Okay, I LOVED this book.

Nora Roberts got me into reading about 17 years ago with the Garden Trilogy, and it's been a long time since I've picked up one of her books. This book reminded me why I loved her then. Her storytelling is so impressive.

This story is about Morgan, who's identity is stolen the same time her best friend is murdered, and her life crashes after. She is forced to move back with her mother and grandmother and rebuild her life in the town she grew up in. As with all stories, she starts to find her groove again. But unlike all, this happens as the person that has stolen her identity and killed her best friend comes back into her life.

I'm a sucker for a good character. In multiple points of view through various chapters you really get a good sense of each main character in this book. The female lead is amazing - she's tough, thoughtful, and has a great head on her shoulders. I loved watching her develop. In the same sense, the antagonist's point of view was REALLY cool to see, and watching him unravel was one of the best parts of the book.

Overall this book is a nonstop thrill, and a testament to the strength that comes from family and friends, and the power of love. I couldn't put it down!

Morgan Albright agrees to a date with one of her bar patrons, Luke. He’s charming and handsome, but little did she know her life would be upended after inviting him in. She’s his target, but when her best friend, Nina is home unexpectedly, she pays with her life. But not only does Morgan lose her best friend, this jerk steals all her money, and wrecking her credit. Morgan’s life plan of starting her own business, owning a home, and putting down roots are shattered. She has no options but to head into the comfort of her mother and grandmother, the Nash women, back in Vermont. Yet, what seems to be a huge setback becomes a blessing. Being with her mother and grandmother in their beautiful home, in a gorgeous location, she starts to put down roots again. She even loves her job as head bartender at the local resort.

Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t forget about Morgan and while he continues his killing and thieving, he continues to send little reminders to Morgan that he’s not done with her.

Identity had portions of suspense, more in the beginning and end, but only interspersed in the middle when you get the POV of Luke. He was a merciless killer to be sure, getting crazier by the day!

In the middle I’d say the story is more about Morgan getting her life back, connecting with her mother and grandmother again, making an impression at work, making friends, and falling in love. I really enjoyed this part, but it was a slower pace. I liked all the details of the area, Vermont sounds beautiful! And I liked the details of gardening, making drinks, food, and home improvement. The romance with Miles was easy going, but also intense and passionate. I loved his strong protective streak, but more than that he was so very supportive of Morgan.

I liked that Morgan was proactive about being prepared for when/if Luke showed up again by getting in fighting shape and taking self-defense classes. The FBI continued to keep Morgan in the loop, and their updates upped the tension every time.

Identity was an engrossing mystery/thriller, that at times had me on the edge of my seat, but even when it wasn’t as suspenseful the tale was a page turner.

I hadn't read Nora Roberts since the late nineties and I am so glad she is still the queen!
This title didn't disappoint. Mixing mystery, suspense, and intrigue with romance has been her trademark for decades and she has wielded that sword with mastery. Fantastic read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of Identity by Nora Roberts. I am honored and was so thrilled to see I had been approved to read this book. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be disappointed, and I was absolutely correct!
This book was a little on the long side, but I loved it so much that I couldn’t put it down and pretty much read it straight through! The main character, Morgan, has her identity stolen and is pretty much the obsession of a man searching for and plotting her death the whole book. I loved, loved, loveeddd Morgan’s resilience and persistence throughout this story. Even through her daily fair and all the unknown, she moves back home to live with her Mother and Grandmother and continues to live her life and plant roots in an unfamiliar town. She is one of the bravest, strongest, smartest characters I’ve ever read about before and I was rooting for her happily ever after the whole time.
Miles is of course my other favorite character. The brooding, partly grumpy, but seriously kind man that Morgan meets at her new job in town. I didn’t see him coming, or acting the way he did… and it was a pleasant surprise.
I highly recommend this romantic thriller to anymore looking for a unique story to blow their mind! Typically, you aren’t aware of who the killer is until the end of a story. In this book, you know pretty much from the very start and I still couldn’t put it down. I think that’s a real testament to Roberts writing. Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Eager to prove her idependence, Morgan lives far away from her family, working two jobs to pay her mortgage and save money for renovations. She doesn't have time to date, but when an IT guy chats her up at the bar where she works nights, she lets down her defenses.

With tragic results.

Mourning the loss of her good friend and roommate, Nina, and having lost her house to foreclosure after the IT guy drains her bank accounts and takes out loans in her name, Morgan flees to her mother and grandmother in Vermont. The man who stole her identity is not only a thief, but also a serial killer and it soons become obvious he is determined to exact revenge against Morgan--for escaping him.

Under different circumstances, Morgan would feel secure, even happy, with a job she loves, a doting family, and a new boyfriend, but until Gavin is caught, she will never feel safe. This is a real page-turner, and generally very good, although the dialogue seems strangely staccato at times. Still, it's easy to see why Nora Roberts is such a success. #Identity #NetGalley

I'm never disappointed in anything Nora Roberts writes. Every time I pick up one of her books she sucks me in to each story. Her precision to details makes the foundation to all of her stories. Many times Nora's books have so much truth to them. I find that alot of issues her heroines go through are things we women face everyday.
Identity theft is one of them. Thanks to hackers everywhere people's identities get stolen each day. Her character, Morgan, suffers alot worse than just identity theft when her best friend, Nina gets murdered when Morgan, herself, was the target. Not only does Morgan suffer the huge loss of her friend, but the aftermath of what Gavin Rozwell did to her financially was just nightmarish.
As Morgan tries to pick up the pieces she soon gets wind that Gavin is a serial killer, and he isn't done with Morgan yet. See, she made him loose his streak. That's something a narcissistic psychopath can never live with.
Nora Roberts brings you on a journey that takes you through heartache, fear, and financial ruin, but also shows you how important it is to plant roots, lean on family, and most of all to not be defeated.
This book was un-put-downable right from the start, and I hope you all give it a read.

Good story - enjoyed the premise. Morgan is an unwitting victim of Gavin who steals her identity and money, but with one catch. He ended up killing her roommate instead of Morgan after being caught in the act. He becomes obsessed with killing the one that got away. Meanwhile, Morgan moves back with her family and starts over. Working at a family resort, she falls for son Miles.

Nora Roberts knows how to write sagas and this is no exception. Family, romance, and a thrilling mystery combine for a great book.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don’t know how, but this is actually my first
book by Nora Roberts. It will definitely not be my last. I absolutely loved this story.
It’s a perfect combination of suspense, psychological thriller, romance and a touch humor if you can believe that.
Morgan, a young bartender living in Baltimore, has her identity stolen along with everything she had or owned. We know from almost the beginning who the protagonist is which makes it all the more suspenseful because you know something is coming. He takes everything from his victims including their lives. But one got away.
Morgan is forced to move in with her mom and grandmother in Vermont. She basically starts her life all over again when she becomes bar manager at a family owned resort. There she meets Miles, one of the sons of the owners. Morgan and Miles just might be one of my favorite fictional couple! But Morgan cannot truly relax until the man who took everything is caught unless he gets to her first.
Thank you so much Netgalley and St Martin Press for an early copy in return for my honest review.

Morgan Nash Albright was an Army brat. The first fourteen years of her life they went from base to base, never having the time to make close friends but instead keeping to herself as the next move could be at any time. Later, after her parents divorced, it was more moving as her mother changed jobs and each change required a move. The longest she stayed in any place was in college. After graduating with a double major, Morgan desperately wanted to put down roots and be part of a community. She researched and chose a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. Now with two jobs and a plan, she settled in to grow roots.

Eventually, a house to call her own and a housemate to help with the mortgage, it seemed she was on track to achieve her dream. Nina became a close friend and welcome companion. What she didn't expect was to meet a charming man who traveled for work so they would be no more than good friends. He got along well with Nina's fiancé when they had both men to dinner. Morgan had no way to know that dinner would set in motion events leading to the death of her best friend, and the loss of everything she'd worked toward and the roots she'd set down.

That's just the setup of this story. Identity by Nora Roberts was a very difficult heartwrenching story to read. Roberts usually has strong women in peril including ones where death is a possibility. There is also a romance as well. The stories are interesting, thrilling, somewhat scary, and with a satisfying ending with well-rounded characters, appropriately unique settings, and a tight plot with lots of twists and misdirection. Identity is not an exception.

This time the story hits home as this evil menace doesn't just kill, he takes your identity first and uses it to destroy you and everything and everyone you care about. Most of us readers will never have to deal with the issues that the characters in these books have. But, identity theft is something most of us have to be careful about and can relate to. Many readers have shopped at a favorite store only to learn their credit card info was scammed and now they have to deal with charges they didn't make, replacing cards, dealing with banks and stores to restore their reputation.

Reading about the problems Morgan Albright had to deal with because of identity theft made this story relate on a level with our lives. It was heartbreaking what she had to go through. Identity theft is something any one of us might have to deal with. Serial killers are on the page, in movies, but it's not as immediately real, those other issues are fiction. Losing one's identity in this world of online shopping, banking, meetings, and more is something that might happen to one of us.

I enjoy Roberts' books but this one felt too real at times and the identity theft made the rest of the plot even more chilling.

This is definitely the best Nora Roberts book I've read in a long time. I love the characters and the storyline. A good balance of suspense in romance! A strong female protagonist and a wonderful cast of characters. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

This title really started out with an intensity that drew me in very quickly. The scenes with Luke, the intensity of it, and the general feeling that Morgan was in danger from him. Unfortunately, as the book went on, some of this intensity was lost for me. I wanted to feel threatened by him, or at least like the suspense was still a focus of the book, but it really wasn't.

Morgan and Miles did have great chemistry and I enjoyed their time together, definitely believing in them as a couple. I think, though, I wanted a little more from them as a couple with it feeling like the suspense of the book had backed off some, but the romance wasn't really the focus even after that happened.

Toward the end of the title, the focus of the book did go back to the suspense, but it was blended with the romance as the character of Morgan had developed and moved into one that was involved with Miles. I liked the balance the author found at that point.

That said, I enjoyed and recommend this title.

Highly entertaining and so hard to put down. Action-packed and emotionally thrilling journey filled with dangerous and engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and unexpected turns. Intriguing mystery that left me breathless on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

Roberts skillfully weaves together elements of suspense, mystery, and romance, creating a captivating narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The pacing is expertly handled, with tension building steadily as secrets are revealed and danger looms closer. The author's ability to balance the romantic and suspenseful aspects of the story is commendable, making "Identity" a satisfying read for fans of both genres.

However, some readers might find the plot twists and resolutions predictable, especially if they are familiar with Roberts' previous works. While the story offers enough suspense and surprises to keep readers engaged, it does follow a somewhat formulaic structure that is common in the romantic suspense genre.

In terms of writing style, Roberts' prose is engaging and accessible. Her ability to create believable dialogue and authentic interactions between characters is a testament to her storytelling prowess. The romance aspect of the novel is delicately handled, adding an emotional layer to the story without overpowering the suspenseful elements.

Overall, "Identity" is an entertaining and satisfying romantic suspense novel that showcases Nora Roberts' talent for crafting engaging stories filled with intrigue and passion. With well-developed characters, an engaging plot, and a compelling blend of romance and suspense, this book is sure to captivate fans of the genre and leave them eagerly anticipating Roberts' next work.

I have always been a Nora Roberts fan, and her latest book is no exception. While her books tend to follow a somewhat predictable pattern, this one still made me feel all the emotions! Nora Roberts writes characters that you care about. You mourn with them, laugh with them, and fall in love with them. I loved seeing the main character Morgan rebuild her life, become closer to her family, and meet Miles. This one will stay with me for awhile!

Can Nora Roberts write a bad book? I think not. But this one...this one really stepped it up a level for me. The premise is very intriguiging, the bad guy extremely creepy, and the heroine was just so resilient that you root for her from page one. This is my current favorite Nora Roberts stand alone.

The premise of this one is intriguing: identity theft. Morgan Albright is living her best life. She works two jobs, is currently renovating an old house, and she has a roomate she adores. Morgan makes plans. She then carries them out meticulously. She also has hopes of opening her own bar. Enter Luke, a charming man who comes into the bar where Morgan works and strikes up a conversation. Morgan and her roommate Nina host a dinner party and invite Luke. Everything in Morgan's world is never the same after that dinner party. Luke steals her identity and murders her roommate. Soon, Morgan learns that Nina wasn't the target.

Morgan tries to pick up the pieces and start again, but eventually she needs help. She moves home to Vermont with her Mom Audrey and Gram Olivia. They are amazing characters! I would love to read their backstories. She gets a job at the lodge in town at the bar and meets the Jameson family. Soon, she is rebulding her life and putting down roots. Meeting Miles Jameson starts something new for Morgan too.

"Luke" who is really Gavin Rozwell, has never forgotten Morgan. In fact, things have gone repeatedly wrong for Gavin since Morgan - and he blames her. She is going to pay for what she has done to him. Nora Roberts intertwines his story with Morgan's, and the reader gets to see his decline throughout the entire story. His obsession with Morgan is disturbing to watch. He is incredibly creepy and frightening. He is a true villain.

Reading a Nora Roberts story is always like sitting down with an old friend - I always say this. But this one just really got me from page one. She brings Vermont alive in this story, and I not only loved the families, but Morgan and Miles are a stand-out Nora Roberts couple for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book - I really appreciate it! Nora is an auto-buy author for me, so receiving this copy was a true treat, and I am grateful. This is a perfect summer read with your favorite beveridge. Pick it up - it is out now!

I've been a fan of Nora Roberts since I was in my late teens and started plucking her paperbacks from my Mom's bookshelf, so of course any book of hers is automatically added to my own bookshelf.

Like always, Roberts has crafted a relatable, appealing, gently flawed main character who faces what felt like an unsurmountable challenge. The theft of her identity (and personal credit) is such a violation, and through such more violent means than one would expect was heartbreaking.

(Although, I confess, a niggle of annoyance when another credit card was opened in her name - why wasn't her account locked down with the credit agencies? This has been around for a few years now...I digress...reminding myself this is a story...)

Her supporting characters are equally likable, and the setting is well developed.

I haven't read an older book in a while, but something about the writing struck me while reading this in that it felt like a lot of her fantasies - the rhythm of the sentences. I don't remember it in previous mysteries. I think at this point you could hand me a Nora Roberts book with no cover, and I would recognize her writing, by the details, the rhythm, the sentence structure.

It was a comfortable escapist read.

There's a reason Roberts is a writing rock star. She's consistently good at writing gripping and entertaining stories. Identity was definitely one.

Morgan has goals. She's structured her life and works too hard to ensure these goals come true. Until a charming stranger turns out to be a horrific nightmare. After Luke/Gavin ruins her completely, stealing her money, tanking her credit and worse of all killing her roommate and great friend, Morgan is forced to sell her house and move to her grandmother's house.

Moving seems the ultimate defeat but turns out to be a wonderful chance to establish a new and wonderful relationship with the two strong, interesting women - her mother and grandmother.

As Morgan works through the horror that's been her life for over a year now, works through a lot of childhood baggage and reestablishes herself, she meets Miles. One of the family of owners of the resort she now works at. Miles is amazing. He's so good for Morgan. The whole family is. She's soon one of the extended family of resort employees. And eventually the actual family.

Of course, the final show down is tense, intense and frightening.

I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

A chilling thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat.

Identity started by introducing us to Morgan, her life, and her dreams. In usual Nora Roberts fashion, the initial events unfolded quickly without feeling rushed. And even though most of what happened was pretty mundane, there was this underlying hidden urgency to it that made me feel anxious. When Morgan started over in Vermont, most of the story just covered everyday life, but again, the reader is left in no doubt that it is building up to something.

Morgan’s efforts to rebuild her life were juxtaposed with the villain’s point of view. His story was compelling and the distressing consequences of the identify theft were done exceptionally well.

I liked Morgan and Miles and their growing relationship, along with both of their families. All these characters were an important part of the whole tapestry and filled out Morgan’s life with lots of little details.

My only gripe is that the “voices” of the characters all sound too similar. They have the same vernacular and tone in their thoughts and spoken words. Despite this, the characters are well-defined and their individuality came through in other ways.

I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrilling suspense and romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a wonderful book by Ms Roberts! As Morgan grew seem became this vibrant light that glowed right through the pages. She was impossible not to love! Once she was settled at A (to avoid a spoiler), she just bloomed. The passion she had for her job made me, the most introverted introvert you'll ever find, think how wonderful a bartending job could be. I loved Morgan and loved that, though painfully acquired, she was able to fall into a life that suited her. I will never understand how Ms Roberts continues to write new magic at the level that she does, but I'm not here to understand, just to enjoy!!

Morgan is in her twenties and at that age where the world hasn’t yet beaten her down. She has hope for the future and her next adventure. She works hard to achieve her dreams working two jobs to make that happen. She owns her own home and with Nina as a roommate the mortgage is taken care of. One dinner party and her world shatters.

That is usually how it happens, a single event and we see the world in a different light. For Morgan it’s not just the missing cash and jewelry. It’s not the fact that her car is missing. It’s all of that on top of Nina being murdered and finding out the murderer has stolen Morgan’s identity. She has lost her best friend and her own sense of self.

Lost and confused she returns to Vermont and her family but she struggles to rebuild her life. Add in the fact that the killer is still out there and seething because Morgan was his intended victim and you have a gal on the verge of a breakdown.

However, out of every dark cloud comes a ray of light. Miles is that for Morgan. He’s the FBI agent that is quiet and grumpy. He is the perfect compliment to Morgan’s hopefulness that he helps her reclaim. They were simply wonderful together.