I read "Identity" by Nora Roberts on NetGalley and would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes crime fiction and romance. The main character, Morgan, is trying to make it on her own. She is working 2 jobs and saving to start her own business. She has her own home and a roommate to help with the mortgage. Her & Nina have become close friends & are working on fixing up the home. Then Morgan catches the eye of a con man and her life is abruptly changed after he takes everything, including Nina's life.
Morgan goes to live with her mother and grandmother and starts to rebuild her life, but the man who killed Nina is still after her. I had a hard time putting this book down!

This is my first Nora Roberts book (I know, I know...), so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was SO GOOD! Just wow. It's a chilling psychological thriller starring a crafty serial killer, all wrapped up in the story of a young woman creating a new life after severe trauma. There is so much character development, which is usually lacking in thrillers, and I fell in love with the people and setting. I can't wait to read more of her 200+ books! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy.

Roberts does it again.
This book is a beautiful balance of romance and suspense, pushing the reader to loath having to put it down. That slow burn pulls you in! Through the dialog, various POVs and strong characters Roberts has built (beautiful created female characters as always), this story is winner.

"Identity" by Nora Roberts is a thrilling standalone romantic suspense novel that expertly blends danger and personal growth. The story centers around Morgan Albright, a bartender who finds stability in a small town near Baltimore. When her best friend Nina is brutally murdered, Morgan's life takes a dark turn, and she becomes a victim of identity theft. The novel sheds light on the devastating consequences of identity theft and showcases the emotional and financial toll it can take.

Roberts masterfully weaves together themes of suspense, personal growth, and familial bonds to create an unputdownable tale. The slow-burn romance between Morgan and Miles is a standout feature of the book. The author takes her time to build up the characters, allowing readers to connect with them fully. The setting of Vermont adds a fresh perspective, and the small-town vibe feels authentic and vibrant.

The meticulous attention to detail in character development is another standout feature of "Identity." Morgan is a relatable and strong-willed protagonist, and the supporting characters add depth and complexity to the story. While the book's length may be daunting, the well-crafted plot, compelling characters, and satisfying ending make it a must-read for fans of the genre. "Identity" is a page-turner that keeps readers on edge, and Nora Roberts once again demonstrates her storytelling prowess.

Identity was a wonderful read. Nora Roberts has a way with writing that I really enjoy. I loved the characters so rich and charismatic. The story was suspenseful and entertaining.

I’ve been a huge Nora Roberts fan since I first read one of her books in a Reader’s Digest condensed book back in 1994 (it’s still my all-time favorite of hers). I love that book so much that I bought the full-length version and quickly scoured shelves for as many of her books as I could find. I’d love to say I own every book she’s ever written, but before the advent of ebooks, I didn’t have the money to buy them all (1994 was smack-dab in the middle of my college years). I’m slowly building my ebook collection as more of her older books are published in that format. With all of that said, I was beyond giddy when I was FINALLY provided a chance to read an ARC of Identity. I’ve been an avid fan for far too long ever to give any of her books lower than three stars, but while I was hoping for another 5-star read in this one, it didn’t quite hit the mark.

The most notable thing I didn’t care for was how much of the book was spent on Morgan’s previous life versus her new one. There seemed to be much more emotion in that part than those following. I would have liked to have read more emotional scenes surrounding Morgan’s developing relationship with her mother and grandmother, as it seemed less fleshed out than her relationship with her roommate. I expected more emotional scenes because of how important these two grew to be to her. I can say the same for her budding relationship with Miles. As much as I hate to say it (and trust me, it really pains me to type this next line), I feel like she’s done a better job in previous books fleshing out the next half of a main character’s life and love interest. Despite this, what I loved about this story is the amount of personal and professional growth we saw in Morgan. And, of course, all the female empowerment, as well as how Morgan dug in when the going got tough and didn’t let her circumstances define or break her. Over the years, I feel as if Ms. Roberts has become excellent at providing example after example in her work of how it’s always possible to come back from unimaginable losses, no matter the scenario.

Regardless of my issue with how the story was fleshed out or lack thereof, where I’d have liked to see more, I can never say any time spent between the pages of a Nora Roberts book is time (or money) wasted. I was still entertained, intrigued, and swept into someone else’s world, and that, my friends, is what a good book should do for us. I will, of course, add the ebook to my growing collection once it’s published, and, as always, I look forward to what’s next from a long-time beloved author.

Wow. What a fantastic romantic suspense novel by Roberts. It was such a nice slow burn and it had everything. I really loved the characters of Morgan and Miles and both of their respective families. The suspense part was well done with the book following a serial killer hell-bent on murdering women after stealing from them and taking their identities. There’s a lot happening but it works. A wonderful book to read on summer nights.

Full Review:

"Identity" follows bartender Morgan Albright. A former Army brat, she finally feels settled in a suburb near Baltimore. She bought a small house and has a best friend named Nina who moves in with her that helps her house feel complete. When Morgan meets a new man named Luke, she feels intrigued by him, but is not ready to move things much faster than a few dates/hang outs. But things change when Morgan comes home to find Nina murdered, and finds out the man named Luke is not who she thought he was. Left reeling after finding all of her money gone and tons of things taken out in her name, Morgan goes back to her grandmother and mother in Vermont. There she starts to heal and fall for one of her bosses, Miles.

As I said, this was a lovely slow burn. Roberts takes a long time building up everyone from Morgan, Miles, to Luke. Even Nina shines in this.

The plot was really great and I think the flow worked great. The book takes place over a year plus which I applaud. It always used to drive me crazy when romance books had the hero and heroine fall for each other in like a week and then pivot to an epilogue like 3 months later and the heroine is pregnant. It makes sense in terms of what Morgan goes through why this had to be a slower burn romance.

The setting of Vermont feels new to me. I can't recall Roberts setting a romance in the state before, but perhaps she has. The town and the businesses felt very real to me. Would love another book following Miles younger brother a few years down the line. And it was also nice to see Roberts set a book near Baltimore again (though briefly).

Identity by Nora Roberts is a standalone romantic suspense that pulled me in from the thriller aspect to the small town in Vermont where our protagonist’s family live. Romance, danger, and delightful characters await you in this unputdownable tale.

I stumbled on Identity when an offer to review it appeared in my inbox. The synopsis made me curious. I am glad that I downloaded the book. I loved the suspenseful story but the small town, secondary character and resort hooked me. I want to spend a long week there and would love to spend more time with these characters.

Identity is a standalone romantic thriller with plenty of sizzle, making it the perfect beach read. We meet Morgan, a young woman with a plan. She owns her own home that she shares with her best friend. She works a full-time job at a construction company and works part-time as a bartender. Besides renovating her home, she dreams of opening her own bar. When an out of towner steps up to the bar, Morgan doesn’t know it, but he is going to change her world forever.

Suspense and a realistic storyline involving identity theft and murder hooked me. Roberts even provided chapters from the perpetrator’s point of view. She then balanced out the tale with small-town life, the resort and a slow-burning romance that felt genuine. Cocktail talk will have you making requests the next time you go out, or perhaps trying some recipes at home.

Identity is perfect for fans of crime thrillers who enjoy a side of romance and small-town vibe.

Nora Roberts never, ever disappoints and I have read her books for years. I find them intriguing and interesting and all very different. This one kept me on the edge of my seat with the plot, yes, but also with the tremendous attention to detail in which she crafted this story. Issues presented throughout this book, trust of others, for example, is infused in every level of our lives. What she so masterfully does, however, is bring these issues to light in a new and detailed sense of understanding. I was blown away. This story is not to be missed because it will delight you and entertain your every sense!

DNF'd at 21%

Maybe I've just read/watched too many crime related shows but the FBI being involved so quickly in the beginning didn't seem realistic nor did the fast scam by the con artist. 😬

My Thoughts
I want to start by saying that as far back as I remember reading certain authors that Nora Roberts has been one that remains a true favorite to me.

From her stories set as contemporaries to her series to her trilogies have never been disappointed.

Identity is no exception and for me with all the stories centered in our news this particular subject matter has actually not been touched on enough.

Madison Albrights fictional character however has not only been targeted by a skilled hacker but a man who has committed multiple murders of his chosen identity theft victims.

Torn from everyones worst nightmare Identity brings to life more than a fictional characters ordeals.

Not only that but she also did such a wonderful job of creating this same characters rise from the ashes of her former life and going on to make one that is even better than she had imagined it could be.

An almost unputdownable read for me that is closer to earlier works, but is definitely a current topic, and one I will not forget the message of anytime soon.

As a longtime fan of this author I had to ask Netgalley to allow me the opportunity for reading her newest contemporary thriller.

I am so very happy that request was approved and in no way impacted my appreciation for the setup and execution of this book or the skillful research it took to make everything come together realistically.
[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

I have only read one other book by Nora Roberts, but it was one of her first books and I did not really enjoy it. I decided to give this one a try to see if my opinion changed. Overall, it was…okay.

Morgan is targeted by a serial killer, but he surprises her roommate at home and kills her instead, but not before destroying Morgan financially. She moves in with her mother and grandmother in another state and tries to rebuild her life. Meanwhile, the serial killer is obsessed with the one who got away and becomes more and more reckless as he tries to right the wrong made when he didn’t complete his kill.

First of all, this book was way too long. The setup took forever, and it wasn’t very interesting. The story finally got moving once Morgan moved to Vermont. The characters were all pretty wooden. I’m not sure if this is typical writing by the author, but the conversations seemed stilted and I never felt like I really got to know any characters deeply because they were all pretty shallow. Morgan just didn’t seem to express very much emotion for the amount of upheavel she experienced.

I also did not buy the romance between her and Miles. It seemed like an instant physical attraction but I didn’t see the emotions involved in the relationship. I also thought that Miles came off as kind of a possessive, controlling jerk. The book dragged on way too long, with the FBI having too many near misses as they closed in on Gavin. It was a relief to finish. Maybe Nora Roberts’ writing is just not for me. I’ll have to try another and see.

I’ve been reading books by Nora Roberts for many years and she never fails to entertain.

The story about identify theft really brings to light how much damage this theft can cause – financially and emotionally. We read about it in newspapers but never with this detail. It’s gotten to where it’s difficult to trust anyone anymore.

This story was so heartbreaking with the initial damage of the theft and then the taunting from Gavin that Morgan lives through. She lost so much but gained something special when she moved to live with her mother and grandmother and found a new life and work. Their closeness and support is something I think everyone would want from their loved ones. Her boss and co-workers are exceptional characters and add so much to the story. Meeting Miles is special but Morgan is very hesitant to trust too quickly.

Between updates from the FBI and reading from Gavin’s POV at times, it really heightens the drama and suspense. This was a page-turner not knowing what would happen and when,, developing relationships and more. The details of the landscape, buildings, and inventive cocktails all lend to make this a story that I felt a part of and could easily visualize.

Ms. Roberts has another hit on her hands, which isn’t a surprise. She does excellent research for each of her stories and by the end of the story, I was one tense mess!

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this new work. As always, I can’t wait for her next book!

This was my first Nora Roberts book. How can that be!? She’s a Maryland author! Anyway I’ve been wanting to try her books because she has a ton and people seem to love them.

The story focuses on Morgan Albright, a single woman trying to gain some traction in this world. She’s feeling like things are looking up when she meets this a guy…who seems great. The guy is Gavin Rozwell but he goes by many names and personalities…he has to if he’s going to be a successful con-man and serial killer.

This guy is a real piece of work. The way he talks about women even his own mother made me so mad! He shamelessly manipulated his own mother. Oh and give this guy a bad grade…you’re finished. I mean there are no limits to the degree of a$$holeness this guy puts into the universe. His ruthlessness knows no bounds.

The concept is cool. However, for me it was overly descriptive and I had a hard time staying interested during Morgan’s part until closer to the end. On the flip side, I was really interested in Gavin until about the midway point at which point I lost interest in his crazy-self too. It seemed a bit choppy at times. I think it was a little long too.

Overall the book was decent. I just don’t think it was for me. I’m going to try another book (Shelter In Place) before I decide whether or not this author is for me.

A wonderful, new thriller about one man's evil, and one woman's journey to reclaim her life.
What I loved the most was the three generation household. They worked well together, supported one another, loved and comforted each other, and had fun with each other. “Her ladies” really came through for Morgan and I loved seeing her reconnect with her family. I loved how they gave her the grace to rebuild her life. I liked all the characters in this story. The villain was truly an unhinged evil; Miles was full of kindness,, respect, and support; Morgan was hard-working, dedicated, and full of life that having this horrible thing happen to her you just knew she was going to come out of it stronger. I loved Morgan and Miles together; their relationship was perfect for the story. A truly wonderful read.

My first Nora Roberts book and Identity isn't strong enough for me to say I am a fan but I would read another one of her books. Here's why. There were a few character viewpoints sprinkled in with Morgan's. 90% of the time I had no idea who was speaking if the characters were in dialogue with each other. The majority of the characters had the same tone and personality. Very matter of fact. Very dry. We don't see that same dryness with 3 other characters but I won't spoil that here. The other plot point that rubbed me the wrong way was the romance going from 0 to 100 in the span of 12 hours. I enjoyed reading the relationship between Audrey, Olivia, and Morgan. I have a few drink-spiartions. Thanks NetGalley for the arc.

Imagine being targeted and having your identity stolen by a serial killer, but escaping, only to find out that he is still planning on coming after you! This was a good thriller with some romance mixed in!

Identity is exactly what I want and expect from a Nora Roberts romantic suspense. I picked this up on a rainy Saturday and suddenly the afternoon had passed by while I was caught up in the story. I went in without knowing anything about it and would recommend you do the same.

However if you want a bit about the plot - this book is about Morgan. Morgan is living in Maryland in a house she bought for herself. She works two jobs - an office manager in the day and bartender at night. Her roommate is her best friend Nina and they are working together on the house and yard.

Morgan meets Luke at work - he’s an IT guy who is on a job in the area for a few months. They start making conversation and he invites her out for pizza. The next week she invites him to her house for dinner. Shortly after, there’s a break in at her house one day and Nina is killed. And Morgan isn’t able to get in touch with Luke. And then some FBI agents show up to tell her that Luke isn’t who she thought…and that’s just the beginning of Morgan’s story.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

I love Nora Roberts. Her books are always first on my library hold list or I buy the kindle edition when they come out and I'm ready for a new book. Identity does not disappoint, it's everything you want in a Nora Roberts - A good mystery, a sweet romance element and a tidy ending. I read this one during a cross-country flight and the time flew by, exactly what I want in a book.

4.5 stars - This felt like a return to the kind of stand alone suspense that I love from La Nora! My only critique was a little bit of padding or slowness in the middle, but I think if you don't binge this book you won't feel it as much. This had the family dynamics, the community vibes, and the competency porn that I love, plus the resort atmosphere reminded me of the Bridal Quartet in a wonderful way. All around, this is what I want from our annual NR stand alone 🎉