Review: The Search by Nora Roberts

Title: The Search
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: July 6, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($31.00)
Age Group: Adult
Series: No 
Copy: Provided by Penguin Group Canada




From the Publisher:


To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life-a quaint house on an island off Seattle's coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescues. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare... 


Several years ago, Fiona was the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer, who shot and killed Fiona's cop fiancA(c) and his K-9 partner. 

On Orcas Island, Fiona found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. But all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He's the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon's house, and he's at his wit's end. 

To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can't handle. Simon, however, is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he's a rugged and in-tensely private artist, known for the exquisite furniture he creates from wood. Simon never wanted a puppy-and he most definitely doesn't want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to his hormones. 

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona's life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands...


My Review:


Generally speaking Nora Roberts books are fairly predictable but I can always count on them to entertain. While I am not going to find life's hidden meaning within a Roberts book I will find a few hours of blissful escape where I can guarantee I will be whisked away on a fairy tale romance that never fails to give me a happily ever after ending. 


Each protagonist in a Roberts novel seems to have the perfect balance of imperfections (both physical and emotional) and positive attributes so as to make him or her a believable character.  In The Search  Fiona was an engaging and relatable character who's passion for dogs and people alike made her even more endearing. There was never any question about the direction the romance between Fiona and Simon was taking but nevertheless it was great to go along for the ride and read as the romance bloomed. 


As one of her serial killer thrillers Roberts didn't disappoint. The plot was moderately suspenseful with just enough details fed to you page by page to keep you guessing.  


I think what most fans of Nora Roberts novels would agree on is that Roberts has a talent for writing female protagonists who each woman can see a bit of herself in.  By writing relatable characters that women can make a personal connection with it gives them the ability to gets a taste of what it may just be like to captivate the often handsome, quirky, macho yet sensitive, "perfect" male protagonist of each novel.  


Overall The Search was a pleasurable and entertaining read that fans of Nora Roberts will happily add to their collection!

My Rating: 3.5/5