Hideaway by Nora Roberts – a Review

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Description:
Caitlyn Sullivan, a daughter of Hollywood royalty, was already a star at ten, but still loved to play hide-and-seek with her cousins at the family home in Big Sur. It was during one of those games that she disappeared.

Despite her glamorous background, Cate was a shrewd, scrappy survivor, and she managed to escape her abductors. Dillon Cooper was shocked to find the bruised and terrified girl huddled in his ranch house kitchen—but when the teenager and his family heard her story they provided refuge and comfort, reuniting her with her loved ones.

Cate’s ordeal, though, was far from over. First came the discovery of a betrayal that would send someone she’d trusted to prison. Then there were years away in Ireland, sheltered and protected but with restlessness growing in her soul. Then, finally, she returned to Los Angeles, hoping to act again and get past the trauma that had derailed her life. What she didn’t yet know was that two seeds had been planted that long-ago night—one of a great love, and one of a terrible vengeance…

Review:

Hideaway by Nora Roberts is another one of her wonderful standalone novels.  The story revolves around the Sullivan’s, a famous Hollywood family, with the oldest member, a film legend, having recently died at the age of 92, and many of his children/grandchildren are also Hollywood royalty.  The story begins with a bang, as child star, 10-year-old, Caitlyn Sullivan (Cate), gets kidnapped during a family celebration in Big Sur. After being terrorized, she manages to escape, and ends up at a local ranch who protects her and brings her safely home.  When the police come, they suspect an inside job, and Cate reveals that her mother was the one who told her where to hide during a hide and seek game, and when she was locked up, she heard the man talking on the phone and recognized her mother’s voice.  Everything changes for Cate, as her mother and two others are sent to jail.  She will spend a few years in Ireland with her grandmother, with visits from her father and grandfather. 

At 18, she resumes her acting career, and the story revolves around Cate trying to cope with the past, and finding a way move on.  She also keeps contact with the family that helped her years before, and to her surprise, the young boy who helped her, Dillon, turns into a hot young man.  When Cate’s mother, an actress, is released from jail, Cate avoids her like the plague, as she hates her mother; who would do anything to get publicity, including using the media to fake plead apologies to her daughter. 

What follows is a wonderful and intense story, as we watch Cate grow and become stronger, even when she starts receiving scary phone calls; as her ordeal is not over. I loved how the family was so loyal and protective of each other; always being there for Cate.  After having some bad relationships, Cate returns home to Big Sur and meets up with Dillon and his family.  In a short time, she and Dillon find themselves falling for each other, but she worries about anyone in her family getting hurt.  The original two members of the police who helped solve the kidnapping years before, suspect some recent murders of those previously involved, might be an act of vengeance.  

Hideaway was a wonderful, emotional and intense story that had a bit of everything; family, romance, love, betrayal and vengeance.  I thought Roberts created a wonderful group of secondary characters that made this story even better.  Nora Roberts once again gives us a terrific family saga story that was so very well written.  I suggest you make sure you read Hideaway.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher