The extraordinary new novel by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Collector.
The Book
Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions...
The man who took her from
Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He
was an adulterer and a liar, and when Shelby tracks down his safe-deposit box,
she finds multiple IDs. The man she loved wasn’t just dead. He never really
existed.
Shelby takes her three-year-old daughter and heads south to seek comfort in her hometown, where she meets someone new: Griff Lott, a successful contractor. But her husband had secrets she has yet to discover. Even in this small town, surrounded by loved ones, danger is closer than she knows—and threatens Griff, as well. And an attempted murder is only the beginning...
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons; First Edition edition (April 14, 2015)
ISBN: 978-0399170867
Available at Amazon and wherever books are sold.
A Reader's Opinion
Nora Roberts has created some of her best characters in The Liar. Griff Lott is an absolute charmer. A Southern gentleman who happens to be from the north, he doesn't give in, walk away, shirk responsibility, and he exudes the non-annoying confidence I love to see in a hero. Shelby has had way too many issues in her personal life, and I kept thinking, "Give this girl a break!" In the end, she got more than her break—she found the life she always wanted. Shelby's daughter, Callie, is cute-as-a-button darling, and steals more than her fair share of scenes with her endearing personality. Shelby's family is a riot, though I'll admit I was partial to her brother, Forrest.
Now, the story. It's great, and where some may say it resembles other books she's written, I wouldn't know because I haven't read her books for a few years. From start to finish I was interested in the outcome, and invested in all of the relationships—including those of the characters I didn't like. Parts of the story were a little drawn out for my tastes, and so I skimmed over a few pages here and there without losing any of the story. The dialogue is snappy, fun, and emotional. I did guess who did what (the bad guys), but the relationships kept me going until the end.
Having spent time in the South, I could feel the humid heat, see the fireflies, and enjoy the simplicity of small-town life and Southern hospitality.
Content Notes: My only disgruntlement with this book is the language. It's one of the reasons I'd stopped reading Roberts' books a while back. I must live under a rock, because I've never been around people who swear that much. We're talking the F-word—A LOT. There are a couple of steamy scenes, but those were well done, and the chemistry was perfect between Griff and Shelby.
Book Source: This opinion is based upon the hardcover edition owned by the reviewer.
