Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Legacy by Nora Roberts Published by St. Martin's Press on May 25, 2021
Genres: Life Fiction, Romantic Suspense
Pages: 448
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Adrian Rizzo was seven when she met her father for the first time. That was the day he nearly killed her—before her mother, Lina, stepped in.
Soon after, Adrian was dropped off at her grandparents’ house in Maryland, where she spent a long summer drinking lemonade, playing with dogs, making a new best friend—and developing the stirrings of a crush on her friend’s ten-year-old brother. Lina, meanwhile, traveled the country promoting her fitness brand and turning it into a billion-dollar business. There was no point in dwelling on the past.
A decade later, Adrian has created her own line of yoga and workout videos, following in Lina’s footsteps but intent on maintaining creative control. And she’s just as cool-headed and ambitious as her mother. They aren’t close, but they’re cordial—as long as neither crosses the other.
But while Lina dismisses the death threats that Adrian starts getting as a routine part of her daughter’s growing celebrity, Adrian can’t help but find the vicious rhymes unsettling. Year after year, they keep arriving—the postmarks changing, but the menacing tone the same. They continue after she returns to Maryland and becomes reacquainted with Raylan, her childhood crush, all grown up and as gorgeously green-eyed as ever. Sometimes it even seems like the terrifying messages are indeed routine, like nothing will come of them. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins…
Legacy is more Life Fiction than Romantic Suspense to me. It covers childhood to present in the main character’s life, Adrian Rizzo. She had some challenges with a detached single mom but luckily had supportive grandparents. We get her thoughts as well as some others throughout the years.
Adrian is strong and smart; she knows herself and the life she wants to build. She pursues it but with the circle of amazing friends and her grandparents. She is kind, caring and hard-working. Adrian never really has a serious relationship but she has a support group I envy.
The “suspense” revolves around a stalker who sends Adrian poems. I could guess right away who this might be. The details were interesting as they played out.
The romance was also clear to me from the start but life fiction is also about the journey. All aspects of the story were predictable. It is a longish book and the pacing felt rather slow at times. I loved the characters and their connections. Even the children were well developed characters. Legacy is a heart-warming, comfortable read, not thrilling, which I enjoyed.
About Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of five children. She married young and settled in Keedysville, Maryland where she worked briefly as a legal secretary. After her sons were born she stayed home and tried every craft that came along. A blizzard in February 1979 forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old.
Born into a family of readers, Nora had never known a time that she wasn’t reading or making up stories. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981.
Nora met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Since that time, they’ve expanded their home, traveled the world and opened a bookstore together.
Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming.
Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.”
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- C21-Spring
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. Sorry it was so predictable though.
I’m definitely a Nora Roberts fan, but somehow this book doesn’t really spark my interest.
It was enjoyable but slow journey.
I enjoy Nora Roberts books most of the time, but, yeah, sometimes her books can seem really long!
yes it was enjoyable but I felt it could have maybe been shorter? Of course, that might have ruined all the great character development and world building.
She really does branch out into different genres, even though it sounds like this one didn’t check the suspense box. We all need heartwarming, comfort reads. I definitely want to return to this author. Terrific review, Anne!
Thank you Jennifer. I did really enjoy it. The length and slow pace may make it less appealing to some.
I love Nora Roberts’ romantic suspense, but I have to admit, sometimes she dials up the suspense part beyond what my anxiety can handle. So I’m glad to hear this one isn’t that suspenseful. I look forward to reading it… whenever my library hold comes in. I’m currently #30 on the list!
I think you’ll enjoy it. I didn’t find it very suspenseful at all but I read some horrific stuff sometimes.