselling Romance authors in the world, and after reading this book I can understand why.

This is another book that I picked up at my mom's and decided to read, although I think I was the one that purchased it.

The characters and what happened to the felt believable. From Phoebe, and her battle with arrogant cops and malicious gossip. I admired her for her strength, and her skill at coaxing people away from the edge.

Then there was Duncan. He was a bit more laid back, but I loved his attitude. He managed to be charming, yet he wasn't a jerk. I liked his loyal streak to his friends, and the love he felt for Ma Bee.

It was heartwarming to follow their romance, from their first meeting to their HEA. Another reason I liked Duncan was the fact that he was always there for Phoebe when she felt insecure.

The plot was wellwritten, and the gradually increased. I thought I knew who the killer was, but at the end I discovered I was wrong. The suspense plot and romance plot was cleverly interconnected in a way that I loved.

Despite all this, I felt that there was some spark missing that push it from good to great. It might be because I read it in Swedish, and that I am not used to read Romantic Suspense in Swedish, or something was lost in the translation.