laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Shelter in Place
4.5 Stars
Nora Roberts does it again!
The first 3rd of this book is absolutely incredible - the descriptions of the mass shooting and its aftermath are so intense and gripping that one feels as if they are experiencing the events with the characters.
The second 3rd is slower in pace, but no less compelling as the protagonists begin putting their lives back together dealing with the tragedy and the trauma in their own ways. Reed Quatermaine fulfills his need to protect by becoming a police officer and Simone Knox channels her pain into her art. This part also reveals that there was more to the attack at the mall than meets the eye, and an evil sociopath is biding their time to finish what was started.
The final 3rd ratchets up the tension once again with the development of Simone and Reed's relationship as well as the approach of the final confrontation with the villain. While the romance is lovely, it isn't as engaging as it could have been perhaps because it takes a back seat to the suspense plot. There are no real obstacles to Reed and Simone's love story and their chemistry is very subtle. Nevertheless, the climax and resolution are exciting and satisfying.
Overall, Shelter in Place is a well-written page turner highly recommended for both newbies and fans of Nora's works.
4.5 Stars
Nora Roberts does it again!
The first 3rd of this book is absolutely incredible - the descriptions of the mass shooting and its aftermath are so intense and gripping that one feels as if they are experiencing the events with the characters.
The second 3rd is slower in pace, but no less compelling as the protagonists begin putting their lives back together dealing with the tragedy and the trauma in their own ways. Reed Quatermaine fulfills his need to protect by becoming a police officer and Simone Knox channels her pain into her art. This part also reveals that there was more to the attack at the mall than meets the eye, and an evil sociopath is biding their time to finish what was started.
The final 3rd ratchets up the tension once again with the development of Simone and Reed's relationship as well as the approach of the final confrontation with the villain. While the romance is lovely, it isn't as engaging as it could have been perhaps because it takes a back seat to the suspense plot. There are no real obstacles to Reed and Simone's love story and their chemistry is very subtle. Nevertheless, the climax and resolution are exciting and satisfying.
Overall, Shelter in Place is a well-written page turner highly recommended for both newbies and fans of Nora's works.
melli80's review against another edition
5.0
Wow..
This book was definitely a page Turner. It gave e me anxiety reading the first part which it may not seem that way but is a good thing because it made me want to know what happens after. It started out tragic but ended with a happily ever after.
This book was definitely a page Turner. It gave e me anxiety reading the first part which it may not seem that way but is a good thing because it made me want to know what happens after. It started out tragic but ended with a happily ever after.
amhren's review against another edition
3.5
I took my time with this one but I'm finally done with it. It's my second Nora Roberts book (the only other one I've read by her is Naked in Death), and I liked it significantly more. I did have issues with the pacing, though. I enjoyed the first half of part 1 and then part 3. The second half of part 1 lost me with all the time jumps and part 2 was so much Reed-focused while I was expecting for us to follow more of Simone, that I had hard time adjusting to it. I was rooting for Reed and Simone to get together but I wanted them to have a bit more chemistry at the start. I rooted for them in part 3, they felt more fleshed out and complimentary. I couldn't care less about Patricia. So little of her was shown to us and I didn't really feel any animosity or hate or anxiety over her actions and how they'd reflect on the main characters. I guess I was missing more suspense; part 3 did give us that but the culmination was so short and abrupt, that there was no payout for me.
I adored CiCi and Essie. Definitely the two strongest characters in the story, imo. Roberts writes good interpersonal relationships and all the Simone/CiCi, Reed/CiCi, Simone/Mi interactions carried the story for me. Loved the ending! And the poetic justice of Patricia dying on the 22nd, an end to a karmic circle.
I adored CiCi and Essie. Definitely the two strongest characters in the story, imo. Roberts writes good interpersonal relationships and all the Simone/CiCi, Reed/CiCi, Simone/Mi interactions carried the story for me. Loved the ending! And the poetic justice of Patricia dying on the 22nd, an end to a karmic circle.
dgignac's review against another edition
5.0
Based on the description of the book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not... however, I genuinely enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and handled the tragedy is different ways. Very well written.
annes_reading_journey's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. And it ended just how I was hoping for it to end
abrswf's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of Roberts’ strongest entries, with a powerful sense of the impact of mass shootings, and a gripping cat and mouse plot. One star off for some plot points that were hard to swallow, especially regarding warning (or not) potential victims.
tjayreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I was a little skeptical about getting this book. I know Nora Roberts is known for her romance novels and that is normally not my genera but i decided to take a chance on this. I was so glad I did. I was hooked and had so many emotions and then had realized this was only chapter 1! The book does slow down a bit but only to develop the characters see how they have grown over the years how their lives have changed because of the mass shooting.
It also makes you thing about things you never though of. We tend to forget about these type of events until the next one happens. We move on and forget about the people that have to deal with the tragedy and that their lives are forever change. Just the simple things like maybe never going to a mall again, or having semi panic attacks going into the bathroom stall. You just dont think about these things. I really commend Nora Roberts for the way she wrote the book. It wasnt distasteful and it wasnt like it was unbelievable. This was a great read!
It also makes you thing about things you never though of. We tend to forget about these type of events until the next one happens. We move on and forget about the people that have to deal with the tragedy and that their lives are forever change. Just the simple things like maybe never going to a mall again, or having semi panic attacks going into the bathroom stall. You just dont think about these things. I really commend Nora Roberts for the way she wrote the book. It wasnt distasteful and it wasnt like it was unbelievable. This was a great read!
tashatan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
lassarina's review against another edition
5.0
This book hits on a lot of really tough themes and it wasn't an easy read. I know it's billed as a romance, and there is a love story. Though the romance is sweet, it seems like an afterthought. The core of the book is about healing, and the very different ways different people cope with the trauma of an event like this. It unfolds over almost fifteen years as people grow up and handle (or don't) the aftermath of the shooting.
It also delves into the rage and unraveling of the mastermind behind the original mall shooting (and that character is described brilliantly, even if every second that character was on screen I was frothing with rage and not able to articulate how much I despised every thought the story laid out.) It is not pretty. There is a lot of racism, and anti-LGBT sentiment, and anti-Semitism, and while the context of the story makes it clear that the person thinking thus is wrong, and that those thought patterns are gross, they're presented with a chilling matter-of-factness that makes my skin crawl off my bones in the current political climate (I had this reaction to Come Sundown last year as well, for many of the same reasons.)
I absolutely adore Simone and Reed as characters, even if I frown at a few of Reed's choices (while absolutely understanding why he makes them). The supporting cast is also great - Simone's family are incredibly well-drawn, if not always likeable. I did kind of want to see more of the other survivors and their healing process, but if all of that had been in here the book would've been too long, and as it was, there's a lot here. I blitzed through it in a weekend and spent the first 100 or so pages just crying in the work lunch room as I got through the opening scene, which is the shooting. It grabbed me and wouldn't let me go.
This isn't an easy book to read, and I like that, because this topic isn't easy and it shouldn't be. We have a lot to wrestle with as a society and this book teases that out in a lot of great ways.
It also delves into the rage and unraveling of the mastermind behind the original mall shooting (and that character is described brilliantly, even if every second that character was on screen I was frothing with rage and not able to articulate how much I despised every thought the story laid out.) It is not pretty. There is a lot of racism, and anti-LGBT sentiment, and anti-Semitism, and while the context of the story makes it clear that the person thinking thus is wrong, and that those thought patterns are gross, they're presented with a chilling matter-of-factness that makes my skin crawl off my bones in the current political climate (I had this reaction to Come Sundown last year as well, for many of the same reasons.)
I absolutely adore Simone and Reed as characters, even if I frown at a few of Reed's choices (while absolutely understanding why he makes them). The supporting cast is also great - Simone's family are incredibly well-drawn, if not always likeable. I did kind of want to see more of the other survivors and their healing process, but if all of that had been in here the book would've been too long, and as it was, there's a lot here. I blitzed through it in a weekend and spent the first 100 or so pages just crying in the work lunch room as I got through the opening scene, which is the shooting. It grabbed me and wouldn't let me go.
This isn't an easy book to read, and I like that, because this topic isn't easy and it shouldn't be. We have a lot to wrestle with as a society and this book teases that out in a lot of great ways.
heathersbike's review against another edition
5.0
Totally awesome. I don't normally read Nora Roberts but this is much more JD Roberts' style.