Nora Roberts Land (Dare Valley #1)
Summary:
Journalist Meredith Hale’s ex-husband claimed her Nora Roberts addiction gave her unrealistic expectations about marriage, and she believed him. All dreams of happily ever after—or Nora Roberts Land as her mother calls it—went up in smoke. But when her family asks her to temporarily help their Dare Valley, Colorado newspaper, she decides it’s time to change her life and prove her ex wrong. She’s determined to find her own small-town Nora Roberts hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest.
War correspondent Tanner McBride has just returned stateside to work for a major newspaper, and the last thing he expects is blackmail. Yet, before he can even unpack, he’s headed to Colorado. His assignment? Make his boss’s ex-wife fall for him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering love à la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to the media mogul, threatening his senate run. The mogul wants Meredith stopped, and he makes sure Tanner has no choice in the matter.
When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable. Meredith, who vowed never to date another journalist, begins to succumb. Could Tanner be her Nora Roberts hero? As they work together to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize they’ve kept their secrets for far too long. But before the truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly turn, one that might make Meredith’s personal Nora Roberts Land go up in flames. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
As a Nora Roberts fan (obviously), this was an impulse pick up based on the name and I was pleasantly surprised to be introduced into another great romance author. Miles creates great three-dimensional characters that are realistically filled with anachronisms and funny hyperboles. In addition to some light-hearted moments, the book includes some mild suspense as Meredith and Tanner try to find justice after a strange death in the small town.
Having lived in CO for a few years, it was lovely to revisit aspects of the state through the lens of this book. And to answer the inevitable question, there are some references to Nora Roberts books, but it’s not to the degree that it would be annoying for someone who isn’t specifically familiar with her books. I was expecting an average romance read, but I’d say that this was significantly better than anticipated and would be highly recommended. I’ll definitely be continuing with the series.
Warning: Contains repeated sexual content.
Rating: 5 stars!
Who should read it? Romance fans looking for a little more from their characters.
Want to read the whole series?
French Roast (Dare Valley #2)
The Grand Opening (Dare Valley #3)
The Holiday Serenade (Dare Valley #4)
The Town Square (Dare Valley #5)
The Park of Sunset Dreams (Dare Valley #6)
The Perfect Ingredient (Dare Valley #7)
The Bridge to a Better Life (Dare Valley #8)
Daring Brides (Dare Valley #8.5)
The Calendar of New Beginnings (Dare Valley #9)
Home Sweet Love (Dare Valley #10)
Moonlight Serenade (Dare Valley #11)
The Sky of Endless Blue (Dare Valley #12)