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Legacy
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents Legacy , a new novel of a mother and a daughter, of ambition and romance, and of a traumatic past reawakened by a terrifying threat鈥�
Adrian Rizzo was seven when she met her father for the first time. That was the day he nearly killed her鈥昩efore her mother, Lina, stepped in.
Soon after, Adrian was dropped off at her grandparents鈥� house in Maryland, where she spent a long summer drinking lemonade, playing with dogs, making a new best friend鈥昦nd developing the stirrings of a crush on her friend鈥檚 ten-year-old brother. Lina, meanwhile, traveled the country promoting her fitness brand and turning it into a billion-dollar business. There was no point in dwelling on the past.
A decade later, Adrian has created her own line of yoga and workout videos, following in Lina鈥檚 footsteps but intent on maintaining creative control. And she鈥檚 just as cool-headed and ambitious as her mother. They aren鈥檛 close, but they鈥檙e cordial鈥昦s long as neither crosses the other.
But while Lina dismisses the death threats that Adrian starts getting as a routine part of her daughter鈥檚 growing celebrity, Adrian can鈥檛 help but find the vicious rhymes unsettling. Year after year, they keep arriving鈥晅he postmarks changing, but the menacing tone the same. They continue after she returns to Maryland and becomes reacquainted with Raylan, her childhood crush, all grown up and as gorgeously green-eyed as ever. Sometimes it even seems like the terrifying messages are indeed routine, like nothing will come of them. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins鈥�
Adrian Rizzo was seven when she met her father for the first time. That was the day he nearly killed her鈥昩efore her mother, Lina, stepped in.
Soon after, Adrian was dropped off at her grandparents鈥� house in Maryland, where she spent a long summer drinking lemonade, playing with dogs, making a new best friend鈥昦nd developing the stirrings of a crush on her friend鈥檚 ten-year-old brother. Lina, meanwhile, traveled the country promoting her fitness brand and turning it into a billion-dollar business. There was no point in dwelling on the past.
A decade later, Adrian has created her own line of yoga and workout videos, following in Lina鈥檚 footsteps but intent on maintaining creative control. And she鈥檚 just as cool-headed and ambitious as her mother. They aren鈥檛 close, but they鈥檙e cordial鈥昦s long as neither crosses the other.
But while Lina dismisses the death threats that Adrian starts getting as a routine part of her daughter鈥檚 growing celebrity, Adrian can鈥檛 help but find the vicious rhymes unsettling. Year after year, they keep arriving鈥晅he postmarks changing, but the menacing tone the same. They continue after she returns to Maryland and becomes reacquainted with Raylan, her childhood crush, all grown up and as gorgeously green-eyed as ever. Sometimes it even seems like the terrifying messages are indeed routine, like nothing will come of them. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins鈥�
434 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2021
5,326 people are currently reading
22.9k people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,809听books57.3k听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 3,078 reviews
April 22, 2021
Hi everyone -- Nora's personal publicist, Laura Reeth, here! Nora's hard at work on her 2022 standalone book so I thought I'd take a moment to pop in and say we can't wait for everyone to get the chance to read Legacy (St. Martin's Press, May 25). When I read it last fall, it felt like the perfect summer read. We follow Adrian Rizzo from the most traumatic moment of her young life to finding what makes her life complete with stops in New York and western Maryland along the way. As always, Nora blends people, their places and their relationships to give us a memorable reading experience. Hope you enjoy!
March 16, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin鈥檚 Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I was so excited for an opportunity to be an ARC reader of a Nora Roberts book. I love Nora Roberts books. Which is why it pains me to give this one a negative review.
Why? Well, a few reasons (semi-spoilers below).
1. I really disliked the main character. Adrian is painted as career-driven and head-strong and both of those are great qualities in a character, but the way she forced her fitness and nutrition regimen on her friends was over the top. She was constantly judging what people ate, constantly forcing them to participate in her fitness videos despite their protests, bringing over weights to peoples houses in a not-so-subtle attempt to get them to work out. That鈥檚 not charmingly pushy, it鈥檚 obnoxious. Not to mention the way she鈥檚 always volunteering other people鈥檚 time (鈥淥h, you need a business manager, Teesha will do it.鈥� Did you ask Teesha before you volunteered her? Nope). Honestly, if any of my friends behaved like Adrian, I鈥檇 stop returning their calls.
2. There was very little romance in this romance suspense story. I understand that in a second-change, best-friend鈥檚-brother, friends-to-lovers romance there鈥檚 going to be a slow build, but this romance had next to no build. There were hundreds of pages dedicated to the minutia of Adrian鈥檚 fitness video productions and her errand running. And maybe two scenes with furtive glances and accidentally-on-purpose touches. There was no sexual tension, no build, none. Then wham, zero to sixty and now there鈥檚 sex and they鈥檙e in love. If you鈥檙e going to give me a slow build romance, there needs to be a build.
3. There was very little suspense in this romance suspense story. Throughout the book there were creepy little murder vignettes stuck in between Adrian鈥檚 workout video productions and family dinner parties, but they didn鈥檛 seem to build toward anything or fill me with anticipation. Nothing that felt particularly suspenseful. When the suspense portion of the story finally kicked into high gear, our main characters were eating olives on the porch and riding carnival rides while a lot of the heavy lifting of the suspense plot was handled by a cast of tertiary characters whose names I鈥檝e already forgotten.
Perhaps I鈥檓 being too harsh. Perhaps I hold Nora Roberts to a higher standard for quality romance suspense books than others. She is the queen, after all. But this one just didn鈥檛 make the grade.
Why? Well, a few reasons (semi-spoilers below).
1. I really disliked the main character. Adrian is painted as career-driven and head-strong and both of those are great qualities in a character, but the way she forced her fitness and nutrition regimen on her friends was over the top. She was constantly judging what people ate, constantly forcing them to participate in her fitness videos despite their protests, bringing over weights to peoples houses in a not-so-subtle attempt to get them to work out. That鈥檚 not charmingly pushy, it鈥檚 obnoxious. Not to mention the way she鈥檚 always volunteering other people鈥檚 time (鈥淥h, you need a business manager, Teesha will do it.鈥� Did you ask Teesha before you volunteered her? Nope). Honestly, if any of my friends behaved like Adrian, I鈥檇 stop returning their calls.
2. There was very little romance in this romance suspense story. I understand that in a second-change, best-friend鈥檚-brother, friends-to-lovers romance there鈥檚 going to be a slow build, but this romance had next to no build. There were hundreds of pages dedicated to the minutia of Adrian鈥檚 fitness video productions and her errand running. And maybe two scenes with furtive glances and accidentally-on-purpose touches. There was no sexual tension, no build, none. Then wham, zero to sixty and now there鈥檚 sex and they鈥檙e in love. If you鈥檙e going to give me a slow build romance, there needs to be a build.
3. There was very little suspense in this romance suspense story. Throughout the book there were creepy little murder vignettes stuck in between Adrian鈥檚 workout video productions and family dinner parties, but they didn鈥檛 seem to build toward anything or fill me with anticipation. Nothing that felt particularly suspenseful. When the suspense portion of the story finally kicked into high gear, our main characters were eating olives on the porch and riding carnival rides while a lot of the heavy lifting of the suspense plot was handled by a cast of tertiary characters whose names I鈥檝e already forgotten.
Perhaps I鈥檓 being too harsh. Perhaps I hold Nora Roberts to a higher standard for quality romance suspense books than others. She is the queen, after all. But this one just didn鈥檛 make the grade.
February 5, 2025
As always, Nora Roberts knows exactly how to craft a captivating romance with just the right touch of suspense. Her books are consistently page-turners鈥攐nes I鈥檒l drop everything for as soon as they hit my hands.
I also love how in tune her books are with current trends. Her heroines are strong, savvy, smart, and accomplished, making them feel so relatable and modern. I really enjoyed the fitness aspects and the video-making elements in this book鈥攊t鈥檚 clear the author did her research, as she always does.
There were a few things that made this book extra enjoyable: the kids, the dogs, the friendships, and, of course, the charming small-town setting that always feels like a character in itself.
And I can't forget the couple. They were wonderful. I adored their connection, the easy banter between them, their chemistry, and the flirty back-and-forth. Their relationship felt effortless and natural, and it was a joy to watch them grow closer.
But OMG鈥攖he friendships! Nora Roberts truly excels at writing female friendships. The women in her books are always kind, genuine, and their support for one another is heartwarming. I always finish her books feeling uplifted and happy.
The suspense element was just the right amount to add an edge to the story. The dark, dangerous moments kept me on edge, reminding me that something deadly was looming, but it never overshadowed the main plot, which was really about the heroine鈥檚 journey and her growth.
Nora Roberts has found a formula that works for both her and her readers. Every year, I eagerly anticipate her standalone novels, and I always finish them with a sense of satisfaction.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves a great romance, an amazing supporting cast, skillful writing, and top-notch plot development, with strong family ties and a heartwarming community.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I also love how in tune her books are with current trends. Her heroines are strong, savvy, smart, and accomplished, making them feel so relatable and modern. I really enjoyed the fitness aspects and the video-making elements in this book鈥攊t鈥檚 clear the author did her research, as she always does.
There were a few things that made this book extra enjoyable: the kids, the dogs, the friendships, and, of course, the charming small-town setting that always feels like a character in itself.
And I can't forget the couple. They were wonderful. I adored their connection, the easy banter between them, their chemistry, and the flirty back-and-forth. Their relationship felt effortless and natural, and it was a joy to watch them grow closer.
But OMG鈥攖he friendships! Nora Roberts truly excels at writing female friendships. The women in her books are always kind, genuine, and their support for one another is heartwarming. I always finish her books feeling uplifted and happy.
The suspense element was just the right amount to add an edge to the story. The dark, dangerous moments kept me on edge, reminding me that something deadly was looming, but it never overshadowed the main plot, which was really about the heroine鈥檚 journey and her growth.
Nora Roberts has found a formula that works for both her and her readers. Every year, I eagerly anticipate her standalone novels, and I always finish them with a sense of satisfaction.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves a great romance, an amazing supporting cast, skillful writing, and top-notch plot development, with strong family ties and a heartwarming community.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
August 10, 2021DNF, 27%. Moving on from Legacy after 4 hours. I didn't feel mother-daughter fitness guru held my interest nor their stories. I'm not listening for another 11 hours to find out. My last two Nora Robert's standalone books have been a blast though. Maybe next year.
June 29, 2021
As a Nora Roberts fan, to me, LEGACY did not have the suck-you-straight-in beginning that I am accustomed to. It seemed a bit...choppy. But overall, it was a decent story.
December 13, 2021
This is the boring story of a murderous stalker and not worth my time. 1 of 10 stars
January 9, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown/ Piatkus for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
It鈥檚 been quite a few years since I鈥檝e read a Nora Roberts standalone, so coming into Legacy I was expecting something quite different from what I ended up getting. Going by the synopsis I thought this would be a thrilling romantic suspense novel but, imo, it was neither especially romantic or suspenseful. The first few chapters were quite good, but soon the plot starts to drag endlessly, getting bogged down by numerous details and side plots that don鈥檛 add up anything to the story. Also, the suspense part is so predictable that you can guess the bad guy as soon as that plot line begins and though there are a ton of characters I wasn鈥檛 particularly attached to any of them (except the dogs), so I was not invested in whatever happened to them (except the dogs, I鈥檇 have killed if something happened to those dogs).
I was ready to love this and although sadly I did艅麓t, I will continue reading Nora Roberts but now I know that if I want some thrills I鈥檒l have to stick to her 鈥淚n death鈥� series.
It鈥檚 been quite a few years since I鈥檝e read a Nora Roberts standalone, so coming into Legacy I was expecting something quite different from what I ended up getting. Going by the synopsis I thought this would be a thrilling romantic suspense novel but, imo, it was neither especially romantic or suspenseful. The first few chapters were quite good, but soon the plot starts to drag endlessly, getting bogged down by numerous details and side plots that don鈥檛 add up anything to the story. Also, the suspense part is so predictable that you can guess the bad guy as soon as that plot line begins and though there are a ton of characters I wasn鈥檛 particularly attached to any of them (except the dogs), so I was not invested in whatever happened to them (except the dogs, I鈥檇 have killed if something happened to those dogs).
I was ready to love this and although sadly I did艅麓t, I will continue reading Nora Roberts but now I know that if I want some thrills I鈥檒l have to stick to her 鈥淚n death鈥� series.
May 2, 2022
This is one of my favorite Nora Roberts books! Adrienne Rizzo met her father for the first time as a young child when he broke into her house and tried to kill her. He was married and had two children. Her mother was one of many women he鈥檇 slept with outside his marriage. Fortunately Adrienne鈥檚 mother fought him off. I loved the unique career of Adrienne鈥檚 mother and Adrienne being health/fitness routine designers. I especially LOVED the friend group that Adrienne developed, both in Maryland and back in New York. The way the ensemble cast worked together was such a treat to read, especially as the book progressed and they grew into adulthood with marriages and kids. Some oh so funny scenes. This had a great romantic suspense plotline to go along with it. Someone is angry about what happened years ago the night Adrienne鈥檚 biological father came to their house鈥� and they want revenge. And (to make this book even more perfect) there were really cute dogs!
June 2, 2021
Adrian Rizzo鈥檚 life as she knew it changed when she was seven years old and met her father for the first and last time. It was a violent and pivotal moment that shaped her future. Her mother, Lina, had a successful and thriving fitness business that became even more high profile after this event and she left Adrian with her parents for the summer to heal. There she created lifelong relationships that would become even more meaningful for the rest of her life. When Adrian started her own fitness business as a teenager, it not only did well but ignited some unwanted attention from someone who sent her poetic threats with regularity until the day they became something more.
I鈥檝e come to expect these stories to take considerable time to develop, laying the foundation for not only the characters but the situational settings that immerse you so deeply into their lives that you feel you鈥檙e a part of it all. I love how it envelops me and won鈥檛 let go. Yes, there are dramatic moments but they鈥檙e not the heart and soul of the whole of it. It鈥檚 a different kind of suspense so that鈥檚 important to consider before starting.
I loved getting to know not only Adrian the child and the adult, but all of the people who were important in her life. Even though I suspected who probably was the author of those sinister notes throughout the years, that knowledge didn鈥檛 detract from my level of enjoyment in the least. The relationships were rich and meaningful and when she connected with her childhood crush, Raylan Wells, that felt as natural and complete as it should. The final confrontation with the 鈥減oet鈥� couldn鈥檛 have been more exciting, satisfying that aspect of my expectations and concluding with a magnificent crescendo. Finally, the narrator, who is one of my most favorite, just elevated this story to a higher plane as she managed to create distinctions for a host of characters with diversity not only in gender but age and background. I actually had to check to ensure there weren鈥檛 multiple performers! I loved everything about this story, which celebrated the value of family in all its beauty and messiness.
Posted on
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
I鈥檝e come to expect these stories to take considerable time to develop, laying the foundation for not only the characters but the situational settings that immerse you so deeply into their lives that you feel you鈥檙e a part of it all. I love how it envelops me and won鈥檛 let go. Yes, there are dramatic moments but they鈥檙e not the heart and soul of the whole of it. It鈥檚 a different kind of suspense so that鈥檚 important to consider before starting.
I loved getting to know not only Adrian the child and the adult, but all of the people who were important in her life. Even though I suspected who probably was the author of those sinister notes throughout the years, that knowledge didn鈥檛 detract from my level of enjoyment in the least. The relationships were rich and meaningful and when she connected with her childhood crush, Raylan Wells, that felt as natural and complete as it should. The final confrontation with the 鈥減oet鈥� couldn鈥檛 have been more exciting, satisfying that aspect of my expectations and concluding with a magnificent crescendo. Finally, the narrator, who is one of my most favorite, just elevated this story to a higher plane as she managed to create distinctions for a host of characters with diversity not only in gender but age and background. I actually had to check to ensure there weren鈥檛 multiple performers! I loved everything about this story, which celebrated the value of family in all its beauty and messiness.
Posted on
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
August 4, 2023
A good story and told very well.
Roberts is a master of character building, and this book shows it very well. More than the typical contemporary romance or romantic suspense, it is the story of Adrian and Raylan. Both their separate stories and their later, slowly developing relationship. Roberts masterfully builds their characters by showing us the various events in their lives that shaped them and finally brought them to where they are now.
Roberts is also adept at creating strong women and men who can appreciate them. And this is also the case with Adrian and Raylan. She is a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants and made her work out of her passion. But Raylan also has a strong and interesting personality. We can see it well, for example, in how he copes with combining work with raising his children. And just as I usually don't like the kids in my books, Roberts can write them in a way that makes me actually like them. Roberts can really create her characters well, not just the main characters.
The suspense part is rather small this time and builds up mainly in the third part of the book. I really like this author's romantic suspense books, so I wish there was more of it here too. But it wasn't a big problem, since Adrian's story is interesting enough.
The book is quite long, but I read it fairly quickly. This is due to the really good writing style of Roberts. This book is mostly dialogue, which not only makes you read it quickly but also allows you to get to know the main characters through different events and their reactions.
If you're looking for traditional contemporary romance or romantic suspense, this isn't that type of story. This story focuses more on the characters - Adrian and Raylan and their way through life. If you are looking for just that, you won't be disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Roberts is a master of character building, and this book shows it very well. More than the typical contemporary romance or romantic suspense, it is the story of Adrian and Raylan. Both their separate stories and their later, slowly developing relationship. Roberts masterfully builds their characters by showing us the various events in their lives that shaped them and finally brought them to where they are now.
Roberts is also adept at creating strong women and men who can appreciate them. And this is also the case with Adrian and Raylan. She is a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants and made her work out of her passion. But Raylan also has a strong and interesting personality. We can see it well, for example, in how he copes with combining work with raising his children. And just as I usually don't like the kids in my books, Roberts can write them in a way that makes me actually like them. Roberts can really create her characters well, not just the main characters.
The suspense part is rather small this time and builds up mainly in the third part of the book. I really like this author's romantic suspense books, so I wish there was more of it here too. But it wasn't a big problem, since Adrian's story is interesting enough.
The book is quite long, but I read it fairly quickly. This is due to the really good writing style of Roberts. This book is mostly dialogue, which not only makes you read it quickly but also allows you to get to know the main characters through different events and their reactions.
If you're looking for traditional contemporary romance or romantic suspense, this isn't that type of story. This story focuses more on the characters - Adrian and Raylan and their way through life. If you are looking for just that, you won't be disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2021
The struggle was real this time. I was bored and kept looking for something, anything, to keep me excited about NR鈥檚 new book 鈥� nope. Maybe it was because it has been raining here for the last 2 weeks straight and naps came easy for me even while reading. LOL
August 19, 2022
This book was so boring, so mundane. It would only appeal to a certain type of readers. To be fair, i only picked it because I needed to listen to an audiobook (had a long drive) and it was available now. Since I wanted to give Nora Roberts another shot, I figured why not. Unfortunately, it featured a lot of unnecessary details and info. The romance didn鈥檛 appeal to me either, both were good people but I wasn鈥檛 interested nor invested in their story.
March 20, 2021
A slow build story that drips the clues and the menacing message to come.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is a beautiful blend of several different genres. For one it is a family saga of sorts. A beautifully crafted story of a family thrown into the limelight.
It鈥檚 a story of lightness and darkness. It鈥檚 a story of choices and finding your place in the world. It鈥檚 also a story of commitment and the love of family; the support of family and friendship that spans decades.
But underneath all of that is a story of bitterness and hate. An ugliness that follows Adrian along for years and years. It鈥檚 also the story of jealousy and simmering rage that builds throughout the story.
For me it wasn鈥檛 too far of a reach to figure out who it was behind the ugliness. However, the delivery and the crescendo of this mystery went beyond the pale and still managed to have me chewing my nails, refusing to stop reading regardless of how late it got.
Roberts has the unique talent to deliver a story that envelops you into the lives of her characters. This slow burn novel is not a heart pounding thriller but a continual drip of menacing doubt that trickles into her character鈥檚 life and eats away for years. The mind bending twists that makes the back of your neck tickle鈥�
That is the type of writing that Roberts is known for and delivers in Legacy. She also tempers it with a touch of budding romance for a well rounded novel that leaves you satisfied with a smile on your face. A complex read so be prepared to hunker down for a bit while devouring this one!
* Copy received for review consideration
Full review -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is a beautiful blend of several different genres. For one it is a family saga of sorts. A beautifully crafted story of a family thrown into the limelight.
It鈥檚 a story of lightness and darkness. It鈥檚 a story of choices and finding your place in the world. It鈥檚 also a story of commitment and the love of family; the support of family and friendship that spans decades.
But underneath all of that is a story of bitterness and hate. An ugliness that follows Adrian along for years and years. It鈥檚 also the story of jealousy and simmering rage that builds throughout the story.
For me it wasn鈥檛 too far of a reach to figure out who it was behind the ugliness. However, the delivery and the crescendo of this mystery went beyond the pale and still managed to have me chewing my nails, refusing to stop reading regardless of how late it got.
Roberts has the unique talent to deliver a story that envelops you into the lives of her characters. This slow burn novel is not a heart pounding thriller but a continual drip of menacing doubt that trickles into her character鈥檚 life and eats away for years. The mind bending twists that makes the back of your neck tickle鈥�
That is the type of writing that Roberts is known for and delivers in Legacy. She also tempers it with a touch of budding romance for a well rounded novel that leaves you satisfied with a smile on your face. A complex read so be prepared to hunker down for a bit while devouring this one!
* Copy received for review consideration
Full review -
March 9, 2021
3.5 stars - This felt like a lovely return to form in terms of hitting the romantic suspense beats that I expect from La Nora's annual standalone thriller release. I really loved the found family aspects of this one and how cozy the small town felt. For those who love this kind of story from this author, I think you will be please. The things that dinged this down a bit for me tie back to the heroine's profession. If this had been more in the background, I probably wouldn't have let it bother me so much but 1) as a social media influencer myself (albeit on a far smaller scale than the heroine is supposed to be), the numbers/logistics of how her platform was running did not make sense to me and 2) as a fitness influencer, she was so often policing others bodies or having her own policed. I just wish that element hadn't been there.
Still, as a whole, this was the immersive thriller experience that I expect from Nora every year... now I just have to wait til next for another :)
CW: child/domestic abuse, orthorexia, use of Romani slur
Still, as a whole, this was the immersive thriller experience that I expect from Nora every year... now I just have to wait til next for another :)
CW: child/domestic abuse, orthorexia, use of Romani slur
March 15, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me be one of the first thousand people to get an ARC! I was excited to read something by such an eminent writer, but鈥his was not my cup of tea. I gave it until about fifteen percent in to get better, and was disappointed. I am well aware I鈥檓 in the minority on this, but this is not a rare occurrence for me!
I liked the premise of Legacy a lot; single mother, making her own career after killing the abusive father of her daughter. She鈥檚 a fitness expert and makes videos 鈥� it had me thinking of Jane Fonda fitness videos, though I think the timing is a decade or two later, it鈥檚 a little hazy. But inherent in such a career are body image and diet issues 鈥� the teenaged daughter isn鈥檛 even allowed to drink Coke. Okay. Healthy living, sure.
There were also some just鈥wkward portrayals of young characters that show very dated views on modern teenagers. At one point a teenager at a gathering is disgusted that they鈥檙e listening to 80s music when they weren鈥檛 even born in the decade 鈥� and I, born in 1990, squawked in outrage (I also like 1920s swing music, sorry Nora). It just felt like a bad 鈥渉ello, fellow kids鈥� dated take on 鈥測ouths today鈥� or something.
The plot was also just鈥oring. The mother made a career off fitness and wellness programs, and the daughter soon tries the same 鈥� and apparently, youtubers can sell fitness routines on DVD like it鈥檚 the early 鈥�00s? Surprise to me! I didn鈥檛 even get to any romance, this was not my thing, unfortunately.
I liked the premise of Legacy a lot; single mother, making her own career after killing the abusive father of her daughter. She鈥檚 a fitness expert and makes videos 鈥� it had me thinking of Jane Fonda fitness videos, though I think the timing is a decade or two later, it鈥檚 a little hazy. But inherent in such a career are body image and diet issues 鈥� the teenaged daughter isn鈥檛 even allowed to drink Coke. Okay. Healthy living, sure.
There were also some just鈥wkward portrayals of young characters that show very dated views on modern teenagers. At one point a teenager at a gathering is disgusted that they鈥檙e listening to 80s music when they weren鈥檛 even born in the decade 鈥� and I, born in 1990, squawked in outrage (I also like 1920s swing music, sorry Nora). It just felt like a bad 鈥渉ello, fellow kids鈥� dated take on 鈥測ouths today鈥� or something.
The plot was also just鈥oring. The mother made a career off fitness and wellness programs, and the daughter soon tries the same 鈥� and apparently, youtubers can sell fitness routines on DVD like it鈥檚 the early 鈥�00s? Surprise to me! I didn鈥檛 even get to any romance, this was not my thing, unfortunately.
September 20, 2021
I can see that someone who is expecting a romantic/suspense story might be a little disappointed. Oh there was some romance and things did get a bit tense (although, in my opinion, not really suspenseful). What the story had was wonderful characters that I was really glad that I got to know...
April 5, 2025
The beginning of this book instantly had me hooked when the heroine's father tried to kill her at a young age. Her mother was such an interesting character because she was super successful, but took her daughter all around with her so she never really got a true childhood. The heroine has enough when she's in high school and demands she stay in the city and goes to high school, and the mother finally allows her. She basically befriends the "nerds" at school to help her build her own yoga/fitness empire and they become lifelong friends and business partners. As her popularity rises with her videos, though, she starts receiving messages from a creepy fan and they only escalate as the story goes on. The suspense was really good and I also enjoyed the romance! The romance definitely took a backseat for the plot as a whole, but I enjoyed the escalation of her stalker and how creepy it became! Another solid romantic suspense from Nora!
August 6, 2021
This review can also be found at
This was very good. I haven鈥檛 read a ton of books written by Nora Roberts but I have had good luck with those that I have read so I went into this book rather hopeful. The story does start off with a bang and drew me in immediately and before I knew it I was invested in the characters. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this incredibly entertaining book.
We meet Adrian as a 7-year-old child as the father she has never met assaults her family. When the book draws to a close, we see her as a responsible adult. This book doesn鈥檛 nicely fit into any single genre since it is part coming of age, part romance, and part suspense. Adrian grows up to follow in her mother鈥檚 footsteps by creating her own line of yoga workout videos. Unfortunately, she has captured the attention of a stalker who sends her threatening poetry on a regular basis.
I liked Adrian a lot. She was a really well-adjusted individual and I thought that she was genuinely kind to those around her. She was incredibly close to her grandparents and her core group of friends and I really liked what they added to the story. The romance was later in the book than I would have expected but I really liked the way that it developed and I thought that it felt very real. The mystery doesn鈥檛 really pick up speed until the later parts of the book but I did appreciate the excitement it brought to the book.
January LaVoy did an amazing job with the narration of this book. I thought that she handled a large cast of varied characters with ease and I loved the emotion that she added to the story. I really felt that she brought this story to life and I believe that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that the characters in this book were incredibly well done and I enjoyed the time that I spent with them. I will definitely be reading more from this talented author soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin鈥檚 Press via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
This was very good. I haven鈥檛 read a ton of books written by Nora Roberts but I have had good luck with those that I have read so I went into this book rather hopeful. The story does start off with a bang and drew me in immediately and before I knew it I was invested in the characters. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this incredibly entertaining book.
We meet Adrian as a 7-year-old child as the father she has never met assaults her family. When the book draws to a close, we see her as a responsible adult. This book doesn鈥檛 nicely fit into any single genre since it is part coming of age, part romance, and part suspense. Adrian grows up to follow in her mother鈥檚 footsteps by creating her own line of yoga workout videos. Unfortunately, she has captured the attention of a stalker who sends her threatening poetry on a regular basis.
I liked Adrian a lot. She was a really well-adjusted individual and I thought that she was genuinely kind to those around her. She was incredibly close to her grandparents and her core group of friends and I really liked what they added to the story. The romance was later in the book than I would have expected but I really liked the way that it developed and I thought that it felt very real. The mystery doesn鈥檛 really pick up speed until the later parts of the book but I did appreciate the excitement it brought to the book.
January LaVoy did an amazing job with the narration of this book. I thought that she handled a large cast of varied characters with ease and I loved the emotion that she added to the story. I really felt that she brought this story to life and I believe that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that the characters in this book were incredibly well done and I enjoyed the time that I spent with them. I will definitely be reading more from this talented author soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin鈥檚 Press via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
June 2, 2021
Nora Roberts used to be a go to author for me but I have not read one of her books in years. This story was a little hard for me to review because it is mostly just a long winded story of Adrian Rizzo and her life starting as a child. Growing up, her family consisting of her mom, Lina, her Rizzo grandparents, her nanny, Mimi, and her mom's publicist/manager, Harry. Her biological father was a married professor whom her mother had an affair with while a student. He was killed when she was a young girl and he attacked Adrian, Lina, and Mimi. Lina provided Adrian's needs but her Mimi, and Lina's parents gave the love and nurturing that a child needs.
As an adult, Adrian is following in her mom's footsteps as a fitness guru with videos and a blog. As Adrian becomes a success, she also acquires a stalker who consistently sends threatening poems. Lina had her share of negative letters as well. The protocol was that they made copies, sent them to Harry, the local police, and FBI. Their lives go on. It is part of the success. Adrian makes friends along the way as part of her career and they become part of her family. This story covers Adrian's life over the years, full of ups and downs as normal life. Her life moves from New York to the small town of her grandparents and slows down but her career doesn't slow. Her life settles in and she is happy, especially as some of her friends move there too. But the suspense of the stalker amps up as the story goes on. I enjoyed the grandparents as they were loving, supportive and down to earth; they passed their Italian legacy on to Adrian in many ways-love of family, eating, cooking, and sense of community. The dogs and kids stole the show in funny ways. There is a love element eventually and ended on a good note but not before the suspense get intense.
I received a complimentary ARC from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
As an adult, Adrian is following in her mom's footsteps as a fitness guru with videos and a blog. As Adrian becomes a success, she also acquires a stalker who consistently sends threatening poems. Lina had her share of negative letters as well. The protocol was that they made copies, sent them to Harry, the local police, and FBI. Their lives go on. It is part of the success. Adrian makes friends along the way as part of her career and they become part of her family. This story covers Adrian's life over the years, full of ups and downs as normal life. Her life moves from New York to the small town of her grandparents and slows down but her career doesn't slow. Her life settles in and she is happy, especially as some of her friends move there too. But the suspense of the stalker amps up as the story goes on. I enjoyed the grandparents as they were loving, supportive and down to earth; they passed their Italian legacy on to Adrian in many ways-love of family, eating, cooking, and sense of community. The dogs and kids stole the show in funny ways. There is a love element eventually and ended on a good note but not before the suspense get intense.
I received a complimentary ARC from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
May 1, 2021
Adrian Rizzo was destined for greatness. After all, her mother Lina was a fitness icon. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Adrian forms her own alliance consisting of video and tech-nerdish high school classmates. Together, they develop a their own fitness brand and exercise DVDs that rivals that of Adrian鈥檚 mother.
Meanwhile, there are dark forces at work threatening to undermine Adrian鈥檚 brand as well as her life. Who could be behind the threatening letters disguised as poetry?
Tagged as a mystery/thriller/romance, I didn鈥檛 think this novel quite fit into those genres. To me, it was more women鈥檚 fiction since the primary focus of the novel centered around the mother-daughter dynamic and how Lina鈥檚 actions shaped Adrian鈥檚 life and her relationships.
I could relate to all of the characters in the novel. There were Adrian鈥檚 nerdy classmates, who because of Adrian鈥檚 own intelligence, became a team of tech and video dynamos. The lovable Popi, Adrian鈥檚 grandfather. And, of course, Adrian鈥檚 childhood crush, Raylan Wells.
The plot was well planned, and flowed very nicely. However, the novel was seemingly too long. At several points in the novel, I just wanted closure. To me, the novel could have ended earlier than it did, and I probably would have rated it higher.
Overall, Legacy was a very good novel, but not one of Nora Roberts鈥� best. Three likable stars.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin鈥檚 Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Meanwhile, there are dark forces at work threatening to undermine Adrian鈥檚 brand as well as her life. Who could be behind the threatening letters disguised as poetry?
Tagged as a mystery/thriller/romance, I didn鈥檛 think this novel quite fit into those genres. To me, it was more women鈥檚 fiction since the primary focus of the novel centered around the mother-daughter dynamic and how Lina鈥檚 actions shaped Adrian鈥檚 life and her relationships.
I could relate to all of the characters in the novel. There were Adrian鈥檚 nerdy classmates, who because of Adrian鈥檚 own intelligence, became a team of tech and video dynamos. The lovable Popi, Adrian鈥檚 grandfather. And, of course, Adrian鈥檚 childhood crush, Raylan Wells.
The plot was well planned, and flowed very nicely. However, the novel was seemingly too long. At several points in the novel, I just wanted closure. To me, the novel could have ended earlier than it did, and I probably would have rated it higher.
Overall, Legacy was a very good novel, but not one of Nora Roberts鈥� best. Three likable stars.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin鈥檚 Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 16, 2022
4.5 stars 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙
I don't think I will ever "not be" in the mood for reading a Nora Roberts book ...she is an author that consistently "brings it all to the table" IMO....and her distinctive style of romantic suspense pretty much always captures my interest and holds my attention.
This is a book where early on you know that a violent showdown between the killer and his intended victim is inevitable but reading about Adrian's life from childhood into adulthood ...her personal growth and experiences, her relationship with family and friends is the real story here and I really enjoyed reading about it .
This was a good, solid read.... not my favorite by the divine NR .... but pleasant and enjoyable nonetheless.
I don't think I will ever "not be" in the mood for reading a Nora Roberts book ...she is an author that consistently "brings it all to the table" IMO....and her distinctive style of romantic suspense pretty much always captures my interest and holds my attention.
This is a book where early on you know that a violent showdown between the killer and his intended victim is inevitable but reading about Adrian's life from childhood into adulthood ...her personal growth and experiences, her relationship with family and friends is the real story here and I really enjoyed reading about it .
This was a good, solid read.... not my favorite by the divine NR .... but pleasant and enjoyable nonetheless.
April 10, 2021
**SIGH** I鈥檓 not really sure how to rate or review this book. It definitely wasn鈥檛 what I鈥檇 hoped for or expected. And maybe that鈥檚 the problem, I set myself up for disappointment.
I find that 3rd person POV is difficult for me to enjoy. While reading, I tend to feel like the story is being told to me as opposed to being shared with me. Tommy did this, Sarah said that... doesn鈥檛 engage me. There were moments in the story where I was drawn in, but this was a long book, so those moments felt few and far between. What didn鈥檛 help were the multiple side stories that not only caused confusion, but took up too much real estate along with the main character鈥檚 exercise videos. To make matters worse, one moment we are reading about Adrian and the next paragraph we are reading about the killer. The lack of transition created confusion and frustration. I also felt the romance came on without warning. With little to no build, the romance felt forced and almost thrown in for good measure.
I know this review sounds harsh and that isn鈥檛 my intent. I didn鈥檛 hate this book, but I didn鈥檛 love it either. There are many 4 and 5 star reviews out there so read those, too. This is the first book I鈥檝e read from this author that missed the mark for me. I take heart knowing there are many more that I did love.
I was provided a review copy by the publisher; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
I find that 3rd person POV is difficult for me to enjoy. While reading, I tend to feel like the story is being told to me as opposed to being shared with me. Tommy did this, Sarah said that... doesn鈥檛 engage me. There were moments in the story where I was drawn in, but this was a long book, so those moments felt few and far between. What didn鈥檛 help were the multiple side stories that not only caused confusion, but took up too much real estate along with the main character鈥檚 exercise videos. To make matters worse, one moment we are reading about Adrian and the next paragraph we are reading about the killer. The lack of transition created confusion and frustration. I also felt the romance came on without warning. With little to no build, the romance felt forced and almost thrown in for good measure.
I know this review sounds harsh and that isn鈥檛 my intent. I didn鈥檛 hate this book, but I didn鈥檛 love it either. There are many 4 and 5 star reviews out there so read those, too. This is the first book I鈥檝e read from this author that missed the mark for me. I take heart knowing there are many more that I did love.
I was provided a review copy by the publisher; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
May 8, 2022
Bufff, una maravilla. Me he enamorado desde el principio de cada personaje, el papel de cada uno, los engranajes de cada historia... Ha sido fant谩stico leer una novela llena de recovecos, aristas y escondites que se pierden al ojo lector si no prestas atenci贸n, y aun as铆.
He A-DO-RA-DO a Rayan (le robo el nombre para m铆 pr贸xima novela) y A-MA-DO a Adrian.
El final, el desenlace... 隆BRUTAL!
Una novela recomendad铆sima.
He A-DO-RA-DO a Rayan (le robo el nombre para m铆 pr贸xima novela) y A-MA-DO a Adrian.
El final, el desenlace... 隆BRUTAL!
Una novela recomendad铆sima.
March 6, 2025
This was super good and grabbed my attention from the start, one of my favorite Nora reads!
We follow Lina from a child to decades later. She always had an interesting relationship with her mother, her mom was always heavily focused on her career being a fitness type of self made business woman. As a teen, one week when her mom is out of town working, Lina puts together her own crew and film her own yoga fitness video. From there her billion dollar business kicks off and we catch up to her a decade later. We see her close relationship with her grandparents, her friend group (who she started working with together as teens), her moving back to her mom鈥檚 hometown, falling for her childhood crush (who is now a widower and single dad), her yoga business, etc. The story also has a stalker ish (someone mysteriously sending poems/letters to her for over a decade) suspense element to it that plays throughout!
I really liked majority of the read! I think it lasted a bit too long and I鈥檓 not always as into the romances in Nora reads as much as I am the friendships, the family dynamics (omg her grandparents!), and the everyday life and suspense! Overall a great read and the audio was a lot of fun!
We follow Lina from a child to decades later. She always had an interesting relationship with her mother, her mom was always heavily focused on her career being a fitness type of self made business woman. As a teen, one week when her mom is out of town working, Lina puts together her own crew and film her own yoga fitness video. From there her billion dollar business kicks off and we catch up to her a decade later. We see her close relationship with her grandparents, her friend group (who she started working with together as teens), her moving back to her mom鈥檚 hometown, falling for her childhood crush (who is now a widower and single dad), her yoga business, etc. The story also has a stalker ish (someone mysteriously sending poems/letters to her for over a decade) suspense element to it that plays throughout!
I really liked majority of the read! I think it lasted a bit too long and I鈥檓 not always as into the romances in Nora reads as much as I am the friendships, the family dynamics (omg her grandparents!), and the everyday life and suspense! Overall a great read and the audio was a lot of fun!
May 16, 2023
Romantic Suspense / Contemporary Romance
Publication date: 鈥� May 25, 2021
Audiobook narrated by: January LaVoy
Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins
This was another story by Nora Roberts where she started to tell the story from the main character's childhood. I liked the way she wrote it in but in this story I felt like too much time was spent on Adrian's younger years. There are lots of characters and things happening, yet, it feels like there's not much happening. There's no real conflict, no real intrigue...everything was sort of perfect and not.
It felt odd how everything Adrian did was perfect, so much that she felt like a plastic doll at times. I like heroine to root for but she can't be too perfect, always suceeding, because that'll just make reader feel bad about themselves. A flawed or struggling heroine is more challenging and author can work with developing and making her growing and learning throughout the story.
Some of the things didn't make sense, like Adrian being a health freak but eating pizza and keeping Coca Cola in her fridge. Yes, that made her human. Yes, it is possible to make a "healthy" pizza and drink CC zero but it felt like something unlikely to happen to someone like her irl.
Also Adrian's name was distracting me (isn't "Adrian" male name?).
As to romance...didn't really feel the connection.
I like that Nora Roberts write about the families and female relationships. But there was no real complexity to the characters, no personal growth and development. I disliked reading the author's own description and summary of events. I wanted to experience the story through actions, emotions, I expected scenes that shimmer with life and emotional movement. Please show, don't tell!
Overall I liked this story, I felt it could have been better and stronger, but I'm the most grateful that author didn't use time-jumping like so many other authors use these days (it is so distracting when author tell a story through the flashbacks instead of following the main character life in proper order).
Publication date: 鈥� May 25, 2021
Audiobook narrated by: January LaVoy
Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins
This was another story by Nora Roberts where she started to tell the story from the main character's childhood. I liked the way she wrote it in but in this story I felt like too much time was spent on Adrian's younger years. There are lots of characters and things happening, yet, it feels like there's not much happening. There's no real conflict, no real intrigue...everything was sort of perfect and not.
It felt odd how everything Adrian did was perfect, so much that she felt like a plastic doll at times. I like heroine to root for but she can't be too perfect, always suceeding, because that'll just make reader feel bad about themselves. A flawed or struggling heroine is more challenging and author can work with developing and making her growing and learning throughout the story.
Some of the things didn't make sense, like Adrian being a health freak but eating pizza and keeping Coca Cola in her fridge. Yes, that made her human. Yes, it is possible to make a "healthy" pizza and drink CC zero but it felt like something unlikely to happen to someone like her irl.
Also Adrian's name was distracting me (isn't "Adrian" male name?).
As to romance...didn't really feel the connection.
I like that Nora Roberts write about the families and female relationships. But there was no real complexity to the characters, no personal growth and development. I disliked reading the author's own description and summary of events. I wanted to experience the story through actions, emotions, I expected scenes that shimmer with life and emotional movement. Please show, don't tell!
Overall I liked this story, I felt it could have been better and stronger, but I'm the most grateful that author didn't use time-jumping like so many other authors use these days (it is so distracting when author tell a story through the flashbacks instead of following the main character life in proper order).
June 8, 2021
3.5鈽却
Legacy is a novel by best-selling American author, Nora Roberts. Adrian Rizzo has grown up fatherless: for her first seven years, her father was unaware he had a daughter; when, at seven, her relationship to him was leaked to the press, he died during a violent assault on her mother, after he had attacked Adrian.
But Adrian has never felt the lack of him: her mother may be busy building a career and business, but she has always had her nanny, Mimi, and loving grandparents, Dom and Sophia. If her relationship with her mother is a bit cool and unconventional, it has made her independent enough to make her own fitness DVD before she has even turned seventeen. And the private school nerds who were there for the start-up of her business are still her friends.
But ever since her first successful exercise DVD, there have been death threats, poems that always arrive in February. Her famous mother tells her it鈥檚 the price of being a public figure, but Adrian remains uncomfortable with the annual Ugly Valentines, even moreso when the threat is directed at her grandmother after Sophia joins her for a live-streamed exercise session.
Two sudden tragic deaths see a radical change in Adrian鈥檚 situation, putting within her radar the now-nicely-grown-up green-eyed boy on whom she had a tiny crush when she was seven. Raylan Wells is the older brother of her best friend Maya, now returned to her grandparents鈥� home town in Maryland, the location of her idyllic childhood summer vacation.
Raylan is a successful graphic novelist, a widower with two young children. When he spots tall lithe Adrian in her running gear, he鈥檚 immediately inspired to create a new character. And then Raylan鈥檚 dog falls in love with Adrian鈥檚.
While it throws a line to comic book fans, this novel is clearly aimed at fitness enthusiasts: there are so many descriptions of exercise routines they will have the eyes of the average reader glazing over.
The blurb seems to be somewhat misleading: the reader will probably expect a novel of romantic intrigue, but this is mostly the story of a woman making a career, a life, with family and friends; the romance element, when it finally appears about two-thirds in, is rather perfunctory; fans of this author鈥檚 romance novels will find it disappointing.
Until the last quarter, the intrigue aspect seems more like an aside than a major part of the story; the reader鈥檚 first guess about the poet is probably the right one. The background Roberts lays for the story is syrupy sweet and Hollywood happy, but lengthier than necessary. Good detective action in the final 15% gains it an extra half star. Perhaps a novel trying to be too many things at once, this is not Roberts best work.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and St Martins Press
Legacy is a novel by best-selling American author, Nora Roberts. Adrian Rizzo has grown up fatherless: for her first seven years, her father was unaware he had a daughter; when, at seven, her relationship to him was leaked to the press, he died during a violent assault on her mother, after he had attacked Adrian.
But Adrian has never felt the lack of him: her mother may be busy building a career and business, but she has always had her nanny, Mimi, and loving grandparents, Dom and Sophia. If her relationship with her mother is a bit cool and unconventional, it has made her independent enough to make her own fitness DVD before she has even turned seventeen. And the private school nerds who were there for the start-up of her business are still her friends.
But ever since her first successful exercise DVD, there have been death threats, poems that always arrive in February. Her famous mother tells her it鈥檚 the price of being a public figure, but Adrian remains uncomfortable with the annual Ugly Valentines, even moreso when the threat is directed at her grandmother after Sophia joins her for a live-streamed exercise session.
Two sudden tragic deaths see a radical change in Adrian鈥檚 situation, putting within her radar the now-nicely-grown-up green-eyed boy on whom she had a tiny crush when she was seven. Raylan Wells is the older brother of her best friend Maya, now returned to her grandparents鈥� home town in Maryland, the location of her idyllic childhood summer vacation.
Raylan is a successful graphic novelist, a widower with two young children. When he spots tall lithe Adrian in her running gear, he鈥檚 immediately inspired to create a new character. And then Raylan鈥檚 dog falls in love with Adrian鈥檚.
While it throws a line to comic book fans, this novel is clearly aimed at fitness enthusiasts: there are so many descriptions of exercise routines they will have the eyes of the average reader glazing over.
The blurb seems to be somewhat misleading: the reader will probably expect a novel of romantic intrigue, but this is mostly the story of a woman making a career, a life, with family and friends; the romance element, when it finally appears about two-thirds in, is rather perfunctory; fans of this author鈥檚 romance novels will find it disappointing.
Until the last quarter, the intrigue aspect seems more like an aside than a major part of the story; the reader鈥檚 first guess about the poet is probably the right one. The background Roberts lays for the story is syrupy sweet and Hollywood happy, but lengthier than necessary. Good detective action in the final 15% gains it an extra half star. Perhaps a novel trying to be too many things at once, this is not Roberts best work.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and St Martins Press
October 15, 2021
DNF - 46%
I hate myself for choosing to DNF this after being halfway through but I feel like I've been reading this book forever and I just can't take it anymore. I loved the last few NR standalone books I've read, but this one just isn't keeping my attention at all. I am so bored from the second I pick this up.
Nora Roberts is usually pretty decent at romantic suspense (in spite of her annoying tendency to always include chapters from the villain's POV which ... tedious), but I feel like this story is neither suspenseful nor romantic? At least not so far. I skimmed all the little chapters from the murderer's POV but I can already guess that .
And the romance ... I'm halfway through and there hasn't even been a hint of it, even if it's obvious which way it's going to go. I love a slow build, but there seems to be no build here. And I find Adrian completely obnoxious, so I'm not even actively rooting for her.
I mean, really the important question here is why did I not give up sooner. Will I ever learn?
I hate myself for choosing to DNF this after being halfway through but I feel like I've been reading this book forever and I just can't take it anymore. I loved the last few NR standalone books I've read, but this one just isn't keeping my attention at all. I am so bored from the second I pick this up.
Nora Roberts is usually pretty decent at romantic suspense (in spite of her annoying tendency to always include chapters from the villain's POV which ... tedious), but I feel like this story is neither suspenseful nor romantic? At least not so far. I skimmed all the little chapters from the murderer's POV but I can already guess that .
And the romance ... I'm halfway through and there hasn't even been a hint of it, even if it's obvious which way it's going to go. I love a slow build, but there seems to be no build here. And I find Adrian completely obnoxious, so I'm not even actively rooting for her.
I mean, really the important question here is why did I not give up sooner. Will I ever learn?
May 24, 2021
I confess I do like Nora Roberts :O)
She has the knack of writing characters you can鈥檛 help but care for, and Legacy is another great example. In this instance, the suspense and thriller elements stay in the background for most of the narrative, darting here and there, until the big finale. The real focus of the story is instead the lives of Adrian and Raylan, their own journey of self-discovery, of finding their inner core and happiness in the face of adversity. The romance aspect is very light too, Roberts painting instead a picture of various relationships, between parents and children, between couples, and between friends, all in a lovely community. It is a compelling thing, weirdly. Then again, this author鈥檚 writing style, while seemingly effortless, always grabs me and doesn鈥檛 let go. I don鈥檛 mind :O)
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Hachette UK Audio and to Nora Roberts for the opportunity.
She has the knack of writing characters you can鈥檛 help but care for, and Legacy is another great example. In this instance, the suspense and thriller elements stay in the background for most of the narrative, darting here and there, until the big finale. The real focus of the story is instead the lives of Adrian and Raylan, their own journey of self-discovery, of finding their inner core and happiness in the face of adversity. The romance aspect is very light too, Roberts painting instead a picture of various relationships, between parents and children, between couples, and between friends, all in a lovely community. It is a compelling thing, weirdly. Then again, this author鈥檚 writing style, while seemingly effortless, always grabs me and doesn鈥檛 let go. I don鈥檛 mind :O)
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Hachette UK Audio and to Nora Roberts for the opportunity.
April 26, 2021
I received this book as a gift and am looking forward to reading!
October 23, 2021
A lot of dance, but not much romance. A 17-year old stalking mystery with threatening 4-line poems. A school shooting that frees up the hero is very tragic. Cute kids and dogs. Nora has really done her homework about video production and graphic novels. At the half-way point, the heroine and hero have yet to connect on a romantic level. This is more a Women's Fiction book than either a Romance or a Romantic Suspense. I knew who the baddie was right from the beginning, Nora did a really bad job with this one. If the first 300 pages were as good as the last 148 pages, this would have been an awesome book. The last 148 pages really rocked. Alas, you had to slog through 300 pages to get there.
2.5-Stars
2.5-Stars
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