Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Sometimes, there is nowhere safe to hide.

It was a typical evening at a mall outside Portland, Maine. Three teenage friends waited for the movie to start. A boy flirted with the girl selling sunglasses. Mothers and children shopped together, and the manager at the video-game store tending to customers. Then the shooters arrived.

The chaos and carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. In the years that followed, one would dedicate himself to a law enforcement career. Another would close herself off, trying to bury the memory of huddling in a ladies’ room, hopelessly clutching her cell phone–until she finally found a way to pour her emotions into her art.

But one person wasn’t satisfied with the shockingly high death toll at the DownEast Mall. And as the survivors slowly heal, find shelter, and rebuild, they will discover that another conspirator is lying in wait–and this time, there might be nowhere safe to hide.

 

 

Review:

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts is another one her wonderful standalone novels.   In Shelter in Place, Nora gives us an exciting and intense story of the aftermath of a mass shooting at a mall in Portland, Maine.   Shelter in Place was not only an amazing and fascinating story that had me unable to put the book down, but the characters Nora created, most of whom were survivors of the shooting, were simply great; such awesome characters.

At the start, we meet Simone, Mi and Tish, who are bff’s, waiting for a movie to start in the mall, when Simone makes a quick run to the bathroom.  Reed and his friend, Chaz take a lunch break to meet a couple of girls. When Simone tries to go back in the theatre, she hears screaming, and sees someone running out of the theatre dripping with blood; she goes back into the bathroom and calls 911.   All hell is breaking loose, and Essie,  a young cop,  is the first on the scene, trying to help the survivors and find the culprits.

This is the start of an enthralling story of the survivors, and the healing process.  It is also a continuing story of another villain tied to the shooters, who will haunt the survivors over the years.  We follow the main characters, Simone Knox & Reed Quartermaine, their family and friends, over a period of 13 years, as they cope with the tragedy, and try to find a way to go on with their lives.

Reed decides after the tragedy to become a cop and eventually will become a detective and partner with Essie. Together they will work together to keep an eye on all survivors, as over a few years, they notice that one by one the survivors of the shooting are being killed. This will become an obsession with both, and when the villain comes for  Reed, he is shot but returns the fire;  the killer escapes but he now knows who the person is.  But the FBI decides to take control and force them not to be involved, Reed will leave the force and become the Chief of Police of Tranquility Island.

Simone and Mi remain very close, as they still grieve over the loss of their friend, Tish.   Simone is distant from her family, as she does not want to be a lawyer, which the family wants her to be.  Simone is very artistic, a trait she learned from her grandmother, Cici.   Cici is an acclaimed painter, and sort of physic.  She was such a wonderful character, you couldn’t help but love her, as she is the reason that Simone became such a wonderful painter and sculptor; as well as growing up to be such a great heroine.  It is Cici who will bring our heroes, Simone and Reed together. 

I loved Reed, who was always so good and caring to all.  He managed to win over the island residents, as well as his police force.   At the same time, he knows that the killer will be looking for him and Simone sometime in the future, so Reed prepares everyone to be on the lookout.  I also adored Simone, who had a hard time early on, but over the years she used her talent to create wonderful sculptures that touched many people.

What follows is an amazing exciting, intense and pulse pounding story, as the killer comes closer.  Nora created an excellent villain, whom was evil, but who also managed to fool the police over the years.   The exciting climax had me holding my breath, as Reed, Simone and Cici lives were very much in danger. 

Simone and Reed’s romance was slow built over the years, very sweet and they were great together, with Nora perfectly keeping it in the background.

Though Shelter in Place was a different kind of story for Nora Roberts, she mastered it. This was a fast paced thrilling suspenseful storyline, with a group of wonderful characters.  Roberts took a heartbreaking story, and managed to show us how the will to survive, with hope, courage & love can heal us all.  Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts is a must read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Nora’s publisher St. Martinis offering a print copy of SHELTER IN PLACE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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