Trigger warning: mass shooting

Nora Roberts has been traveling some dark roads lately and I for one am not finding myself loving the results.

I adore Roberts romances, but alas I wouldn't hardly classify this as one (yes there is a HEA so technically it fits the bill). There is a romance, eventually, between two survivors of a mass shooting but the road to get there makes the overall romance arc a bit of a throwaway.

About 40% of the novel is a very detailed account of the mass shooting from various character perspectives, the immediate aftermath, and years of separate character development for the main male and female characters who eventually meet up and fall into destined love. There is really no tension between the characters as they are 'fated' so it wasn't really interesting.

The book is supposed to be suspenseful because there is a nefarious person out there killing survivors of the shooting, but I found myself skimming those parts. You know what is going to happen in the end, so meh.

I believe many Roberts fans will love this book. It is well written, it is a page-turner, it has the Nora Roberts flair. For me who checks in to her for an escape, this was more a "let's get this over with." I'd much rather read about best friends running their successful wedding planning company.

Plus, the hero tells his lady love about fifteen times that he would leave her in a heartbeat for her grandma

Spoiler

even during HIS PROPOSAL

! Yes, grandma is awesome. Maybe he should have been with her. Now THAT would be interesting!

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.