Shackled to the past
Romantic suspense novel keeps readers on their toes
NORA Roberts is the prolific author of well in excess of 200 novels – under her own name as well as a number of pseudonyms. She really hits the ground running in her latest romantic suspense offering. The Obsession begins with a shocking event that changes 12-year-old Naomi Carson’s life forever.
We meet Naomi and her family a few times over ensuing years as the fallout from her childhood continues to revisit when she least expects it.
And now, in the present, Naomi has established herself as a photographer and ready to put down roots. She has bought a run-down mansion to renovate in the small community of Sunrise Cove and is finally feeling positive about her future.
Although she thinks she has left her past behind her, she is reluctant to share much of herself with anyone for fear that they will learn her secrets.
But her new love interest – mechanic, musician, bar owner and all-round good guy Xander – knows Naomi’s keeping something from him and is determined to learn what that is.
Naturally her past catches up with her and before long her childhood is literally replaying itself in Naomi’s new life.
Roberts eases off a little after the cracking start, but easily keeps readers on their toes by ensuring they are suspicious of the newcomers in Naomi’s life. Which of course is everyone in the Sunrise Cove community.
Naomi’s character is particularly well developed with a complexity borne of her early years. After a slightly cheesy introduction Xander proves himself a worthy suitor but his interest in Naomi’s past means he can’t be discounted when violence rears its ugly head in the otherwise quiet community.
Roberts has again turned out a well-paced novel, offering a good balance between romance and suspense and introducing a range of interesting suspects. Ahem, characters.